December 2017 by Spring Arbor University's The Pulse

PULSE

D e c e m b e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 • I s s u e 4 • Vo l u m e 5 • t h e s a u p u l s e . c o m

THE

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That s Christmas to me ‘Twas the night before break, and the pulse had a mission: keep campus informed on Christmas traditions. See pages 10-13.

PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

PREVIEW

TAB LE OF

CONTENTS “ALMOST CHAPEL”

Video announcements look to expand next semester PAGE 4

LIFE IN TRANSLATION: THE WORK OF AN INTERPRETER

ETHICAL GIFTING

PAGE 6

HOW CHAPEL SPEAKERS ARE CHOSEN PAGE 8

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN GIVING PAGE 7

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

FLATLINE PAGE 14

PAGES 10-11

PAGE 9

CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CONSUMERISM PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

ARTIST REVIEW: DAVID YOUNGMAN

PAGES 12-13

PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

CHRISTMAS CAROL’D

PAGE 15

SAU Hearts Drama performs class tale with a twist

REVAMP YOUR CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST

PAGE 16

SAU SPORTS HISTORY

A look into the past, present and future of sports at SAU.

WINTER BREAK WORKOUTS PAGE 18-19

PAGES 20-21

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Susan Panak

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

TRACK CONSTRUCTION UPDATE PAGE 22

PRE-GAME TRADITIONS PAGE 23

The more exact we can be in identifying obscured issues, the more meaningful our conversations

The Pulse | Editorial Board

ames have power. Every storyteller, Harry Potter fanatic and theologian can tell you that. By not naming something we reduce its existence. Because the Greeks did not have a word for blue, Homer conveyed the color of the ocean and sky in ways that he could, calling them “wine-dark” and “bronze.” Modern readers, who would rather say “blue,” are left with abstracted landscapes. While the way Homer described the ocean and sky in his time was effective, the development of the concept of “blue” gives us the ability to look at color and nature around us with more nuance. Developing and using more specific words allows us to talk about concepts and reality in more effective ways. Naming things makes them easier to discuss. We cannot solve an issue if we don’t name it. By not naming it, we do not acknowledge its existence and its power. Naming something does not mean agreeing with something. Recognizing someone different from yourself does not equate affirming their lifestyle. Loving someone does not require approving their actions. That being said, Spring Arbor Unviersity (SAU) has taken a step forward in addressing hot topic conversations, like the LGBTQ community after tensions rose following offhand comments from a chapel message. Posting on social media is not the same as speaking in chapel, but it has been named and addressed. This is our chance to continue the conversation. To continue to pursue truth and education with grace. To remain in dialogue with our fellow students and faculty and administrators. This is progress. We can hope for the future of our campus. We have seen administration learn from past experiences. We are not saying we can resolve this issue or the multitude of others overnight, but one can hope. We hope for transparency and better communication. We hope for love and support for all students. We hope for love and support for all faculty, staff and administrators. We hope for active listening and education.

EDITORIAL

Call it what it is

Our hopes are not placed in an institution. Our hopes are placed in the people that make it run. The people who make up SAU. The humans who have their own stories and experiences, emotions and passions, responsibilities and opinions. But ultimately, we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the one who came as the least of the these, the one who communed with us, the one who speaks with us, the one who sacrificed himself for the sins of all. He sees you, and He loves you. We at The Pulse will help continue this dialogue. We will provide a platform for voices from both sides to share their stories and experiences. We will continue to expand our community’s worldview. We will continue to inform and be informed. None of us love everyone. We strive to. Jesus commanded us to. But we aren’t perfect. And neither is The Pulse.

Have a response? Send us a Letter to the Editor, and we’ll print it in the next issue! Email us at thesaupulse@arbor.edu.

The Pulse Staff 2017-2018 Editor-in-Chief Kayla Williamson

Design Editor Andri Hill

Online Writer Kayla Kilgore

Associate Editor Elise Emmert

Designers Makana Geppert Alexis Hall Emily Norton Emily Spencer

Guest Writer Jeremiah Mansfield

News Editor Nathan Salsbury Features Editor Celeste Fendt Sports Editor Alex Anhalt Video Team Manager Brianna Buller Sales Manager Kaelyn Hale Photography Editor Kaci Bedgood

Staff Writers Collin Caroland Heather Clark Hannah Shimanek Emily Spencer Crisilee DeBacker Caralyn Geyer Editorial Board Collin Caroland Elise Emmert Nathan Salsbury Hannah Shimanek Kayla Williamson

Video Team Makana Geppert John Kroll Ryan Sisk Ethan Sox Sales Representatives Kelsey Brannon Katie Carroll Cole McEldowney Caytie Sprague Sasha Wilson Marketing Coordinators Aaliyah Winters Kaleigh Bone Vincent Nowak

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

News

“Almost Chapel” revamps Wednesday announcements Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

“I

s my face okay?” “No, it’s fine. They’ll probably zoom in if it looks stupid.” Andrew Sutton knows from experience. This is how most “Almost Chapel” shoots begin. Sutton bounces off his cohost’s energy while the crew sits in the dark behind cameras recording the banter. It is a typical Friday evening in the video lab of Sayre-Decan Hall. When interim chaplain Brian Kono first pitched the idea of video chapel announcements to Dorie Shelby, chair of the department of communication, she responded with a screen-and-a-half of an email full of thoughts and ideas. All Kono knew was that speaking through slides was boring, and he wanted to involve more voices in the announcements to represent the community. “[I hoped] that it would start chapel off with a little bit of laughter and another perspective or glimpse of something else that’s happening [around campus],” Kono said. The entire process of making “Almost Chapel” each week takes a

combined 13 hours of planning meetings, script writing, filming and the longest part, editing. The multitalented guys behind the cameras, W. Cody Pitts, Josiah Sweeney, Nathan Salsbury and administrative assistant Clayton Saren, were recruited in the early stages of the process. They are hired video lab assistants who spend all their work hours on “Almost Chapel.” Starting at Thursday’s planning meeting for the next week’s chapel, the entire team—Pitts, Sweeney, Salsbury, Sutton, Kono, Shelby, Saren and the featured cohost—gather in the video lab to critique the last week’s video and go over the next script. Salsbury writes it and emails the group the night before with all the details of events on campus–some that Kono passed along, and a lot he has to hunt down. “Nathan is like this organizational rockstar,” Sutton said. “You can assume if you need the details and they’re actually available, Nathan has them.” But the process does not always go that smoothly. The greatest challenge for Kono is receiving event information before the “Almost Chapel” shoot on

