Vol. 79 Issue 22

Southern Accent

Ruffling feathers and spawning a task force: What is the bear mascot up to?

In March 2023, the President’s Cabinet approved a bear mascot for Southern Adventist University, an initiative proposed by Student Association (SA) earlier that school year. This year’s SA introduced the mascot, a black bear dressed in a green Southern T-shirt, to the student body at events in the fall.

Since then, the bear has appeared at more events, administration has created a task force to promote the new mascot, and individuals on campus have expressed opposing opinions about its implemen-

tation, with many voicing that they prefer the duck, considered the unofficial mascot of Southern before the bear was introduced. The duck has been the inspiration for such Southern traditions as the School of Health and Kinesiology's Duck Walk and the Accent's "Find Kevin" And "Ask Kevin" newspaper features.

Mascot Task Force

According to Justin Moore, associate vice president for Financial Administration, University President Ken Shaw recently asked him to chair a task force to promote the bear on campus. He stated that the task force is made up of five people, including himself.

“The goal of our task force is to come up with ideas and

Returned SMs share challenges of navigating life after missions

Lucas Bueno Staff Writer

Returning to Southern Adventist University after months of service overseas often presents student missionaries with various challenges that can affect their social and academic lives and even their emotional health.

Eliana Hounslow, sophomore nursing major, shared her experience of returning to Southern after her time of service. Hounslow served at Kendu Bay Adventist Hospital in Kenya from September to December of 2023.

Emily Schneider, junior biology major, also shared her experiences of returning to Southern after being a student missionary. Schneider served in Palau for ten months as a third-grade teacher at an elementary school.

Hounslow initially went to Kenya to help at a physical therapy clinic. However, she also spent a week in the maternity ward at a local hospital, helping mothers through labor and assisting with C-sections.

“I really enjoyed being in the nursing side of the hospital versus the physical therapy side, so I asked to be [assigned] more in the hospital,” Hounslow said.

While in Kenya, Hounslow helped out in many different areas, including a school for the disabled. As a result of her expe-

riences there, she decided to switch her major from physical therapy to nursing and hopes to be accepted into Southern’s nursing program in the fall.

Hounslow returned to Southern during the winter and said the drastic difference in climate compared to Kenya was a big change for her to get used to again.

“I didn’t come back to like, you know, the bustling place that I was in Kendu,” she said. “ … I felt like I didn’t have my people. I kinda felt like I was just coming back, and everyone else had gone on with their lives, and I was just pushed back into this life.”

Hounslow said it took time to process all the different feelings she had upon returning to Southern, while also adjusting to the practical differences she encountered. She remembers walking on the wrong side of the road and trying to pass people on the right because she grew accustomed to that in Kenya.

Also, Hounslow struggled to settle into her “normal” life at Southern and get back into the rhythm of going to class and studying.

“My normal was over in Kenya, where I would wake up sometimes without power and sometimes didn’t have water,” she said. “Like, everything was

a plan to further integrate the bear all over campus,” he said.

Another duty of the task force includes creating a list of name options for the mascot.

“I think a good, catchy name is important to have,” Moore said. “If you look at other universities around the country, they often have names that are catchy and roll off the tongue easily.”

Once finished, the list of names and plan for implementation will be shared with the President’s Council, according to Moore. The President's Council, formerly known as the President's Cabinet, consists of Shaw and administrative vice presidents. The task force plans to include students and alumni in the voting process after the list is narrowed down.

Janell Hullquist, director of Marketing and University Relations, said that voting will most likely take place at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

Where’s the Bear Been?

Jared Chandler, current SA president, spoke with the Accent about SA’s use of the mascot this school year.

“We probably should have used [the mascot] a little bit more,” he said in a voice message.

Chandler said overseeing the mascot did not fall under any SA member's job description, which led the group to use it only at events where the mascot would be considered a necessity, such as Organizational Showcase, or

the author of “On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books,” and her writing has been featured in esteemed publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times.

On Wednesday evening, she spoke about conversion of faith and evangelical Christianity at Southern Scholars' second annual Benjamin McArthur Endowed Lecture Series. The next day, she was the plenary speaker for the university’s first Illuminate Conference, an art and faith symposium that took place on campus Thursday and Friday.

Ella Quijada, a sophomore psychology major and Southern Scholar, attended Prior’s Wednesday session, which delved into the evangelical movement and how it continues to affect American culture and religion. At least 100 people attended the lecture, according to Quijada, who said she especially enjoyed the Q&A session.

“I got to know her a little bit better,” said Quijada, who wrote an article about the lecture for Spectrum magazine, in an interview with the Accent.

Southern Scholars hosted a luncheon the next day to speak with Prior about her presentation. The Accent attended and asked Prior what she hopes attendees took away from the McArthur lecture. She said she wanted listeners to learn the importance of understanding genuine conversion and fully knowing their beliefs.

Prior is a Christian and often mixes her beliefs into her work. She writes a monthly column for

Southern Adventist Univer-

Walters and Steven Oskins, instructors of the applied technology auto program, will be assisting the students performing the vehicle inspections.

