News | 2
Opinion | 3
Religion| 3
Lifestyle | 4
Local businesses adjust to new normal
Learning online: Give yourself and others some slack
Ways to feel like a church family even when apart
Easy entertainment for the end of a busy day
April 9, 2020 Collegedale, Tennessee
Southern Accent
Vol. 75 Issue 20 Online Edition
The student voice since 1926
Students, professors complete first week online
Virtual classes bring challenges, community Administration declines to offer pass/fail grading option Trisney Bocala Copy Editor
Desk set up to start online classes for the day. Photo by Paola Mora.
Stephanie Chavez Staff Reporter On Monday, March 30, Southern Adventist University began its first week of online classes. With everyone dispersed due to COVID-19, faculty and students expressed both nervousness and excitement as they entered their classrooms via Zoom. Some students have found this new switch to be beneficial while others view it as a compromise to their academic life. “I like it because it takes out the attendance policy,” said Jonathan Osvold, a level 3 nursing student. “It makes it more flexible for my schedule and helps me learn a little better with the recorded lectures. It reduces the questions that I have because I can just relisten
to the recordings as many times as I want.” Others find that Southern’s campus creates an atmosphere for them to grow academically without distractions that would be present when at home.
I like the structure of being in a classroom setting. It's sometimes hard to focus at home rather than being in school. “I like the structure of being in a classroom setting,” said Estefany Fernandez, senior public relations major. “It’s sometimes hard to focus at home rather than being in school. I appreciate the staff in my department [the School of Journalism and
Employee giving surpasses 73 percent goal for the year Aubri Dancek Staff Reporter The Building Relationships in Department Giving Every Day (BRIDGE) Campaign, an employee-giving initiative at Southern Adventist University, surpassed its all-time goal after the campaign came to a close on March 15. According to information found on Southern’s website, the BRIDGE Campaign, orchestrated by Southern's Advancement office, encourages faculty and staff members to give to various scholarships, projects and endowments on campus. The campaign originally began on Feb. 20 with the goal of reaching 73 percent participation from employees, according to Sandra Delgado, Annual Giving coordinator. At the end of its month-long campaign, 353 faculty and staff members had made a gift resulting in 77 percent participation. This year’s campaign theme was “Built on a Legacy of Giving.” Delgado said she wanted to share stories with themes of courage, sacrifice and ser-
vice with Southern employees, reminding them that current generosity was built on a legacy of giving. “This year we decided to focus on the legacy of sacrificial giving handed down from Southern’s founders. The truth is, we see the same spirit demonstrated in our employees today,” Delgado said. Twenty-two out of 53 departments reached 100 percent participation by the end of this campaign. Employees were given many different options as to where to share their gifts. They are able to donate to different causes such as missions, the student food pantry, Southern trails and the upcoming Bietz Center for Student Life. Participants were able to enter drawings and win prizes, which ranged from free Kayak smoothies to an additional vacation day. The School of Nursing is one of the departments that reached 100 percent participation. “We give because we love Southern and we love our students,” said Holly Gadd, dean of Nursing. “Giving is what it
See BRIDGE on page 2
The P.E. Health and Wellness Department achieved a 100% participation in employee giving. Senior Vice President Bob Young brought them doughnuts to show appreciation. Photo courtesy of Sandra Araujo-Delgado.
