Vol. 79 Issue 21

Spring

Southern Accent

The student voice since 1926

Landon

The wedding bell toll: Students lose church subsidy after tying the knot

Gabriella Grundy Staff Writer

“Southern Matrimonial College” has been a parody used for Southern Adventist University over the years, likely due to high expectations of finding a spouse during one’s time on campus. In some cases, students even marry before they graduate.

In the United States, about 7 percent of all college undergraduates are married, according to an article by Campus Explorer, while about 3 percent of Southern undergraduates are married, according to Chris Hansen,

director of institutional research and planning.

However, for students whose parents work for Adventist institutions, marrying before finishing a bachelor’s degree may not be worth the loss of subsidized tuition.

According to the North American Divison’s (NAD) 2023 Remuneration Scale, “Dependent children of full-time denominational employees (as defined by the NAD Tuition Assistance Policy) who are attending denominationally owned and operated schools [can receive] up to 70% of tuition and required fees for

dormitory students, and 35% of tuition and required fees for non-dormitory students.”

When students receiving subsidies get married, they no longer qualify for this benefit.

Michael Rumsey, associate director of Student Finance at Southern, said, “Educational subsidy is a benefit that parents receive and use for their [dependent] children, and this benefit comes from their employer or conference. Those employers or conferences do not offer this benefit to their

See

SonRise touches thousands: The impact and evolution of the annual pageant

Anaya Parker Contributor

When the local Easter pageant, SonRise, started on Southern Adventist University’s campus 28 years ago, it attracted around 2,000 people, according to Ed Wright, who served as senior pastor of the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists at the time.

On Saturday, the annual tradition continued, this time drawing more than four times the amount

Collegedale News on page 5

School voucher program: Friend or foe?

City government embraces #transparency

County approves

Thrive Senior Living

of individuals who attended the first pageant. SonRise staffers counted 8,146 tickets at this year’s SonRise finale, a resurrection scene recurring throughout the day in Iles P.E. Center.

SonRise is an interactive experience that takes visitors through the final moments of Christ’s time on Earth. Saturday’s event was the 27th such Easter production put on by the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists and the university. The entire program is free of charge, though tickets are required.

SonRise debuted on April 6, 1996, as an evangelistic effort to share the gospel with community members. The production was first directed and inspired by then student Heather Aasheim Hilliard who envisioned staging an Easter pageant similar to one she saw at an Adventist Conference.

Wright returned this year as director of the production. In an interview with the Accent, he reminisced about how it all started.

Wright said, “[Heather] came up to me at that spring concert and just said, ‘Hey, I [have] this idea. What do you think?’”

Southern celebrates 10 years

of

Giving Day

Eliana Morales Staff Writer

Southern Adventist University’s 10th annual “Giving Day” starts today. What originally began as a small Giving Tuesday initiative has grown into a twoday event that raised $422,768 last year, according to Southern’s 2022-2023 Annual Report. This year’s fundraising blitz will continue Thursday.

Sandra Araujo-Delgado, annual giving manager, stated, “Giving Day serves two purposes: [One is] to amplify the needs of our departments to alumni and invite them to support. The other purpose is very much for the campus and students, which is to increase their awareness and invite them to participate if they so choose.”

“This is the one time of year we invite students to participate [in giving],” said Araujo-Delgado. “It’s a very fun environment, kind of gamified; it’s competitive between departments.”

Students can help their own academic departments reach their Giving Day goals. Each department’s campaign is listed on Southern’s website. Some of this year’s projects include equipping the School of Business’ new facility, building simulation labs in Miller Hall for the School of Nursing, funding a mission trip for the School

of Journalism and Communication and replacing old anatomy models for the Biology and Allied Health Department.

“These are projects that are not in the budget, but we can make them happen on something like Giving Day,” said Araujo-Delgado. “The impact of Giving Day on students is immediate, such as being able to enjoy upgrades on equipment or scholarships that weren’t available before.”

According to senior health science major April West, Giving Day helps provide for her department, the School of Health and Kinesiology. Even if students cannot contribute financially, they can still

He considered the conversation an answer to prayer, and the rest is history.

“I just thought it was a great way for us to focus on Christ’s resurrection,” Wright said during the interview. “As Adventists, historically, we have not done that. We are so afraid that that is going to lead to some Sunday worship thing that we have kind of shied away.”

Sherrie Williams, who has served in several directorial positions for SonRise over the years, wrote a brief history of the pageant, citing many of the significant changes and describing the event’s growth since its inception.

According to Williams’ records, the first SonRise began at 9:30 a.m., with seven programs and 400 tickets available for each showing. The following year, the church offered 10 shows, with 450 tickets available for each.

Attendance rose from 6,000 in 1999 to 9,000 in 2000. By 2004, 8,000 tickets were gone in 48 hours. The number of volunteers and people involved also continued to grow. In 1997, over 300 people participated in SonRise, and that number doubled by 2006.

Despite its popularity, the pageant has had its share of challenges. The first year, SonRise was nearly canceled due to rainy weather. Another year, a tornado touched down the morning of the production, yet that did not stop the program from continuing.

Since 1996, SonRise has only had to move programs inside once due to rain.

Satire

“I’ve often thought that God must have His hand on it, because many times the weather forecast right up to the day of [the event] was not good,” Wright said. “We have seen clouds go around us and heavy weather in Chattanooga, but not here.”

SonRise also has undergone several changes over the years,

See

From Golden State to gravy land: Westerners shocked by ‘Southern’ living

Mk Palaris Contributor, Criterion

Disclaimer: The events, individuals and quotes included in this article are entirely fictitious and have been created for the purpose of humor.

Southern Adventist University recently introduced an unprecedented exchange program within the country, in which multiple students from the Golden State of California spent one semester completing their units in the rural state of Tennessee.

Initially, the program was understood as an attempt at cultural immersion between the two contrasting states; an interview with the program’s executive board members, however, revealed its true mischievous intentions.

“Honestly, we thought it would be really funny to deprive Californians of the sun and their weird food,” the executive board said.

Amidst the program, several participants sought (read: begged) to share their experiences. A majority of students experienced some degree of culture shock, whether it was mountains of gravy drizzled on comfort food or constant complaints of the nearest ocean being 500 miles away in this landlocked state. Nonetheless, they all shared a sentiment of

appreciation for the welcoming nature of Southerners.

Francisco, a self-proclaimed hippie and urban studies major, shared his first impression of Tennessee. He had anticipated it to be unsuspecting and perhaps a bit boring; little did he know that his expectations were about to take a wild turn.

“Dude, literally my first day, I saw the wildest thing: So I was heading to my culinary class to share an avocado toast recipe with my classmates,” Francisco said. “Then, I kid you not, the first thing I see when I stepped out of Talge? A pair of standing pants! I thought I was going insane.”

Despite his initial skepticism from this whimsical prank, Francisco eventually found himself drawn to the hospitality of locals, who welcomed him with enthusiastic “Howdy!”s.

“Don’t tell my friends this, but I much prefer the warmth of Southern folk,” Francisco admitted. “I might even start adopting ‘y’all’ into my daily vocab, at this rate.”

For Beverly, a fashion design major, the stark contrast between California’s perpetually sunny skies and Tennessee’s unpredictable weather was a rude awakening.

“I thought rain was just a myth; I haven’t seen it in person since I was, like, nine,” she mused. “But it wasn’t just like culture shock; Tennessee sent me into hypothermic shock! It was like, I’d say around, 80 degrees? It was so cold, like, I had to wear two layers so I wouldn’t freeze to death. Like, I don’t even want to think about it reaching sub-40 degrees.”

