Southern Accent Vol. 78, Issue 21

Southern Accent

Southern Adventist University students to host second ‘Fight Night’ community boxing event

Kari Shultz to retire after 24 years at Southern Adventist University

After attendance exceeded expectations last year, Southern Adventist University students Jake D’Avanzo, senior marketing major, and Cole Gentry, sophomore marketing major, are hosting a second Fight Night, an off-campus boxing event open to the community.

Fight Night is not affiliated with the university, but Southern students are participating as fighters.

As of Tuesday morning, the event was postponed to

Saturday, April 15, due to weather. Doors to the preevent will open at 5:30 p.m. Updates will be posted on Fight Night’s Instagram: @ fight_night_2023.

Fights will begin at 8 p.m., according to Gentry. However, the hosts are planning to open the gates at 6 p.m., as there will be carnival games, a petting zoo, food and apparel to buy beforehand, said D’Avanzo. Nick Thompson, sophomore nursing major (stage name Rapper 407 NJT) will perform

at halftime. The location has not changed since last year, and the address will be announced on Instagram.

Fight Night is a cash-only event. There will be a $5 entry fee and $10 parking fee. D’Avanzo and Gentry heavily encourage carpooling. VIP tickets, which can be purchased at the event or before, cost $100 and offer multiple benefits, including priority parking and seating, entry, a meal and apparel. Ticket details were posted on instagram.

The idea of Fight Night began near the beginning of 2022, when Gentry was at D'Avanzo's house and said he’d like to organize a boxing event.

“Everyone laughed at me in the house except for Jake,” Gentry said.

“I said, ‘Let’s do it,’” D’Avanzo added.

The two students began brainstorming and were able to secure Rocky Top Excavation as their sponsor. They created a team of organizers, See FIGHT NIGHT on page 2

Kari Shultz, the ever-present director of student life and activities who has held the position since its inception, is retiring after 24 years at Southern Adventist University. In an interview with the Accent, Shultz said her experience has been an adventure, and she has loved every step of the journey — the highs and the lows.

Shultz first interviewed for a Southern position in 1993. She had always wanted to be a dean, and the job she applied for was in Thatcher Hall. Though she didn’t get that particular position, Bill Wohlers, vice president of Student Services at the time, didn’t forget her, and six years later told her about a Southern position he thought she should apply for. Shultz said she turned in one of 40

See KARI SHULTZ on page 3

Southern Village to add three new apartment buildings

Matthew Orquia

News Editor

Three more apartment buildings will be added to Southern Village to increase student housing options, according to Marty Hamilton, senior vice president for Financial Administration. The first building is planned to be ready by fall of 2024 while the second and third are planned for completion soon after.

Southern Village currently has 10 apartment buildings that hold 32 students per building, according to Hamilton. Each new building is expected to cost around $2 million and will hold 32 students.

In addition to the new building, more parking will be added to Southern Village as well, with 13 spots being added this summer. Additional parking is planned for the future, according to Hamilton.

“I'm working on adding some parking as one of the priorities so that we can take some pressure off of students not finding a place to park,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton cited the rising cost of rent for off-campus housing as one of the reasons why having more on-campus housing options is important.

“All the rental rates out here just skyrocketed in the last year. … So, all of a sudden, I think they saw it as more expensive,” Hamilton said. "But, on the positive side, we love to have our students in our campus environment. Hopefully we’re connecting you to friends, programming and activities of one kind or another.”

Developing more student housing is part of Southern Adventist University’s plan to keep up with increasing enrollment, according to Hamilton. Housing pressure is typically highest in fall semesters and drops in winter semesters, so Southern is working to be ready for fall of 2024.

“We're doing everything we can to figure out housing options for our students,” Hamilton said.

Enrollment was up 100 students last year, and based on administration’s projections, Southern is expecting more growth in the upcoming semesters, Hamilton explained. As the university continues to plan housing for the future, he said Southern is moving away from building more residence halls.

“We’ve been migrating to doing more apartment-style living for the upperclassmen,” Hamilton said.

"We're everythingdoing we can to figure out optionshousing for students.”our

Amanda Blake Managing Editor

Alex Farfan (left) and Emrik Milis (right) spar. The fighters boxed at last year's Fight Night. Saturday, April 30, 2022 (Photo by: Preston Waters)

Alana Crosby Editor-in-Chief

Southern Village currently has 10 apartment buildings that hold 32 students per building. (Photo by: Preston Waters )

FIGHT NIGHT

continued from page 1

videographers and graphic designers. D’Avanzo said the event came together quickly, and he predicted that 500 people would come. Gentry predicted 250.

