SouthernAccent The student voice since 1926 Collegedale, Tennessee Thursday, March 24, 2016 Vol. 71, Issue 18
SA TALENT SHOW SEIZES THE DUCK
SOUTHERN CELEBRATES 100 YEARS IN COLLEGEDALE Caleb begley STAFF WRITER
On March 17, Southern Adventist University celebrated 100 years since the school moved from Graysville, Tennessee, to Collegedale, Tennessee. The school celebrated these festivities with a special convocation, featuring a speech by university President Gordon Bietz. This was Bietz’s final convocation presentation as president before his retirement. Bietz’s talk was entitled “We Believe in Miracles,” and he made a reference to a biblical miracle of when Joshua and the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River and then made piles of stones in the river by which to remember the miracle. Bietz then posed the following question to the student body: “What stones have we piled up…what is our story?” Starting from the beginnings of Southern in the 1890s, Bietz went on to give a more detailed history of the move that took place in 1916. He shared some of the more amusing things that happened during the early years of the university, such as first year ministry students having to take zoology. He also talked about how the school was in debt right after the move to Collegedale and that they asked for “$1 per member” of the constituency. If they didn’t have it, then they were to work hard and get it. Bietz joked that the school “started with chicken feed.” Bietz then spoke about how we should “never face the cutflower phenomena…dead but not knowing it yet.” He also said, “We should be counterculture, rather than culturemimicking.” Julie Penner, professor of music, and a small choral Continued on page 4
SEE NEWS PAGE 2
“Eating away our money.” A meal plan illustration. Photo by Caleb Cook
GET SMART: LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
MEAL PLAN CHANGES AGAIN eloise Ravell MANAGING EDITOR
Southern Adventist University’s Strategic Planning Committee approved changes to the student meal plan for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic school year. Currently, students are able to choose their desired meal plan, which includes opting out of a meal plan altogether or adding funds between $100-$1,700. Due to decreased revenue,
Food Services can no longer survive with the current arrangement. “Since we went on the voluntary meal plans two years ago, the plans students are picking are not generating enough revenue to support Food Services,” said Doug Frood, associate vice president of Financial Administration. “Food Services last year lost $575,000 and this year it is on track to lose $250,000.” Modeled after Union Col-
lege’s meal plan, residence hall students will automatically be enrolled in Southern’s “Silver” ($1,400) meal plan and may change to a “Bronze” ($1,200) or “Gold” ($1,600) plan. The meal plans include a $450 Food Services fee that helps to cover the cost of food preparation, which is subtracted from these amounts. However, residence hall students will receive a 40 percent discount on all food purchases Continued on page 4
SEE OPINION PAGE 6
#EXPOSE THE ELEPHANT: GROWING UP BIRACIAL
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS REDUCED FOR STUDENTS TO MOVE INTO VILLAGE shaina Rantung STAFF WRITER
The Housing Availability Committee (HAC) finalized its decision to reduce the number of required credit hours from 80 to 75 in mid-February for students who want to move into Southern Village apartments. The HAC is comprised of the head deans of the men’s and women’s residences, the housing deans and Dennis Negron, vice president of student services. Jeff Erhard, associate dean of men, explained why credit
requirements were reduced by five hours. “Our goal each year is to have enough wiggle room in the main residence halls, but not too much,” said Erhard. “[Credit hours] are adjusted depending on the number of students for the coming fall semester. Southern is optimistic about a modest increase in enrollment this fall semester.” JP Mathis, associate dean of Thatcher Hall, said this reduction would not cause any noticeable changes for students’ living arrangements. The residence halls and Southern Vil-
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: ACCENT.SOUTHERN.EDU
lage are still within their limits and budgets. Mathis also said the only concern the committee faced was that the change would make it easier for upperclassmen to bring their younger friends along to live together. The likelihood of different ages pairing is due to students being required to sign up in groups of four. Several other prerequisites remain unchanged. These include being at least 20 years old and having a good citizenship record. Students who Continued on page 4
SEE LIFESTYLE PAGE 7
MARCH MADNESS
SEE SPORTS PAGE 9
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @SOUTHERN_ACCENT