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The Semester Has Ended
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A Thought on Politics
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The Mizpah Gate
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Top 5 Christmas Gifts Under $10
Status Contributors Scott Wallace Velma Tonga Jared Cruz Chantelle Fuka Luisa Manu Henry Huynh Hayden Scott
Sponsor
Dr. Glen Robinson
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Get to Bed!
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What Are Your Christmas Memories?
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Things to Know While Away on Break
SA Finance Report Xyza Balansag
Cover Design
Lorraine Gonzales
Status Editor Clarissa Cintron
The Semester Has Ended... Southwestern Family, Christmas break is finally here, the break we have eagerly anticipated since the beginning of the semester. As you head home for Christmas break, the Student Association would like to wish y’all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Christmas is the time for us to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and is the season where we engage in spreading His loving kindness to the people around us. The New Year brings with it an opportunity for a new beginning where we get to start over and leave the past behind us, so celebrate because success awaits you in 2016. I’m excited to introduce y’all to the newest member of our SA team, Clarissa Cintron, who is the new Status Editor for the Student Association. Clarissa is currently a senior, majoring in psychology. She is working hard to bring you a new perspective on our student magazine this coming spring semester. Upcoming SA Elections are scheduled for February 25th, 2016. Applications will be open shortly and I strongly encourage you to apply for a position in the Student Association. We need students who are passionate in serving the student body and eager to use their creativity to make our Student Association great. Thank you for being a part of the student body. I pray that God will bless you and your family this holiday season. Sincerely,
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Hien Henry Huynh President | Student Association
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The Mizpah Gate #wewillrebuild
On November 18, around
8:35 a.m., something tragic happened on the campus of Southwestern Adventist University—a driver accidentally crashed into the Mizpah Gate. It was saddening to see what had happened but we are glad that the driver was okay. Donated by the Class of 1937 and built later that summer, Southwestern Adventist University’s Mizpah Gate has not only been a Texas Historical Landmark since 2009, but it is also a signature landmark for the University. When asked what the
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Mizpah Gate represents to him, President Dr. Ken Shaw replied, “I think the Mizpah Gate is a historical representation of the University and it means a lot to our alumni, faculty and current students.” The gate received its name from the school’s yearbook, Mizpah, which means “watchtower.” It originated from Genesis 31:49, also known as the Mizpah Prayer—“May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” Dr. Shaw also reported that the rebuilding process of the gate is coming along slowly but surely. Although he did not have an exact date, the goal is to have it completed and rebuilt in time for Homecoming Weekend in April 2016. There have also been some comments among students that suggested the school just tear it down completely and
rebuild a brand new monument. Dr. Shaw responded by saying, “I think that would lose the historical character and I would not want that.” The gate is almost 80 years old, but it is a lasting monument for many. Freshmen walk through the gate at the start of every school year symbolizing that they are entering the Southwestern family and graduating students walk out showing that they are ready to carry the knowledge and things learned out into the world. The Mizpah Gate is more than just a physical symbol. It is a reminder to past, present and future students that wherever we go in life that God will watch over and protect each one of us.
Scott Wallace
More Than Just A Gate
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The Top 5 Chr istmas Gifts Under $10
ft exchange this gi t an h ep el e it h y e in a w nk for your trust ked to participat li as e be th to on d k n ic u cl bo s. You are webmail, yet affordable gift will check your t, ea ou gr Y . on s on p ti as e se esom holiday r this article for aw ve co is d d an e su is Status
5) Gift Cards: These have become great go-to gifts, especially if you’re not sure whether the sweater you were going to pick out for them was their style or not. Who wouldn’t enjoy receiving a $10 gift card to Subway or Starbucks?
4) Travel Kit: During this holiday season, most of us will do some sort of traveling. Toothpaste, a toothbrush, Q-tips, lip balm, lotion, gum and deodorant are just some of the items you can include in a cute baggie. Not to mention, Walmart has a dreamland aisle of $1 toiletries and most are small enough to pass through TSA’s security checkpoint. Spice it up with his/her favorite candy & a note that says how much you appreciate them.
3) 4 Port High Speed USB Hub: $4.86 (new) on Amazon.com –
Help your friends prepare for upcoming school trips by getting them this functional hub to assist with on-the-road charging for their MacBook Pro, iPhone 6, iPad, and iPod. And if they so decide, they could share their port options with friends riding along in one of SWAU’s sleek, fleet vehicles.
2) Inspirational Posters: We all have at least one friend who
constantly talks about losing weight. Encourage them to reach their new year’s goal by purchasing one of these uplifting posters. They’ll be reminded daily to “perspire” in order to “aspire” and they will also be reminded of how great of a friend you are!
1) DIY gifts: Everyone likes a personal touch & Pinterest has tons of festive, easy-to-do projects. Now that finals are over, you’ll have time to sleep, shop, and create! From pumpkin bread to facial scrubs to hot cocoa mix in a mason jar – you have the world at your fingertips. The great thing about it is that your Yuletide offering can be chic yet functional.
