Vol.76 Issue 6 by Southern Accent

Sports| 5 Latin American béisbol stars shine on the field

October 7, 2020 Collegedale, Tennessee

Opinion | 6

Religion | 6

Lifestyle | 7

Latino culture and Adventism: Clashes and similarities

Rekindling with my culture through Christian tunes

Life as a Latin American

Southern Accent

Vol. 76 Issue 6

The student voice since 1926

Southern Adventist University extends LAC celebrates Christmas holiday, shortens Spring break Latin American Heritage Month: A review of the plans Qualyn Robinson Managing Editor In_past_years,_Southern Adventist_University ’s_Latin American Club (LAC) concluded Latin American Heritage Month with LAC night — an evening consisting of various Latino foods, cultural_performances_ and activities. Due to this semester’s COVID-19 restrictions and the_amount_of_precautions it takes to put on an event, LAC has decided not to host in-person events, including LAC night, this fall. While losing the aspect of gathering together for events this semester, LAC is still proposing meaningful ways of connecting_its_members. Through its online presence, LAC encourages members to participate in weekly activities such as giveaways and raffles on social media. Last week, LAC also invited students to the promenade to purchase tostadas with a grab-n-go system to encourage students to social distance. According_to LAC Vice Presiden Joel Guerra,_LAC officers See LAC on page 3

Paola Mora Zepeda Editor-in-Chief After a proposal by the University Senate and approval by Southern’s Board of Trustees on Oct. 4, Administration decided to extend Christmas break until Jan. 19 and change the usually week-long Spring break to a two-day-long Midterm break. The decision to start classes a week later was made because of Administration’s concern that individuals might show COVID19 symptoms after New Year celebrations, according to Academic Administration Senior Vice President Bob Young. The change means classes will begin a day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, a day usually dedicated to community service at Southern. “Given the 14-day incubation period of COVID-19, the deci-

The decision to postpone the start of the winter term was based on wanting to give students, faculty and staff enough time after the New Year holiday to know whether or not they were exposed to COVID-19.__ sion to postpone the start of the winter term was based on wanting to give students, faculty and staff enough time after the New Year holiday to know whether or not they were exposed to COVID-19,” Young said. “... By delaying the start of the semester to Jan. 19, there would be sufficient time for anyone who was exposed to know this and make

a good decision about returning_or_delaying_their return.” In order to make up for the lost week of classes, Spring break, which was supposed to take place from March 12 to 21, has been removed from the calendar and replaced with a Midterm break. The change in dates will give students a long weekend starting on Thursday, March 18. Despite the changes to the 2021 Winter Semester calendar, classes will still end on May 6, and the graduation commencement ceremony will occur on May 9. Mission trips were also not affected since all operations for this school year were scheduled for the summer, according to_Director_of_Humanitarian Engagement & Christian Service Melissa Moore.

This is the second adjustment to the 2020-2021 academic calendar, which is usually approved years in advance. Earlier this summer, Administration announced that it would be canceling this semester’s Midterm break and that classes would transition online after Thanksgiving break. “Administration is doing what we can to help keep our campus as COVID-free as possible so that face-to-face instruction can continue,” Young said. “To do this has required some changes in how the university operates. These changes will be temporary. We all look forward to the time when things can return to normal across a number of facets of life, including university life.”

Vespers attendance drops after Students take bigger enrichment credits cancelation course loads in Fall 2020 Semester

Amanda Blake Lead Reporter

TJ Simmons on stage during Student Missions Vespers on Sept. 25. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Ciarah Clark Staff Writer Students at Southern Adventist University have not been attending Vespers this semester as much as they did in the past, according to Chaplain and Vice President for Spiritual Life Joseph Khabbaz. Vespers attendance within the two previous years, determined by the number of enrichment credits submitted, ranged between 800 to 1,000, per vespers according to Vice President for Student Development Dennis Negron.

When students who answered “yes” were asked why they continued to attend vespers this semester, their answers ranged from a desire to “meet others” and “grow closer to God,” to a desire to “open the Sabbath” and “be connected to a community of believers.” Some of the answers students gave for not attending Vespers included being “concerned about COVID-19,” “It doesn’t feel as engaging” and “not mandatory.” See VESPERS on page 2

The average number of academic credits taken per full-time student in a fall semester at Southern Adventist University is currently at an all-time high, according_to_Associate_Vice President of Financial Administration Doug Frood. Before the fall of 2017, Frood said he could count on the average amount of credits taken per student_being_between_13.73 and_13.75_“like_clockwork.” Then,_in_the_fall_of_2017,_the average jumped to 13.86. Frood called 2018 an “off year” with the average dropping to 13.72. In 2019, the average rose again to 13.89. Now, he said the average amount of credits taken per student is 14.05. This is a 0.16 increase from 2019’s average, and, according to Frood, 0.16 is a big jump in credits when look-

According to___ Frood, this could be the result of of a generational shift or the advanced efforts of First Year Experience Coordinator Renita Moore and Retention Services Coordinator Cheri Durst. ing at 2,000 full-time students. Frood said the average is typically low at the beginning of the fall semester and begins to dramatically increase in the first two weeks. However, this year he said it was already in the 13.9 range at the beginning of August. “As the time to get on campus drew near, it was apparent we were going to cross 14,” Frood said. See COURSE LOAD on page 3

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

2 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

NEWS VESPERS

continued from page 1 Senior religious studies major Maddie Harrison chose not to attend Vespers this semester in order to make seating more available for students who feel a need to attend.

