CAMPUS CHRONICLE ISSUE 7 - VOL XCII - FEBRUARY 11, 2016 PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE
WHAT IS YOUR PRONOUN? PAGE 6
THE SOULMATE DILEMMA PAGE 10
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Letter From The Editor By Tara Hattendorf
Winter can be the bleakest of all the seasons, with Christmas far gone and summer still far away. But then the little things get us through to spring: a surprise snow/sleet/hail — whatever you want to call it, we are Californians and frozen precipitation is a blessing — in late January; a sunny week after a month of muchneeded rain; passing a midterm you didn’t think you could; that Colloquy speaker that knows exactly the crowd he’s speaking to and receives a well-deserved standing ovation; midwinter break; your football team winning the Super Bowl; and don’t forget Valentine’s Day, spent with the people you love. A happy life is built from these little moments and they are all around. Enjoy this issue of the Campus Chronicle, and enjoy these last few weeks of winter — if Punxsutawney Phil is to be believed.
News Blurbs By JJ Nash
Actress Meagan Good and her filmmaker– pastor husband DeVon Franklin, a Seventh-day Adventist, who recently released a book, “The Wait.” They were interviewed on CBS to discuss their new book as well as their views on sex and marriage. The couple believes that the key to success is waiting for marriage, so they both committed to celibacy until they tied the knot in 2012. Franklin explained, “I started telling other men, ‘Get victory in this area, and there is nothing in life you cannot do.’” The couple explained that when you date someone and become sexually active, your judgment can get cloudy because you are dating under infatuation. During this period, you don’t know who the person really is. The couple concluded the interview by saying, “There is a line. Anything that you are technically kind of doing it but not — that’s what you should avoid.” The difference between abstinence and celibacy is the intention of waiting for the right time. For 35 years China had a “one-child” policy. This policy controlled how many children a family could have. The policy officially ended last October leaving China with consequences. Journalist Mei Fong explores the impact of this situation in her new book, “One Child.” When this policy was enforced, people favored sons over daughters. Fong writes, “Now China has 30 million more men than women, 30 million bachelors who cannot find brides. ... They call them guang guan, ‘broken branches’ — that’s the name in Chinese. They are the biological dead ends of their family.” Along with all of this, China’s abortion rate increased and they are facing a shortage of workers among the aging population.
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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Email thhattendorf@puc.edu Editor-in-Chief Tara Hattendorf Assistant Editor Taylor Pittenger News Editor JJ Nash Features Editor Janet Morales Fitness & Sports Editor Malek Sheen Opinion Editor Glorianne Besana Copy Editors Emily Mathe Kevin Tran Layout Editor Taylor Smith Faculty Advisers Lynne Thew Michelle Rai Cover Design www.wordclouds.com
vol. xcii
February 11, 2016
Prophecy Series This Quarter You may see a poster around school with a statue — the statue from King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream — surrounded by our fellow friends and colleagues. Take a closer look and the title says “When Prophecy Gets Personal,” advertising a prophecy seminar happening every Thursday night. Prophecy is one of the greatest messages Seventh-day Adventists have, and it separates us from many other religions and denominations. Going to Sabbath school and academy, we are taught about the “Last Days,” a time of persecution, diseases, wars, government control, the “Sunday Laws” and many other things. All of these horrific events should cause people to worship and develop a relationship with God — so why does it seem as if Adventist youth and young adults are starting to ignore one of our church’s major fundamental beliefs? It seems as though our generation of “Adventists” is becoming apathetic toward the church and the beautiful messages we are told to share to this world. These two ideas are the main reasons why this seminar is being held. Moises Ramirez, senior, a follower of this weekly sem-
Eventorum, an online current events journal, launched its first issue at the end of January. Named “of events” in Latin, Eventorum is a product of the department of history. The journal is staffed by student writers and editor-in-chief Dr. Howard Munson, and features articles covering a variety of topics about current events. These topics highlight news from different areas of the world, which provides PUC students access to a platform for current events other than what is prominent in American media. David O’Hair (class of 2015) first wrote the beginnings of Eventorum on the back of a napkin while on the history study tour the summer after he graduated. After submitting a proposal to Dr. Munson, Eventorum became a collaboration between the departments of his-
By Jordan Delarmente
inar series, says he enjoys this series because it is not like a church seminar where the preacher talks about specific dates, beasts, the church and end-time events. The speakers are more personal and reveal that people shouldn’t fear prophecy, but instead welcome it because it’s for us, the church. Joseph Santos, freshman, enjoyed this program, not just because he is a theology major, but because it was student-led and allowed him to see why people within his department chose this major. However, is it even important to learn about prophecy and be vigilant? Timothy Patten, junior, a speaker at this series, said, “I believe it’s important to attend this series because people are searching for answers, whether it be about their future and what God has planned. I believe God planned for this series to give them answers.” When I went to one of the nights in the series, to my surprise there were about 30 to 40 people who have been coming to this event. One of the biggest factors that drives attendance is that students are opening up and
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Albert Vargas preaches about finding Jesus through dreams and the Bible at When Prophecy Gets Personal Feb. 4. sharing their message and revealing to others what God has done for them. The Holy Spirit is moving people on this campus and creating a spiritual revival. If you want to learn more about prophecy before getting to any of these sermons, read the church’s beliefs at https://www.adventist. org/en/beliefs/. If you’re interested, have time on your hands or need want two worship credits, join the student speakers every Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Scales Chapel. Be ready to be moved.
