Vol.76, Issue 22 by Southern Accent

Sports| 5

Opinion | 5

Religion | 6

Lifestyle | 7

#StopAsianHate: Sport leagues, players speak against ongoing hate crimes

Are you racially insensitive?

'I am a disciple of Christ': Founding your faith on the rock

Amancia Carandang Follante:

April 7, 2021 Collegedale, Tennessee

Fixing your presumptions

Everyone’s lola, “Yoya”

Southern Accent

Vol. 76 Issue 22

The student voice since 1926

Southern to organize two vaccine events Asian Night on campus before the end of the semester Preview:

Everything you need to know

Xavier Quiles Lead Reporter On April 17, Asian Club will host the last major cultural celebration of the school year — Asian Night. There will be two shows at the Goliath Wall. The first will start at 9 p.m., and the second at 10:30 p.m.

Illustration by Nick Nieves.

Amanda Blake Lead Reporter On March 28, Southern students received an email informing them that there were extra Johnson_&_Johnson_COVID-19 vaccines available at a community vaccination event hosted by_the_Collegedale_Church_of Seventh-day_Adventists,_and they could be vaccinated if they came to the church immediately. About 30 minutes later, students received a second email informing them that all the extra vaccines had been spoken for by those waiting in line. According to nursing professor Jill Buchholz, who was also the event organizer, the vaccine site was “inundated” with students. Buchholz said she is working with the School of Nursing, administration and the_Hamilton_County_Health

Department to organize two more vaccine events on Southern’s campus this month. “The hardest thing I had to do was send those students away,” Buchholz said. “So, we want to be able to give them an opportunity where they’re not fighting with the community to get vaccines.” According to Buchholz, the vaccine_event_on_March_28 was for the local community. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., only people_who_had_signed_up for an appointment through the Hamilton County Health Department received a vaccine. But at 3 p.m., Buchholz and her team calculated that many people never showed up_for_their_appointments. They had close to 130 extra

The hardest thing I had to do was send those students away. So, we want to be able to give them an opportunity where they’re not fighting with the community to get vaccines. vaccines, so Buchholz worked with Marketing and University Relations to send the email informing students about the o p p o r t u n i t y. _B u c h h o l z _a n d her team were able to administer_all_the_extra_vaccines. However, she said not all the extra vaccines were given to students because some South-

ern faculty, Southern staff and c o m m u n i t y _m e m b e r s _a l s o came after 3 p.m. Buchholz said future vaccine events will require people to sign up for appointments. But if extra vaccines become available, Southern will send an email to students like the one sent on March 28. According to Buchholz, one of the vaccine events will be completely set up through Southern for Southern students, faculty, staff and all their spouses. The second vaccine event will be for the community, but students can still sign up for it through the Hamilton County Health Department. Buchholz hopes to organize another on-camSee VACCINE on page 3

Our performances will be topnotch this year. A few countries have only been practicing for a month, but I’m really proud of where everyone is right now. It's super exciting. Charles_Dugaduga,_sophomore nursing major, is the vice president for Asian Club and the director of Asian Night. “There’s_no_particular_theme this year; we decided to change things_up,”_Dugaduga_said. “We’re straying away from the traditional Asian Night or even all_the_cultural_nights_where there’s_usually_an_underlying theme, like a storyline or skit.” Dugaduga_explained_that because_of_COVID-19,_things had_to_be_different_this_time See BCU NIGHT on page 2

Graduation stole project brings Southern hires first director of Adult Degree cultural vibrancy to graduating seniors Completion program Frank Canizares Staff Writer Raising two daughters as a single mother was tough for Cynthia_Wright._She_worked two jobs to ensure her children received an Adventist education, believing it would help preserve their faith. But it also meant_postponing_Wright’s dream_to_obtain_a_college degree of her own. That changed after Wright’s daughters graduated from high school, presenting an opportunity for her to go back to school. Her older daughter went to college first, earned a bachelor's degree, and then took a break. Wright eventually caught up to her daughter academically, completing_her_associate’s,_bachelor’s and master’s degrees as an adult. Wright and her daughter eventually graduated together. “We both graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA —

something I am very proud of,” Wright said. Now, Wright is the recently-hired first director of Southern’s Adult Degree Completion Program, a new initiative aimed at adults 25 and older who were once in college but never completed the requirements to graduate. Having experienced the challenges of adult education firsthand, Wright believes s he _ b ri ng s _ t he _ k nowledge gained _ to _ her _ new _ position, which she began on March 29. “One thing that I do feel I can contribute [to this program] is that I can relate to adult students because I went back to school later in life in my 40s,” Wright said. Prior to coming to Southern, Wright worked at the University of Florida in Gainesville in the area of cardiology research.