Communication], they have been accommodating and understanding during this situation. …I know they want us to succeed.” Senior Nick Gonzaga, a business administration marketing major, finds that adapting to online classes on top of managing the pandemic’s repercussions has been burdensome. “Personally with this shift of moving fully online, it’s tough. I’m working a new job… I’m still a full-time student. And, most importantly, I’m having to take care of my family members because some are immunocompromised,” Gonzaga said. “Recently one of my family members was exposed to COVID-19. … I’m living at their house to take care of my nieces. See ONLINE on page 2
After over 1,200 individuals signed a petition for a Pass/Fail grade system to be adopted for the Winter 2020 semester, Southern Adventist University administrators declined the proposal, deciding instead to ask professors to be flexible with students on an individual basis. The decision to not do Pass/Fail grades was officially announced to students on Wednesday, April 8, at 4:09 p.m. via email. “Southern’s administration worked through the decision with our students’ best interest at heart,” said senior vice president of Academic Administration, Bob Young. “We focused on how we could effectively help the most students, recognizing the greater need for flexibility and accommodation.” On Tuesday at 10 a.m., Young met with Pass/Fail grade campaigners Tiago Ferreira and Luis Moreno to inform them of the decision to proceed with a standard grading system. “He did have this meeting just to inform us, not to discuss the initiative with us,” Ferreira said. “The part that I’m most worried about is not that the Pass/ Fail initiative didn’t go through, but that there was a disregard
for the student voice in the academic decision-making process that directly influences us.” Young responded to this concern saying, “We value the input that students provided via the petition, as well as from those who contacted us directly. While not every student weighed in, a broad sampling did, giving us insight into a range of student sentiments on the topic. We always welcome student feedback and encourage students to reach out to us any time.” Both Ferreira and Moreno expressed their wish that a student had been allowed to attend the administration’s meetings regarding the decision about semester grades. “Simply allow us to be part of these meetings,” Ferreira said. “Allow us to voice our concerns and opinions at a point in decision-making where it actually matters; not after the fact, not being told, ‘This is what’s going to happen.’” In an email to faculty on Monday at 7:36 p.m. (EDT), Young announced the decision to not use the Pass/Fail grade strategy. The email presented four downsides that influenced the decision: 1) Pass/Fail grades may have a negative effect on student admission to graduate schools; 2) a Pass grade has no impact on students’ GPAs, while See PASS/FAIL on page 2
Life groups continue to meet online
The Captivating Life Group meets every Tuesday at 7:30 EST via zoom. Photo courtesy Alissa Tanguay.
Cheyenne Wilson Staff Reporter In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, most life groups have stopped meeting in person - but some life group leaders, such as Alissa Tanguay, have continued meeting with their groups online. Before Southern moved to online learning, 70 life groups were active over the Winter 2020 semester according to Anna Bennett, Associate Chaplain. And, because of student employment changes caused by COVID-19, Bennett claims that Campus ministries is no longer providing formal support or coaches to life groups. However, just like several life group leaders, a couple life group coaches have voluntarily given their life groups their support. Of the life group leaders, Tanguay, a senior music education major, has decided to use Zoom to arrange meetings with her women’s life group – The Captivating Life Group. “When I heard that school was closing, I knew there was one thing that would definitely not be cancelled if I could help it!” Tanguay said. “We [members] have such a special bond, and I wanted everyone to have
I wanted everyone to have the option to keep enjoying the friendships they have worked so hard to create this year. the option to keep enjoying the friendships they have worked so hard to create this year.” Sarah Smith, a junior health science major, is one of the life group members. She believes that continuing the life group online has been beneficial. “We're at home doing basically nothing, so we're probably on our phones a lot more than usual,” Smith said. “I get a lot of notifications from Twitter, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, etc. about the coronavirus. With every headline, it seems like the news is getting worse and worse...This creates a lot of fear and anxiety. When I'm in a life group, it allows me to step away from and forget about all the bad news for a while.” Smith also explained that being a part of a life group allowed her to connect with not only her friends, but God as well. According to Smith, this spiritual connection uplifts and encourages her during these
“crazy times”. “It breaches the gap of loneliness I think a lot of us are feeling right now, and it gives everyone something fun to look forward to!” Tanguay said. As beneficial as life groups are, that does not mean they continue online without difficulty. Some members, such as Smith, have problems connecting due to varying time zones or busy schedules. Even so, Tanguay believes it has had a lasting impact on her members and herself. “Whether it is something small, like transforming a wet mess into tasty cookies at the last minute or opening a young lady’s eyes to her true worth and beauty, God never ceases to amaze us,” Tanguay said. “My relationship with Jesus has been strengthened through this experience, and I encourage [life group leaders] to continue leading your life group, or to start leading one.” According to Bennett, Campus Ministries is not aware of exactly how many life groups are deciding to continue online. But, she would like to encourage students to gather virtually for spiritual encouragement. If See LIFE GROUPS on page 2
If you would like to be a contributor, contact Paola Mora at paolam@southern.edu
2 | Thursday, April 9, 2020
NEWS
Local businesses adjust to new normal Organizations adapt to no-contact practices, await reopening of full services Tierra Hayes Managing Editor When local business owner Christine Waldrop first heard that President Donald Trump had declared a state of emergency for the United States, she decided to close down the front end of her relatively new floral and event design shop, Blluum. With a nursing background, she more than understood how important it was to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Even before Tennessee or the county had issued any kind of thing related to that, we made the decision to shut our door and have no customer contact at that point,” Waldrop said.
