Southern Accent, Vol. 78 Issue 18

Southern Accent

Chandler, Ochoa and Fenwick win SA election, voter turnout more

Génesis Ventura Reporter

This year’s Student Association (SA) talent show will be different from previous years. In an interview with the Accent, SA Executive Vice President Htet Myint said tickets will now be open for the public to purchase.

The proceeds will go to to Katelay Adventist Elementary School in Myanmar, formerly called Burma. Htet said SA has collaborated with a mission called Advocates for Southeast Asians and the Persecuted (ASAP).

Alana Crosby Editor-in-Chief

Senior finance major Jared Chandler won the election for Student Association (SA) president for 2023-2024, receiving 62.8% of the 1,152 votes. Zach Kirstein, Chandler’s opponent, received the remaining 428 votes.

Dain Ochoa, junior allied health major, won the election for SA executive vice president. Ochoa received 51.5% of votes, securing his position by 34 votes. Ochoa ran against David Lazcano, who received the remaining 48.5% of votes.

Lauren Fenwick, junior business-public relations major, won the SA election for social vice president. Fenwick ran unopposed and received 93% of the votes.

According to the Southern Accent’s coverage of last year’s election, general election voter turnout was the lowest it had been since 2013, with a total of 563 votes. This year, voter participation more than doubled with 1,152 votes.

In an interview with the Accent, Chandler said he wanted to run for SA president because of the impact he can have on students. Chandler’s plan for next year is modeled after Jesus’ early education in the book of Matthew. He hopes to focus on physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of student life.

“... I want to help Southern become a more spiritual place so that revivals can happen on our campus,” Chandler said. “Not necessarily in a way where we have

just singing for weeks at a time and stuff like that, but true revival when people come to God, to repentance and turning to God. That's something that I really want to do on campus as president, to help be a leadership figure, to help point the students in that direction.”

Chandler's goals include organizing a Tedx Talk, emergency towers on campus and a charity basketball game between Southern Adventist University’s A-league basketball players and Oakwood University.

“I'm really grateful to have this opportunity, and I'm honored to represent the students this coming semester, to be their voice,” Chandler said.

Ochoa said he is looking forward to initiating more interactive

events with SA Senate next year. He plans to open a pancake bar during finals week and hopes to create an environment where students can “chill” and rest.

When asked what inspired him to run for SA, Ochoa said:

“Last year I was an SM [student missionary], right. And when you're a SM, and actually in general, the biggest thing is service. Since I was young, my mom always instilled in me service, like, wherever you go, just serve people. … This isn't just something that's gonna go on my resume. This is something that I can actually use to help the student body with whatever needs they have. I want to serve the student body.

Myint was made aware of the situation by a pastor friend who recently went back to Myanmar and is currently serving there. Myint’s family is from Myanmar — his mother is from Karen State and his father is from Burma — and were refugees from Myanmar.

“This is my way of doing what I can to help those who are in similar situations like my parents were decades ago,” Myint said. “This position as executive vice president has helped me have a platform to help my country.”

Myint explained that all the proceeds from the talent show will go to Katelay Adventist Elementary School. The fundraising funds will pay for teacher salaries, supplies and for a new motorbike, which is

New SonRise ticket distribution targets non-Adventist community members

Alexis Dewey Staff Writer

Each year, free tickets are passed out for SonRise, an Easter event held annually on Southern Adventist University’s campus and organized by the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, according to the church’s website. However, this year, the church is changing the way in which tickets are distributed to reach more non-Adventists than ever before.

SonRise is a reenactment of Jesus’ last days on Earth. Attendees walk through this event with biblical characters like Peter, John and Mary Magdalene.

In the past, church members handed out SonRise tickets to the community early in the morning at Hamilton Place Mall, said Tim Cross, one of the associate pastors and a staff member on the ticketing project. Last year, for the first time,

they gave tickets away online. This year, the church board decided to change the distribution methods again in an effort to impact a more diverse group of community members. However, according to Cross, “students will be able to receive tickets exactly as they have in the past.”

Students can receive tickets from Teri Reutebuch in the Student Development office, which will be able to hand out the same amount of tickets to students as years prior.

However, this year, community tickets will be available to those who fit a certain description.

“We have defined our target for ticket distribution to be primarily people who live within 30 miles of the Collegedale Church, are not Seventh-day Adventists and have never before experienced SonRise,” said Cross.

Cross said this change was proposed to the church’s administrative team and later approved by the ministry team during a staff meeting. He added that it was voted on by the church board, as well.

When asked how the church’s ticket distribution team will determine if someone is an Adventist, where they live and if

they have ever been to SonRise, Cross said the process primarily relies on “the honor system of the ticket target leaders and those they invite.” According to Cross, he interacts with the ticket target leaders and has them each fill out an application. He said he can normally tell a lot from just a quick interaction.

Cross has received applications

from a large number of people to be ticket target leaders. These volunteers are currently helping several people get tickets.

There is another new aspect regarding tickets this year, said Cross. All volunteers ages seven and up, including Southern students, who volunteer for SonRise will be able to collect an additional three tickets while supplies last, due to the limited number of tickets available.

The church’s biggest goal with this change is mission, according to Cross.

“[We want people to] choose to walk with Jesus, and we would love to personally join in their journey,” he explained.