According to Emiko Miyagi, the university’s auto services manager, Southern Auto Care offers these free car inspections twice each year, in April and October, weather permitting. Miyagi said, “April is National Car Care Month. We feel people need to know the importance of properly maintaining vehicles.” The car inspection event is important because it provides students in the program an opportunity to interact with customers, according to Miyagi. The event gives these students on-the-job experience that goes beyond the classroom.

According to Walters, the inspection “includes checking lights, fluid levels, engine computer codes, tires, hose belts, filters and more.” The free inspection will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for students, faculty and the community. The

(L-R) Jisu Park, Kyungseo Moon and Sarah Park pose with glowing props alongside Southern Adventist

Alissa Flores Reporter

slow and peaceful.”

Despite the challenges she has faced returning to Southern, Hounslow believes her mission work in Kenya gave her more purpose in life. When she was serving in the maternity ward, Hounslow said, she helped a woman who went to the ward already in labor to calm down. The woman named her child “Eliana” in honor of Hounslow. Such experiences helped Hounslow solidify what she wanted to do with her life.

“I know what I love now,” Hounslow said.

At the same time, Hounslow has experienced “missionary guilt,” which makes her feel she should still be there helping. However, she also understands that she is not yet certified to give nursing care.

“I do have to do school to help them in the future because I plan on going back [to] it one day,” Hounslow said. “But it’s like I have to take time for myself to, you know, to study when I need to study so I can serve them even better in the future.”

Schneider also experienced culture shock when she returned to Southern. She found things different even as she recon-

nected with friends who stayed at school.

“So it’s kind of weird, like, you go back expecting to go to the same friend group that hangs out together [and] eats together on this day,” she said.

“ Then, that’s, like, not a thing.”

“

… Coming back, I felt like I had friends, and I felt like I had community, but I still did kind of ask the question, like, ‘Where is my home? Where do I fit in?

Where do I belong?’”

According to Schneider, it was hard for her to find meaning in college life after experiencing the fulfillment of mission work. She considered spending more time in Palau and prayed about the decision to stay or come back to school.

“Something that I try to remind myself is [that] God is calling you back home,” Schneider said. “Just like He had a purpose and intention in bringing you out to the mission field, … I feel like there’s intention and purpose with having me come back home.”

Schneider said her experience teaching in Palau made her realize that furthering her education could allow her to serve others better in the future. She initially signed up to be a student missionary because her academics were delayed while she recovered from a concussion.

MASCOT

determined by the next SA president or Shaw’s new mascot task force.

“So I was like, ‘Well, what do I do?’” she said. “I knew God had been calling me to go on missions. So I answered His call.”

Because of her time as a student missionary and switching her major to nursing, Schneider said she sometimes feels behind because of the courses she is still taking.

“Coming back and doing classes that I should have done my freshman year, honestly, felt a little bit insulting,” Schneider said. “ … Like people my age are already in their academic programs. They’re already doing this stuff, and I feel like I got left behind.”

However, Schneider reminds herself that everyone has a different path in life, and she chose to do what God called her to by becoming a student missionary. She said even though her path in college was changed by her time in Palau, she feels blessed by that time and trusts God to help her balance the difficulties of life and following His calling.

“God, You called me to go into missions,” Schneider said, “and now I have to trust You’re still going to get me through what I considered life before missions.”

PRIOR

continued from page 1

Religion News Services, and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today. Her general advice to students is to genuinely seek the kingdom of God.

“There are so many opportunities and rich and wonderful things that we can do, but doing them by seeking the kingdom of God is what makes them the most meaningful,” Prior said during the luncheon.

On Thursday morning, Prior presented Illuminate Conference’s plenary session, titled “The Good Life in Great Books.” The Accent attended and estimated that around 300 people attended.

Lucas Patterson, associate director for strategic partnerships and organizer of Illuminate Conference, announced before Prior spoke that the audience represented 15 states. Before Prior spoke, Jason Emmanuel Petty, a Christian rap and poetry artist also known as Propaganda, shared a poem to promote a concert that was scheduled for later in the conference.

Prior spoke about finding the image of a good life through books, calling humans “storytelling creatures.” She used the example of “Pride and Prejudice” and explained how readers of the classic work by Jane Austen understand the story’s world through the eyes of Elizabeth, the main character, misunder-

standing things as she does.

The story of “Pride and Prejudice,” published in 1813, revolves around Elizabeth Bennett and her family as they navigate love and friendship. It follows her blossoming, albeit bumpy, relationship with the well-off Mr. Darcy. Swallow discussed how readers trust Elizabeth’s initial judgment of Mr. Darcy, noting how they start to realize alongside the protagonist that Mr. Darcy might be better than he seemed at first.

The “good life” can be found in the virtues of great literature by those who improve their reading skills, according to Prior. She continually used book and play references to support her argument, such as writings by George Saunders and excerpts from “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. At the end of her session, she concluded that it is far better to be kind to people by treating them like family than to just be nice.

