PULSE
October 5, 2018 • Issue 2 • Volume 6 • thesaupulse.com
THE
But who are you, really?
facebook.com/saupulse twitter.com/saupulse PHOTO BY Caralyn Geyer
PREVIEW
TAB L E OF
CONTENTS CADAVER LAB PAGE 4
NO MORE FORM FRENZY PAGES 6-7
FIGHT SONG WINNER PAGE 5
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LIFE
PROFESSOR PROFILE
Uganda to Spring Arbor
PAGE 9
PAGE 10
COMMUNITY PROFILE
LIFE ADVICE PAGE 8
PAGE 11
PHOTO BY Elise Emmert
REYNOLD WEIDENAAR PAGES 14-15
EXPECTATIONS & GODLINESS PAGES 12-13
CHRISTIANS IN THEATRE ARTS PAGE 16
PHOTO BY Grant Slater
SIBLING & SPORTS PAGE 21
ONE-HANDED TENNIS PHOTO BY saucougars.com
PAGE 22 PHOTO BY Sebastian Behme
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thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
Critical Participation During Midterm Elections Editorial Staff The fourth pillar of the Spring Arbor University (SAU) concept: critical participation in the contemporary world. According to SAU’s website, this means we are “responsible for effective, redemptive participation in society and culture.” In order to begin participating, we must first be informed: on current events, on who represents us politically and on what they stand for. To elevate this to critical participation, we must consider the impact these factors have on the world around us, on our neighbors, our jobs, our health and our future. Once we are able to analyze this potential impact, we take action and begin to effectively participate. We know voting is not exactly easy. There are a lot of names on the ballots this year and a few detailed proposals, and all of them require a bit of research to find out what each person stands for and whether we want to support them or their opponent. This year, citizens across the United States are voting on all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of all U.S. Senators. Thirty-six states are voting for governors, including Michigan. The people who take these positions will have opportunities to impact society, and we should know who they are and what their mission is. But by voting, we remind our government representatives that their ultimate job is to speak for us, the people. It can be easy to think of voting as something small, unimportant or too difficult - and college
students apparently think this way, considering that in the 2014 midterm elections, only 18 to 24 percent of college students actually went to the polls. It is tempting to think that your ballot is just a drop in the bucket, and what’s one less drop? But if we truly want to change the world around us for the better, we should take every opportunity we can to help shape the world we must live in. We know voting will not fix everything that is wrong with our society today. We can have good leaders and moral laws, but there will still be people who work against what is good and right. However, this does not give us a free pass to avoid the polls. We have the opportunity to make our voices heard this fall. We should not let it pass by. Voting is a right and a responsibility. And then, once we have sent in our ballots, we can continue to shape the world for the better by living out our convictions in our everyday lives. Be a critical participant by voting. Our generation of voices deserves to be heard. And then take your votes and your beliefs and live them.
EDITORIAL
Your World, Your Voice:
The Pulse Staff 2018-2019 Editor-in-Chief Elise Emmert Associate Editor Celeste Fendt Features Editor Caralyn Geyer A&E Editor Nathan Salsbury Sports Editor Alex Anhalt
Sales Manager Kaelyn Hale Design Editor Makana Geppert Designers Elise Emmert Celeste Fendt Nathan Salsbury Abby Hardin
Staff Writers Hazel Biggers Bekah Black Jared Boekenhauer Ellie Brugger Bekah Carter Emily Dimmick Brynna Henika Ash Knauss Libby Koziarski Kerrie Sparling Conner Williams
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News
Hands-on Learning HES students visit cadaver lab
Celeste Fendt | Associate Editor
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adaver lab visits are now included in the Health and Exercise Science (HES) major curriculum at Spring Arbor University (SAU). Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Director of the Physical Therapy Clinic Mitch Zigler is in charge of this new educational experience. The cadaver lab is part of the Kinesiology Department at Albion College, located 12 miles from SAU’s main campus. Albion College operates under a contract with Michigan State University (MSU), which allows them to purchase two new cadavers every 18 months. The cadavers are held in a climate-controlled room with special ventilation. Building this kind of room is a required step before the state will allow a university to apply to work with cadavers. In the fall of 2017, Zigler reached out to MSU to formally ask for permission to bring students to work with their cadavers at Albion College. This was a long shot, Zigler said, because MSU had never before received a request like this from another school. “There wasn’t anything in it for them,” Zigler said. “It was just me taking students over to see their cadavers.” About a week and a half later, he received a call from MSU: his request was
approved. Since then, Zigler gradually began incorporating these lab visits into his classes. Now, it is part of the curriculum for his Functional Anatomy class. HES students in this class have to visit the lab as a group three to four times per semester. Zigler considers working with cadavers an integral part of education for anyone pursuing a health-related degree. “When you go over there and see it, everything starts to make sense. It all comes together,” Zigler said. “I can’t emphasize how important it is to actually work with a cadaver.” Faith Skidmore, a senior HES major, was a student in of one of the first classes to visit the lab at Albion last semester. “Actually seeing the muscles in the body was really helpful,” Skidmore said. “But it smelled a lot like formaldehyde there.” Megan Mitchell, a junior HES major,
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Mitch Zigler
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thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
“I can’t emphasize how important it is to actually work with a cadaver.” Dr. Mitch Zigler, Associate Prof. of Physical Therapy was also one of the first students to visit. Mitchell said she had a difficult time seeing the dead bodies in person, but thought it was an important educational experience overall. Zigler’s eventual goal is for SAU to build a cadaver lab of its own, a project which would benefit pre-medical, prephysical therapy and pre-occupational therapy students. Although this may take several more years to come to fruition, Zigler is happy with where the program currently stands.