To their surprise, nearly 1,000 individuals attended, said D’Avanzo. Gentry estimates between 50% and 75% of the attendees were Southern students.

When asked how many people they expect to attend this year, Gentry said, “I expect a few hundred to show up, and I’ll be happy with anything else.”

“I like that — humble beginnings,” D’Avanzo responded. “I like to stay humble as well, but we are … very much prepared for the possibility of hitting in the 2,000 range.”

This year, the team expanded and diversified the roster. Twelve individuals are contracted to fight, and about 75% are current Southern students, said Gentry. Last year’s Fight Night featured only male fighters, but this year, female Southern students Destini Evans, freshman public relations major, and Lexi Kaufman, freshman management major, will spar.

One of the fighters is former Southern student Jacob Sarmina. He agreed to partici-

pate because he loves boxing.

“I hope when people see me fight, they can see more of what boxing is actually about,” he wrote to the Accent. “Boxing isn’t a sport

through a gym downtown, where they’ve been training.

“When they're under that gym, [Fight Night] is officially a sparring event,” D’Avanzo said. “ … It's a sparring match, and all we do is host that sporting event [for] the public.”

Both D’Avanzo and Gentry described Fight Night as a God-oriented event. When asked how Fight Night aligns with Christian values, Gentry said he rejects the idea that a Christian cannot be a boxer, as the Christian community represents a broad spectrum of interests and beliefs.

For most of his childhood, Gentry lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia, close to the biggest naval base in the world, located in Norfolk, Virginia.

“My true purpose for this is I wanted to create an environment where people could come together and not have to party,” Gentry said. “ … I think there’s a really big misconception that if you’re going to a Christian college you can’t really have fun, … and I think that’s inaccurate. I want to show that you can have good, clean fun with your friends in different settings and still go to church the next day and feel good about yourself.”

D’Avanzo said the staff and

various walks of life together.

“You have a lot of these festivals that go on around school, on campus, off campus, but they're very niche,” Gentry said. “And so is boxing. But I feel like boxing really brings a lot of people together, and it enables a community that normally wouldn't come together to come together. I also think the sport of martial arts is a very important sport to promote because it's self-defense, it's wellness and it's creating a healthy environment for those around you and yourself.”

The energy surrounding this year’s Fight Night is high, according to D’Avanzo and Gentry.

of violence or a barbaric competition of who is crazier in the ring. Boxing is a dance, a very technical sport. Boxing takes dedication and discipline, and it has brought a lot of good to my life.”

Like last year, emergency medical technicians will stand near the fighters, an experienced referee will officiate and security guards will patrol to keep the crowd safe and enforce the event’s no-alcohol policy, according to Gentry and D’Avanzo. They said that the twelve boxers, who will wear protective gear, are insured as fighters

“A lot of the big Navy guys, they did martial arts and things like that, and every Saturday they’d come to church and be just as involved as everybody else,” he said.

The town was very secular, Gentry explained, and he struggled with his religion as a Seventh-day Adventist when he couldn’t play football on Friday nights. His hometown experience inspired him to create a martial arts event Adventists could attend that emulates what many young people see as “the college experience” while remaining God-oriented.

fighters pray before the event, and Gentry added that he prayed on stage last year. He and D’Avanzo plan to repeat those prayers this year.

Gentry also described Fight Night as unifying. He created the event to bring people from

“[Last year], I remember I would hear a lot of people say, ‘I'll come if I'm free,’” D’Avanzo said. “Whereas this year, it's more so, ‘I'm going to make sure I'm free so I can come.’”

“I don’t really walk anywhere without getting a question about it from people who, sometimes, I haven’t even met yet,” Gentry added.

Editor’s Note: Houston Beckworth, freshman archeology and biblical studies major, contributed to this article by interviewing D’Avanzo and Gentry and sharing the audio and transcripts with the Accent. The Accent also interviewed D’Avanzo and Gentry.

Intramurals set records in student participation

Alexis Dewey Staff Writer

More students than ever have been participating in Southern Adventist University’s intramural program over the past few years, according to Troy Walker, associate professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology and director of intramurals.

“[The program has] been steadily increasing over the last few years, including [during] COVID,” Walker said in an interview with the Accent.

