Southern Accent Vol. 78, Issue 20

Southern Accent

Senior Pastor David Ferguson leaving Southern university church, starting new chapter at Crosswalk Chattanooga

Land for new School of Business building dedicated, planned completion set for fall 2025

Lindsay Beckwith Staff Writer

Alana Crosby Editor-in-Chief

After six and a half years serving as senior pastor at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, David Ferguson is leaving the position and starting a new chapter at Crosswalk, Chattanooga. Ferguson will be pastoring there, as well as serving on Crosswalk Global’s executive leadership team. His last Sabbath at the university church will be May 13.

In an interview with the Accent, Ferguson said the decision was a difficult one,

as both opportunities – to go to Crosswalk or stay at the university church – are good ones. He said he struggled to make a decision as he felt called to serve in both places.

“God has so blessed my wife and [me],” Ferguson said. “We were surprised to be called to this role, surprised that God led us to say ‘yes’ to Collegedale as a senior pastor. But we have been so gratified and fulfilled in ministry. I love what I do and what I'm doing.”

Ferguson explained that

serving at Crosswalk comes close to fulfilling a dream he’s had since he was an undergraduate in college. He dreamed of starting from scratch and founding a ministry that helps people where they are. Ferguson described this ministry as one of simplicity, modeling the early church of the New Testament.

“How do we love this community? And what would that look like?” Ferguson said concerning his move to Crosswalk. “There are wide open frontiers to explore with

that question, ‘What would it look like?’ I have long valued simplicity. … We can so easily make things that aren't important, very important.”

According to Ferguson, he was inspired by the story of a man who decided to pastor an area in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Instead of following the usual protocols for establishing a church, the man explored the area, introducing himself to people and familiarizing himself with the needs of

Faculty, administrators and students gathered together last month to pray and dedicate the plot of land chosen for the construction of Southern Adventist University’s new School of Business building. According to Ken Shaw, SAU president, the facility is planned for a fall 2025 completion date. At 42,000 square-feet, the building will be nearly five times larger than the school’s current location on the third floor of Brock Hall and will be located along University Drive between Harmony Lane and Hickman Drive close to Mable Wood Hall. The building – the land for which was dedicated on Feb.

See LAND DEDICATION on page 3

The prevalence of senioritis: An issue worth mentioning

Cindy Hernandez Contributor

For many college students, the challenge of staying motivated and focused can be a daily struggle. The constant battle against procrastination, trying to stay focused during long lectures and dealing with the effects of burnout can make it difficult to stay on track. But for seniors, the pressure is especially high. With graduation approaching, the fear

of being hit by senioritis and failing to finish strong can be overwhelming.

Senioritis is a term used to describe the lack of motivation and focus that some seniors experience during their final year of college. This condition can cause students to lose interest in school, skip classes and ignore assignments.

According to a recent study conducted by the Department of Education, 78% of seniors

admitted to experiencing senioritis at some point during their final year of college.

Xander Ordinola, a senior currently in his final year of college, knows exactly how senioritis can affect a student.

"It's difficult to stay focused on assignments and projects when all I can think about is what the workforce will look like and how it will be drastically different," said Ordinola.

While senioritis can be a sig-

nificant challenge, it is important for seniors to push through and finish strong.

"It's essential to continue putting in effort during your final year of college, even if it is difficult. Employers want to see that you can finish what you started," said Kevin Hernandez, a senior at Walla Walla University.

It's worth mentioning that senioritis is not a unique experience to seniors alone and can affect students of all ages. It's

important to stay motivated and focused throughout your college career, regardless of what year you may be in, according to experts. By setting achievable goals, seeking support when needed and staying focused in classes, students can overcome senioritis and other challenges that may arise during their time in college.

Ultimately, the key is to keep pushing forward and finish your college career strong.

"The Lord is not my shepherd, and I want: The anti-psalm as a spiritual exercise

"While senioritis can be a significant challenge, it is important for seniors to push through and finish strong." (Photo sourced from: Unsplash)

See PASTOR FERGUSON on page 2

David Ferguson speaking at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists during SonRise.

(Photo by: Xander Ordinola)

the community. He discovered there was a need for afterschool programs for teenagers with absentee parents, as well as single parents just needing a break, said Ferguson. As the man’s ministry expanded, the community started to view him as their pastor.