Heidi Burke, a freshman history-secondary education major, attended Prior’s plenary session and told the Accent she resonated with the ending, when Prior spoke about death and highlighted the humility that comes with experiencing grief and allowing others to be there in moments of vulnerability.

Prior was one of almost 30 presenters from various disciplines who spoke at the Illuminate Conference. The symposium featured over 40 sessions.

at events where the bear was requested, such as the Giving Day Finale. Chandler said he believes the mascot is important because it presents a great way to enhance school spirit. He would like to see it implemented at more university events.

“Whatever they see best, they’ll do it,” he said.

The Accent contacted Edvan Benitez, next year’s SA president, through text.

continued from page 1 See

“I think it’d be cool to see it at more intramural games, Chandler said. “I think that’s where it would be increasing school spirit, encouraging students to come out and support, especially at intramural final games.

“The goal of our task force is to come up with ideas and a plan to further integrate the bear all over campus.”

Although SA has not yet reached its desired level of using the mascot, the group would like the bear to eventually become a large part of Southern’s culture, Chandler said. He thinks next year’s SA will do more with the bear, but future use will ultimately be

When asked about his plans for the mascot, Benitez wrote: “If I’m completely honest, I haven’t really [thought] about it. … I know that the Student Development office wants to implement it more, and maybe we will redesign our SA logo in which we will add the bear on it. But besides that, I don’t know. “Also the fact that I’m not passionate about the bear is another factor,” he continued. “I will try to use [it] as much as the school and administration wants to promote it, but for me, personally, [it] is not one of my priorities right now.”

Student Opinion Chandler said, “I think when it comes to students having a big opinion regarding the mascot, there’s always a few that are hanging onto the duck, but I feel like the majority of the students are fairly indifferent.”

Referencing polls conducted last school year, Chandler said some students like the bear more than the duck.

“It’s my understanding that the students picked the bear over having the duck as a mascot,” he said. In

“Also the fact that I’m not passionate about the bear is another factor. I will try to use [it] as much as the school and administration wants to promote it, but for me, personally, [it] is not one of my priorities right now.”

Karen Swallow Prior speaks on the evangelical movement at the Benjamin McArthur Endowed Lecture Series in Ackerman Auditorium. Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)

Emily Schneider poses with students at an elementary school in Palau. (Photo courtesy of source)

Current SA President Jared Chandler (right) and next year's SA president Edvan Benitez (left) watch the bear mascot interact with the School of Engineering and Physics' robotic dog at the Organizational Showcase in the fall. Sunday, August 20, 2023. (Photo by Evelyn Shtereva)

Eliana Hounslow takes a selfie with children while serving as a missionary in Kenya. (Photo courtesy of source)

MASCOT on page 3

MASCOT

continued from page 2

for a school that does not play competitive sports; stylistically the bear seems “aggressive and fierce,” he shared.

“[The] bear just seemed so forced and tone deaf,” Agustin said. “Rather than solidifying the identity of the student body, it just made us more divided and confused.”

“[The] bear just seemed so forced and tone deaf. Rather than solidifying the identity of the student body, it just made us more divided and confused.”

Some students shared their opinions on the mascot costume, stating that it looks scary or “uncanny and unnerving.”

Emily White, senior music theory and literature major, wrote, “I am honestly very scared of it. … I bet I could run a 5K in sub-20 minutes with that thing chasing me around.”

However, a couple student respondents demonstrated support for the bear.

“The bear looks good!” Esteban Grajales, senior theology major, wrote. “I feel that more people will like it as years go by and it gets used more.”

Seth Mace, sophomore marketing major, wrote: “Bear is cool, but bring back the [duck].”

Bear Versus Duck Moore said he understands the mascot is a sensitive topic for some and that some people feel attached to the duck. However, the task force he leads just wants to find ways to integrate the bear across campus since it is the official mascot.

“As [the duck] was never an official mascot, we don’t want

there to be confusion between it and the bear,” Moore said.

“Change never is easy, but my hope is that as faculty and staff we can rally around this new mascot and embrace it.”

When asked if the task force plans to remove Kevin from the Accent, Moore responded, “It only makes sense to substitute the bear for duck-themed things around campus, as this is now our official mascot.”

Kevin is a small green duck hidden in each print issue of the Accent. Students who find him and, in an Instagram message, alert the Accent of their discovery are entered into a drawing. Winners of the random drawing are eligible to receive a gift card.

According to Tierra Hayes, a former Accent editor who graduated from Southern in 2020, the Accent created Kevin in 2017, and the Accent team used to hide rubber ducks on campus for students to find. Last school year, under the editorial leadership of Southern alumna Alana Crosby, the Accent created “Dear Kevin,” an advice column in which Kevin the Duck answers students’ questions.

Hullquist confirmed in an email to the Accent that “the duck,” the unofficial mascot of Southern, did not have a name.

“The bear looks good! I feel that more people will like it as years go by and it gets used more.”

