Southern Accent, Vol. 78 Issue 16

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

McKee Southern 6 Trail Race gains new sponsors

Contestants run in one of the past annual McKee Southern 6 Trail Races. This year, proceeds from the race will go to Southern's Adventure Program Affinity Fund.

(Photo courtesy of source)

Matthew Orquia News Editor

The 13th annual McKee Southern 6 Trail Race will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, at the White Oak Mountain Trails. Southern Adventist University students and faculty can run the race for free, and proceeds from the race will go to Southern's Adventure Program Affinity Fund, according to the race’s website. Online registration ends on Feb. 17, but in-person

registration will be available on race day.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in two categories, regular and age 50 and up, or “masters.” A $100 cash prize will be given to first place finishers, a $75 cash prize to second place finishers and a $50 Rock Creek gift card to third place finishers. The fastest

male and female finishers will also be offered a pair of Salomon shoes.

The 3.4 mile course begins on Industrial Drive by the Hickman Science Center, continues run a steep climb to the White Oak Mountain Trails and is followed by a descent down the trails to finish back by Hickman. Jonathan Ziesmer, race director, said he ran the race multiple times while he was a student

at Southern and fell in love with the course.

“ … You gotta work really hard in the beginning, and then you just cruise, and you can push as hard as you want for the end,” Ziesmer said.

According to Ziesmer, the race started in 2009 due to a partnership between Southern and Rock Creek, an outdoor gear store. The race initially had 200 to 250 runners, Ziesmer estimated, but numbers

started to dwindle after a few years.

Rock Creek stopped sponsoring the race in 2015, and Southern continued to hold the race but stopped advertising it to the public, which led to mostly Southern students and faculty running the race, according to Ziesmer. Rock Creek returned as a sponsor this year.

Ziesmer wanted to bring the race

‘Protective of their cubs’: SA proposes a bear mascot for Southern

Amanda Blake Managing Editor

Southern Adventist University’s Student Association (SA) is developing a mascot for the university, one of the main goals of Kenneth Bautista, senior management major, as SA president. Currently, the team is having a logo and costume professionally created for a bear mascot to be introduced this semester.

According to Bautista, Student Senate and the President’s Cabinet have already given the bear mascot their approval. Thus far, SA has spent $1,600 on a logo design, Bautista said, and the entire mascot budget will come out of SA’s contingency, which is unspent money from previous years.

Though images of the proposed logo and costume were presented at a Faculty Senate meeting on Monday, Bautista declined a request to release any images to the Accent as he wishes to reveal the images according to SA’s timeline.

Bautista along with Wilson Hannawi, junior biology major, and Anna Mihaescu, junior accounting major — all three members of the Senate Mascot Committee — first presented the idea to Faculty Senate on Dec. 12 and returned on Monday to update senators about the project, now headed to the university’s Board of Trustees Feb. 26 meeting.

From there, according to Southern Adventist University President Ken Shaw, the proposed mascot will be presented at a town hall meeting to get input from “everyone on campus.” “And depending on the spirit

in the room, as we talk about the bear,” the university president said, “ if [those in the audience] seem to be supportive, I think at that point, we can probably embrace it moving forward.”

According to the Dec. 12 Faculty Senate minutes, Bautista and Mihaescu presented the following as places where the mascot could appear: intramurals, championship games, half-time show for the Rees Series basketball championship, ViewSouthern, SA and Student Senate events, dorm events and more.

At Monday’s meeting, Bautista said the committee is not trying to replace the university’s current columns logo, but sees the proposed logo as something that can be placed on the gym floor or seen on the promenade.

However, despite receiving positive feedback and support from Faculty Senate, Robert Benge, dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, asked senators to delay a vote on the proposed mascot so he and his employees could submit written feedback.

Benge said faculty and staff at the school, which organizes the university’s annual Duck Walk and other duck-related activities, received their first official briefing about the proposed mascot on Friday when Senior Vice President of Academic Administration Bob Young made a presentation to his faculty.

“After Dr. Young’s presentation, I asked my faculty to reflect over the weekend and give me some feedback so that we can prepare a document that we could send to Dr. Young,” Benge told senators. “But

in [Young’s] presentation, which was a PowerPoint presentation, and [from] what I've heard today, there seems to be a pretty big expectation of the School of Health and Kinesiology allowing the mascot to be portrayed in our facility. So that I’m clear as to how my faculty feel about it, I want to get something in writing from them.”

Following the meeting, Faculty Senate Chair Rachel Williams-Smith, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, told the Accent that Faculty Senate had no plans to vote on the proposed mascot before it goes to the Board of Trustees.

Why a bear?

The Senate Mascot Committee, in an interview with the Southern Accent, said they consulted with about 300 students before landing on the bear mascot. The process began in October when the three student leaders began surveying students on the promenade.

Approximately 50 students, randomly selected at the location and willing to speak to the Senate Mascot Committee, spoke with the group in October about introducing a mascot. The students were asked questions such as: “Does Southern have a mascot, and if so, what is it?”, “What mascot represents you as an individual?” and “What mascot should Southern have?”

The general consensus the committee received, according to the three student leaders, was that students wanted Southern to have a mascot, and the top three ideas were: a duck — known by many

as Southern’s unofficial mascot — a stag and a bear. Bautista, Hannawi and Mihaescu discussed the options among themselves and then presented them to Student Senate, which consists of about 25 student members in various academic departments, according to Mihaescu. Hannawi and Mihaescu are student senators as well.