“I love the idea of, instead of marching in and saying, ‘I know what you need; here's what it looks like, … instead coming in and loving people, getting to know people and serving people and letting that emerge,” Ferguson said. “I have always wanted to try that.”

Ferguson said that Crosswalk includes a lot of the elements of “missionality” that allow for a spirit of service.

“We need to fight for the hearts and minds of our col-

lege students who are young people or young adults, many of whom after they graduate will never step foot in a Seventh-day Adventist or maybe any kind of church ever again,” Ferguson explained further. “How do we fight for that? How do we make a difference there? I've not been completely satisfied over the course of my life that we're trying enough — that we're doing enough. And I'm a person who isn't overly satisfied with just doing it the way we've always done it.”

According to Ferguson, Crosswalk poses a unique opportunity to change the way the Seventh-day Adventist church thinks about church planting. He said he got involved in Crosswalk when they reached out for advice on planting a church in Chatta -

nooga, far from the original California church site, a dis -

versation about how it would work to plant interconnected churches across the globe. He willingly joined that conversation to explore new ideas.

First, Ferguson started attending about 50% of the leadership meetings as a consultant. The growth at Crosswalk presented new opportunities for leadership, he said, and so he was contacted and asked to consider the role of pastor. Some people who aren’t aware of his background in youth ministry might only see him as the senior pastor of the university church, he said, which is a more formal setting.

tance not common in church planting. Ferguson said he was asked by both church conferences and the leaders of Crosswalk to join the con -

“I think the initial thought was that I wouldn't [consider it],” Ferguson said. “[However], I've spent much more

of my life preaching in jeans than I have in a suit and tie.

I've been a participant in launching new worship identities, and so there's a lot about Crosswalk that's quite obvious and native to me and my wife, unless all you know me for is here.”

Ferguson said he hopes to help Crosswalk grow through its infancy, through the ‘What ifs’ and into some form of stability. He does not know who will be taking over his role at the university church.

“I love this campus and the students that have been here and that are here; it fills me with joy,” he said. “One of my favorite things is to walk across campus and just have people greet me as Pastor Dave, meaning we know each other and that this is home.”

Applied Technology department launches first annual Bridge Day

Alana Crosby

Editor-in-Chief

On March 21, the Construction Management Program, which is part of the Applied Technology Department at Southern Adventist University, held its first Bridge Day, an event organizers hope to hold annually, according to Andy Baker, assistant professor of applied technology.

Thirteen students from the Structures II class participated as part of a class project, building model bridges and demonstrating their strength. Engineering students were also invited, and one student from the Physics and Engineering Department participated in the activity.

The students constructed bridges, made from wooden dowels, string and either wood glue or hot glue. The goal was to create a bridge as light as possible that can carry as much weight as possible. Shady Gergis, a structural engineer from Brooks & Associates Consulting Engineers (BACE) was present to provide feedback to participants and

act as a juror.

“I really appreciate participating,” Gergis said. “When I was in school, that was kind of one of my highlights — when the professional comes in — so I can see, ‘Okay, can I be like this guy when I grow up, or not?’ … With that being said, I wanted to come here and

applied technology. In the future, Baker said he hopes to create more of a competition between the students in the Physics and Engineering Department and the construction management program.

Emily Freeman, junior construction major, started at Southern in pursuit of a nursing degree. Switching to construction management has been a journey, she said. During her presentation, Freeman said she created a bridge that would show off the natural beauty of the surroundings instead of the bridge structure itself.

neering Department, pointed out unique differences in the engineering department versus construction management program. Walters said engi-

the [bridges] come together. I also [think] that this is a really good opportunity for students to see a variety of projects.”

Braxton Fisher, junior construction management major, said that in Structures I he designed and built a bridge using pasta, an experience that helped him troubleshoot his bridge construction for the project in Structures II. He noticed that most bridges fail at the joints.

support the locals with their program.”

The students from Structures II received extra credit, according to Isidro Monteso, adjunct professor of

“I have always been fascinated by bridges and other large structures and how they can support their loads, so this project was pretty fun,” Freeman wrote in an email to the Accent. “While the Structure Analysis class helps us learn about the theoretical ideas behind structures, the bridge project helps each concept come to life.”

Sean Walters, assistant professor in the Physics and Engi-

neering students take a similar class to Structures Analysis but learn more theory rather than practical methods.

