Volume 75 Issue 17

Page 1

Sports | 5

Opinion | 6

Religion | 6

Lifestyle | 7

The Lebron-Zion battle

Two sides to #MeToo

Tips to maintaining a prayer journal

Four lessons I learned on my health journey

March 5, 2020 Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Accent

Vol. 75 Issue 17

The student voice since 1926

Ciarah Clark Lead Reporter While federal officials grappled with the spread of the coronavirus in the Western United States, Southern Adventist University administrators released statements in an effort to reassure students, faculty and parents that they would continue to monitor the situation closely. On Monday, the University Health Center (UHC) distributed an email to faculty, stating: “There are NO reports of confirmed cases involving Coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Tennessee.” Still, university administrators and the UHC would “continue to actively monitor the information, protocols and recommendations being communicated by the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention,” according to the statement. “This is a rapidly developing situation,” the administrators wrote. “We will continue to monitor the status and update the campus on any new developments. Please continue to take all recommended precautions.”

We will continue to monitor the status and update the campus on any new development. Please continue to take all recomended precautions. Administrators also recommended caution as spring break approaches, especially by students, faculty and staff traveling outside of the country,

LaunchU competition supports entrepreneurs

suggesting that they monitor advisories from the CDC and the U.S. State Department. In a separate letter, emailed on Feb. 28, uQuest Short-term Missions Director Melissa Moore announced that all mission trips occurring over spring break would continue as planned. She said her team has been monitoring recommendations made by the CDC and State Department. “ALL of the countries we are traveling to for spring break are at a Level 1 advisory from the CDC,” Moore wrote. “The Coronavirus is not even mentioned in these countries' travel advisories: El Salvador, Haiti, India, Morocco, Peru and Rwanda.” However, a trip to South Korea that had been scheduled for May has been canceled, she said in an interview with the

On March 29, students and faculty will have the opportunity to sell their culinary creations in Southern’s first “Food Fest” in over 20 years. Additionally, all of the profits raised by this event will be matched by a donor, and the matched proceeds will go towards funding for international student scholarships, according to Student Association President Mark Galvez.

Trisney Bocala Copy Editor At Enactus’ LaunchU competition, senior business administration major Isaac Fernandez won $5,000 for his business pitch about reducing the wait time for medical clients. Fernandez placed first out of the seven competitors. Matthew Jensen, sophomore computer science major, and Kristi Jensen, senior business administration major, placed second with their pitch, “JenComm”, which helps small businesses with marketing and internet visibility. Finally, Nathalia Levterova, sophomore marketing major, placed third with her business idea to expand her social media based brand @LiveInspiredLoveHarder, which she said is “designed to give people the tools they need to live an intentional life inspired by Christ and help people find their purpose in loving others harder.” LaunchU, being part of the educational nonprofit, CoLab Inc., provides its first and second place winners with the opportunity to share their pitches to a larger audience at the nationwide Moxie Summit and Pitch Event in San Diego, California, on April 26 and 27.

“Kristi and I are most looking forward to the mentorship and networking opportunities at the San Diego competition,” Jensen said.

The capital that was raised during this competition will probably cover the early developmental stages of the company and as small amount of finding investors for the project. Fernandez’s winning pitch, “Hakim”, seeks to develop an electronic referral system that will cut back the errors and waiting time that clients in the medical field currently face. According to Fernandez, his business is still in its beginning stages. “I have done the networking to begin development of the referral application, but the entire launch of the business is still under development,” Fernandez said. “However, with all great ideas there is always a starting point and the LaunchU event was a great one to begin the development of the business.” From here, Fernandez plans to use the money from

this competition to find company investors. “When I was announced as the first-place winner, I felt so happy and relieved,” Fernandez said. “I had put so much work into this event, and it felt all worth it at the end…The capital that was raised during this competition will probably cover the early developments of the company and a small amount of finding investors for the project.” Fernandez decided to participate in LaunchU for a variety of reasons. “I was driven by the networking aspect,” Fernandez said. “The judges not only gave me an insight into different aspects of my company, but also provided me with help regarding the steps to take next. But, the initial incentive of 5K was very motivating as well.” As he continues his journey, Fernandez encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs. “My advice to an entrepreneur and anyone chasing their passion is: Stop caring about the opinions of others that don’t support you,” Fernandez said. “You should never allow the point-of-view of someone to limit your potential in life.”