Winning Fight song found! Elise Emmert | Editor-in-Chief
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pring Arbor University’s (SAU) new fight song was unveiled on September 28 during chapel as a part of the homecoming weekend festivities. The song that came out on top was written by Joshua Kaplan, a current freshman at SAU. Selecting the final, performanceready piece required many people, many meetings and a lot of organization, according to Mark Douglass, assistant professor of music. This past spring, SAU opened up a competition where people could submit their ideas for fight songs. Douglass helped organize committees of people in administration, coaches, community members and students dedicated to voting on the submissions. Douglass said the committee was looking for something upbeat, something that said “SAU” and something people could participate in even if they were not singing. Nearly 30 entries were submitted to the competition in multiple formats, including videos, scores and lead sheets. Douglass had to process all of them into similar formats and find what he called “the heart of the song” before sending the submissions to committee members for evaluation.
“I wanted to make it so it was anonymous,” Douglass said, “so the people listening to it would have no idea who it was.” By keeping the submissions anonymous, Douglass said the committee was able to avoid bias. To Douglass, that meant SAU would end up with the best fight song possible out of the options. There were two committees involved: a smaller committee that went through the submissions and found the top choices, and then a larger committee that listened to and voted on the final five to find the two finalists which were presented to the student body. The finalists were chosen during the summer, and Douglass spent time scoring them for the choir. The two songs were recorded in the first few weeks of school, and Douglass added a drum loop to them so they would sound contextually similar when the videos were sent out to the students. After the winner was chosen through the student body’s votes, Douglass had to quickly orchestrate the song for a full band, including multiple parts for the same instruments, and teach it to the band so it would be ready for the reveal at homecoming. Even though it took a significant amount of time and work on his part, Douglass said he enjoyed getting to spend more time with his colleagues and producing the new SAU fight song. “Above all, this is done for the students and the community,” Douglass said, concerning why the school
News
The Heart of SAU:
decided to undertake the project. “I hope it makes them feel pride in the school. There’s a lot to be proud of here.”
The Fight Song All for Spring Arbor U! We will fight with our might in His name. Let’s cheer our team to victory Our hearts are in the game RAH! RAH! RAH! SHOUT! With a thunderous roar As Cougar pride runs free! We’re adorned in blue & gold For the battle we behold For a Christ-honored victory!
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Spring Arbor University’s Facebook Page
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News
Taking Away the “Frenzy” Elise Emmert | Editor-in-Chief This February, the front lawn of the Cross Cultural Studies (CCS) Office will not host overnight campers waiting to sign up for trips across the ocean. Form Frenzy, the process by which students turn in the paperwork in order to secure a spot on cross cultural trips, is getting a makeover this year. In past years, Form Frenzy took place over a few days in late February. The CCS Office worked to get every student through their line as quickly as possible, and for a while, said director of cross cultural studies Diane Kurtz, the process worked. But over the past three to four years, Form Frenzy has seen two specific problems. First, the increasing number of students made Form Frenzy days more difficult for the CCS Office staff as they tried to get everyone through efficiently. Second, as trips have become more and more popular, students had started to line up outside the CCS Office before it opened at 8:30 a.m.
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At first, students would line up at 5 a.m. the morning of Form Frenzy. But then students began to line up the night before Form Frenzy, bringing tents, couches, air mattresses, and other things to keep them comfortable and warm while spending the night outside in late winter. “It’s become like a Thanksgiving Black Friday event,” Kurtz said. “And we don’t want it to be like that for students. We don’t want them to have to lose sleep, or be uncomfortable and cold.” After this past year’s Form Frenzy, Kurtz and the other CCS Office workers sat down and tried to come up with a new plan for how to run the signups. The solution they came up with was to have students turn in forms by appointment over a period of weeks in February, not just a few days. To help the appointment process go smoothly, the CCS Office will give out enrollment packets in December. Students will be able to take them home over Christmas break and fill them out
PHOTO BY Elise Emmert
thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
with the help of their parents, since the packets require insurance and health information. Then, once students have their paperwork filled out, they can bring it to the CCS Office starting in January to have it checked for completion. If all the paperwork is in order, the student will then be allowed to sign up for a Form Frenzy appointment. The only thing left for the student to decide on, at that point, is their destination, which they can do on Market Day, when all of the coming year’s destinations will be on display. The goal in making Form Frenzy appointment-based, Kurtz said, it to be fairer to the students. Instead of the first spots on trips going to the students who decided to camp out earliest, appointments, and spot opportunities, will be offered first to students who demonstrate that they are prepared and have their paperwork assembled. Setting appointments will also allow the CCS Office staff to spend more time
talking with each student about their destination choices. When Form Frenzy took place over just a few days, students had to be shuffled through the line as quickly as possible. Now, with set appointment times, the staff is more free talk to students about any concerns or questions they may have. Above all, the intent is to help students sign up for the trips they want without them feeling as though they need to sleep outside in February, as well as keep the CCS Office running and meeting all its other needs during the month. “We’re always an office that tries to serve students to the best of our ability,” Kurtz said. “And we want to respect your time, and we want to be efficient as well.” Students can expect to hear more from the CCS Office about the new process in the coming months. If you have questions about the CCS program, visit the CCS website at arbor.edu/crosscultural.
