September Issue 2016

THE

PULSE

O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 6 • I s s u e 2 • Vo l u m e 4 • t h e s a u p u l s e . c o m

facebook.com/thesaupulse twitter.com/thesaupulse

Dedications, Donations and Enrollment President Ellis talks finances and where our tuition goes (p. 12-14)

PREVIEW

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

NEW HONORS PROGRAM HEADS

NEW NURSING PROGRAM

EDUCATION ACCREDITATION

PAGE 6

SAU debuts undergraduate, residential nursing degree PAGE 5

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PAGE 4

PAGE 7

WHAT DO SLAs DO?

FOLLOW THE MONEY AND SEE WHERE IT GOES

PAGE 9

REMEMBERING GLORIA TASHA HOLT PAGE 15

PAGES 12-14

STIGMA OF SPIRITUALITY PAGE 8

LAZEEZ

WILLKOMMEN IN DEUTSCHLAND PAGES 10-11

PHOTO BY Megan Himebook

FLATLINE: THE ROCK

New Indian restaurant opens in Village Crossing

PAGE 17

PAGE 16

HAMILTON ARTIST REVIEW PAGE 18

NEW GOLF COACH PAGE 21

STRANGER THINGS TV SHOW REVIEW PAGE 19 PHOTO BY Olivia Landis

BOWLING TEAM

SAU starts first Crossroads League bowlling teams PAGES 22-23 PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

2

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

EDITORIAL

Editor’s Note Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief Transparency. It’s what (SPOILER ALERT) ruined S.H.I.E.L.D. and split the Avengers. It’s opening up the gates for the first time in forever and letting everyone know about your (awesome) ice powers. It’s not unrecovered emails on a private server. It’s not withholding tax forms while they’re being “audited.”

Transparency is key to trust.

As Christians, we should be able to clearly explain what our organization does and how we do it. Information should be readily available because there should be nothing to hide. But when mistakes do happen (because they will happen), we readily apologize and do everything in our power to fix them.

When we make a mistake in The Pulse, we will print it right here, on this page, in the following issue. But we won’t know those mistakes unless we receive feedback. (Please, let one of the staff know if something is wrong – grammar – or fact – wise.)

But transparency leads to vulnerability, and who wants to let down walls for everyone to see?

In this month’s issue we clear up some rumors surrounding the School of Education (page 4), how the university funds new facilities (pages 12-13) and what the Board of Trustees do (page 7).

Everyone has been kind enough to be vulnerable with us, so we can tear down those walls.

With vulnerability comes grace because we aren’t perfect. I guarantee there will be at least one grammatical error this year that section editors, copyeditors and I will miss. We apologize ahead of time.

We want to be credible and present the facts. Our goal is to give our peers a voice, while presenting the facts. If you read this because it is entertaining, great, we’ve still done our job. Flatline is, after all, SATIRE (i.e. fake, sarcasm, wit).

Our mission statement is to strive to expand the community’s worldview, provide a platform for discussion and give voice to our peers. As a monthly newsmagazine, we promise to provide quality stories covering a variety of topics and backgrounds.

PHOTO BY Andri Hill

That’s why, if anyone has ideas for a story, feel free to email me or anyone on staff.

‘Til next time, Kayla Williamson

The Pulse Staff 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief Kayla Williamson Associate Editor Amber Cekander News Editor Heather Clark Features Editor Dana Sebald-Van Doren A&E Editor Carly Thompson Sports Editor Libby Buckland Lead Copy Editor/ Video Production Manager Brianna Buller Business Manager Corina Cekander Finance Manager Huy Nguyen Photography Editor Kaci Bedgood Design Editor Andri Hill

Designers Kaci Bedgood Libby Buckland Megan Himebook Camille Hunter Photographers Hannah Gray Megan Himebook Carly Thompson Molly Turner Staff Writers Elise Emmert Olivia Landis Nathan Salsbury Hannah Shimanek Katie Shotts Mary Sramek Online Writers Celeste Fendt Camille Hunter Olivia McRitchie Liz Pence Luke Richardson Joy Richter Emily Spencer Dallas Spratt-Shields Video Production Team Kylie Ambu John Kroll Ryan Sisk

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

3

News

PHOTO FROM pixabay.com

School of Education switches accreditors and postpones secondary integrated science major Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief Dana Sebald-Van Doren | Features Editor

S

pring Arbor University (SAU)’s School of Education (SOE) is transitioning to the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) after withdrawing from their national accreditation through the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).

A letter from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to the SOE students said SAU let their national accreditation through the TEAC “lapse” before withdrawing their accreditation from TEAC since it is combined with the other accrediting organization, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, to form CAEP. Before now, SAU was the only undergraduate teacher education program in Michigan not under CAEP. As they were reapplying, it was also discovered that the secondary integrated science major also lacked approval by MDE, despite some students already taking three years of classes for the integrated science major.

“It’s a disappointment,” SOE interim dean Dr. Linda Sherill said. “If you said, ‘Guess what? I want to be certified in basket weaving,’ and we came back and said, ‘Well, we thought we could, but we can’t,’ and you have your heart set on that, then we have to find the best alternative. That’s what we did.”

While the University is a candidate for CAEP, graduating seniors can still receive a provisional teaching certificate.

The final approval for the CAEP accreditation will be December 2018.

The process of accreditation can take

preparation institutions in Michigan will be,” Sherill said in a YouTube video sent to all education majors at the beginning of the semester.

Before integrated science, students had to choose between the four science areas: biology, chemistry, physics and natural science. The integrated science major combined all of them, but now students will have to change their major in order to graduate on time.

Junior Katelyn Clanton was one class away from majoring in elementary integrated science, and now has to take on extra course loads to finish the elementary integrated science minor with a reading minor. Junior Austin Lewandowski was majoring in secondary integrated science and has been working closely with academic advisor Patti Johnston on his schedule.

“I’m very impressed with how Spring Arbor is handling the situation,” Lewandowski said. “They are working their hardest with us and even up to the state level they’re working with us.

It was a bad situation and they’re doing the best that they can to help fix it.”

‘‘ ’’

4

I am very impressed with how Spring Arbor is handling the situation Austin Lewandowski, junior

up to two years, and with any combined science major, it can take longer because of new standards with the National Science Association. The SOE hopes to resubmit the secondary integrated science major in January 2019.