By Glo Besana
tory and visual arts. In O’Hair’s opening letter for the launch, he writes, “The purpose of this new medium is to let students explore and discuss topics that interest them and analyze current events through the lens of a PUC student. ... This journal also provides an opportunity for students to grow in their writing, thinking, and research abilities.” When the student writers met, each chose a region of the world of interest — such as the Middle East, Europe and Asia — and quickly tackled a subject regarding that region to write about. Current articles on the site include “The Check out EventorumPUC.org to get informed Syrian Knot,” which details the interwoven about current events. conflicts taking place in Syria, and “Myanmar Elections Bring Hope for Democracy in Southeast Asia,” which summarizes the political tensions Southeast Asia faces.
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Campus Chronicle
Cafeteria Reforms Thanks to Senate Bill Following the passage of the Cafeteria Transparency Bill in Pacific Union College’s student senate in December and the Ad Council session reviewing the bill Jan. 25, the response from PUC administration has been positive and immediate. PUC President Dr. Heather J. Knight attended the Jan. 27 senate meeting with CFO and Vice President for Financial Administration Dr. Dave Lawrence in order to discuss with senate ways that the cafeteria can be made more cost-effective for students, as well as to clear up questions regarding the financial agreement with Bon Appétit. Throughout the senate meeting both Knight and Lawrence reassured students that PUC had their best interests in mind, and that they were actively looking for ways to accommodate student needs, such as improvements for the cafeteria as well as potentially adding more scholarships and adding more local food options through the College Market. Knight announced during the senate session that in conjunction with Jon Torres, general manager of the Dining Commons, Knight and the administration developed a few ideas to immediately improve the cafeteria experience for students. First, food prices are advertised more effectively, with meal prices listed on the online menu and in the PUC mobile app. Second, the cafeteria is now serving two types of combo meals: a $5.50 soup and salad meal, and special $7.50 meals that include a side salad and a fountain drink. The cafeteria is also looking to carry less expensive brands of bottled drinks and ice cream in the refrigerat-
ed section. During the senate session, Knight relayed the concerns that administration was seeking to answer for the cafeteria bill. “The key concerns were concerns about financial transparency: what is the PUC–Bon Appétit partnership all about, what is the relationship, what are the finances, and so forth,” Knight told senate. As an answer to the concern that PUC and Bon Appétit could be making an unfair profit off their contract, Knight reassured students, “PUC is nonprofit; we are here to serve you. You are our primary clients. Bon Appétit is a for-profit organization, but we are a small account for them. They do not make a lot of money for being here, and we are glad to have them here serving us.” Knight emphasized that the cafeteria is expensive because Bon Appétit is “a high-quality company serving us,” with locally grown ingredients and vegemeat meal options that are inherently expensive. Additionally, meals that require more labor to prepare, such as sushi, are naturally more expensive. Lawrence presented to the senate a chart showing the funds that the Dining Commons requires to operate, including: salaries for the 110 employees, both full-time and student workers; administration and support; cost of goods sold; the management fee for Bon Appétit; a flat fee to PUC for operational expenses such as rent, gas and electricity; and other expenses, such as supplies, repairs and insurance. In total the budget accounts for over $4.3 million to operate the cafeteria. This budget is
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By Tara Hattendorf
President Dr. Heather J. Knight speaks to Senate Jan. 27 addressing students’ concerns about the cafeteria and other events on campus. (Photo by @puc.senate) created to match evenly with the board fees paid by students. In the 2014–15 school year PUC budgeted a gain of $67,000 from the contract, which is “retained for years when a loss is realized.” Lawrence again affirmed that, “We do not make money with this contract,” and that the reason PUC chose to contract out the cafeteria management is because “we are educators; we are not running a food service business.” PUC’s contract with Bon Appétit expires in 2020. In the years immediately preceding the expiration, both sides will have the option to renegotiate the contract before a renewal. Look for our in-depth interview with President Knight in the next issue of the Campus Chronicle.
