Shield Magazine | Volume 18 | Issue 3 | Winter 2018

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T H E I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F R O C H E S T E R CO L L E G E

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A LETTER

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College can often be associated with three concepts: the lack of a social life due to school work, the abundance of a social life (and complete disregard of school work) and the ever surmounting feeling of tremendous debt while being a “broke college kid.”

Every college student can claim two out of three of these concepts. If you collect all three, props to you for a crazy college career. We all tip our hats to you.

But one thing out of all possible combinations of the three concepts remain constant: debt. If the debt a student accrues throughout the course of a college career could be physically felt, that student would be crushed 100 times over.

How do we go about paying for school? How do we mentally prepare for tackling our debt? How do we begin doing something most college students have no knowledge of? What is a Stafford loan? What does subsidized and unsubsidized mean?

So, answers to these questions are out there. If you find them, let the rest of us know.

Skye Donaldson Mass Communication Senior

MISSION s t a t e m e n t Shield Media is the independent student media of Rochester College. As such, we are committed to engaging in thoughtful dialogue over issues that are relevant to our culture. Shield Media relates to our audience by providing them with bold stories that are intended to entertain, inform and stimulate.

Shield Media participates in Rochester College’s faith-based mission and believes that, as ethically minded journalists, we have a responsiblity to engage each story with open-mindedness, compassion and nuance.

Along with Rochester College’s Department of Mass Communication, Shield Media helps prepare young professionals for work in media-related fields by teaching and honing their skills in writing, reporting, graphic design, videography and photography.

Shield Media is a student and not a college publication. Views expressed are diverse, and do not correspond to all views of RC’s board, faculty, staff, students or other constuency.

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HELLO

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CONTENT x

Squibs

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GEO Costa Rica

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Susan Griffin

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All The Stress

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True Warrior

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Slices

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Inspo

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PA G E D E S I G N S . R A C H E L M U R D O C K

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CONTRIBUTERS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR . R a c h e l M u r d o c k ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTORS . B r i t t a n i H a l l Gabii Rothenberg PRINT CONTENT EDITOR . S k y e D o n a l d s o n NEWS + OPINIONS EDITOR . J o h n a t h o n H o g a n ASSISTANT NEWS + OPINIONS EDITOR . J o h n n y L y k i n s FEATURES EDITOR . M a c K e n z i e I n g s SPORTS EDITOR . D o m i n i c S a n t i n a ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR . N i c k l a s G r i f h o r s t ASSISTANT ONLINE EDITOR . L i l y.. C o c h e n o u r EVENTS + PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR . M o e t D i c k i n s o n SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER P a y t o n Tr i v e t t

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Contributing Staff

Mary Beatty . Makenna Calkin Johnathan Doneghy . Holly Lingenfelter

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PUBLISHER, FOUNDER . L o r a H u t s o n PRINT + MULTI-MEDIA ADVISER . K a y c e M c C l u r e ONLINE ADVISER . K a t i e M a r t e l l e S H I E L D

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SQUIBS

[ A s k INGS ]

“How do you combat senioritis + finish your final semester strong?”

Anonymous Senior

1 Get an account -ability partner who will make sure you aren’t slacking and will pick you up when you’re heading in the wrong direction.

2 Make lists; make lots and lots of lists. This helps ensure that you get everything done. It also looks great once everything is checked off the list, and you get a great sense of achievement. Afterwards, you can have some free time.

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4 Countdown the days until graduation. The number of days that are left right now is far less than the thousands of days we have spent in school since we were five.

Enjoy your last semester and stay strong. You’ve got this!

Do you need advice? Send us an email at shield@rc.edu!

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3 Make sure you schedule time for yourself.

If you don’t have free time, you will go crazy and want to drop your schoolwork all together. If you keep a good balance between the two, it won’t seem too bad.

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Well, anonymous senior, I completely understand where you are coming from. As a senior myself, I have been struggling to finish my last semester strong. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting so bright that the focus is only on that, rather than making sure you’re doing all your work and keeping grades up at the same time.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought that maybe this last semester doesn’t matter all that much, but I was wrong. The final semester is the last thing you are going to do before you enter the working world. It is incredibly important that you leave college strong and ready to work harder than you ever have before.

If you have a laid-back lazy attitude, you may find yourself having to make up ground, and that could hinder the chances of getting your first job. If that isn’t enough to get your mind back on track, here are some tips you can use to help finish out your last semester strong.