We made the decision to shut our doors and have no contact. Since that time, as local, state and federal governments began to amp up rules to keep everyday citizens home, nonessential businesses have had to close their doors. Meanwhile, organizations that provide “essential” services, like hospitals, grocery stores and restaurants have had to find new ways to continue operations while following social distancing protocols and avoiding human contact. For Lisa Goolsby, owner of the Wired Coffee Bar, this meant transitioning to curbside pick-up and reducing hours of operations. “I sat down with my accountant and we looked at where we could trim and cut back and how we could sort of streamline our process,” Goolsby said. “I worked hard to get the order-online up and going immediately, and a process in place to be able to provide coffee in-service to the customers who are regulars that come every day.” For many owners, these times have been a testament to the support of the local community. Even though her inventory has been limited as distributors
TOP: Officers practice social distancing outside of 4 Corners Cafe as a part of Chief Brian Hickman's "Business of the Day" initiative. Photo courtesy Collegedale Police Department Facebook. BOTTOM LEFT:Christine Waldrop works on flower arrangement for her company Blluum. Photo courtesy Christine Waldrop. BOTTOM RIGHT:Wired Coffee Bar is now offering curbside pick up. Photo courtesy Lisa Goolsby.
face their own hardships, Waldrop said that as life still goes on, people still have a need for flowers and gifts for their loved ones. So, her customers have adjusted to ordering online or over the phone, especially when it comes to shipments as she offers mailing, delivery and curbside pick up. “I have to give God credit for this because my orders are coming in for things,” she said. “I mean, I had orders called in this morning, and I was down at the shop filling those orders; and it happens like that every week.” Although Wired has lost business and workers because of the lack of college students, who had to return to their own homes, the shop is still patronized by its local regulars. “I feel very fortunate to be in such an awesome community,” Goolsby said. “They've been giving very generous tips to my employees that I'm trying to keep employed. And
ONLINE continued from page 1 a Fail grade has the full effect of a regular F grade on their GPAs; 3) once a grade has been converted to Pass/Fail, it cannot be converted back to a letter grade in the future; and 4) a change like this has the potential to negatively affect institution accreditations. Young asked professors to consider offering Incomplete grades for the semester, allowing students to make up partial courses during a future term, without having to register or pay tuition for the class. He also recommended analyzing grades before submitting them to “ensure that they are appropriate and do not significantly depart from the typical grade distributions for [their] courses in the past.” And he asked them to make their adjustments “in a way that maintains the integrity of the academic enterprise, while recognizing that this
Editor-in-Chief Paola Mora Zepeda Managing Editor Tierra Hayes News Editor Joel Guerra Advisor Alva James-Johnson
semester is significantly different from previous terms.” “Instead of applying a onesize-fits-all approach, we are trusting each faculty member to make accommodations that best fit their students and course,” Young wrote. “If we all unite in this effort, we believe it will yield a more favorable outcome for our students than other across-the-board options would.” Moreno personally experienced receiving a failing grade on a quiz because he lacked access to WiFi. “I don’t think that asking professors to accommodate students on a case-by-case basis will be enough,” he said. “I don’t think it will be effective because there are professors that just won’t listen; but I think students should be proud of trying to enact change.”
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. For any questions, comments, and article submission information email us at accent@southern.edu
they’ve done good with coming and buying coffee beans or preloaded gift cards, which has helped us with cash flow issues.” But for some business owners, days aren’t as busy. For Sonya Guffey, owner of the Mountain Oaks Tea Room, the reality of COVID-19 has closed her doors for the foreseeable future.