“The duck was never formally voted as the institution’s mascot, but it was used as the unofficial mascot for more than a decade,” Hullquist stated.

In response to the Accent’s recent Instagram poll, the majority of users referred to the old mascot as “the duck,” but a couple referenced him as Kevin.

On Tuesday, April 2, Samuel Mora Zepeda, a senior history

major and student senator, sent his constituents an email with the following message:

“If you are not aware, last year the controversial decision was made to make a bear the official school mascot over the famous duck. As your senator, I want to represent you all as accurately as I can. I want to know how you all feel about the change that happened and if you would like to see a change. Please fill out this super short survey about the school’s mascot. Your response will help [me] know my future course of action, and I do not want to disappoint you all.”

The email included a Google Form asking respondents how they felt about the bear mascot and asking them to choose between the duck and the bear.

Last Monday, Mora Zepeda told the Accent through text that 64% of his constituents prefer the duck over the bear. He added that he prefers the duck as well, and he plans to present his findings to Student Senate. “But this doesn’t mean that Senate is planning to change the mascot. I will just be showing my findings,” he wrote.

Mora Zepeda said he does not oppose the implementation of an official mascot.

“The reality is that a mascot is simply used for marketing purposes. However, I think it can go way beyond that,” he stated in a text to the Accent. “There is the fact, which I have already mentioned, which is unity and identity. However, there is so much more. A mascot provides entertainment and engagement in student life, which is a positive for any university to have. Spirit and pride is another thing that a mascot can provide, which is something positive.”

The Sports Dilemma

As reported by the Accent last year, the School of Health and Kinesiology opposed the implementation of an official bear mascot because its faculty

believed the mascot did not represent the university well.

“[The mascot] embodies our culture and what we stand for at Southern. A lot of students at Southern are very active in the outdoors, and I think the [bear] mascot embodies that as well.”

“Mascots are associated with interscholastic sports teams,” said Robert Benge, now former dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, in a previous Accent article. Benge retired last summer.

“We don’t play interscholastic sports here [at Southern],” he continued, “so we didn’t see the relevance of it.”

Of the nine full-time faculty working in the School of Health and Kinesiology at the time, not one approved of the bear mascot.

Benge and Judy Sloan, the current dean of the school, explained their stance in a letter shared with the deans and chairs, vice presidents and the President’s Cabinet last school year. In another Accent article published last winter, Shaw said the bear would not push the school to incorporate intercollegiate sports.

Kenneth Bautista, 20222023 SA president, also told the Accent last year that the mascot was “not intended to represent a university sports team, but to create a sense of community and become something with which each student can identify."

When asked by the Accent this semester about the School of Health and Kinesiology’s current stance on the bear mascot, Mike Boyd, associate professor in the school, stated: “The School of Health and Kinesiology made a statement last year that has not changed.”

Chandler said he believes the biggest backlash to the bear mascot came from the School of Health and Kinesiology. He added, however, that implementation of the mascot has not caused a push for intercollegiate sports.

Chandler believes the bear represents Southern’s emphasis on outdoor recreationand fits well with that brand.

“[The mascot] embodies our culture and what we stand for at Southern,” he said. “A lot of students at Southern are very active in the outdoors, and I think the [bear] mascot embodies that as well.

“[Our campus] being in the forest, we like to do things outdoors in nature, especially on Saturdays,” he continued, pointing out that Southern offers numerous adventurous and outdoor activities, such as rock climbing and backpacking.

Editor-in-chief Amanda Blake contributed to this article.

The Student Success Center: Maximizing students' academic potential

Aidan McCollough Staff Writer at Southern Adventist University is a lesser-known yet critically important facet of McKee Library. Located on the second floor, below the Writing and

Tutoring centers, the Student Success Center helps students improve their study habits, organization skills, memory, and other academic skills in order to succeed at Southern and in their future careers.

“The Student Success Center is primarily a place for [Southern] students to improve their academic skills,” said Regina Bailey, the center’s office coordinator. “ … We want students to reach their full potential.”

Formerly, the Student Success Center was connected to Student Support Services, but later it was divided into two separate departments. Since its establishment in

early August of 2023, the center has operated in McKee Library. By contrast, Student Support Services is located on the third floor of the Bietz Center for Student Life, next to departments such as Disability Services, Life Calling, and First Year Experience. According to Southern’s website, the Student Success Center puts a strong emphasis on one-on-one assistance, pairing struggling students with an academic support manager to maximize their academic performance. Students can access the center by scheduling an appointment through Southern’s website or by arranging a meeting in person at McKee Library.

A central component of the Student Success Center is the University Enrichment course, taught by Cheri Durst, a certified Global Career Development facilitator and coordinator of Southern’s First Year Advising program, as stated on Southern’s website. The course is a required class for students with a GPA of 2.0 or less and aims to assist students in setting priorities both in college and in life. It focuses on helping students develop scholarly and life skills such as time management, critical thinking and setting both long-term and short-term goals.