See CORONAVIRUS on page 2

“Food Fest” to fund international student scholarships Elise Deschamps Lead Reporter

Issac Fernandez accepting his $5000 check after winning business pitch competition. Photo courtesy of Marketing and University Relations

Southern Accent. In her correspondence to parents, Moore quoted Dr. Richard Moody, Southern’s medical director certified in travel medicine, saying: “We reviewed the status of the final destinations as well as potential trouble spots en route. Monitoring of the worldwide situation is ongoing; recognizing that no one can predict the future direction of this outbreak. We strive to prioritize safety while avoiding unsupported fears diverting our mission." Moore recommended that all uQuest volunteers get the influenza vaccination if possible, with the organization offering to reimburse the expense up to $25 if a receipt is provided. “The vaccine reduces their chances of contracting an upper

I think this is a great way to show our diversity...food has this way of connecting people. Students will be able to buy tickets with their meal plan from the 23rd-27th in the cafeteria, and then use those tickets to purchase a diverse range of food options from student and faculty vendors. Tickets bought the day of the event must be paid with either cash or card. Similar to 423 Night Market, student vendors will receive $50 to fund the ingredients and materials necessary to prepare their food. “There is no event exclusively for funding international students,” Galvez said. “This is the first one. While there are scholarship opportunities for all students, government regulations mean international students can’t apply to many of them that are available at

private universities.” Galvez also sees this event as a way to celebrate diversity on campus. “Now, we are the most diverse school in the South. I think this is a great way to show our diversity, ” Galvez said. “Food has this way of connecting people. We want this event to be like a festival; we want it to look like an L.A. food market, that kind of vibe.” Some student vendors include senior accounting major Dakota Bemis, as well as junior history education major Maddy Thomas. “I enjoy cooking,” Bemis said. “The Food Fest is a way for me to employ my passion for cooking and a way to make money.” He will be making and selling “green chile,” a family recipe he grew up eating. “I’m selling mac and cheese,” Thomas said. “It’s how my grandma made it; I learned it from her but adapted it in my own style.” Currently, there are more than 20 vendors registered to sell. There will also be live music and performances. Vendors cannot sell meat, and alcohol cannot be used to prepare food. The event will be held in Iles Gym from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested in being vendors can visit SAU.IS/HUNGRY and register by March 22.


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2 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

NEWS CORONAVIRUS continued from page 1

respiratory infection or fever, which would prevent them from traveling and could lead to an unnecessary quarantine,” she wrote. Moore also emphasized that trips will be canceled if the U.S. State Department raises travel warnings to a Level 4. “Even if it's the day that the students are going to fly, if something crazy happened in one of our locations, Southern would choose to cancel [the mission trip]…” Moore said. “We would [rather] take the financial hit versus putting our students in harm's way.” In such a scenario, students could choose to go on a different trip, postpone their travel until next year or get a refund for any student account charges. However, Moore said uQuest has a no-refund policy for donations made to students. Those who choose to withdraw from mission trips because of personal convictions, despite the university’s decision not to cancel, may receive only a partial refund, according to her letter. Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA), another organization serving student travelers, posted a statement on its website informing students that ACA will continue accepting applications for 2020 summer programs. If trips are suspended due to the coronavirus, students would be fully reimbursed for payments to the program. “But we would like to clarify that there will be no reimbursements for plane tickets, therefore caution is advised,” the statement reads.

According to NBC News, the U.S. has experienced at least 100 cases of coronavirus as of March 3. The states affected were California, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Utah, Arizona, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, New Hampshire and Florida. At least nine patients had recovered. Six victims had died, all of whom were in the Seattle area. According to a study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control (CDC), the majority of cases have been mild with about 2% fatality rate. They also reported that those who are older in age or have preexisting conditions are more likely to experience severe symptoms. The first case of Covid-19 was in Wuhan City, China. Symptoms of infection include difficulty breathing, fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, aches and fatigue, according to health experts. The New York Times reported that, as of March 3, the virus had spread to at least 67 countries worldwide, infecting over 90,200 people and causing at least 3,081 deaths. They also added that Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea were experiencing “significant outbreaks.” In an email to faculty, Southern administrators acknowledged the emotional impact reports of the the coronavirus might be having on students. “We understand that this situation may be troubling to many,” the statement reads. “The Counseling Center is available for students who are looking for support at this time. They can be reached at 423-2362782.”

Student missionary in Hong Kong shares experience amidst spread of Coronavirus

Brittny Desvarieux on a hike at Jump Peak, Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Brittny Desvarieux

Paola Mora Zepeda Editor-in-Chief

English senior Brittny Desvarieux has been working as a student missionary in Hong Kong for the past year. The Accent reached out to her via Instagram to learn more about her experience with the spread of Coronavirus in a more affected country. There have been 100 confirmed coronavirus cases in Hong Kong. Are you worried? I am not as worried as people think I am. From the moment all of this began, I've been resting in the truth that God saw this long before He called me to serve in Hong Kong. I believe that He is in total control of this whole situation, and I am trusting Him with my life. Of course, I am taking the recommended precautions of wearing my mask and washing my hands frequently. But I, with my whole heart, trust God in all of this. How are people there dealing with the situation? I love how Hong Kong is dealing with the situation. There are workers throughout the city frequently sanitizing public areas

like elevators or the handrails of escalators. A lot of markets also have anti-bacterial hand sanitizers available for anyone to use. I think Hong Kong is dealing with this situation very well. Is there a difference in the way people are acting? Of course, people are filled with a deep sense of worry. As humans, that's a natural response to a crisis—especially since it's broadcasted heavily over mainstream media 24/7. I think Hong Kongers are just being very cautious about their own well-being and the well-being of their close friends and family. They've also lived through the 2002-2003 SARS virus, so I can imagine how this experience is like re-living a traumatic experience all over again. What safety precautions are you taking? As recommended, I am continually wearing my face mask, especially while on public transportation or just out in public in general. I also have to wash my hands frequently. Have you thought of returning to the U.S.?