The body voted on the three options. The duck got 9 votes (36%), the stag 5 (20%) and the bear 11 (44%), as reported in Nov. 2 Senate minutes. Next, Bautista, Hannawi and Mihaescu each conducted a focus group of between five and 10 individuals. Bautista met with the Stu-

dent Development Committee, chaired by Dennis Negrón, vice president of Student Development; Hannawi met with Talge Hall residents and Mihaescu met with members of her LifeGroup and friends from the gym. They presented the groups with the three mascot ideas and, according to Bautista, dove into the question: “What’s the worst that can happen if we were to implement any of these ideas?”

The groups thought of negative connotations that could accompany the duck, such as “sitting duck,” “lame duck” and “the ugly

have a dream': Remembering Prathia Hall and her impact

TRAIL RACE

continued from page 1

back to the community to show that Southern had running trails that people could take advantage of. He said some in the Chattanooga running community assume Southern only has mountain bike trails.

“So, hopefully, by bringing people from the community into the space and bringing students into this race there will be some cross traffic there,” Ziesmer said. “Conversely, this also provides an opportunity for Southern to witness the broader Chattanooga area that may not be familiar with Southern or our mission.”

Ziesmer spoke with Robert

Benge, dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, and Mike Harris, adventure programming director, about bringing sponsors back to the race.

Alan Outlaw, owner of Fast Break Athletics, which is helping sponsor the race, gave Ziesmer advice on finding sponsors and helped him get in contact with different companies.

Sponsors for the race include Fast Break Athletics; High Point Climbing and Fitness; McKee Foods; the presenting sponsor, Rock Creek; and Focus Treatment Centers. Grey Satterfield, High Point’s marketing manager, wrote in an email to the Accent that the company is sponsoring the race because it wants to give back to the community and the trails that

the owners love. Satterfield stated that John O’Brien and John Wygul, the co-founders of High Point, both had personal connections to Southern. O’Brien was a student at Southern, and Wygul went to elementary school on the campus.

was very important, and getting Alan Outlaw on board was very important,” Ziesmer said. “ … [Outlaw] is always willing to mentor people, especially people he sees that are teachable, in developing their running-related projects.”

back and do it with them the next year.”

MASCOT

continued from page 1

duckling.” Bautista added that various meanings of the word “stag” were also discussed. According to Merriam-Webster, “stag” can mean: “a social gathering of men only” and “restricted to men.”

Students felt the duck and stag did not accurately represent the university, according to Bautista.

Bautista said he then took the results to Advancement and the President’s Cabinet. On Dec. 12, he and Mihaescu met with Faculty Senate, composed of about 30 fulltime faculty members from various departments. They presented their survey methods to the body and why they believe a bear represents Southern. Reasons listed in the Faculty Senate minutes are: “Like God, bears are protective of their cubs, stern yet respected, loving, thoughtful, and strong.”

The two students also showed images to the senate that represented the bear mascot concept they were pitching, said Williams-Smith in an interview with the Accent. The senators gravitated toward one image, but they still agreed that Southern’s bear mascot needed to appear friendlier than what was presented, she added.

“This bear needs to be smiling. It needs to be a friendly bear,” she said.

Bautista and Mihaescu left understanding that Faculty Senate liked the idea of the bear mascot but also believed the concept needed more work.

Williams-Smith confirmed this sentiment, stating that Faculty Senate supports SA’s continued development of the bear mascot’s logo and costume, but requested additional research and feedback from a broader segment of cam-

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pus, including the School of Health and Kinesiology, Advancement and Alumni Relations, to ensure there was campus-wide support.

Mihaescu said she spoke to Darin Bissel, facilities manager, and Troy Walker, associate professor; who work in the School of Health and Kinesiology. Both reacted positively to the bear mascot idea and discussed it with their coworkers, she said. However, when Benge and Judy Sloane, professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology, heard of the idea, they felt the process of creating a new mascot was not being properly communicated to them. However, Mihaescu said the Senate Mascot Committee never intended to hide anything.

As a follow-up to last semester’s survey, the Senate Mascot Committee conducted an online survey of 208 students this semester to gauge reactions to the bear and various logo ideas, according to Mihaescu. The general consensus was positive and supportive, Mihaescu said.

The committee also met with Isacc James and Ingrid Skantz, director and vice president of Marketing and University Relations, respectively, according to Bautista. The two granted the committee creative liberty of the mascot project, Bautista added.

According to Cheryl Torres, director of Advancement, Alumni Relations, a branch of her department, has been engaged in the mascot process to a limited degree, as the creation of a university mascot is for and by stu-

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“

… High point has long been a part of the broader Chattanooga outdoor space,” Satterfield wrote. “We love sponsoring events that bring together like-minded people with a passion for the outdoors.”

According to Ziesmer, Southern’s support has been key in planning the race this year, and access to Southern’s resources has made things easier. Outlaw, who Ziesmer used to work for, has provided useful guidance in the process.

“Getting Advancement on board

Ziesmer wants to get 200 runners in the race this year and believes the event will continue to grow and build momentum in coming years.

“My hope is that no matter who shows up, we will still be able to put on a quality race for them,” he said. “They'll be able to enjoy themselves, have fun, connect with other fellow runners, run a good race and then want to spread the word and get their other friends to come

According to Ziesmer, the race lost money last year, but this year, it should be profitable for Southern's Adventure Program Affinity Fund. Most of the cost of the race came from shirts and hiring Terra Running Company for race timing and prizes. The School of Health and Kinesiology funded the purchase of finisher medals.

Looking to the future, Ziesmer hopes to raise attendance and continue to improve the quality of the race.

“I want to make sure to learn from what went well [and] what didn’t go well so we can improve that next year,” Ziesmer said.

dents but will affect current and future alumni.

Torres wrote in an email to the Accent that SA leadership presented the mascot concept to the Alumni Council, which represents Southern’s Alumni Association. The council members asked questions and gave feedback, which will enable them to introduce the mascot to alumni when the time comes, Torres wrote. Alumni Relations also informed SA leadership on Southern’s history, hoping to provide inspiration for the name of the mascot.