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

Fridays. Between that Friday evening and the Wednesday of chapel, events change, and the team has to decide whether they need to change anything or call attention to the app for more info. “I feel like we are finally finding some rhythm. I will be honest and the team would be honest, sometimes it doesn’t go as we had hoped,” Kono said. It took several weeks and multiple shoots to settle on the current couchand-hosts set up. In fact, the very first “Almost Chapel cannot be found on the “Almost Chapel” Vimeo archive. Memories of Pitts and Dane Parsons sitting on a dishwasher are better left in the past. “We don’t talk about the first shoot,” Sweeney said. If all goes well next semester, Kono hopes to expand the videos to Monday and Wednesday by asking the university for money to support the more than 26 hours it takes to create two videos. Kono sees chapel videos as an opportunity to spotlight lesser-known groups on campus like the Hearthstone club and Bowling team. In addition to sports highlights and interviews, the team hopes to build community by introducing groups that may not have had announcements on slideshows of the past. “In some ways, I hope it makes campus a little bit smaller, but also a little bit bigger in that you know more people,” Sweeney said.

December 8, 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ thesaupulse.com

A Fair Trade Christmas Guide (for the broke college student) Celeste Fendt | Features Editor

hen it comes to giftgiving, it’s easy to settle for cheap trinkets from Amazon or the nearest chain department store. But before giving money to these businesses, take the time to consider the impact of your spending. This guide is comprised of only fair trade or ethically sourced items to help with your giftgiving for the holidays. For your roommate: A hand-painted, microwave and dishwasher safe mug, because the only thing getting her through finals week is coffee. Serrv is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing income for artisans, farmers and their families in Vietnam. For the cutie you’ve had your eye on all semester: A dark chocolate peppermint chocolate bar, because they’re the sweetest. Endangered Species Chocolate supports sustainable farming practices and donates a portion of their profits to wildlife organizations every year. They’ve raised $1.3 million for animals in the past three years alone.

For your mom: A one-of-a-kind quilt made from vintage saris. A little on the pricier side, but your angel of a mother deserves every penny. One of the many ways The Little Market empowers women across the world is by allowing them to work from home and care for their families. For your dog: Because he’s just as much part of the family as anyone else. The purchase of this eco-friendly frisbee helps Honest Pet Products provide work and support for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities in Wisconsin. For your dad: A picture frame handmade in India with a photo of you two inside. Through the United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the purchase of this picture frame pays for 37 children to receive the polio vaccine.

For links to buy these gifts visit thesaupulse.com.

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

For your little sister: A mini, floral heart-shaped purse with colorful pom-poms. The perfect size to hold loose change and a package of fruit snacks. All of GAIA’s products are handmade by refugee women living in Dallas, Texas. For your brother: Alpaca fiber socks since he still thinks it’s cool to wear shorts all winter. Shupaca products are hand woven on looms by artisans living in South America. Buying from a small business contributes to an individual’s or family’s income. Buying from companies that manufacture their products using unfair working conditions exacerbates the problem. Buying goods that are fair trade certified helps developing countries practice environmental sustainability, ethical treatment of workers and experience a reduction in poverty. It’s your choice.

The Season of Giving Matt Gin discusses how students can give back

Collin Caroland | Features Editor

his holiday season, some students will go home more excited about what they will get than what they will give. Matt Gin, the director of the Arbor Fund, believes one of the most important aspects of life is giving back, and the holiday season provides plenty of opportunities to do just that. “Whether it’s formally volunteering or seeing and helping someone in need, there are lots of ways to give,” Gin said. “I usually refer to these as giving time, talent or treasure.”

When it comes to talents, everyone has something to offer. Whether you can cook, speak or juggle, there are ways you can give back to your neighbors and community. Treasure might seem out of the grasp of college students, but even old T-shirts or one of the many stuffed animals crammed in the corner of your bed can make a difference in the right hands. If that is still not an option, Gin says any time you can block out in your schedule for a good cause is time well-spent. “Sometimes we give because we feel it, which is the best way, I think,” Gin said. “Other times we give so that our heart will follow to the causes we give to.” Whether you can spare five dollars or five minutes, giving during the holidays lets eager and unwilling participants alike see the difference their work, time and funds can make for someone else’s Christmas. Even when people’s hearts are hard, Gin said, their passion for a cause can be “opened up” to create real impact. Giving sometimes requires doing first and feeling second.

Students might think they do not have much to give or that the little they have to give will not make any real difference. But these beliefs are not always true. This year, students are encouraged to consider giving back in even the smallest of capacities, such as in SAU’s “Giving Tuesday” event after Thanksgiving or in the “Core Gives Back” events. Donating a dollar to a charity or giving money you could have spent on coffee to a person or family in need, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or finding another place your talents may fit could change someone’s Christmas this season.