Dates to Remember: Market day: February 8 Appointments for Juniors and Seniors: Feb 11-15 Appointments for Sophomores: Feb 18-22 Appointments for Freshmen/ everyone who did not get one before: Feb 25 and after
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Cross Cultural Studies Office begins form frenzy by appointment
PHOTO BY Elise Emmert
What Can You Do Now? Immunizations: Check your online Holton Health portal account to see what vaccines you still need. They can take some time to get, especially if you are missing any from childhood. Finances: Start thinking about paying your $150 study abroad fee (this helps pay for air deposits and insurance). This spring, make sure you do not have a balance on your student account so you can register for the trip, and the rest of your classes. Photos and Passports: Have the CCS Office take your pictures for your international student ID card, and for your passport if you do not have one. If you have a passport, bring it to the CCS Office so they can make sure it will not expire before your trip. If you do not have a passport, consider beginning the application process.
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Features
e f i L Advice
WITH PAUL PATTON
Ash Knauss | Staff Writer
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rofessor Paul Patton retired to part time this year. This meant giving his title as head of the theatre department to Jen Letherer and teaching only three classes. Even though he has stepped back, Patton still has plenty to say. So, what would he say if he could say one thing to the entire world? Simply put, Patton believes the biggest thing one can do is “engage in the scripture.” Patton believes the techno-generation does not rely enough on their knowledge and memorization. Instead, they turn to Google with their questions. He said people today do not memorize texts as much as people did in the past. The change came, he said, when people were given access to what he called “outboard memory,” or the ability to look things up rather than needing to rely on what they had memorized. What Patton means by “memorizing” is not the same as the typical SundaySchool Bible verse assignments going week to week. Because of Patton’s history with drama and the scripture, what Patton is talking about is longterm memorization. “Most people in this culture have not [memorized texts]...They run away from what I call ‘in-board memory.’” According to Patton, ‘in-board memory’ is something you can retrieve at any time, while ‘out-board memory’ came as the result of what happened when people were given access to information at their fingertips, and at
the second they asked for it. Patton’s experience with memorization also contributed to his work in marriage counseling. He said when couples asked him for advice, he’d ask them what their vows were. The couples could not remember the specifics, only that “it was something like for better, for worse.” The promise meant nothing to them, according to Patton, since the couple could not recall. Now, Patton has couples he works with in pre-marital counseling memorize their vows. “On their honeymoon, after their honeymoon, when they’re discouraged, when they’re tempted to be unfaithful, the vow, like a hovering cloud, informs them,” said Patton. Patton said he regrets not reviewing past monologues and committing them to his in-board memory. In 1993, Patton began to change his course of action by memorizing a verse a day. Now, he said his memory has never been better. “First off, decide what you want to remember. Practice remembering it,” Patton said. It is that simple. Patton said setbacks to memorization can occur if “immobilizing levels of fear, rage, lust or negative jealousy” get in the way. He said these are all a form of narcissism because forcing memorization forces the brain to think of something other than your own self-interest. However, Patton said it is recalling and reciting the words of Christ that can “dislodge you from your
own end.” Patton looks to Psalm 119:1 as a verse for support in this idea. In regards to mission statements, Patton said they stay “flat on the page” unless they are committed to in-board memory, the same way marriage vows mean nothing if they aren’t memorized. Patton also said hehighly values gratitude. “Be grateful, cultivate gratitude. Gratitude in the barometer of spiritual health. Ingratitude is vital–said Immanuel Kant,” said Patton. People who do not cultivate this concept are complainers, according to Patton. He said this is a major reason why relationships end, especially marriages: people feel they have been taken for granted. “You want a relationship to die? Especially if you don’t want it to die, take it for granted. What’s the antidote to taking anything for granted? Gratitude...” said Patton.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Spring Arbor University Website
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Jared Boekenhauer | Staff Writer
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n the upstairs hallway of the Smith Music Center sits the office of Professor of English and Communication Dan Runyon, anonymous journalist, house flipper and storyteller. Runyon was a student at Spring Arbor University (SAU) and returned after some time away for his 20-year career as a full-time professor at the university. One of the marks he left on SAU happened while he was a student: starting his own anonymous school newspaper. “I started my own newspaper as a junior student at Spring Arbor. The student newspaper then wasn’t anything. It was terrible and I was disgusted by it and so I started my own,” Runyon said. “I was an extremely shy person and had
Dr. Dan Runyon
things that I wanted to say that I didn’t have the guts to stand up and say to anybody.” He was so secretive about his enterprise that even his own roommate did not know Runyon was the writer of the new paper. He typed every word on an old typewriter before taking it to a printer. After graduating from SAU, Runyon moved to Illinois to pursue a master’s degree at Wheaton College. He worked many other jobs besides teaching, including publishing books and magazines, editing independent articles and freelance writing. Throughout his career, Runyon edited books like “Boundaries” and the “World Mission People Magazine.” He has written his own books too, including a novel told from the perspective of Ferguson the Tractor. Outside of the university, Runyon keeps busy with his many hobbies, including spending time with his family, writing books, and one of his main hobbies, renovating old houses. “My dad was, in addition to being a pastor and a school teacher,...also a carpenter,” Runyon said. “He would line up jobs for [my brothers and me]. So, we painted houses and we re-roofed houses and we installed bathrooms and we built porches, so we learned all that stuff as a kid.”