Khabbaz reported that Vespers attendance this semester declined from 551 students attending in-person and 501 students attending online the first week on Aug. 28, to 290 students attending in-person and 190 students attending online the fifth week on Sept. 25. “The main reason I don’t go is primarily because I don’t really have to go. Since [Vespers] is requiring reservations now, I feel like, for those people that really, really want to and need to go, [me not going] gives them the opportunity to go,” Harrison said. According to Khabbaz, enrichment credits were required at the beginning of the semester but canceled after administration decided not to require attendance for classes. “We wanted to make sure that the students experienced consistent requirements across campus,” Khabbaz said. Khabbaz said the worship experience_at_Vespers_has changed this semester to be mindful_of_everyone’s_safety. Organizers have spaced out seating, required reservations beforehand_and_eliminated audience singing. “I think [canceling enrichment credits] is going to impact students differently depending on their background and context and their own spiritual walk,” Khabbaz said. “I think the experience of just being physically distanced…and the fact that [students] can’t sing during worship, I think that took the experience away more than the credit itself.” Harrison agreed. “I think music is a large part of worship. Taking it out like that is going to affect people in a very impactful way, because some people are able to understand God most that way. ... But at the same time, I can see why they’re doing it.” Khabbaz said there are still ways for students to stay spiritually connected on campus despite social distancing, such as online devotionals, online LifeGroups and meeting online with a chaplain.

Corrections and Clarification The_Southern_Accent_takes complaints_about_inaccuracy seriously._To_fix_errors_or_misinformation,_we_will_publish, with_some_limited_exceptions, corrections or clarifications. To report_mistakes,_email_us_at accent@southern.edu_or_reach us_through_our_social_media accounts.

Mental Health Club hosts ‘Coffee and Conversations’ meetings at local coffee shops

Nathan Martin, Sierra Ureta, Andrea McCraw, Taylor Baker, and Dominik Werner — Empowering Mind officers. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Taylor Dean News Editor On Friday, Sept. 18, Southern’s Mental Health Club, better known as Empowering Minds, held its second “Coffee and Conversations” meeting of the Fall 2020 semester. The gatherings began at the beginning of the 2019–2020 school year and are approaching their tenth event, scheduled for Oct. 9. Mental Health Club President Nathan Martin, a senior nursing major, said the push for starting the club emerged after witnessing some of his peers struggle with various mental health issues. According to Martin, the concept of meeting together over coffee was a collaborative effort by last year's club officers. “The mission of the club is to encourage students to actively engage in conversation about their mental health and break the negative stigma associated with seeking help,” Martin said. “Our ‘Coffee and Conversations’

six feet away from each other while in a car.”

Our coffee and conversations events are my favorite. We get together, get some drinks and discuss a topic pertaining to mental health. In an Instagram poll conducted by the Accent, five out of 193 participants (3%) said that they have attended the “Coffee and Conversation” meetings, while 188 (97%) said they have yet to attend. Sophomore social work major Angelina Jones said she attended one “Coffee and Conversations” meeting at Wired Coffee Bar. “Free coffee caught my eye, and I liked that the club was about mental health,” Jones said.

“[At the first meeting I attended,] I just told the barista I was with Empowering Minds and got to pick whatever drink I wanted.” Jones said they did an activity at the icebreaker meeting, where each person was paired up with someone who would become their mental health check-in buddy. “The first time I went was just an icebreaker day where we got to know each other,” Jones said. “This time around, we picked names. I got Nathan. I’m his ‘buddy,’ so I text him regularly and make sure he’s doing well.” While the location is still to be determined, Martin said the next “Coffee and Conversations” meeting will be on Oct. 9. For more information visit @ empoweringminds_sau on Instagram or email Martin at nmartin@southern.edu.

'Truth is Stranger:' Film professor directs new movie

Sierra Dunzweiler and Kevin Acosta act in the set of 'Truth is Stranger.' Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Xavier Quiles Lead Reporter Film professor Nick Livanos recently finished shooting his latest film, “Truth is Stranger.” Shooting started on Sept. 17 and ended on the 20th, with many students helping. Professor Livanos described the film as “weird and random.” “‘Truth is Stranger’ is a bizarre short film about fiction itself,” Livanos said. “[The film] is much more about the relationship between characters and audience — As in, a character never really exists unless experienced by an audience. And that’s what the characters in this movie realize. They realize that in order to be alive, they need you to watch.”