“You're talking practical methods, which is very helpful,” Walters said about the bridge project. “As an engineer, I really enjoyed seeing

“When designing my bridge, I wanted to mitigate the amount of joints by using the masonry twine available,” Fisher wrote in an email to the Accent. “The bridge did do better than I was expecting, especially for its weight. Overall, I did enjoy seeing everyone’s creations. I wish that the school could implement more things like this because it allows the students to be creative and think outside the box while also applying what they’ve learned.”

Génesis Ventura contributed information to this article.

“You're practicaltalking methods, which is very helpful. As an engineer, I really enjoyed seeing the [bridges] come together. I also [think] that this is a really good opportunity for students to see a variety of projects.”

Bridge Day attendees bow their heads for prayer at the beginning of the event.

(Photo by: Adam De Lisser)

Noah Allen demonstrates how much weight his bridge can hold.

(Photo by: Adam De Lisser)

“When designing my bridge, I wanted to mitigate the amount of joints by using the masonry twine available. The bridge did do better than I was expecting, especially for its weight. Overall, I did enjoy seeing everyone’s creations."

“I love this campus and the students that have been here and that are here; it fills me with joy. One of my favorite things is to walk across campus and just have people greet me as Pastor Dave, meaning we know each other and that this is home.”

LAND DEDICATION

continued from page 1

24 – will include five study rooms students will be able to use for group projects, study sessions and mentoring. Other planned features include a multi-purpose auditorium that will hold up to

350 students where lectures and community events will be held.

According to Ken Shaw, the university’s president, as of Feb. 24 the school’s fundraising campaign had reached $15 million thanks to Southern’s active friends and donors. As explained on the School of Business

Quick Fact Sheet, the money will be used to build the new business building and an endowment program, which will provide funds for travel, conference attendance, activities and speakers.

According to the School of Business Quick fact sheet, the School of Business has seen a 10% increase in student enroll-

ment over the past five years, with 443 students enrolled in the Fall 2022 semester.

“The School of Business is our second largest school, and it is now time that we give them a lot more square footage and give them an opportunity [so] they can expand their mission,” said Shaw during the dedica -

tion. “I'm looking forward to seeing this vision become a reality.”

According to Janae Bowman, School of Business office manager, the school is hoping to raise $30,000 on Giving Day, April 12, to purchase stock market displays for the new building.

The Kayak experiences worker shortage, seeks employees

April Espinoza

Staff Writer

Southern Adventist University has been experiencing a lack of student workers on campus, with eateries such as the Dining Hall and CK2 constantly looking for new hires. This semester, The Kayak is also experiencing a worker shortage and briefly had to change its opening hours to address the issue.

“This is the first semester that Kayak did not have a full staff by the first week of school,” said Kayak Manager Cheryl Maguire. “Students just did not apply like they previously have, and several former workers did not come back due to graduating and/or heavier schedules.”

Maguire said the main reason students are not working on campus is that most students got job offers off campus which pay more, and others have left due to busier school schedules.”

The Kayak is fully up and functioning at regular hours,

according to Maguire. She said there were only two nights when, due to a student quitting without any notice and no one being able to fill in, the eatery had to close early.

Allison Hickam, a freshman liberal arts education major, started working at the Kayak this semester.

“I actually really enjoy working there,” Hickam said.

The Kayak job openings are posted on the student job board, and posters have been put up at The Kayak as well as on its Instagram account, @ sau_kayak. The Kayak is operating at minimal coverage and could still use a couple more workers, according to Maguire.

“Students are given shifts that fit within their schedule,” Maguire said. “Our shifts are normally two-and-a-half-hour shifts, and we have rotating Sundays that are four-and-ahalf-hour shifts.”

Vegfest set to take place in Collegedale Commons

The second annual Vegfest is set to take place on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Collegedale Commons. This event is being run by The Healthy Taste Inc. and will feature 18 food vendors, promote plant-based food and products and include interactive kids programs.

Healthy Taste Inc. was initially founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, and recently established as a secondary branch in Chattanooga just last year, according to Gabriel McClover, the organization’s current president.

“My wife and I own a restaurant here in Summerville, GA,” said McClover about the inspiration behind the local Vegfest, “and we started visiting vegan festivals that happened all over the country. However, we soon realized that many of these [festivals] placed their emphasis on animal rights

and activism. We wanted to create an event that focused on the health of the individual and on how food can help prevent and reverse chronic lifestyle diseases.”