MacKenzie Ings Mass Communication Senior

THE PROCESS

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In Case You Missed It

P A G E D E S I G N S . R A C H E L M U R D O C K | P H O T O . M A R Y B E AT T Y

Wo r d s . J o h n n y L y k i n s

It is around this time of the semester where students tend to slack off and wait until the last few weeks of the semester to get our grades back up to where they need to be.

Why do we do this?

We do it because we are college students. I say that because I am one, and I understand your struggle and pain. I understand how hard it is to get up for that 8 a.m. class. I understand how hard it is to finish that nine page paper, to study for that test or to even do school in general. I am lazy.

I like food. I like Netflix. I like to hangout with people and then say, “I don’t like people,” right in front of them. I am a college student. I understand.

We often trick ourselves into thinking, “I have enough time,” or, “I will still pass the class.” We want the good grade and we want to have a great GPA. We want the outcome, but we do not want to go through the process. I often think of the phrase “You have to love

the process, in order to get the outcome you desire.”

As students, we are always looking toward the future, while totally missing what is happening in the present.

A couple of verses that help me understand how important it is to persevere through this tough spot in the school year come from Galatians and James.

Galatians 6:9 says, “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” James 1:12 says, “Anyone who meets a testing challenge headon and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”

Loving your hopeful outcome more than the process will not get you the outcome you desire. When you find something you are passionate about, the process will challenge you to see if you are actually passionate about it. Let’s have a great rest of the semester!

Johnny Lykins Christian Ministry Junior

Just Try The Queen’s Guards A tourist was seen mimicking an English guard, and went as far as to place his hand on the guard’s shoulder. In response, he yells, “Step back from the Queen’s guard!” and points his gun at the tourist’s head. Yikes.

The Sneeze That Broke a Man’s Throat A 34-year old man from England learned that you shouldn’t hold back sneezes. He ruptured his throat that caused air bubbles to get caught between his skin.

Grieve ’n Go A company in Japan now has a business where you can stay in your car as you are attending a funeral. Folks can register their names and pay their respects via tablet.

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GEO COSTA RICA

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Learning to Live the Pure Life Wo r d s . H o l l y L i n g e n f e l t e r

“Would you be willing to try some food I buy for you?” Our tour guide, Jorge, said to us as we stood in a market in San Jose, capital city of Costa Rica.

“Well, sure,” we said, some more confidently than others.

“Even if you don’t know what it is?” Jorge said.

We agreed hesitantly and moments later, Jorge set a plate of strange looking meat before us. With uncertainty, we took a bite of the tender, bumpy looking meat.

Anxiously waiting to see what we ate, Jorge walked us to another deli-like shop and pointed at a large frozen cow tongue.

Rochester College’s Global Educational Opportunities (GEO) program offered an all inclusive trip to Costa Rica, a Central American country, in Dec. of 2017. The trip was led by Adam Baron, the Dean of Students at Rochester College. For nine days, nine RC students explored Costa Rica, visiting national parks, coffee plantations, beaches, child daycare centers, waterfalls and the capital city, San Jose. The students ziplined through the forest, swam in the Pacific Ocean, encountered monkeys and iguanas and yes, even ate cow tongue.

The trip was based out of the Portantorchas Bible School, located outside of downtown San Jose in central Costa Rica. The Portantorchas Bible School is a part of Torchbearers International, a Christian organization that has 25 Bible schools located around the world. “I had a connection with the Portantorchas Center in Costa Rica through my connections with their sister-school, Capernwray Hall 06

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in England,” Dean Baron said. “It was a natural fit. These international Bible schools, their students and staff, have been very welcoming of Rochester College.”

For two days, the students visited Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, which is located on the west coast of Costa Rica. Visiting both the private and public beaches, the students experienced the prime beauty of Costa Rica. While exploring the national park, the students encountered an abundance of Costa Rican wildlife, such as monkeys, sandcrabs, iguanas, sand dollars, sloths and much more.

Andrew Phillips, an RC student who attended the trip, said, “You get to know your classmates in such a way that they go from strangers to family in just eight days!

I made so many new friends from around the world and experienced community in new ways staying at the Portantorchas Bible school in San Jose.”

In San Jose, the students were able to fully experience the Costa Rican culture.

Besides the country’s beautiful landscape, the most memorable thing about Costa Rica was the people, and the kind and inviting atmosphere the locals provided.