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

events are my favorite. We get together, get some drinks and discuss a topic pertaining to mental health.” At the club’s Sept. 18 meeting, students came together at Wired Coffee Bar in Ooltewah and received a free beverage of choice, paid in full by the club. According to Martin, officers had previously provided transportation for those who need it, but due to COVID-19, they have been asked to cease transporting students to events. “All the money for the drinks comes straight out of the club’s funds,” Martin said. “We have hosted our meetings at Cadence Coffee Company, The Camp House, Wired Coffee Bar and Oaks Coffee House. We provided transportation for anyone that needed it last semester. But unfortunately, we have been asked to stop transporting students because it’s hard to keep

Michael Moyer, a junior film production major, is the producer for “Truth is Stranger.” Moyer became part of this project when Livanos pitched it to him as a way to get academic credit. “He basically pitched me a few ideas of things that I could produce,” Moyer said. “I thought all of them would have been directed by him, but he pitched me this one along with some other [film ideas], and this is the one that I was most interested in.” Moyer said production went well despite a forecast for rain on Sept. 18, along with some other technical difficulties. “[On] Sunday, [Sept. 20], we were super thankful for the crew,” Moyer said. “They were

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extra intentional about keeping up that energy, even after lunch and that really difficult grind.” Junior film production major Samuel Guerra was one of the production assistants on set. Because Guerra knew Moyer, he signed up quickly when he heard about the film. “It was really cool. I learned a lot, like so much,” Guerra said. “It's also cool to get involved with people who are working in the same environment, and you get to know how to deal with the stress in the middle of a film.” According to Livanos, the film will likely be submitted to Sonscreen, an Adventist film festival for Christian filmmakers. He said it depends on how the final

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project turns out. “If I feel this turned out to be strong, I’ll submit [it] to film festivals,” he said. “If I feel it turned out as a fun experiment and I’m glad I tried some things, then I’ll throw it online and make it free for everyone right away.” Moyer said while the film has just gotten to the post-production stage, he believes it will be a success. “Because_I_understand_the vision behind it, I understand all the post-work that's going to have to go into it,” Moyer said. “I trust the people that are doing that post-work. And I trust Nick and his vision—I have faith in it.”

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Is it 'Prime'? Students share their experiences working in the Amazon Warehouse

Amazon warehouse in Chattanooga. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Elise Deschamp Lifestyle Editor Between navigating stimulus checks and rising unemployment levels, many students were able to find employment through jobs at Amazon warehouses. In March, Amazon announced it_would_hire_over_175,000 temporary_full-time_and_parttime employees across North America, 125,000 of which would have the potential for staying with the company. In June, officials at Chattanooga’s Amazon distribution center said the site has doubled its workforce to over 3,000 employees since January and is still hiring. “Amazon pays a minimum of $15 per hour across the U.S.,” said Noah Collins, a sophomore biology major who worked at an Amazon warehouse this summer in San Bernardino, CA. “During my first month of work, it was actually $17 an hour because of COVID before going down to $15. They also gave me a $300 bonus this summer for being employed during COVID, so they paid well.” Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, scanning packages to be sorted to their respectable locations, as well as unloading, sorting and reloading packages. “I worked as a picker,” said Alex Thompson,_a_junior_computer science_major_who_currently works at the Amazon Warehouse in Chattanooga. “The job is fastpaced by nature and includes a

significant amount of walking. So before the day, I like to make sure I’ve eaten well, gotten enough sleep and have mentally prepared myself. The job can be tough, but I have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.” Something that stuck out to Collins was the diversity within the workplace. “The variety of people really shocked me,” said Collins. “There were people like myself working as students, single mothers, people in their 40s and 50s and some in their 70s and 80s. It truly was the most diverse community that I have seen.”

There were people like myself working as students, single mothers, people in their 40s and 50s and some in their 70s and 80s. It truly was the most diverse community that I have seen. Additionally, students felt the community at Amazon was generally kind. “People were really nice,” said Alyssa Wolf, a sophomore social work major who worked with Collins in San Bernardino. “We bonded over

how difficult the work was.” “Almost everyone was very kind, making conversation and going out of their way to befriend me,” Collins said. While students recognized the benefits of working at Amazon and expressed their appreciation for the wages and consistency, the job had its downfalls. “The work was hard,” Wolf said. “But mainly because it was so monotonous and there was not much encouragement. They didn’t train us really well. I had to learn on the spot, and a lot of people felt like they couldn’t approach some of the bosses.” Byron Montenegro, a junior nursing major who worked at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Inman, SC, said that after a month, despite enjoying the job as a whole, the monotony “physically_and_emotionally drained” him. “I would do it again for the summertime,” Montenegro said, “but not as my full-time job.” At the end of the day, while Collins said working at Amazon can be labor intensive and monotonous, it also upholds the benefits of a relatively high hourly wage, a good amount of hours and a consistent schedule. “While it isn’t my ideal job, the pay, the hours and the schedule are worth it,” Collins said. “I would not hesitate to work there again in the future.”