So far, he has repaired three houses that are now registered as state historic sites. Two of the houses are in Spring Arbor and the third is in Jackson. “It’s really fun for me just to see these places fixed up,” Runyon said. “I would rather roof a house than go golfing.” At SAU, Runyon teaches a variety of classes. This year, he is teaching Core 100, basic writing, speech, copyediting and freshman composition. He teaches fiction writing every other year. “I teach COR100. I love COR100,” Runyon said. “I think most of my COR100 students would say I’m known as a storyteller.” Runyon has much love and care for SAU and his students, and he wants to see his students succeed. One piece of advice he gives SAU students is to manage time. “Work first, play later. Do your homework and then reward yourself by going out with friends or going to a movie and doing whatever is fun for you,” Runyon said. “But don’t do that first and then leave your homework till 2 o’clock in the morning.”
Features
Professor Profile:
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Dan Runyon
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Features
Africa to the Arbor: An international Student’s story of Settling in Emily Dimmick | Staff Writer
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he freshman experience means discovering a new place, meeting new people and learning new things. Some have been waiting for college for years now, some are homesick the moment they set foot on campus. Some have an older sibling already on campus, others are the first of their name. Some travel from the far reaches of the state, others fly 7,525.17 miles from Kabale, Uganda. Grant Slater, a freshman and International Student, did not have the typical freshman experience. He grew up in the south-western tip of Uganda, born to missionaries Kirk and Laura Slater. He is the second of four boys, and his older brother, Austin Slater, is a junior at Spring Arbor University (SAU). The brothers, though they have
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Grant Slater
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not lived on the same continent for the past two years, decided to room together for Grant’s first year. “I’ve been his roommate before, when we were living in the same home,” said Grant. “And that was fine. He was my closest brother and one of my best friends growing up because there weren’t a lot of kids out.” While some students would do anything to escape sharing a room with a sibling, the Slater boys have embraced the connection. In fact, being so close to his brother has helped Grant to find his place on campus among other students. Coming in, Grant already knew of and had even met many SAU students. Between his brother and his girlfriend, a sophomore at SAU, Grant had a foot in the door of SAU’s social life. With the added community of his Core group, this outgoing missionaries’ kid has found the transition to be rather seamless. “I switched schools seven times in four years,” Grant said. “I’ve had alot of changing experiences, and I think that this has been the smoothest one.” Grant’s most recent schooling was at
thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kijabe, Kenya. RVA has had many of its graduates attend SAU, including Erin Couch, Alyssa Thompson and Austin and Grant Slater. As a boarding school, RVA has some similarities to the dorm life on campus. This familiar aspect played a part in Grant’s ease of transition. Yet even with connections to people and a basic understanding of living on a campus away from home, Grant still has had to adjust to many aspects of life at SAU. One big adjustment has been the schedule of a college student. While life at RVA was vastly different from a normal high school, it still ran on the same class schedule. At SAU, Grant is working to shift his mindset to a new form of schedule, one with sporadic free time throughout the day. Grant is excited about the many opportunities on campus. He was particularly drawn to the spiritual life at SAU when he first applied. He is interested in Deeper, Bold, Gospel Choir and the Office of Intercultural Relations (OIR). Grant even auditioned for the next play. Though he comes from another continent, Grant is making SAU his home. From the students to the spiritual life, Grant feels Spring Arborhas welcomed him with open arms and says he is ready to see where the next few years take him.
Around the World in 80 Years Libby Koziarski | Staff Writer
PHOTO BY Libby Koziarski
Imagine you are beginning a journey to Mexico. You have made this trek countless times before. The summer sun is beating down through the windshield of your mobile home, the windows down for your dog to enjoy the breeze. As usual, your rolling home is stuffed with canned goods, art supplies and handmade puppets—welcome to the life of Ruth Stephenson. “I was teaching, and teachers have to do something in the summer,” said 91-year-old Stephenson with shrug. This “something” involved teaching, painting, sculpting and traveling around the world. “I have many layers in my life,” said Stephenson, “and each one is important.”