December 8 2017 • thesaupulse.com 7

Features

Where do they come from? How chapel speakers are chosen Nathan Salsbury | News Editor Every Monday and Wednesday (and sometimes Friday), Spring Arbor University (SAU) students travel en masse across campus to get to chapel. Over the span of an hour, students gather for a n n o u n c e m e n t s, a time for worship and a time for learning from a speaker. In June 2017, associate professor of theology Brian Kono took on the position of Director of Student Discipleship. He now oversees chapel and schedules each speaker. Kono has two main criteria for speakers: they should be connected to Spring Arbor in some way so they know the community, and they should be engaged in trying to bring about Kingdom work in the area in which they are leading. Bonus points are awarded if the person has spoken at chapel before, as there are extensive files on past speakers, or if the person is an alumnus of SAU. For spring semester, Kono tried to find times to create a group of related chapel speakers. One such series will take place in April, during the annual Women in Leadership conference

hosted at SAU. If Kono continues to to speak on a controversial topic, so the lead chapel for the 2018-19 school school may provide a space for feedback year, he hopes to also connect with the and conversation. church calendar, bringing in speakers Although the speakers for the who can speak on topics like Lent. upcoming spring semester have already Another factor in choosing chapel been decided, students can email Kono speakers is the budget. Typically, with suggestions for next fall. He asks speakers have to come from somewhere that the suggestions come through close by, like Michigan or at least the email with contact information for Midwest, so the cost of travel and the potential speaker so that he has a hotels are not high. However, Kono written record of the suggestion. Kono has made a list of four or five people also appreciates being able to listen to from further away that he would like examples of the speaker’s messages to include next year based on the online if possible so he can get an information, perspective and message idea of their style and what they can they can provide on certain topics. contribute. With the controversial issues “Something I’ve tried to do this surrounding some chapel speakers, semester and next semester is bring in Kono hopes to bring in people who people who can come in and say, ‘So can address specific issues in the this is the kind of ministry I do as a future. Scheduling has proved to be critical participant in the contemporary an issue when trying to bring in these world,’” Kono said. speakers, however. “The people who are heavily invested in those areas, I can’t touch for a year and sometimes even two, so it’s necessary for us to think that far in advance if we want to bring in some very significant, quality people,” “The people who are Kono said. heavily invested in those These conversations are sometimes in response areas, I can’t touch for a to chapel messages that year and sometimes even some groups of students two, so it’s necessary for us may take issue with. to think that far in advance Kono sends a letter to if we want to bring in some all the speakers before they come, urging them very significant, quality to give the school a people.” forewarning if they plan

Brian Kono, Associate Professor of Theology 8

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

A day in the life of interpreters at SAU Heather Clark | Staff Writer

f you’ve ever tried to decipher the meIf you’ve ever tried to decipher the meaning of a friend’s bizarre 2 a.m. study session comments or hoped a text was sarcasm, you know how complicated the English language can be. Imagine listening to a conversation, remembering all the words and how they correspond to a completely different language system, and then translating the conversation into that language while you’re still listening for the next sentence in English. Now rinse and repeat. No matter what languages are being interpreted, the interpreter’s job is demanding and intense. Simultaneously understanding and using two languages at once takes a mental, and sometimes physical, toll. But according to SAU’s resident interpreters, no matter their specialties, the rewards of interpreting are worth it. One of SAU’s professors, Paul Hanks, is a professional interpreter and translator of Spanish and English. Hanks is a registered interpreter with a Detroit agency and works with Spanishspeaking clients in many settings, including medical and legal cases. Hanks said cultural signals, such as tone of voice, facial expression and body language, are as important to correct interpretation as the spoken words. These signals vary from culture to culture and can easily be misunderstood in conversation. Sophomore Emily Bloss has interpreting experience as well. Bloss, a sophomore Spanish major, has taught English classes in Honduras for the past five years. She also serves as the interpreter for missions groups who come visit the school there and for students who want to give testimonies

or share their stories. For Bloss, one of the most difficult parts of interpreting is that every language has unique ideas and idioms. This summer, Bloss said, she interpreted for a church group that was visiting from Jackson, Michigan. “I helped translate for their group and the pastor that was there,” Bloss said. “We went to a village and I helped translate the prayer.” Spoken languages are not the only things being interpreted on and off campus. American Sign Language (ASL)

interpreters serve deaf students on campus by interpreting during chapel and classes and can be requested for any events the students attend, including off-campus field trips. Liz Andrews is one of two interpreters currently providing interpreting services on SAU’s campus. The two work together, taking over for each other in fifteen minute intervals, as interpreting is both physically and mentally demanding. Some academic classes also use technical terms and jargon. “If there isn’t a sign for something, the student and I agree on one we make up ourselves and then use,” Andrews said. Since Andrews interprets in various settings, such as hospitals and other college campuses, she may have different signs for the same term for her various clients. ASL interpreters are not always present on SAU’s campus. The interpreters are independent and are

hired through Academic Student Connections (ASC). They work on campus only when there are deaf students who have requested them. Grace McCoy, a Junior Elementary Education major, is deaf and uses the interpreter service provided by ASC. She said part of the reason she chose to attend SAU was because her brother had already come and the interpreters were already set up to work with him. McCoy would like to work with the deaf community, and she also hopes to expand the sign language club she and her brother began into an academic class. “Even knowing just one word in sign language can make [a deaf person’s] day,” McCoy said.

Features

The Language Barrier

PHOTO BY Andri Hill

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Features

Brian Kono, Associate Professor of Theology 8

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

A day in the life of interpreters at SAU Heather Clark | Staff Writer

Features

The Language Barrier

PHOTO BY Andri Hill

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

The Traditions That Make the Holiday Bright Elise Emmert | Associate Editor

any families have holiday traditions they dig out of storage and dust off once the first signs of cold weather come around. Whether you wait until Christmas Day to put the Christ child in the Nativity Scene, sleep by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, or open presents on Three Kings’ Day, traditions can provide a meaningful way for families to celebrate the season together. In the spirit of the winter holidays, we talked to a few students on campus to learn about their favorite traditions.