NEWS COURSE LOAD continued from page 1

According to Frood, this could be the result of a generational shift or the advanced efforts of First Year Experience Coordinator Renita Moore and Retention Services Coordinator Cheri Durst. About five years ago, Durst began to call new and returning students over the summer to advise them on how many credits to take to balance their academic schedules, according to Moore. Then, two summers ago, Moore took over calling the freshmen. This summer, Moore said her team did more academic advising than ever before because incoming freshmen had finished high school early due to COVID-19. As a result, many did not receive proper college preparation. In addition, Moore said, the freshmen were more eager than usual to sign up for classes. “It was crazy, because this year [the freshmen] were excited to get registered,” Moore said. This could explain why the current freshmen class is taking more credits than any other freshmen class in Southern’s history, according to Frood. He added that this freshmen class is “probably the smartest class to ever be on this campus” when looking at high school GPAs and ACT scores. In a recent poll on the Accent’s Instagram account, students were asked if they were taking more credits this

semester than they took last semester. Of 276 respondents, 132 said yes and 144 said no, contrasting the actual increase in credits that occurred. However, some of the students who responded "no" are still taking a higher than average amount of credits. Sophomore mathematics major Dylan Waters is currently taking 17 credits, one less than he took last semester. “I want to have lighter loads later, so that I’m not super busy when my classes get tougher and more time-consuming,” Waters said. Most of the students who responded "yes" said they are taking more credits to graduate sooner. Junior mass communication–advertising major Trisney Bocala said she was enrolled in 17 credits last semester and is currently enrolled in 20 credits because she wants to graduate in December of 2021. Sophomore psychology major Julia Dinger said she is taking more credits this semester to get scholarships and because she knew there would be fewer social events due to COVID-19. According to Frood, the average number of credits typically decreases by 0.1, or what he calls “10 basis points,” in the winter semester. “I’m really interested to see what winter is going to bring,” Frood said. “If that normal ten happens, then we’re going to be at 13.95, and that will be a record for winter.”

A culture worth celebrating: Letter from LAC President

María José Morán, LAC President. Photo courtesy of María José Morán.

María José Morán Lead Reporter, LAC President

Fermin Siberon receives tostadas from Marco Swaisgood. To celebrate Latin American Heritage Month. LAC gave out this meal to club members for free. Non-members paid $4. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

LAC

continued from page 1 were satisfied with not having to host LAC night this semester. “There was no way that we would be able to plan something in August and September before the event in October,” Guerra said. “So, we were actually pretty okay with giving up the ability to have the event during Hispanic Heritage Month. We didn't want to put on something that wasn't up to our level of expectation.” Instead of concluding Latin American Heritage Month on LAC night this fall, LAC will postpone the event until January 2021. “Latinos are known for being hard working and not giving up when there's adversity...so we knew that we still had to put on something for our members,” Guerra said. Postponing_the_event_will allow LAC officers more time to discover the best way to inte-

grate LAC night with COVID-19 regulations.

We're working hard to create something that all the members are going to love and that everyone can participate in while still meeting the precautions we have to take for the pandemic. “We're working hard to create something that all the members are going to love and that everyone can participate in while still meeting the precautions we have to take for the pandemic,” Guerra said. According_to_Guerra,_LAC Night may feature two one-hour sessions in order to limit capac-

ity. Food may be delivered, but likely through a grab-n-go system. Planning for LAC Night is still in the works and decisions have not been made final. Because of the many COVID19 regulations and the lack of in-person events this year, LAC officers understand the doubts many students have about how entertaining this year's events can actually be. However,_Guerra_remains hopeful_about_the_turnout_of such_events. “I think members will love it [LAC Night],” Guerra said. “We're doing something that's gonna bring back a lot of nostalgia for a lot of people that grew up in Latin_American_households. Expect a lot of fun, a lot of dancing and a big theme about connecting different generations of families together.”

I believe much of Latino culture is about pride. Pride for your country, your last name and your family. It seems like something we are all born with. As an international student, I’ve always been extra proud when saying I live in “the motherland.” In fact, few things compare to the amount of love I have for my home country, Honduras. One thing I am very proud of, however, is being LAC President. So much so, that it sits at the top of my email signature. But, how could it not? I am extremely proud of what it means and what it feels like to be Latino, and everyday I am proud that I get to share that feeling with many of the students at Southern Adventist University. During my sophomore year at Southern, I was casted as one of the main characters in the musical “In the Heights” for LAC Night. My junior year I was club secretary, and this year I have the privilege of running this club along with an incredible group of people, so it is hard to put into words what this club means to me. These past three years, I’ve loved meeting members and getting to know my fellow officers. They’ve all shown me aspects of Latin American culture I didn’t know existed. Some of them are

