Student Development halts cultural night dancing, club leaders unhappy
COVID-19 on campus reflects nationwide spike in cases
Emma Boughman ReporterThe number of Southern Adventist University students testing positive for COVID-19 this semester reflects the recent increased spread of the virus happening nationwide.
According to a CNBC article published on Sept. 6, COVID19-related hospitalizations and deaths were declining this year until the summer.
“New hospitalizations have jumped about 16% in the U.S. over the past week continuing an upward trend that began in late July, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the article stated.
Candace Wing, director of the University Health Center, said the clinic saw about twenty-two COVID-19 cases within the first three weeks of this school year. That number does not include students who have tested positive independently and reported that status.
Lesieli Savelio News EditorSouthern Adventist University cultural clubs, such as Black Christian Union (BCU), Latin American Club (LAC) and Asian Club, will not be allowed to feature dances this year at their annual cultural nights, according to Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development.
Negrón said in an interview with the Accent that he feels these events have moved away from being cultural nights and have begun focusing too heavily on dance. As a result, events and dances in recent years began to look similar to one another, in his opinion. Negrón made the decision to prohibit
dancing this year because he wants to see more creativity like he has in the past.
“It is not a ban,” Negrón said. “[We’re] taking a year off; it’s more like a pause.”
Student Development informed cultural club leaders, which includes the club presidents and sponsors, about the modification in April.
Ethan Dee, senior health science major and president of Asian Club, said he first heard rumors of a dance ban early last school year.
“It wasn't until the end of the year, when Dennis Negrón gathered us and confirmed the news, that I realized there would be no dancing allowed at any of the upcoming cultural nights.” Dee said.
University alters parking restrictions
Celeste Lee Staff WriterAt Southern Village orientation, students were informed that parking lot restrictions have increased this semester, and only commuting students can now park in campus buildings' main parking lots.
Students that live in Southern Village Proper or Upper Stateside are issued housing apartments parking passes, meaning they must walk, take Southern’s new shuttle service or, based on Campus Safety’s parking map located on the university’s website, park in lots located at WSMC, Campus Safety, the Virginia apartments, Thatcher Hall and Talge Hall to go to classes.
Lots designated as “per area usage” on the map, which include lots by the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Fleming Plaza and College Press, are not intended to accommodate long-term parking, Janell Hullquist, director of Marketing and University Relations said. Parking in those vicinities is tied to the function of nearby facilities, so students should not park there to attend classes or hold their cars there for extended periods of time.
Although Spalding Cove was recently incorporated into Southern Village, residents there are issued commuter parking passes.
Some students have expressed concerns about the parking situation on campus this school year.
“I was very worried about it because I live near the back of Village Proper, and all of my classes are in Brock Hall, so that is quite literally a half an hour's walk,” said Olivia Fisher, senior international development studies major.
To accommodate, the university added new parking spots to campus over the summer, according to Shawn Haas, associate director of Campus Safety. It expanded the WSMC parking lot by adding a new gravel section. Parking regulations also recently changed to make some parking around Talge Hall and along all of Cafeteria Drive available to Thatcher Hall and Southern Village residents.
Haas told the Accent he was concerned that Thatcher Hall parking would become overcrowded this school year based on how full the lots were last school year, as the demand for parking has grown even further with this semester’s increase in enrollment.
According to Negrón, this is not the first time the university has taken a break from featuring dance during cultural nights. For a couple years during Gordon Bietz’s presidency, cultural club leaders decided to hit pause on dancing, according to Laurie Stankavich, associate professor of English and Asian Club sponsor.
“I remember there was a very good spirit — a spirit of unity, of being on the same team, and wanting to work together to make the cultural nights as equal and as fair as possible on this parameter,” Stankavich said.
In 2016, Dave Smith became the president of Southern, and students asked for a change.
“The student leaders [of the cultural clubs] came to me and
asked, ‘What are the chances that we could bring cultural dancing back?’” Negrón said.
“So, after talking with the president, cultural dancing came back, in moderation.”
Two students who recently had COVID-19 shared their experience with the Accent. Sophomore Marc Briggs said he was tested at the UHC and received test results within 15-18 minutes. Mia Sakata, sophomore history major, also tested at the UHC and received results within ten minutes.
According to Negrón, the decision for this year’s change came from the Student Development office; there were no external or internal pressures.
“This is coming only from the Student Development office,” Negrón said, “not Dr. Shaw, not donors and not board members.”
See DANCING on page 2
“[The UHC staff] offered everything from Gatorade to NyQuil to acetaminophen … they were really generous,” Sakata said.