Cross said he believes this new ticket distribution method will result in a high number of attendees who want to make a commitment to follow Christ for the first time.

Southern software developer analyzes usage of Hulsey Wellness Center

April Espinoza

Staff Writer

Hulsey Wellness Center is open to students, faculty and community members. But which of these groups uses the facility the most?

Miguel Rivas, a software developer in the IT department at Southern Adventist University, pulled data from Hulsey’s servers last year and shared his findings with the Accent to see who goes to the gym most often.

According to the data, students went to the gym the most last year, accounting for 60% of Hulsey’s attendance, while community members came in sec-

ond at 17% in attendance. Faculty members made up about 8% of the total attendance.

Hulsey was the busiest Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with an average of 2,610 people going on Tuesdays and 2,580 people on Wednesdays, according to the data.

The data also showed how the times students prefer to go to the gym differ from the times faculty members prefer to go to the gym. Students, on average, went in the afternoons between 5 and 8 p.m. Faculty members, on the other hand, typically went to the gym between 5 and 11 a.m.

Although Hulsey is on campus and free for students, some students still choose to go off campus and pay for a gym membership.

According to Anela Dixon, a sophomore physical therapy major, “The space is too small, and there is not enough equipment for the amount of people who go to the gym regularly. It feels crowded.”

Hulsey’s facility manager Darin Bissell said each year the gym receives a budget specifically for upgrading equipment. This year, Hulsey has had a couple of updates, including

five new bench presses to help alleviate the heavy usage of the power racks which were purchased a few years ago and have been in high demand, according to Bissell.

“We also got two new stair climbers last semester, and we have a hack squat and t-bar row machine ordered that will arrive soon with some more plates and women's needle bars,” he said. “We have also installed two new ice bath tables. And with the ice bath area receiving a lot of use, those have been very nice to have. Each year, we replace two treadmills to help weed out the

ones that have higher mileage or other problems.”

The installation of new equipment has encouraged more people to use the gym. Bissell also noted that COVID-19 caused a decrease in community attendance, but the number has begun to rise in the decline of the pandemic.

“Students have always been the highest users of the facility since it was really built for student use, but we are thankful that it is a community outreach and also provides jobs for students to interact with the community, whether it be swim lessons, personal training or watching kids in child care.”

Jared Chandler, Lauren Fenwick and Dain Ochoa gave their speeches to the crowd at Convocation.

Thursday, February 16, 2023 (Photos by: Adam De Lisser and Lila Odhiambo)

Wilson Kelley portrays the crucifixion of Jesus and screams as the cross is being lowered into the ground. April 16, 2022 (Photo by Xander Ordinola)

SA ELECTIONS

continued from page 1

That's why I decided to run.”

Ochoa’s three main goals for the upcoming school year are

safety, spiritual/mental health and making some improvements at the Hulsey Wellness Center.

In an interview with the Accent, Fenwick said she was drawn to the position of social vice president because she has a passion

for helping people connect. She said she loves event planning and wants to create events where people can make friends.

“I want to say that I'm super excited. Thank you for electing me,” she said, addressing the stu-

dent body in the interview. “Also, I'm very open to any ideas, so anybody can find my email, and just email me if you have something that you want to do. … I would love to hear other people's input.”

Fenwick expressed excitement

about the plans she is forming for SA events next year, one of which is a country-themed party. Fenwick said she wants to expand the theme to bring in elements from the surrounding area and embrace Southern’s location.

Symphony Orchestra set to go on first tour in five years

Beatrice Pang

Contributor

Southern Adventist University’s Symphony Orchestra is set to go on its first long-distance tour since 2018. The 65-member orchestra will be traveling during Spring Break, from March 9 through March 17. The group will be traveling throughout California, performing at various venues in Loma Linda, Mesa Grande, Granite Bay, Lodi and a few other cities, according to Laurie Redmer Cadwallader, conductor of the Symphony Orchestra.

Cadwallader is the organizer of the tour, and she estimates that she has raised at least $85,000 to cover the costs of the trip by calling alumni and receiving theirs and others’ donations. However, she estimates that there will be more expenses to cover.

Cadwallader has been working for months on finalizing all the details — from sorting out how the instruments will be driven from Southern to Loma Linda University, where they will be reunited with the members of the orchestra, to rais-

ing $42,000 for airline tickets and, of course, keeping up with weekly rehearsals of the repertoire that will be performed during the tour. When asked about her motivation behind putting in the long hours to bring the orchestra to California, Cadwallader said the tour is important because “it's a bonding experience, and there's no way to replace it. There's no way to replace that travel.”

Peter Cooper, the dean of the School of Music, echoed similar sentiments.

“For the orchestra to be touring again, long-range touring, to a far away destination … there’s camaraderie that comes with that [and] … friendships that are deepened,” he said.

Cooper added that the orchestra tour is not only valuable to current students but also important to prospective Southern students as well.

“When our ensembles go out and tour … there are going to be students who hear them play and say, ‘Wow, I want to be part

of that there at Southern. That's where I'm going,’” he said.

This proved to be true for Corbin Weiss, a current sophomore mathematics major at Southern.

“I remember, in picking schools, I wanted one, which had, like, a good orchestra,” Weiss said. “And so I contacted Mrs. Cadwallader. She [invited me] to join for a concert.”