No Matter the Circumstance

Sometimes, movies make their way into family traditions. For sophomore Kayla Olewinski’s family, that movie is “The Polar Express.” Every Christmas Eve—and no sooner—Olewinski’s family watches the movie and makes hot chocolate to drink during the “hot chocolate” scene on the train. However, life and sickness threw a wrench into their plans in 2016. Olewinski’s brother was checked in to the hospital because of dehydration from the flu. Unable to watch the movie at home, Olewinski brought her laptop to his hospital room so they could

watch it there. The nurses noticed their dedication to the tradition, and the family mentioned to them in passing how they make hot chocolate for the movie. “We got about twenty minutes into the movie,” Olewinski said, “and the nurses came back with hot chocolate for all of us.” Olewinski’s family did not finish the movie that night, but decided to watch it on Christmas night at home, since her brother was released from the hospital on Christmas morning. But despite the challenges they faced last year, they were committed to their tradition—and were even able to have their hot chocolate.

In With a Bang

Junior Quinton Greene announces the arrival of Christmas morning by

PHOTOS FROM Facebook

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

blowing a plastic vuvuzela to wake up the rest of the family. He wears his new pajamas, opened on Christmas Eve, when the family watched the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” ”My grandma (blew it) when I was younger,” Greene said, “and then when she passed away I had to blow it and wake everyone up.” After everyone is jolted out of bed, the family gathers around the breakfast table. They have cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast, and listen to soft Christmas music until everyone is sufficiently awake. Christmas afternoons for Greene are spent at his aunt’s house with the extended family. Though now the tradition only occurs every few years, when he was younger, these gatherings always consisted of the family wearing their pajamas. With so many traditions, Greene has a lot he would like to carry on to his own family someday. Even if his

kids are up before him, he still plans on blowing the vuvuzela to announce Christmas morning. “I’d love to pass that kind of stuff on, like cinnamon rolls [and] pajama Christmases,” Greene said. “But I’m sure that I would want to create new ones as well.”

The Joy of the Family

Every Christmas Eve, junior Erica Donihue’s family makes candy caneshaped coffee cakes filled with cream cheese and apricot or raspberry jam, a tradition that has been around since before she was born. Then, they turn on the Kenny Rogers Christmas album, plug in the tree and spend the evening sitting on the living room floor, coloring and drinking hot chocolate. On Christmas morning, the Donihue family has breakfast together, which typically consists of pancakes, waffles, cinnamon rolls and homemade syrup, among other things. Because they eat breakfast around 11 a.m., Donihue said, they usually do not eat dinner until late in the evening. The day is spent in the living room, where the family reads the Christmas story from the gospel of Matthew. When they open presents depends on

work schedules of family members, which means they sometimes have to wait until the evening. But every year, Donihue knows to expect to receive a board game for the family to play. Donihue, as well, hopes to carry on some traditions to her family someday, including playing the Kenny Rogers album on Christmas Eve. “It will happen and my kidswill love it,” Donihue said, “whether or not they like Kenny Rogers.”

The Spirit of Generosity

For senior Tylar Salter, Christmas memories often involve giving and receiving gifts. One of the first gifts he remembers getting is a Scooby-Doo shaving kit, but the most memorable was an Xbox 360 that he and his brother had both been wanting. “My mom couldn’t really afford it,” Salter said, “and we both knew that, so we saved up half the money.” Salter and his brother had given their mom the money they had saved more than a month before Christmas, but come Christmas morning, the Xbox was

nowhere to be found among their other, smaller presents. It was not until the afternoon, when Salter and his brother had already concluded that their mom must have spent the money she gave them on the things they had already opened, that she brought the game system out. Now, Salter enjoys being able to get those he knows something they wanted or needed for Christmas. He spends time with his family, and now with his wife, Lacey, on Christmas morning, taking the time to relax. “The whole point of Christmas to me isn’t just the fact that Jesus was born,” Salter said, “but that Jesus came for us to love people and enjoy each other’s company.”

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Features

Is it the most wonderfu time of the year?

For some, Christmas does not include shopping and present But that does not make that time of year any less special.

Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

n 2008 or 2009, Elijah Drake and his four siblings received a picture of a Wii for Christmas. His parents had been saving up to buy it as a conjoined gift to the kids, but when Christmas rolled around, they did not have enough money for it. So they gave the kids a picture with the promise to buy it soon. “It became a running joke in the family, like, ‘we had to give you a picture for that Christmas,’” Drake said. Drake’s family is one of many who cannot participate in the consumerism Christmas promotes. When the expected spending on Christmas is an average of $752 according to Gallup, the holidays for the average consumer can turn into prowling newspapers for Black Friday sales and hovering over their phones on Cyber Monday. But for low income families, Christmas can mean something more than shopping and gifts under the tree. It has to mean something more.

Jubilee Jackson “You may think because there were many years when we didn’t have too much under the tree, and one year when we had nothing under the tree from our parents, that we’d be some sad kids, but our parents instilled in us that it wasn’t about that. It was about being together,” Jubilee Jackson said.

With seven children-three out of college, one in college, one in high school and one in elementary school-being together at one time is a feat. But Jackson’s family makes it happen every year. While her family cannot always provide the presents under the tree, she finds other ways to put a smile on other people’s faces. The best Christmas present Jackson ever received was a job. She started working at Coldstone in high school and decided to pay it forward. Each year she partners with her aunt, who teaches at her old middle school, to buy Christmas presents for some of her students. “Not everyone has that outlook that Christmas isn’t about gifts,” Jackson said. “If there’s something I can do to help someone feel better about that day or not feel so left out or forgotten, that’s what I do.” She knows what it is like to be disappointed after Christmas. Her dad is a painting contractor, so he either does not have a lot of jobs during the holidays or is working extra gigs at a lower price just to put something together for Christmas. But to her, Christmas is about being with the people she loves the most and giving to those who need it. Maybe not material items, but time, patience and love. “Doing whatever you can to make someone feel important,” Jackson said. “I learned that it doesn’t take material things to do that.”