One such layer is her role as a teacher. According to Stephenson, her life has been centered around teaching. She was an elementary school teacher and principal at Vandercook Lake Public Schools “100 years ago,” she said, laughing. She then moved on to teaching elementary education and psychology at Spring Arbor University (SAU) in 1962. When she was not teaching in Michigan, she was traveling the world, including making annual trips to Mexico in her mobile home to teach at international childcare ministries. Peel back another layer and her role as an artist is uncovered. In Mexico, Stephenson noticed that many families did not have pictures hanging on the walls in their homes and churches. She remedied the situation by giving families her paintings. She covered walls with biblical murals. She sewed puppets for Sunday school. She even created sculptures depicting daily life in Mexico. Stephenson’s room at the Spring Arbor Assisted Living Center is no exception. Large, vibrant paintings decorate the walls and well-loved sketchbooks litter her desk, all labeled “Ruth J. Stephenson.” Long-time friend and SAU Professor of English and Communication Dan Runyon visits her room often,
Left: One of Ruth’s sculptures which sits on a shelf in her living room. Right: Ruth painting a mountain scene with the help of her dog, Sassy. PHOTO BY Celeste Fendt
Features
Ruth Stephenson
sometimes bringing guests. Last year, Runyon brought his News Reporting class to visit. “Thirty years ago, my wife showed Ruth a two-dimensional photo of my father. She reproduced his likeness in a clay sculpture that I cherish to this day,” Runyon said. Stephenson has also impacted the life of SAU’s reference librarian, Karen Parsons. During Stephenson’s 25year stint at SAU, she was not only a professor, but also a reference librarian with a Master’s degree in library science. When it was time for someone to take her place, Parsons became her student. “She is like a second mother to me. She’s also partially responsible for my wanderlust,” Parsons said. Stephenson’s layer as a traveler saw her all over the world, including Africa, where she helped Parsons build and stock libraries in 2001. True to her nature as a teacher, Stephenson continues to impart her wisdom to visitors. “Do these things when you’re young,” Stephenson said. “Do them all over the world! Just make your life fulfilled.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Ruth Stephenson
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Features
Social Expectations in Higher Education
Community support can help you discover who you are amidst the bustle of college life Caralyn Geyer | Features Editor
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t is all a game of “expectations versus reality.” In high school, it was leading the football team with the most yards per game as quarterback, standing up front as head cheerleader with the perfect blonde hair or being valedictorian known as the country’s future president in the school yearbook mock elections. That was high school, but this is college. This is the next step. For many incoming freshmen, the question of “who am I going to be?” arises as the freedom and realities of reaching adulthood settle in around the four corners of the new dorm room that is home for the next nine months. The first semester is a time to reinvent the high school senior into a college
freshman, whether that means starting from scratch or just adding a few new screws. Is every spare moment going to be a study hall? Does a new day mean sleeping in and staying up late with friends? Are you recognized at every campus event or do you lay low on the outskirts of the party? Spring Arbor University (SAU) alumna and Resident Director (RD) Courtney Sanders said as this new chapter of life begins, adapting to the new routine can look different for both men and women. Associate Dean of Students Bobby Pratt, as well as Sanders, said changes are largely dependent upon students’ previous expectations of the coming college life. Though this image is not true for everyone, Sanders said for girls in general, this means making new connections with others on campus. Because m a n y women are intentional w i t h relationships in high PHOTO BY Caralyn Geyer
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PHOTO BY Caralyn Geyer
school, knowing there might be the struggle of “who do I hang out with today?” during those first few weeks is intimidating. For guys, it seems to be the process of finding a group where they fit in naturally and make some sort of connection, rather than fearing the loss of previous relationships or the ability to make new ones. “Coming in as a freshman girl, they might think they have to be the college senior version of themselves right from the start,” Sanders said. She said this can come in the forms of perfectionism, being too selfcritical or having an “I’ve got it all together” attitude, whether it is towards relationships, academics or spiritual life. When these combine, they can become an image smudged in streaks of expectations. However, Pratt and
Features Sanders believe these expectations are less about gender roles and more about pressure taken differently depending on student personality. For freshman Caitlin Taylor, the image of a pressured campus newbie rings true in her mind. She said as an introvert herself, the first couple of weeks were hard because of her need to take time away from people when Welcome Week calls for constant interaction with others. Despite having resources like Peer Advisors (PA) and Community of Learners (COL100) classmates, finding friends amongst the crowds of extroverts and Welcome Week activities was a struggle. “It wasn’t the school putting pressures to find a social group though, it was the other people,” Taylor said. “The school is more like the ones trying to help you find your family.” Freshman Drew Hall agreed that adaptation depends on personality, but also said it depends on one’s ability to flow with change when things do not go as planned. Hall said as a tennis athlete, this image was partly true at the beginning of the year. Making friends was relatively easy because of being surrounded by the team from day one, but the pressure of the sport adds up quickly. “You can be so easily intimidated by good players, and as an added pressure, every athlete wants to get better and be able to hear, ‘that was a good match’ in
order to move up in the lineup,” Hall said. The only “gender role” both Hall and Taylor see on campus is the “ring by spring” custom. Taylor said she believes some students take this seriously since SAU pushes relationships with peers so much, but for her, this notion is just a joke. “It’s only a pressure that creates unrealistic expectations for the people who choose to let it influence them,” Taylor said.
PHOTO BY saucougars.com
Hall said he does not let the idea bother him either. He knows there are bound to be people who only want to come away with a spouse and a degree, but for him, college is more about living life to the fullest. “No one should be stressing about
‘ring by spring,’” Hall said. “I never came to college to find someone I fit in, I came to build up my spiritual life and make great friends.” But what can be done about the pressures freshman face from their first step onto campus? PA Brooklyn VanderHill said the solution lies within the older SAU students who are already familiar with the pressures of college. “The biggest thing our campus can do is maintain the welcoming environment our campus has always had,” VanderHill said. PA Dong Bin Lee said students should be hospitable and observant to how the freshman are acting, and be careful not to overwhelm anyone since everyone who is a sophomore and up has been there before. “Just be available to them to talk about this stuff,” Lee said. “You can be the one to step up.” In the end, Sanders said to use the new college environment as a time to become a woman or man of God. She said pressures can be used to challenge and grow in Godly steps, whether it means with other men or women, though the campus environment should be one where both are able to grow and challenge each other together. “Whatever you came from, [SAU] is a catapult into our Christian adult walk, said Sanders. “That’s how community works here.”