For Weiss, hearing and experiencing the orchestra influenced his decision to attend Southern. He has now been in the orchestra for about a year and a half and currently holds the position of assistant principal cellist.

The current concert mistress of the orchestra, Elodie Manalo, is excited about the tour for a whole different set of reasons.

“It’s nice to take a break from school and spend time doing other musical stuff since I’m usually doing science classes for the most part,” she said. “ … It’s nice to take a break from that and just embrace the music.”

Manalo is also looking forward to

how the tour experience will affect the sound of the orchestra. She believes it will motivate the musicians to work even harder than they do for performances at Southern.

“Being on tour is going to force people [in the orchestra] to view

the music in a different way,” she said. “ … I think that even being in a different environment and playing for an audience different from what we’re used to forces [us] to take a different perspective on things. ”

Southern to hold second SA International Food Fest

The International Food Fest organized by Student Association (SA) is scheduled to take place on March 5 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Iles Gym. This is the second year

that SA is putting on the festival, its initial launch having happened in the 2021 school year, according to a previous Accent article.

This year’s main organizer for the event is Issac Abraham,

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FEST

March 5 3:00 pM - 5:30 PM Iles Gym

senior nursing major and cultural liaison for SA.

According to Abraham, the theme of the food fest takes inspiration from street food

booths, with the goal of creating different ambiances for attendees. Abraham also notes there will be performances and giveaways happening during the event as well.

There are approximately 40 vendors signed up for the event, selling cuisine from countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Italy, the Philippines, Czechia, India, El Salvador and many more, according to Abraham.

He said students will receive a free bundle of 15 tickets at the door of the event with each ticket being the equivalent of a dollar.

“We’re following the same policy as last year,” Abraham wrote in an email to the Accent. “Community members attending can buy as many tickets as they want, and there will be chances to win more tickets during the event as well!”

"The International Food Fest organized by Student Association (SA) is scheduled to take place on March 5 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Iles Gym." (Photo courtesy of source)

If students want to get involved in the event either

this year or the next, Abraham advises them to apply to become a cultural liaison and help organize the event, or to sign up as a performer or vendor.

“[The International Food Fest] provides a sense of belonging to those who can relate to food similar to what they get at home, while also providing a sense of curiosity and wonder to those who will embark on a new journey of diversity through food,”Abraham said about how the event enriches students’ campus experiences.

“I am excited to see students enjoy the food,” Abraham wrote. “Good food and college students mesh well, and I want to see that combination flourish. So, I’d like to call all community members and students to come and enjoy great food and company at the International Food Fest this coming Sunday!”

Japanese Nursing Program returns for first time since 2019

Michael Hanna Contributor

The English Department and the School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University are planning to restart the Japanese Nursing Program, which is comprised of Japanese nursing students from the Saniku Gakuin College in Japan. Amanda Livanos, an associate professor in the English Department, is one of the three coordinators of the program.

“They just reached out to see if we could start it up again this summer,” Livanos said.

According to Livanos, the program is for students from Saniku Gakuin College, a Seventh-Day Adventist college in Japan. The students speak some English in Japan but are seeking to improve their lan-

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. For any questions, comments and article submission information, email the editor at acrosby@southern.edu

For all advertising inquiries, email studentadmgr@southern.edu.

guage skills by participating in the program. Livanos said Saniku Gakuin College is currently doing a survey of student interest to find out how many students might come.

In an interview with Holly Gadd, dean of the School of Nursing and another program coordinator, the current plan is to open the program back up from Aug. 7 to Aug. 22.

“We're just in the very early stages of our planning,” Gadd said. “I know that we struggled with some dates, [but] it looks like we've got some firm dates early on in August. We'll probably be doing similar things to what we've done before, where they have the ESL classes here with the English department. They have some nursing things

Editor-in-Chief

Alana Crosby

Managing Editor Amanda Blake

News Editor Matthew Orquia Collegedale News Editor Elsie Pak

like health assessment, and we teach them the BLS classes and basic cardiac life support or CPR classes.”

Gadd said she has been corresponding with staff members at Saniku Gakuin College about the curriculum and activities within the program.

In an interview, Laurie Stankavich, an associate professor in Southern’s English Department and another program coordinator, said the Japanese nursing students learn CPR in their nursing program in Japan, but they haven't necessarily studied it yet. The program offers that class because it will help the students in their nursing studies.

“They stopped coming because of scheduling conflicts, but then

Social Media Manager Anna Estep

during the COVID era we didn't restart it because travel was difficult between the countries,” Stankavich said. “And now, we have word from them that they would like to restart the pro-

gram. They used to come for about two and a half weeks — that was typical — and besides the classes, we do outings.”

The program was last conducted in 2019.

Sports Editor Jacob Nevis

Copy Editors Stefanie Green

Layout Designers Anton Kannenberg Hannah Mortenson

Saniku Gakuin College (Photo sourced from Google Images)

The orchestra takes a photo after their performance at the College Orchestra Directors Association in Jacksonville, Florida.

(Photo By Karissa Sharley)

SA TALENT SHOW

continued from page 1

the only way of transportation to the village.