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

Colleen An

During high mimic typical tr the locations an For three mo and her family had smiling face Christmas, just a “Being poor traditions are ju Growing up, ask herself, “W they putting the her two siblings she said, but no “I think it w go,” Anderson being upset isn’t This year, wh on finding frien something new, she remains hop “Ideas and tr now because I’m “It’s different an or years in the f choosing to acc

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At church the day after Christmas, Gabe Rowlison’s friend said he had received designer cologne, a guitar, a bass guitar, leather jacket and outfits. Not pieces of clothing, but full outfits. Meanwhile, Gabe had received two pair of jeans (one that did not fit), dress pants (that also did not fit), socks, underwear and a couple of shirts. “It was never something that I was bitter about,” Rowlison said. “It only hurt when I would go to church the next morning. You know I’d go to church and everyone’s strutting around in their new stuff and I have the same pair of jeans I’ve been wearing for 20 years.” But this time, it made him mad. He remembered the internal flip that changed his view-that everyone has something to struggle with, and poverty was his. That internal flip reminded him of how his family would watch “White Christmas” and “The Toy That Saved Christmas” together, listen to Bing Crosby while they decorated the tree and debate the theological implications of various current events-all in good fun. The conversations with his family and the food they share make the holiday season enjoyable, not the gifts. “My family’s more like, ‘Let’s dive into the theological implications of what it means that God chose to be incarnate human.’ Because my fam has theological debates over the dinner table all the time,” Rowlison said.

n Anderson

high school, Colleen Anderson’s Christmas would ical traditions of decorations, movies and church, but ns and faces varied year to year. ee months one summer, she was homeless. After that, she mily would stay at friends’ houses. While not everyone g faces during Christmastime, they would still celebrate just at different households. poor doesn’t change really any form of tradition, because are just so ingrained in our culture,” Anderson said. ng up, Anderson was upset with her parents. She would , “Why can they not use their money wisely? Why are ng themselves and their comfort in front of us [her and blings]?” There were many disappointing Christmases, ut none with nothing under the tree. k it was counseling that allowed me to just kind of let it rson said. “A mix of counseling and then realizing that t isn’t really going to make a difference.” ar, while she cannot go home for Christmas, she plans g friends who will let her go home with them. It is new, and she does not quite know what will happen, but ns hopeful. and traditions behind it aren’t very relevant for me right se I’m trying to protect myself in a way,” Anderson said. ent and this is new, no idea how it’s going to go this year the future. In this case I have to accept it. It’s not about o accept it.”

Features

Gabe Rowlison

Elijah Drake When the 2008 financial crisis hit, Drake’s six-person family lived off $17,000 a year for three years. A few days before Christmas, during those years, his extended family would celebrate, share a meal and visit family. He and his 25 cousins rushed to open their presents. Drake sat on the carpet by the tree, tore open the present from his grandparents, and inside the plastic container was...a flashlight. “I remember going, ‘Oh thanks,’ and looking at my parents like, ‘Really, this is it?’” Drake said. His grandpa lost all of his life savings in the 2008 recession, so that Christmas, they gave all of the boy cousins a flashlight. Drake was less than enthused. His mom gritted her teeth and glared at him before he turned back to his grandparents and said, “Thank you.” It was a gradual understanding (and a lecture on the way home) that changed his mindset. In high school, he wrote a personal vignette about his grandma and grandpa, helping him realize the gravity of the situation. It was a turning point in awareness and empathy. “Now I try to exhibit even more, ‘man, this is the effort, this is the sacrifice they’re putting into this. This is the heart they have behind it,’ and that’s what’s been big for me,” Drake said.

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

A&E

Jesus is coming before finals Student group predicts the end of the world

Elise Emmert | Associate Editor

or students of all majors, finals week can feel like the end of the world. All of the final papers are due, and exams (some unfortunately comprehensive) are scheduled to be taken. When everyone is kicked off of campus late on Friday the fifteenth, leaving campus empty, visitors might think the rapture has happened. One group of students on campus believe that such a rapture is coming, occurring not on the fifteenth but a few days before. “We’re not sure of the exact date,” the group’s leader said, “but it’s either the Monday or Tuesday before exams.” The End Times group has been meeting all semester, studying passages of Scripture that refer to the coming age. They worked through the entire Old and New Testaments, taking note of any verses or stories that were relevant to their study.

is us g! s Je omin c

After collecting all their data, the group members sat down and started fitting pieces of the puzzle together to find their answer. To find the dates, the group used math and pattern-finding software, looking for connections between verse placement and content. “It took some fancy math and some creative rearranging,” one group member said, “but we were able to narrow it down to the Monday, which is most probable, or the Tuesday of finals week.” From start to finish, the work took about three months. Group members credit the quick turnaround to the use of the software, which they claim are more accurate than human calculations. Their work, they said, is also more complete than their predecessors, who typically focused on smaller sections of the Biblical texts.

no need to stud y!!!

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

Now that they have found the answer, the students in the group have decided to live a little differently than they had been. “We don’t have to study for finals anymore, or do our end-of-term assignments,” one member said. “So, we can spend our time doing more productive things, like spreading the word about the end of the world.” The students have set up a Facebook page, entitled “Jesus is Coming Before Finals,” to inform other students, and people all around the world, about their end time conclusions. On the page, they have provided links to a synthesis of their research, encouragement videos, and a “Countdown to Paradise” timer. “The most important thing we can say right now to everyone is that they need to get right with God,” the group’s leader said. “Jesus is coming in just a few days, so don’t wait.”

The End is Near!