According to McClover, last year’s Vegfest was also held at the Collegedale Commons and was such a success in attendance that he hopes Healthy Taste Inc. can continue holding these annual events there in the future.

“This year we hope to have an even bigger impact,” said McClover, “and we want our attendees to leave with an understanding that plantbased food can taste good and can be applied to their own lives.”

The event will not only have a number of vendors selling food, promoting health-based products and featuring other plant-based products, according to McClover, but there will also be demonstrations spon-

sored by the different vendors happening throughout the event like seasoning and cooking classes and a panel of physicians and health educators who will be discussing questions and taking audience questions.

“We focus fairly heavily on kids, so we have interactive programs within our event like a reptile show, science experiments and book readings,” said McClover. “But we also see many teens and college students attending, standing around in little pockets eating vegan cinnamon rolls and just having good conversations. I think these types of events are great opportunities to learn something new about the food you eat, meet new people, fellowship and enjoy yourself.”

Those wanting to get involved as vendors, volunteers or are simply looking for more information can check out Healthy Taste Inc.’s website www.

Health Taste's Vegfest Flyer (Photo courtesy of source )

Elsie Pak Collegedale News Editor

The School of Business has seen a 10% increase in student enrollment in the past five years."

(Photo by: Mila Bales )

"This is the first semester that [The] Kayak did not have a full staff by the first week of school."

(Photo by: Mila Bales)

Attendees pose at the site of the future School of Business.

(Photo courtesy of Ellen Hostetler)

SA Talent Show

show included nine performances with the goal to win first place and receive $2,000.

a self-written poem focused on the integrity and empowerment of women in society.

Jerleine Capobres recites

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

The panel of judges observe and applaud the participants for their performances. Saturday, March 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

This weekend’s Student Association talent

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

Jack Bell performs a poem about his experiences throughout life and how they have pushed him to where he is today.

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

Students, family and community members filled the seats of the talent show to watch the prepared performances.

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

Nicolas Johnson performs the song "Great Balls of Fire."

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

How to improve mental health through your food

Kiana Oliver Graduate Assistant

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

Congratulations! It’s postspring break, and you’ve made it through your first week. Whatever your spring break adventures were, returning to your busy college life can feel impossible. To add to the stress, maybe you’re going through a bad relationship, the loss of a loved one, emotional turmoil, etc., and you don’t know how to cope. With summer break feeling so far away, how can you improve

your mental health during this chaotic time?

Food. We eat it, plan our days around it, socialize with it, and it can positively or negatively influence our lives. But here’s something you might not know: There is a relationship between nutrition and mental health. Uma Naidoo is an expert on gut-brain connection. She is a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist and professionally trained chef. If those credentials don’t sound impressive enough, she’s also the director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the author of “This Is Your Brain on Food.” (2020)

Naidoo describes the brain and gut as having a long-distance but lifelong relationship. This can seem like a very complicated topic, but remember: Gut bacteria have a profound effect on mental health because they are responsible for making many of the brain’s chemicals, i.e., glutamate, GABA, serotonin and dopamine.

As noted by Naidoo, anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorder in the United States. If you’ve felt that nauseated, knotted feeling in your stomach before a big test, you’ve already experienced the connection between anxious feelings

and your gut. Before exploring foods that can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and other mental health disorders, Naidoo advises avoiding the Western or standard American diet. Although it’s tempting to skip cooking and pick up some fast food, the Western diet is filled with bad fats, high-GI carbs (i.e., fried food and sweetened drinks) and plenty of red meat. As a result, you could be feeding your symptoms.

Instead, Naidoo recommends eating the following: high-fiber foods (beans, brown rice and bananas), fermented foods (yogurt, kombucha, miso and pickled vegetables), tryptophan

(turkey and chickpeas), herbs (lavender, passionflower and chamomile) and turmeric spice. On a related note, what do you eat if you’re experiencing depression? According to Naidoo, you can fight depression by embracing foods rich in probiotics (yogurt, tempeh, kimchi and certain cheeses), prebiotics (bananas, garlic and onions), healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, nut butters and avocados), herbs (oregano) and saffron and turmeric spices. These are only a few examples of beneficial gut-brain-boosting foods, so if you want to learn more, pick up a copy of Naidoo’s “This Is Your Brain on Food.”