According to Myint, due to civil war and the consequential displacements, there are a lot of families being separated. Many parents are either going to eastern or western borders to cross into Thailand or India.

Myint said many people are not aware of the situation happening in Myanmar.

“I just felt like there wasn't as much representation or many people talking about what is

going on in Burma,” Myint said. “And that lit a fire under me. These are people that I hope to one day serve. For decades, Burma-Myanmar has been going through a genocide — for about the past 70 years. So, my mom's been through that and my grandparents and my great grandparents as well. Also, some students that I know as well — students who are victims of that genocide.”

According to the ASAP website, ASAP harnesses the power of technology to build the largest community of asylum seekers in the history of the United States. ASAP cre-

ates resources that help asylum seekers navigate the legal system, stay up-to-date on critical news and succeed in their cases. ASAP works with members to set advocacy goals and fight for a United States that welcomes asylum seekers, through litiga-

tion, press and policy. ASAP’s mission values state, “The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) believes that asylum seekers can make great change by standing together. We provide our membership of asylum seekers with legal

and community support. And we work with our members — over 450,000 asylum seekers — to build a more welcoming United States. ASAP members come from more than 175 countries and live in every U.S. state and territory.”

Southern's feature film debut: “All the Wrong Ingredients”

Lindsay Beckwith Staff Writer

The lights began to dim, and the expectant crowd in the theater exploded with excitement as the Southern Adventist University film department’s feature “All the Wrong Ingredients” premiered at AMC Chattanooga 18 on Saturday, Feb. 4.

“All the Wrong Ingredients” depicts a man’s journey toward discovering himself. As the main character comedically competes to win a cooking competition, he finds himself losing touch not only with his wife and father but also with himself.

According to freshman film major Sophia Schwartzrock, Southern’s film department produces a feature film every four years. This project provides excellent opportunities for film students to actively participate and

hold leadership positions in a large-scale production while earning their degrees.

After almost two years since filming began, cast and crew celebrated “All the Wrong Ingredients” debut.

The 20-day production began May 31, 2021, with many of the talent and crew working the usual 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule. After the production, a year and a half of post-production work began.

Michaela Hounslow, senior film major, was the assistant producer and second director of “All the Wrong Ingredients.” She said most of the leaders and participants were Southern alumni from the film department. Only about two or three were not Southern graduates.

While fraught with hilarious chase scenes, witty comebacks and unexpected plot twists, the

real reason “All the Wrong Ingredients” was produced stems from a professor’s insecurity.

“I have just been trying to get everyone to like me,” said Nicholas Livanos, the film’s director, writer and a professor in the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD).

In moments of self-reflection, Livanos realized he loved producing films in his younger years because whenever someone clapped for his creation, it felt like they were clapping for him.

The inspiration for “All the Wrong Ingredients” originates from Livanos’ struggle to like himself, and the film explores personal image as well as learning to love yourself.

According to Hounslow, the family feature will run in a film festival for a few years in hopes that a distributor will pick it up.

While distribution remains a future endeavor, Hounslow is confident Southern students

will get another chance to see the film when the university shows it again.

Dennis Negrón honored with a public service award

Amanda Blake Managing Editor

Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, was recently granted the American Police Hall of Fame Honor Award for Public Service at the Collegedale Police Department’s third annual awards banquet. Although Negrón could not be present at the event, Joey Tolbert, facilities manager for Student Development, accepted the award on his behalf.

Over the past year, Negrón served as Southern Adventist University’s representative on the police department’s Round Table Advisory Committee. At the banquet, Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Heath said Negrón was chosen to sit on the committee to strengthen the relationship between Southern and the police.

Heath presented the award and made the following remarks:

“Negrón not only served with distinction, but he also worked diligently to provide a thoughtful voice of reason in every discussion. He also worked diligently to provide opportunities for officers to work with university staff and

students. Among Mr. Negrón’s accomplishments was the inclusion of police officers with the university's community service projects, which allowed officers to volunteer public service hours with the university and various functions throughout the city.”

In a later email to the Accent, Heath explained that

he and Chief Jack Sapp nominated Negrón for the award.

The Round Table Advisory Committee was created in 2021 to discuss departmental and community issues openly as a group, as explained in a previous Accent article. It was Negrón who made a motion for the committee to grant Southern a permanent seat; now, Tolbert serves

as Southern’s representative.

“Because Southern Adventist University has the largest footprint in Collegedale, I worked towards the university having permanent representation on it,” Negrón wrote in an email to the Accent. “The other members agreed that my rationale made sense.

I believe the relationship

between Southern and the Collegedale Police Department is as strong as it has ever been as a result of our working more closely together.”

According to Heath, the current members on the Round Table Advisory Committee, excluding Tolbert, are Sergeant Mark Hennessee (sergeant peer group representative), Corporal Michael Hicks (corporal peer group representative), Officer Matt Jones (officer peer group representative), Detective Robert O’Daniel (support services representative), Officer Curtis Bowe (secretary/reserve officer peer group representative), Kenya Irvin (community representative) and Commissioner Katie Lamb (commission representative).

Several officers were also honored at the banquet. Special recognition was given to officers who responded to the 2020 Easter tornado and the Dec. 20 train derailment. Others were awarded for excellent arrests and criminal investigations.