“We are the same educator, providing excellent programs as we always have been, and in December of ‘18, we will be nationally accredited with the CAEP accreditation agency as all other educator

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

SAU welcomes new nursing center Heather Clark | News Editor

O

ct. 1 marked the opening of Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) new undergraduate nursing lab. On Homecoming Day, President Brent Ellis dedicated the Jaworski Clinical Simulation Center and Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Service Clinic on the other side of M-60.

“We’ve had nursing for a long time, but this is a unique element,” Al Kauffman, chair of the department of nursing, said. “[our previous] nursing program we had was for people who were nurses already. Now you can enter as a non-nurse.”

According to Kauffman, SAU has offered bachelor’s degree completion programs for those holding associate’s degrees since 2001. A master’s program followed in 2009, but both required a

student to have at least an associate’s degree to enter the program.

Kauffman said the process to create the undergraduate program began in 2014. After creating a business plan, deciding on curriculum offerings and planning a budget, the program was required to seek approval from the Michigan Board of Nursing.

The program also required approval from the academic and administrative committees at SAU, which it received last year.

Several other departments, especially in the science department, had to redesign their curriculum to be qualified to offer the necessary support knowledge for nursing majors, according to Raymond Jones, director of campus nursing. The increased rigor of the courses is meant to prepare nurses to pass the required certification exams with PHOTO BY Megan Himebook better scores and more knowledge.

The Michigan Board of Nursing approved the new program on May 5, allowing the university to select classes of 30 students to enter the program until two classes have been graduated. Those two classes will then be evaluated based on a standardized test, the National Council Licensure Examination.

Jones has been involved in planning not only the educational aspects, but also new facilities that will open for the department. A portion of SAU’s Physical Plant building has been converted to a

simulation center containing lifelike practice mannequins. The center shares space with a physical therapy clinic that will be open to the public and used jointly by SAU’s physical therapy courses and the nursing department for training in therapy and safety practices.

Sophomore Jaydn Fuerst will be one of the department’s entering undergraduates for the class of 2020.

She said she is most enthusiastic about the availability of the new programs and the ability to take all of her required classes at one school.

Another student entering the program is Jonathan Matwiejczyk, a 2015 graduate biology major. He said he had been searching for a job when he found out about the available nursing program.

“I loved the idea of being able to return to Spring Arbor, not only for the community and it already being my home for the last five years, but also I already had great relationships I had cultivated with the professors over the years,” Matwiejczyk said.

Jessica Khoury, a sophomore transfer from Michigan State University, said she is looking forward to the handson clinic.

“It will be a place where mistakes will be made, but better to made in the lab than in the hospital,” Khoury said.

Fuerst also expressed excitement for the clinics. She was able to participate in simulation equipment tests last year when the program was being set up, and practiced with a specially designed mannequin.

“I helped deliver a fake baby,” Fuerst said. “It was pretty awesome.”

News

PHOTO BY Megan Himebook

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

5

News

Cline and Hill take over the Honors Program Katie Shotts | Staff Writer

E

very academic year has a new beginning for students: new classes, new professors and new events that promote a vibrant culture on campus.

This year also brought new changes to Spring Arbor University (SAU)’s academic honors program.

Students who are in the honors program have much to look forward to. The program offers opportunity for students to enrich their lives at SAU. In addition to the possibility of new friendships that each fall can bring, the leaders of the honor’s program hope to encourage relationship growth.

Associate Professor of Philosophy Matt Hill and Associate Professor of English Brent Cline were instituted as the new heads of the program this year.

“We are excited about the opportunity to push students in their areas of conviction,” Hill said. “Like the Concept expresses, the honors program also wishes to develop character in the students to make them not just a social worker, business woman or scientist, but a certain kind of social worker, a

6

“

We see this program as a kind of academic sports team of sorts, training and strengthening [students’] convictions with every class.

Matt Hill, Associate Professor of Philosophy

certain kind of business woman and a certain kind of scientist.”

Students, too, are excited for what this year’s program has to offer. Senior Kyla Wright coordinated events for the honors program last year and will be doing so this year as well. She is excited for the events that will take place, and how these will bring people together.

“The theme for this fall’s class is friendship,” Wright said. “I think that this will be another way for honors students to share in some great discussion and fellowship.”

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

”

This year, the honors program will be offering a one-credit class as well, which will be co-taught by Cline and Hill.

“We see this program as a kind of academic sports team of sorts, training and strengthening [students’] convictions with every class,” Hill said. “And, like all of SAU’s students, we hope to foster a deep sense of community within the group as the students progress through their four years here.”

News

Board of Trustees elects new chairman Stevenson discusses vision and the trustees’ role in the school Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

A

fter 20 years of serving as a trustee and generations of involvement at Spring Arbor University (SAU), Dale Stevenson was elected as Board of Trustees Chairman on May 13.

Stevenson retired two years ago as owner of a international law firm which continues to consult as he focuses on the school. He has seen SAU go through many transitions, including hiring President Brent Ellis four years ago.

“We have the advantage now, being in a good, stable leadership position,” Stevenson said. “Probably the primary responsibility the Board has is to secure your [SAU]’s one employee, the president.”

As Chairman, Stevenson keeps the Board’s four committees— Finance, Advancement & Enrollment, Academic Affairs & Student Life and Governance—accountable. He also represents the school to larger organizations along with the president but on a broader, big-picture scale.

The Chairman is also the head of the Board of Trustees, who approve new projects, such as the nursing and physical therapy program and donor-

funded projects such as E.P. Hart circle and the tennis courts. They establish school policies that guide daily activities on the main campus and sites.

“They wouldn’t tell us what to do as far as stand here and tell us, but their policy would say this is what you have to do,” Chief of Staff, Damon Seacott said.

Seacott acts as a liaison between the university and the board. He communicates with trustees on a daily basis and talks to Stevenson three to four times a week. As Chief of Staff, Seacott also works with the president to keep Board members engaged with the campus.

Every time Stevenson is on campus, he tries to sit down with students and ask them about their experience.

“I’ve worked in different cultures my entire life and you don’t do a very good job of what your skill is unless you understand the context in which you’re providing it,” Stevenson said.

“So understanding the culture of the university is also critical.”

Board members live as far away as China and as close as Jackson, Mich.

To stay involved with the campus, Ellis

sends videos to trustees, similar to the one released this summer about the empty campus. Every three to four weeks, Seacott sends email newsletters to keep members updated.