Everywhere you turn, you are greeted by the Costa Rican saying “Pura Vida.” Pura vida means “pure life,” a way of life and cultural phrase used in Costa Rica. The locals use this phrase to say “hello,” “goodbye,” “you’re welcome,” “everything’s great,” “OK” and more.

“It was a truly beautiful experience unlike any other,” said Sydney Davis, RC student who attended the trip. “To be in such a

facts + happenings

FROM THE TRIP Student’s beach towel got pooped on by an iguana.

PA G E D E S I G N S . B R I T TA N I H A L L | P H O T O S . H O L LY L I N G E N F E LT E R

Some students got stung by jellyfish while swimming in Pacific Ocean. welcoming place with people from all over the world, speaking different languages, yet coming together to make music, bond over games/puzzles, and eat delicious food really helped change my outlook on life and grow as person.”

“I love sharing these places, people and experiences with college students. I love seeing students enjoying and discovering things about themselves, others students, another culture and God through these GEO trips. On the Costa Rica trip I especially enjoyed watching RC students make meaningful (and perhaps) lifetime friendships with international students at the school or with the staff,” Dean Baron said.

The inviting culture and picturesque landscapes of Costa Rica provided college students a broader perspective of the world, while also encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones (which included new culinary experiences). It gave students the opportunity to spend quiet time with their thoughts and with God. The Rochester College Costa Rica GEO trip captures the essence and beauty of Costa Rica and is planned to be a yearly trip occuring during the school winter break.

Portantorchas student gave Dean Baron and another RC student a haircut.

We met a dog who swam from an island to the mainland everyday to get food from generous people.

RC and Portantorchas students worked together on completing a 2000 piece puzzle.

Costa Ricans say animal noises differently. Instead of “woof-woof” like Americans say for dogs, Costa Ricans say “bow-wow”.

We saw crocodiles on Crocodile Bridge.

We ziplined through the jungle.

Holly Lingenfeltr Mass Communication Senior S H I E L D

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T H E

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W O R K I N G

SUSAN GRIFFIN Wo r d s . S k y e D o n a l d s o n

Susan Griffin stares intently at a scheduling matrix and erases her markings.

At the same time, she asks an assistant professor when her classes are meeting two semesters from now. While she’s listening for a response, Griffin continues to examine the report in front of her. She begins to write again when her phone rings. She smiles, looks at the phone and continues to write before answering the phone.

Griffin, coordinator for Rochester College’s School of Nursing, is a multitasker, a service doer, a pillar of community, a behind-the-scenes operator, a relationship developer and a gem of the RC community.

She truly works for students and for God. Growing Up On The Farm Griffin grew up on her family’s farm just outside the small town of Fountain Hill in Arkansas. One of five children, Griffin has two brothers and two sisters, and she is the second youngest. Their family was poor by most people’s standards, but she said they had everything they needed. Summer was a huge season for the family, and Griffin says she would see “red” because of all the time she spent growing and tending to tomatoes.

When Griffin was 5 years old, she contracted polio in her left shoulder and bicep, which limited the mobility of her left arm. When she was 10, Griffin had surgery, which granted her the freedom to raise her arm by using her back muscles.

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and socket of her shoulder completely.

This made life much more challenging for Griffin, but she says her family instilled in her a “no quit, no give up” attitude.

This mindset helped Griffin, who was interested in sports, to determine that she was going to play whatever kind of ball she wanted to play. The high school Griffin attended was too small to support multiple sports, so Griffin gave her all to basketball.

She then went on to study at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. There, she competed in intramural badminton, basketball, volleyball and softball. In her senior year, she won the All Sports Trophy, which was given to the male and female individuals who earned the most points over the course of the year. Griffin graduated from Harding with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a minor in business.

From Harding to Flint Immediately following her college career, Griffin left her home and family in Arkansas to move to Flint, Michigan, where she had landed a job at Valley Christian Academy.

She worked there for 27 years until the school closed in 2009.

During her time at VCA, Griffin had many roles, serving as coach, athletic director, quiz bowl director, teen jury director, starting a law program and teaching almost every class at some point in her 27 years there.

“It was never less,” Griffin said, “It was always more, and that was my choice to be involved in the student’s lives.”

Griffin coached basketball, volleyball, and softball, and VCA and RC alumnus Kayce McClure played for her. “She was a great coach and more importantly a great person that I have a tremendous respect for,” McClure said. “We weren’t the best athletes. Some of us would even be considered not athletic…. There were no try-outs. She gave us all a chance and somehow we were always contenders.”