A&E

Adujnct professor produces Christmas guitar album Luke Richardson | Staff Writer

pring Arbor University (SAU) is the alma mater of many musicians, but students usually get the attention while professors help from behind the curtain. However, sometimes faculty members get a chance to step into the spotlight. Case in point: David Youngman, an adjunct guitar professor at SAU who just finished a concert tour in the Hillsdale Area from December 3-5 to promote his Christmas guitar album, “Christmas.” “I was convicted 12 years ago to pursue becoming a performing musician no matter what it took and I have not looked back since,” Youngman said. “I have taken on many impossible challenges, including competing in and winning the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. It’s just in me to move forward and overcome obstacles.” Youngman’s country style blends raw percussion with down-to-earth, feel-good melodies as he slaps the sides of the instrument and lets the resonating strings hum. Youngman’s songs make full use of his ability to play harmony and melody simultaneously. His passion for the music is evident in the smile on

his face and intensity of his eye as he plucks every string with care to tunes reminiscent of those penned by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. “I love all the sounds you can make with a guitar,” Youngman said. “You can get melody and bass lines and percussion and harmonics. There are so many different sounds, and I enjoy the challenge of writing larger arrangements for that one instrument.” “My goal is to focus on making the Christmas show an interactive experience, which can sometimes become a distraction when technology doesn’t cooperate,” reads Youngman’s Kickstarter page. “I want to be able to bring concertgoers a show where my sound and stage projections are true to my vision. I want more freedom to be in the moment and play, rather than paying attention to equipment that is under-performing or not performing at all.” With recognizable Christmas tunes like “Joy to the World” and lesser known gems like “Pat-apan,” Youngman tackles the wide spectrum of Christmas music with his signature fingerstyle. To learn more about Youngman and listen to some of his music, visit his website at www.davidyoungmanmusic.com.

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

A&E

Top Eight Underrated Christmas Songs Crisilee DeBacker | Staff Writer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

es, there is such a thing as “too much Andy Williams.” Christmas music is played for two months straight (sometimes three), and hearing the same songs over and over can get boring. Here are eight of the most underrated Christmas songs to help keep your Christmas spirit refreshed and flowing through the month of December.

Snow

Sleeping at Last Have you ever seen “It’s a Wonderful Life?” Picture the last scene: George Bailey returned home, his daughter in his arms and his wife at his side, being celebrated by the entire community and dubbed, “the richest man in town.” That joy, that feeling of being home—that’s this song.

Christmas Lights

Coldplay Soft piano, Chris Martin’s familiar lullaby voice, and the sad story of a heartbroken man. It changes melodies halfway through, and the melancholy song picks up pace with an upbeat drum accompaniment as the heartbroken man decides to hold onto hope that the Christmas lights will bring his love back to him.

Please Come Home for Christmas

Leslie Odom Jr. Yes, it’s your classic jazz Christmas bop, but it’s Leslie Odom Jr, which means it’s ten times better. His voice is the definition of “smooth jazz”, and this song is the perfect combination of a slow tempo and a catchy tune that makes you want more while savoring every second. (His whole album is like this, honestly. The man can do no wrong.)

Auld Lang Syne

Sufjan Stevens A BANJO? Yes. God bless America and Sufjan Stevens for combining a banjo and a chorus of voices in one of the most iconic and hope-filled Christmas songs.

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Dominic Gaudious The only instrumental song on this list and it’s earned its place. It’s a mix of different instruments, spotlighting each one at different points in the song while mainly focusing on the electric guitar. It’s a modern twist that will help the listener see the classic Christmas hymn as more than“that song we sing during Christmas Eve service.”

Santa Will Find You

Mindy Smith Mindy Smith’s crystal-clear voice makes you feel right at home, even while you’re still swimming in papers and exams. In a beautiful acoustic ballad, she croons that even if you can’t make it home for Christmas, the Christmas spirit will find you all the same.

The Night Before Christmas

Brandon Heath Brandon Heath reminds listeners of the true meaning of Christmas in this song. He follows Mary and Joseph as they find a place to stay and chronicles their tumultuous journey before they can bring the Savior into the world in this pop/rock Christmas song. Oh, and there are violins.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

The Head and the Heart An acoustic jazz duet—if there is such a thing—that tells a love story. The Head and the Heart’s is my favorite rendition of this tune. Both members of the duo have voices that immediately increase the cozy factor of wherever you’re at by 100.

So, if you find yourself wishing the Christmas season was over so you can finally listen to regular music again, try these eight songs to get you back in the holiday spirit.

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

SAU Hearts Drama presents “Christmas Carol’d”

A&E

God Bless Us, Every One Emily Spencer | Staff Writer The audience sits circling the stage area, empty except for a few trunks, when the actors begin to enter. A voice calls across the stage, “Marley was dead to begin with.” Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) drama department is presenting the play “Christmas Carol’d” from Dec. 7-10. Associate professor of the department of communications, Jen Letherer, is the director of the show. Letherer has directed several other SAU productions, including “Pirates of Penzance” and “Godspell.” As director of the drama program, she sets the season of drama events and senior shows. “My job is to set the artistic tone, to interpret the script and to make sure the actors are fulfilling that vision as they tell the story,” Letherer said. “Christmas Carol’d” was written by a playwright based in Ann Arbor named Joe Zettlemaier. He sent some of the plays he has written to Letherer, and she believed “Christmas Carol’d” would be a good fit for SAU. “To me, the play is about, ‘Is there anyone who is beyond forgiveness, is there anyone who is beyond redemption?’” Letherer said. “We see what redemption truly is through Scrooge’s eyes.” According to Letherer, entire passages of the original “A Christmas Carol” are implemented in Zettlemaier’s rendition of the story, both in dialogue and in

narration given by the players. One thing that makes the play unique is that there is one actor playing Scrooge and six actors who play everyone else. Junior Ellerie Hughes, one of the actors, enjoys the challenge of playing several characters. “It keeps it exciting, and it makes me excited to go to rehearsal every day to keep developing those characters more and more, and to be able to jump in and out of all these different hats,” Hughes said. In addition to playing several characters, the actors must coordinate several trunks which contain all their props and serve as the sets. The actors must build the sets out of the trunks for each stave of the play.

According to Hughes, the audience will be seated on the stage with the players in a round. Letherer hopes that the close proximity to the action will make the play more experiential for the audience. “My hope for the show, as Dicken’s for his work, is that it will ‘haunt our houses pleasantly,’” Letherer said. PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Sports

Merry Fitness Hannah Shimanek | Staff Writer Jeremiah Mansfield | Guest Writer

is the season for pie and potatoes, candy canes and candied yams, cocoa and carbs. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, we seem to have a pattern of stuffing our faces with food until January 1, when we make resolutions to work out and lose our holiday weight. To avoid lastminute fixes, The Pulse interviewed local gym buff, senior Jeremiah Mansfield, to create a list of workouts you can do at home, no equipment or experience necessary.