SonRise actors travel toward the resurrection scene. This year, the annual pageant saw its highest attendance numbers post pandemic. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

SUBSIDY

continued from page 1

employees whose children have gotten married.”

About 25 percent of Southern’s current undergraduate students receive subsidies, according to Hansen. However, some of these students choose to marry during college.

Landon Asscherick, junior business administration major, and Sailie Asscherick (née LeMert), senior nursing major, wed in December 2023.

The Asschericks initially met when they were kids at a camp meeting in Oregon but reconnected as young adults in the fall of 2021 during Sailie’s freshman year when Landon visited Southern.

“When I saw her in person after all those years, I was really taken aback by her beauty,” said

GIVING DAY

continued from page 1

participate in games and challenges that, if won, will allow them to direct money given by other donors to their department of choice.

Some of these games include Kahoot, Jenga, cornhole, and “Fundrides,” which are trivia games played on a golf cart that goes through campus.

During last year’s Giving Day, out of 1,304 donors, 172 were students, according to Southern’s 2022-2023 Annual Report.

Some students believe the university should not directly solicit students during Giving Day.

One such student is freshman marketing major Alianis Vega-Morales.

“I definitely believe in participating in the games and challenges, because that money has already been given, but [giving] more money apart from our tuition?” she said. “We can’t because some students don’t even have that money.”

Many other students reflected this sentiment but declined an interview.

Landon. “I knew she was a catch and that I needed to move fast. So after six days of hanging out, I told her I was interested, and we began dating shortly after that.”

When Landon moved to Tennessee to attend Southern in January 2022, the couple spent subsequent semesters and summers together, and soon knew they were heading toward marriage. They became engaged in the summer of 2023 and married that December.

Sailie said she has been enjoying married life, even as a fulltime student. “I think that’s how humans were created to be … to live together and have each other to share life with,” she said. “One of the great things about attending an Adventist institution is the potential of finding your life partner.”

more accommodations for students who want to get married.

“I would encourage anyone to get married if they’ve found the right person … but the NAD drops your subsidy once you get married,” said Landon. “It’s disincentivizing young Adventist couples to get married at a prime time, which is something that should be looked at. … The message that is being sent is that there will be significant financial consequences if you get married.”

“My parents married after nine months of dating while they were in college,” he said. “… And although it’s ultimately worked out for them, they have encouraged Alexis and [me] to finish school first.”

aid from FAFSA, I think you’ll feel the financial burden later on and might wish you took advantage of the subsidy benefit.”

Dewey and Waters also noted that while they’re excited to get married, waiting until after graduating doesn’t lengthen their ideal timeline too significantly. Dewey is set to graduate in December 2024, and Waters should follow a year later in December 2025.

Eliana Morales Staff Writer

The Gym-Masters were nationally recognized in the spring issue of Kinesiology Today, a journal published by the American Kinesiology Association (AKA), of which the School of Health and Kinesiology is a member.

According to Gym-Masters head coach Craig Johnson, it was a surprise when Kinesiology

Due to recurring backlash about the university soliciting its students, Araujo-Delgado desired to clarify the purpose of Giving Day.

“Student participation is important for different reasons; it’s not for monetary reasons,” she said. “It’s because we just want you to be a part of it. We want Southern’s culture to be a culture of philanthropy and for students to feel like, ‘Just because I'm a student doesn’t mean I can’t participate. I can make a difference, too.’

“The last thing we want is for students to feel pressured. No one should feel pressured to give,” Araujo-Delgado added. “It’s kind of like in church. We want to pass the plate.”

West said, “If people want from their heart to give, and if they feel a calling to give, that’s what it’s for.”

Araujo-Delgado added, “I think that Giving Day is an extremely positive event. I think we’re blessed to have the opportunity to see how God uses people and how He can use me and you to make a difference.”

These potential financial consequences have deterred Alexis Dewey, senior mass communication - writing/editing major, and Preston Waters, junior marketing major, from getting married until they both complete their bachelor’s degrees. The two have been dating since October 2022. Waters receives a subsidy because his parents are both Adventist pastors.

SONRISE

continued from page 1

but remarkably, much of the initial program is the same.

Wright said, “The overall route is unchanged, the number of scenes is unchanged … the overall script has not changed.”

The pageant has impacted not only the viewers, but the volunteers, he added.

“What wasn’t really a part of the original dream but has been an incredible blessing is that it brings all of these communities together,” he said. “ … The bulk of the acting is students, and yet it brings families from the community, all churches, [all ages].”

Eliana Hounslow, a sophomore nursing major, has participated in the pageant for several years.

“SonRise made everything come to life in my eyes,” said Hounslow. “Seeing strangers come together all for one cause really made me think about the truth behind the people back then.

“ … It was a lot of strangers coming together who didn’t know each other,” she continued, “but were united under one thing: Jesus.”

“It is more practical for us to wait until post-graduation to get married because it’s not a superlong time difference, and we’ll be saving money that will really benefit us down the line,” said Dewey. “Unless you’re prepared to seek out numerous scholarships on your own, or you and your partner have a low enough combined income to receive more financial Preston Waters and Alexis

Despite setbacks and challenges over the years, people return again and again to participate and see the pageant. Wright is no exception.

“When I go through, I’m still touched,” he said. “We know what’s coming. We’ve seen the script; we’ve seen much of this many times. But the story is still life-changing.”

WESTERNERS

continued from page 1

On the positive side, the change of pace was welcomed by Angelo, a film major. Navigating the scenic country roads of Tennessee proved to be a breath of fresh air.

“Back home, my 20-mile drive to uni could take 50 minutes with all the traffic backed up on the I-15,” he said. “But here, the same distance would take probably only 20.”

While the program was constructed on a whim and as a complete and utter joke, this whole experiment proved one thing: The stereotypes are true; Californians really do love their avocado toast.

Editor’s Note: This article is a part of a “Satire Swap” between Seventh-day Adventist university student publications. La Sierra University’s publication, Criterion, wrote this piece for the Southern Accent.

To read more articles created by other universities for the Satire Swap, visit this story on the Accent’s website, where links are provided.

Gym-Masters somersault into spotlight

Today reached out for an interview. He said the writer contacted him because she had researched Gym-Masters online and was curious to know more about the team’s ministry and mission.

Judy Sloan, dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, said the article created awareness for more than just Gym-Masters.

“[The AKA] actually didn’t know about how the Adventist Church has a … K-12 school system,” she said. “It was not only good PR for Gym-Masters and Southern, but for the Adventist Church as a whole.”

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

For all advertising

The Asschericks both believe the NAD should reconsider its tuition assistance policy and make Editor-in-chief Amanda

Team member and sophomore business administration major Rebecca O’Dell said, “I feel like it’s a great honor to be publicly recognized in the AKA’s journal. … This not only helps people see how important our gymnastics team is in the Adventist community, but it also helps aid in spreading what our team’s ministry is.”

The Gym-Masters try to reflect Christian values in all they do, according to Johnson. They have worship every night before practice and host their own vespers for the group twice a year. Even their dress and performance music is carefully thought out to focus the audience’s attention on the message.

“Our goal is to show Jesus in all we do with our amazing talents and abilities He’s given us,” said O’Dell.

While each team member may have a different relationship with Christianity, Johnson hopes that “someday in Heaven, someone comes up, and they’re like, ‘You know, Gym-Masters

really brought me to Jesus.’ When they leave here, I hope that they always look back at this time as being years where they really grew as a person,” he added, likening the team to a family that supports each other spiritually, academically and socially. This bond has helped Gym-Masters connect with non-Christians. Team member Brianna Trott, a junior elementary education major, recalls a memorable encounter while on tour. She and six of her teammates were walking around Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when a woman stopped them and asked, “What is Adventism? Tell me about it.”