“Our perspective in Alumni Relations is that a mascot can be a fun and meaningful way to enhance school spirit,” Torres wrote, “which benefits both students and alumni, by increasing our sense of shared community. This nostalgia and the stronger connection to their alma mater adds value for our alumni by increasing their opportunities to deepen connections with each other and may inspire them to give in more ways to help current students, through mentoring, professional development opportunities, networking, donations, etc.”

The Senate Mascot Committee also spoke with alumni, as well as students and SVAD professors, about designing the mascot logo. The professors were too busy, the majority of students were uninterested and the alumni did not send in designs that the committee felt properly reflected their idea, the committee said. So, they contacted professionals to help with the logo and costume.

“We are working with Olympus Mascots, a company that made mascots for many D1 universities as well as professional businesses,” Bautista wrote in an email to the Accent.

Addressing rumors

Williams-Smith addressed

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rumors surrounding the mascot, including that it has already been approved and officially implemented.

“I have not found truth to those rumors,” she said. “I've investigated. I've asked. I've talked with the president. I've talked with Kenneth. I've talked with Dennis Negrón. … I've talked with the three people who could represent administration and SA, and what I'm understanding has happened since then is that because there was a limited amount of time to have a visual prototype of the mascot created during the school year and under the purview of Kenneth Bautista … they had to move forward with ordering the markup. But the purpose of that is not to say, ‘This is going to be Southern’s mascot’ but rather to give people something to see to react to.”

change just scares people,” Williams-Smith said. “ … And that’s understandable, but change is a part of life. So, the most important thing is to figure out how to do the change in a way that doesn’t, you know, smother people, bamboozle them or wipe out their voice and yet isn’t stalled by the fact that maybe there’s always going to be some people who are not going to be excited about any change.”

Stephen Bauer, professor in the School of Religion, initially had concerns with the mascot when he read that the topic was on Faculty Senate’s agenda. However, after reading the minutes, his worries were alleviated.

“I was concerned this might be a shift away from our primary spiritual mission towards SAU seeking to morph towards competitive sports with other schools,” Bauer wrote in an email to the Accent. “Religious universities doing that seem to lose their biblical grounding to become known for their sports programs, not for their service to Christ and support of Scripture.”

Williams-Smith said she finds this approach to be an effective and valid next step in the development process, as she doesn’t believe campus will be able to make a proper decision regarding the mascot without seeing a visual representation.

Although Williams-Smith has heard some negative reactions to the mascot, the general response from faculty has been positive. She believes that when individuals who disapprove now see the prototype of the bear, the idea of adopting a mascot won’t continue to be a major issue for them.

“For some reason, the idea of

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“The intent in the minutes seems more related to internal use for promoting school spirit and camaraderie,” he added. “And, provided it remains in that context, would not seem to be a stepping stone to a sportsplex mentality that has potential to divert us from our reason for existing as a university.”

Bautista confirmed that the mascot is not intended to represent a university sports team but to create a sense of community and become something with which each student can identify. He emphasized in his interview with the Accent that the mascot is meant to be a positive change.

“We’re not trying to go behind anyone’s back,” Bautista said. “ … It’s hard because there’s no rulebook.”

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"Our perspective in Alumni Relations is that a mascot can be a fun a meaningful way to enhance school spirit."

"We are working with Olympus Mascots, a company that made mascots for many D1 universities as well as professional businesses."

As a follow-up to last semester’s survey, the Senate Mascot Committee conducted an online survey of 208 students this semester to gauge reactions to the bear and various logo ideas. Note: This is a stock image and does not represent the official mascot. (Photo sourced from Vecteezy)

Massage and aesthetic services offered at Hulsey

April Espinoza Staff Writer

Hulsey Wellness Center is now offering therapeutic massage and aesthetics services from Poplar Creek Spa. According to Southern Adventist University’s web page, licensed staff members from the spa are at the center to assist members and non-members.

In an interview with the Accent, Darin Bissell, the facilities manager of Hulsey, said the center previously offered massage services; but when COVID-19 hit, the services shut down. Now that massages have returned, Bissel believes many people will take advantage of the opportunity.

“A lot of people get benefits from a massage, relaxing muscle fatigue, stuff like that,” Bissell said. “I think it’s a great service to provide here for the

students, staff and even the community.”

Massage therapy is not the only service offered by Poplar Creek Spa. It also offers lash, brow and other types of waxing. According to Emily Simmons, the spa owner, students receive a 10 percent discount with a valid current Southern ID. Customers can get a 30-minute massage for $49.00, while Southern students would only have to pay $44.10.

This is Poplar Creek Spa’s first year offering its services at Hulsey.

“Darin Bissell reached out to me and asked if I wanted to submit a proposal to rent the rooms here,” Simmons said. “And looking at how it would help Poplar Creek Spa reach our goal of serving more of the community, more of the clientele, it made sense to do that.”

Simmons graduated from Southern in 2003 with a degree in wellness.

“It is pretty nostalgic to be able to come back,” she said.

For more information about services, visit https://www.southern. edu/administration/wellness/features/massage.html.

Brain Awareness Event: Opticus Realm planned for campus

Lindsay Beckwith Staff Writer

From March 23 to April 14, Southern Adventist University students will be able to experience others’ disabilities, feel different emotions with changing colors and study a group of hanging spheres only to see two-dimensional images appear.

Students will experince such brain stimulation by participating in an on-campus event called “Brain Awareness - Opticus Realm: Where Things Are Not What They Seem.” The grand opening night is set to take place on March 23 at 6:30 p.m and will include light refreshments according to Sean Walters, assistant professor in the Physics and Engineering Department.