SPORTS

The Final Four is set: Teams punch their tickets to Houston

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

This past weekend in college basketball, the Sweet 16 turned into the Final Four. Now, if a fan had seen the teams that made it to the Final Four at the start of the tournament, they would have believed someone just pressed a randomizer on their bracket. This year’s March Madness saw a lot more madness than usual.

The first team that was able to secure its place in the Final Four was the ninth-seeded FAU. FAU, or Florida Atlantic University, is a school located in Boca Raton, a city in South Florida. FAU plays its conference games

in a small conference called Conference USA, where they won the tournament, allowing them to enter March Madness in the first place. The Owls’ path to the Final Four saw them beating Memphis, FDU, Tennessee and Kansas State.

The next team that punched its ticket to Houston was fourth-seeded UConn, the highest remaining seed left in the tournament. UConn has been one of the most dominant teams in the tournament, with none of its games being close at all. The Huskies beat Iona, Saint

Mary’s, Arkansas and Gonzaga to get to the Final Four.

The third team that made it to the Final Four might be the best defensive team still in the tournament. The fifth-seeded San Diego State Aztecs (the team I hope wins the tournament) might have had to play the hardest team to even get to the Final Four. San Diego State defeated Charleston, Furman, Alabama and Creighton. Alabama, one of the favorites to win the tournament, was leading San Diego State in the second half, but the Aztecs were able to rally and win.

The last team to make its way to the Final Four is another team from South Florida. Fifth-seeded Miami was able to secure its spot in the Final Four by beating some of the best teams in the tournament. The Hurricanes beat Drake, Indiana, Houston and Texas to secure its place in Houston, where the Final Four and championship game will be played. Two of the teams Miami played were high seeded, with Houston as a number one seed and Texas as a number two seed in their respective regions of the bracket.

The Final Four will be very ex-

citing this year, with three of the four teams making their first appearances in it. FAU, San Diego State and Miami have never made the Final Four before, so they could all win their very first national championship. This year is also the first year ever when a one to three-seeded team didn’t advance to the Final Four.

The Final Four games start on Saturday, April 1, with San Diego State playing FAU at 6:09 p.m. Miami vs. UConn will follow at 8:49 p.m. These games will be showcased on CBS.

“The third team that made it to the Final Four might be the best defensive team still in the tournament.”

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

“Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorder in the United States.”

(Photo sourced from: UnSplash)

OPINION

Adventist boarding academies are too strict

Allison Grundy Contributor

Editor’s Note: The Accent encourages readers to respond to opinion articles with a letter to the editor. While publication is not guaranteed, we will do our best to keep open conversations and engage a wide spectrum of opinions held on campus.

When I talk about my experience in an Adventist boarding academy, many people, particularly non-adventists, ask me what I did to make my parents send me away during my vulnerable teen years. From my perspective, I see my parents sending me to boarding school as an act of mercy and love during that particular time in my life. However, the reaction that some people have towards

my experience makes me wonder — is this normal?

Adventist boarding academies have been around for over 100 years and are meant to be safe, fun, educational facilities that keep Adventist values at the center. With such a mission in mind, these schools are known for their strict rules, from dress code to relationships between students. Unfortunately, sometimes these rules go too far.

In an interview, a Southern student who was expelled from an Adventist Boarding Academy for kissing another student said, “These schools have the right intentions but sometimes care about the rules more than the students.”

Such a punishment for a simple act of affection appears to be a bit of an overreaction. With circumstances such as these, schools seem to turn to punishment before they turn to guidance.

My last year at boarding academy, I had the opportunity to be a resident’s assistant in the girls dorm. That year, I was able to see more of the hardships of dorm life. From recreational drug use to pregnancy scares, students found ways to break the rules. When students were caught, it was heartbreaking to see them get punished when, really, they needed help. It seemed that the rules were not enough; there was something missing.

I think there were times when students would have actually benefited from less strict rules. For example, if students were allowed to hold hands on campus, perhaps they would not jump to go farther the moment they had time alone.

In the results of an informal social media poll, the majority of Southern students who went to boarding academy and participated in the poll had many positive things to say about their experiences. Students had the option to further explain and said they enjoyed the time with friends and the close community. Students mentioned that some of the difficulties included the food choices, drama and

homesickness. In the same social media poll, 66% of Southern students who answered said that going to boarding academy helped them adjust to college. The poll revealed that although there are many hardships in boarding school, many people do look back fondly on their time there. Looking back, I do appreciate a lot of memories I made in boarding school, but there were some things that did not make sense to me. I think the schools could do a better job enforcing and explaining rules to students, guiding them instead of punishing them, teaching them to do what is right rather than restricting them from what is wrong.