Once students have tested positive, they are to isolate themselves for five days in their place of residence or at home if they live close enough, Wing said. Isolation starts when symptoms begin. Five days after isolation
See COVID-19 on page 3
New four-year engineering program attracts more students to Southern
Emma Boughman ReporterSouthern Adventist University introduced its new School of Engineering and Physics this fall. The school, housed in Lynn Wood Hall, now offers a bachelor’s degree in engineering on top of an associate’s degree. Due to the change, the school’s engineering student enrollment increased from 21 in the fall of
2022 to 44 this fall, according to Bob Young, senior vice president for Academic Administration. In total, there are 55 engineering and physics students at Southern.
Young wrote about the new program in an email to the Accent.
“The university has been developing plans to launch an engineering program since an academic program portfolio review by Gray Associates in 2019 revealed engi-
neering at the bachelor’s level as a high demand area of study the university should develop to round out its academic program portfolio," Young wrote.
Tyson Hall, the new dean of the school, commented further on the enrollment in an email to the Accent.
“The engineering enrollment this year has surpassed our See ENGINEERING on page 2
"It is not a ban. [We're] taking a year off; it's more like a pause.”
DANCING
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Student Disappointment
When Kirsten Saint-Aime, junior clinical psychology major and BCU Night director, heard about the decision, she said she felt disappointed.
“I feel like Southern is trying to be an advocate for diversity,” Saint-Aime said, “but … is stifling the cultures found in its diversity.”
Saint-Aime said she and Tenci Reid, senior broadcast journalism major and BCU president, tried to compromise and ask for approval to incorporate one certain dance to showcase culture and history, but they were denied.
ENGINEERING
continued from page 1 initial projections for the first year of the [Bachelor of Science in Engineering] program,” he wrote, “and we are excited to see the School of Engineering and Physics continue to grow in the coming years.”
Rebecca Vega, senior education major and LAC Night director, said implementing the change has not been easy.
in the cultural events. Seniors who wanted to be in a cultural dance for their last year will not be able to and opportunities to showcase traditional dress will decrease, according to Vega.
“Cutting dance out completely has significantly decreased the amount of student participation I can have in the show.” Vega said. “ ... Sadly, a lot less students will be able to participate overall since we now can only include acting and live music.”
Vega said she supports the push for creativity, however.
ing a more sophisticated production,” Vega said.
number of dances or limit the time they took rather than remove them entirely.
“As an African American and Hispanic person, I think dance is a huge part of my culture,” Reid said. “So I definitely don’t believe it should be cut completely.”
“I had to rewrite the whole show,” Vega said. “It has made things more challenging for sure.”
Vega believes cutting dance will reduce student participation
program to begin the accreditation process.
“To be eligible for initial ABET accreditation, the university must have at least one graduate from the four-year engineering program. Once the new program has a graduate, the university will submit a preliminary Self-Study Report (Readiness Review),” Young wrote.
“ABET will use this document to determine whether or not the university is ready to submit a formal Request for Evaluation for the program. Initial accreditation of the program by ABET is an 18-month process.”
Young also explained that the school changed its name from the Physics and Engineering Department to the School of Engineering and Physics (SEP) on June 1. Because the school’s new initials were identical to those of the School of Education and Psychology, the education department requested a name change as well. Its new name is the School of Education, Psychology, and Counseling (SEPC).
As reported in a previous Accent article, many engineering students interested in Southern chose other universities or transferred in the past since Southern only offered a twoyear program.
“For many years, the university has had an associate degree in engineering that prepared engineering students for transfer to other colleges and universities with four-year programs of study,” Young wrote.
Now, with the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), a fouryear program, launched this year, the university anticipates most engineering students will pursue the BSE, Young wrote. However, the associate’s degree will still be available for students seeking a two-year program.
The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) has reviewed the
In an article on Southern’s website, Director of Admissions Ryan Herman is quoted saying that this new program has been highly anticipated. The article explained that the program includes three main emphases options: “mechanical, electrical and computer engineering.”
“I love the idea of pushing us [leaders] to be more creative, but when it comes down to it, the night, for me, is more about the participation and unity in diversity than it is about mak-
PARKING
continued from page 1
However, according to Haas, parking at Talge Hall, Thatcher Hall and Cafeteria Drive has not been an issue so far this semester.
“Just because you have 1,000 students doesn't mean 1,000 bring cars, right?” Haas said.
“We [were] planning for the worst, but they really didn't need it.”
Haas thinks the parking changes this semester have been effective, and there is not much parking pressure any more.
According to Haas, parking pressure comes on different days and different times.
“There’s a couple of days here or there, maybe, like, you know, from 2 to 3 [p.m.] or from 1 to 3 [p.m.]; it's a little full, but not much,” Haas said.
Campus Safety monitors the parking lots and will take action if the situation gets to the point where people are consistently forced to park in outer lots, according to Haas.