The woman’s interest had been sparked by the parked bus labeled “Southern Adventist University” and the team’s Gym-Masters hoodies. Trott and the others ended up speaking with her for 30 minutes, answering questions and praying. Throughout his time as coach, Johnson has found that kindness is often the best way to connect with others. Reflecting upon a recent performance away from

campus, he recalled how the team cleaned up the gym after the show. The vice principal of the school was impressed, and within 30 minutes of leaving, Johnson was contacted by someone from a different school who wanted to book a show.

“[There’s] only one shot to make an impression,” he said. “Every time that we go perform, we don’t like to just show those skills and then leave.”

About cleaning up after shows, he added, “Those little things matter, because they [cause others to] like you. They like what you do, but they also like you as people.”

Johnson hopes that Kinesiology Today will be the first of many non-Adventist media outlets to cover the ministry of Gym-Masters.

“I think potentially us getting in the non-Adventist publication sparks interest from people who read that,” he said. “We’re just doing the best we can to crack open doors for people to inquire about us and Southern Adventist University.”

Staff Sponsor Alva James-Johnson Southern

Circulation Manager

Norelie Cabrera

Gym-Masters practice in the Hulsey Wellness Center. Thursday, March 28, 2024. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)

Dewey. (Photo courtesy of source)

Tony Sandoval solicits in the marketplace. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Student Senate teams up with administration to light up campus

Emma Boughman Reporter

The Student Senate and Student Association have been working on updating the lighting around campus, as promised. Dain Ochoa, senior physical therapist assistant major and SA executive vice president, oversees this project.

In messaging the Accent, Ochoa said that during his campaign last year, while putting up flyers, he realized how dark the campus was. The project’s goal is to install LED bulbs in all light posts on campus to increase safety.

Hamilton said the project had been a goal for many years but couldn’t be funded properly. However in 2023, Senate voted to fund the project, which helped get it started.

Jared Chandler, senior finance major and SA president, toured the campus with Ochoa, Clifford and Hamilton on Oct. 26 and settled on key locations where new lights were needed. Installation officially began in January, according to Hamilton. He said the team’s goal is to have as many lights replaced as possible by May 31.

Hamilton explained that LED lighting is much more cost-effective compared to the previous lights. They also provide energy savings, better visibility and enhanced safety.

“To date we have spent $58,000 on lighting, and we will continue making this upgrade to get our campus all LED,” Hamilton said.

Dennis Clifford, director of building systems, and Marty Hamilton, senior vice president for Financial Administration, have been helping Senate complete this project. In an email to the Accent, Hamilton explained that he oversees campus building operations, while Clifford oversees lighting and electricians for the installation process. All work has been done in-house so that they can stretch the allocated funds, according to Hamilton.

New lights have already been installed in Southern Village, the Upper Stateside Apartments, the Virginia Apartments, the Promenade, Taylor Circle and in front of Talge Hall and Thatcher Hall. Ochoa says he has seen the biggest improvement in Southern Village, where he lives. He also mentions how at night, the new lights show visitors an active campus and demonstrate the staff’s care for their students.

“I am genuinely excited to see all of these improvements that are evident right now. It’s a big change,” Hamilton said.

Ochoa mentioned that passing this project through the Senate proved a major challenge. He led the initiative himself, pitched it and oversaw everything. Waiting for the materials to arrive and getting the manpower to initiate progress was very difficult for him. Hamilton noted that another challenge is acquiring the new parking lot light fixtures.

Students revive Art Club

Emma Boughman Reporter

Art Club was dormant for two years before 2021, but it is now very active, according to the club president, Jeremy Ramirez, junior character animation major.

Art Club sponsor Giselle Hasel says that this year’s Art Club leaders have made her job very easy as a sponsor. The club’s most recent event was its art cafe, and members have a special vespers service coming up soon. Since clubs are student-run, their activities depend on students’ time and dedication.

In messaging with the Accent, Ramirez stated that he was vice president of the club last year, and to his knowledge, no one else was interested in continuing leadership, so Ramirez and his friends decided to continue it this year.

“The reason I wanted to be involved [was] because I wanted a space where students can just express themselves,” Ramirez stated.

The four other leaders of the club include vice president Rileigh Juba, junior character animation major; treasurer Ella Kim, sophomore effects animation major; secretary Evan Eslava, sophomore character animation major; and graphic designer Danielle Taylor, junior graphic design major. Hasel said these leaders have been especially active in the food preparation and worship aspects of events.

She said the combination of art and worship within this club has been the best that she has been involved in.

“Working with students always depends on each group,” Hasel said. “It is always a pleasure to work with those who are more enthusiastic and organized.”

Ramirez’s favorite part about planning events is seeing them take place and seeing people enjoy what the officers have planned. Kim said to plan for events, the officers meet once at the beginning of the semester and then again closer to the time events will take place.

Recently, the club hosted an art cafe, at which members were seated by a host, handed a menu and then served their orders, all while creating art at their table.

So far, the club’s events have been successful, according to Ramirez. He believes it is important for Art Club to continue, not only because it is an inclusive place for all Southern students, but also sets itself apart from other campus clubs because it has a small leadership group, making events more intentional, personal and engaging.

Next, the Art Club is planning a more spiritual event — the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) Vespers on April 26, where the club plans to create a smaller and more personal Vespers setting.

“My goal as the leader for this service is to provide a space

where you feel seen. If you are homesick and want a more intimate Vespers service, this service is for you,” Ramirez stated.

“I've genuinely really been enjoying getting to be a bigger help to the Art Club this year,” said Kim. Last year, she volunteered in the club so the shift to an officer role didn’t feel very different for her.

Ramirez stated that because he will be studying abroad next year, he plans to pass the torch to Kim and Eslava. Kim said she is excited to be leading with Eslava in the future but is sad that it has to be because her junior and senior officers will be gone.

Art Club is free and open to students of all majors. Ramirez

encourages its 130 current members to bring friends to their events. According to Kim, her favorite part of being an officer is seeing members bring new people to events. Due to the busy schedule art majors have, this club is eventbased. Ramirez stated that the club stays active by hosting fundraisers and student life events, as well as doing community service. He expressed that the Art Club’s biggest challenge is that many people do not know about it. Students interested in future club events or membership can follow the Art Club’s Instagram account: @sau.artclub.

These lights take 10-12 weeks to arrive after an order is placed. According to Ochoa, his favorite part of this project was realizing how much students can accomplish. He believes that most students don’t realize how many staff members are working in the background for them every day. He has enjoyed getting to know these people and seeing the changes that have been made.

Once all of the lights have been installed, Hamilton said they will continue their night audits so that more improvements can be made. They are still working on a lighting solution for the Hulsey Wellness Center and the walking track area. They also want to focus on improving the lighting along Colcord Drive between the Bietz Center and Summerour Hall, as well as in Student Park, Goliath Wall and all parking lot areas.