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February 11, 2016
Rundown of Flint Water Crisis Flint, Michigan, is in a state of emergency due to high levels of lead in its water. Between 6,000 to 12,000 children in Flint have severely high levels of lead in their blood and suffer from serious health problems. The symptoms of lead poisoning take a while, often years, to manifest. The World Health Organization says that lead affects “children’s brain development, resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes … and reduced educational attainment. Lead exposure also causes anemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. The neurological and behavioral effects of lead are believed to be irreversible.” Extremely high lead levels — ranging from 153 parts per billion to more than 4,000 parts per billion — were found in less than 1 percent of the samples of unfiltered water collected from Flint. Water tests have also shown high levels of copper and bacteria, such as E. coli. The lead filters distributed to residents and businesses have a certification to treat water with up to 150 parts per billion of lead. However, Flint residents are encouraged to continue using the water filters, as they are sufficient for
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By Andrea James
most homes, and experts say the filters may be able to treat water with levels above 150 parts per billion. Officials say the high lead levels are not concentrated in any one area. They have urged residents to have their water tested for lead; test results usually take about three days. Flint’s water quality problem took root decades ago when, like many other cities at the time, the service lines in Flint were constructed of lead because they were relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. Normally, lead pipes develop a layer of lead phosphates and lead oxides over time, which help prevent leaching. However, the water from the Flint River has a lower pH and a higher salinity than normal, which eroded the protective coating inside the pipes. For many years this was not a problem, as Flint got its water from Detroit and not the Flint River. However, in 2014, in an attempt to save money, the city switched. Flint has since resumed buying its water from Detroit and in 2015 began adding orthophosphate to the water supply in an attempt to rebuild the phosphate scale and reduce the leeching from the lead pipes. However, it is unknown how long it will take to see results. In January, work crews sentenced to com-
Virginia Tech researchers conduct a study on water chemistry in Flint. (Photo from the Flint Water Study) munity service, local and state police officers, and The American Red Cross began delivering bottled water, water filters and replacement cartridges to Flint. The supplies were mainly delivered to people living in houses built between 1901 to 1920, those most likely to have lead pipes. Four government officials have resigned over the mishandling of the water crisis in Flint: one from the city itself, two from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and one from the EPA. Multiple parties, including a class action by Flint residents, have filed lawsuits against the city, Governor Rick Snyder and city officials.