It's just terrifying. I'm scared for my business. I'm scared for the people who work for me. “People come to my place for an experience [and] they come to spend time with people, and you can’t do either right now,” she said. “It's just terrifying. I'm scared for my business. I'm scared for the people who work for me, like contractors and things like that, because we're all there. They're just as devas-
tated as I am.” Although her business is closed, Guffey has seen community support as many people are purchasing gift cards to be used once the crisis is over. But she said the unknown timeline is disheartening. “You don't know how to reschedule,” she said. “A lot of what I deal with is parties and weddings and events. And nobody knows how to reschedule or when to start thinking about it.” Currently, to help with losses of customers and income, the federal government is offering small businesses loans to help tide them over. Guffey and Goolsby said they have both applied for loans from this program, some of which can apply to loan forgiveness depending on how the funds are used, according to sba.gov. For Goolsby, funds received will help the business with keeping up with payroll and rent, while Guffey is still waiting
to hear back about her application. In addition to federal funding, some businesses are seeing support from more local forms of government. In an effort to highlight restaurants that are still open, Collegedale Police Chief Brian Hickman recently began featuring eateries on the department’s social media accounts in an initiative called “Business of the Day.” So far, according to their Facebook, the police have spotlighted and eaten at businesses such as the 4 Corners Cafe, Salsaritas, local pizza places and many more. According to the posts, the initiative is meant to help show “Collegedale pride.” Businesses are also getting resources and community support from fellow owners and from the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, which has a local Collegedale/ Ooltewah Council. In terms of looking towards the future, Goolsby emphasized the importance of local businesses and is looking forward to returning to full service.
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. “Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy,” Goolsby said. “We do appreciate all of the support from our community, and we look forward to being back better than ever before and 100 percent so that we can continue to make Collegedale and Ooltewah an interesting place for business.” And for business owners like Guffey, they are just waiting for the day that it is safe for them to open back up to the public. “I hope that when all of this is over, people are going to want to have a party and have get-togethers,” she said. “And I'm hoping that the Tea Room flourishes through people trying to reconnect with their loved ones.”
LIFE GROUPS continued from page 1 any student wants to start an online group they can contact her at annabennett@southern. edu. According to Bennett, students also have the opportunity to attend the Afterglow life group by visiting: https://zoom.
us/j/6767653706 after vespers. Tanguay also wishes to inspire everyone to seek Jesus in these desperate times. “Feeling disconnected from friends and your support system is very real, but I encour-
age you to take a step closer to Jesus in this struggle,” said Tanguay. “Reach out and take His hand because He has not left your side.”
PASS/FAIL continued from page 1 So questions of what do I prioritize is something I have to question myself on the daily. And I’m always putting my family first.” While online classes come with flexibility, they also require students to work more independently. “We have to teach ourselves concepts,” Gonzaga said. “We still have all these homework assignments; and, in some cases, added-on assignments. We don’t have that access to our professors that we had previously. The question I’m always asking myself is, ‘What matters more? Helping my family or
What matters more? Helping my family or passing this class? passing this class?’” Concerns about the impact on academic performance led student organizers, Tiago Ferreira and Luis Moreno, to call for a pass/fail grading system for the Winter 2020 semester. A petition launched by Ferreira, and presented to Academic Administration, collected more than 1,000 signatures.
Administration declined to adopt the pass/fail option, but said they have asked teachers to be flexible on a case-by-case basis. Some professors said they are learning to adapt and remain optimistic about the future despite the changes. “Our teaching assistants created some lab model videos that are quite a professional production,” said Rick Norskov, a biology professor. “We will utilize these for years to come for hundreds of A&P students.”
BRIDGE continued from page 1 is all about- sharing God’s love every day in all sorts of ways, helping students learn and succeed; providing money for scholarships and other needs. Jesus’ words are true: It is better to give than to receive.”
Employees make recurring gifts through payroll deduction. A total of $42,848 has been donated so far, according to the Advancement office. The final number will be recorded at the end of the fiscal year on May 31.
“Faculty and staff consistently pour themselves into our students with their time, talent and treasure,” Delgado said. “ That makes Southern special. It shows a committed workforce, dedicated to our mission.”