At Southern, students can participate in intramurals throughout both semesters to play a variety of sports, including softball, volleyball, basketball, pickleball

and more. Walker said he found it strange that even during COVID19, when participants had to play basketball with masks on, the students set a record in participation that year as well.

“They came out in droves to play basketball in masks with weird rules,” Walker said. “But it was so important to have that social atmosphere in that dire time of need; this was the perfect outlet.”

Another thing that surprised Walker and his team is the number of participants in each class division. Typically, according to Walker’s sta-

tistics, the sophomore and junior classes have the most participants in intramurals. However, in the fall and winter semesters of this school year, the freshman class has supplied the most players, according to Walker. He said this is new and a bit unusual, as he doesn’t recall ever seeing the freshman class with the most participation.

The most popular sport this year, in regard to the number of students participating, was volleyball. This year, there were 96 volleyball teams and 701 participants total. Students could play on two teams (both their

gender’s team and a co-ed team), but 701 signifies each player participating with no repeats for those on multiple teams. The second highest year was 2020 with 518 participants, according to Walker.

“Female participants in sports has always been lower, and it’s been a struggle,” he said.

However, within the last year or two the number of female participants has also increased, Walter explained, “so, that’s just a good thing to see.”

Walker and his team are aware that intramurals keep expanding every year. When

asked if he thinks there will ever be a point when they have to limit the number of participants in intramurals, Walker said the school doesn’t ever plan on capping the number of students playing.

“The whole point is to participate,” Walker said.

He added that he cannot take credit for the growth in participation.

“It has nothing to do with me. It has a lot to do with my workers,” said Walker. “Any good intramurals program is a student-reffed program.”

Stefan Ullrich prepares to kick a soccer ball during an intramural game. April 14, 2022. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Cole Gentry, co-creator of Fight Night, MCs the event.

(Photo by Jordan Jablonski)

Jake D'Avanzo, co-creator of Fight Night, poses for a picture.

(Photo by Jordan Jablonski)

KARI SHULTZ

continued from page 1 applications for the job and was chosen as the first director of student life and activities.

“Twenty-four years ago, I started out with a mission,” Shultz said. “I wanted to make this job a fun one. I wanted to interact with students, and I wanted to hopefully help administration see that this is not a one-person job.

“My favorite part of the job is just talking to students,” she added. “And if they come in not feeling so good, sending them out with a smile on their faces, it just warms my heart.”

Shultz tearfully explained that the hardest part of retiring will be leaving the students and faculty at Southern. But she looks forward to traveling after her retirement, she said, and visiting her sisters, as well as volunteering and subbing at the university.

“So, not gone; you’ll see me,” she said.

Shultz has been the driving force behind numerous campus activities and heavily involved in many aspects of student life. She said she is the “mother” of Student Association (SA) and has

loved getting to know SA officers over her 24 years in the position. She works closely with SA social vice presidents and continues to be friends with many of them to this day.

Erla Trevedan, SA’s current social vice president, wrote in an email to the Accent that she has worked with Shultz for two years and is grateful for her leadership and kindness.

“I am so thankful for her. She is truly one of the kindest people!” Trevedan wrote.

“I do not think I could have completed the social vice president role without her. She is aware of everything that is going on, who to contact for everything and any details I might have missed.

“I feel comfortable talking to her about anything big or small, SA-related and not,” Trevedan added, “I am sad next year's SA will not have her as a sponsor, but I am so happy for her! She works so hard, having big events about every single weekend; so I am happy she will be able to take a break and rest from her busy work schedule.”

Shultz said she has loved collaborating with different departments and clubs on campus and finding ways to make ideas turn into reality. For example, Shultz helped

the SA president’s dream of 423 Night come to fruition and has been pleased to see it grow. She also mentioned the Band-Aid Fund, which was created by one of the classes in the School of Business. The fund is used to help students in unique situations of need overcome one-time financial obstacles.

Of all of Shultz’s achieve -

ments on campus, her favorite is having students come back to her and realizing that she made a difference in their lives, she said.

“Some [instances] I know because I [worked with the students] very closely, but for students whom I didn't interact with on a regular basis— for them to come back and say, ‘We enjoy The Week -

“

ender.' Or, 'We enjoyed activities that you provided.’ It's just like, ‘Wow, I guess I did make a difference,’ and didn't always realize that I was.”

Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, works closely with Shultz. He wrote in an email to the Accent that while he knew her retirement was coming up, it caught him a little by surprise.