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) holders; others are U.S. citizens. Some are only residents, and others have never even been to their “home country.” Yet, we all proudly share a beautiful culture. LAC has broadened my perspective of the meaning of Latino and/or Hispanic, and it has put into perspective the true beauty of diversity. Being LAC President has given me a unique platform: a place where I get to share culture with my peers, but also a place where I get to inform and educate faculty and administration. It has allowed me to represent the Latino community on this campus and to advocate for it. Most importantly, though, being LAC President has allowed me to prove myself. This position has proven that, yes, I am “the international student,” “the Hispanic” and “the Honduran,” but I am so much more than that. It’s proven that despite our backgrounds, places of origins and subcultures, every Hispanic is capable of more than others might think. I’ve learned that not all of us fit the Latin American stereotype; rather, we all break the mold. It’s our uniqueness that makes us Latinos, and that is the beauty of our identity — a culture worth celebrating and something to be proud of.

4 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

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NEWS

LAC VESPERS Joslen Lache Veloz leads the song service during LAC Vespers. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Cristian Sorto delivers message. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Students, socially distanced, watch special song performance by Cristian Sorto and Jonathan Rodney. Photo by Xander Ordinola. María José Morán, LAC President, welcomes the audience to LAC Vespers. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

Worship leaders conduct music on a Latin America-flag decoreated stage. Photo by Xander Ordinola.

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COLLEGEDALE NEWS Collegedale cancels annual Spirit of Christmas parade Aubri Dancek Lead Reporter On Sep. 17, Collegedale’s Parks and Recreation Department announced that it would be canceling the annual Spirit of Christmas parade that was scheduled for Dec. 6. According to the City of Collegedale’s website, the parade was canceled after considering the current Tennessee Pledge Executive_Orders_regarding hosting parades and learning that several of the key partners in the parade will not be available to participate. The Spirit of Christmas parade is an annual event involving residents,_local schools and businesses. Residents not participating in the event set up chairs and watch the parade’s mile-long route, starting on Little Debbie Parkway at the East Hamilton Park/Ooltewah Youth Association fields and ending at Ooltewah Middle School. Last year, there were about 75 contributors that participated in the parade, according to Collegedale Parks and Recreation Director Traci Bennett-Hobek. “People come in with antique tractors and antique cars,” she said._“The_Fire_Department

comes through, and we usually have a lot of dance groups, a couple of martial arts studios and several businesses that participate. Local politicians will also come through.” According to Bennett-Hobek, one_of_the_reasons_the_city decided to cancel the event was because important participants were not available this year. “Each year we have certain people that come to the parade and lead off and close out the event,” she said. “Our usual closer, Santa, was not participating in any programming this year. Our opener is always the Ooltewah High School JROTC, Color Guard and Band. But they are not allowed to travel on field trips due to COVID-19.” Many_residents_have expressed_thei_disappointment in the cancellation of what would have been Collegedale’s 21st Spirit of Christmas parade. Kathy Mueller has lived in Collegedale for the past 31 years and has attended every single parade since its start. “It is a very big family event for us,” she said._“I have_six kids and 18 grandkids. Even

t h e _f a m i l y _f ro m _K n ox v i l l e drives down to this event. We go hours ahead of time to save space so we can all be together. It is a sweet, wonderful time and a way to kick off the season’s festivities. I am not happy that it is canceled.”

According to Bennett-Hobek, one of the reasons the city decided to cancel the event was because important participants were not available this year. On Sep. 21, during a Collegedale City Commission meeting, Collegedale resident Tonya Sadler asked the city to revisit the issue of the parade’s cancellation. Instead of canceling the parade altogether, she asked for innovation this year. She posted her full alternate event idea on the “Collegedale Today”

Facebook page, a local news and lifestyle page that she facilitates. “As soon as I read that the city had canceled the parade, my mind immediately jumped to a shorter neighborhood parade idea because so many local schools had done that for their graduating seniors,” Sadler said. “The idea would be to make the parade shorter (20 to 24 vehicles) that would drive through the subdivisions at night. Since candy couldn’t be thrown out because of previous executive orders that have now been rescinded, everyone would decorate their automobiles with festive holiday lights.” Sadler_worked_during_the parade_previously_as_a_Collegedale_reserve_officer_and has taken photographs at the event for several years in her formal role as a public information officer for the Collegedale Police Department. She said her idea has not been adopted by city leaders. “The city showed no interest in my proposal to save Collegedale’s long-standing tradition of our annual Christmas

parade,” Sadler said. “In the Sep. 28 Commission Workshop, City Manager Ted Rogers noted that they are creating new Christmas traditions, but we already have plenty of new traditions. No one is interested in new Christmas traditions this year. After all that we’ve sacrificed in this pandemic, we want the familiar and the comfortable. We want the traditions we are used to.” Although Collegedale will not be getting its Christmas parade this year, the Park and Recreation Department has other events that will be taking place in December. According to Bennett-Hobek, the annual Candy Cane Quest will still take place on Dec. 5. Santa will make an appearance at the market on Dec. 6 to take socially distanced photos. And on Dec. 7, there will be a new event called “The Christmas Tractor Swing” at The Commons. More information regarding the Spirit of Christmas parade and the events planned for December can be found at the City of Collegedale’s Parks and Recreations website.