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A&E
Reynold Weidenaar’s Art Lights Up Ganton Art Gallery
Brynna Henika | Staff Writer
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ack in 2015, Assistant Professor of Art Jonathan Rinck visited the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) to view artwork by Reynold Weidenaar, intending to write a piece on Weidenaar and his work. Now, three years after that first encounter, Spring Arbor University’s Ganton Art Gallery is featuring some of Weidenaar’s pieces in a “Darkness and Light” display. Before the gallery officially opened to the public on September 26, Rinck gave a lecture on the life and history of Weidenaar and his work. He also discussed the process Weidenaar used to complete some of his most famous works, several of which are featured in the exhibit. Rinck’s personal connection to Weidenaar’s art goes back to seeing his works at the GRAM, when he said he was hit with a “shock of unrecognition” and was compelled by Weidenaar’s story. After the lecture, the gallery was officially opened with a reception for the new art display. The artwork will remain on display until October 17.
create his own work. The Artist Reynold Weidenaar was born in Grand Rapids, MI in 1915. He is known for his draftsman and printmaking works that date back as early as 1940. He was inspired to make art at the age of eight after he found a print of a locomotive in a garbage can. After this, he began to take on the art of print and
PHOTOS BY Celeste Fendt
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Some of Weidenaar’s prints are small, around a square inch or so in size, but he also created larger pieces that contain jokes and commentary based on the artist’s sense of humor. Most of these “Easter eggs” in Weidenaar’s prints can only be seen with a magnifying glass, which are available in the gallery for use by viewers. One of the featured works, “It Was a Terrible Day,” is an award-winning print that shows a rural farm area that turns into a world of bedlam. Weidenaar’s inspiration behind the piece was to inform its viewers of the human depravity that occurred in the times of the Middles Ages. One of the smaller prints on displayed is “Johnny Verbeck’s Vonderful Machine,” which depicts Weidenaar’s views of the processed food industry. Its vision was also rooted from the famous tune, which tells of the town’s dogs being ground to sausages in Mr. Verbeck’s machine. Students and community members alike are welcome to visit the art gallery to view Weidenaar’s artwork while “Darkness and Light” is on display.
A&E October 5, 2018 • thesaupulse.com
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A&E
Lifting the Curtain CITA Conference brings a day of theater workshops
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Nathan Salsbury | A&E Editor
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31-year-old organization has Saturday, October 13 and run for most chosen Spring Arbor of the afternoon. University (SAU) Prior to the conference, theater as its next conference leaders will gather at Professor location. The group is of Communication Paul Christians in Theatre Patton’s house for a dinner Arts (CITA), which and a discussion about the was formed in 1987 future of the conference to connect Christian and how they, as artists, We want to find out what we theatre artists with can be more active in want to do together and find one another. They support of one another. out what we need from each held regional and “We’re trying to get national conferences our training wheels other. and workshops, hosting back on,” Patton Paul Patton, the most recent national said. “We’re calling Professor of Communication conference in New York together some City in 2006. Since then, theater leaders from conferences have continued the region to find on a smaller scale, including out what we want the upcoming Great Lakes to do together and find Conference that will take place at out what we need from each SAU’s Prop Shop. The free event is other.” open to all students and will occur on The next day, the conference will begin at the Prop Shop at 1:30 p.m. Piercing Word, a scripture performance PHOTO FROM Piercing Word ministry from Pennsylvania, will open the event with a performance of “Sermon on the Mount: The Musical.” Throughout the rest of the day, there will be more performances, sessions and workshops. The conference will conclude with a performance of Dr. Patton’s play, “Lifting the Veil,” which will also be performed on the previous and following days. For more information, an event page entitled “CITA: Christians in Theatre Arts” can be found on Facebook, or students can contact Patton.
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thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
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CORRECTION: In the Freshman Issue, we previously listed the performance dates for “Lifting the Veil” as September 28 and 29. The correct dates are October 11-14 at 8 p.m. each night.
A&E
Sweater Whether or Not: Communal Responses to Fluctuating Temperatures Conner Williams | Staff Writer Perhaps you have heard the occasional outburst of wailing from the center of the plaza. Maybe you have caught glimpses of students shedding sweaters and jackets at noon and putting them on again by dinnertime. However you have experienced the fallout of the inconsistent weather patterns, you have undoubtedly perceived a growing unrest among the student population. Just yesterday, students were lying all throughout the plaza in defeated masses of sweat and pullover hoodies. The only signs of life visible to passersby were the soft but still audible growls of irritation that issued from the tangled heaps of summer and fall clothing piled on the ground. If you did not witness this firsthand, you might write off this account as unrealistic. You may say that this is a trite and offensive presentation of college students as mere animals, completely under the control of their base impulses. Reader, your doubts are reasonable. But, just yesterday, three students were found contorted into a dormitory refrigerator with a pile of parkas and ski pants in the corner of the room. Senior community members are worried that the unrest among students will erupt into a directionless riot, trailing destruction over the whole campus. “I’ve never actually seen students do anything drastic in reaction to the weather,” said nine different professors. “I think you might be making this up or painting some kind of caricature for comedic effect.
Aren’t you supposed to be a journalist?” You heard it from the faculty themselves, folks. The student body has a dark history of staging full-scale uprisings because of the dramatic fluctuations between hot and cold weather, and we have no reason to expect them to remain peaceable now. The best course of action to ensure your safety is to seek shelter while the throngs of alternately sweating and shivering students are only engaged in groups of jeremiad weeping. Y o u never know
when the next weather shift will cause them to become violent, so you had better get your riot gear together and remember where you left the keys to your bunker. The cartoonishly angry masses of people who seem to the naked eye to be just normal young adults making mild complaints about the weather are a force of nature, and those who are wise will make every effort to get out of their path.