PA G E D E S I G N S . G A B I I R O T H E N B E R G | P H O T O . M A K E N N A C A L K I N

Multitasking for Success In 2009, RC was starting its nursing program, and Griffin was the first hire to assist in this endeavor. President Brian Stogner hired Griffin in his previous role as provost. RC needed someone who could provide day-to-day administration over different responsibilities in getting the program started and who would provide stability for this young program.

Griffin is described as a top-notch multitasker. That’s what she enjoys and that’s how she excels.

“I can get bored very easily doing the same task over and over. I like to go from one task to another and that’s where I am at my best,” Griffin said.

In addition to her responsibilities with the nursing school, Griffin also challenges herself to be involved around campus so that she can know students and colleagues better. She attends basketball and volleyball games, and keeps the stats’ book for both.

She also has served as a student mentor with the college’s 412 groups and with nursing students.

Relationships Are True Motivation Relationships drive Griffin, not only with her students but also with her coworkers.

“Knowing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives... and knowing that I’m being depended on by students, by peers, by my boss to do the things I can do well. That’s what motivates me,” Griffin said.

Maddy Valko, junior nursing major, knows how hard Griffin works for her students.

“She is really caring and takes time to get to know all of us and how we’re doing in the program. She always answers any questions we have and is willing to go above and beyond to help us out,” Valko said.

Griffin makes it easy to see that her ultimate goal is service. She loves to cultivate relationships and see the success of students at the end of their tenure.

“When I see people graduate who were wondering if they were going to graduate at all, to me that is my biggest success. I had a little something to do with the success and happiness,” she said.

Work Hard As a former basketball player and coach, Griffin continues to enjoy the sport. It’s not hard to realize why her favorite basketball player of all time is Dave Cowens, a center for the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. A 6 foot 8 inch center, small to play center in the NBA, Cowens had to work harder than his opponents. He threw his body at everything. He helped the Celtics win two NBA titles and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was always at a disadvantage, but worked hard to overcome.

Like Cowens, Griffin has overcome disadvantages. “He worked so hard at what he did... and I had to come up with ways to be good and to be noticed and to be on the ‘A’ team.”

Griffin certainly embodies Cowens, taking his work ethic as her own and translating that into her service and her career.

 Skye Donaldson Mass Communication Senior

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[ S h i e l d Ta l ks ] Tune in to SoundCloud and listen to our new podcast Hosted by Nicklas Grifhorst soundcloud.com/shieldmedia

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C o l l e g e t u i t i o n facts & figures & ALL THE

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PA G E D E S I G N S + P H O T O S . R A C H E L M U R D O C K

Words . MacKenzie Ings

“Stress,” “anxiety” and “expensive” are just some of the words students use to describe the process of paying for college.

College is one of the largest purchases a person will make in his or her life, which puts many in debt.

Still, high school seniors and college freshmen are unaware of the financial burden college can become, and they may not know of all the options they have open to them.

Although the idea of paying for college is stressful, the more students know, the better off they will be.

Paying for Rochester College’s tuition is something that seems almost impossible. The $21,116 yearly price tag

for an RC education is an intimidating one. In order to calculate the full cost of an RC bachelor's degree, students need to understand that they are paying for four full years of tuition. If tuition does not increase, a four-year degree from RC would cost $84,464 although, according to RC’s student financial services, tuition increases at about three percent every year. That means students are looking at $21,750 for tuition next year. Travis Hicks, sophomore mass communications major, said, “College is treated like a necessity, but priced as a luxury.”

RC students are working hard to pay off tuition and plan for tuition changes in the future.

Megan Walby, a junior, early childhood studies major, said that paying for college is something that

STRESS is on her mind constantly.

“Budgeting for college is one of the most stressful things I have ever done; not only do I have to budget my money now, I also have to figure out how I will pay off my college debt in my future budget, too.”

RC’s tuition covers 12 to 18 credit hours per semester, not including room and board. RC uses block rates from 1218 credit hours so that students can get the most out of their tuition, while most colleges in the area charge tuition based on credit hour.

Kyle Emmi, sophomore mass communications major, disagrees, stating another perspective: “I understand that block pricing helps those who can take 18 credits a semester, but those of us who are taking closer to 12 or 15 credits are paying the price of 18.”