Legs •

•

Squats: 6 reps (place feet shoulder-width apart and extend arms in front. Bend knees as if sitting in an invisible chair. Hold, then come back up) Lunges: 8 reps (start with feet together. Slide right leg forward while keeping both feet flat. Bend knee to a 90 degree angle. Hold, then come back up to the starting position. Switch legs and repeat) Jump squat: 8 reps (do a squat, but as you stand up, use momentum from bent legs to jump. Drop back down into a squat position and repeat)

Back •

•

• •

Supermans: 12 reps (lay on stomach and lift one arm and the opposite leg while keeping other arm and leg on the ground. After a few reps, switch, and do the opposite arm and leg) Reverse snow angels: 5 reps (lay on stomach and lift both arms and legs, spread legs and arms into an “X” shape and then back to start position) Cobra yoga position: 10 seconds (lay on stomach and put hands next to shoulders. Push upper body up until arms are straightened. Hold)

Arms

Wide push-ups: 6 reps (get in a push-up position and spread arms out as far as you can without slipping. Proceed as if performing a regular push-up) Push-up hold: 30 seconds (get in a push-up position and hold) Plank: 30 seconds (get into a push up position, then bend your elbows and lay on your forearms and hold)

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

• • •

•

Chest

Old-fashioned push-ups: 10 reps (pretty self-explanatory) Dips: 10 reps (put hands on the edge of a chair and bend at the elbows) Decline & incline push-ups: 10 reps (put feet on the couch and hands on the floor, then proceed as if performing a regular push up. Next, switch, with hands on the couch and feet on the floor)

Abs

Crunches: 10 reps (lay on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Curl head and shoulders toward knees. Relax and repeat) Leg raises: 8 reps (lay flat on back. Keep legs together and raise toward the ceiling, then lower. Go slow for a better workout) V-ups: 8 reps (lay on back. Keeping arms and legs straight, lift them up and toward each other, bending at the waist. Return to starting position and repeat)

Sports Every year on Christmas Day the channel TNT runs the movie “A Christmas Story” for 24-hours. So, if you are more interested in a workout to get over the Christmas dinner comatose, then this workout will be more your speed. Every time one of the following is mentioned or seen in the movie you perform the corresponding workout.

• Any time anyone says “Ralphie” .... 5 jumping jacks • The entire duration that Ryans tongue is stuck to the pole .... 5 sit ups • The mention of a Red Ryder BB Gun .... 5 squats • Any time Ralphie cries .... 5 push-ups • Any time the leg lamp makes an appearance .... Stand on one leg for 10 seconds (and switch to do the other leg) • Whenever the bully laughs .... 10 crunches • When you hear the “785 smelly hound dogs” .... 5 reverse snow angels • Any time Ralphie has a weird daydream .... 15 second plank • The entire duration Ralphie is in his Bunny Pajamas .... run in place • Whenever someone says “You’ll shoot your eye out” .... 5 wide push-ups • When a radio plays (music or talk radio) .... 5 V-ups • When you hear the word or see the person “Santa” .... 5 lunges • Whenever the furnace breaks .... 5 dips

I Trip le Do Dare g you

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Sports 1920s

Students decide they want sports. They start intramural competitions in basketball, tennis and baseball, though for now interscholastic sports (as well as any form of drama performance) are banned. For the first 15 years, the purpose of sports is designated in the school’s catalog as health, not recreation.

1967

Thanks to a student referendum, the Blue Jays become the Cougars.

1940s Soccer, basketball and track are added to Spring Arbor’s available sports, and pressure from students causes the school to finally allow interschool competition. However, it takes time for the school to allow competition with any teams that do not have Free Methodist affiliations.

1972

Title IX is passed, prompting Spring Arbor College to concentrate on alreadyworking plans to add more options for female athletes. Finally, women get an equal amount of options and equal funding for athletics. This period also sees the end of men’s wrestling.

The athletics program brings in both experienced and younger coaches to swap advice and ideas. According to Coach Deb Thompson, this “Iron Team” mentorship system operates on the mentality that “if we work our hardest, winning will happen, and it may not even be on a scoreboard.”

Cougars win again as the women’s soccer team took home the title of 2017 NAIA National Champions last week.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Susan Panak

2016 saw the addition of two new worldclass tennis courts and accompanying facilities. Across the street, a new stateof-the-art track and field complex is under construction.

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

Alex Anhalt | Sports Editor Celeste Fendt | Features Editor

Sports

A chronicle of Cougar Nation’s history from its initiation to current wins and a wish list for the future

The Athletics Department isn’t quite ready to reveal what’s on the radar for the future, but here are a few things coaches and staff would love to see in a perfect world. Cougar Athletics added bowling to the roster in 2016, and in 2017, they hosted their first tournament.

Last year, the Cougars got a new look. The snarling new face of SAU Athletics means new jerseys are being cycled in throughout the current academic year, and the new logo is cropping up all over Cougar gear, facilities and promotional material to unite SAU under one ferocious banner.

PHOTO BY Chris Bauman

Could SAU ever see football? Lack of funding, facilities, and interest has kept this sport on the backburner since the late 60s, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely off the table.

Renovating the gymnasium is a real possibility in the future. Maybe we can look forward to new bleachers and a modern-logo-toting floor sometime sooner than later.

Now that bowling athletes have a place in SAU athletics, the new team would greatly appreciate an alley of their own. They’re not the only ones who still need a home facility, either; a driving range and short course would make the golf team especially happy.

The track and gymnasium aren’t the only things that need renovation. The baseball and softball fields could use some fixing up, as could the facilities that go along with them.