“Obviously the farther away they are, the harder it is to stay engaged, but it shows their commitment,” Seacott said.

“They really want to know what’s going on.”

The Board consists of 25 members from different backgrounds such as law, business, finance and education.

Each member is nominated and elected based on background, diversity, sphere of influence and ability to contribute financially. Some can donate $1,000, others a million, but the board is looking for both, Seacott said.

As the year continues, Stevenson said he hopes to continue to expand the physical therapy program as well as the nursing program.

“It’s exciting to continue that legacy of people who are truly exceptional, and not just educated with knowledge and information, but that have a passion to live a life that matters,” Stevenson said.

PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

7

Features

The Spirituality Stigma Addressing spirituality through the culture and community Amber Cekander | Associate Editor

L

iving on a Christian campus means one is never too far from the idea of spirituality. But spirituality does not look the same on everyone and, despite that knowledge, some students feel like there is a stigma surrounding the idea of what spirituality should look like on Spring Arbor University (SAU)’s campus.

So, what does the perception of spirituality look like? Seniors Ben Coakley and Vicy Henry said the approach to spirituality is focused on the positives.

“That stigma can help some people in encouraging them to have those positive experiences,” Coakley said. “On the flip side, I think people are afraid of negative emotions in connection with spirituality.”

“It’s like you’re so on fire that nothing can go wrong and nothing’s bad in your life,” Henry said.

Eric Beda, director of the office of intercultural relations, talked about the influence culture has on perceptions of spirituality.

“Students have to, to an extent, conform to what is here,” Beda said. “For some students that can be a hard transition because they still want to maintain what they brought to this university.”

Adjunct Professor Angel Kono said worship is often one way spirituality is “pigeonholed.”

“I think we get into a lot of trouble when we try to pigeonhole people in,” Kono said. “Then we are putting ourselves in a place where we are saying we know God better than you know God.” Part of this unconscious boxing-in can come from cultural associations of spirituality. Beda said being able to recognize the impact culture and

8

spirituality have on each other and on our personal lives requires selfexamination about what is influencing our faith.

Junior Elyse Underwood expressed a similar attitude.

“I think a lot of [what] spiritual lives [look like] comes down to expectations of ourselves and of other people,” Underwood said.

individualized, it is not only an individual endeavor. Cultural communities like SAU and church families back home can affect what spirituality looks like.

But conforming to spiritual culture should not be the end goal.

“Our goal in our spirituality should never be to please another person,” Kono said, “but to please the Lord.”

Kono a l s o mentioned the conflicting idea of spirituality being an individual practice, but participating in a community like Spring Arbor’s. Unless one lives “Our goal in our spirituality in isolation, individual spirituality has an effect should never be to please on those who live in another person, but to please community together. the Lord.”

Coakley suggested a change could be Angel Kono, brought to the positiveAdjunct Professor only spirituality through community. The ability to be open to express negative emotions in regards to spiritual walks is one way to make a stigma shift. Making less assumptions and asking more questions is another.

While spirituality can be highly

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

Hannah Shimanek | Staff Writer

S

pring Arbor University (SAU) for many years has had a student leadership position on every floor, hall, house or village called a Spiritual Life Advisor (SLA). The Pulse asked the Assistant Director of SLA’s Lorissa Matthysse to fill us in on what being an SLA is all about.

The Pulse (TP): What do SLA’s do?

Lorissa Matthysse (LM): SLA’s are essentially the “pastor” of the floor. They are the go-to person when you need prayer, encouragement or ministry opportunities. Many SLA’s do this by having weekly floor Bible studies, prayer nights, floor service projects, etc.

Features

SLA’s:

Everyone has one, but does everyone know why?

Quinn Colvin: I had been praying for a while for a leadership opportunity so I could play an active role in serving the students on campus. After a lot of prayer of her own, Kelsey Olivo, the resident assistant of Gainey 1 West, asked me to be her SLA, and I knew that was God’s answer to my prayer. I wanted to be an SLA because I wanted to play a really big role in setting the spiritual tone of my floor. I have always loved to listen to others when they need help, to pray for them, to give them advice and just love them in general. I knew that God has given me the talents for this position, and that now He was calling me to use them.

TP: How is the program different than years before?

LM: This year we really wanted to encourage and equip SLA’s with ways to get their students involved with ministry opportunities on campus. In years past, SLA’s have been really focused on just Bible studies. This is still an important part of the role, but we also believe there is power in just being present for the people living around you. We are also encouraging SLA’s to get to know the people on/in their floor/village/house, so they know what interests them or what they struggle with and in turn know what ministries to encourage their students to be a part of. This is a great way to support our many ministries on campus, such as Deeper, Love Builds, Project LOT, Expose SAU, Delight, etc.

The Pulse also connected with some current SLA’s, juniors Quinn Colvin and Jonathan Charles, to dive into their motivations and feeling toward their opportunity and position.

TP: Why did you choose to be an SLA this year?

Jonathan Charles: I chose to be an SLA because I thought it would be a great opportunity to grow spiritually and help those around me grow. I wanted this year to be different than the previous years. I wanted to be on a floor where we are comfortable to tell each other where we fall short and where we can admit our flaws. I am not ashamed to say I struggle daily. All I can do is continue to die to my flesh daily. This cannot be done alone, which is why my focus for this year is accountability.

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

9

Features

Willkommen in Deutschland!

Adventures on my semester abroad

PHOTO BY Carly Thompson

Carly Thompson| A&E Editor

Embarking on an Adventure

I

t is impossible to accurately put into words just how incredible my semester abroad in Germany was, except to say I have gained a second home in Europe.

On January 15, senior Allie Herkenroder and I embarked on a three-month journey in Germany for the AMBEX (American Bavarian Exchange) semester. I had never flown before, let alone been outside of the United States We had no idea what to expect and barely knew each other.

Here we were, with 14 students from colleges on the west coast, trying to figure out a new life together.

Everything was new. Picture New Student Orientation (NSO) week, but thousands of miles across the ocean in Germany. Picture 15 people you’ve never met who you have to live and room with. Now, picture an unfamiliar culture, language and time difference. It

10

was NSO on steroids.

The semester was structured in two week periods, the first week being orientation in Nürnberg. We then moved to Regensburg for the duration

“

Here we were, with 14 students from colleges on the west coast, trying to figure out a new life together.