Art Club recently hosted a movie pizza night for both members and non-members. Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)

Seth Parker, playing a Roman soldier, pushes fellow SonRise actor Nicholas Veal. Parker was keeping the crowds at bay as he helped escort the actor playing Jesus to the crucifixion scene. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Katie Mertz, playing an angel, protects Justin Mertz, playing Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Ivan Manestar, playing Pilate, turns to a crowd and hushes them. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Bill Wood and Ron Derek act as Pharisees during the scene of Pilate's judgment. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

SonRise attendees watch as a group of 12 actors emotionally perform the scene of the Last Supper. Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo by Preston Waters)

COLLEGEDALE NEWS

Editor's Note: The Southern Accent produces this two-page Collegedale News section as part of a national initiative to enhance community news coverage. The local effort, led by Southern's School of Journalism and Communication in conjunction with the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont, places student journalists at the forefront of addressing the news desert crisis, a phenomenon caused by the decline of newspapers in local communities. The Accent believes local news is vital to a thriving democracy, and we remain committed to reporting about important issues, novel occurrences and interesting people in the greater Collegedale area. We will publish this special section in five issues of the newspaper this semester. To submit tips or press releases, go to https://southern-accent.org.

School voucher program: Friend or foe?

Hayden Kobza Collegedale News Editor

Tennessee’s growing school voucher program allows parents who meet certain income requirements to place their children in private schools with some costs offset by public tax dollars.

Brent Baldwin, principal at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Collegedale Academy High School and head of the K-12 program, expressed concerns about the voucher program, which is already available in Hamilton County.

According to Baldwin, “CA is a school for all SDA families [and non-SDA families], regardless of demographics, provided the student goes through the appropriate registration process.” He said, “CA welcomes any prospective student pending a successful comple-

tion of the application process and agreement with the expectations of conduct as outlined in the CA Student Handbook.” However, CA has not participated in the state’s voucher program due to concerns about the separation of church and state, and he stated that “our current students are all ineligible for the voucher program.” When asked what Adventist principles might be compromised if the school accepted vouchers, Baldwin referred to the church’s teachings regarding Sabbath observance and sexual conduct.

“CA will NOT accept vouchers (nor any governmental help) if, in doing so, our Seventh-day Adventist Christian beliefs are restricted or mandated,” Baldwin wrote in the email to the Accent.

At the same time, Brigett Pangkey, the principal at Beacon Academy,

an Ooltewah school run by Seventh-day Adventists but not officially affiliated with the denomination or its conferences, stated in an email to the Accent that the academy is currently partnering with the Education Saving Account Program (ESA) and is open to accepting the vouchers based on biblical principles that encourage cooperation with government.

“We desire to be a center of influence in the Greater Collegedale area spreading love, support and encouragement to those in our community,” she said. “Biblically speaking, Joseph, Daniel, Esther and many others were called to work alongside their governments and communities."

Pangkey cited multiple verses from the Bible, including Esther 4:14, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 25:35, 2 Corinthians 3:6, and 1 Peter 4:7-11.

Tennessee’s growing school voucher program continues to be a heavily debated topic, both in the religious and political arenas.

In his Feb. 5, 2024, State of the State address, Gov. Bill Lee proposed expanding vouchers statewide to allow parents to choose private schools for their children.

“2024 is the year to make school choice a reality for every Tennessee family,” he stated in a room where the audience was divided. Some audience members began clapping, while others shouted in disagreement from the balcony above.

The Ongoing Debate

According to AP News, Lee’s plan includes creating a new tier of vouchers called “education freedom” scholarships. During the program’s first year, the state would offer 20,000 scholarships, costing $144 million. Half of those scholarships would go to families with a specific income threshold.

Collegedale government embraces #transparency

Amy Mejias Reporter

The City of Collegedale’s municipal government has launched a new social media campaign focused on transparency. The first Facebook post using the hashtag #Transparency was posted Feb. 6 and included a video of the previous night’s commission meeting.

Three days later, the city began consistently using the hashtag #TransparentGovernment on several posts, including its weekly wrap-up and commission meeting minutes posts. The city’s Instagram page, @cityofcollegedale, has fewer posts than its Facebook page, and none appear to mention transparency or transparent government.

According to Jamie Heath, assistant chief of police for the Collegedale Police Department (CPD), the city’s move toward more transparency started when Jack Sapp was appointed CPD chief of police three years ago.

“His administration immediately began sharing more, getting the agency’s information out as efficiently as possible across multiple platforms,” he stated in an email to the Accent. “Continued news releases were a top priority. From daily reports to quarterly and annual reports, Chief Sapp’s leadership of transparency has set an intentional standard of community partnership that everyone has come to expect.

“The police department’s successful adoption of transparent policing across social and mainstream media platforms paved the way for the city’s recent

#TransparentGovernment hashtag,” Heath added. An undated letter on the website from the police chief states, “Our agency has committed itself to being a transparent member of the community we serve. Our officers are dedicated to working with our citizens to create strong community ties, because we do not want an ‘Us vs. Them’ environment between our agency and the public. We are all in this together and the first steps toward building trust has to start right here!”

Heath explained that “Under the leadership of City Manager Wayon Hines, the City of Collegedale has maintained open doors and communication. The success of the police department’s own transparency campaign showed that there was a real need to take the message directly to the people, instead of waiting for the people to come and get it.”

Hines said social media has been the push for the Collegedale city government to be more transparent, an initiative that began about three years ago.

“We decided that giving the citizens full information and trying to keep them informed would be the best way to build trust and increase engagement,” he said. “We work for the citizens and need to know what items they appreciate and what initiatives they would like to see within their community.”

Hines added, “Three years ago we did not have a social media presence and did not partici-

Supporters of vouchers argue that they offer families more educational choices, especially for students in struggling schools, while critics believe they drain vital funds from public education. Historically, Adventist institutions have been reluctant to accept government funding due to concerns about the separation of church and state.

In 2020, the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists released a statement recommending that “church entities abstain from participation” in federal funding disbursed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“North American Division leadership, in consultation with the leaders of its nine union conferences, has recommended that church entities abstain from participation in portions of these programs providing direct financial assistance to the church,” the statement read. “They are asking church leaders across the division to prayerfully consider both biblical prophecy and principles as well as the church’s long-standing warnings on the intermingling of church and state prior to obtaining government assistance.”

Though many Adventist schools, conferences and other entities opted to apply for and accept the funding, some declined to participate.

In a 2020 article published by Spectrum magazine, an inde-

pendent publication that covers church issues, Jenesta Walker, superintendent of Schools for the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, explained why the conference opted not to tap into the government funding. In the story written by Alva James-Johnson, Accent adviser and a professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Southern Adventist University, Walker said the conference had received funds from the state of Maryland for low-income students over a two-year period through the state's Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) voucher program.

“However, in 2019, the state launched an investigation into the written policies of private schools that received the allocations, eventually concluding that Adventist schools in the Chesapeake Conference were in violation of state guidelines prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation,” according to the article. “Based on that investigation, the state of Maryland not only rescinded scholarships that had already been granted for the 2019–2020 school year, it also demanded that the conference

County approves Thrive Senior Living for Ooltewah, plans road enhancements

Amanda Blake Editor-in-chief

pate in many interviews. Since then we have written [social media] policies and started a direct effort through assigning communication efforts to several staff members. Additionally, we post quarterly and annual [police department] statistics, monthly building permits, agendas, the budget, etc.”

Collegedale resident Courtney Shaw, who has lived in Collegedale since 2006, thinks more transparency is a great thing.

“Until recently it’s been a real challenge to find out what events have been going on,” Shaw said. “I really appreciate the efforts of [Collegedale Commissioner] Tonya Sadler, the other commissioners, the city departments, and the police department [to post] regularly on social media.”

She added, “I really appreciate Ms. Sadler’s commitment to transparency, as it was one of her campaign goals (and why I voted for her), and I think she’s done an excellent job of doing so throughout her service as commissioner.”

Sadler said she does not really consider the Collegedale government transparent.