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Sports

Keeping Construction on Track An update on the new track and field facility Alex Anhalt | Sports Editor

f someone asks why construction on the new track is taking so long, just say “flowers.” Construction on the new Ralph G. Walker Track and Field Complex started with a ground-breaking ceremony in May 2017, but despite efforts to complete construction first by the new school year and then for its dedication, bulldozers and dirt piles are still present on the complex-to-be. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the words of tennis coach David Darling, “It’s better to have it done right than done quickly.” The project began about a year ago with donations from several Spring Arbor University (SAU) community members, with one family in particular, the Walkers, providing substantial support. “People are starting to give specifically to the things they’re passionate about,” said Matt Gin, Director of the SAU Arbor Fund.

That is what prompted the Walker family to provide funding to replace a well-worn track with a new facility. The wear-and-tear of the old track has kept contractors taking their time with this project. According to Gin, most of the $1.1 million required for the track have gone to a new drainage system that will preserve the facilities in the long run. Now, however, most of the operational parts of the facility have been taken care of. What’s left? Aesthetics. Lines for lanes, landscaping and more finishing touches still lie ahead before the track and the athletes who use it can be up and running. That is where the weather comes in. High winds or wet weather prevent painters from adding lines to mark lanes, and nothing can be planted if the ground and environment are not right for flowers. PHOTO FROM https://trackcomplex.arbor.edu

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017

“

With all the buzz, some really important stuff can get overlooked if we move too fast. David Darling, Tennis Coach

”

All in all, Darling encourages patience. “With all the buzz, some really important stuff can get overlooked if we move too fast,” he said. “Trust that these people know what they’re doing.” The current goal is to have the facility ready for the Spring 2018 Track and Field season.

Olivia Landis | Staff Writer

rom a date with a cinderblock to secret handshakes, Cougar athletes each have their own ways of preparing for a game. Here are some of the sensible (and ridiculous) ways teams and players get ready for their big games. These rituals can start even before an athlete leaves the locker room. Haley Lord, a member of the women’s soccer team, says she cleans her cleats before every match and has a secret handshake with her teammate Lauren Orr before stepping onto the field. Other rituals are all about the field. Take Francisco Ondina, a player on the baseball team, for example. “I like to see the bases in order right after the anthem to remind myself this is the same field I have been playing on since I was young,” Ondina said. “Then, I like to pray in center field to remind myself of who and why I am playing for before game time.” Sometimes, the whole team is part of preparations. The men’s soccer team, for example, collectively celebrates wins with a cinderblock called “Bear.” After an away win, they write the date and score of the game on the cinderblock and give it to the player of the game, who is responsible for bringing “Bear” to their next away game. “[The player of the game is] supposed to bring it when we go out to eat before and after our game,” Stephen Gabriele said. “Then, after the next away win, someone else gets Bear.”

Sports

Before the game

The women’s soccer team has traditions of their own. They listen to the same songs, walk next to the same people, and warm up in the same lines at every game. Consistency is key “I like to pray in center to their team. field to remind myself On the other hand, the men’s baseball of who and why I am team is less concerned playing for before game with ritual and more concerned with mindset. time.” “As a team, many of Francisco Ondina, us have handshakes that Senior we like to do,” Ondina said. “Apart from that, I think we just try to keep it loose and fun, so we can translate that energy into game time.” At the end of the day, a playlist or a pair of clean cleats might not change the outcome of a game, but these players are still sticking to tradition.

December 8, 2017 • thesaupulse.com

Sports

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Ric Hall

Caralyn Geyer | Staff Writer

“H

e died for me so I’m living for him,” reads Ric Hall’s Instagram bio. In life and in sports, sophomore Richard Hall gives God the credit, and that extends to his Spring Arbor University (SAU) basketball career. Hall, a Secondary History Education major, started his basketball career thirteen years ago by playing for a recreational league. While he also participated in other sports, such as baseball and cross country, it was not long before he decided to pour his talents and passion into basketball. Hall loved having the chance to get back on the court year after year and season after season. As time went on and he d e ve l o p e d his skills, h i s 6’7”

stature gave him a significant advantage to the game and helped further his natural talent for the sport. Hall’s basketball talents have not gone unnoticed. When he was a senior in high school, he received the “Offensive Player of the Year” award at his school, and he considers being able to play at the college level a great achievement for the sport he has invested so much time and effort into. Hall said he tries his best to maintain an “others-focused” attitude as he works with his team on and off the court. He embraces his role as a team encourager, but also finds this to be a challenge now that he has reached the college level. “As a high school senior, it was easy to put my own goals above everyone else’s and view myself as better than team,” Hall said. “But here, my responsibility and role is different. It’s not about me, it’s what the team can do.” Despite this struggle, he has big aspirations for what he wants

to see his entire team accomplish and uses his role to further these hopes. Hall finds his motivation and inspiration through setting goals and by remembering who has encouraged him. He tries to set goals that are attainable and can be tangibly completed on a time table. “You don’t want to set [a goal] that isn’t going to benefit some area of the sport and some part of your life,” Hall said. In addition to this, he said he looks to his parents, coaches and teammates to inspire him in his basketball career. He is thankful for his parents’ support and for his coaches, who have given him good advice. Hall says his past coaches have taught him that “Basketball is my passion but it doesn’t define me... it will last for a while, but God will last for a lifetime.” Hall said it is because of advice like this that he aspires to be a great basketball player, but he wants to be sure to give God the credit for the opportunities he has been given. After all, he says, his talent was chosen and given to him by God, and he - Dislikes coffee wants to honor Him - Likes cinnamon gum for that gift. For now, Hall embraces what - Hufflepuff house being part of the - Fav. Movie: Remember the Titans SAU basketball team means for his role - If you could go to any fictional place, as a team player and where would you go? encourager, while RH: Harry Potter or Star Wars universe never failing to give God the glory for - If you could master any skill, what his successes. would it be?

Fun Facts about Ric Hall:

RH: Learn another language, probably Spanish PHOTO BY Chris Bauman

thesaupulse.com • December 8, 2017