3 | Thursday, April 09, 2020
If you would like to be a contributor, contact Paola Mora at paolam@southern.edu
OPINION Online classes are hard: Giving grace to yourself and others Tierra Hayes Managing Editor I didn’t sign up for online classes. Most of us didn’t. When I stumbled across a quiz on Southern’s website about how suited I was for online classes, I made a 50%. It said I would likely struggle, but could do it with a lot of hard work. Nowadays between work and classes, I am perpetually productive, which feels great sometimes, but is exhausting. So I’m deciding to give myself
some slack. I may miss some lesser important deadlines as I work to prioritize which assignments, life obligations and moments of self-care mean the most to me and my loved ones. I will still strive to do well in my classes, but I am working to be realistic about what I can handle. And, like I am at times struggling to find a balance, I imagine that my professors may also be working hard to adjust
to this new reality. I know that most are well-meaning and are probably trying to make what remains of school worth our investment, while understanding the unique circumstances we all find ourselves in. As I pray for grace and empathy, I also hope to extend those to my professors. So here are a few things that after these first two weeks of online classes I have found to help.
Communicate My old Spanish teacher always used to say, “El bebé que no llama, no mama.” The baby that doesn’t cry, doesn’t eat. Don’t just assume that a professor doesn’t care or that he or she cannot be flexible with you. That doesn’t mean slack off because they may be willing to be flexible. But if you have a legitimate need or concern, it cannot hurt to reach out and inquire about your possibilities.
Listen to your body This is not the time to compromise one’s immune system. As much as possible, it is important to eat, sleep and take care of our bodies. Drink water, and if you can, try and get some fresh air.
We aren’t superheroes. Even though we will persevere and get unimaginable amounts of work done in the next few weeks, it is still vital to remember that we are human.
Find out what works for you
While the online format of classes can’t be avoided, we can still tailor our approaches to how we learn and prepare for classes. Personally, I cycle through scheduled periods of productivity and free time. At each hour, I work for 45 minutes and then give myself a 15-minute break, using the clock as my guide. That works for me and my overactive brain. But there are hundreds of strategies for studying, you just have to find what fits. In the end, remember to work hard, give others some slack and advocate for yourself. You are not alone.
RELIGION
Ways to feel like a church family even when apart Anne Pondi Opinion Editor Ways to feel like a church family even when apart What we are experiencing right now has not happened in a little over 100 years. Social distancing has interrupted normal daily activities such as work, school, commercial businesses and social gatherings. Unfortunately, church gatherings have also been halted for our safety. It is easy to feel discouraged during this time because going to church gave people spiritual nourishment, a sense of belonging and family to those who didn’t have families of their own. It is difficult to feel like a church family now that we don’t get to physically interact.
We have to realize that we are a very fortunate generation because of the amount of technology at our disposal. However, for many in the Adventist church, this situation is seen as a wake-up call. Prior
to the quarantine, life was fastpaced, and there might have been times when we were too busy to spend quality time with God. Even though there are still online classes or work that can keep us busy, we now have a lot more time that we can spend with Him and reach out to others. We have to realize that we are a very fortunate generation because of the amount of technology at our disposal. We can take advantage of the fact that we now live in a global village where we can remain connected as a family no matter where we are. Many churches have what is known to many as a life groups. These groups can remain functional virtually using the app Zoom or any other social media outlet. It is very important that we check on each other during this time because loneliness is also an epidemic that is affecting more people than we think. This method can be used to reach out and engage especially those who are living alone during this trying time. It
can also be used to reach out to those friends outside of the church or who have strayed away from the church. For those who are fortunate enough to be quarantined with family members or friends, it is advisable to establish a routine of weekly Sabbath services. Just like a normal church service, start with singing songs of worship in acapella, or let those who know how to play an instrument help out. Then, have a family member give a short devotional or sermonette. Talk to each other about how the week went and end with prayer. One effective way of praying is using the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method. Every person can say a short prayer in that order. It is risky to visit around. But with extra precautions, two families can gather and worship
together, and all in all it can be a wonderful experience.