Held in the John C. Williams Gallery in Brock Hall, the event will feature displays and stations where individuals can interact with visual images and illusions. The intention of these displays is to bring out and highlight the different functions of the brain, according to Walters.

The event, meant to accompany Brain Awareness Week, is a product of collaboration between the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), the Physics and Engineer-

ing Department and Student Support Services.

“Brain Awareness Week brings awareness to brain and visual disorders like glaucoma, retinal detachment, visual processing and other disturbances,” Walters said.

Southern has participated in Brain Awareness Week for several years, hosting events around the week since 2011.

Brain Awareness Week is a national event, founded by the Dana Foundation. This year, it will

occur from March 13 to 19. It is designed to increase awareness of the progress and benefits of research on the brain, according to Jim Wampler, director of Student Support Services. The Dana Foundation is an orga-

nization dedicated to advancing neuroscience. During the week, clinics, hospitals and universities all over the world participate in the celebration of the brain and the research being conducted on the organ.

“I am always excited about our brain awareness event. … Nothing compares to the jelly-like brain,” Wampler said.

According to Walters and Wampler, Opticus Realm was put together by a class of students and faculty in the winter semester of 2020, and their display was planned to be shown later that year. However, due to COVID-19, the opening was canceled.

Two to three teams of students worked on and planned the design of the exhibit, most of whom are now graduated from Southern. Now, the university plans to show the work of the graduated students and allow all students to enjoy the display during the gallery’s open hours. Faculty remain hopeful that the students who worked on the project will return to see Opticus Realm’s grand opening.

Upcoming Black History Festival in Chattanooga

Elsie Pak Collegedale News Editor

A Black History Festival is scheduled to take place on Feb. 18 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Lake Community Center in Chattanooga.

The event is being organized by Culture Books, a literacy and cultural reading program founded by Erica Denise in November of 2019. The center is located at 3610 Dodds Avenue.

“Culture Books is a safe space where community, creativity, connection and confidence thrives,” Denise said about the program’s mission. “We want to be a cultural hub for connecting lives and literacy, as well as being here for anyone anywhere that wants to diversify their libraries, both around the world and at home.”

The Black History Festival is the first of its kind in Chattanooga, and is presented as a joint endeavor alongside the Rhyme N Chatt Interactive Poetry Organization, according to Denise. The festival is the second event run by Culture Books, the first being a Multicultural Festival last July.

“The inspiration for the festival came from a need to showcase

the amazing representation of Black people who are doing amazing things here in Chattanooga,” Denise said. “We wanted to showcase everything Black and brown [for] all ages. From local Black authors, Black entrepreneurs, Black dancers to African princesses… we are showing our city that excellence is here. Our kiddos need to see themselves in the city in which they live. Representation is important, and we are the stewards of fostering community, connection, creativity and confidence here at Culture Books.”

According to Denise, there are about 25 different vendors involved in the event and over 250 people signed up to attend. Some of those include The PopUp Project that will be performing with their youth, Project Motion from the Center for Creative Arts Dance Department (CCA), Barger Academy of Fine Arts, a live wax museum of iconic African princesses and dance, a ballet troupe from the Tennessee Dance Theatre, poetry, art and more. Denise said Culture Books will be giving away books and subscription boxes to attending families.

“Every book purchased will be from authors local to Chattanooga,” said Denise. “Overall we have some spectacular vendors and authors

that will be present for the event.”

Denise attributes the possibility of the event to the support of the community and their sponsors.

“It is thanks to sponsors like EPB, Sankofa Chattanooga, Festival of Black Arts and Ideas, Paragon Printing, the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Equity and Community Engagement and volunteers that we can bring events like this to our community,” she said.

Denise encourages people who would like to get involved or help in any way, to connect with Culture Books and volunteer at events or sponsor books, families or the event themselves. Those wanting to get involved with the upcoming Black History Festival can sign up to volunteer at: https://forms. gle/8Z9EJrK8hXXWv9ff8 or on the book store’s website https://www. culturebookscha.org/.

“I think everything is going to be a hit at the Black History Festival,” Denise said. “We have a little something for everyone to enjoy, and we at Culture Books are excited to share it with you!”

More information about Culture Books and all upcoming events, collaborations and program can be found on the website, its Facebook page @culturebookscha or the Instagram page @culture_books_literacy.

Black History Festival poster (Photo courtesy of source)

Polar Creek Spa's sign in Hulsey Gym. Monday, February 13, 2023

(Photo by: Adam De Lisser)

Attendees pose at the 2017 Brain Awareness Event.

(Photo coutesy of source)

“It is nostalgicpretty to be able to come back.”

2023-2024 Student Association Election Candidate Platforms

Hey guys! My name is Jared Chandler and I’m running to be your next SA president!! Here are some of the exciting ideas I have for next year!!

Ways to Increase Mental Health:

Mental Health Day: Finals can be stressful. To ensure that our students are mentally prepared to face finals week, I would like to create a mental health day the Friday before finals.

TEDx Talk: I’m going to organize a TEDx talk on a topic you choose.

Ways to Increase Physical Safety:

Title IX Convocation: During this convocation, we are going to have a panel of Title IX administrators available to answer any of your questions. This is going to ensure that everyone on campus has the proper information regarding title IX.

Emergency Towers: I want to add emergency towers on the way to Southern Village. This would ensure that any student walking back to their apartment will feel safe and stay safe.

Ways to Increase the Spiritual Health:

SA Sabbath AM Chats: I want to create a brand-new event called SA Sabbath AM Chats. This is an event occurring on Sabbath mornings, when SA provides breakfast for students before going to church while creating discussions about Sabbath School topics.