October 5, 2018 • thesaupulse.com
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A&E
M u s i c R e v i e w:
PHOTO BY vagrant.com
Good Beats, Bad Suns Ellie Brugger | Staff Writer
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he indie rock band Bad Suns made their debut in 2013 with the Extended Play (EP) “Transpose.” This angsty band is made up of four guys in their early twenties: Christo Bowman (vocals), Miles Morris (drums), Gavin Bennett (bass) and Ray Libby (guitar). They formed the band in 2012 in a suburb of Los Angeles called Woodland Hills and signed with the record company Vagrant in 2014. Though they sport a more modern sound, their influences resonate with 70’s and 80’s musicians like Elvis Costello and bands similar to The Cure. They have remixed these classic sounds with more popular instrumentation, making for an up-to-date version of these favorites. Since their debut, they have released two full length albums, “Language and Perspective” in 2014 and “Disappear Here” in 2016. These, mixed with a spattering of singles and acoustic covers, make for nearly four hours of emotional yet upbeat listening that is good for any crisis. Their lyrics are often angry or sad in nature, recounting experiences of
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loss in a transparent way. However, the way in which it is presented makes the negative feelings tangible, relatable and mendable. In the song, “Daftprettyboys,” Bowman protests a girl who rejected him and his friends and instead went after the dumb boys.In the chorus he states, “There’s one thing about me that you should know, that I can’t help but speakin’ my mind. I don’t like you. You look so pretty from afar.” He rips this girl to shreds while the rest of the band members are rocking out in the background, creating the emotional cleansing that allows Bad Suns to stand out above other bands. They allow space to heal within their music and quickly become a go-to for any bad day. Whether on a run, rushing lastminute to finish an assignment or even wallowing in the sadness of a dorm room bed after a break up, Bad Suns provides a cathartic listening experience for any and all moods. Their lyrics and falsetto riffs connect with the feelings of unrest and dissatisfaction within listeners, allowing space to feel those feelings, while the upbeat guitar strumming patterns and catchy bass
thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
lines can’t help but leave a bad mood in the dust. All of this is held together and presented in the neat package of Morris’s drum beats, which makes listening to these musicians work through their own feelings quite enjoyable. Available on: YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Play Music, and iHeartRadio. Similar artists: COIN (has more of an electric feel), The Vaccines (if you want more drums), Grizfolk (folk vibes, hence the name), Hippo Campus (strong guitar leads), and Vinyl Theatre (has a more punk feel).
Halloween for wimps: A&E
A Mildly frightening entertainment guide Bekah Black | Staff Writer
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retending to love horror won’t make you enjoy Halloween —it’ll just leave your friends laughing at you while you duck behind a pillow during “The Conjuring.” If you’d rather turn on “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and curl up with some pumpkin spice flavored something, we hear you. We support you. Here’s a list of movies and television shows to watch that will only send a few seasonal shivers down your spine. The Twilight Zone This classic horror/science fiction series from the 1960s, with its outdated effects and occasionally exaggerated acting, may seem at times laughable –but the fact remains that its subtle scares and complex plots have haunted generations. If you’re in the mood for something eerie yet easy, check out a few of the episodes that have left people talking: “The After Hours” (S1, E34) Marsha goes to her local department store to buy a gift for her mother only to encounter odd salespeople and a floor that doesn’t exist. It takes getting trapped in the store after it closes for its secret to be revealed. “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” (S1, E22)
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After a neighborhood witnesses a strange astronomical event, the people hesitate to blame it on aliens until their electricity goes out and one of the neighborhood children warns them of a spy in their midst. Their slow process of turning on each other is eerie in its believability. “Living Doll” (S5, E6) Christy has a rocky relationship with her stepdad, who takes out his anger on her and her new doll, Talky Tina. The doll responds by adopting a mind of her own and begins her rule of the household, starting with him. The Sixth Sense Itis considered director M. Night Shyamalan’s best work, and for good reason. The story of Cole Sear, a haunted boy able to see ghosts, and Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who feels compelled to help him, made this film an instant classic that’s still loved almost 20 years later. “The
thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
Sixth Sense” will make you jump, tug at your heartstrings and (if you haven’t Googled the infamous ending) blow your mind. “Coraline” Based on the bestselling Neil Gaiman novel, this movie centers around a young girl named Coraline, who finds a portal to a parallel world in which everything is seemingly better: she’s loved by her parents, eats great food and can play in a beautiful garden. It doesn’t take long, however, for her to discover that there is something more sinister lurking beneath the surface and behind the iconic button eyes of the Other Mother. This animated film is whimsical yet subtly disturbing,
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thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
Celeste Fendt | Associate Editor
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iblings: some are inseparable, some are mortal enemies and most indulge in a little bit of both. At Spring Arbor University (SAU), several pairs of them compete on the same track team. Megan and Ben Wise Megan and Ben are both captains on SAU’s track team. Megan runs the 400m, 800m and 4 x 4 races, Ben the 100m and 200m. In high school, Megan ran track and cross country and played soccer. Back in high school, Ben was the one who convinced Megan to join their school’s track team. But in college, Megan convinced Ben to join track. “It’s kind of like we flip-flopped in college,” she said. After Ben transferred to SAU from Jackson College, Megan helped him
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Chris Bauman
Siblings play on the same sports teams