Carly Thompson A&E Editor

”

of the semester.

We had five two-week classes: Christian Worldview, Reformation Theology, Modern European Literature,

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

Art History and German Culture and Geography. Following each two week class was either a free week to travel elsewhere in Europe (we had three of these), or an academic tour week (one was a Reformation tour through cities in Germany and the other was in Austria and Italy studying art). It sounds like a lot to do in three months—it was, but it was the adventure of a lifetime.

Exploring Europe During the first of three independent travel weeks I went to Greece, where we climbed up to the Acropolis and took in the view of ancient Greek ruins paired with the panoramic view of the entire city of Athens. We ate a gyro a day and swam in a cave lake with tiny fish that tried to suck on our toes.

My second travel week was spent in Barcelona, Spain. We visited the Futbol Stadium and the locations of the Cheetah Girls 2 film: the natural history museum where I held colored pigeons, the fountain and Park Güell with mosaic benches.

Our final independent travel week was my favorite. It was the week of my

birthday, which I spent in England and Ireland. We toured London in asingle day. We awoke at 6:00 a.m. and saw the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

We took a tour of the locations used in filming the Harry Potter movies– our tour guide dressed to look just like Hagrid. We finished the day by watching the musical “Wicked” at the Apollo Theater, my dream come true, and taking pictures at Platform 9¾ in King’s Cross Station.

We took a ferry over to Ireland for the rest of the week, staying in Dublin, Killarney and Galway. We stayed in both the countryside, with brilliant green grass and sheep, and in bustling cities. We visited the Cliffs of Moher, took meandering walks through the countryside and experienced the city life of street performers and Irish music while celebrating my birthday in Galway.

A New Home We always returned home to Regensburg after our excursions.

Living in Germany was like living in a storybook. Every cobblestone street, narrow alley and red-roofed building took us back in time to a history preserved tangibly in their culture.

Regensburg is a quaint little town on the Danube River, with storybook Bavarian architecture, unmistakable red roofs, cathedrals and home to the royal Thurn and Taxis family living in their elaborate palace.

We lived in one wing of our Jungendherberge (hostel) in rooms that

resembled standard dorms, except the windows didn’t have any screens.

On our trip we had 15 girls and one guy, so girls got to rotate roommates while poor Jonah was by himself.

Our classes took place in a conference room in our hostel down the hall from our rooms, and we would usually meet from 8:00 a.m. until lunchtime for class every day for two weeks.

After lunch we had free time for the rest of the day to do “homework,” which meant explore the city.

Most days we would frequent cafes and listen to the locals converse while eating delectable pastries. In the winter, most of our exploring involved food.

Bavarian pretzels, chocolate and gelato were staples every day. If we didn’t like the food at the hostel, our favorite meal to grab was döner kebabs (pita stuffed with shaved meat, cabbage, cucumbers, onions and special sauce) and dürum (which is everything inside döner but stuffed into a wrap). Our spring explorations took us on walks down the river on paths lined with hundreds of wild flowers, or up the hill to a small chapel where we climbed into the largest tree I had ever seen. Every day was an adventure.

On one of our adventures at the ice skating rink I met my dear German friend, Maike. We were brought together by her longing to be back in America and

my longing for a local friendship.

We skated and talked the entire night about our love of books, writing and cultural differences. Maike also attended Lifestream church where we went on Sundays, an independent “free” church which met in a bar. The congregation was so hospitable and friendly. Although the services were conducted in German, we were connected by our faith.

Whether we sang in English or German, we were united in one language—God’s language. Regensburg will forever have a piece of my heart.

PHOTO BY Carly Thompson

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

11

Features

Follow the money and

How does the school generate incom

Kayla Williamson | E

O

ne of President Brent Ellis’ priorities when he took the leadership role was fundraising and increasing endowment (the school’s savings and investments.) While the budget for Ivy League university Harvard is $78 billion and Spring Arbor University (SAU)’s rival, Indiana Wesleyan’s, 201617 budget is $178 million, Spring Arbor’s revenue and contributions in 2014 totaled $72 million.

As SAU continues to grow and expand, donor contributions, tuition and other supplementary projects are key sources of income, Ellis said.

The recent additions to campus–the new tennis courts, the E.P. Hart memorial for SAU’s founder, renovated locker rooms, English mural and nursing program–were all contributed by donors.

“Part of what you do within these donor relationships is people fall in love with the university and they have interests and they have passions that are focused in certain areas, so you really want to empower people to be involved in things

they’re passionate about,” Ellis said. “I think every one of these gifts really is a manifestation of the person’s passion for Spring Arbor University.”

Ever wonder how the school makes money and where tuition money goes?

President Ellis answers all your questions.

The Pulse (TP): You’ve actually worked in fundraising before you were president in Advancement right?

President Brent Ellis (PE): Yes I did. I still work in fundraising. (laughs) But for four years while Chuck Webb was president, I was the Vice President of Advancement.

The chief fundraiser at the time.

TP: How do donations work? Do you go out and find donors for specific projects or do they come to you with projects?

PE: Both. At times projects are driven by the institution based on its needs. At times projects are driven by donors who have certain ideas of what they want to do, and then at times, like with the Kauffman

PHOTOS BY Kayla Williamson & Molly Turner

12

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

Center, it’s, “I want to do something to honor Ken Kauffman, what could we do?” Really, it runs the gamut. And there are times we say no. I’ll just throw out a hypothetical. If someone says, “Brent we’re going to give you $20 million to build a science building, but we want you to teach these certain components of stem cell research” or something that could be controversial, we generally will say no. If it’s consistent with what we have set for priorities for the institution and allows us to fulfill our mission in greater ways, then by all means we’ll accept it. We will do that in a manner that it doesn’t impact student tuition, and we don’t divert tuition funds towards those projects.

TP: What does tuition actually go towards?

PE: The operations of the institution. Our operational budget is in the neighborhood of $70 million and tuition funds a portion of that broader operational budget. Tuition does not cover the full cost of running the institution. We have endowment dollars.

We raise money. There are a variety

o in T is f p li p

T

P c A c tu th o o tu

T w d

P m a

ome? And where does our tuition go?

n | Editor-in-Chief

o e e a nt o u m e f r s n at nt s

r d n n e s. y

of different things we do to have the income necessary to run the institution.