Student finds fresh hobby in baking bread

to me to try and cut out all the parchment.”

Despite these setbacks, Van Zant did not stop, and he eventually got the hang of it.

kitchen was “cook a quesadilla.” But during Christmas break, the 19-yearold business administration major wanted to learn more skills and not fill his time with video games. So, he reasoned, “I’m going to learn how to bake bread because you’re going to use that for the rest of your life.” Van Zant found recipes on Pinterest, rolled up his sleeves and went to work. At first, it proved somewhat of a disaster. Describing that time, he laughed, saying he had “a lot of failed attempts. The bread was not breading.”

“There was one that was edible, but only part of it was,” he recalled recently in an interview with the Accent. “ … Another one was not edible. Another one was super hard. … It was like a rock. And there [was] another one. I think some of the parchment paper got mixed into it. … It didn’t look appealing

“I found a recipe that works consistently,” he said. “[I] stuck with that one because everyone likes it. Or at least, they say they like it.”

Now, several months later, Van Zant spends his weekends baking at his friend’s house. Although he brings all of his own supplies, Van Zant cites Ella Griggs, sophomore graphic design major, as “sponsoring” his baking adventures by letting him use her house and equipment.

Of course, everyone at Grigg’s house gets first pick to sample the loaves. According to Van Zant, his bread is “usually eaten within 30 seconds.”

Matthew Taylor, junior mass communication-media production major, has personally sampled several loaves and reports:

“I can honestly say it is consistently better than anything I’ve had at a restaurant recently. Everyone swarms to it like moths to a flame.”

Derek Aubin, sophomore mass communication - media production major, agreed and described the bread in three words: “It was good.”

Despite the popularity of his baking, Van Zant currently has no plans to start selling loaves. Instead, he bakes “usually, just because it’s fun.” He said he

gets the most joy from seeing his friends enjoy his creation. When asked about the biggest challenge to baking, Van Zant said it was definitely getting up the courage to start.

“Most people are too scared to start making bread,” he said, explaining how he felt intimidated at the beginning. “Baking

is kind of scary.” He had several failed attempts but learned to be persistent, offering advice to others struggling with challenges in the kitchen and life.

“Don’t get discouraged,” he said. “Keep going. You’ll get it eventually, no matter how many times it takes.”

The Student Success Center's

of McKee Library. Thursday, March 21, 2024 (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)

Dylan Van Zant does not consider himself a baker. In fact, until very recently, the most he ever did in the

Southern's bear mascot appears at the university's Giving Day Finale. Thursday, April 11, 2024. (Photo courtesy of MUR)

A freshly baked loaf of Dylan Van Zant’s bread. (Photo courtesy of source)

Dylan Van Zant poses in the kitchen. (Photo courtesy of source)

Heidi Burke Contributor

GYM-MASTERS A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

MENTAL HEALTH

College student mental health: The grass isn’t always greener

Johanne Mendoza Contributor

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

In the grand scheme of social media, the comparison game is challenging to avoid. Young people are bombarded with the allure of instant gratification, expensive vacations and perfect physical bodies presented in Instagram stories, TikTok shorts and Netflix dating shows. Extravagant or adventurous lifestyles are often displayed on social media feeds. Social media users usually post specific parts of their lives that they want to be perceived experiencing. Social media feeds usually lack vulnerability or transparency, opting for a filtered lifestyle.

I, too, fall into this trap, choosing only the best angles or most aesthetically pleasing pictures to post on my page. The common expression, “The grass is always greener on the other side,” reflects the belief that everyone else’s situation is better than yours. It has created a society where people often grow jealous of other’s accomplishments and are not satisfied with the cards they are dealt. It makes you look at everyone else’s life as a blueprint, and you can’t help but feel sorry for yourself for not amounting to everyone else’s expectations.

Although social media can be fun for expressing yourself and inspiring others, there is a thin line between inspiration and comparison. In this digital age,

it’s easy to be weighed down by what everyone else is doing. In a life bombarded with constant capitalization — the promise that purchasing the newest items will bring happiness — we could benefit from looking inward for self-gratification. Most of the time, in-person hangouts are only documented digitally, without making actual connections through meaningful conversations. Although we are all connected digitally and socially, the connections stay at the surface

level. Taking pictures and capturing videos is okay, but we must tread carefully to create space for meaningful interactions.

I must remind myself that only some posts I see online are recipes for success; most pictures are edited, and people usually post only a curated carousel of what they want you to see. Trust me, this is something that I struggle with daily — something I need to take to heart. Especially with this being my senior year, I can’t help

but feel like I fell behind compared to my peers. I see online that they go on luxurious trips, have a grad school lined up, or splurge on big purchases. This causes me to doom scroll, mostly ending with feelings of dissatisfaction and emptiness. I notice that being in constant comparison with others takes away from my achievements and makes me lose my self-confidence.