“It’s been a joy to work with Kari. She makes my job so much easier,” Negrón wrote.

… Kari has reached Lebron James’ level of fame because, like Lebron, everyone who mentions her name in conversation knows that everyone else recognizes who you’re talking about. That sort of impact will be hard to replace.”

Shultz said she has appreciated the opportunity to work with phenomenal students and facilitate collaborations on campus. Building relationships throughout the years means she can call on others when necessary, she added, knowing they will almost always come through.

“It's been a long ride; it's been a good one, and I’m gonna miss people,” Shultz said. “It's hard to put down a job that you've done for this long and loved.”

Hall of Fame to be displayed in Hulsey Wellness Center

Hannah Johnson Reporter

Student Association (SA) is starting a new project in collaboration with the intramural program to display “Hall of Fame” plaques featuring the names of players who win championships on a wall in the Hulsey Wellness Center.

The plaques will focus on men’s A-league and B-league teams and women’s A-league teams. According to Troy Walker, professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology and director of intramurals, some will likely be put up this month. Walker added that the current plan is to place the plaques in the hallway between Hulsey and Iles Gym.

Although SA is involved in several programs across campus, its involvement in intramurals has been lacking in recent years, said Kenneth Bautista, senior

finance major and current SA president. SA started intramurals around the 1970s, and then the School of Health and Kinesiology took control of the program. Recently, members of SA began wondering how to become involved again to reach more students.

Starting this year, SA officers have become more involved by buying Southern players Gatorade during a volleyball tournament. Next, they gave Gatorade to both teams during the basketball championship and sponsored a halftime show. The group also came up with the idea to create Hall of Fame plaques.

“I think [introducing Hall of Fame plaques] is an exciting way to showcase our students' sports,” said Bautista. “We don't have a competitive sports team, but [Southern’s] intramurals is one of the best. It’s

a highlight of the year; it’s a booming program. [There are] tons of students that go to watch and play. I just feel like it was something that could boost the program a little more.”

Bautista and Walker want to set up plaques showcasing championship teams from multiple sports. The plaques will feature the names of each student on the championship team, they said, and hopefully encourage students to compete harder to get their names on the wall.

“Student Association really is about supporting students and making sure students have the best time here on campus,” Bautista said. “This is just a little way that we can help make sports a bit more competitive and a little more fun. We are trying to give credit to the teams that win.”

Driver arrested after alleged involvment in high-speed chase on campus

Jeremy Lee Logan, the driver allegedly involved in the highspeed chase that took place on Southern Adventist University’s campus on Oct. 7, has been arrested and taken into custody by the Collegedale Police Department (CPD), according to a post made on the department’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Logan was first taken into custody by Bradley County law enforcement–the county in which Logan is a resident, according to Assistant Chief Jamie Heath.

“Once we were advised that he was being held at the Bradley County Jail on our warrants, we transported him to the Hamilton County Jail,” Heath wrote in an email to the Accent. “Chief Sapp and the Collegedale Police Department appreciate our partnering agencies who continued to help us locate and finally arrest Jermey Lee Logan as he remained on the move to avoid capture.”

Logan was allegedly involved

with two pursuits involving the Collegedale police and was successfully able to evade

law enforcement during both chases, according to a previous Accent article.

cle into Bradley County, but terminated the pursuit due to safety reasons. The second pursuit occurred in Oct. 2022 when Logan drove through Southern’s campus, endangering students and other drivers, according to Heath.

The subsequent crash at the end of Camp Road during the October pursuit assisted CPD officers in identifying Logan as the alleged driver involved in both pursuits.

He has been charged with four felonies and six misdemeanors, including two charges of evading arrests, two charges of driving on a revoked license, tampering with evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, vandalism and aggravated assault on law enforcement, according to the post.

Logan is currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail with an $18,000 bond, and his court date has been set for April 2 at 3 p.m.

Jeremy Lee Logan (Photo courtesy of source)

Elsie Pak

Collegedale News Editor

Shultz drives a tractor at a local tractor show.