The majority of the operational budget is personnel. Salary and benefits. It pays for our faculty and staff. The other big portions of it would be some of our licenses (i.e. Blackboard), computers we provide and infrastructure.

TP: Like Wi-Fi? PE: Yeah, Wi-Fi. Athletic teams and coaches, it’s all through tuition dollars.

Anything that is a consistent recurring cost on an annual basis, that is what tuition goes to, and nothing outside of that. I think tuition covers 85 percent of our operational funds. About 15 percent of our operational budget is outside of tuition dollars.

operational expenses. And then there are other auxiliary enterprises, like summer camps and leasing facilities.

TP: So tuition would be directly correlated with enrollment, and so as enrollment goes up or down the operational budget would go up and down?

PE: Yes. TP: And so that affects how many professors we can hire or facilities we can update?

PE: Right. Some of the operational dollars go to what we call broadly deferred maintenance. It takes on different projects that would be helpful for maintaining facilities throughout their lifespan.

TP: One of the incomes of the school would be donors and tuition, and where does the rest come from?

TP: How do you predict the budget? Do you know at the beginning of the year how many students come?

PE: Endowment. It’s investments people make. We draw four or five percent on an annual basis from endowment to fund

PE: We base our budgets on three year averages. So right now we already know what next year’s budget is going to be

Features

nd see where it goes…

because we know what we’ve enrolled this year. Our new student class is up 20 students from a year ago, which is great.

That then becomes the target for their recruiting efforts the following year.

TP: So it really depends on admissions, too.

PE: Absolutely. Enrollment is significant.

Schools like Spring Arbor are often times referred to as tuition driven. We say we’re tuition dependent. Because we do depend on tuition dollars to run the institution.

If all the students left, we wouldn’t have access to funds to be able to maintain the institution. There are some schools that would have significant endowments that say we’re really not tuition dependent.

It doesn’t really matter what we charge, like Princeton or Yale or Harvard, they can charge whatever they want. Their endowments are so big that they can live off of their investments. It doesn’t matter. If they had years where they had zero students they could continue to operate. We couldn’t. We have to adjust our budgets based on our enrollments.

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

13

Features

Want to know why a 30,000 lbs rock is on now the entrance to our school? Or how we found these donors? Check out the full article on thesaupulse.com.

TP: So endowment is a really important part of your job as fundraising?

PE: Endowment is an enormous focal point to what we’re doing. When I came here seven years ago, our endowment was just under seven million dollars and our expectancies (potential future donations through wills) were about 18 million. Now our endowment has more than doubled, so it’s over 15 million, and our expectancies have gone from about 18 million to about 55 million which is great. We’re on our way, but part of the problem was, if you go back into the mid 80s, our endowment was about $250,000. There was a mentality for a lot of Christian institutions to say if you build endowment, you were removing your dependency on God to provide you on an annual basis what it takes to survive. I think God can provide endowment to provide, it’s still His provision. Whether it’s tuition dollars or endowment, it’s all God’s money.

So I don’t agree with that philosophy so we’ve put a strong emphasis to try to build the endowment. The more we raise the better job we can do to

keep tuition low. And I know it doesn’t seem that way. In the last several years the average increase has been at 3.5-5 percent, which is lower than the national average. I know it’s expensive, but we are in the bottom quartile of institutions.

There are more than 75 percent of private Christian institutions that have higher tuition rates than Spring Arbor.

We do intentionally try to stay in that bottom quartile to try and make it as affordable as possible.

TP: Why does it increase every year? Is it inflation?

PE: The primary driver to that is healthcare. It’s an issue institutions face outside of higher education as well. We don’t pay the highest salaries, so we try to provide more significant benefits. So, that’s what has been done. We know what our budget as far as targets for enrollment next year goes. We have no idea what the increase in our health care premium is going to be. So, all of that becomes very difficult to predict.

That and technology are the two main culprits. As technology becomes better it costs more and people’s expectations

PHOTOS BY Megan Himebook & Kayla Williamson

14

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

of that increases. What was really rare and uncommon 15 years ago (i.e. Wi-Fi) is now expected.

TP: One last question, so all of these five dedications, they have nothing to do whatsoever with parking passes and paying $50.

PE: Absolutely zero have to do with that.

TP: So the $50 goes straight to campus safety and the new parking lot?

PE: Nope, has nothing to do with the new parking lot. The $50 only goes towards campus safety budget and allows them to have some funds to make sure that we are a safe campus. [see parking passes article in the freshman issue] TP: So where does the new parking lot come from?

PE: That was part of the tennis court project. One of the things that we were required to do by Spring Arbor Township is to replace the parking lot that we lost. That was part of the project cost.

Amber Cekander | Associate Editor This past summer, Spring Arbor University (SAU) student Gloria “Tasha” Holt passed away after a lengthy battle with Sickle Cell Anemia.

To celebrate Holt and her time at SAU, students were asked to share their memories about her.

“Tasha was in my core freshman year. I got to know her more at Cedar Bend when we were paired up for canoe partners. Tasha was so kind, and I enjoyed getting to know her. I loved her spunky attitude because it made her fun to be around. She was not afraid to be herself and I loved her bright red hair because it showed off her personality.”

-Jessica Myers, senior.

“She will be tremendously missed, however, her spirit will forever live in us who is also in Christ Jesus. The last time I saw Tasha I had an opportunity to finally meet her Mom and Dad. We all knew Tasha loved her parents and would do anything for them. We all went out to dinner that night. While at dinner, Tasha was enjoying some pizza and wings. Her mom, just like all our moms, cared and told Tasha to take it easy with the bread. Tasha’s reply was simple: “I know, Mom, I’m just enjoying this while I can.” And those words impacted me and will forever stick with me. Tasha understood that life was to be enjoyed and she enjoyed it. We must remember that Tasha wants us to enjoy life as she did. Tasha inspired us all at SAU to live life on purpose and never give up. Tasha fought the good fight and will truly be missed. However, it is not goodbye but simply see you later.”

-Ty Davis, alumnus “Since freshman year Tasha had been one of my closest friends. We were always together no matter what was going on. She was so strong. I remember when she got sick one night, she had a temperature of 103 and refused to go to the hospital. So I stayed up with her all night until her mom got there the next day just to make sure she

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Curtis Calhoun

Features

Celebrating Tasha was okay. We watched Disney movies and laughed at the corniest jokes I had ever heard. She will truly be missed but she will always be loved.”