RELIGION

The Bible can sometimes be like people. We live with them so closely that we forget who they are. Many times, I’ve found myself reading a chapter of the Bible only to realize that its meaning has been worn to a nub. I’ve crashed my way through certain passages so many times looking for hope that I don’t notice the hope anymore. It’s still there, but I’m not. I flip through the Bible and find I’m miles away, walking down some other street, thinking a thousand other thoughts eight steps removed from the passage I’m reading.

And I wonder what’s wrong.

Maybe you’ve felt the same way, thumbing through your Bible every morning looking for something new in pages that feel so old and so familiar, so

impossibly inapplicable. Take Psalm 23, for example:

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters; He restores my soul … ” The syllables roll over you like water over stones. The meaning slips by unnoticed, regular and familiar.

I felt this way about Psalm 23 for a while until I read a chapter from the late Christian counselor David Powlison’s book “Seeing with New Eyes.” He encouraged rewriting the psalms as “anti-psalms.” This exercise lends to a deeper knowledge of the original psalm by contemplating its opposite.

The following is the anti-psalm I wrote of Psalm 23:

“The Lord is not my Shepherd; and I want. But I never feel like

I have enough. I constantly need more. And it makes me mad when I can’t have it.

I won’t let anyone tell me what will satisfy me. How should they know? Sometimes I wonder why I’m so broken when I do everything to make sure I am well cared for. Even though I know it’s not working, I won’t let anyone tell me I am doing something wrong. I go where I want to go because I know what I need better than anyone.

Well, I guess I’ll admit it sometimes leads me into tight circumstances. Sometimes it’s like death has his hand on my shoulder. It’s one thing I am afraid of, death. When he comes near, I’m terrified. It makes me realize I’m alone. And we all know which one of us has the upper hand.

But even when death isn’t nearby, other people are, and they are always against me. I can’t stand them not liking me. And when they are around I can’t stop to rest. I am always nervous, and I always feel half empty no matter how much I try to find fulfillment.

It’s like I’m always chased by bad things. Sadness is my constant companion.

Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever feel secure. Or if I’ll ever get to settle down. Maybe not until the grave. Yes, now that I think of it, that’s where I’ll finally feel safe.”

After doing this exercise with Psalm 23, I realized how little the principles I live by reflect the spirit of the Psalms. Often, they are exactly the opposite. Filled with fear and confusion, des-

peration and turmoil — the last thing in my mind as I tumble through life is, “I shall not want.” I do want! How could I not?

Like a mirror, the anti-psalm revealed parts of me that were incongruent with the Word. And the revelation had its effect. I threw myself back upon the original psalm. Next to the familiar sin of my own heart, the psalm suddenly felt tangible, vibrant and unfamiliar. It could hold my weight when I reached out to it for help.

I believe each passage in the Bible is similarly tangible. As it says in Hebrews 4:12, “The Word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword.” But sometimes we have to intentionally interact with it until what sounds so familiar to our ears finds a lasting home in our hearts.

“With such a mission in mind, these schools are known for their strict rules, from dress code to relationships between students. Unfortunately, sometimes these rules go too far.” (Photo sourced from: Pexels)

“The Lord is not my shepherd, and I want: The anti-psalm as a spiritual exercise”

Madison Wilcox

Religion Editor

“Many times, I’ve found myself reading a chapter of the Bible only to realize that its meaning has been worn to a nub.”

(Photo by: Felix Mittermeier)

Going out of your way for others: How important is your own convenience?

Elise Deschamps Lifestyle Editor

I don’t think that being selfless is our default setting as humans. Oftentimes, we want what is easy, what is most convenient for us. We don’t want to constantly do favors for others. When asked to do something, we may even think, “What can I gain from doing this? How will this affect my own life? How is this beneficial to me?”

I’m not saying we all absolutely detest doing things for other people, as I don’t think selfishness is a black-or-white issue. Even selfishness is too harsh of a word; perhaps a “strong-preference-to-not-bebothered” is better. I’m not going to lie, this mindset used to be my default setting. Not that long ago, if I didn’t have to disrupt my own routine or schedule, I wouldn’t. I didn’t feel the need to do more work than the bare minimum.