After reflecting on a Fresh Insight article titled “The Grass Is Always Greener: How Social Media

Fuels Our Dissatisfaction,” I started reflecting on my strengths. Seeing the beauty in my life allowed me to see my actual value. Our value is so much more than a curated social media page, a title to our name or the material things we have. Being more selfaware while scrolling through other people’s Instagram stories will help you gently shift your focus from comparison to appreciation. This outlook has helped me see that the grass on my side, and yours, is green enough.

SPORTS

NBA playoffs ahead as college basketball wraps up

Jacob Nevis Sports Editor

With the arrival of baseball and the spring season, the major basketball seasons begin to come to a close. With the conclusion of the March Madness for the NCAA Women’s and Men’s tournaments, the NBA playoffs also appear on the horizon as well.

The Gamecocks, who are coached by Dawn Staley, finished the season with a perfect 38-0 record as they captured their third national championship title. Staley has been nothing short of one of the best coaches in women’s basketball within the last three seasons

posting a record of 109-3, including another national championship title in 2022.

Clark, one of the most dynamic and most recognizable women’s basketball players, will declare for the WNBA draft and will almost certainly be picked first overall. The Iowa vs. South Carolina game broke ESPN’s women’s basketball ratings record, pulling in around 14.2 million average viewers.

On the men’s side of the tournament, last year’s national champions UConn Huskies made it back to the championship game where they faced the Purdue Boilermakers. UConn captured their second consecutive national championship af-

ter beating Purdue in the final.

The NBA regular season looks to come to a close, as playoffs loom over the Eastern and Western Conferences. In the Eastern Conference, Jaysum Tatum and the Boston Celtics will finish with the best record in the NBA along with capturing the Eastern Conference’s first seed.

Other teams in the Eastern Conference who will look to make deep postseason runs include the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks. While these three teams currently hold the second through fourth-best records in the eastern conference, other teams will look to change seeding in the last few games.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently tied with the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, in a tight race for the first seed. The third-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder are right on their tails as the regular season starts to come to a close. The first round of the NBA playoffs will begin on April 20th with the play-in games being played April 16-19.

Today’s Southern Soccer Intramurals schedule

6 p.m.

Ken Shawties v. Sweet Kicks (Womens)

Soccer Moms v. Kickin’ It (Womens)

Las Pub Subs v. Birinbola Bid-

dies (Womens)

7 p.m.

Sarang Stealers v. Offside Outlaws (Womens)

Wiz Khafifa v. She’s a Keeper (Womens)

Gettin Messi v. Giddy’s Disciples (Mens B)

8 p.m.

Las Comadres v. We Kick Grass (Womens)

LPC v. Cleat Freaks (Womens)

Tigres FC v. KFC (Mens B)

9 p.m.

Beaners FC v. Green Cards (Mens B)

Good Aim FC v. ABCD F.C. (Mens B)

This year’s March Madness saw the South Carolina Gamecocks win in women’s college basketball and the UConn Huskies win in men’s college basketball. (Photo sourced from Flickr)

Social media has faciliated the growth of a “grass is always greener” society, leading young adults to believe their lives aren’t good enough. (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

OPINION

Dancing and devotion: Why do Adventists not dance?

Alexis Dewey Opinion Editor

Growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I have always known that certain things distinguish us from other Christian denominations: eating healthily, going to church on Saturday, not working or going out on Sabbath and so on.

It’s no secret we do things differently or, as some like to say, “We’re a peculiar people.”

A majority of my family is not Adventist; in fact, only my immediate family is. The family weddings I had been to as a child all involved some sort of dancing, even if it was just a first dance for the newlyweds.

So, when I went to one of my first Adventist weddings, I thought to myself, “Where’s the dancing?” The absence of any sort of dance at the Adventist wedding took me aback. I asked why no one was dancing, and the other guests seemed confused, almost as if I should have known the answer to that question. That’s when I learned that “Adventists don’t dance.”

“But I want to dance at my own wedding,” young me thought.

I can understand why the church would frown upon the act of dancing provocatively. Going out and dancing just for fun or at a wedding, though? I cannot wrap my head around it. The Bible mentions dancing at several different points, and they almost always are linked with praise. “Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.” (Psalms 149:3-4) This verse is explaining that we should praise God with

song and dance because we are His chosen people.

I believe that anything that dishonors God is wrong; however, a lot of gray area surrounds this subject. “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based

on merely human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13).

Just about anything can be done for the glory of God. It all depends on your mindset and the intentions behind the action. For example, playing sports can either dishonor or bring glory to God; it all depends on your intentions. Dancing is no different.

We should aim to have everything we do honor God. The Bible has given us several different verses about dancing as a way of worship. “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12).

Hyperfixating on whether dancing is right or wrong may not be the best use of our time. Instead, maybe we should fix our minds on the intentions behind our actions. That way, we can grow and become stronger Christians.

“When I went to one of my first Adventist weddings, I thought to myself, ‘Where’s the dancing?’” (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

RELIGION

Ministry to fools: Risking reputation in the footsteps of Jesus

Madison Wilcox Religion Editor only does He guide the fool, but He also stays with him, holding his hand.