“Currently, I wouldn’t call our practices transparent; instead, I’d call them translucent,” Sadler said. “Case in point, the weekly letter to the commissioners that city management is posting on social media is usually a condensed or edited version of what is emailed to us. Whether the content is edited for legal pur-

Hamilton County commissioners recently approved the development of a 447-unit senior-living community in Ooltewah. Despite dissent from neighbors, the legislative panel voted 7-3 to rezone the area surrounding the development and voted 10-0 to approve a conceptual design. Thrive Senior Living, an Atlanta company, will build the community on the former Brooks Dairy Farm at 9101 Amos Road, property running along Snow Hill Road, near Ooltewah High School. At commission meetings over the past couple months, neighbors who opposed the project expressed concern about dangerous traffic in the area.

On March 28, County Mayor Weston Wamp announced that improving Snow Hill Road is one of 11 projects to be financed by a new county fund, which represents the county’s largest

ever capital investment into road infrastructure.

At a March 13 commission meeting, John Konvalinka, a local attorney who spoke for more than 40 residents who opposed the Thrive development, said Snow Hill Road needs to be widened. If it isn’t, building the community would result in “a traffic nightmare.”

At a March 20 meeting, where commissioners would eventually approve Thrive’s proposal, Kim Helton, who lives off Snow Hill Road and appeared at several meetings to oppose the project, said Snow Hill is already dangerous and cannot handle more drivers.

According to Nathan Janeway, director of Development Services for Hamilton County, statistics do not demonstrate that Snow Hill Road is exceedingly hazardous.

“Snow Hill Road, including the section by Ooltewah High School,

See

Gov. Bill Lee has proposed expanding school vouchers statewide, wishing to make school choice a reality for every Tennessee family.

(Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons)

Sign for Collegedale Academy on College Drive East. Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)

COLLEGEDALE NEWS

VOUCHER

continued from page 5

refund money allocated for scholarships the previous two years.”

That same year, Tennessee approved the ESA. School districts currently eligible for state vouchers through that program include Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools and Hamilton County Schools.

Government Requirements

According to the Frequently

Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) website, the money from these vouchers is given from the ESA to the parent or “account holder.” While the schools do not receive money directly from the government, participating schools must meet a list of requirements.

According to an ESA webinar, the requirements include being a category I, II, or III private school based on the State Board of Education Rule 0520-07-02. The school must agree to “not to discriminate against participating students or applicants based on race, color, or national origin.” In addition, each

school must agree to conduct a background check on all employees and “exclude any employee not permitted by state law to work in a non-public school.”

Regarding Lee’s goal of allowing all parents to decide where their child goes to school, Baldwin said, “If the TN legislature passes a bill giving vouchers to all students (like Florida, Ohio, etc.), CA’s School Board, in conjunction with the Georgia-Cumberland Conference, will have to examine all ramifications before making a final decision.”

The Accent tried contacting other private schools for comment. Ooltewah Adventist School sent an email stating, “Georgia Cumberland Conference has not approved the use of the vouchers for the elementary schools in TN.” The other private schools the Accent contacted did not respond.

The Accent tried contacting local public schools, including Ooltewah High School and Ooltewah Elementary School. However, school representatives said all statements regarding the voucher program must come from Hamilton County Schools.

When the Accent contacted Hamilton County Schools, Communications Officer Steve Doremus responded via email. He wrote, “At the present time, there are several versions of this legislation under consideration. We are following the various bills as they work their way through the General Assembly, and we are in contact with our legislative delegation. However, until final legislation is passed and signed by the governor, it would be premature for Hamilton County Schools to comment on any potential impact for our district.”

Screenshots of City of Collegedale Facebook posts made this year. The city government recently began sharing more information on social media as part of an initiative to be more transparent online.

SENIOR LIVING

continued from page 5

is not statistically dangerous, according to [Tennessee Department of Transportation] data, at 1.32 times the state average for this type of road,” he wrote in an email to the Accent.

Before and after hearing resident concerns on March 20, commissioners discussed infrastructure concerns and potential benefits of the project.

David Sharpe, D-Red Bank, said, “Tennessee is a place to retire, and that’s something that we need to help facilitate at every opportunity.”

Lee Helton, R-East Ridge, added that property tax income derived from this development will give the county a runway to improve roads.

“This project is going to change the tax base from $4,000, roughly, a year to $3-4 million a year,” he said.

Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah, reiterated a point he had made on March 13: Infrastructure must be improved.

“We have kicked the can down the road on schools,” he said. “We have also kicked the can down the road on roads.”

Highlander recused himself from voting on Thrive’s proposal. In a phone call with the Accent, he said his reasons for recusing were personal, not financial. During the meeting, Commissioner Chip Baker, R-Signal Mountain, suggested the panel defer consideration of Thrive’s proposal until the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) had completed a new land use plan for the area. Highlander said he would have voted in favor

of waiting had Baker’s suggestion come to a vote.

He elaborated on his concerns surrounding county roads and residential growth.

“I’ve been really concerned with all the massive number of subdivisions coming in that our roads are not really capable [of handling],” Highlander said, “and I have voiced my opinion, hopefully in a polite, respectful manner, in every opportunity I could, saying, ‘The infrastructure has to try and catch up with the growth.’

… The mayor and, evidently, some of the other commissioners have started listening.”

During his second State of the County address on March 28, Wamp announced the creation of a county road improvement fund in response to traffic and road safety issues caused by population growth.

“In a county with ridges and a river that bisects it [and] limited sewer availability, residential growth over the last few decades has gravitated to the former farms of Ooltewah, East Brainerd and Apison,” Wamp said. “That trend has left, in the process, roads — that Dr. Highlander will tell you were really intended, in some cases, for wagons — to be overwhelmed with traffic.”

Wamp applauded Highlander for continuing to encourage the county to improve infrastructure.

The mayor added that the county has conducted an analysis of roadways in need of improvements and will seed the new fund with $5.6 million, an amount it is hoping to leverage for $8 million through grants.

“This will mark the largest capital investment into road infra-

History of school vouchers in Tennessee

Matthew Orquia, Managing Editor

2006 - Voucher bills first introduced in Tennessee

In 2006, the earliest voucher bills were introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly, but the bills did not pass. The first bills focused on students who were or would be attending low-performing public schools, as well as students from low-income families, according to a Chalkbeat article.

March 2019 - Governor Bill Lee calls for voucher program

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, elected in 2018, promoted the creation of a voucher program in Tennessee in his first state address. According to a Chalkbeat article, he also set aside money for the project in his proposed budget.

April 2019 - Voucher bill passes despite controversy

After an initial 49-49 tie in the Tennessee House of Representatives, Rep. Jason Zachary, Knoxville, who at first voted against the bill, changed his vote after being told that Knox County would no longer be included in the bill, according to a Tennessean article.

2020 - Voucher bill faces legal challenges from Tennessee counties and parents

Tennessee parents and two Tennessee counties began legal action against the voucher bill. Metro Nashville and Shelby County sued the state and asked for a judge to stop the voucher program from going into effect, according to a Chalkbeat article. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of 11 public school parents claiming that the voucher bill would violate their children’s constitutional right to an adequate education.

TRANSPARENCY

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poses or the self-preservation of the author isn’t a question to which I’m privy to the answer.

“To say that our city government is transparent is a fallacy,” she continued. “A transparent government is a government that conducts business without secrets. And to say that our city’s business is conducted without secrets is not accurate. There have always been secrets, and there will continue to be secrets.”