Orange is the New Grant Prior to PUC, dean spends six years in jail If you are a female who tends to get pink slips, stay out past curfew, have roommate issues or just need someone trustworthy to hear you out, you know Dean Denise Grant. Grant has a long history at PUC; while studying at PUC, Grant worked under Dean Jan Wood as a residence assistant in Graf Hall. Grant graduated from PUC in 1978 with her bachelor’s in teaching biology. But before Grant became the dean of Winning Hall for Pacific Union College, she spent six years in prison. Like many of us, Dean Grant had no idea what she wanted to do with her life after college. She had taken a gap year and had transcripts from five schools before she ended up at PUC. She was drawn to PUC because Al-
bion offered marine biology during the summer. Being the adventurous, outgoing and nature-loving young lady she was, marine biology in the summer was all she needed to be hooked. Grant joked, “Senior year was the best two years of my life.” After graduating from PUC Grant moved back to her home state, Virginia, and taught biology in Fairfax County. Fairfax County deals with a lot of troubled kids and has made a system for these individuals. Due to a personal situation, Grant became familiar with the alternative school system and wanted to help make a difference. “Fairfax has an army of individuals helping with troubled kids,” Grant mentioned. “I joined that army.” Grant was of-
By Ashley Camacho
fered a teacher position at the Fairfax Juvenile Hall, where she worked for three years before moving on to the county jail where she worked for another three years. While Dean Grant was working for the juvenile hall, she taught math and life skills; her students ranged from the fifth grade to high school. Once she left juvenile hall for the county jail, she became the program manager for the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (featured on MSNBC’S show Lockup). At the Adult Detention Center students were allowed to work on their high school diplomas. Dean Grant said, “It was rewarding to see the guys get out and use their diplomas.” While Dean Grant was the program manager her stu-
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dents had a 100 percent pass rate on the proficiency exams as well as the highest number of completed diplomas out of 35 schools in the district. “He was a 17-year-old boy who was tried and convicted as an adult for murder,” Grant recalls about a memorable student. During class one day, this student wrote a paper on how a decision can change your future forever. “We studied the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost and the student connected to this poem,” said Grant. One morning this 17-year-old boy made the choice of not going grocery shopping with his mother and going to the park with a friend instead. “On his way out to the park the kid decided to take a bat with him and when he got to the park the boy’s friend got into a fight with some gang kids and picked up the 17-year-old boy’s bat and used
it,” explained Grant. “The gang member who got hit by the bat passed away a couple of days later.” The original owner of the bat was the 17-year-old boy who chose the park over the grocery store; because the bat had his fingerprints, even though he was not the one who murdered the gang member, he was convicted. “He won’t be eligible for release for another 50 years,” Dean Grant stated. Grant today reminds students that they choose their consequences every day: “Being the bad guy isn’t fun; I am acting as a parent for 250 residents and the disciplining part is the worst.” Dean Grant was hired at PUC when enrollment went up the 2012–2013 school year and an extra dean was needed. She moved across the country with one month’s notice and has been living on the second-floor Winning apartment for just under four years. The next
What Is Your Pronoun? When you first meet someone, what are the first few questions you ask? Probably their name, their major or maybe where they’re from. When was the last time you asked someone what their preferred pronoun is? For most, maybe never. If you see someone with long hair wearing a dress, is it safe to assume they’re a “she”? How about someone that keeps their hair short and has a beard? They’re a “him,” right? Most would say their anatomy determines their sexual identity. If a person’s biological sex and gender align, which is true for the majority of the population, they are “cis-gender” or “cis,” for short. However, throughout history, in our society and even right here on our campus, there are people who do not identify as cis. Bryan Ness, a biology professor at PUC, explained about gender, “Because the biological sex of an individual, and their gender, develop at different parts of fetal development, the two may not always line up.” With that in mind, he said, “there are the outliers, those who may be biologically one sex, but who perceive themselves to be the opposite gender. Such transgender individuals are almost without
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Dean Denise Grant still has a jumpsuit and handcuffs from her time working at the Fairfax County Jail, but she assures students she is nice. time you are in Winning and have a little extra time, pop your head into her office and ask her stories about her jail days.