Not at all. My calmness in all of this is otherworldly. It really doesn't make sense to me. Anyone who knows me well knows that fear and anxiety have heavily controlled my life for years. I really do believe that God will take care of me and He has been. He saw all of this before it even happened. This virus is no surprise to Him. Unless He makes it very clear that it's time for me to go home, I will stay here. But for now, I still have work to complete, and I won't let panic and worry take my eyes off of what I was called to do. Anything else? I try to look at this situation with a God-sized perspective— if that's even possible. I believe that in the midst of all this, God is using this as a way to soften people's hearts and make His way in. This world needs His peace right now. So I can only imagine the ways God has been revealing Himself to people. The world can be a discouraging place, but I can only imagine the testimonies that can come out of a problem this big.

Enactus initiative expands to teach graphic design to young girls

HTML officers and their students. Photo courtesy of James Brown

Ciarah Clark Lead Reporter The Higher Tech Minded Ladies (HTML), an Enactus project at Southern Adventist University, has added graphic design to its curriculum this semester, according to the project manager, junior marketing major Bella Stevens. According to Stevens, the HTML Club is a group of Southern students teaching technology-related classes to girls ages 10-18 from various Adventist schools in the Ooltewah area, such as Collegedale Academy Middle School and Ooltewah Adventist School. The club meets every Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m.

The project’s goal is to create a “fun environment” for young girls to “feel empowered” and cultivate an interest in the STEM field so that it becomes a career option for them later on, according to junior business administration major Gabi Garcia, the club’s co-project manager. According to The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2020, only 29% of science and engineering workers in 2017 were women. Within those fields, women made up 27% of computer and mathematical scientists, 16% of engineers, and 29% of physical scientists. Since the project began in Sept. 2017, classes have focused solely on coding. Last semester, however, the club’s leaders

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looked for ways to expand the club’s curriculum, according to Stevens. She proposed the club include graphic design. “I got the idea when the girls were working on a website-building project last semester,” Stevens said. “It was so neat to see all of their creativity and all of their ideas, and I realized graphic design applied to them making their websites.” According to Garcia, club leaders agreed that graphic design would be a useful addition to the club. “The purpose of [including graphic design] is to broaden the content of what we’re teaching them and also broaden their knowledge because we’re trying to give them the basics of everything,” Garcia said. “The STEM field isn’t just coding. It’s other areas. It includes math, physics, science — all these other areas. And we haven’t touched base on those. So we decided to go with graphic design.” Stevens reported that the number of project members has grown from five last semester to 15 this semester, and another five are expected to join next fall. Currently, members are creating photo collages and learning to use the design program

Inkscape, according to the club’s graphic design teacher, freshman character animation major Dariana Badillo. “Regardless, if they’re going into graphic design or animation or anything else, the foundation is the same. We have to learn what composition is and how to use it well; complementary colors, what is appealing to the eye and what isn’t,” Badillo said. “If you’re going to make a website, you’re going to have to think of coding it and seeing which buttons will work, but right now we’re trying to teach them the design part.”

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It was so neat to see all of their creativity and all of their ideas, and I realized graphic design applied to them making their websites. Badillo said what she most enjoys about teaching the girls is watching them work through the creative process. “It was so interesting learning all of their ideas,” Badillo said. “It was just amazing to see the differences and the uniqueness.”

Social Media Manager Gia Arroyo Layout Designers Allison Barnum Kirsten Clark Web Manager Jonathan Ziesmer

Badillo added that the purpose for her involvement in the club is deeper than simply teaching graphic design. “As examples of Christ, maybe those girls are going through something, and we can share with them the love of God,” Badillo said. “Art is awesome. I love teaching it to people as well as showing Christ to them.” Ariyah Towles, a 13-year-old homeschooler and member of the HTML club, is enjoying working on her Sherlock Holmes-inspired photo collage. “I liked that I found a magazine that had Sherlock in it and that they gave me big paper to do [the collage] on,” Towles said. “The computers are fun too; I like the app that we were using that you can make shapes with. My favorite shape is the mountain one.” Towles is looking forward to the next meeting so that she can show her teachers her completed collage and continue learning Inkscape. “I am very happy to be in the club,” Towles said.

Lead Reporters Bailey DuBose Sarah Klingbeil Megan Yoshioka Elise Deschamps Ciarah Clark Circulation Manager Arielle Belgrave Staff Sponsor Alva James-Johnson


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3 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

NEWS

Teacher shortage may threaten Adventist Education over the next five years

Student creates project for International Women’s Day

Aubri Dancek Staff Writer Adventist education could experience a teacher shortage in as little as five years. Kevin Kossick, Vice President of Education for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference (GCC), views the issue for Adventist education as a “potential threat, but not a crisis.” According to Kossick, one of the main reasons to believe there could be a teacher shortage is that the universities are not getting the number of elementary and secondary teaching candidates as they used to have. “We are still able to fill positions with quality people, but we think there’s now going to be a reduction…because of the lower number of [teacher] candidates,” Kossick said.