Ways to Increase Social Events:

Basketball Charity Game: I want to create a charity basketball game between our A league basketball players and Oakwood.

SA Culture Club Night: I want to create an SA culture celebration where SA unites the four culture clubs together for an event that celebrates our campuses diversity while developing our unity.

Club Officer Scholarship: Clubs are a vital part of our experience. I would like to create a scholarship fund to encourage capable leaders to take up officer positions to ensure our clubs run smoothly and create amazing events.

Community: Stronger Together

As your SA President, I vow to further develop the community on Southern’s campus that allows us to grow mentally, spiritually and socially so that everyone feels a part of our home.

In being a part of the SA Executive Branch this school year as the assistant finance director, I will use my experience and training to enhance our SAU community in the following ways:

Mentally:

Mental health is going to be one of my biggest priorities as your SA president. Firstly, I will partner with LifeGroups and the School of Education and Psychology graduate students to provide support groups for students on campus. Secondly, I will partner with Hulsey and offer free massages throughout the semester. Lastly, I will be working with administration and implement mental health emphasis days on campus.

Spiritually:

I will be collaborating with OMM in creating a spiri-

tual retreat once a semester for students to experience off-campus spiritual rejuvenation. This retreat will be open to anyone on campus who would like to participate as we grow our community closer and centered on Christ.

Socially:

One of the first initiatives as president will be forming a meeting with the heads of our cultural clubs and establishing communication and coordinating events and representation. In addition to our scheduled culture nights, I will host an additional cultural night where each cultural club is represented by our SAU community. In creating this event, my goal is to create a community amongst our clubs on campus as well as celebrating Southern’s unique culture- to celebrate us.

We will become a community that is indeed stronger together.

-Zach Kirstein SA President Candidate www.zacherykirstein.com

During these past few years, we have felt a sense of disconnect with our fellow peers. From COVID-19 lockdown to social distancing, we have seen the effects that this event had on everyone’s lives, especially the social aspect. Unintentionally, we have become accustomed to this idea of distance, which has slowly turned into a feeling of distrust and indifference towards each other. Why does this matter? I truly believe that SA has the responsibility in breaking this barrier between all of us in order to create a close-knit community. My motto for this year as Executive VP is “Focused (on) Trusting. Engaging. Action.” All these points will play an important role in bringing the student body together and creating that home away from home that every student desires to have.

I have had an opportunity to work in leadership positions all the way from high school and into college. I was also able to work with LAC as the Community Service Director. I was also privileged to be a student missionary last year where I was able to experience new things and gain valuable lessons that will translate into my role on

I have spent the last two years serving as a senator on our Student Association Senate. My time there has given me much insight and experience on what it takes to not only run the SA senate, but to also address the needs of the students. One need that has always stood out to me in my time in SAU is the safety of our students, especially in matters of sexual assault and harrasment. Students do not trust the Title IX committee and are often hesitant to speak up and defend themselves.

If elected executive vice president, my main goal will be to work alongside the administration to help better protect our students. I want to help bridge the gap between the students and administration and help students gain the trust of the administration, knowing that they will be protected. It’s not easy to speak up and acknowledge that

SA. I have always loved being part of a team that makes impactful changes and leading senate would be another opportunity to do that. I truly believe in our calling as Christians to serve others, and this position would allow me to serve my fellow peers. As humans we can plan various projects and plan for the future, but if we do not include God then it will all be in vain. I truly believe when Colossians 3:23, 24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” At the end of the day, I am here to serve this community and God and to create an environment that everyone enjoys to be in.

I am super excited for this next school year, and if we focus on trusting each other, engaging in conversation, and putting plans into action. I know without a doubt that we will have a great year!

My name is Dain Ochoa, and I am your candidate for Executive VP.

there are problems on our campus. However, this is the first step to helping improve our campus.

It takes a lot of courage to speak up and call out what is wrong, and that is one of the platforms I will work on this next school year. I plan to uplift and exemplify the principles of courage, integrity and determination. Courage to speak up for what is right, even if it’s the hard thing to do. Integrity to be accountable to not only ourselves, but also to God and those around us. Lastly determination, the refusal to give up, and seek out in accomplishing the goals we set before us. I promise that if elected vice president, I will serve you on these principles, and always put the needs of the students first.

David Lazcano, Candiate for Executive VP.

Hey hey! I'm Lauren. I'm a junior in Business-PR and a lover of people. I've really enjoyed serving the past two years as an SA Senator, and I'd love to serve you this next year as the Social VP of the Student Association. I'm excited to share my ideas and help lead our campus to have a fun and fulfilling next year.

My plans for some of our 2023-24 events include:

• Country Theme Welcome Back Party

• Movie Night Pickleball Tournament

Gingerbread House Contest for Christmas Decades Banquet

My motto as Social VP: Connect. Thrive. Grow. Together Because together, we are Southern.

My vision: To create a welcoming atmosphere on campus, reach each student, and celebrate one another more.

Jared Chandler

Zachery Kirstein

Dain Ochoa

David Lazcano

Lauren Fenwick

SA President

SA President

Executive VP

Executive VP

Social VP

Breaking the stigma: Psi Chi offers suicide prevention training

Katie Knight

Contributor

Editor’s note: The following article is written in partnership with Counseling Services and the Southern Accent.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts in 2020, and this number has been rising through the years. Additionally, in 2020 an estimated 45,979 Americans died by suicide.

With suicide being the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults ages 10 to 34, Southern Adventist University’s campus should not ignore these statistics. According to the CDC, an estimated 25.5% of adults ages 18 to 24 reported to have seriously considered suicide within a single month in 2020.

