Southern Accent
The student voice since 1926
Collegedale, Tennessee
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Vol. 73, Issue 10
Congressman visits government class Editorial Staff Report
Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann visited Assistant Professor Shannon Martin’s government class on Nov. 9. Fleischmann spoke about the U.S. Government and his career as a congressman in the House of Representatives and then held a Q&A session with the students. Fleischmann represents the third district of Tennessee, has 726,000 constituents, and is in his seventh year and fourth term in Congress. He lives in Ooltewah and travels to Washington during voting sessions. Fleischmann was a law student in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), and this is his third time visiting Southern. “This is the thing I love to do most in my job, getting in the classroom and talking with students,” Fleischmann said.
Fleischmann, a former polit- constituents aren’t being repreical science major, discussed sented.” different aspects of the governFleischmann has one of ment with students. He went the highest voting records in over the U.S. government’s three Congress and encouraged stubranches and compared the dents to vote and engage with U.S. congressional system with their local leaders. the parliamentary system and “The worst thing we’re comother forms of government. bating in this country is apathy,” Fleischman also explained his Fleischmann said. “Interact with job as a conpeople who you gressman, agree with and discussing his disagree with, role in votand don’t just ing on issues accept anything and bills, his on face-value. position on Stay active, various comlearn what’s mittees and going on, ask his duty to yourself tough represent the questions and needs of his draw your own Photo By Caleb Cook constituents. conclusions.” Fleischmann visited Professor Shannon Martin’s “I really A f ter the Government class on Nov. 9. take my votQ&A session, ing seriously,” Fleischmann and Fleischmann said. “If I’m not his staff had lunch with students there for a vote, that means my and some faculty in the Presidential
Photo By Caleb Cook Fleischmann has lunch with students in the Presidential Banquet Hall.
Banquet Hall. During the lunch, Fleischmann’s chief of staff Bob White encouraged students to apply online for an internship at Fleischmann’s Chattanooga Office. Josue Loyola, senior global policy and service studies major, said that Fleischmann’s talk was a great educational experience. “There’s nothing better than getting the information from an insider,” Loyola said. “It was an honor to ask questions and to share a meal with him, and it motivated me to keep pursuing
my career objectives in public service.” “Thank you to President David Smith, Ben Wygal, Professor Martin and the students at Southern Adventist University for the warm welcome to their campus,” Fleischmann tweeted on Sunday evening. “It was my pleasure to speak with students interested in government, and I hope they continue to excel in their studies in the years ahead.”
John Crist to perform at Convocation today Summer Shelby Staff Writer
Christian stand-up comedian John Crist will perform today for Convocation at 11 a.m. in Iles P.E. Center, as well as at 7 p.m. in Thatcher Chapel. Crist is a Christian YouTuber who became famous from videos such as Buzzfeed’s “Signs You Grew Up Christian” or his
own “Road Rage in the Church Parking Lot.” He has shared the stage with famous comedians ranging from Seth Meyers to Dana Carvey to Dave Chappelle. Student Association President Phillip Warfield was eager to book him for Convocation. “It can be a little difficult to find clean, Christian comedians, as some are pretty cheesy,”
Warfield said. “After seeing how popular he was and watching a few videos, I decided it would be a breath of fresh air to enjoy some comedy in our lives, especially at this point in the semester.” Freshman animation major Serena Worth said she appreciates Crist’s comedic style. “I’ve only seen a couple of his
videos, but from what I can see, his comedy is spot on,” Worth said. “His interpretation of how millennials in a Christian community function is hilarious, yet sadly true.” Wanting to give students something fun after this “grueling semester,” Warfield said he chose to bring Crist to campus in hopes to help students relax
before Thanksgiving Break. “You never know,” Warfield said, “perhaps Crist could inspire a student in some way, just as Studio 4109: LIVE! has encouraged students to pursue acting and film.”