The greatest need for teachers is at the elementary and secondary education levels,

according to Kossick. The GCC filled approximately 223 jobs for these levels of education for the 2019-2020 school year. Last year, Southern Adventist University (SAU) graduated 12 elementary educators, according to information provided by Tammy Overstreet, dean of the School of Education and Psychology. “I understand that SAU has the largest number of teacher candidates, and even our numbers are dwindling. Very few students who come for PreView Southern are indicating an interest in teaching,” said Krystal Bishop, professor in the School of Education and Psychology. There are several reasons why there could be a decline in teachers in the future, according to Kossick. “I think for a young Adventist, the calling to Christian education is more complex than they realized. In [Adventist] schools, many times they’re not just the teacher,” Kossick said. “They’re the Pathfinder leader, the Sabbath School teacher, the school janitor. That doesn’t appeal to everyone.” There is also the argument that teachers are underpaid. “Students are often discouraged from this profession for a variety of reasons, [one being] the salary for teachers is not comparable to other professions requiring the same amount of training,” Bishop said. Some conferences have implemented resources to encourage education majors throughout their time pursuing

their degree. For example, the GCC works with universities to identify top candidates prior to them finishing their program. Those candidates are given scholarships to help them finish their program and to build connections with the conference for after they graduate.

Students model for project. Photo courtesy of Bradford McDonald

Sam Olivera Staff Writer

Bishop recently attended Southern Union meetings where they brainstormed ways to get more students interested in both SDA higher education and teaching. Despite the challenges that teachers might face in the future, there are students currently in the education program who understand the importance the job holds. “I went into education for the children. I feel like there are a lot of kids who don’t have adult support, they don’t have people who believe in them,” said Paige Barney, elementary education senior. “My goal and my calling is to make sure that for one year, the children in my class have somebody who believes in them.”

ECHO is a podcast where panelists share their personal perspectives about God, spirituality, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Bradford McDonald, a senior character animation major, has been working on quite a few projects over the semesters he has been here. His latest project will be regarding International Women’s Day. According to the International Women’s Day website, this holiday is “annually held on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations.”

I like things to show expression, like eyebrows raised, jaws opened, frowns, scowls, you know, something that shows some sort of energy, some sort of life in the person. McDonald said what inspired him to start this project was his desire to do something that would empower and make others happy. “Photography was a hobby of mine that became something I’m really good at,” McDonald said. “I don’t want to be just an animator.”

McDonald planned to incorporate a lot of diversity in his photoshoot. “I want to do a spectrum on skin tone from the whitest person to the darkest person, and at the same time they’ll all wear black. It’s more of a cohesive thing that they’re all women even though they’re from all different backgrounds,” McDonald said. “I’m using black and neutral colors to show mystery.” Even though the holiday falls in March, the photoshoot took place on Feb. 16. The time after the shoot will allow McDonald to ensure that his photos are done and edited to his liking. “I want to capture the expression. That’s the biggest thing about my photography,” McDonald said. “Like in animation, I like things to show expression, like eyebrows raised, jaws opened, frowns, scowls; you know, something that shows some sort of energy, some sort of life in the person. And I want to incorporate that into the women.” McDonald will be displaying the photos from his photoshoot on his social media accounts. To view more of his projects, visit his page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @liamdrof.

Real. Honest. Refreshing. Adventist.

This video series will chronicle what happens when a person experiments with positive life choices. “What if I extend my prayer time?” or “What if I put off procrastinating?” etc.

The Loop is a vlog about “adulting,” with how-tos that take the mystery out of tasks such as buying a car, dealing with insurance, creating a budget, etc.

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theprojectrefresh.org a ministry of the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists


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| Thursday, March 5, 2020

NEWS

Hidden Figures BCU Night

Lubasi Ngonda, MJ Drummond, Diana Alarcon and Margoski Saintinus perform as main characters for BCU Night. Photo by Xander Ordinola

BCU Night cast members pose for picture after the show. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Charleah Grant and Emily Ramirez perform fight scene during BCU Night. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Lubasi Ngonda and Theo Davis as Marcus Garvey perform during BCU Night. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Lauryn Daniels portraying Kandake Amanirenas with MJ Drummond during BCU Night. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Durbin Brown cuts Justin Odle's hair as part of pre-show. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Cierra Dabney and Pubert Nkhono lead step dance performance. Photo by Xander Ordinola

Karissa John paints iconic Kanye West photo. Photo by Xander Ordinola


5 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

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SPORTS The legend sees the future: the Lebron-Zion battle David Runnels II Contributor Lebron James has been considered by many to be the best basketball player in the world for the last 10 years. He came into the NBA straight from high school and was the most hyped number one pick in recent memory. Since then, he has won three championships and broken numerous records in his 17-year career. James’ mix of brute size, speed and skill took the league by storm and has made him one of the most unstoppable forces the NBA has ever seen. Since Lebron, no one has had as much pre-draft hype as Zion Williamson. After being drafted first overall, he sat out the majority of this season with an injury but has now leapt onto the NBA scene with force. He has put his team, the New Orleans Pelicans, firmly into the playoff race for the eighth seed in a difficult Western Conference and made a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors. Like James, Williamson’s game

is driven by his amazing physicality. At six foot six inches and 284 pounds, Williamson is an instant mismatch for the guards and forwards, and his unbelievable speed and improving jump shot make him a mismatch for the big men.