By Taylor Pittenger
exception seen as abnormal by most people, but from what we know about human development, transgender individuals simply represent the extremes of the normal distribution of gender expression.” Most people are familiar with what it means to be transgender — Caitlyn Jenner is an example of someone changing sex. However, transgender can also encompass more than a person changing sex. There is a difference between sex and gender: sex refers to your biology, while gender refers to your identity in your mind. What if you can’t identify yourself as he or she? For people who identify as “gender-fluid,” “non-binary,” “non-gender conforming” or many other identities, gender is not black and white, but gray. In order to deal with the gray area, people use the pronouns “they/them.” One student, whose preferred pronoun is “they” but also accepts “she/her,” breaks down gender. They first ask, “Is gender even a thing? Is it a manmade creation? Because the only way to choose things for a gender is to say that girls wear pink and boys wear blue. But such is not the case; liking those things does not make you that gender.” They go on to explain
“Boys can wear pink and girls can wear blue, and that doesn’t necessarily make you male or female.” their thoughts about what gender is: “I believe gender is a social construct. I believe that if we were to open ourselves to more experiences and more people — to realizing just how vast this world is — we come to realize that gender is obsolete in the sense that boys can wear pink and girls can wear blue, and that doesn’t necessarily make you male or female.” A good visual, although not a perfect analogy, is a gender spectrum. One side is male and one side is female. Cis people identify on one end or the other. Some people feel they are somewhere in between. The in-between area is gray, and it’s up to each person to decide where
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they feel most comfortable. Another student whose preferred pronoun is “they,” but who also goes by he/him, explained their journey discovering who they are. They said, “I feel like during these last few months is when I’ve really come to terms with being trans. I remember when I was exploring everything. I really did not want to be trans.” They continued to say, “It’s a group of people that’s really oppressed. … Trans rights and people’s knowledge on the subject is so limited and so behind that it’s not something that I would really want to wish upon someone.” Their fear left them with more questions. “This is all I’ve ever known. I’ve felt like me the whole time. But I definitely experienced dysphoria — both social and physical dysphoria — for a long time. I refused to acknowledge that it was a thing that I was experiencing, and more like something that everyone goes through. Like, oh wow, my body looks really masculine and I’m not ok with that. Everyone goes through this, right?” Gender education is not frequently taught. Most individuals learn about their gender identity through self-education via the Internet or by word of mouth. This causes more confusion amongst cis and non-cis people. A PUC alumnus named Eli, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, has also struggled with their gender identity. Eli was born female, but identifies as male and hopes to transition. He said, “During my time at PUC, I was so concerned with figuring out the appropriate label for my sexual orientation. Consequently, while I knew that I could theoretically question my gender identity, I never gave it much thought. Fast-forward to post-graduation and I moved to a new city for graduate school. Suddenly I lived by myself, and it took me a few months to establish a solid network of friends, so I had an abundant amount of time to spend with my thoughts. I became more self-aware as a result and realized that I had only identified as female by default.” Eli explained the next step for his life. “Once I decided to drop the ‘cis’ label, everything sort of fell into place for me,” he said. “I
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feel so much more confident as Eli than I did as my former female self. Feelings of dysphoria no longer take up the entirety of my head space and I can direct my attention to other concerns.” He also explains how he tries to help inform others: “I view coming out as trans and educating members of my social networks as a special privilege. It is true that coming out isn’t always met with a positive response. However, I find that for people who truly seek to understand me, coming out has deepened those relationships and has facilitated a more open form of communication.” Through education, our society will have a better understanding of proper pronoun usage. It’s not always as simple as he or she: people who are non-cis may prefer “they” over a gendered pronoun, and one person may look like a “she,” but go by “he.” Aaron Jebb Hernandez, a junior pre-nursing major who is comfortable using “they” pronouns, emphasizes the importance of correct pronouns. “Pronouns serve as a tremendous source of comfort for everyone, whether or not they realize it,” they said. “Cis people have a harder time realizing how much pronouns affect them, but one can easily see it in how defensive some individuals can be when called the ‘wrong’ pronoun. Pronouns are a simple and easy personal preference that literally takes nothing from the one using them correctly, but gives everything to the one who can find solace in being called what they truly feel inside.” Gender can be a sensitive topic, so trying to be respectful of people’s identity is important. Ariana Casiano, a senior health communication major, talked about her first time asking someone’s pronoun. “I took a leap of faith. I approached this person and I sincerely asked them what pronoun they preferred so I could be respectful.” The individual was “taken aback,” but was ultimately grateful for the exchange said Casiano. She gives advice to people who may be new to this concept. She said, “It opened my eyes to the fact that there’s a bigger world out there, and I want to try to make an effort to be understanding of people.
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I just really want to encourage people to get out of their comfort zones, take the time to do your research and explore the world that’s out there.” Ness also gives specific advice to cis individuals. He said, “Those of us who are cis-gender need to realize that there is nothing abnormal about those who are transgender. We also need to realize that they are not a threat to normal gender roles, something for which society often blames them. The best thing a cis-gender individual can do for a transgender friend is to just accept them for who they are and treat them just like anyone else, making an effort to honor their chosen gender and use the pronouns they prefer.”