(Photo courtesy of Kari Shultz)

“I think [introducing Hall of Fame plaques] is an exciting way to showcase our students' sports,”

(Photo by: Preston Waters)

The first pursuit took place in May of 2022 where CPD officers chased Logan’s vehi -

Asian Night

Sydney Pak watches the festivities at Asian Night. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Students representing Japan and other countries pose on stage to close out the show. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)

Students perform a traditional Chinese dance. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)

Ethan Dee concludes Asian Night by thanking those who contributed to its success. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Students represent South Korea by performing Taekwondo, led by Joonbum Lee. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)

Josep Garcia, Andrew Pakkianathan and other performers represent India on stage through song and dance. Saturday, April 1, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Dear Southern Accent: Things we wished our counseling clients knew

Kiana Oliver Graduate Assistant

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

Maybe you’ve gone to counseling before, or you’re just getting started. Some of you might be interested, but you feel too intimidated by the process. As a graduate counseling student, I know it can sound weird to share about your private life with a stranger. Hopefully, this article can give you some answers. Without further ado, here are a few things that your counselor wished you knew:

all of my problems solved? The simple answer is that counseling is not a magical solution. Although we want the best for our clients, we don’t have the ability to make everything 100% okay. Trust in the therapeutic process, and express your concerns or frustrations to your counselor.

Counseling isn’t always about talking.

We make mistakes.

Counselors are imperfect human beings, and we don’t always get things right. Sometimes we make mistakes in our scheduling or we don’t always know the best way to respond. So we always appreciate our clients showing us grace and patience.

Therapy isn’t always easy.

my classmates and I to listen to our clients’ innermost thoughts. Although our clients can bring us very challenging problems, we want you to be honest when sharing your story.

Therapy is hard work.

your progress and whether therapy has been working for you.

We are so proud of you.

You won’t see results immediately.

Wait, so what’s the big deal about counseling if I don’t get

Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk! If you’re really introverted or you believe that actions speak louder than words, counseling can sound like a nightmare. But despite what TV shows and movies depict, counseling involves more than just chatting. Your counselor may challenge your thinking patterns or behaviors. Some counselors may even give you homework assignments.

Sometimes counseling sessions can be rough, and you might even feel worse afterward. However, schedule some time to relax and reflect after your sessions. Most importantly, have hope that your hard work will pay off.

Don’t worry about shocking or offending us.

It is not your job to worry about the emotional wellbeing of your counselor. As a student, my professors are training

You might feel like you’re really making progress while having amazing 45 or 60-minute sessions with your counselor. However, you might quickly revert to your old thinking or behavioral patterns when you leave the counseling office. If this sounds familiar, this is a harsh wakeup call: Therapy will not be successful if you don’t put in the work. Counseling is similar to your physical health: You can’t expect to be super fit if you never visit the gym outside of your P.E. class. Likewise, your counselor wants to hear about

As counselors, we feel pride whenever you schedule your next appointment or walk through the door for your weekly session. Therapy isn’t easy, and it can require a lot of dedication. For some clients, we understand that just inquiring about counseling can be a huge step. So we are proud of your willingness to make positive changes in your life. Have faith.

“It is not your job to worry about the emotional wellbeing of your counselor.”

SPORTS

MLB returns: Baseball season is underway

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

Every spring, the return of baseball gets fans super excited. This season will not be an exception, with some new rules making their way into the MLB.

The season’s start is already on the books, with players returning to the field on Thursday, March 30. This year, many teams will try to either make their return to the playoffs or continue rebuilding.

The Houston Astros (my least favorite team in baseball) will look to repeat as World Series champions after the team defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in

six games last year. The Astros started this season as heavy favorites to repeat as well.

The Phillies added star power to help them win it all. The Phillies made a splash signing Trea Turner this off-season. Turner is a former Los Angeles Dodger who had a spectacular 2022 season, achieving MLB firstteam status as a shortstop.

The Dodgers, a team that seems to struggle every year in the month of October, will look to end its cycle of defeats in the playoffs. The Dodgers have plenty of star power to

win the World Series as well. Other teams will look to hoist the trophy in their cities. Some that might make a run in the playoffs include the Atlanta Braves, the San Diego Padres, the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

This year, the MLB has implemented some new rules. For the first time ever, a pitching clock has been added with the intention of shorting baseball games. The clock has different rules depending on if there are players on the bases or not.

The pitcher gets 15 seconds to throw if there are no runners on base but 20 seconds if there are. The clock starts once the pitcher catches the ball from the catcher, and the clock will run until the pitcher makes his release. A violation by the pitcher will result in an automatic ball. The batter can also get a violation for not being ready, which will result in an automatic strike. The rule will certainly change fans’ experiences as baseball moves forward.