Lebron James has been considered by many to be the best basketball player in the world for the last 10 years. On Feb. 25, James and Williamson played each other for the first time. Williamson scored 29 points, six rebounds and three assists on 44 percent shooting. James countered with a tremendous 40-point, eight rebound and six assist game to lead the Lakers to a 118-109 win. While James clearly won the match-up, the

poise and aggressive mentality of Williamson was impressive to witness. On March 1, the two teams faced off yet again. Williamson played better this game, as he scored 35 points and had seven rebounds on an impressive 75 percent shooting. James, on the other hand, recorded a triple double, finishing with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists on an almost equally impressive 66 percent shooting. This game featured more head-to-head matchups between the two players. Williamson used his size to his advantage with an impressive low post bucket on James, who responded with an explosive drive to the rim on Williamson and a three-point dagger under three minutes with Williamson’s hand in his face. In the end, James and the Lakers held on to beat Williamson and the Pelicans 122-114. James and Williamson have shown a lot of similarities in

their games. They both were drafted number one overall. Both are super athletic and use their combination of size, speed and vertical ability to wreak havoc on the opposing

team. However, James is a better facilitator and has become a much better shooter, which are things that Williamson will need to improve on as he matures in the NBA.

March madness minus fans?

XFL marches on

Xavier Snyder Contributor

Davy Ondrejka Contributor

Despite making the majority of us lose money on bets and brackets, March Madness is finally here, and once again has captured the attention and hearts of millions, just like it does every year. However, this year’s March Madness might be a little different. The National College Players Association, a nonprofit advocacy group for college athletes, suggested the NCAA hold the games without audiences considering concerns around the spread of the coronavirus. They believe this could protect the players from exposure to fans and media through press conferences, meet and greets and normal exposure around the court. The NCAA has not responded yet. Regardless, some clear favorites have emerged over the past couple of months, with Kansas, Gonzaga, Dayton,

San Diego St. and Baylor earning the top five spots in the AP Top 25 poll. Being the only team sporting a 14-game win streak, Kansas is looking like the clear favorite to win the annual tournament. However, it’s called March Madness because anything can happen. Your odds of filling out a perfect bracket are lower than winning the lottery or being struck by lightning; but don’t tell that to your coworkers who you filled brackets out with. Everyone’s eyes are on Kansas star center Udoka Azubuike after he sprained his ankle against Kansas State and only played for 20 minutes. Baylor, another favorite, has surged in their last couple games excluding their 64-61 loss to Kansas. Gonzaga emerged as the number three seed as of now, sporting a 29-2 overall record, and are unbeaten at home (17-0).

The Dayton Flyers have also emerged as a powerhouse in the NCAA in their Atlantic 10 division, coming out as first with a 27-2 record. They will face much harder obstacles going against tougher conference teams. A more unrecognizable name, the San Diego State Aztecs, comes in at number five on most rankings’ lists. They have a 28-1 record, but could tumble below the top 5 with a loss in the Mountain West tournament. Expect Malachi Flynn to lead them to victory. The NCAA will announce the 68 teams competing in the tournament on Selection Sunday, March 15th.

The XFL season is approaching the halfway mark as week 4 has come to a close and teams vie for the top spot. As the XFL continues its attempt to find a place in the hearts of football fans across the country, it helps to have some familiarity with the teams and players of the spring football league. Here’s a brief look at just a few of the teams that are currently a part of the XFL: Houston Roughnecks: The Roughnecks are currently the only undefeated team in the XFL so far, and also lead the league in TD differential with 16 touchdowns for and 11 against. In week four, the Roughnecks defeated the Dallas Renegades on the road by forcing a total of five turnovers and winning only by a touchdown. The Roughnecks also lay claim to some of the best players in the XFL: QB Phillip Walker, who leads the league in passing yards; WR Cam Phillips, who leads the league with 333 receiving yards; and the two best DBs with a combined total of five interceptions for the season.

St. Louis Battlehawks: It is argued by several XFL analysts that while the Roughnecks currently have the best record, it is possible that the Battlehawks actually have the most well-rounded team in the league. The Battlehawks are 3-1 (with the one loss to the Roughnecks) and currently have a TD differential of four— only one short of the leading spot. St. Louis came out on top against the 1-3 Seattle Dragons this past weekend and look to get a win against the D.C. Defenders on Sunday. Tampa Bay Vipers: Here we have what looks to be the Cleveland Browns of the XFL with the Tampa Bay Vipers going 1-3 so far this season. While the Vipers did just beat the Defenders by 25 points, the overall prospects for this team don’t look good. The Vipers are currently led by former NFL and CFL head coach Marc Trestman, who did not have much success with the Chicago Bears and is looking to redeem himself in the XFL. While the Vipers are currently not doing well, there is some hope for them in the future. Two of the Vipers RBs currently lead the league with a total of 531 rushing yards.

