Volume 75, Issue 20

Page 1

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


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