Officer Kayla McDaniel was awarded “Rookie of the Year” and Officer Peter Gavlick was awarded “Officer of the Year.”

Dennis Negrón was recently granted the American Police Hall of Fame Honor Award for Public Service. As Negrón was unable to attend the ceremony, Joey Tolbert, facilities manager for Student Developement, accepted the award on his behalf.

(Photo by Amanda Blake)

PRESENTED BY: PHYSICS & ENGINEERING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES VISUAL ART & DESIGN

JOHN C. WILLIAMS GALLERY • BROCK HALL MARCH 23, 2023 • 6:30pm

Scene from the film depicts actors Rylan Thomas Heene (left) and Jonathan Bouvier (right). June 11, 2021 (Photo by Evelin Velinova)

The proceeds of the talent show tickets will go to a military coup in Myanmar, formerly called Burma. (Photo courtesy of source)

BCU Night

Anaya Miller, Isaiah Lawrence and Regence Sandy show off their hair towards the end of the show. Students showed different styles of Black hair, emphasizing diversity. Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Leonardo Laroque and others perform an encore of their pre-show dance to the song "Love and Loyalty."

Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Students sing in the Merge choir, led by Ariel Lantigua, to open the evening. Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)

Alexia Bernardo watches Adam De Lisser perform in character. Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)

BCU President Railyn Duarte recognizes all of those whose hard work helped make BCU Night successful. Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Neal Patterson and Melisa Owiti were the main characters of the 2023 BCU Night production titled “Roots.”

Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Cognitive dissonance wears Prada: How to identify and overcome

Kiana Oliver Graduate Assistant

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

If you haven’t seen the 2006 comedy-drama film “The Devil Wears Prada,” here’s a quick summary. The story centers around an aspiring, 20-something-year-old journalist named Andy Sachs. To reach her dream job of being a reporter, Andy becomes a junior personal assistant to the diabolical editor-in-chief of “Runway Magazine,” Miranda Priestly. It’s a job that “millions of girls would kill for,” yet Andy is clueless about the fashion industry. There are

some great life lessons throughout this film (seriously, who eats an onion bagel before a job interview?). It also exemplifies an overlooked psychological state: cognitive dissonance.

As Andy dashes across New York City trying to fulfill her boss’s crazy demands, you might be surprised to learn that Miranda is not the villain of this story. Wait, really? The woman who demands a jet during a hurricane is not the bad guy? Yup, and hear me out. According to “Psychology Today,” cognitive dissonance is a state of discomfort that a person feels when two or more thoughts, ideas or beliefs contradict each

other. In an attempt to resolve her growing negative feelings, Andy tells herself and her loved ones that this job is temporary. She even makes fun of her coworkers and insists she doesn’t need to conform to the glamorous world of Runway.

However, after being humiliated by Miranda, Andy decides to change her mindset and begins to dress more stylishly. Even if you don’t appreciate Andy’s Chanel boots (sorry for the spoiler!), you can see how she is trying to diminish the inconsistencies between her thoughts.

Although I alluded that Andy is her own adversary, you might be surprised to learn that cog-

nitive dissonance isn’t necessarily a bad thing. According to an article by Maike Neuhaus, P.hD., on PositivePsychology. com, “the experience of cognitive dissonance is an opportunity to learn and grow, as long as we deal with it constructively and respond in a way that we choose and is beneficial.”

Andy believes she is a good person, yet her story is a cautionary tale about what could happen if you sacrifice your personal life and values to boost your career. If she continues down this path, Andy is destined to become just as miserable as her boss. Therefore, the devil in “The Devil Wears Prada”

is not cognitive dissonance; instead, it’s selfishness.

If you’re experiencing cognitive dissonance, Neuhaus suggests the following practices:

1. Practice mindfulness. Challenge your current beliefs.

2. Consider the importance of dissonant thoughts.

3. Reflect on the reasons behind your behavior.

Lastly, it would be a catastrophe to end this article and not include this iconic quote from Miranda: “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” Like this article? Follow @saucounseling on Instagram!

“... Cognitive dissonance is a state of discomfort that a person feels when two or more thoughts, ideas or beliefs contradict each other.”

Mac McClung: Savior of the Dunk Contest?

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

Mac McClung was considered a nobody by the everyday NBA fan. McClung, a guard for the NBA G-league team, the Delaware Blue Coats, was asked to become the first G-league player to ever participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

An undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech, McClung never received an opportunity to show the NBA world what he could do — until the night of the dunk contest. In recent years, the competition

has been quite unmemorable; it has started to lose its hype due to the way it’s been conducted. The last memorable dunk contest was in 2015 when Zach LaVine won. The NBA allows the contestants two chances to dunk in each of the contest’s two rounds. So when a player misses the first dunk in a round, the spectacle of the second dunk is taken away. This year, however, McClung not only made all of his dunks but also received perfect 10s for

some. McClung almost received a perfect 50 for each dunk, receiving a 49 just once. Consequently, McClung might just be the savior that the dunk contest needed. Having an unknown player perform as well as he did brought the beauty back into basketball. Instead of the normal superstars winning the dunk contest, fans got to witness the true skill of someone whom they had never seen play before.

The dunk contest also allowed McClung to become an overnight sensation. On the night of the contest, he racked up around 50k followers on Instagram. The day after the dunk contest, his following shot all the way up to 1 million.