Although RC’s tuition seems high, in 20152016 they offered over $15,644,905 in financial S H I E L D

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grants and scholarships, aiming to make tuition at RC more affordable. RC has over 20 scholarships, most based on merit, two grants, and over five government financial aid options. Even if students are in their second, third, fourth, or even fifth year, RC has scholarship options for them. Something that really makes RC stand out is that they have scholarships for up to five years, where most other colleges only guarantee scholarships for four years.

This is a great start to making RC affordable, but students must consider that not everyone will be awarded these financial opportunities.

When breaking down the cost of attending RC, students can see what it really takes to pay off school without loans. A student working a minimum wage job would have to work 2,320 hours in order to make the $21,116 that covers tuition. Over the four years of attending school, that would be 580 hours a year, 48 hours a month or 12 hours a week. Although 12 hours a week may not seem like much, students would have to work almost double that to cover other living costs. This also means that students are spending less time on their school work and hindering 12

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their overall education in order to simply pay for the classes they are taking.

Jake Rogers, sophomore mass communications major, who works in order to help the cost of school, said, “Because I have to work and go to school I feel that I cannot give 100% to neither work or school.

I am splitting my efforts in a million different directions.”

A n o t h e r confusing part of paying for school that we never learned in high school is student loans.

Carmyn Lorenc, sophomore accounting major said, “Student loans give me anxiety because they are confusing. I feel that no one has ever explained them correctly or fully to me. I don't really know what is going on, how much I owe, or when I have to start paying them back.”

There are many types of student loans, some better than others, but all of them have to be paid back with interest. The most common student loans are ones that

are government funded and supported. These government loans are

called the Federal Stafford Loans and they can be subsidized, meaning they do not acquire interest until six months after you graduate.

Additionally, there are unsubsidized loans, which start accruing interest as soon as they are taken out. These loans are given out on need base to students who fill out the FASFA. The Stafford loan has a fixed interest rate at

3.76 percent. This means the interest rate will not change over time.

Let’s calculate these loans using RC’s tuition.

If a student were to take out $5,500 in Stafford loans and it took them 10 years to pay back the loan, they would pay $2,068 in interest alone. This means

that the $5,500 that paid for some of their tuition will be $7,568 of repayment.

Stafford loans do have a limit and cannot cover all of tuition, but they can cover up to about $5,500. Once

these loan options are fully used, students can take out parent plus loans to help cover the rest of the cost.

These loans do have to be signed off and agreed upon by their parents, which can oftentimes be a problem.

Dave Ramsey, famous financial adviser, said, “Some people are just stuck in their ways and have been brainwashed into believing that debt is an unavoidable part of life.” There are ways to make sure that students don’t pile up student loans; they just have to look for it. The idea of getting out of school and having every penny I earn be my own sounds lovely. If students make it a mission to not have debt, they won’t have anyone to pay back or extra on interest.

Not everyone can make it out of college debt free due to the large financial burden that $

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college has become, and that’s okay. Students need to be aware of how much money they are spending, especially if it’s money they don’t have. There are many resources available for students to become educated on, and there are loans and other ways to pay for school. The employees at student financial services said, “If you have any questions, those in the Financial Services department are blessed to work and serve our students at Rochester College. We are here to assist students with any questions they may have regarding their finances, billing and financial aid eligibility.”

Tuition is stressful, overwhelming and expensive, but in the end students will earn a degree that will improve their lifestyle. There are many ways to pay for college tuition: loans, scholarships, grants and working are all potential options. RC students are saving time and money with RC’s vast amount of award dollars and their block price tuition. RC students should feel confident that they are getting a great education at a great price.

MacKenzie Ings Mass Communication Senior S H I E L D

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TRUE WARRIOR RONALD NORFLEET Wo r d s . D o m i n i c S a n t i n a

Ronald Norfleet grew up across the street from a basketball court. He would learn to play the game from older neighborhood kids, who spent a lot of time on the court.

This time spent playing neighborhood basketball would help him find his to way Rochester College.

Fleet, as many call him, grew up in Detroit, where he attended Detroit Mumford High School. In his senior year at RC, Fleet is majoring in behavioral sciences and social work, and he is an important member of the men’s basketball team.

Before even hearing about RC, Fleet’s cousin, Michael Robinson, had Fleet’s future in mind. Robinson, who played for RC in the early 2000’s, has become a close friend to current coach Klint Pleasant. Robinson helps Pleasant find and scout athletes in the Chicago area and mentioned he had a cousin who was a high caliber basketball player. Pleasant was intrigued and told 14

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Robinson to send him to RC for a workout.