- Jerika Palmer, senior.

“Since the loss of you I’ve learned to live for each day And take it as a blessing Knowing it may not always be this way.

Since the loss of you I’ve learned that when everything goes wrong To never give up on what is right.

Because it can only make you strong.

Since the loss of you I’ve learned that even when you’re in a lot of pain You’ve got to hold yourself together So you won’t feel like you’re going insane.

Since the loss of you I’ve learned how to hold the tears when I want to cry Because all I have are memories And I just want to ask God why.

But mostly since the loss of you I’ve learned a life can be taken In the blink of an eye.

And only Heaven really knows when That person will have to say goodbye.”

-Curtis Calhoun, junior

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

15

A&E

Lazeez overcomes obstacles with community support Nathan Salsbury | Staff Writer Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

T

his summer, Lazeez Flavors of India moved to Spring Arbor after a corporation bought its Westwood Mall location.

After four months into their two year contract, Sangeeta Awan and her daughter Mehr, a former Spring Arbor University (SAU) student, began wondering what they were going to do next.

Mehr said after their contract was terminated, she and her mother were in a state of shock.

“We didn’t know what to do,” Mehr said. “The Lord led us here, and Mom saw this place.

In two weeks we had signed the lease here and then in about a month

16

we had moved over. So that was just a total God thing.”

Since their move, the Awans said they have received support from not only SAU faculty and students, but also many members of the Spring Arbor community. The move into the area has also provided Assistant Professor of Marketing Allen Knight’s business classes with the opportunity to use what they are learning and apply it to a reallife business in order to help Lazeez succeed in this new location.

Knight has been working with some of his classes this semester using Lazeez as an example of a real life business. He is having his PR, marketing and small business classes work with them to look at to look at a real business and compare it to what they’re learning.

“The students can say ‘okay, here’s what the textbook is walking us through and here’s an example of a business and we as students can be involved, talk to the owner and see what issues they’re encountering,’” Knight said. “And at the end of this, maybe we can offer an updated or modified business plan.”

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

PHOTO BY Kayla Williamson

Taking the lead for three of Knight’s classes is senior Lacey Morgan.

“Dr. Knight has put me in charge of our public relations class, our marketing class and small business management with an entrepreneurial approach,” Morgan said. “So I’m the team lead in all of those classes for Lazeez.”

Through these projects, Morgan said they will do an audit, or business plan, then work on a marketing plan using their findings and, finally, further develop a business plan with a public relations standpoint.

Professor of Communication Robert Woods, although not working on any projects for Lazeez, gave high praise of the restaurant.

“I eat there as often as I can and have as many meetings as I can there,” Woods said.

Woods also mentioned he suggests the restaurant to many people, both students and faculty. Mehr also spoke about how grateful she and her mother are that news of the restaurant is spreading so strongly by word of mouth.

Lazeez Flavors of India is now located in the Village Crossing strip mall on Spring Arbor Road. On Mondays they are open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday-Saturday they are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

Students collect ideas on how to improve E.P. Hart Circle

A&E

ge

Elise Emmert | Staff Writer

V

isitors to Spring Arbor University (SAU) will no longer enter campus to be greeted by a boring, grassy roundabout. Thanks to a local farmer, SAU now has a 30,000 pound rock flanked by brick walls.

The rock is going to be a grave headstone for E.P. Hart and his wife, who were buried in the circle drive many years ago. The group behind the new monument believes it will be a good thing for SAU’s campus, because Hart and his wife founded SAU. “Well, it’s definitely better than nothing,” said a member of the group.

But a group of students on campus is protesting the decision because they think historical monuments are lame.

They are a new group, and have recently organized protests against the Washington Monument and Mount Rushmore.

In protest of SAU’s new rock, the students have been collecting ideas from fellow students and faculty on alternative uses or meanings for the rock. Some of them are:

•

• •

•

• •

•

Renaming it the “Holy Spirit Rock,” as a partner to the Jesus Reactor and the God Globe outside Lowell Hall to complete the Trinity.

Making the rock the new university mascot.

Sticking a sword in the top, and whoever can pull the sword out becomes the new president of SAU. Using the rock as the new campus go-to location for proposals if you can’t afford a big rock, you can at least use one as a backdrop for engagement photos. #RockByTheRock Letting an art student carve the rock into a sculpture.

Painting a smiley face on the rock, because that’s at least a little more positive and welcoming when people drive in.

Performing plays in front of the rock, because more people can fit in the circle drive than can fit in the Prop Shop.

•

•

Keeping the rock under perpetual construction, as an homage to Michigan.

Letting the camping ministry students use the rock for rockclimbing practice.

The student group will be collecting more ideas throughout the week outside the Dining Commons. They are planning to send out a poll via email and present the winning idea in chapel.

*Disclaimer: Do NOT paint the rock. Seriously. Don’t do it.

PHOTO BY Andri Hill

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

17

A&E

PHOTO FROM Hamilton Facebook Page

Turning Musical Culture Upside Down Mary Sramek | Staff Writer

T

housands of people have been to New York City to be in the room where “Hamilton” happens.

Inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography “Alexander Hamilton,” LinManuel Miranda wrote “Hamilton.”

Miranda tells the story of the nonstop founding father and orphaned immigrant Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton is commonly known for being the face on the ten dollar bill and founder of the national bank.

“Hamilton” follows Hamilton’s life, showing his involvement in the revolution, and approaches revolutionary history and early American culture.

“The Ten Dual Commandments” gives the narrative of dual culture.

Other songs feature cabinet meetings, congressional discussion and the opinions and statements from other historical figures.

Along with other historical figures, King George III, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr appear.

The cast is made up of all races, ethnicities and genders. Miranda said this blends the formation of America with what it has become.

The music is as diverse as the cast. Songs mix between R&B, rap, contemporary style and ballads and make “Hamilton” the first of its kind.

Melodies cross between songs, revisiting

18

themes throughout both acts one and two.

While starring in the Broadway presentation, Miranda hosted what was called #Ham4Ham. This was a rendition of Broadway’s lottery, a process where random people can win discounted Broadway tickets. At #Ham4Ham cast members performed to an audience outside the theater and gave out $10 tickets to “Hamilton.”

Eventually, #Ham4Ham moved to an online forum because so many people came and created crowds that impeded on traffic.