See WRIGHT on page 3

Monday, April 5, 2021. (Photo by Xander Ordinola)

To celebrate the cultural differences on campus, Stephanie Guster, senior advisor for diversity at Southern, has been working on a project to create ethnically diverse stole designs that can be worn during graduation. From left to right, these stoles represent Asian Club, BCU, OIC and LAC.

Zoe Kanas Lead Reporter In 2019, Southern announced there was no ethnic majority on campus. And two_local_newspapers,_The_Chattanooga_Times Free Press and The Chattanoogan, _ published _ articles _ highlighting _ the _ diversity _ of _ the

school. Southern ranked first in racial diversity among universities in the South, and on Niche, currently ranks 193rd in ethnic diversity among all American universities. Stephanie_Guster,_senior

advisor for diversity at Southern, has been working on a project_to_create_ethnically diverse_stole_designs._Graduation_stoles, worn over the robes at graduation, are typSee STOLES on page 2

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Paola Mora at paolam@southern.edu

2 | Wednesday, April 7, 2021

NEWS

Gym-Masters overcome challenges, prepare for Saturday Home Show

ASIAN NIGHT continued from page 1

around, with smaller performance groups for each country. “ We_had_to_cut_down_on participation because we just wanted to avoid being a problem_with_COVID,”_Dugaduga said. “We_didn’t want people getting_quarantined_in_gen-

eral,_because _when_someone catches it, the whole team goes into quarantine. So, each performance will be in groups of five for each country.” Asian Night was planned over the past two months, but Dugaduga_said_this_will_not impact the quality of the cultural night. “Our _ performances _ will _ be

top-notch this year,” Dugaduga said. “A few countries have only been _practicing _for _a _month, but I’m really proud of where everyone is right now. It's super exciting._We_have_really_good choreographers; we have a lot of dancers. It’s a good thing to watch out for.”

STOLES

continued from page 1

Wednesday March 31, 2021. (Photo by Lila Odhiambo)

Kedrick Larson bases a move called the “Crazy Stack” as the Gym-Masters run through a routine for the upcoming home show. Gym-Masters will host their annual Home Show this coming Saturday Night.

Jasmine Miller Contributor COVID-19 has been a struggle_for_many,_including_the Gym-Masters_team_here_at_ Southern._Last_semester,_a member tested positive, and the entire team was put into quarantine for two weeks. This_semester, _ the _ team has been able to continue d e s p i t e _t h e _d i f f i c u l t i e s _ and_has_implemented new precautions to try to keep everyone healthy and safe. In the beginning of the Fall 2020_semester,_Gym-Masters members were given a _ waiver _ that _ states _ the potential risks of Gym-Masters,_according to Gym-Masters_coach_Richard Schwarz. Since the beginning of the a c a d e m i c _ y e a r, _ S c h w a r z said _ three _ team _ members have tested positive for the coronavirus. _To _his _knowledge, _ all _ three _ members contracted the virus off-campus. To further prevent the spread, _ Schwarz _ said _ the team works in small groups of the same five to six people and records all practices. He said he is pleased to see how the team has “protected each other by calling [him] when they did not feel well and [missing] practice for the safety of others.” According _to _sophomore theology _ major _ and _ second year Gym-Master Kedrick _ Larson, _ before _ practice,_Gym-Masters_must go through wristband and temperature _ checks _ separate from the daily checks required on campus. After practice,_Larson_said_the team vacuums, wipes down surfaces and sprays equip-