Sadler said sometimes secrecy is beneficial or even vital. “One example is in negotiating to recruit new commercial enterprises,” she explained. “For example, if our city manager were to broadcast that a hotel approached us to develop on Little Debbie Parkway, that hotel franchise may get spooked and never return.”

Sadler said the best Collegedale officials could strive for is to be an open government that’s responsive to its citizens, including creating the ability for citizens to exercise their right to review the city’s records if they

structure in the county’s history,” Wamp said, “and I believe it’s an important step toward strengthening infrastructure in those parts of our county that have experienced huge growth.”

The fund will support 11 projects, one of which is to improve Snow Hill Road. Other roads to be enhanced are Standifer Gap, Daisy Dallas and Middle Valley, according to Wamp. Four separate projects will focus on Hunter Road, which is nine times more dangerous than similar routes in the state, Wamp said, a statistic that had already been reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

“This will mark the largest capital investment into road infrastructure in the county's history.”

When asked during his interview with the Accent how the new fund will improve Snow Hill Road, specifically, Highlander said it is still in the planning stage by county staff. However, the county has asked the developers of the planned Thrive community to make some road improvements.

“[The developer’s] trying to make some concessions, but it’s still in the works,” he said.

During the March 20 commission meeting, Mike Price, who owns MAP Engineers and is working with Thrive, said developers will enact several road upgrades.

“If you look at the plans I’ve provided to you,” he said, addressing the commissioners, “there’s almost a half a mile of road improvements now the county

May 2022 - Voucher law declared constitutional

The Tennessee Supreme Court declared the voucher law constitutional in a 3-2 decision, overruling the decisions of two lower Tennessee courts, according to the Tennessee Courts website. The state launched the program soon after the court’s decision.

April 21, 2023 - Hamilton County added to voucher program

The Tennessee government approved the addition of Hamilton County to the voucher program but voted against adding a proposal that would have added Knox County to the program as well, according to the Tennessee General Assembly website.

Jan. 11, 2024 - Voucher bill continues to face legal challenges

Although the voucher program is in effect in Tennessee, it still faces legal challenges after the Tennessee Court of Appeals sent a case challenging the program back to trial, citing a premature judgment in the lower court.

Feb. 5, 2024 - Governor Bill Lee promotes expanded voucher program In his State of the State address, Gov. Bill Lee proposed the expansion of the voucher program throughout all of Tennessee. Lee argued that Tennessee could expand the voucher program and also support public schools at the same time.

should make that request.

According to Heath, “The police department is very proud to share the #TransparentGovernment message with the City of Collegedale. It’s another

will not have to do as it relates to Snow Hill Road.”

Janeway wrote: “The developer has committed to widening Snow Hill Road from the limited-sight curve before Amos Road all the way down the property being developed. They are also constructing an intersection improvement at Snow Hill and Amos Road, as well as improving the driveway into Ooltewah High School. Overall, these items will improve safety and traffic flow on this portion of Snow Hill.”

According to Janeway, the county submitted a traffic study by Thrive’s developer for peer review. The study was proven to hold no significant miscalculations, and although the review did call for a traffic circle at Amos Road, the developer’s improvements are adequate for now, he added.

“The county is exercising every authority we have during the platting process to ensure any increase is mitigated and offset with road improvements,” Janeway wrote. “ … As traffic continues to increase, the county will eventually need to address concerns on Snow Hill Road. Improvements will be data driven. At the point at which the developer’s proposed improvements are no longer adequate, the county will assess what is needed and address those items in future years.”

Highlander mentioned Ooltewah High School’s proximity to the Thrive development at the March 13 commission meeting. He expressed his personal concern to the Accent: “I have a grandson who goes there and is a beginning driver, and it scares the daylights out of me.”

example where we have set another standard to maintain the trust of the people we serve.”

When the Accent called Ooltewah High School, its secretarial staff said that any comments concerning the Thrive development must come from the county.

In an email to the Accent, Steve Doremus, communications officer for Hamilton County Schools, wrote: “It would be premature for Hamilton County Schools to comment on any potential impact from this development. We will continue to follow the development as it moves forward, and we will work with the appropriate officials to discuss any possible concerns as the project advances.”

Highlander is hopeful the county’s project on Snow Hill Road will improve traffic conditions. Although he is not involved in producing the Regional Planning Agency’s land use plan, he believes it will encourage appropriate developments in Ooltewah.

The next step for the senior-living community project involves the county’s regional planning commission hearing to examine Thrive’s request for a special permit to build an assisted care living facility. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 8.

Beacon Academy on Ooltewah Ringgold Rd. Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)

MENTAL HEALTH

Learning to fact-check your fears

Abby Dizon Contributor

Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.

It is widely recognized that college students experience a lot of anxiety and worries. According to a 2022 study on the prevalence of anxiety in college students, more than one in three students reported being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Whether it is about an upcoming presentation or prepping for an exam, college students experience a lot of anxious thoughts every day. These thoughts can become debilitating, giving rise to feelings of anxiety or depression.

What typically comes with anxious thoughts are doubts and resorting to worst-case scenarios, usually out of proportion to how difficult a situation truly is. When anxious thoughts intrude your mind, one key tool to battle them is fact-checking those thoughts. Checking the facts allows you to take a step back and analyze the “what if?” questions to determine if they are valid.

The first thing you can do to fact-check your thoughts is to challenge them, according to a Psychiatry Northwest article. Ask yourself: “Are these thoughts based on facts or assumptions?”, “How have things turned out in prior similar situations?” and “How might someone with a different perspective handle this situation?” Challenging your thoughts is a great way to engage in a reality check. This allows you to differentiate be-

tween genuine and irrational concerns, developing a more accurate outlook of the situation. Another way to fact-check anxious thoughts is by seeking counsel from a friend, according to an article on the Paige Pradko website. A friend’s perspective of your situation can provide external viewpoints, challenge irrational beliefs and minimize the tendency to over dramatize the situation.

Outside input and reassurance can help guide you away from distortive standpoints and toward a more realistic perspective.

Finally, according to a Via Vitae Counseling article, the most effective way to tear down anxious thoughts is by conducting a probability assessment, analyzing the realistic likelihood of your negative thoughts becoming a reality. Ask yourself, “What

is the worst thing that can happen, and what is the likelihood of it happening?” and “Can I realistically cope with the worst-case scenario?” Utilizing probability assessments helps counteract the tendency to imagine worstcase scenarios by settling individuals into a more realistic evaluation of the actual risks present, diminishing unnecessary anxiety and worries.

Because our minds tend to play tricks on us due to mood and perception biases, we must remember that our thoughts are not facts, but only interpretations affected by our emotional state. By applying the checking-the-facts technique, we can modify our response to the situation with clarity, rather than depending on baseless assumptions and emotional reactions.

SPORTS

Wrestlemania XL: The Super Bowl of wrestling

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

Every year around springtime, the biggest wrestling event takes place. Wrestlemania, the marquee premium live event for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), will have its 40th event since its conception in 1984. Also known as the showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia this weekend, with night one on Saturday, followed by night two on Sunday.

Dubbed Wrestlemania XL, this year’s event is being called the “biggest Wrestlemania in history” and will also mark the first

Wrestlemania held by the TKO Group Holdings after WWE was sold in September of last year.

This year will also mark the first year where longtime owner and CEO of WWE Vince McMahon isn’t with the company. McMahon sold all of his shares in the company after a major lawsuit against him was filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused McMahon of sexual abuse.

This year’s Wrestlemania comes on the cusp of what some critics would say is another wrestling boom, based on viewership increases along with record attendance at live events. In January of 2024, Netflix announced the purchase of streaming rights to

WWE’s cornerstone weekly show, Monday Night Raw. The deal was announced as a $5 billion deal that will span 10 years.