Miranda left the ensemble July 9 and was replaced by Javier Muñoz.

Tickets for “Hamilton” in Chicago went on sale June 21. The Chicago show opened September 27 and is sold out until 2017.

“Hamilton” will be performed in Europe in October 2017. The Victoria Palace Theater in London will host the story of America’s founding father.

Miranda said there were some historical inaccuracies in “Hamilton.”

He said creative license was required for the sake of entertainment and telling Hamilton’s story.

One inaccuracy is told during the story in “Helpless” and “Satisfied.”

The character Angelica Schuyler said, “My father has no sons so I’m the one / who has to social climb for one.”

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

These lines imply Angelica had to marry rich. This was incorrect.

Angelica’s father had 15 children.

The musical exaggerated Hamilton and Angelica’s relationship. Historically, Angelica eloped with John Barker Church when she met Hamilton.

“I think that my brain wanted me to forget [about Angelica being married] because it’s stronger dramatically if societally she can’t marry you,” Miranda said about Angelica’s marital status.

“Hamilton” won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The musical also out ran other musicals and was nominated for 16 Tony Awards. Of the 16, “Hamilton” won 11.

Hamilton Music Worth Knowing: Wait For It Say No To This Non-Stop You’ll Be Back / What Comes Next / I Know Him Cabinet Battle 1 & 2 Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) Blow Us All Away Helpless / Satisfied Burn The Room Where it Happens

*D

A&E

PHOTO FROM makeitstrange.com

Netflix Original Series Review Michelle Bennett | Staff Writer

N

etflix just got a little bit stranger with its new original hit, “Stranger Things.” If there is one thing Netflix knows how to do, it’s originals. With each new release comes the thrill of another wellcasted, well-directed, intriguing and entertaining story. It came as no surprise that the company that produced “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black” and “Daredevil” released another bingeworthy show to latch onto.

The story centers on the disappearance of a local boy, Will Byers, from the small town of Hawkins, Ind., in 1983. After Will vanished without a trace, his three best friends Mike, Lucas and Dustin are left behind to piece together a puzzle. They find the first piece of the puzzle with the girl called Eleven. Eleven’s past and abilities are the key to Will’s disappearance. While the trio does their best to figure out how Eleven fits in, they lack pieces of the puzzle. Some of these pieces are found with Jonathan, Will’s older brother, and Nancy, Mike’s older sister. This intermingling storyline begins when Nancy’s best friend, Barb, goes missing after a party with Nancy’s boyfriend, Steve. Nancy and Jonathan team up to try to find out what took Will and Barb and how to stop it. The remaining

pieces of this puzzle fall to Will’s mom, Joyce, and the town Sheriff, Chief Hopper. They do their best to figure out how the government plays into the disappearance of Joyce’s son and how much harm or good they can do in their search for Will.

While the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, are relatively new to the directing world and the Hollywood spotlight, their inexperience is hardly noticeable.

The Duffer brothers, with the help of their cinematographers, Tim Ives and Tod Campbell, created the familiarity of a small town with the constant use of bikes as the main form of transportation. The wildfire-like spread of gossip aided in creating this small town where everyone knew everyone and their drama. In an ironic contrast the majority of the main characters are able to keep secrets from each other.

This is exactly what made the show so delightfully paradoxical. Despite the compact town and the closeness of the characters, they managed to keep their secrets and plans to themselves.

The acting brought the story to life with formidable talent such as Winona Ryder, who played the panicked and jumpy yet determined Joyce. David Harbour played the uninterested and tragic Chief Hopper whose sense

of reason was found in his search for Will and the resolution of the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Young, new talent was found in Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, who performed with such honesty and passion for her character that the role seemed only natural for her. She played the perfect scared and detached little science experiment that evolved into a little girl who longs for solid friendship and home.

The music lent itself to the nostalgia created by this show. With hits from popular eighties artists like the Clash, Peter Gabriel and Corey Hart, immersion in the world of the eighties was an easy task.

The setting, plotline, cinematography, music and scene direction mixed to create a combination of X-Files, the Goonies and E.T. The mystery is what grabs audiences but the nostalgia, character development, plotline and constant cliffhangers are what keep fans returning. Audiences are so swept up in whether this boy will be found and with the past of characters like Chief Hopper and Eleven that the ending will come all too quickly. The eerie and ominous conclusion will leave fans waiting for season two due to be released in 2017.

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

19

20

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

New Head Coach for Women’s Golf Team Olivia Landis | Staff Writer

‘‘

Sports

Erik Baum Q&A Libby Buckland | Sports Editor The Pulse (TP): Describe your previous coaching experience.

What is your background with golf and coaching prior to joining the Spring Arbor University (SAU) family?

Erik Baum (EB): Prior to this season I spent the last 4 years as a high school golf coach at Western High School. Golf has been a passion of mine for the better part of the last 10 year and I devoted a lot of time to studying the mental, physical and biomechanical aspects of golf.

TP: How were you able to step into the role of new women’s golf coach?

What brought you to SAU? How has the transition been?

EB: I was fortunate enough to step into this role through my previous coaching connections and some connections I have with the SAU family. I have always followed SAU sports and have numerous friends and family who have attended. I try not to let many opportunities pass me by, so when the SAU womens golf position presented itself, I assumed it was the path I was meant to follow. The transition period has been great. We are all continually learning and I have been taking the opportunity to combine my previous coaching experience with what I am learning to build a better self.

We are hoping to make this season the best in SAU Womens Golf history and continue to rise from there.

I love athletics and the competitive drive that comes with striving for your best. Secondly, and most importantly, I enjoy people, specifically helping others to succeed in their life’s journeys. What better place could there be to bring those two pursuits together than coaching, right?

TP: What are your visions and goals for the SAU golf program?

How will you define your success?

EB: The goal is an National Association of Intercollegiate Atheletes womens golf national championship. Though that goal may be off in the future we are setting milestone goals on the way to getting there. Our obvious goals are to get better each day, each tournament and each season as athletes and individuals.

We are hoping to make this season the best in SAU womens golf history and continue to rise from there.

TP: How will you define your success?

EB: We will define success through hard work and improvement. Like I mentioned we are really evaluating ourselves and the way we go about improvement and change. At the end of the day, tournament, or season, if we can say we gave it our best, then the improvement and success will follow.