Given these statistics, it is imperative that suicide awareness and prevention efforts be made with all populations, but especially among college students. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is doing just this, as they are a statewide organization that works tirelessly to provide education and events with the goal of exposing as many individuals as possible to the facts and numbers of suicide and to debunk the myths associated with suicide.

They offer free training specialized for businesses, schools and organizations alike to detect warnings and risk factors of suicide. One such training is their “Question, Persuade, and Refer” (QPR) training which provides innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention train-

ing. Through education, they believe that people can have a positive impact on the life of someone they know and reduce the risk of suicide.

benefit from and utilize this valuable information to create a safer and more supportive environment on campus. We believe that it’s time to break the stigma associated with suicide and remove the shame that has been placed around the topic.

Suicide is a complex topic, but it is not something to shy away from. It needs to be addressed to provide support and resources for those who need it.

Southern’s chapter of Psi Chi believes that with mental health concerns on the rise and the loaded stresses of everyday life, suicide prevention training is of the utmost importance. Students, staff and faculty can all

Given the statistics above, you likely know someone who has considered suicide or know someone who has made an attempt. If you find yourself in a situation where a peer, student or friend confides in you about suicide, it can be challenging and scary to know how to navigate that situation.

Therefore, Psi Chi will be hosting the Tennessee Suicide Pre-

vention Network to provide students, staff and faculty with their QPR training. This training is designed to raise awareness of suicide; understand prevention, intervention and postvention; and learn suicide risk assessments. These trainings are built on the premise that everyone needs suicide prevention training. Resources will be provided through TSPN with handouts and more information on how to get a suicide prevention certification.

This event will occur on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. in The Grid in the Bietz Center for Student Life. Training will take up to 90 minutes, and convocation credit will be provided for students who attend. To all those who are interested and available, please come and support this event!

chapter of Psi Chi believes that with mental health concerns on the rise and the loaded stresses of everyday life, suicide prevention training is of the utmost importance.”

Chiefs win Super Bowl to close out NFL 2022 season

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

The NFL 2022 season has finally come to a close. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl 57. The Super Bowl wrapped up the NFL season, which saw much excitement and many downfalls for fans.

The Chiefs won their second Lombardi Trophy in four years after previously defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. Patrick Mahomes, who won the season’s league MVP, would also be voted the Super Bowl MVP as accomplishing something that hasn’t been done since Kurt War-

ner accomplished the feat in 1999. Mahomes would throw for 182 yards and 3 TDS with a QB rating of 131.8. Other offensive players would step up for the Chiefs. In the first half, it looked like Mahomes was missing Tyreek Hill, his former right hand man who was traded to the Miami Dolphins before the start of this season. Instead, Mahomes would lean on his All Pro Tight End, Travis Kelce. Kelce would have 6 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. Another help to Mahomes would be rookie run-

ning back out of Rutgers, Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco would have 15 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense would step it up in the second half after allowing 24 points in the first half. They would only allow the Eagles to score 11 points in the second half. One of the star players on defense would be Linebacker Nick Botlon (who I thought deserved to be Super Bowl MVP).

The Chiefs would have to lean on their defense because the Eagles would win the time of pos-

session battle, having 35 minutes on offense compared to the Chiefs having the ball for 24 minutes. The Eagles offense did not make it easy for the Chiefs’ defense either.

Jalen Hurts, the third year QB, played phenomenally. He threw for 304 yards and had one touchdown pass. However, Hurts would hurt the Chiefs with his legs. Hurts broke the Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a QB, as well as tying a record with Terrel Davis for most rushing TDs in the Super Bowl with 3. With the season closing, this

offseason for the NFL will be an interesting story. Some of the major headlines already include Tom Brady officially retiring, even though he did the same thing last year. In addition, Aaron Rodgers, the longtime quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, might not return to the team.

It might be hard to top this year’s crazy offseason, but in the sports world anything is possible. September can’t come soon enough for football fans.

(Next year’s Super Bowl champion will be the Miami Dolphins. I promise all you readers of that.)

“Southern’s

(Photo by: Christina Morillo)

“The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philidelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl 57.”

(Photo sourced from: RawPixel)

We believe that it’s time to break the stigma associated with suicide and remove the shame that has been placed around the topic.

OPINION

Giants of the faith and ordinary saints: Choosing our role models

Christina Cannon Opinion Editor

We have Sts. Martin, (both Luther and Luther King Jr.), St. Desmond T. Doss and, perhaps, St. Clive (C. S. Lewis), if you don’t look too closely at his thoughts on evolutionary creation, flawed scripture, purgatory or magic. We have people we look up to and back to and remember through sermon quotations and retellings of stories about their lives. But we don’t have enough of them. And we need more.

Saints within Catholicism are just a way to engage in idol worship, offer prayers to people we really know are rotting in their graves — any good protestant knows the 1,500 years of Christianity after, say, (St.) Constantine in 300 or so, were hopelessly misled in many ways, including their revering of saints. Right? We’ve evolved, improved even though we’re increasingly farther from the time when Jesus walked on earth. We’re smarter now - smart enough to stand on our own, to have moved beyond our brothers and sisters in Christ who came before us and spent their lives serving the poor and infirm and widowed in the literal, grimy, sticky way that Jesus told them to.

By-and-large, historical Christian saints were nonconformist oddballs. St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most influential Christians in medieval European Christianity because of his radical service to others, was known for going barefoot, and he often looked so disheveled that he was considered to be what is now known in Italy as Pazzo, or a “madman.” St. Basil, also known for walking naked through the streets of Moscow, had a habit of throwing rocks at

the houses of rich aristocracy. In Adventism, Ellen G. White, the teenage prophetess, was given Popeye-like spinach-strength in order to hold up an old, nearly 20 lb. Bible while she quoted reams of it without looking at the pages. Though not considered a “saint,” in the Catholic sense of the word, she sits on a pedestal as a denominational icon.