Tampa Bay Vipers

Houston Roughnecks

St. Louis Battlehawks


6 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

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OPINION

Two sides to #MeToo #MeToo: Where it misses the mark

Zoe Kanas Contributor

Logan Milliron Contributor The #MeToo movement, at its core, is about promoting openness to protect the vulnerable from sexual harassment and assault. Its viral nature began in October 2017 when Alyssa Milano posted: “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people the sense of the magnitude of the problem.” However, since the beginnings of the #MeToo movement, the idea of a “rape culture” has been central. This attitude is that the patriarchy and society develop and protect abusers. Yet, the movement has also had a dichotomy in its approach to the essence of this issue—focusing on changing things, or tearing the patriarchy down. This teardown approach, put forth as a result of the #MeToo movement, is that all men are implicated as a part of this “rape culture.” In order to better communicate this, here is a quote found from debate.org after the question was posed, “Is it considered harassment to ask a girl her phone number in 2019?” One user, @edmund_ horstmann, responded by saying, “Men leverage their power of the patriarchy to intimidate women into having a relationship or talking with them with a hint of violence.” This sentiment of men as the root of the problem seems to have grown to the notion that the entire movement should be about female rage against men and the patriarchy. “Sorry. If some innocent man’s reputation has to take a hit in the process of undoing the patriarchy, that is a price I

Siding with #MeToo The #MeToo movement has garnered a lot of attention lately. It is a substantial movement because it gives victims of sexual abuse a platform to speak out against their abusers (usually men of higher position in their workplace). It has recently taken off, especially with the accusations against Harvey Weinstein that took over the internet last week. However, where should one stand when something meant for good is twisted with wrong accusations? Naturally, one would side with the victims. If someone comes forward to say that they were sexually assaulted, I would be compassionate towards them and their situation. It is important for me to see the aggressor imprisoned and justice appropriately served. Sexual assault is a serious issue, and something that an aggressor should at least lose their job over.

am absolutely willing to pay,” Teen Vogue writer Emily Lindin tweeted. Solving the problem should be about unifying each and every one of us against abuse, not simply implying that all men are predators. These attacks will make it even more difficult to allow both men and women to ask the right questions as to how these problems can be addressed. It further misses the mark where men are the victims and/or women, instead, are the abusers. In order to bring about change that is demanded by the abuse and harassment that the original #MeToo movement has brought to the forefront, we must all be a part of that change. In order to protect the vulnerable from the rich and powerful, every person needs to be a part of that change, regardless of sex. If the rich and powerful have quality in finances and power, we must beat them with quantity in demanding systemic change to prevent these things from happening. Martin Luther King Jr., who changed the world said, “We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.” Luther and the Civil Rights Movement as a whole changed the nation through love and unity, not through division and hate. Those attitudes don’t fix the problems #MeToo is meant to address, they simply add on.

RELIGION Tips to maintaining a prayer journal María José Morán Religion Editor At this point, most of us have heard about prayer journals. While this might seem like an unnecessary thing to do, there are benefits to writing down your prayers. To begin with, writing helps us remember things better. And, although we don’t need to remember what we are praying for, it is good to have our prayers fresh and constant in our minds, so we can pray more and be more intentional about them as well. On top of that, keeping a prayer journal allows us to write down the things we are praying for and to see how our prayers were answered. This is such a neat way to see how God has been faithful to us through time. So, here are a few practical ways to begin and keep up with a prayer journal. Look for a notebook you like: It is funny how insignificant this seems, but having a notebook that you are excited to write in does actually make

a difference. If you choose one that appeals to the eye, it’ll also make it more appealing for you to want to take out. If you have too much of a hard time figuring out which notebook to get or how to set it up, there are also options and templates that you can get online that can make this step easier for you.

Starting a prayer journal does not mean that you stop praying. It simply means that you have a new way of praying. Write down all your prayers: I really can’t explain why, but it feels like it is easier for me to write down all my prayer requests rather than list them out. Writing them out gives me so much room to try and remember all the little petitions I have. Journal as often as you’d like: Since consistency can

be really hard, you are not required to journal every single day. Rather, find your own pace and stick to it. A crucial step is to not let this activity feel like a burden. That will just turn you off! Record the answer to your prayers: This is a really humbling exercise to practice. As you write down the answer to your prayers, you are forced to look at the fact that God has never left you. It is also interesting to note the different ways in which God answers your prayers. Although they might not be what you expect, acknowledge the fact that God cares enough to give you an answer. Pray over your journal: This is the last and most important step. Starting a prayer journal does not mean that you stop praying. It simply means that you have a new way of praying. While this habit will strengthen your spiritual life, it does not mean you should replace spoken prayer altogether.