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Chantelle Fuka
A Thought on Politics
“Politics seem uninteresting to some, intimidating to several, and nonexistent to others. So why bother?”
The capital’s decision-making— although its effects reach into many significant aspects of our lives—tends to have a low rating on the scale of typical conversational topics in the halls of Miller or Harmon. Politics seem uninteresting to some, intimidating to several, and nonexistent to others. So, the question becomes: why even bother? Why is it important to be informed about politics? Less than a year from now, a new president will be elected. This upcoming event has the potential to affect American history and the world stage for the next 20 to 50 years. Eleven months of campaigning, mudslinging, and empty promises still lie ahead of us and the 2016 election season is turning out to be a very exciting one. Thanks to the election, hot button issues in politics are being discussed and debated on a day-to-day basis. The issues range from gun control to conflicts in the Middle East, to the question of allowing Syrian refugees into the United States, to consistent mass shootings (like the recent occurrences in San Bernardino, California and Paris, France). With these being the paramount concerns of today’s society, it
only goes to show that there is so much to be conscious of. An advantage of being politically informed is that one would be able to make their voice heard. There are many ways to have one’s voice heard, but one method in particular is through the mechanism of voting. Voting is the opportunity that we all have in this great democratic society to express our opinions and beliefs. Voting has been a responsibility of each American citizen since the founding of the United States. In the times that we live in, this responsibility is no different. Each and everyone one of us should express our opinions and beliefs as often as we can because it is, in fact, our duty. Politics demand our attention to some degree whether we like it or not.The call is to be aware of what is happening in our nation and to speak out because these decisions have an impact on us whether directly or indirectly, whether immediately or futuristically, whether minimally or to the maximum. What happens to our nation trickles down to our states, cities, towns, neighborhoods, and eventually to our homes. It is not that politics have little to do with us—indeed, it has everything to do with us. Let’s pay attention.
Jared Cruz
Off-Campus Senator
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Get to Bed!
The semester has come to an end.
Everyone is in a zombie-like state, sleepdeprived because they are trying to prep for finals or make up the ten assignments they “missed.” Half of us are zoned out because, mentally, we are already at home grubbing on Mom’s home cooking. Then there are those who are a nervous wreck because tests give them anxiety. Yet, amidst all the craziness, we tend to neglect one thing—our health. “Pfft… seriously? We’re young! Our bodies are meant to be pushed to the brink!” Yes, youth may be on your side but the way we care for ourselves now will have a lasting effect. Taking responsibility for our health could go in so many directions: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. So let’s focus on our physical health, and concentrate on sleep.
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Why Sufficient Sleep is So Important Although there are a bazillion other things we could talk about—all of which affect our health—sleep is one of the most
important, preventative measures young people can take in order to avoid a plethora of problems. According to the University Health Center, lack of sleep will lead to: •More illnesses such as cold and flu, due to a lowered immune system •Feeling more stressed out •Increased weight gain and obesity •Lower GPA and decreased academic performance •Increased mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety •Increased automobile accidents due to fatigue caused by “drowsy driving” •Decreased performance in athletics and other activities that require coordination
The recommended amount of sleep is about seven to eight hours. Students, on average, get about six hours of sleep every night. I know it’s hard with homework, tests, quizzes, hanging out with friends, and the abundance of great activities on campus, but sleep must be made a priority. During those quiet hours, uninterrupted by your roommate’s snores, your body is hard at work: Muscles relax, blood pressure drops, energy is restored, memory is strengthened, tissue growth and repair occurs, and hormones that help you grow are released. It is amazing to think that while we are in slumber, the body God gave us continues to work, restoring itself! Mrs. Ellen White writes, “Proper periods of sleep and rest and an abundance of physical exercise are essential to the health of the body and mind. To rob nature of her hours for rest and recuperation, by allowing one man to do the work of four, or of three, or even of two, will result in irreparable loss.” With that said, finish strong! Use the holiday break as a time to create new sleeping habits. Take care of yourselves and give your body the rest it so desperately needs. Your body will thank you when you need it the most.
Velma Tonga, LVN Campus Nurse
Things to Know While Away on Break.... 1) Residence Halls reopen on Tuesday, December 29, at 6:00 p.m. Please contact your respective Deans for more information. Men’s Residence Hall: 817-202-6229 Women’s Residence Hall (Harmon): 817-202-6510 Women’s Residence Hall (Hadley & Meier): 817-202-6513 2) Campus Service 3) provides shuttles from the DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport for students needing transportation on Saturday, January 9, 2016 after sundown and Sunday, January 10, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Please call 817-2026240 to reserve a seat. Reservation is required in advance. Seating is limited. Information needed for reservation: name of airline, contact number, flight number, gate and terminal.
4) Registration is on Sunday, January 10. Instruction begins on Monday, January 11.
5) Office of Student Services: If you are on Step 3, please submit a copy of the front and back of your insurance card via email or fax. A copy is required each semester even if insurance information remains the same from the previous semester. Contact information: 817-202-6219 | studentservices@swau.edu
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