The class of deceased radicals that some call “saints” is indeed unusual. They served widows and orphans and lepers and prostitutes when they weren’t overturning baskets of bread and sitting on columns for decades at a time. At medieval orthodox and western Christian feast days set aside to honor saints, the stories of their lives would be read aloud in the dining halls of monasteries — and this would likely be wildly amusing.

There are two ways to use the mystical-sounding word, saint. One describes a select called few who are identified and venerated by others and the recipients of petitionary prayers in some Christian traditions. Protestant theology holds all true followers of Christ to be saints (“follower” is distinct from “believer” — ‘even the demons believe’). Adventist eschatology clearly supports the later variation, the sainthood of all believers (followers). This is very generous and inclusive, democratic in a literal sense. I support this, and I also acknowledge that we cannot remember every Christian who ever lived, only some.

a personal connection to who lived radically Christ-centered lives. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” said St. Paul, to this effect. (1 Cor 11:1 ESV). Ironically, when we lionize people, we often tame them. We trim the claws that ripped into their opposers, brush the mane of wild ideas and actions into balanced symmetry, train the echoes of their thoughts into pithy epigraphs and inspirational thoughts instead of desperate cries. But to love

our neighbors from the past, we must not bear false witness — we must tell the truth about them, speaking the good, the bad and the bizarre. If we don’t choose the people we listen to, they will be chosen for us; intentionality in choosing our role models is overtly biblical. We need to learn about people who have shared our struggles or our goals, whose resilience after a fall from grace or striving to live like Christ speaks to our personal

conditions. They can be passed family members or first responders or poets — position does not matter unless we can identify with their identities or find inspiration in their divergent backgrounds. How do we remember them? In many of the same ways people have for centuries. Listening to stories about their lives from others who were there. Reading their words. Emulating their acts: serving and sacrificing as they did, as Jesus did.

Yet, I am still pressed to think that we’re missing out on a lot by not making an effort to remember and emulate more of the glaring floodlights in the darkness, even people we have “If we don’t choose the

RELIGION

have a dream’: Remembering Prathia Hall and her impact

Christina Cannon Opinion Editor

“He took on the wilderness.”

Her voice trembles, filled with a passion strong enough it could sound like rage.

“And the cliff.” The woman with short dark hair and an ecclesiastical white blouse stands behind a large, broad-shouldered pulpit.

“Every briar. Every thorn. Every thistle.”

The congregation responds after each phrase with a loud murmur alongside a powerful, dissonant chord on the organ.

“Every rock; every quagmire; every dozen; every deadly deed; dope; disease; disappointment.”

She is chiseling a picture of the unjust suffering of Jesus for a congregation that is suffering unjustly in some of the specific ways that He did. Her voice quavers as it rises and falls and thunders over the cement walls of the sanctuary, remembering.

Prathia Hall was a preacher, theologian, civil rights activist and ethicist in the second half of the 20th century. She received her doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary and was one of the first women ordained in the U.S. as a Baptist minister.

In 1962, Mount Olive Baptist Church, in Chickasawatchee, Georgia, was burned by the Ku Klux Klan. The next day, a prayer vigil was held in the footprint of the decimated church. The attendees included Martin Luther King, Jr., and Hall, along with many other prominent Black ministers. In her public prayers there, Hall repeatedly used the phrase, “I have a dream!” Dr. King was so moved that he began using

this phrase in his sermons and later asked her permission to use it in his famous speech in Washington.

In her sermon closing quoted above, Hall recalls the suffering of Jesus. She reminds us to remember the powerful and dark narrative of His temptation, His inquisition and the crown of thorns being forced into the flesh of His head after His tormentors tore the clothes from His body and then the skin from His back. We remember His suffering – and we also remember and live out His triumph. Through Him, death was “rendered idle,” “terminated,” “deprived of strength.”

Telling the history of how our respected groups of people or ancestors lived and endured in the past is important to group identity. Remembering how Christians have been persecuted (as well as have persecuted others), how Africans were enslaved and mistreated and forced to work in the region around Southern Adventist University and how that depreciation of humanity survived in different forms, how other religious, ethnic, gender and racial groups have suffered throughout the history of our country serves to help us understand our present. We must not forget the tragic events that shaped the people and communities we belong to or the suffering of Jesus. And we must also remember the places where hope came to fruition and victory was realized. Prathia Hall reminds us not only to cultivate and bring to pass the dreams we have in the future but to remember where we’ve been.

“‘Memory produces hope in the same way that amnesia produces despair,’ the theologian Walter Brueggeman noted. It’s an extraordinary statement, one that reminds us that though hope is about the future, grounds for hope lie in the records and recollections of the past.

We can tell of a past that was nothing but defeats and cruelties and injustices, or of a past that was some lovely golden age now irretrievably lost, or we can tell a more complicated and accurate story, one that has room for the best and worst, for atrocities and liberations, for grief and jubilation. A memory

commensurate to the complexity of the past and the whole cast of participants, a memory that includes our power, produces that forward-directed energy called hope.”

- Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities

people we listen to, they will be chosen for us

(Photo by: Aaron Burden)

‘I

“Telling the history of how our respected groups of of people or ancestors lived and endured in the past is important to group identity.”

(Photo sourced from: UnSplash)

How to get through the inevitable low moments in life

Elise Deschamps Lifestlye Editor

I’ve been on a sort of high the past several months. For the first time in a while, everything seemed to be going my way. In my last year of college, I finally found my people. I finally established a routine that balanced work, school and life. I got eight hours of sleep most nights, woke up early to go to the gym and even managed to stay ahead of all of my school work and extracurriculars. My confidence was higher than ever, my relationship with my family was stronger, and I felt like I had finally stepped into who I was meant to be.