“Pronouns serve as a tremendous source of comfort.” Hernandez gave specific advice to individuals who are questioning or struggling with their gender identity. They said, “Gender is a construct, but one we have to live with. It’s okay not to fit in these arbitrary roles people have placed in front of you. They’re nothing but suggestions that you’re not obligated to follow. When questioning yourself, take gender out of it. Find out who you are, what you like, and what you are fine being called. You’ll see that it’s hardly ever as one sided as the binary tells you. Take gender back: use it as a tool for comfort, not oppression. Do not blame yourself for feeling this way. You are not different; you are not wrong; you are not broken. You are you. Take as much time as you need to find yourself because once you do, I promise you’ll love it.” To continue the discussion on gender, this spring PUC is offering a new class, Gender Issues (SOWK/PSYC 390), taught by Professor Alisa Jacobo. The course focuses on the study of women and men in society, discussing gender equality and discrimination for men, women and non-binary individuals.
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Marvel’s Daredevil, A Religious Analysis As one of the few overtly religious characters in a medium that prefers to remain politically and religiously ambivalent, Marvel comics superhero Daredevil (real name Matthew Murdock) is an interesting one. The critically acclaimed Netflix series that brought this B-list superhero to the attention of mainstream audiences has no shortage of religious imagery, symbolism and ideas worth discussing indepth. What would compel a blind lawyer to bring vigilante justice to the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York and why would a man of Catholic faith adopt the name and likeness of his own religion’s antagonist? Well, first of all, I almost can’t call Daredevil a vigilante. Vigilantes are unqualified and unregistered enforcers of the law. Daredevil, on the other hand, creates a clear distinction between law and ethics. In one particular courtroom scene, Murdock breaks down this difference in a compelling closing argument speech to the jury, acquitting the defendant of his charges, only to approach the man in an alley in the very next scene and beat him to near death. This behavior is strange, erratic and self-defeating, yet it makes perfect sense in the context of Murdock’s character. He is rational enough to be wary of terms like “right” and “wrong,” but moral enough to know the difference. His ability to differentiate between fact and truth, and knowledge of when each applies, is what makes Murdock a worthy judge of character both in and out of the courtroom. The
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fact that he’s blind is no accident either. Blindness is culturally associated with fairness and impartiality, and as a lawyer, his purposeful blindness to the concept of morality is critical to his integrity. In contrast, his Catholicism teaches him that it’s the intent, not the outcome of his actions that determine his character. This “judgment of heart” is one he can only make as the masked man working outside the law. As Daredevil, Murdock is anything but blind. This brings us to his namesake. According to the Catholic priest from whom he receives the most moral guidance, the word “Satan” when translated from the original Hebrew language means “adversary.” The devil is not a single person but a word used to describe any antagonist, whether they be supernatural or not, personified into a single supernatural being by the early Catholic church and used to frighten people into conversion. In this sense, Matthew Murdock is a “devil” of sorts: a convenient scapegoat for the sins, fears and superstitions of others, a pawn in the game of a far more powerful figure. His nickname, the “Devil of Hell’s Kitchen,” was created by the mob-controlled press, used to villainize him and drive the city into mass-hysteria. By adopting the red-horned costume by the end of the series, Murdock has come to accept his role as the “devil” of the story. However, what separates him from Wilson Fisk, the other “devil” of the story, is that his actions against
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By Jonathan Salvador
Marvel’s Daredevil examines how a vigilante superhero can still be religious and ethical. injustice don’t violate his inner principles. The concept of a “necessary” evil is hardly an original one, but what distinguishes Daredevil in a culture over-saturated with grim, “realistic” antiheroes is that the dark aspects of his story and character are a backdrop to what is an ultimately optimistic message, not the message itself. He’s a character that knows that situationally crossing the line doesn’t make the line completely arbitrary, and that our inability to recognize where right ends and wrong begins doesn’t mean that morality doesn’t exist. All in all, he seems like a pretty all right guy. Glad I could brighten your day. Next time: Jessica Jones: sexual assault victim.