Another new rule is the ban of the shift. In prior seasons, teams

were allowed to have their fielders shift depending on where the batter primarily hit, but this season, defensive realignment won’t be allowed. It will be only a matter of time, though, until teams find a loophole to this rule. Regular season baseball will continue until the playoffs start in October. Until then, expect the unexpected.

(Editor’s Note: My pick to win the World Series this year is the Atlanta Braves. My team might be the worst team in baseball, but that’s ok. Go Oakland A’s!)

Lastly, remember verses such as Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (NIV). “The season’s start is already on the books, with players

returning to the field on Thursday, March

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

OPINION

The myth of gurus: Why blindly following them can be harmful

TJ Simmons Contributor

Summers in Texas should be illegal. As children, we would hide indoors from the sun’s rays, fearful of their wrath. A good air conditioner made a person feel like a shaded, fanned prince in a desert oasis. In the summer of 2018, I fell into a temporary stage of asceticism, which the dictionary defines as “severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.” I didn’t yet know the word “asceticism,” but I was searching for something to fill an existential and spiritual hole.

During that period of my life, I once tried to find enlightenment by spending a day eating only onions and drinking banana juice. It didn’t taste as bad as you might think, but I’d never recommend it to anyone. I thought maybe, if I could somehow lack enough, I’d reach whatever enlightenment I was searching for.

To achieve this goal, I largely stuck to my Adventist sensibilities but sprinkled in some influences from Buddhism that I’d gleaned from a TV show. I sat outside for hours, meditating and stinking up the air with my abrasive onion and banana juice breath. One thorough study on chakras (energy centers located in the body) and several trips to the bathroom later, I hadn’t become enlightened, only a bit lighter.

No one told me to drink the onion and banana juice. I’d seen a character in a show drink it as part of his journey to enlightenment. A guru told him to.

What comes to mind when you think of a guru? Is it the stereotypical image of a malnourished, bald person with a long beard sitting crisscross-applesauce? Today’s gurus come in many shapes and sizes. Social media has made building a platform easier than

ever. With that accessibility, anyone - for better or for worse - can be a guru.

Gwyneth Paltrow used to be in the news for her acting. In recent years, Paltrow’s name is associated with lifestyle advice. Her wellness website, “goop” (the lowercase “g” is intentional), provides access to supplements, fashion, makeup, furniture, books and more. In a recent interview on the podcast, “The Art of Being Well,” Paltrow said she enjoyed trying ozone therapy. Ozone therapy is when ozone gas is introduced to the body internally.

Now, ozone is a good thing when it is high in the Earth’s atmosphere and protects us from the sun’s radiation. At our altitudes, excess ozone from cars and industrial gases causes breathing problems and death. But the Paltrows of the world, in their unprofessional opinions, believe that ozone strengthens the immune

system, reduces inflammation, improves circulation and stops infections. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disagrees strongly, stating that ozone is toxic. The FDA doesn’t have any autographed merch to sell, but Paltrow does. Who do you believe?

The seemingly opposite kind of wellness influencer is Brian Johnson, also known as the “Liver King.” His brand champions a way of life called “ancestral living” that seeks to achieve better health, energy and mindset through eating copious amounts of raw meat.

As the name “Liver King” suggests, Johnson loves parts of the animal that some Americans find undesirable: liver, bone marrow, heart, and brains. He claims these foods can get rid of allergies, autoimmune diseases, eczema and fatigue. As you’ve probably guessed, you

can buy supplements from his website, which is odd if the diet has everything you need. Johnson is a comically large man. He looks as if someone put on an inflatable muscle suit and didn’t know when to stop using the air pump. In December of 2022, Liver King was exposed for taking $11,000 worth of steroids. In January of 2023, his (ex)fans sued him for $25 million. All over the internet, gurus sell snake oil to whomever is willing to hand them money. They appeal to people who have doubts about doctors, organized religion, the political system and anything that even smells like an institution. It’s okay to enjoy podcasts and books from whichever famous people you like, but consider before consuming. Don’t let the gurus sell you their onion and banana juice. If enlightenment exists, I doubt we’re meant to pay $40 a month for it.

RELIGION

Figure-eight knots and the coat of humility

Madison Wilcox Religion Editor

I used to think humility meant suffering; humility meant standing my ground and continuing to smile while the heat rose up my neck and into my face. It meant shaking someone’s hand at church even though I knew my own hand would be both cold and sweaty, and I hate making people uncomfortable like that.

I used to think humility would always be hard.