There was even one night where I laid in bed and began to cry because I was so proud of myself while reflecting on how far I had come. Since freshman year, I had struggled to find new friends who I felt fully myself around. I suffered from depression and

anxiety that was debilitating and kept me from “making the most” of my college experience. So when I laid in bed crying from how happy I was, it felt surreal.

Honestly, I felt untouchable.

I felt like I finally had perfected the recipe to living a happy, successful and fulfilling life. I knew what I had to do, and I felt capable of doing it. Logically, I knew I would face hardships again, but at the time I felt that I could really get through anything that came my way. I went to therapy to “check in” and address the little annoyances of life, but it felt as though there was nothing that could push me back into that dark place I had worked so hard to get myself out of. The funny thing about life is that it will always surprise you. And right now, I’m not talking

about good surprises, although, of course, those exist too. Because this weekend, I had a conversation that completely threw me for a loop. I felt like all the hard work I had done to get to this peaceful place in my life came crashing down around me. I cried out of sadness and stress for the first time in months. I felt completely incapable of getting any work done, fueling the anxiety of letting down the people who are relying on me or who I want to make proud. All I wanted to do was lay in bed, order my favorite food and binge watch a series on Netflix… And that is exactly what I did. Here’s the thing: although I was feeling hurt, unmotivated and depressed, I knew the best thing I could do was to let myself feel those emotions instead of forcing productivity. They don’t tell you this, but

productivity sometimes looks like indulging in the rest that your mind and body is desperately craving. The best thing I could do to re-establish a sense of peace was to healthily comfort myself. So over a bowl of mac and cheese, I cried on facetime with my best friend while Netflix played on my laptop in the background. And that is exactly what I needed to calm down enough to remember that although I felt extremely low at that moment, I had the experience and capability to bring back my peace and motivation.

So when you’re feeling low, here are my tips for getting back to your best self: Honor your rest. Being sad, depressed or anxious is not only emotionally exhausting, but physically exhausting. There is not one instance that I regret choosing to rest over doing an

assignment. And the assignment always gets done and is often much better than it would be if I hadn’t put myself first. Don’t isolate yourself from others. When things get tough, my first instinct is to push everyone away. But we need others. Call your best friend, your mom or anyone who you are comfortable with. Support and love will bring you back to yourself. Do something that you love. Whether that means cooking your favorite meal, going to your favorite coffee shop or putting off an assignment to read a book in the sun, do something that gives you a boost of serotonin. By doing the things that remind you that life is fun and worth living, you will be reminded that joy is more important than stress.

“...Although I felt extremely low at that moment, I had the experience and capability to bring back my peace and motivation.” (Photos

Dear Kevin: How do I get over being embarrassed to do things alone?

Dear Reader:

A good question to ask yourself is this: Am I actually scared of being alone or am I just scared of others perceiving me as being alone? In my experience, I often enjoy my own company and sometimes would rather take a lap around the lake alone than with the flock. But anxiety can sometimes hinder me from spending that quality time with myself if I start to think about others seeing me and wondering if I have no one to swim with. It’s a silly, unfounded fear, but it can get the best of us sometimes. The best solution when this anxiety starts to take flight is to tune everyone else out and focus on your own peace and enjoyment. Don’t forget, it is healthy and necessary to spend time alone.

Dear Kevin: I get so tired in class and can barely keep my eyes open. How would you suggest I stay awake during long lectures?

Dear Sleepy Scholar: We’ve all been there. Except for me, obviously, because I’m a duck. Here are some suggestions to get you through those drowsy days.

Go to bed early. The key here is time management.

Chew gum in class. Just don’t be obnoxious about it.

Sit up straight and take deep breaths. If you are slouched, it can be so easy to close your eyes and doze.

Take a water bottle to class.

The action of drinking water will wake you up a little.

Sit in the front of the class.

The temptation to just close your eyes for a second will be lesser.

sourced from: UnSplash)

Kathy Zelidon Brett Klasing

Suddarth

Today — 15

Friday — 17

Thursday — 16

Weekly Birthdays

TODAY |15

Samuel King

Shalom Muyunda

Nathan Norris

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Emma Spencer

Thursday |16

Clarissa Alberto Rosario

Caleb Bechtel

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Robbie Godfrey

Ethan Hasibuan

Rileigh Juba

Jonathan Klingbeil

Christopher Ryan Loga

Tj Simmons

Zabdi Zavaleta-Zeledon

Friday |17

Wilson Harris

Michael Sunguro

Saturday — 18

Sherri J. Thompson

Sunday — 19

Monday — 20

Saturday |18

David Callender

Aubrey Farrow

Elli Hanson

Johanna Juarez

Eduardo Saldivar

Elista Sumner

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Sunday |19

Nestor Amparo

Cesia Beltran

Sharon Benton

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Dominick W. Cheers

Ellen Galvez Robinson

Andrew Hanson

Jordon Hyde

Jina Kim

Rachel Kowski

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SA Announcements

Monday |20

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Tuesday |21

Cam Clark

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Henrique Pinho

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SA Upcoming International Food Fair: Sign up to be a vendor at the international food fest at the event.

Tickets for SA Banquet are available now for purchase ($25) in the SA office on the 3rd floor of Bietz. The Deadline is February 17 to purchase tickets. Join us for a night of Mystery at the Masquerade.

Do you have a hidden talent that you would like to share? SA

Talent Show auditions will be taking place on February 23. The top three winners will receive big prizes!

If you would like to run a booth for 423 Night, make sure to stay on the lookout for more details later in the semester.

Tuesday — 21

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