’’

Erik Baum, Womens Golf Team Head Coach

TP: Do you have a coaching philosophy?

EB: Though I have many ideas about the way I feel a coach should perform his or her duties, I don’t have a specific philosophy I follow. I believe a coach needs to have some flexibility in their personality. Some athletes need a stern individual as a leader while others don’t respond well to that type of coach. I like to think that I adapt my philosophy based on the needs of each individual or the team. If you treat others well, practice empathy, all while giving and commanding respect, good things will come in all facets of your life.

TP: Why do you coach?

I coach for two reasons. First because

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

21

Sports

Cougar Bowling SAU leads the trend by starting the first ever Crossroads League Bowling team Olivia Landis | Staff Writer

B

owling is a sport on the rise, high school they only went for three or In the tournaments, players use and Spring Arbor University four hours.” different types of bowling balls to (SAU) is the first school in the In tournaments, the top five bowlers achieve different purposes. One ball is Crossroads League to have a bowling from the mens and the womens teams covered in resin and curves more. The team. Both are comprised entirely of are chosen to bowl for the Cougars players bowl with it first, because they freshmen, with six students on the on the tournament day, and each can curve it and knock down more pins. womens team and seven on the mens. player begins by bowling six The next ball is plastic and is better for The Cougars will be competing in spares because it rolls straight. And the the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic heavier the ball, the harder it will hit the Conference (WHAC) this pins because it has more momentum winter because none of the behind it. The average weight of a ball schools in the Crossroads used, for both men and women, is League have bowling 15 pounds. teams. When asked which A challenge for the players lies team will be the biggest in the oil patterns on the lanes.

Almost all of the athletes competition, Coach Michael All lanes have a layer of oil, but have been bowling since they Hall is quick to mention it is smooth and uniform when Concordia. people bowl for fun. For the were toddlers.

“They have a really good more experienced bowlers, Michael Hall, program that has been there there are oil patterns for a while now, but all our put down on the lanes Head Bowling Coach bowlers have a 220 or better to make it harder to get average, so I am confident we will a strike on nearly every be able to compete well with them opportunity. The oil is laid [Concordia],” Hall said. down so there will be hooks, curves The Cougar bowling teams practice and smooth parts in the lane. This three times a week at Airport Lanes in forces the bowlers to be creative with addition to 6:30 a.m. conditioning twice individual games. After the individual their releases. a week. The conditioning the teams games, the players get into teams to The Spring Arbor bowling teams are are doing includes lots of sprints, play a Baker Game, where five of the sponsored by Ebonite International, lifting and burpees. The muscle bowlers get together and bowl as a which provides all the bags and bowling groups Hall wants to target are the group, combining their skills for an balls for the team. The teams also have forearms and wrists, which are the even higher score. The first bowler an advantage over other schools because primary ones used when bowling. bowls the first frame, second bowler they have access to a machine called a “They are doing sprints because the second frame, third bowler the Strike Seeker. This records the athlete as they have to get used to seven or eight third frame and so on until they have they bowl and breaks down their form. hour long tournaments,” Hall said. “In finished the game.

‘‘

22

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

’’

Sports Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO BY Chris Bauman

Practice begins with some stretches to warm up, and then a warm up game for the bowlers. During the warm up game, the coaches are able to go around and talk to them about footwork, approach and the best angles to take. After warm ups, they will do more specific drills to work on endurance, form and the precision of hitting a single pin. Almost all of the athletes have been bowling since they were toddlers. Hall found his recruits through YouTube videos and tournaments such as the Junior Gold Tournament.

Hall started the bowling program at Cornerstone, and he heard about Spring Arbor when SAU contacted him asking for information on how he got the program started there.

“After the initial call, I was kind of intrigued. I was working part time and looking for a full time position, which Spring Arbor had. I asked if I could throw my name in the hat, and my family and I visited here four times before I took the offer,” Hall said.

Assisting Hall this winter is Coach Rich Bradley, who is currently coaching at Western High School.

“Their practices go 2:30-5:30, and we

go 7-9, so I’ll be pretty busy this winter... but I love it.” Bradley said.

You can truly see the passion the coaches and players have for the sport. Practices are focused and intense, and Hall said the fans and teams get competitive and crazy at tournaments. They have their own cheers, trash talk and dress in crazy attire to support their team.

“

Hall is working to make the adjustment as smooth and comfortable as possible.

“I always tell them I live close to campus, and if you need a break and want to come hang out, the doors are always open.” He laughs and adds, “They definitely take advantage of that, but I love them.”

You can truly see the passion that the coaches and players have for the sport.

”

October 7, 2016 • thesaupulse.com

23

SPORTS

Athlete of the Month Nick Tennis

Libby Buckland | Sports Editor

N

ick Romano, aka Nick Tennis, is a sophomore tennis player at Spring Arbor University (SAU). Romano is the team’s no. 1 singles player, and plays no. 1 doubles with partner Vincent McShane.

As a seasoned player, Romano has been very successful in his collegiate career at SAU. His freshman season he was named Crossroads League player of the week and ended with 16-9 record in no. 1 singles.

Romano is a business administration major with a concentration in finance, and he is constantly striving to perform better on and off the court.

“Nick puts in the hours and it shows in his performance,” teammate Patrick Doerr said.

“He has a competitive spirt that influences us all to be better.”

One of Romano’s current keys to success is eating a well-balanced diet and getting a good night’s sleep before a match. He commented practice makes perfect and it is very important to get in the “reps” if you want to improve.

24

PHOTOS BY Chris Bauman

Romano also sets his goals high.

“I set my goals to the extreme so they are very hard to reach,” Romano said.“In the back of my head I know I have to push myself past the limits if I ever want my goals to be achieved”.

When asked about his challenges, Romano said it was difficult to be the number one singles player. In this position he plays the best of each team.

“Each match is really a challenge. However, a positive attitude and hard work can take you far,” Romano said.

Romano’s competitive spirit, good attitude and hard work is propelling him to another fantastic tennis season, currently 5-1 in no. 1 singles. Romano wrapped things up

“

Enjoy the game. Do your best.

Keep it all in perspective, and pray a lot.

thesaupulse.com • October 7, 2016

Nick Romano, sophomore

”

with up by giving his greatest peace of advice.

“Enjoy the game. Do your best.

Keep it all in perspective, and pray a lot,” Romano said. “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday”.