ment_with_electrostatic s p ra y e r s . _I n _a d d i t i o n _t o t h e _c l e a n i n g , _G y m - M a s ters must wash their custom-made masks that are u s e d _o n l y _f o r _p ra c t i c e , according to Larson. An event that is in the planning process is the annual Home Show, which will look different from past ones. Schwarz has set the date for April 10 and has limited the Home Show to only Southern students. He said he will provide “noise makers” so people can make noise while not yelling or screaming, and _ will require people to keep six feet of social distance. Schwarz _ said _ the _ team will _be _sharing _a _storyline about_“Gymmasticitis,”_and the show will be filled with “humor, excitement and contemplation.” As they continue to plan for the big event, Gym-Masters members are also aware of the fact that there will be complications due to COVID-19. Cameron Hodges, a captain on the team and fourth year Gym-Master, said Home Show “could be complicated … if Gym-Masters in certain routines are quarantined.” Despite the circumstances, Larson _ said _ the _ team _ has relied on each other. “Gym-Masters is like a family,” Larson said. “We can lean on each other. And having worship before practice helps us get closer to God, too.” Larson_said_he_is_also excited _ to _ perform _ in _ the Home Show “and to showcase the skills that God has provided us.”

ically plain, without much or any decoration. “President_Smith_requested that_I_work_on this as Senior Advisor_for_Diversity,”_Guster said. “Students benefit from the support of cultural club membership,_celebrations,_understanding their identity, belonging and social connectedness.” The Diversity Committee on campus has two main focuses: to_promote_understanding of _ cultural _ differences; _ and to_promote_the_celebration of diversity for all ethnic and underrepresented groups. Guster said the project was heavily inspired by Revelation 7:9-10, which reminds her of how diverse God’s creation is; yet, we all come into unity under Him. The_designs_that_were approved by Academic Administration_were_developed_in collaboration with club presidents,_according_to_Guster. The stoles themselves will be

The stoles being based on our cultural clubs represent so much more than the garment. They represent the fabric of what makes us a diverse community and family. made available to members of the various ethnic clubs on campus. Club membership is required to purchase the stole, as the funds will help support the clubs remaining active. “The_stoles_being_based on_our_cultural_clubs_represent so much more than the garment,” Guster said. “They represent the fabric of what makes us a diverse community and family. They represent

the student leaders who serve, who advocate, who plan ways to showcase the ways God made us different, while at the same time expressing gratitude for the love that unifies us. I believe they represent the divine tapestry that God himself created.” Students_interested_in purchasing_a_graduation_stole should contact their cultural club_president,_and_if_they have not yet joined a_club, they are highly encouraged to do so. Currently, the price of the stoles is estimated to be around $65. “I also hope to inspire cultural club leadership,” Guster said. “It’s more than a stole. It represents all of the hours cultural_club_leaders/members put in. ... They represent the rainbow that will be at the graduation of the redeemed.”

Corrections and Clarification

The_Southern_Accent_takes_complaints_about_inaccuracy seriously._To_fix_errors_or_misinformation,_we_will_publish, with_some_limited_exceptions,_corrections_or_clarifications._To report_mistakes,_email_us_at_accent@southern.edu_or_reach_us_ through_our_social_media accounts.

Southern Accent The Accent encourages readers to write articles and voice their opinions. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Accent, Southern Adventist University, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Monday. April 5, 2021. (Photo by Xander Ordinola)

The cultural club representatives (Top, L-R: María José Morán, Georges Ambroise. Bottom, L-R: Erin Yoon, Soko Paongo) show off the new cultural stoles that can be worn during graduation.

Lifestyle Editor Elise Deschamps Editor-in-Chief Paola Mora Zepeda

Opinion Editor Samuel Mora

Managing Editor Christina Coston

Religion Editor Sarah Klingbeil

For any questions, comments, and article submission information email us at accent@southern.edu

News Editor Taylor Dean

Sports Editor Zach Roberts

For all advertising inquiries, email studentadmgr@southern.edu

Collegedale News Editor Bailey DuBose

Photo Editor Xander Ordinola

Copy Editors Megan Yoshioka Patrick Scriven Layout Designer Nickolas Nieves Web Manager Timothy Morgan Circulation Manager Evarline Ondieki

Lead Reporters María José Morán Amanda Blake Aubri Dancek Lesieli Heimuli Zoe Kanas Xavier Quiles Staff Sponsor Alva James-Johnson

For more related news, visit our website at southern-accent.org

3 | Wednesday, April 7, 2021

NEWS Student workers eligible for salary compensation to make up for time in quarantine María José Morán Lead Reporter

Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (Photo by Lila Odhiambo)

Cynthia Wright is a new addition to the Southern faculty as she fills the position of Director of Adult Completion and is in charge of enrollment numbers.