Then, a few weeks ago, I was in Basic Rock Climbing class and totally forgot how to tie a figure-eight knot. The figure-eight is one of the most basic knots used in climbing; it should be easy. In fact, we had covered it on the first day of class, but there I was, halfway into the semester, continuing to struggle.

My only option was to ask for help. Internally, I braced for the impact of the great revelation. My “secret” would be out: I was incompetent. I didn’t know what I was doing. Surely everyone would think I was an idiot.

But to my surprise, the hammer never fell, the embarrassment never slapped me in the face. The instructor simply helped me learn the knot. Once, twice, probably six times, he led me through the process until I was able to tie it myself.

I learned. And it hadn’t been half as painful a process as I had imagined.

As I left class that day, the thought came to me, “With humility you can do anything.”

So often, I viewed humility as the hardest way. Pride was

easier; pride was like a coat I could cover myself with at any moment, something I could hide inside. It was thick enough to conceal the weakness underneath it. The coat of pride could make scrawny arms look strong. Humility, on the other hand, seemed more like choosing to leave the coat behind, like wearing a T-shirt on a cold day when you know you haven’t been to the gym as often as you should have. Without the coat of pride, reality would be on display. Scrawny arms would simply be scrawny arms. Everyone would know.

But that day, I’d let people know, and somehow they didn’t mind.

That’s when I realized that humility is a coat too. In being

honest about my need for help, I was taking off the coat of pride, but that didn’t mean I was left exposed: I was simply replacing one coat with another.

Peter described this different kind of coat when he wrote, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5) When I chose to stop hiding my weakness, God’s easy spirit of humility covered me instead.

Now, I recognize that it’s not humility that’s hard, but pride. Pride puts rust on the hinges of the door of humility, but once open, the door leads to an easy path.

Andrew Murray describes the ease of humility in his book “Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness”:

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing

done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”

I encourage you to put on the coat of humility this week. Ask for help when you don’t know what you’re doing. Speak up in class even if you’re not sure you’re correct. I think you’ll find that the coat of humility is much lighter than that of pride. After all, “His yoke is easy …”

“Maybe if I could somehow lack enough, I’d reach whatever enlightenment I was searching for.”

(Photo sourced from: Pexels)

often, I viewed humility as the hardest way. Pride was easier; pride was like a coat I could cover myself with at any moment, something I could hide inside.”

(Photo by: Alex Haraus)

What to do without reception (in Brazil or otherwise)

Josh Kim

I stared at the sentence in shock. “No electricity/cell signal in the community.” How dare Southern exclude this all-important detail until I had fully fundraised for my mission trip to Brazil? Wasn’t this some sort of human rights violation? I’ve never been one to willingly go offline. But it looked like I didn’t have a choice. As I turned on Airplane mode in Atlanta, I knew it was going to be a long trip.

Once I got on the boat, I realized that international plans and gas-powered generators could enable me to continue my regular digital existence. However, I decided to disconnect for a bit. Obviously, I survived. Here’s what I did without reception.

Listen to music offline. Spotify Premium has been a nonnegotiable for me throughout college. Even if the Southern WiFi quits every week, I can still listen uninterrupted. Honestly though, I didn’t listen to much of my own music. Instead, I learned the motions to Portuguese worship songs and attempted to learn the lyrics by ear. Two songs that stood out: Meu Farol and Assim óh. (warning: the second one is an earworm). Googling the songs just now made me realize that I totally misheard/mislearned all the lyrics. Write song lyrics. If learning by ear isn’t your strength, try to write lyrics and chords for praise songs by memory so that you can Airdrop them to

everyone during worship. For a challenge, also do it in Spanish and Portuguese. Use Libby. Free eBooks and audiobooks available offline? Southern has its own collection and you can also link your home library. Confession: Out of the three educational books and two novels I borrowed, I only got through the latter category. Use your phone as an alarm for 5:50 a.m. kitchen duty. But don’t have the volume too loud, lest you wake the person sleeping in the hammock a foot away.

Aggressively and mindlessly click through Anki decks. This was my way of avoiding any actual studying on this trip. No, I can’t tell you where the inferior cardiac sinus is.

Clean up your camera roll. Yes, I’m talking to you. You know you haven’t cleaned it in forever. Also, that might get rid of the perpetual “iCloud is full” notification.

Fill that newly emptied space with pictures of your new environment and friends (while being culturally sensitive). Also, if you end up going to the hospital, make sure to document it for the mems.