Fleet made his way to RC for a meeting and a workout, and it’s easy to guess what followed.

“After researching everything about Rochester College, I thought RC would be the perfect fit for me athletically and academically,” Fleet said.

Coach Pleasant thought that Fleet was a perfect fit for his team, as well. He offered Fleet a spot on the team and Fleet quickly grew into an important part of the team. “I do not believe, after 20 years of coaching, that I have ever met a guy that is so mature and nurturing to younger basketball players,” Pleasant said.

On Oct. 30, 2017, RC’s men’s basketball played the University of Michigan-Dearborn at home. Early in the game, Fleet came down on an opponent's foot, causing him to injure his own ankle. He had to be helped off the court, hoping it was just a bad roll of

“I do not believe, after 20 years of coaching, that I have ever met a guy that is so mature and nurturing to younger basketball players.”

PA G E D E S I G N S . G A B I I R O T H E N B E R G | P H O T O S . J O H N AT H A N D O N E G H Y

- Coach Klint Pleasant

his ankle. At first, it was thought to be just a sprain, and Coach Pleasant expected to see Fleet back after a couple weeks.

However, after playing in a few games before Christmas break, Fleet didn’t feel great about the state of his ankle. An MRI showed that he had a small joint effusion and a bone marrow edema. In simpler terms, Fleet had fluids in his ankle joints and a bruise on his ankle bone.

While both Fleet and Coach Pleasant stay optimistic that he can make a late season return and help the team down the stretch, Coach Pleasant remains amazed by the things Fleet does off the court.

“He was sitting watching practice because he is hurt, when people came in to start setting up for chapel. Instead of sitting there and watching practice, Fleet got up and started helping bring things in and set up without being asked. That is when I realized that he is something special,” Coach Pleasant said.

His willingness to help and put others first showed in his answer when asked what his favorite memory of his career here. Fleet recounted a story of how an elder gentleman approached him after a

game. The gentleman and his late wife had graduated from RC. The gentleman told Fleet that he was the most entertaining player he has ever seen at RC and that his wife would have liked the dunk he threw down during the game.

“I told the man thank you and was sorry for his loss. It nearly brought tears to my eyes as I wanted to heal the man’s pain. It was one of my favorite memories because I was able to bring a little bit of excitement and happiness to a man’s life through basketball,” Fleet said.

While Fleet has a positive outlook on his injury and is focused on coming back in time for the tournament, he is also focused on being on the dean's list for the fourth straight semester. His caring nature for every individual on the team or around campus and putting others first is an exact model of the True Warrior: a leader on and off the court.

Dominic Santina Sports Broadcasting Sophomore

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SLICES

Q&A WITH

Dr. Naomi Walters wo rd s . j o h n n y ly k i n s

Dr. Naomi Walters, associate professor of religion, is originally from Syracuse, N.Y. She was a student at Rochester College before returning to teach after receiving a master of divinity from Abilene Christian University and a doctor of ministry degree from Lipscomb University. She is married to Dr. James Walters, associate professor of religion, with two children, Ezra and Simon.

What is a funny story from your childhood?

Two preliminary facts: (1) I have one younger brother. (2) In my childhood bedroom, there was a light switch that did not do anything (it wasn’t connected to any of the outlets in my room) next to the heater for the second floor (it was an old house).

So, I used to tell my brother the switch would blow up the world, and threaten to flip it whenever he didn’t do what I wanted.

(I’m not proud of it!) He believed me and never tested the switch. After a few years, I told him the truth – and to get back at me, he spent the next few weeks waking me up each morning by throwing one of our two cats on my face. (They were not declawed).

Ahh, childhood.

How did you make your way to RC? I maintained the connections I had here with faculty members when I was a student.

Over the years – while I was completing Masters and Doctoral work – we saw each other at conferences and other events. So they knew I was interested in coming back 16

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here to work, and they kept me informed about open faculty positions. When a position in the School of Theology and Ministry opened, I applied – and here I am!

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about stories, of every kind. I’m most passionate about helping people hear and participate in the true story and mission of God. It’s what we – humans – are for, and there’s nothing quite like seeing people catch fire with what God is doing and how they can join in. But I’m also passionate about a lot of other kinds of stories; I love reading, watching TV and movies and listening to music (which tells a story – with or without lyrics). And I love hearing people tell their own stories.