Santa at the 2019 Spirit of Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of News 12 Now WDEF

SPORTS

Latin american athletes shine on the béisbol field Zach Roberts Sports Editor Latin American athletes have long been at the forefront of baseball. Here are some of the biggest MLB names from Latin American countries. Gio Urshela: The Yankees third baseman, hailing from Colombia, starred throughout their two-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians. Urshela hit .333 with five RBI, three runs scored and one huge go-ahead grand slam in Game 2. He became the first Yankees third baseman (and third Yankee overall) to ever hit a postseason grand slam. Sixto Sanchez: The Dominican-born Sanchez pitched five

shutout innings with six strikeouts and just four hits given up in the Miami Marlins series clincher over the Chicago Cubs. Sanchez finished his rookie season with a 3.46 ERA. Brusdar Graterol: The Venezuelan pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers closed the door on the Milwaukee Brewers, solidifying their two-game sweep and advancing to the next round. Throughout the regular season, Graterol was deployed in different roles to the tune of a 3.09 ERA. Fernando Tatis, Jr.: Tatis, from the Dominican Republic, homered twice in an 11-9

win while facing elimination in Game 2. The San Diego Padres would go on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals with a lot of help from Tatis. He hit .454 with two home runs throughout the series. Ronald Acuña, Jr.: Acuña hit .364 in the Atlanta Braves twogame sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. The Venezuelan added an RBI in the series-clincher. Acuña finished the regular season with 16 home runs. Yuli Gurriel: The Houston Astros Cuban-born first baseman scored the winning run in the top of the ninth inning in the first game of their eventual

sweep of the Minnesota Twins. Gurriel had six home runs in the regular season. Manuel Margot: Margot, a Dominican Republic native, helped the Tampa Bay Rays sweep the Toronto Blue Jays. Margot hit .429 with a home run and three RBI. That home run solidified the Game 1 win, extending a one-run lead in the seventh inning. Randy Arozarena: Born in Cuba, Arozarena stepped into the Rays’ everyday lineup for injured outfielder Austin Meadows. In their sweep, Arozarena was up to the task. He hit .500 with two doubles and three

runs scored. Gleyber Torres: The Yankees Venezuelan infielder was one of the brightest stars in their first series. Torres hit .714, the highest mark on either team, with one home run, three RBI, three runs scored and three walks. Sandy Alcàntara: The Domincan native pitched 6.2 innings with just three hits, one run and four strikeouts in the Marlins game one defeat of the Chicago Cubs. Alcantara pitched to an even 3.00 ERA with 39 strikeouts in the regular season.

Top from left to right: Sixto Sanchez, Fernando Tatis, Yuli Gurriel, Randy Arozarena and Sandy Alcàntara. Bottom from left to right: Gio Urshela, Brusdar Graterol, Ronald Acuña, Jr., Manuel Margot and Gleyber Torres

6 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

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

OPINION Latino Culture and Adventism: The clashes and the similarities When worlds collide: Adventism My culture and my reliclashes with Latin culture gion: The basis of who I am Marie Rodriguez Contributor

Shayla Moguel Contributor “What do you mean I can’t have shrimp, ni puerco... y mis chicharrones?” I was so upset by this new restriction—I was not ready to leave my comfort foods just to be a different kind of Christian. Both of my parents were born in rural Southern Mexico, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Like the majority of Latinos, they were raised Catholic. Up until first grade, we were freelance Christians,_jumping_from church to church. The trauma of having to give up pork was a religious and lifestyle reset. Not only did my family and I give up eating unclean meats, but we also gave up partying, dancing and drinking. Our typical Mexican lifestyle clashed with our new religion, Seventh-day Adventism. Now, I am not putting down either group. There is definitely more to being Mexican than partying, and more to being Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) than restrictions. From my experience, it is hard to be fully immersed into Mexican culture while being a simult a n e o u s l y _d e d i c a t e d _S DA .