We are apart from each other, but it is important to check on each other because God has provided means for us to do so. Many churches quickly adapted to the situation, and many provide live streams for their church members. That way church members can still listen to sermons and songs that are familiar to them. Some livestreams are pre-recorded for safety reasons, and people are encouraged to volunteer in order to keep the service running smoothly. In addition, thanks to the comment section, there is an extra layer of community even online. The beautiful thing about having live sermons or pre-recorded ones is that you can choose a sermon based on what you are feeling, and you can also join different congregations. Congregations from churches that we used
to attend can now be easily accessed thanks to this commodity. Another way to feel like a community despite the distance is to look out for our community. There are many church members out there that are not able to go out and get household supplies because of various circumstances. The elderly community is especially susceptible to the coronavirus due to the decline of their immune system. It is our duty as family to look out for each other. We can do this by getting into contact with any elderly person that we know and volunteering to go to the store for them and dropping off their supplies in front of their door. We are apart from each other, but it is important to check on each other because God has provided means for us to do so. Any action, whether it is sending a short prayer to a church member or sending a devotional to a friend, can help us remain connected and feel like God’s family.
4 | Thursday, April 09, 2020
For more related news visit our website at accent.southern.edu
LIFESTYLE
Easy entertainment for the end of a busy day Natalie Boonstra Contributor Relaxing at the end of the day with a Netflix show or a good book can be equally satisfying for me depending on what mood I’m in. Sometimes, I find it really important to take my eyes off my screen for a little bit and flip through something tangible. Other days, I am too sleepy at the end of the day to even think about picking up a book.
resolutions like decluttering her home and organizing her finances and tackling each of them every month. Her insightful info leading a healthier life goes far beyond tidying up and taught me how to rewire my thinking to reduce stress and learn to enjoy more details about life.
Books
This book is the memoir of Tara
“Educated” by Tara Westover
Let’s be real, with a demanding schedule, it’s hard to find the motivation to read for pleasure. You don’t have to be “a reader” to enjoy a good book; the trick is just finding something that doesn’t feel like an assignment or you’re forcing yourself into. The following are two books that were hard for me to put down.
Westover, a woman who first set foot in a classroom at the age of 17. She grew up in an extremist religious family in Idaho, where she was forbidden to attend school or receive medical care. Despite her situation, she began educating herself in math and grammar and was accepted into a university, despite her family’s disapproval. Westover received her BA from Brigham Young University in 2008, and eventually went on to receive her PhD in history from
Cambridge University in 2014.
Netflix So, maybe sitting down with a good read isn’t your cup of tea after a long day. I get it. Here are some binge-worthy shows I watch on Netflix. Love is Blind You’ve probably already heard about this one, considering it’s all over social media. It’s a guilty pleasure show, but worth your time. The drama is priceless.
“The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Reubin Follow this woman’s personal journey about what happiness really means. Gretchen Reubin dedicates one year to her “Happiness Project,” where she makes
SOCIAL MEDIA
For a chance to be featured use #saulife or tag @sauaccent on Instagram or Twitter in your posts!
Follow the journey of multiple couples who test the theory that love is blind. In this reality dating show, men and women take a break from their normal lives and enter an experiment to see if they can find a fiancé, with one catch: They can’t see each other before popping the question. Can people really fall in love just hearing each other’s voice? And if so, can they follow through with the engagement after they’ve met in person? Twilight Zone This classic black-and-white series, which was on the air from 1959-1964, was ahead of its time. Every episode is a different storyline; and covers various genres like fantasy, science fiction, and suspense. I love this show for the social commentary and unpredictability, and how it manages to have real themes, while remaining simple and wholesome.
#SAUlife Janelle Kim
Austin Bates
Luis Moreno @realluism I’ve been living out of a suitcase as if this pandemic is temporary
Camila Oleaurre @camila_oleaurre mad cause I look nothing like my bfs celebrity crush
Jaira Luna @jairuuuh this 12 page paper is DEFINITELY NOT the move janelleekim happy to sea u #SAUlife
Jonathan Vega @dababybackribs
Aubri Dancek
abatesphoto quarantine buddy #SAUlife
Andrea Sanchez
I checked in to my house on Yelp just to feel something again
Astacias Sigarlaki @astaciax tested positive for missing socializing
Rence Arroyo @notrence Sorry I’m late professor my mom wanted me to do the dishes
aubri.dancek #SAUlife
Melody-Joy Drummond
ms.melodyjoy 22 #SAUlife
andreeea_sanchez it’s a beautiful day to thank God for life and all the things :) #SAUlife
Thalia Palomino
thalpals my brother is my fav person, sending happy quarantine vibes #SAUlife