If I wanted to get out of something, I’d make half-hearted excuses. I was so attached to my own convenience, to what would make my life easier, that I completely disregarded the fact that my actions have effects on those around me.

And although my default mindset has definitely shifted, there are small, selfish tendencies I am still working on.

After all, I’m getting this article in two days past the deadline, to an amazing team of editors who rely on me to get my work done on time. Because whether or not I wanted to get this assignment done before the weekend doesn’t really matter. The fact is that it isn’t about me; it’s about contributing to something larger than myself.

Before I get into this more, let’s make something clear. There’s the other side of the spectrum where one can be

too selfless. This can look like saying “yes” to too many things when you’re already overwhelmed with things to do. This can look like neglecting your own personal needs to constantly be there for others. Being too selfless can be a slippery slope for those who are people-pleasers (If you don’t know what this is, I definitely recommend Googling it!) or who have a hard time drawing boundaries. Like I said, it’s really not so black and white. And it’s really hard to strike the balance between taking care of yourself and making sure you are intentional with the people in your life.

I want you to think about the people you know you can rely on. Whom do you call if your car breaks down? Think of the people who check in on you and ask how you are doing, really? Think about the people

who always consider the other person’s perspective in a situation, even if they are the one who is hurt. Now think, have you proven to be the same person that they would call while stranded on the road? We need to consider the intentions behind our actions. What motivates our good deeds? Are we trying to climb the social or workplace ladder? Do we want to do things for others so that they perceive us as a certain type of person and to control our image? What is it that we are looking to gain?

Some may argue that intentions don’t matter because your actions are what actually define you. But I can’t help but wonder: If you were to take away any sort of material or social benefit from your action, would you still do it? And if you wouldn’t, what does that say about how truly selfless you are?

I have learned that there is nothing more gratifying than going out of my way to show kindness to another person with no expectation of anything in return. I now know that sharing kindness with another person in a pure, unconditional and unexpecting way is far more fulfilling than focusing on my own worldly benefits. Because what you gain from doing your best to reflect the Divine’s unconditional love and kindness is a sense of peace and comfort deeper than any selfish convenience.

It boils down to this: What matters more? A life that is constantly comfortable, convenient to me and as easy as possible, or a life that may be a little less convenient but full of shared and joyful moments of connection with others?

“We need to consider the intentions behind our actions. What motivates our good deeds? Are we trying to climb the social or workplace ladder?”

Dear Kevin

Dear Kevin: What will I do if TikTok gets banned?

Dear reader: I, too, am at the edge of my nest wondering if our beloved late-night scroll-inducing app will cease to exist at any moment. I feel helpless in this situation, as the outcome seems to be out of our hands now. But, I can offer you some activities that could help occupy your new-found freetime:

Sleep: On average, I have to scroll through at least 30 TikToks before I can fall asleep at night, and I stick to this regimen religiously, no matter how late my day ends or how early my next morning is going to be. If you’re anything like me, the absence of TikTok might mean less scrolling and more snoring.

Crochet: You could pick up some hooks and yarn and get to work creating a one-of-a-kind blanket or beanie for a friend. This hobby is stress-relieving, enhances your hand eye coordination and can be done in conjunction with other activities like talking to your Mom on the phone or watching TV. The best part? In no time, you’ll have a really cool, tangible item to show for your hard, but relaxing work.

Read a book: When was the last time you picked up a physical book to read that wasn’t a textbook? Due to the high-sensory, stimulating nature of TikTok, it’s common to find yourself less and less able to devour the words of a novel like you once did. TikTok provides bright flashing images and new information every few seconds, and that probably isn’t the best for your mind or your attention span.

Dear Kevin: How do you make time for self-care when your schedule is packed?

Dear Hopeful Human: Sometimes it seems nearly impossible to make time for self care with the bustle of college life. As a duck I can’t relate. My life is fairly carefree. But I have known students to sit for long periods of time on their phone, scrolling through social media. This may seem like a numbing disconnect from the stress of schoolwork, but the Newport Institute reports that “zombie scrolling” is connected with poor mental health. Utilize the time you are using social media to take care of your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. Identify your self-care goals and prioritize them. Try carrying a book or journal with you. Try setting alarms to keep your scrolling at a minimum. Take a walk by my pond. You might even see me there.

(Photos sourced from: UnSplash)

Mackenzie Jezierski

Stephany Munoz

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