Other people who were victimized should empathize with and support the victim, and the #MeToo movement has created a community for that. Unfortunately, false accusations do occur, and they end up hurting all parties involved. A false accusation with malicious intent hurts the falsely accused, for one; but it also hurts other people that are real victims. Real victims will feel less likely to speak out if they know they won’t be taken seriously. If a “perpetrator” is falsely accused, he or she could lose his or her career, status and well-being over a false claim. Personally, I believe that all accusations should be taken seriously, no matter what, and thoroughly investigated. My explanation is that if it is made known that an accusation will be completely investigated for facts and proof, real victims will be validated, and the false accusers will be exposed for lying. Investigating false accusations will deter people from using the #MeToo movement for malicious intent and, instead, it will allow the movement to be used how it was originally meant to work. I would even say that those who falsely accuse others should face some type of reprehension, since false accusations have the potential to tarnish reputations and destroy lives, as well as hurt real victims of actual assault.


7 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

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LIFESTYLE

Four lessons I learned on my health journey Michaela Lewin Contributor I reflect a lot on my health journey now that I’m a senior in college. The freshman fifteen was so real! Over the course of my freshman and sophomore years here, I gained over 75 pounds. And it got to the point where it was really affecting other aspects of my life, resulting in my doctor diagnosing me as pre-diabetic. The summer after sophomore year, I said “NO MORE!” You see, I always knew in the back of my mind that this would probably happen. But I thought I could get by on my mom packing my proper portions of lunch, me doing a less than satisfactory amount of walking and eating what I thought was a decent amount of vegetables. However, what I’m continuing to learn on this journey is that I can’t depend on my mom or my nutritionist to make all the changes for me; they’re things I have to do for myself. And so, here are four lessons that I’ve learned on my health journey. 1. Your pride ain’t it The first lesson I had to learn was to get over myself. I had to get over my fear of going to the gym because I felt like people were watching me. I had to get over the fact that just because I’m able to do a little more sit-ups than the lady next to me, doesn’t mean I’m any healthier than she is. We’re all here to better ourselves; and the quicker I got out of that prideful nature, the quicker I was able to actually focus on getting the exercises done. 2. Don’t do the same old exercises Exercise has always been the biggest challenge for me. It has been difficult finding things that I find interesting, especially since I have no interest in running, and I don’t play a lot of sports…or any sports at all. The monotony of doing the same thing day after day would just about bore me to tears. I had to find something exciting other than walking every Sunday. That, for me, was water aerobics. I know. Don’t laugh. It’s not your typical old people, walk and stretch around the pool

water aerobics. It’s more like hardcore, water splashing, “my legs feel like noodles trying to get out of the pool” water aerobics. I encourage everyone to find something different, whether it’s Cyclebar spinning, Zumba, marathons or triathlons. 3. Don’t think you can do it on your own One thing I hated about exercising is that I was doing it alone. At the beginning of sophomore year, I was getting up at 6 a.m. every morning to go to the gym. However, I was always by myself because, college students love their sleep. It wasn’t until I finally convinced two of my friends to come with me that I started enjoying going to the gym and working out. Motivation. Working out with others gives you the encouragement to want to get up in the morning, despite all the sleep you could be getting. It’s the same with having my nutritionist and going to Weight Watchers. Having that sense of community to remind me that I’m not on my own—that I can do this. Even having accountability partners, for example

my mom who has been there from the very beginning, or my coworkers who do different workout activities together, has helped motivate me. The community aspect is something I encourage everyone to find. 4. It’s okay to mess up This is the biggest lesson that I’m still continuing to learn on this journey. When I went to visit my nutritionist and mapped out my eating habits at home versus my habits at school, I realized that I was perfectly fine at home. I was having problems implementing those habits at school. We decided that I needed to work hard to get those habits down. For the first month or two, I was a complete square. I made sure to log my food, exercise five times a week, go to Weight Watcher meetings and get enough sleep. But then around the midterm week, I hit the wall.

I fell into a black hole of cookies, ice cream, no exercise, late nights and Dominoes. By the time I picked myself up and actually made it to a Weight Watchers group weigh-in, I had gained back almost 10 pounds; it sent me into another downward spiral. It wasn’t until I called my mom completely defeated that she told me it’s okay to mess up; it doesn’t mean you failed. I was basing my “failure” on this one small mistake, when really I should have been thinking about the bigger picture. My encouragement for others is don’t get stuck in the “I failed” mindset, and instead think of it as, “What can I do to stop this from happening again?” But then around the midterm week, I hit the wall. I fell into a black hole of cookies, ice cream, no exer-

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cise, late nights and Dominoes. By the time I picked myself up and actually made it to a Weight Watchers group weigh-in, I had gained back almost 10 pounds; it sent me into another downward spiral. It wasn’t until I called my mom completely defeated that she told me it’s okay to mess up; it doesn’t mean you failed. I was basing my “failure” on this one small mistake, when really I should have been thinking about the bigger picture. My encouragement for others is don’t get stuck in the “I failed” mindset, and instead think of it as, “What can I do to stop this from happening again?”

#SAUlife Natalie Boonstra

Samantha Belenson

Rence Arroyo @notrence Breaking: The Talge Ice Machine has Disappeared!! Did they finally try and fix it or was it broken for so long it developed sentience and walked away? More tonight at 7.

Aubri Dancek @aubs_dancek We love the rush of waking up 5 min before class. Makes you feel alive.