Fools present a moral dilemma to the wise. As Proverbs 26 explains, it is dangerous both to engage the fool or to ignore him: It is dangerous for the wise to engage in a fool’s conversation — he may, by association, become a fool himself (Proverbs 26:3); yet it is also dangerous to ignore the fool, for then he will never realize his foolishness and possibly never escape it. (Proverbs 26:4) Ministry to fools, therefore, requires sacrifice, a risk of one’s reputation.

Yet for the wise who choose to embrace the risk, they must remember their past and the foundation of their wisdom. For even the wisest begins as a fool. In fact, as fallen humans, we form a collective fool. Often stupidly insistent on pretend sovereignty, we fret and force our way through life, as beastly and irrational as Solomon’s archetype. Each of us, when we come to our senses, can claim David’s words from Psalm 73 as our own: “Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.” (Psalm 73:21-22)

Yet how has God responded to our beastly behavior? Which path does He choose when He meets the moral dilemma presented in Proverbs 26? He chooses risk. The next verses say:

“Nevertheless, I am continually with You.

You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.” (Psalm 73:23-24)

God risks His own reputation for the chance of restoring a foolish heart to wisdom. Not

Nevertheless, the danger of ministry to fools remains, and the divine faces a risk no less serious, which begs the question: Where has God’s choice landed Him in the experiment? Has God ruined His reputation in associating himself with fools?

In some ways, He has. The price He paid to wake the heart of a fool was indeed a price. His alignment with the fools of the world cost Him the esteem of many. When Christ was on earth, the elite of His community looked down upon Him as one who associated with tax collectors and sinners. (Matthew 9:10)

For this, He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:1) Even now, the gospel message continues to be foolish to the world. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Yet paradoxically, the foolish gospel is the singular, stunning hope of the fool. First Corinthians 1:25-28 explains:

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.”

Is not the hand of a fool in the hand of God somehow the most powerful thing on earth?

It is so, because it is God with us, Immanuel, who holds our foolish hands as we stumble down paths of ignorance and weakness, who refuses to interact with us as the beasts we believe ourselves to be, who whis-

pers counsel in our ears until it is beautiful enough to obey, and who promises a brilliant home and final acceptance into the

Is not the hand of a fool in the hand of God somehow the most powerful thing on earth? (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

brightness of that mysterious word, “glory.” Surely this hope is enough to convince the wise to take the

foolish risk for a foolish brother. Held by the beauty of a foolish gospel, we fools have found a home.

From graduates, with love: Top tips for life at Southern

Emily White Reporter

For this week’s article, I interviewed graduating seniors about their time here at Southern and asked for advice they have to share with those of us who still have more time here. Some of their answers follow:

Spiritual Life

“Prioritize your time with God, even if it means being late to class or putting yourself behind on an assignment. If you give God your time, He will take care of you! My mom always told me: ‘Do your best, and God will do the rest!’ In a similar vein, allow yourself to be used by Jesus as His hands and feet on campus. Even though we’re on an Adventist campus, there are still people here who need to see Jesus.”

-Amelia Zimmerman, Communication

“Find a place on campus to pray alone. Get creative with your location, but stay safe!”

-Emilie Updegrave, Psychology

Academics

“Ask for help, even if you don’t feel like you need it. If you ask for help, it leads to a lot less stress.”

-Sydney Bischoff, Fine Arts

“Don’t pick your major just for the money; pick it because you enjoy it. When you do something you’re interested in, you’re likely to go much farther.”

Charles Peters, Computer Science

“Get your gen-eds out of the way as soon as possible.”

-Emilie Updegrave, Psychology

“Take notes in a physical notebook, because it’s more fun and you will have something to look back through, especially if you doodle in it! Studies show that actual physical notes are better for retention. Try to use a separate notebook for all your classes. I didn’t once [and] I got confused.”

-Amelia Zimmerman, Communication

“Don’t start skipping classes or turning in assignments late. Once you start, it becomes really hard to stop.”

-Jasiel Castro, Psychology

“Constantly evaluate your priorities. It will either confirm the path/major you’re on or it’ll show you that it’s time to make a change, which is okay. An extra year in college, even the expense of it, is well worth the joy of doing something fulfilling for the next 40-plus years.”

-Ryan Howell, Chemistry

“Don’t be afraid of failure—for example, choosing the wrong major. College is a good place to mess up, so you’re in the perfect place to make mistakes. It’s better to try and fail instead of not trying anything at all. Also, some of the professors here are so underrated! If you find professors here that you like, try and spend some time with them so you can learn from them. Ask for career advice and life advice,

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

Dear Kevin

Dear Kevin, With the semester coming to an end, it’s getting easier and easier to sleep past my alarm and turn in assignments late. How do I stay motivated to finish the semester strong?