After many years of Wrestlemania being only one night, the company decided to hold Wrestlemania 37 as a two-night event.

This year’s headliners are nothing short of big stars. On Saturday, night one, fans will see one of the biggest celebrities in the world, WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, team up with his “cousin” and current WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns to face ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes and current World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.

On Sunday, night two, fans will

then see Rhodes take on Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship.

Wrestlemania is one of my personal favorite sporting events, and this year will be nothing short of exciting for all fans. This two-night event will highlight some of the best wrestlers in the world, along with some of the biggest names WWE has to offer.

Wrestlemania XL starts at 7 p.m. EST and is streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Today’s Southern Soccer Intramurals Schedule

6 p.m. Sweet Kicks v. Birimbola Biddies (Womens)

6 p.m. She’s A Keeper v. Cleat

Freaks (Womens)

6 p.m. Giddy’s Disciples v. ABCD F.C. (Mens B)

7 p.m. Abgs x Latinas v. Green Cards (Mens B)

7 p.m Ken Shawties v. Soccer Moms (Womens)

7 p.m. Offside Outlaws v. LPC (Womens)

8 p.m. Wiz Kahfifa v. Las Co-

madres (Womens)

8 p.m Yellow Lock v. Tigres FC (Mens B)

8 p.m. Brawlstars v. El de la

Honra (Mens B)

9 p.m. Fanduel Flyers v. Good

Aim FC (Mens B)

9 p.m. Gettin Messi v. Beaners FC (Mens B)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (left) will team up with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes (right) and Seth Rollins on the first night of Wrestlemania. (Photo of Johnson sourced from Flickr) (Photo of Rhodes sourced from Wikimedia Commons)

By challenging your thoughts, you can adopt a clearer persepective. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

OPINION

Does politics belong in the church?

Alissa Flores Contributor

It has become increasingly popular for politics to be discussed in the church. Whether or not this is appropriate is the question that many Christians are asking themselves.

The church should not push a political agenda among its members. However, politics, while a touchy subject, is important to understand when living in today’s society. And, although it can be controversial, I believe it is essential to understand what you choose to believe in.

First, it is important to understand that politics, despite being demonized, is not necessarily bad. Dictionary.com defines it as “activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.”

The Bible provides a decent amount of commentary on the issue of governance. Romans 13:1 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

In verse five it says, “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”

These verses indicate that God instituted governmental authorities to uphold His law and peace, thereby maintaining order and offering a safe place for creation to dwell. Naturally, His goal was to have these authorities provide a way for humanity to cohabitate in unity.

Despite this being His desire, we live in a fallen world. Since

humans are wrought with sin, failure is inevitable. Leadership is bound to be corrupt. Good leaders come and go, and the followers who vehemently follow these leaders can be quarrelsome. This argumentative and aggressive war between sides in politics is what gives it a bad reputation. It is not something anyone would want in their church, and I agree with them.

I believe that God transcends any political ruler and his or her politics. The mission of a church transcends any political agenda or campaign, and our citizenship on earth does not compare to our ultimate citizenship in Heaven. The church as a whole should push for the higher purpose of God’s mission, and its members should embody Jesus’ character to the best of their ability. That’s what’s most important.

That being said, we have a responsibility, duty and right to uphold our political values as individuals. We have that choice because we live in a country that allows diverse political beliefs to run rampant, which is why it’s so important that we conduct ourselves carefully when we align ourselves with political parties.

What we stand for reflects from where we get our source of truth. It affects how we treat others and how people view the church. Think of it like the friend analogy. Who you hang out with influences the way you act, as well as how others perceive you.

How we act and the choices we make, affect how people perceive what we should be representing: Christ and His church.

Politics, despite what many say, is directly tied to morals, especially for Christians who understand the importance of

RELIGION

virtue. Morality, defined by the Bible, is the standard of right and wrong established by Jesus Christ. It is this morality that we should understand, and thus make our decisions based on, especially in regards to politics. Morality and truth should be the basis of our political beliefs.

Blindly following a cause or a person just because the world

says so never ends well. Taking initiative and really contemplating our choices is worth it. Making a choice to stand for what is right and just is what our country and church need more of.

Regardless of where on the political spectrum you may fall, evaluating why you believe what you believe is essential, especially for younger generations

who have been raised in a world of controversy, bias and hatred. Deeming ourselves competent and taking the time to understand the importance of knowing what we believe and why, helps us stand taller for those things we call our political beliefs. We must also be honest with ourselves and admit when we’re wrong.

Spring forth: Following Christ in and out of the tomb

Madison Wilcox Religion Editor

Spring has come, and I am astonished. I wish I could spend a full day staring at the world with my mouth open, saying to every leafing tree, “You too?” Spring has come. We are waking from the bad dream that was winter; we are flung into the bright reality of green, glowing, growing things.

How could we have doubted?

Has there ever been a year without spring? Has there ever been a spring without the exclamation point of astonishment appearing, time and time again, across the landscape of life? Spring comes. And with it, a promise: life defeats death, always.

Such was the message of one spring day over two thousand years ago. With spring came the empty tomb — a sudden revelation of the brilliance of God, as astonishing as the dogwoods and the leafing oaks after long bitterness. Christ rose, certain as the crocuses rise from the frosty ground. And His rising granted the promise of spring to us, as well: surely death wakes up to life, surely brown turns to green before long. Soon, death and all things breaking and broken will be gone forever. This is difficult to believe at the start of winter, when spring is still months away. Often, within the tomb of surrender, we grope in the dark for a life we think may never return to us. Three months of long nights and we turn against the One who led us to this place. Were we led this far only to watch Him roll the stone across our final hope? Who hears us cry for light from within these walls, thick with insistence?

Yet spring proclaims a truth we must hear: those who follow Christ into the tomb will surely

follow Him out. How could it be any different? In God’s world, the tomb empties as surely as the dogwood blooms. Those who enter rise up, as surely as the spring rises to spite the frost. What dies, broken, will live again, whole.

Tell me, would God ever let a heart break that He could not heal completely? Would He ever lead us into a darkness He did not plan to shatter with the brightness of His rising? Spring reminds us, astonishes

us again, with Christ’s promise, ever true: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

“For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flow-

ers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

“Politics, despite what many say, is directly tied to morals, especially for Christians who understand the importance of virtue.” (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

The ‘deinfluencing’ movement: Break away from trendy spending

Gabriella Grundy Staff Writer

If you are active on social media, you have likely come across targeted advertisements that are based on data such as your demographic information, web interactions and browser history. Additionally, you have probably seen various influencers come up in your recommended feed, also based on the aforementioned personal information.

In recent years, influencer marketing has been on the rise, with more businesses opting to substitute traditional advertising for paid product endorsements by influencers, in hopes of reaching a large audience of potential consumers.

A great example is the popularization of the Stanley cup, a now-trending drinking tumbler you might have seen sported by numerous individuals or that you yourself may own. Initially targeted to blue-collar workers and outdoorsmen, the 110-yearold Stanley brand saw a revival a few years ago when several female influencers began raving about the now-ubiquitous Quencher cup on their platforms. According to a CNBC article, Stanley’s revenue increased from $73 million in 2019 to $402 million in 2022 — a 450 percent jump in just three years.

So, what’s the big deal? The key is that influencers have to spend money to make money. This means that they actually make a profit from buying products, then filming themselves using said products and influencing their audience to buy them. Ashlee LeSueur, one of the influencers who pioneered Stan-

ley’s boost in popularity, took the risk of purchasing a wholesale order of 5,000 tumblers to sell directly to her followers — a risk that greatly paid off.