Because of the wonder that McClung displayed, I believe the NBA should start to do this more often for all of the All-Star events. When viewers are able to observe the talent

of players they might never get to see otherwise, it allows the athletes to become much more visible. It also allows viewers to get the best experience from the events, because it truly shows the viewers the best players in the respective categories, instead of just showing the well-known superstars to help raise ratings.

McClung might be the hero the NBA didn’t know it needed for its All-Star events.

“An undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech, McClung never received an opportunity to show the NBA world what he could do — until the night of the dunk contest.”

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

OPINION

Waffle House as a reflection of our nation

Meg Ermer Contributor

It is inevitable. No matter who you are, you will eventually find yourself pulling into the parking lot underneath a yellow, Scrabble-reminiscent sign proudly proclaiming “WAFLE HUSE” or “AFFLE HOUSE,” depending on whichever letters have the lighting properly working that night (and, yes, it is nighttime — this is part of the inevitability).

You will be seated at a slightly sticky table with a slightly stickier menu, and you will be bombarded by the combination of fluorescent lighting, order-shouting, plate-slamming, people-watching cacophony.

Morgan Wallen (if you are in the Tennessee area) or Burna Boy (if you are in the Atlanta area) will be softly playing from an electronic jukebox near the door. You will drench your waffle in syrup and your scattered, smothered, peppered, chunked hashbrowns in ketchup. As you eat, you will begin to feel somewhat happier and somewhat ill. The server will bring you the check. $9.25. This is the American Dream.

You will not be completely satisfied; but, you know, someday soon, you will return.

Waffle House first opened on Labor Day weekend in 1955 outside Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by World War II veterans Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner, whose goal was to create a fast-dining experience that was open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Today, there are about 2,000 Waffle House locations scattered throughout the American South. Waffle House’s numerous locations and constant business hours even allow

the severity of natural disasters to be measured based on the percentage of its restaurants closed or running on backup generators in a given area.

Everyone knows Waffle House; and, for the most part, everyone loves Waffle House.

It is where you go with your friends on a late-night drive, where a family stops for breakfast on a road trip, where a third-shift worker grabs a bite to eat on the way home. In Alexis Ohanian’s case, it is the place where you go after walking out of the middle of the LSAT and are struck with the idea of creating a site called “Reddit.” It is a business model built on what Americans value most — fast food, cheap prices and fun, syrup-soaked memories. What could possibly be wrong with it?

In 2018, an Alabama Waffle House called the police when Chikesia Clemons refused to pay extra for plastic eating utensils. The officer threw her to the floor, threatened to break her arm and arrested her for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Only a few months earlier, at a North Carolina Waffle House, Anthony Wall, who had just taken his younger sister and her friends to prom, was choked, pinned against the window and arrested. After both events, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called for Waffle House to review its policies to ensure employees did not needlessly subject Black, unarmed customers to police brutality. Waffle House denied all allegations of racism in these incidents.

RELIGION

At the time of my writing this article, when I Google “waffle house,” all the top news stories are about various shootings in or outside Waffle Houses. Entire articles are dedicated to analyzing why Waffle Houses are the sites of so much crime. Some news-reporting agencies have termed Waffle House the “most dangerous restaurant chain in America.” And yet, we keep going back. Perhaps, it is because all the “good” aspects of Waffle House are two-sided coins, with the tail side cleverly weighed down to avoid difficult conversations and examinations of our values. For each thing that we love about Waffle House, there is a down-

side that is often glossed over.

Late-night Waffle House escapades are only made possible by those who commit to working through the night at minimum wage. Is it Christmas?

Thanksgiving? It doesn’t matter — Waffle House’s staff will be there to serve you and to keep the wheels of capitalism churning while the rest of the country spends the holidays with their families.

It is perfectly acceptable to show up to Waffle House with uncombed hair, in your sweatpants, with mascara streaming down your face. But maybe something else, something unchangeable, like the color of your skin, could be an issue.

In many ways, Waffle House

is a reflection of America.

The restaurant brings together people from all socioeconomic backgrounds. It is a place where you can brush shoulders with future CEOs, construction teams and college students, all over a chocolate-chip waffle. It is a place where ideas as large as Reddit can be born and post-basketball games can be celebrated, and it is a place where lives can be quickly and brutally taken and prejudice can continue to manifest itself.

It is yet another institution whose flaws and injustices we have collectively chosen to overlook in favor of convenience and a two-egg breakfast combo.

“In many ways, Waffle House is a reflection of America.”

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

Faculty and staff tell about God’s mercy in their lives, part 2

Madison Wilcox

Religion Editor

Emily McArthur, assistant professor, English Department:

“The first of the Ten Commandments states, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ But somehow I manage to set up my own personal idols, time and time again. Success, mostly. Achievement. Respect. That sort of thing — false gods that only make me miserable. And time and time again, God gently but firmly sweeps those idols aside. Mercifully, He doesn’t punish me for my idol worship. He just shows me how much richer and more joyful my life is when I have no other gods before Him.”

Tisha Looby, associate dean, Thatcher Hall:

“As college students, we all make mistakes. But what hap-

pens when those mistakes start to define us and threaten our future? That’s where I found myself during my freshman year at Southern Adventist University.