WRIGHT

continued from page 1 She is also a professor and has taught anatomy, physiology and medical terminology. In her most recent position, she taught parttime in the pharmacy technician program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. According_to_Wright,_the Adult Completion Program will provide_a_variety_of_options, including_night, _ hybrid _ and online classes. “A lot of students that I'll be recruiting for this program will be _ students _ that _ came _ back to _school _later,” _Wright _said. “They have other responsibilities; they need to go to school in the evenings or at night. I went through that as a student because I was a_single parent raising two daughters.” The_program_will_open_in phases, according to Dean for Graduate and Professional Studies Tyson Hall. The first phase in the Fall 2021 semester will focus on former students. The second phase will begin in the Winter 2022 semester for the Bachelor of Science in Business Management_program._The_Graduate and Professional Studies office is currently working on the third phase to add additional academic programs formatted for adult degree_completion_students in the semesters that follow. The _ Graduate _ and _ Professional_Studies_office_has_contracted with a higher education

marketing firm that has experience in marketing graduate and adult degree programs. “We are working with them to _ identify _ our _ messaging, develop a website for the program and create targeted digital marketing campaigns,” Hall said. _ “With _ Cynthia’s _ arrival on campus, we are hoping to begin _ personal _ recruitment efforts in the near future.”

Our goal is to introduce not only Southern to the community — because a lot of people don't know who we are or what we stand for as an Adventist university — but also to introduce them to Jesus Christ as they are interested in this program. The program will consist of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration,_and the Bachelor of Integrated Studies, an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree that allows students to design and

customize a specific course of study to best suit their educational and professional objectives. Wright wants the curriculum to be community-based. “Our goal is to introduce not only Southern to the community — because a lot of people don't know who we are or what we stand for as an Adventist university — but also to introduce them to Jesus Christ as they are interested in this program,” Wright said. Rachel Williams-Smith, an advisor and sponsor for the program, said the cost for tuition is a 40% reduction of the traditional tuition cost, as reported in a previous Accent article. She said some courses could be eight weeks long depending on the major. Hall said the Graduate and Professional Studies office is excited to welcome Wright to Southern as the first Director of the Adult Degree Completion Program. “Her teaching experience with adult learners, love for helping students better themselves, and her passion for sharing Jesus in everyday settings will serve her well in this position,” Hall said. Wright said she is also excited for her new job. “I'm excited to be here, and I look forward to getting this program off the ground,” she said.

Student workers who have been financially affected by being quarantined during the 2020-2021 school year are currently able to apply for financial assistance. In an email sent on March 26, _Associate _Vice _President for Human Resources Brenda Flores-Lopez explained to the student body that if they were “not able to attend work at Southern as a result of having to go into quarantine or isolation,” they are able to apply to for a unique relief fund, which compensates for the money lost as a result of quarantine or isolation. “Since March 2020 the federal government has granted three rounds of federal stimu l u s _ m o n e y, ” _ s a i d _ S e n i o r Vice-President _ for _ Financial Administration Tom Verrill. According _to _Verrill, _Southern has received an estimated amount of $13 million which has been_allocated to different areas. Of the total money received, $4.5 million has been allocated towards extra COVID19 expenses, which administration has decided to use to assist_student workers who have been directly affected by quarantine or isolation. According to Jason Merryman, vice president for Enrollment Management, the idea to assist these student workers “originated from a student question/suggestion _ during a student town hall session at the beginning of the semester.” After administration explored the idea, they decided to implement _ the _ fund _ for _ student workers because most students “depend_on_their_earnings_to help _pay _for _school _and _personal expenses.” The application, which_has

a deadline ending on April 16, requires the student to get a confirmation via email from his or her supervisor confirming that work was missed. “I feel as though it is a great idea because it’s not like I intentionally went out looking_for_ COVID,”_said_Arielle Belgrave, an elementary education major who was in both quarantine and isolation. “I was having a [normal] day and taking my precautions, but life happens.”