Although these two groups have their differences, there is one matter that remains the same for both: Family. T h e _M ex i c a n / L a t i n o _c u l ture is very much family-centered. Mexican families get together for a good time with the availability of carne asada y cerveza. These get-togethers usually go on until three, four, even five in the morning. Tíos y tías dancing to cumbia, hearing laughter reach far into the heavens, watching the little ones run around till the lack of energy leaves them falling asleep on makeshift beds. This way of getting together contradicts how SDAs believe that_they_should_come together._SDAs_believe_that drinking, dancing to secular rhythms and eating unclean foods are against God’s will, and are overall bad for your health. I believe SDAs are not wrong, but these values clash with Mexican/Latino culture. After first grade, I felt that every get-together I missed or dance invitation I turned down, the less of a Mexican I had become. This is the result

of becoming an SDA. I do not speak on behalf of either group. I’m sure that there are ways in which someone can have a foot on both sides. This is just a small example of how these two different cultures may not mix well with each other.

It is not dubious to claim that someone’s culture significantly molds them into the individual they are today. As the child of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador, I can testify to this. From eating foods that seemed very distinct to those of my classmates during my elementary, middle and high school years, to going to Latin American activities weekly with my parents to amass and congregate with others of our culture, I noticed that our methods of communicating and living were diverse from those of my non-Latin associates. However, even though there is an obvious difference between Latin culture and other cultures, there is still a contrast between Adventist Latinos and non-Adventist Latinos—and the same is true for any other nationality and culture because God has called us to be different from those of this World. Nonetheless, I have observed that there are aspects of Latin culture that particularly compliment Adventism. One such element

that emerges to me greatest is that Latinos value family unity and respect immensely. Just look at the Disney animation film “Coco” and you will agree with me that family is remarkable for us! There is a love in Latin culture that tells us that there is nothing greater than the individuals in our lives that care for us, help us grow and wish to see our success. We are expected to show respect to these individuals because their love for us deserves it. This goes conjointly with Adventism and the Bible—that God is deserving of our respect and love because He is the one who loved us first! I appreciate my culture immensely, and I love how it has influenced me to be the person that I am presently. There is nothing in the world that I would trade to be a different person than what God has made me. I will continue to love and respect my family and God, just as my parents, culture and Adventism have taught me.

RELIGION Rekindling with my culture through Christian music Paola Mora Zepeda Editor-in-Chief When I was a child living in Chile, Sabbath mornings followed a very specific routine: My mom would wake up early to make breakfast (usually waffles). My brothers and I would shower and change into our church clothes, and my father would play some Christian CDs on our old stereo. Besides my dad, no one else in my family spoke English. So, the worship music I grew up listening to was all in Spanish. Church was the same: We sang_Spanish_hymns_in_the main_service_and_“coritos” (a word used to describe C h i l d re n’s _w o r s h i p _s o n g s ) during Sabbath School. Like many of my friends, I was part of the church’s children’s choir and an active member of Adventurers: another two places where singing praise songs was part of the normal routine. However, after moving to the Philippines and learning English, I lost touch with my Latin culture. I’ve never been the one to remain “connected” with what’s far away from mewhether it’s friends or traditions. I know it’s a flaw, but I tend to focus on what’s with me in the present rather than what I had in the past. Last year, I told myself that I wanted to improve in this area. I_intentionally_made_some efforts during the summer to rekindle the culture I sometimes seem to forget. These efforts include things such as learning to cook Latin dishes and reading Spanish books. One big challenge I set out to achieve was to be more intentional in listening to Christian Latin music.

I’ve found this last effort to be a blessing in my life. It opened up a new layer of my relationship with God, and the songs have helped me get through some stressful times. So, whether you struggle to connect with your culture like I do or not, these are some worship songs in Spanish that can really touch your heart:

Eight singles for your Sabbath playlist:

Yo Iré – Un Corazón

Cuan Dulce Amor – Marcela Gándara

Tu Mirada – Evan Craft

Majestuoso – Francy Arango

Olvide Cuidar Mi Huerto – Jesus Adrian Romero

Tú tan Mío – Alex Campos feat. Madie Lara

No Me Faltes Nunca – Alfereros

Quién Dijo Miedo? – Gilberto Daza

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

7 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

LIFESTYLE Life as a Latin American: What students on campus love about their culture Elise Deschamps Lifestyle Editor There is no doubt that the customs and cultures that surround us growing up directly affect_the_lifestyles_we_live today._This_month,_we_are highlighting_what_students who grew up as a part of the Latino culture appreciate the most and how that upbringing is reflected in their lives today. We asked our Latino students here at Southern what they love about their backgrounds, and this is what they said:

What do you appreciate most about your heritage and culture?