Cesia Trevedan @cesssiaaa I understand that there’s endless music on Spotify. I’m still going to listen to the same one direction playlist on repeat. natalieejeann Fighting the sleepies on this Friday. #SAUlife

Cierra Dabney@cicii123 I have a problem. I have a paper due at 11:59 tonight and I have the time; but ima wait until I have almost no time to do it. Why do we do this?

Luis Moreno

sam.belenson Don’t mind me, I’m just toasting my bagel on an axe. #SAUlife

Allison Bradley

Hannah Cook @hannah_cook41 I’ve run out of skip days and I don’t know how I will go on.

Monica Mendoza @monicafoorever Hi, I fell asleep during my test lol how’s your week going?

realluism - Photo credit @dwaynt Here’s to growth. #SAUlife

Kevin hid so well last week that no one was able to find him.

Aimee Anunciacion

allison_joy19 It’s starting to feel like spring again. #SAUlife

Jaira Luna

So, knowing that students are still looking for new outfits to wear on spring break, he is offering a

$10 H&M Gift Card! DM us on Instagram with a photo of where Kevin is hiding!

aiancn Summerour + Hackman hall collab. #SAUlife

jai.luna Another basic downtown chatt picture with the bridge in the background. #SAUlife


8 | Thursday, March 5, 2020

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

HUMOR William “Bradford” McDonald Humor Editor

Lew, Chill out!

© 2020 LIAMDROF

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CHATTER SA Announcements

Today 5 39-53

Convocation: 11 a.m., Church, S.A. Southern Sophomore Success: 12 p.m. Presidential Banquet Room Music General Recitals: 7:30 p.m., Ackerman Auditorium, 2 cultural credits

Saturday 7 Adoration: 9 a.m. Church, David Ferguson 32-55 SOAP Outdoor Church: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Wright Hall, Rock Climbing Merge Worship: 11:30 a.m., Thatcher Renewal: 11:45 a.m., Church, David Ferguson Connect: 11:45 a.m. Collegedale Academy Evensong: 6 p.m., Church, Organ Top That SAU: 8 p.m. Iles P.E. Center

Monday 9 55-62

E.A. Anderson Lecture Series: 7 p.m. Brock Year of the Adventist Composer Concert: 7:30 p.m. Ackerman Auditorium, 2 cultural credits

ATTENTION SENIORS: If you are a graduating senior and took senior portraits last semester, please come to the SA office to pick up your proofs. We need you to come pick these up as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Autumn Dunzweiler (adunzweiler@southern.edu). SA TALENT SHOW: Come to Iles PE Center on March 28th at 9P.M for our annual tal-

Friday 6

ent show! This year’s theme is “Celebration Showcase”, where we will be celebrating the skills and talents of our fellow students. Additionally, Talent Show will be in coop-

SA Senate Surprise Day: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 32-51 Sunset: 6:41 p.m. Vespers: 7:30 p.m., Collegedale Church, PS 46:10 Afterglow: Following Vespers, Collegedale SDA South Atrium

Music General Recitals: 7:30 p.m. Ackerman Auditorium

SA FOOD FEST: On March 29, SA will be hosting our first International food festival! Students, faculty, and staff will have an opportunity to sell food and make some money while benefiting a new international student scholarship. If you are interested in having a booth, signup at sau.is/hungry or come to the SA office to learn

Sunday 8 Daylight Savings Time – Set Clocks forward 1 hour, 2 a.m. Symphony Orchestra Concert: 7:30 p.m. Church, 2 cultural credits Senior Recital: Benjamin Gueck, 7:30 p.m. Ackerman Auditorium, 2 cultural credits

42-62

Weekly Birthdays

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46-64

(maddyt@southern.edu).

more! Contact Mark Galvez (mgalvez@southern.edu) if you have any questions!

Tuesday 10

Wednesday 11

eration with Studio 4109! If you have any questions, please contact Maddy Thomas

TODAY |5

Cristalia Rivera

Tuesday |10

Matthew Lemon

Kaity Skiwski

Andrew Cousins

Ethan Lowe

Michelle Torres

Kimberly Escobedo

Thalia Palomino

Sunday |8

Leilani Pollock

David Chai

Juliette Jacobs

Isabella Showalter

Brandon Cummings

Stephany Lazo Quint-

Friday |6

Aisling Griffin

anilla

Xavier Baca

Vince Harlequin

Ken Norton

Dominic Ciasca

Shantel Ray

Sam Oliveira

Julia Ciasca

Kari Rose

Niraj Patel

Lorissa Cobb

Moriah Shadley

Christina Robinson

Samuel Guerra

Ethan Davidson

Monday |9

Melani Echavarria-

Derek Adams

Brandon Wilcox

Castro

China Mae Brisco

Cameron Wilcox

Kaylan Hartman

Julia Cho

Wednesday |11

Stanley Talley

Delaney Harris

Ilsia Bonilla

Saturday |7

Jesse Hines

Keily Bonilla

Kirsten Clark

Elodie Manalo

Noah Humphrey

Xinlu Lin

Tres Newlon

Sharon Kazi

Bradford McDonald

Rica Veluz

Giana Muchiutti

Ana Milano

Jordan West

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