On the other hand, people who are not influencers are simply spending money. This is where the “deinfluencing” movement comes in. Deinfluencing is a social media trend, piloted by “deinfluencing influencers” (a pretty ironic term, right?).

According to social media analyst Kris Ruby, deinfluencing can be defined as “[Discouraging] consumers from buying certain products that the deinfluencer has found to be indulgent, ineffective or not worth the money.” Deinfluencers also address sustainability concerns,

as social media advertisements are thought to contribute to a substantial increase in demand and, consequently, overconsumption.

Not everyone is sold on the deinfluencing movement, however. Content creator Aria Connor says, “A lot of the people participating in the deinfluencing trend are more interested in making people feel bad for spending their money in a way that doesn’t align with the deinfluencer’s values or budget.”

Connor boils deinfluencing down to differences of opinions.

While this can be true in some cases, Paige Pritchard, financial coach and founder of the website “Overcoming Overspending,” has a different take.

“The real meaning of deinflu-

For a chance to be featured, use or tag @sauaccent on Instagram in your posts!

Dear Kevin

Dear Kevin, I am at my breaking point!!!

I have been at this school for FIVE WHOLE YEARS and I haven’t found a wife. And believe me, I’ve definitely been looking. If I knew I wasn’t going to be married by this point, I would have dropped out ages ago.

Dear Desperate Dave, You’ve been single for 5 years?

Yikes! Don’t worry, the right person will come at the right time. There are plenty of ducks in the pond. Life is too short to spend all your time on finding the one.

Instead, I suggest focusing on self-improvement and becoming the best version of yourself. And maybe spend some time in prayer and ask God to put the right person in your path.

Dear Kevin, Ever since freshman year, I’ve wanted to get a dog to keep me company, but it has never been practical. I’m finally moving out of the dorms and so it feels like now is the perfect time, but my parents are warning me against it. What do you think?

Dear Dog-Loving Dale, I think this idea could use some more thought. Did you know that ducks are a nutritional part of a dog’s diet? We’re in kibble, treats and medicine. I am a living chew toy to these creatures.

Every day I waddle in fear.

I feel as though you should get a slightly more domesticated animal, like a canary or a hedgehog (they don’t eat ducks). That way you won’t have to worry about your dog doing something that could change some poor soul’s life.

Do you have a question for Kevin?

Scan the QR code or click on the link in the Accent’s Instagram bio to submit your question.

This week’s winner is @jvital13 To collect your prize, go to the Student Development office.

encing is being able to be on [social media] and be inspired by something you see, rather than be influenced by it,” says Pritchard. “[Influencer culture] is meant to create a sense of inadequacy and lack in your current life,” which furthers the compulsion that people may feel to purchase certain things so that they can have the “perfect” life promoted by the influencers they watch.

If you find yourself compulsively spending money on trendy products and want to deinfluence yourself, Pritchard offers a lot of awesome, free advice on her @overcoming_overspending page on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Pritchard tends to focus

on shifting your mindset to find contentment in what you already own, taking inspiration from influencers and content creators rather than being influenced to make purchases.

Opinion TikToker @michelleskdl also creates deinfluencing videos that name specific products for which significantly cheaper alternatives are available.

As the world of social media continues to advance, it’s important to be aware of the effects that influencer culture can have. While it certainly has the capacity to be inspirational, don’t let it make you feel inadequate — and don’t let it drain your wallet.

As the world of social media continues to advance, it’s important to be aware of the effects that influencer culture can have. (Photo of Stanley cup by Mila Bales) (Photo of girl with wallet sourced from Pexels)

la_carribe It’s finally feeling like spring ��

Photo Credit: Talia

elsie.kroll I went on a mission trip to Cuba during Spring Break and it was amazing! I go to help others, helped me learn more about myself and God! I love Cuba

Norelie Cabrera

Elsie Kroll N E

lexi_gillard katie + will ����

Photo Credit: Connor Colins

Lexi Gillard L

jennakalenapeters Sonrise volunteering and baby animals ����✝ Happy Easter! He has risen! ✝️��

Photo Credit: Hannah Moravetz

Jenna Peters

Shayla Moguel-Coronel J S

roddytojino granola era Photo Credit: Nathan Turner

Roddy Tojino R

Today — 3

Senate, 8:00 p.m. @ Bietz Center for Student Life

Friday — 5

Payday: Hourly/Students

• World Social Work Day

• Vespers: Lawn Concert, 7:30 p.m. @

Goliath Wall

• Sunset, 8:05 p.m.

Thursday — 4

Adventist Intercollegiate Association Convention

Wind Symphony Tour

Last day to order May Graduation

Regalia online

• F24 Registration open online for Juniors >54 hours

• Convocation: Jared and Annette

Thurmon - Giving day, 11:00 a.m. @ Thatcher Chapel

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Amanda Blake

Weekly Birthdays

TODAY |3

Miriam Arredondo

Batista

Heston Charles Samuel John Duenas

Joey Naibaho

Lois Sam-Nwaomah

Evelyn Shtereva

Sean Toppin

Kevin Zapata

Thursday |4

Kiley Allen

Tommy Bounmysai

Macy Chant

Stephanie Evans

Friday |5

Marinela Cruz

Colin Glenn

Celine Kim

Grace Kim

Elisa Lee

Kevin Malagar

Lourdes Miner

Daniel O’Hare

Christian Steinert

Saturday |6

Keanne Fisher

Brian Hutabarat

Omar Lebreault

Kamran Masih

Joshua Narvaez

Evona Paunganwa

Monday |8

Jonathan Amarandei

Lilli Bilbao

Baz Burt-Miller

Elora Horsley

Dari Judd

Sungwoo Park

Matt Seymour

Tuesday |9

Zachary D. Bradley

Kenny Bunton

Ethan David

Callie Dickson

VPAA Council, 3:30 p.m. @ Presidential

Banquet Room

Jordan Zinke, violin, 7:30 p.m. @ Ackerman Auditorium

Saturday — 6

SOAP Outdoor Church: Hiwassee

Rafting, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. @ Wright

Hall Steps

Merge Worship, 11:45 a.m.

Sunday — 7

•

•

Tuesday — 9

Student Worker Appreciation Week

Ethan Jiao

Emily Kim

Gabrielle Faith Macri

Stephanie Rodriguez

Micah States

Noah Sturges Nancy Teran

Evensong - Collegedale Academy Choir & Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. @ Collegedale

Church

Gym-Masters Home Show, 9:00 p.m. @ Iles PE Center

Julian Oleaurre

Daniel Vanegas

Sunday |7

Julie Alvarez

Ashly Avila

Johannes Bischoff

Lauran Cho

Mina Kim

This Week’s Poll:

Stanley cup or Owala?

Tell us your thoughts by scanning the QR code and submitting your answer. Poll results will be published in next week’s issue!

Monday — 8

F24 Registration open online for returning Sophomores >23 hours

Faculty Senate, 3:30 p.m.

Staff Advisory Council, 3:30 p.m.

E.A. Anderson Lecture Series, 6:50 p.m. @ Brock Hall 3205

John Tooley, cello, 7:30 p.m. @ Ackerman Auditorium Student Worker Appreciation Week

Last Week’s Results: Is “Oppenheimer” overrated?

The Academy Awards would agree.

Matt Dizon

Nicole Encarnacion

Ginger Fleming

Justin Groff

Revin Hooper

Oyuki Montes De Oca

Mulisa Mulisa

Amy Steele

Minha Yang

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