The closeness and importance of family! – Dolly Berko, Brazilian – Shayla Moguel-Coronel, Mexican – Kailie Taiña, Latina

The huge diversity of food within Latino culture. The amazing food. The food. The food. The food. – Gabi Mendonca, Brazilian – Miranda Delgado, Puerto Rican-Dominican – Emily Carajal, Dominican and Colombian – Rafael Dimenza, Ecuadorian – Benjamin Williams, Dominican

How close knit everyone is and the generosity of our culture. – Florence Philips, Argentinean

The strength, dedication and perseverance that I see in my grandparents and my greatgrandparents. – Reyna Adame, Mexican

What are some of your favorite traditions that you or your family practice? What habits of your life today are directly tied to your upbringing/background? For Christmas, we go around to neighbors’ houses, sing and eat their food until 3 a.m. – Miranda Delgado, Puerto Rican-Dominican

My sense of rhythm and music and my protective nature. – Benjamin Williams, Dominican

Always hanging out, being loud and enjoying each other’s company. – Gabi Mendonca, Brazilian

Being very grateful for your food. – Maryann Pino, Ecuadorian

Coming together to watch soccer games! – Dolly Berko, Brazillian

No shoes in the house! Also, always offering to help when you’re in someone else’s home. – Gabi Mendonca, Brazilian

Getting together on holidays! – Emily Carajal, Dominican and Colombian

Putting pans in the oven. – Gabrieli Garcia, Mexican and Dominican

In my house, we have Spanish Music Sundays. When we wake up and hear the music, we know it’s time to clean. – Maryann Pino, Ecuadorian

Saying medicine names in Spanish. – Angelica Acevedo, Puerto Rican

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Twitter

#SAUlife Gia Arroyo

Gideon Situmorang

Natasya Panjaitan @natasyapnjtn Physically i am here but mentally i’m in the glee choir room

Stephanie Chavez @stephychav I want to graduate and live my best broke life

Gianna Arroyo @giannamairie “my nap is over when God says it’s over” –tais

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Abigale Choi @abbynicole19__ my senioritis is so very bad, I would rather be staring at the wall then studying rn

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Marcus Abejar

Lila Odhiambo @lilaodhiambo not the hymns turned all the way up at 8am

Samuel Kumendong @samm_ek still waiting for that camera man to pop out of nowhere and say “ you’ve been pranked, 2020 didn’t actually happen”

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marccoustic GOIN CRAZY #SAUlife

Luis Moreno

Kevin is starving after a long week of classes and is headed to Panda Express. Find him in this issue to recieve a

$10 Panda Express Gift Card! DM us on Instagram with a photo of where Kevin is hiding in this issue for a chance to win! gyselhadasa Do not forget that God is with you #SAUlife

realluism feat. my wild long hair, a cool shed and a happy sabbath #SAUlife

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

8 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

CHATTER

Check out our new website!

Today 7 55-82

7:30 p.m. – GYCSE: Gary Blanchard, Thatcher Chapel 7:30 p.m. – SA Senate, Zoom

Friday 9 63-75

6:30 & 8:00 p.m. – Vespers: Gary Blanchard 7:12 p.m. – Sunset 9:00 p.m. – AfterGlow

www.southern-accent.org Thursday 8 National Depression Screening Day Meet the Firms & Graduate Schools 11:00 a.m. – Critical Conversations – Stephanie Guster: Adventists and Racism 12:00 p.m. – Southern Sophomore Success, Presidential Banquet Room 3:30 p.m. – Graduate Council

Saturday

Sunday 11 64-75

7:30 p.m. – Wind Symphony Concert, University Church

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Student Organization Parties, 63-72 Various Time & Locations 9:00 a.m. – Connect, Goliath Wall 9:00 a.m. – Adoration: Pastor David Ferguson, Adoration Livestream & Live in Church 10:30 a.m. – Collegiate Sabbath School, facebook.com/theexperiencecollegedale/ 11:45 a.m. – Merge, mergeatsau.com & Live in the Tent 11:45 a.m. – Renewal: Isai Moran, Renewal Livestream & Live in Church 7:30 p.m. – Evensong 7:11 p.m. – Sunset

Monday 12

Tuesday 13 57-73

Columbus Day 12:00 p.m. – General Session Cultural Conversations 3:30 p.m. – University Senate

12:00 p.m. – Deep Dive, Sherrie Norton Room 8:00 p.m. – Chapel, Thatcher Chapel

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Weekly Birthdays TODAY|7

Friday |9

Sunday |11

Dariana Badillo

Edgar Kavistan

Dylan Blake

Arielle Belgrave

Josh Park

Emily Harrison

Madeleine Bokich

Adalmys Rivera-Abreu

Hyein Lee

Danny Cuevas

Ethan Sacchetti-Guer-

Monday |12

Nick Decker

don

Kayley Alonso

Elise Owens

Ariana Smith

Diany Diaz

Sydney Raitz

Sarah Smith

Ananda Glover

Thursday |8

Michael Vance

Josh Hahn

Camden Armstrong

Philly Walangitan

Lila Odhiambo

Allie Barnett

Saturday |10

Andre Tablang

Randy Cherena

John Kent

Tuesday |13

Emily Craft

Luke Medlock

Tyra Castle

Asha Nambi

Jake Miller

Kakue Gininwa

Misael Polanco

Alexandra Rima

Ermitha Mercier

Evelyn Roman

Cynthia Wen

Bailey Reams

Russell Yoon

Melanie Wilhelm

Autumn White

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