By Jordan Delarmente
As Valentine’s Day approaches, companies think of one thing: how to make money off of “love.” This day is filled with flowers, chocolates, romantic dinners, fun dates and, most importantly, the thought of a significant other. Being in a relationship — having companionship and belonging to someone — is part of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It’s biological; during Noah’s flood, God didn’t put a single animal by itself. It was either two by two, or
seven by seven. So if you’re single on Valentine’s, or “Singles Awareness Day,” I just want to let you know it’s OK. My first (and only) relationship lasted only two months, but because she ended up dating one of my good friends, I was devastated. I’ve been single for about four years now with small and big crushes since then. However, I’ve never been able say I was with someone. I tried to make the relationships work, but sometimes it
just wasn’t enough. Being on a relatively small campus and being known doesn’t help either. After I was done talking to anyone, it would seem as if I was interviewed by dozens of people on a daily basis for a couple of weeks. They’d ask why we stopped “talking,” or if I minded if they started pursuing her since I was “done.” I honestly know nothing about relationships. Although, I do know about being single. I’ve talked to many girls since then; however,
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obviously nothing ever happened. But with each person, I learned something new about myself and people in general. I learned that I want a godly person, someone who shares the same values, a person who is family oriented, a person who’s appreciative for the small things, etc. — the list can go on. Being single, I’ve learned patience; I’ve been able to meet more people; I’ve been able to focus on myself; and I’ve learned so much more. Even though Valentine’s Day is approaching, it’s OK to be single. You can do so much without a significant other. Treat yourself: I’ve realized how much money I’ve been able to spend and save all for myself. Turn off your phones and tablets, and treat this day like any other day and study. I say this so you won’t see all your taken friends out on dates. Go out with single friends and do something fun. Get out of your dorm and adventure! Meet people and introduce yourself to strangers. Or you can
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disregard my advice and feel sorry for yourself. The choice is yours. Being single doesn’t make you a horrible person, it means two things: 1) You know what you want and no one has been able to meet your standards and 2) God has someone special in store for you. At the end of the day, it’s what you make out of your situation that shows who you really are. For those who know me and have been there for me, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for suffocating me with love and honesty. For the ladies I’ve talked to over the years, I forgive you, and I’m sorry. I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day. For you single folk, enjoy this day as a day you enjoy you. For you couples, cherish the moments you have together and make those memories. Lastly, for those that just got out of a relationship, forgive and forget. Focus on you. This February 14, Happy You Day!
Dating at the Same College Often we find ourselves wanting someone to love, especially in our early 20s. Many people say that your early 20s is when you are truly finding your identity. This can be a good or bad thing if you are dating in and at the same college, due to the fact that this is when you are developing your “identity.” Leanne Quinn wrote about how our early 20s crisis is actually a “thing.” Here at Pacific Union College, there are many couples that either “make it or break it.” It is interesting to observe couples that go to the same college. Jessa Reeb, a junior political science major, stated that she and her boyfriend, Kenneth McKelvie, a senior business major, have been official for eight months. They believe that they have it good here by going to the same college. “How so?” you may ask. She said, “Being in your early 20s, it helps you grow as a person and it helped me realize that I have the capacity to love someone.” She also stated
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By Sacha Samuel
that there are some cons: “Finding a balance between school, friends and a relationship can be hard.” McKelvie added that sometimes their friend group does not always mesh well together which can make things hard. Reeb and McKelvie both agreed that their growth has to do with being in close proximity, and they are able to fix any negative things that happen right on the spot, rather than over phone or text messaging. I am currently in a relationship of three years with Juan Hidalgo III, a senior nursing, psychology and Spanish major. We started dating in our early 20s, so we experienced and are continuing to experience growth together, which can be stressful at times due to the stress of college. I believe that the hardest thing about dating in college and at the same college is being able to prioritize — as cliché as it sounds. In my personal experience, the biggest
Dating while both attending PUC, students “agreed that their growth had to do with being in close proximity.” factor can be age, because at certain ages you aren’t sure what you want, either career-wise or relationship-wise. According to Elite Daily, in your 20s you are “still deciding what kind of person you want to be.” This happens consciously and subcon-