I made plenty of poor decisions, and I couldn’t even blame my friends because they were usually my idea.

I was heading down a dangerous path, sacrificing my calling and my future for falsified leaves and nights at lame parties with questionable people.

But then, after a seven-year journey, something incredible happened. The Lord transformed my heart and mind, and I went from being the girl who avoided the deans to becoming a dean myself. Despite

my past mistakes, God did not count me out. As soon as I was willing to put Him first, He blessed me as if I had never turned away.

This mercy was not about being called out for my sins but about being called out of them. It was a transformative experience that I love to see in students. The moment they realize that their mistakes don’t define who they are is truly life-changing. Through Christ, we become new creatures, free from the weight of our past.

So, if you’re struggling with your own mistakes or feeling like your past defines you, remember that God’s mercy is waiting for you. It’s not about calling you out for your sins

but calling you out of them. Embrace the transformative power of God’s mercy, and watch as your life is transformed for the better.”

Gennevieve Brown-Kibble, professor, School of Music:

“‘Call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindness that have followed me all the days of my life.’ It was during my collegiate years that I became acutely aware of God’s mercy; so it seems appropriate to share some of that story with college students here and now. That was a time of transition and trial. ‘O Lord, have mercy on me!’ The illness and death of my mother during my freshman year sometimes made me

feel ‘like a motherless child — a long way from home.’ But I felt God’s mercy when I was delivered from severe injury or death after being thrown out of a car driving at highway speeds.

And His mercy shone through caring teachers who nudged me from what I hoped would be a career in medicine to a calling in and through music. His mercy whispered to me that music is a medicine — ‘a balm in Gilead’ — that is as powerful as laughter, and, like leaves on the tree of life, can bring healing to the nations. For these, and more reasons than I can recount, ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.’”

“So, if you’re struggling with your own mistakes or feeling like your past defines you, remember that God’s mercy is waiting for you.”

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

What I wish I knew when I first started my small business

Elise Deschamps Lifestyle Editor

I sold my first vintage T-shirt for $7 in Thatcher Hall the first semester of my freshman year of college. As I walked back to my room, I made a new Instagram account for the small business that would eventually turn into what is now my full-time job three and a half years later.

Since then, Le Marché du Soleil (luh-mar-shay-dew-so-lay) has expanded far beyond meeting customers in the dorm lobby. Through Le Marché and the help of countless amazingly supportive friends, we have directed over 60 photoshoots and clothing drops and hosted dozens of markets and pop-ups.

It has been a fulfilling and exciting experience, helping me realize and tap into a creative side of myself that I never acknowledged prior. Starting my vintage business was life-changing for me; it helped me make friends in college, helped me learn more about myself and helped me figure out what I want to do in the future.

However, despite how fun it has been, it has not been easy. Before I learned how to manage my time, being a full-time student while

running a business left me burnt out countless times. In the beginning, I was investing nearly all of my money into inventory, clothing racks and shipping materials, praying that the sales would actually turn a profit that was worth my time and energy.

There were countless times when comparison and insecurity nearly had me closing up shop. I consistently battle with the feeling that I am not doing enough, not making enough or not being creative enough. Running a business is hard. Running a small business as a full-time college student is harder.

But it’s not impossible. Not when you have friends and loved ones supporting you and helping you along the way. I wouldn’t trade the difficulties or the lessons I have learned from starting and running Le Marché for anything.

If you’re interested in starting a business, I am 100% supportive of you. If you’re looking to start your own small business, here’s what I have learned so far:

Don’t quit your day job. I didn’t quit my barista job until a year and a half after I started my business.

I waited until my business grew

enough to the point that the time I was putting into a part-time job was better spent investing in my own company. Things aren’t typically going to be consistent or smooth in the beginning. Don’t feel bad for holding on to something that is consistent and reliable.

Slow growth is still growth. From my experience, it is more sustainable to grow organically and slowly rather than pouring into marketing tactics that “work” but lessen the credibility and value of your product/service. Quality marketing and connectionbuilding takes time and patience.

Don’t wait until you’re good at something to start doing it. You have to start somewhere; doing new things is daunting and likely won’t produce the results you imagined initially. However, the more you do it and the more you stick to it, the more you will learn and the more your skills will sharpen. Early on, so many photoshoots looked nothing like I had conceptualized in my mind. However, each shoot gets me closer to the image I want to execute.

Comparison KILLS. This is one of the largest obstacles that nearly

killed Le Marché. For a long time, I struggled with seeing other businesses that seemed to grow much faster than my own. This comparison blinded me from my own success and growth, stifled my creative drive and was incredibly de-motivating. I think it is a good thing to take inspiration from other businesses you look up to and use ideas to expand and grow your own. It’s not a good thing to discredit your own hard work.

Don’t drop out of school. I wanted to. I’m so glad I didn’t. The resources and equipment I have access to on a college campus is the only way I have been able to grow my business. Take advantage of the knowledge and resources that you are surrounded by. There are so many unexpected lessons that I’ve learned in classes that have been vital to running my business.

Let people help you. If they offer, take it. I could never have done this alone. The more minds, perspectives and ideas that are involved, the better. I felt bad accepting help from others because I always want people to know and feel that I value their time, energy

and skill. However, when you’re first starting out, you can’t always afford this. The thing is, people typically want to be involved simply because it is fun. Let them. And build that connection.