Jot down your thoughts as you experience the day. How are you feeling? What did you do today? What do you need to buy in Atlanta for 423 when you get back?

Forget about your phone.

Just let it die. If you stop constantly refreshing your feed and Googling random

thoughts (as I am prone to do), your battery longevity may surprise you.

Realize that you might not really need it. This is coming from a person who adamantly insisted that a smartphone is necessary for existence in the modern world. Headlamps will always outperform your phone flashlight. The eye captures the view that you can’t quite get the exposure right for. The best communication is offline. People I only knew through a screen were now in front of me, without the ambiguity that often clouds any digital medium. Stories are meant to be heard, not tapped through. We may serve best when we don’t have service. Perhaps disconnecting is the best way of forming new

“We may serve best when we don’t have service. Perhaps disconnecting is the best way of forming new connections.”

(Photos sourced from: Pexels)

Dear Kevin: What should I do if my girlfriend/boyfriend’s parents don’t like me?

Dear Reader:

Move to another country and cut off all family ties. Just kidding. This is a tough situation to be in. My sympathies are with you. I believe the first course of action would be to talk to your significant other and figure out why the parentals aren’t accepting you. Parents (and I can say this confidently, being the father of my own little flock of ducklings) have a hard time letting go of their children.

Try to understand where they’re coming from – your significant other’s parents have had them under their wing for their whole life. It’s going to be difficult for them to watch their duckling make mistakes and get hurt.

Next, depending on how dire the situation is, have a candid conversation with the parents. Remember to be respectful and understanding. Lay the cards on the table. If you really love your partner, you will be willing to listen to their parents’ concerns with an open mind and make changes within reason.

But let me be clear, you should not be bending over backwards to fit a standard you will not be able to uphold. As I always say,

honesty is the best policy – and part of earning respect from someone is to be honest and upfront with them.

Sometimes people just don’t get along, (it takes all kinds of ducklings to make the world). And, if you find yourself at that point, it’s important to have a healthy amount of respect for one another, even if you don’t always see eye-to-eye.

Dear Kevin: My friends are throwing me a surprise birthday party but I accidentally found out. What should I do?

Dear Bashful Birthday Buddy, You should pretend to be surprised. Play along with it and do your darndest to look shocked when everyone jumps out to wish you a happy birthday. Don’t be that one person who spoils it for everyone else.

Kevin, give me motivation to get through this semester:

Dear Sapped Scholar, When you feel like quitting, think about why you started. Imagine yourself the summer before you started college, full of ambition and dreams. You had a goal in mind for how you wanted your life to look in four years. Although it’s tiring, don’t lose sight of that goal.

Contributor

Experiencing changes.

Performed Mozart’s requiem with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera! It was an amazing night!

Baltodano Ava Ramirez

Weekly Birthdays

TODAY |5

Colin Glenn

Steven D. Green

Ashley Guess

Sandria Huggan-An-

derson

Grace Kim

Elisa Lee

Kevin Malagar

Lourdes Miner

Andrew Pakkianathan

Madison Kristeen

Michelle Sewell

Danae L. Simmons

Christian Steinert

Thursday |6

Keanne Fisher

Omar Lebreault

Kamran Masih

Julian Oleaurre

Luke Scroggins

Denise Shaver

Daniel Vanegas

Michael Villalobos

Friday |7

Julie Alvarez

Lauran Cho

Elizabeth P. Fortin

Caleb Hilt

Mina Kim

Ari Loreto-Cortez

Joshua Narvaez

Evona Paunganwa

Saturday |8

Jonathan Amarandei

Charlene Chigano

Elora Horsley

Evette Hughes

Sunday |9

Kenny Bunton

Ethan David

Matt Dizon

Michael F. McDuffie, II

Oyuki Montes De Oca

SA Announcements

Fernando Portillo

Will Showalter

Minha Yang

Monday |10

Abigail Bates

Martha Bonilla

Celeste J. Lee

Sangjin Lee

Tania Moorooven

Soko Paongo

Mayanne Quion

Tori Waegele

Sarah Williams

Tuesday |11

Kaitlyn Bowman

Elizabeth Brito

Adam DeLisser

Raquelvy Justiniano

Omar Logan

Samuel Rivera

Jake VanBeukering

Satoshi Yamashita

423 Night will be happening at the Collegedale Church parking lot on April 22 at 9:30pm. Come out to buy your favorite food or cute trinkets. This event is open to the community. Make sure you don’t miss this night full of fun!