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sciously at times. Our 20s are our prime time to experience adventures — “live life on the edge!” Everyone knows that college can get in the way of those adventures in life, so you are sacrificing your time. On that note, a relationship can play the same role. If one is more invested in “living life on the edge” or wants to
have adventures more than they want to be in a relationship, things can be difficult. Your early 20s are the best years of your life; you may go through some hardships but it’s the prime time to “figure yourself out!” Figuring yourself out with someone can be awesome, especially while going to the same college. You
The Soulmate Dilemma As Singles’ Awareness Day comes rolling around the corner, I realize that my relationship with my bed is the most stable relationship I have ever had, and even then I change mattresses every four years or so. What is this day even about? Is it about love? Relationships? Soulmates? Who’s to say, but this article is about soulmates. Do you believe in soulmates? Now, before you answer, soulmates aren’t like “magic:” some sleight of hand trick God pulls before your eyes and then, bang! — there’s some white bunny in your living room and a tattered, old top hat. What if it’s more like luminosity? Now bear with me for a second; first I should explain what I mean by “soulmates.” By soulmates I simply mean the person with whom you share the strongest affinity in the entire world. Theoretically it has to be possible to feel the strongest affinity for someone, just like how theoretically there has to be someone who can speak the fastest or run the farthest. However, it is also theoretically possible to have a tie — two or more people who speak the fastest at the same speed or can run the farthest but stop at the same distance. In this case, I would argue that if a person could measure affinity (like measuring speed or distance), and then this person could meet every person that ever lived … ever, and be able to testify that an equal measurement of affinity was shared with two or more people, all of those people would be this person’s soulmate. However, as seen in the last sentence, I’m also saying that just because this person shares a strong affinity with this theoretical soulmate, does not mean that this person will happen to live on the same continent as his soulmate, or even in
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can see if he or she can handle your stress or the adventures you want to go on. You can see whether or not that person can make things better or worse. The main points are: be careful, thoughtful and smart.
By Malek Sheen
the same era; thus it’s not guaranteed that they will meet. So I must confess: I now feel like the word soulmate has lost some of its magic. But remember, soulmates aren’t like magic. It’s more like luminosity, in the same way that there has to be a brightest star in the night sky, there also has to be a person out there with whom you share the strongest affinity. Yet — I can’t stress this enough — this isn’t to say that you will ever meet them. Nonetheless, in the movie Interstellar, Dr. Brand makes a different case. After traveling through a wormhole to another part of the universe, Brand (Anne Hathaway) and Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) have to make the crucial decision of choosing which planet to land on and restart the human population. Due to prior events, resources are low and they can only land on one of two planets deemed habitable by astronaut scientists sent before them on a suicide mission to these planets. Brand recommends the planet her old lover might still be on and argues that maybe love is a guiding force that transcends this dimension. She says, “Maybe [love is] some evidence — some artifact of a higher dimension that we can’t consciously perceive. I’m drawn across the universe to someone I haven’t seen in a decade, who I know, is probably dead. Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.” Brand is saying that if you love someone, you could travel through a lifetime with them and the love will still be there; or they can be on the other side of the planet and the love will still be there. Love transcends time and space. Have you ever noticed how, even if you
“It’s more like luminosity, in the same way that there has to be a brightest star in the night sky, there also has to be a person out there with whom you share the strongest affinity. ” two can’t be together, those feelings for the first person you fell in love with never truly go away? So if love is a force above our dimension of space and time with the potential to bring two lovers together from across the universe, are soulmates really so hard to believe? Maybe this force can bring together two people with a mutually strong affinity for each other. And maybe if you can believe in this force, you can believe in soulmates. Or, maybe it’s all just Hollywood hogwash, some stupid ideal crafted just to make us spend our money. Who’s to say?
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Photos of Campus Life Tag #PUCHome on Instagram for a chance to be featured
Sunset at the airport. Photo by @kalihekili3
Business Club Tahoe Trip. Photo by @justinher- Nerf Gun War winners. Photo by @puc.sa ling
Film students heading to Sundance Film Festi- Thang Ngo supporting REVO and Freeset. Pho- Chelsea Burby and Autumn Trogdon. Photo by val. Photo by @pucart to by @bilie9z @tummy59
Students enjoying a day without rain. Photo by The Back 40. Photo by @_kentdavis_ @pucnow
Linda Falls. Photo by @kayleylikescats
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From Diogenes Motion Pictures: SA Talent Show 2016
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