to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “COVID_has_become_very serious, and I would like to p ro t e c t _m y s e l f _a n d _o t h e r s from it,” said senior theology major Sylvester Smith. S e n i o r _r e l i g i o u s _s t u d i e s major Jefferd Daniel said he wants to get the vaccine to help achieve herd immunity.

“I_think_for_me,_it ’s_more about helping us come back to normal society,” Daniel said. “As we all get vaccines, hopefully less and less COVID cases will arise, and eventually, we can come back to life preCOVID.”

The application, which has a deadline ending on April 16, requires the student to get a confirmation via email from their supervisor in order to confirm that work was missed. Belgrave, who held three jobs on campus at the time she went into quarantine, missed nine days of work as a result of being exposed to the coronavirus and ultimately contracted the virus. As a result, she lost an _ estimate _ of _ $200, _ which she’s _hoping _to _compensate for by applying to the student worker relief fund. “I am glad Southern understands that we live in a pandemic and still knows I work paycheck to paycheck, and I still need that money that I didn’t get,” Belgrave said.

VACCINE

continued from page 1 pus vaccine event in May, but the details of that event are still undetermined. “My dream is to get 3,000 vaccines out by the end of the school year,” Buchholz said. Buchholz said signups for each event will be made on a firstcome,_first-served_basis,_and students should carefully watch their emails for more information_about_dates_and_vaccine supply. She also said both medical and nonmedical students can sign up to volunteer at the vaccine events at southern.edu/ serve. If extra vaccines become available,_volunteers_automatically become first in line to receive them. Junior nursing major Sierra Anderson volunteered as both a_traffic_conductor_and_vaccine administrator at the vaccine event on March 28 and received_a_vaccine_herself. Anderson said she got chills, a headache, muscle and joint pain, and tiredness about nine hours after being vaccinated. She had these symptoms for about 18 hours, but she was still very glad to be vaccinated. “A f t e r _r e s e a r c h i n g _f o r _a few months, I decided that I wanted_the_Johnson_&_Johnson version,” Anderson said. “I am happy I got this one. While there were side effects, side effects are a sign of your body accurately reacting to the virus DNA that was inserted into your tissue.”

Anderson_believes_it_is important that people educate themselves on what is scientifically proven about the COVID19 vaccines. “ Whether_you_are_pro_or anti-vaccine,_it_is_not_good enough_to_simply take another person’s_word_and_make_a choice off of it,” Anderson said. “Really study what you believe.” Communication_Professor Lorraine Ball also received a vaccine at the vaccine event on March 28. She said she felt achy_and_chilly_the_evening after_being_vaccinated,_and she had a terrible headache that lasted about 24 hours. However, she described these symptoms as “textbook.” “I was comforted with the idea that this was not unusual, and I shouldn’t be alarmed,” Ball said. Ball_chose_to_get_the_vaccine because some of her students had gotten COVID-19, and she felt it was important to arm herself with another layer of protection. Some students are not planning to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “I’m_not_an_anti-vaxxer_or a_conspiracy_theorist,”_said senior English education major Will Reed. “The fact is, no one, including the CDC, knows the potential long-term effects of this vaccine, so I’m waiting it out while protecting myself in other ways.” F re s h m a n _c o m p u t e r _s c i ence major Esther Peden said

she cannot take the vaccine because she has a known allergy to doxycycline and carries other unknown allergies to certain chemicals. “For safety reasons, I have to wait about two years before I get a new vaccine so that it can be fully tested,” Peden said. Other students are planning

Sunday, March 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Kerry Allen)

Vaccines were administered by volunteers at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists.

4| Wednesday, April 7, 2021

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Paola Mora at paolam@southern.edu

NEWS

origami art::

Professor takes paperwork to a new level