What does a typical day in the life of Naomi look like?

We all wake up at 7:30, and leave the house around 8:15. We have one car, so we all load up together, and then we drop off Ezra (our 2-year-old) at daycare, then drop off Simon (our 4-year-old) at preschool, and then come to campus (since my husband – Jamey – works at RC, too).

Both of the boys need to get picked up from school around noon. So, on days that I teach in the afternoon, Jamey picks them up and takes them home for afternoon nap while I teach, and then they all come back to get me at 5pm. On days that Jamey’s teaching in the afternoon, I do the 12pm pick-up and hang out with the boys at home during afternoon naps, and then load them up and come back to campus to pick up Jamey at 5.

After that, it’s dinner, and the kids go to bed between 7-8pm. After that, either (a) Jamey and I spend time together watching TV, or (b) I come back to campus for something with students: Sigma Phi Delta Nu stuff, concerts, theatre productions, Campus Ministry events, etc.

PAGE DESIGNS + PHOTO . BRITTANI HALL

What has been your biggest influence?

Communities of faith. I was raised in a Christian home, by parents who prioritized participation in congregational life. In middle school and high school, I probably spent as much time at the church building as I did at home. I went to a Christian high school and earned all my subsequent degrees from Christian institutions, so my learning communities have always been communities of faith, too. I’ve been a part of a few different small groups and mentoring groups that were also really formative in both sustaining and shaping me as a person of faith. I am who I am because of the people of faith who have shaped and been shaped by me.

THE FEED

What are some of your hobbies?

Other than reading and watching TV/ movies, I also enjoy running, playing soccer and volleyball, and doing creative projects (arts and crafts – painting, sewing, crossstitching etc.).

Ash @romanek_ashley I went to the cafe this morning to get coffee and she scans my card and goes you have the most basic middle name ever cause I have the same one.

What drew you into ministry?

Essentially, the experiences I had in communities of faith (see above) made me passionate about investing in similar communities. I know how influential they can be – both for good and for ill. So, I felt drawn – by my experiences, my passions, and my gifts – to helping them be and become places that truly tell, shape, and join God’s story.

How has your ministry impacted you?

I’m not a naturally patient or empathetic person, so being given the opportunity to serve and participate in communities of faith has challenged me to work with the Spirit in developing those characteristics.

Johnny Lykins Christian Ministry Junior

Jacob Jenema @Jmoney725

Ever think about how weird texting is? You just type out short conversations with people and then stop.

It’s like dozens of tiny little conversations with people on your couch... weird.

Bridget Ann Farris @bridgetann816

Putting my grades up for adoption because I can’t raise them myself.

Makenna Calkin @makenna.calkin “I breaked so hard that I don’t remember how to school” - Brittani Hall 2k18 Bryson Laster @Bryson_Laster I think my favorite thing about class is when someone asks a question, and then basically answers it themselves... What was the point of you even asking the question??

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S H I E L D

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SLICES

LIT TLE NUGGETS OF ENTERTAINMENT GO ODNESS

MOVIES

MUSIC

W AT C H N O W

Eden

Chris Janson

ALTERNATIVE

COUNTRY

For Those That Like: Blackber, Puppet

For Those That Like: Luke Bryan, Chase Rice

Vertigo

Everybody

Maggie Rogers

Tr3 $ebiv

INDIE

Hip Hop, Rap

For Those That Like: Florence + The Machines, Kacy Hill

For Those That Like: Tory Lanez, Drake

Now that the Light is Fading

Flood

BOOKS

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A Legacy of Spies John le Carre

Into the Water Paula Hawkins

This thriller weaves us through past and present as we revist the character of Peter Guillam from le Carre’s famous George Smiley novels.

Another psychological thriller from the author of “The Girl on a Train.” After the mysterious death of her sister, Jules returns home to care for her sister’s daughter.

P A G E D E S I G N . B R I T TA N I H A L L | P H O T O S . G O O G L E I M A G E S

UPCOMING

THE ONES WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE!

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PA G E D E S I G N + P H O T O . R A C H E L M U R D O C K

Brad Thor

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“If we talk about the glass being half empty or half full, I want to know what does the glass look like from underneath the table?�

THE EVENTS WE’LL REMEMBER +

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THE PEOPLE WE’LL NEVER FORGET THE STORIES WE’LL RETELL

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