meet with her coaches. Even though he had not run competitively in more than two years, Ben was offered a scholarship he said he did not want to turn down. The two agreed that it did not feel much different to be on the same team, but they did appreciate the time it gives them to see each other. “I just like to compete,” Ben said. Megan said her favorite part of being on the team is the community it fosters. Mekenna and Sebastian Behme Mekenna is a freshman and Sebastian is a junior at SAU. Sebastian transferred here after spending his freshman year at Saginaw Valley State University. In high school, neither of them planned on attending the same school for college. Both of the siblings ran track in high school and also participated in band. However, in high school, they did not
Sports
It’s All In The Family
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Sebastian Behme
practice together for track. According to Sebastian, this is one reason he likes collegiate athletics better than high school. “We actually get to see each other more,” he said. “It’s fun watching her get better.” The two share a passion for track and use it as a way to connect with each other. “[Track is] one of the biggest areas we relate to each other,” Sebastian said.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Chris Bauman
October 5, 2018 • thesaupulse.com
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Sports
Nick Romano Played One-Armed Te n n i s
Kerrie Sparling | Staff Writer Nothing can keep senior Nick Romano off the tennis courts, not even the hand injury that left him competing one-handed for most of the 2018 spring season. Romano started playing tennis when he was seven with his older brother and sister. He went from playing for fun to taking lessons when he was in seventh grade. By the end of his senior year of high school, Romano was competing as the number one singles player for the boy’s tennis team at Pinckney High School. He held a record of 28-5. Romano became the first player in the Pinckney program to ever qualify for states. He went into states unseeded and made it to the quarter-finals. Romano was also the first player to be awarded All-State honors at his high school. Romano has been the number one singles player on Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) men’s tennis team since his sophomore year. Early into the 2018 spring tennis
s e a s o n , Romano injured one of his hands while playing basketball with his roommate. His finger was bent back and he suffered torn ligaments and a partial fracture. Romano said that he was not too concerned that he would not be able to compete due to his injury. “I’m just super competitive, so I was just like ‘There’s no way I’m sitting out.’ I just wanted to play,” Romano said. “I mean, it hindered my game a little bit, but I adjusted.” After talking to his coaches, Romano began making differences in his playing style during practices. He moved around more to cover more ground and hit more balls. He said he had to become more defensive with his shots. Romano said he believed he won all the games he could have with his injury. “I kind of just changed my game style and adjusted that way. It was more difficult PHOTO PROVIDED BY saucougars.com
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to w i n , b e c a u s e obviously I didn’t have an offensive shot with two hands coming to the ball.” Coach Todd Dobben said he has enjoyed watching Ramon improve as a player since his freshman year. He said Romano is a great leader and has the respect of his teammates. Dobben said Romano will often encourage his teammates on the court, shouting things like “Let’s go boys,” or “Come on Cougs.” Romano said he has enjoyed his time playing at SAU. He said part of the reason he chose to come to SAU for college was the relationships the coaches established with him when they began recruiting him at his tennis matches in high school. “It’s definitely been an amazing experience, and I love the guys, and the coaches are awesome,” Romano said. “I just love it, I love to compete and play with the guys, it’s been fun.” Romano said he plans to continue to play after graduation by playing in leagues and competing in tournaments.
Sports
Athlete of the Month: Sydney Ritz
PHOTO BY Chris Bauman
Bekah Carter | Staff Writer
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or many of us, volleyball means relaxing at the beach or playing just outside of Lowell Hall, but to junior Sydney Ritz, volleyball is much more than a fun pastime; it is something she has poured her heart and soul into. Ritz has been playing volleyball for nine years, but she did not really fall in love with it until her freshman year of high school when her aunt became her coach. Ritz said it gave her an opportunity to get to know her aunt more. “It was hard work that was fun,” she said. Despite her newfound love for the sport, Ritz did not plan to play in college. But her boyfriend at the time had connections at Spring Arbor University (SAU) and arranged a tryout for her. Ritz instantly fell in love with the team and the atmosphere of the SAU Cougars. Now, she says volleyball has brought her some of her best friends on campus and helped her in the transition to
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college life. It taught her the values of time management, teamwork, dedication and pouring into others. Ritz’s favorite part of playing for the Cougars is the “family aspect” of the team. She says each girl knows she can rely on her teammates no matter what. Even outside of the world of volleyball, each girl is someone a teammate can come talk to or spend time with. The team tries to cultivate an atmosphere of support in the sport as well as in daily college life. Ritz said Coach Martinez has also made a huge impact on her life, imparting the wisdom of learning how to be comfortable when she is pushed past her limits in volleyball and in the rest of her life. After using up all her energy in practice, she said she has learned to use the uncomfortable pain and exhaustion to push herself even harder to be the best she can be. Ritz also said she puts herself in situations that she would not normally put herself in. “By being uncomfortable, you eventually learn how to be comfortable in that uncomfortable,” she said.
thesaupulse.com • October 5, 2018
As for advice to an aspiring athlete here at SAU, Ritz said it is essential to give one hundred percent effort, even on hard days when things are just not going well. She also said cultivating the supportive atmosphere of the team will help carry a teammate through a rough day and can make or break the team. “It’s much harder to give your best,” she said, “but when you do, it pays off and helps a lot.”
PHOTO BY Chris Bauman