Community over competition will have you winning in the long run. There is enough room for everyone. Here’s the thing; if someone has the drive and the dedication to stay motivated and keep their business going, they deserve respect. Build a win-win relationship with other entrepreneurs and learn from them. The ones who are in it for the wrong reasons typically don’t last long in the market. I’ve seen it.

Don’t forget to have fun. After all, you are a unique individual with your own ideas, tastes and style. If you are passionate about your business, don’t get sucked into the idea that you need to be a huge “successful” corporate company that makes tons of money. In order to maintain a sustainable business, you need to value rest just as much as you value hard work. Your value does not lie in your productivity.

“It has been a fulfilling and exciting experience, helping me realize and tap into a creative side of myself that I never acknowledged prior.”

Dear Kevin:

How can I build a strong professional network while in college?

Dear future-minded friend:

The fact that you asked this question means you’re already ahead. Many students view college as a time to prepare academically for their careers, but they forget that the world runs on relationships. It’s never too early to start building connections. Here’s how to do that while in college:

Meet lots of people. You’re probably thinking, “Duh, be more specific.” Well, meet and form relationships with lots of people — on campus, off campus, at work, at church, at home, etc. Don’t just meet professionals in your field of study (although that’s important). Meet everyone. You never know where people might end up. Your coworker at the dining hall might become the hiring manager of the hospital where you’d like to work, or the student who runs next to you at the gym every Sunday might become president of your dream company. Get involved in social events. I get it — sometimes leaving your side of the pond can be scary or stressful, but to build a network, you’ve got to cast your net and do the work (metaphorically speaking … please don’t cast a net into my pond).There’s a diverse list of social events and groups on Southern’s campus, in Collegedale and in Chattanooga. Join, meet people and impress them with your skills and character.

Connect with professionals on-

line. Use the internet to your advantage. LinkedIn is a great platform for researching and connecting with individuals from industries that interest you. You’re starting at ground zero now, so there’s no risk in messaging people. If they don’t respond, no arm, no fowl.

Always be ready to pitch yourself. Young people tend to hate this step, but it is essential to networking. You can’t walk up to someone, introduce yourself, explain what you’re studying and then begin describing how awful you are (even if you’re trying to be funny, don’t do it). Learn how to truthfully, confidently and concisely communicate your strengths. Don’t overwhelm; impress. It doesn’t hurt to have a firm handshake and good eye contact.

Pay a visit to Southern’s Life Calling and Career Services department. If the previous steps sound daunting, sitting down and speaking to someone from this department will likely help you break down professional networking into simpler steps, built according to your comfort level and goals. They’re the experts. I am but a simple duck.

Dear Kevin: How do I get out of the friend zone?

Dear bodacious buddy: Get rich.

(Photos sourced from: UnSplash)

natalie_marden cold rock; warm memories - photo creds to grant and ethan!

Today — 1

Friday — 3

Thursday — 2

Weekly Birthdays

TODAY |1

Kc Alegrado Cabil

Emilia Balogh

Caleb Bartutis

Cambria Donato

Emily Garrett

Ashtyn Hyde

Andrew Moyer

Emily Nogueira

Nicolly Pereira

Ethan Stephens

Oneicia Thomas

Thursday |2

Fatima-Selena Ibar-

ra-Rodriguez

Ceilidh Johnson

Jake Johnson

Jessa Kinney

Janice Ortega

Emily Ottinger

Saturday — 4

Matt Polehna

Stephanie Polehna

Jaime Simulis

Sunday — 5

Monday — 6

Brandon Starr

Kent Suddarth

Drew Willson

Mikayla Zimmermann

Friday |3

Maiya Banks

Edmund Johnson

Kimberly Kra

Jessica Stern

Deana Vandivier

Taylor Waterman

Saturday |4

Bryan Banos

Clark Cinco

Alyssa Fickett

Mikenna Healy

Ethan Johnson

Larissa Menezes

Kathleen Norman

Jasmine Ramirez

Siosiua Telefoni

Sunday |5

Katherine L. Ashlock

SA Announcements

Emma Boughman

Jenna Brockette

Jeffrey Filiberto

Robert Herr

Liz Hilario

Andrew Stoica

Monday |6 Xavier Baca Fidencio Burgueno

Ethan Carpenter Dominic Ciasca

Tuesday — 7

SA Upcoming International Food Fair: Come out to try foods from all over the world. This event will be in Iles Gym on Sunday, March 5 from 3-5:30 p.m. Each student will check in using their last name and then be given 15 free tickets that you can use to purchase food. If they need additional tickets, they will be available for sale.

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.

MASTER

OF ARTS

TEACHING A Pathway to the Classroom (With Any Bachelor’s Degree!)

IN

Our online MAT program offers a master’s degree and initial teacher certification at the same time.

Seventh-day Adventist and/or public school certification options are available in as few as five to six semesters. All classes are available online and students have the possibility of being paid during their field experience or student teaching.

Set yourself up for a rewarding career that offers:

• great benefits

• summers off

• incredible job security

• a strong sense of mission

• fulfillment that comes from knowing you’re making a difference