Dear Senioritis Sam, To stay motivated as a college student is very difficult. Many have tried crossing that pond, and many have failed at such an arduous task. Consider framing a photo of your loved ones and imagine the disappointment on their faces if they were to see you procrastinating. Their beaks would frown in hard disappointment. That’s pretty motivating to me. In all seriousness, remember that there are only three weeks left of school. Feather out your responsibilities and finish strong!

Dear Kevin, All of the Giving Day shenanigans made me wonder, why is nobody giving to me?

I lack funds; I lack prospects; I even lack the basic funda-

mentals to write a professional email.

Dear Lame Larry, The question is, why aren’t you giving to yourself? Stand up and learn how to write an email. Google exists for a reason. As for your funds, try googling jobs in the area and scholarships that could be applicable to you.

You have to change that victim mindset and start telling yourself that you live a good life and that what you want will come. It’s not a matter of if your life will improve, but when. Do you want a fun and beautiful life? Well go out there and live it then! Life is short.

As for prospects, do you mean romantic? If so, I have two pieces of advice: Just keep living life, and don’t worry about romance. But if you do find yourself liking someone in the future, be bold and tell them! What do you have to lose?

However, I think you should forget about romantic prospects and start considering graduate school prospects.

This week’s winner is @jocelyn.jara_24 To collect your prize, go to the Student Development office.

Knowing that students might need a little extra cash, Kevin is offering a:

and try to get to know them!”

-Kaitlyn Kim, Psychology

Finances

“Tuition is going up by 6.8%... get good scholarships.”

-Brandon Gustrowsky, Computer Science

Friendship

“Be friendly! If you want a friend, someone else probably wants a friend, too! Be the friend that you want to have. Take advantage of being in an environment that is full of other people your age.”

-Amelia Zimmerman, Communication

“Make a lot of friends at first, because you won’t have time to make friends later.”

“Be a part of a team in some way, whether that’s through a club, intramural team, instrumental ensemble, or LifeGroup.

You can meet new people and bond with them!”

-Jasiel Castro, Psychology

“I wish that I would have been able to appreciate some people sooner. Don’t be afraid to make the jump from classroom friends to outside-of-class friends.”

-Kaitlyn Kim, Psychology

Mental Health

“Be patient with yourself and know that you will understand things eventually. Allow yourself to learn. When I first came, I knew very few people and had no friends, but I had to be patient and trust God, and He provided friendships and opportunities beyond what I could have asked for.”

-Amelia Zimmerman, Communication

“Utilize the counseling department. It’s free! Use them as a free person to talk to, especially if you’re a talker; they’re legally not allowed to share your tea.”

“When I was a freshman, I was afraid to do anything solo. Honestly, though, nobody cares that you’re eating in the cafeteria by yourself or studying in the library in solitude. Don’t let your fear of others keep you from doing things alone.”

-Kaitlyn Kim, Psychology

Student Life

“Take advantage of all of the extracurricular options. At Southern, you get a ton of opportunities that you don’t get anywhere else.”

-Jasiel Castro, Psychology

“Please don’t canoodle on campus (particularly in Bietz).”

-Ryan Howell, Chemistry

#SAUlife

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“Take advantage of being in an environment that is full of other people your age.” - Amelia Zimmerman

(Photo sourced from Unsplash)

Photo Credit: Qian Ma

Kristen Sobrepena K

Student Missions Exit Retreat Convocation: John Plake, 11:00 a.m. @ Collegedale Church

Student Appreciation Week

• Mid-Day Teatime & Diversity Chats, 12:00 p.m.

Friday

p.m. Sunset, 8:11 p.m. Star Watch, 8:30 p.m. @ Hickman Science Center Parking Lot

SOAP Ocoee Rafting, 9:00-4:00 p.m. @ Wright Hall Steps Dexter Smith, violin, 3:00 p.m. @ Ackerman Auditorium Southern Wind Symphony Concert, 7:30 p.m. @ Collegedale Church

Tornado Siren Test, 6:00 p.m.

Student Appreciation Week Merge Worship, 11:45 a.m. Evensong - Organ Students of Judy Glass, 7:30 p.m. Asian Cultural Night, 9:00 p.m. @ Iles

PE Center

F24 open online for New/Transfer Students Federal income Tax Return due F24 Commitment Deposit of ($250) must be paid to register Payday: Salary Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 3:30 p.m.

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

Katelyn Snyder, Violin, 7:30 p.m. @ Ackerman Auditorium

This Week’s Poll:

Which year of college is the hardest? Freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year?

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

Last Week’s Results:

Stanley or Owala? Down goes Stanley.

Southern’s Master of Social Work program prepares you for excellent service and leadership positions.

It works

Our evidence-based program equips you with effective intervention tools.

It’s convenient

Classes meet in person on campus or synchronously via Zoom every other Sunday. With careful planning, you can complete a bachelor’s degree AND a master’s degree in five years!

You’ll be ready

Our approach is competency based. That means you get hands-on skills and experience in social work practice while you’re in school.

Master of Social Work

With a multi-disciplinary approach and a variety of concentrations, an MSW from Southern prepares you to serve a wide variety of people in need.