“Parking isn't always necessarily the best because it's not right next to the building where you are, but we have plenty of parking,” Haas said. “Sometimes it's just a few minutes walk.”
“Lynn Wood Hall now houses three engineering faculty, five new laboratory facilities, and new classroom space,” Hall wrote.
“Southern has also made a significant investment in equipping these laboratory spaces with new, state-of-the-art lab equipment to give students a quality hands-on learning environment. Additional faculty and equipment will continue to be added over the coming semesters as we grow.”
For Dee, dance was not only about culture but also about community.
“[Dance] had a unique ability to encourage people to step out of their comfort zones, and the camaraderie of hyping up friends on stage, regardless of their skill level, was a cherished experience,” Dee said. “The [thought] of losing all of this left a bitter taste in my mouth.”
Reid said she thought it would have been better to limit the
For Fisher, Southern Village parking has been a problem.
“I'm an RA, so I have to drive to meetings on Wednesday nights at Thatcher South, but then when I get back around 11 p.m., there is no parking whatsoever,” Fisher said.
Kelsie Alonso, a student on the Senate Safety Committee, expressed her fears about safety.
“It is unsafe for women to be walking that far at night,” Alonso said. “Bad situations can and do happen on campus in the dark.”
Vega said dance is one of the things that helped connect her to her parents’ home countries as a first-generation immigrant child. Dance was an integral part of understanding her culture, just like food and music, she said.
“Sure, I can make a fun, great show without using dance, but something will be missing,” Vega said. “Why must we take away one part of our culture to showcase more of the other parts? Why not showcase all of it?”
Haas said Campus Safety escorts are available for students to call and request.
“We do have safety escorts. I mean, we preached that in orientation and everything,” Haas said. “I just don't want people to be hesitant to do it. … Just call and we’ll assist you.”
Students can call Campus Safety and ask for a safety escort at 423-236-2100.
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The program now has 11 faculty and staff members. Hall explained the new facilities in an email to the Accent.
As part of the expansion, new robotics labs for upper-division robotics courses and senior projects are being developed, Hall said. The robotics lab equipment
includes a robotic dog and articulating and SCARA-style robotic arms. While these are located in Lynn Wood Hall, the physics department will still reside on the first floor of Hickman Science Center.
Hall stated that this new school brings recognition to the expanding programs, faculty and student body in engineering and physics education.
In the article on Southern’s website, Hall is quoted saying that this new bachelor’s program is a great addition to Southern because engineering is service-oriented, making it a perfect
fit for the university and its mission. In his email to the Accent, he stated why he believes this expansion is so important.
The robotics lab equipment includes a robotic dog and articulating and SCARAstyle robotic arms.
“We believe that by starting this program, we can expand the number of engineering students experiencing a Christ-centered learning environment,” he wrote.
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"But when it comes down to it, the night, for me, is more about participation and unity in diversity than it is about making a more sophisticated production.”Some students are concerned about limited parking space on campus. Monday, September 18, 2023. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)
"The engineering enrollment this year has surpassed our initial projections for the first year of the [Bachelor of Science in Engineering] program, and we are excited to see the School of Engineering and Physics continue to grow in the coming years."
"Southern has made a significant investment in equipping these laboratory spaces with new, stateof-the-art lab equipment to give students a quality hands-on learning environment."The university's new bear mascot faces off with the School of Engineering and Physics' robotic dog at Organization Showcase. Sunday, August 20, 2023. (Photo by Evelyn Shtereva) Jay Anders and Tyler Vaudreuil chat in the new Electrical Conversion Lab. Wednesday, September 13, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales) A professor works with the School of Engineering and Physics' robotic arm in its new Robotics Lab. Wednesday, September 13, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)
"The [thought] of losing all this left a bitter taste in my mouth.”
New dean strives to enhance her department in size and spirituality
As the new dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, Judy Sloan spoke with the Accent about her academic and career history and ambition to not only enhance athletic performance on campus but also increase enrollment and maintain spiritual importance within her department.
Originally from Washington state, Sloan graduated from the University of Nebraska with a doctorate in administration, curriculum and instruction before coming to Southern Adventist University in 2001.
“I was interested in working at one of our institutions, and Southern actually offered before Union did,” Sloan said, referring Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. She had been working on her doctorate when Southern called and offered her a teaching job, Sloan recalled. She told Southern she wanted to finish her degree before starting
the job. Southern waited, and Sloan took the job after obtaining her doctorate.
Since then, Sloan has taught as a professor for 22 years in the School of Health and Kinesiology. Her position changed in June, when the previous dean, Robert Benge, who worked at Southern Adventist University for 25 years, retired.
“What makes this really easy is that Dr. Benge, who retired, has been 100% accessible to me to answer questions,” Sloan said.
Benge told the Accent, “Dr. Sloan will keep the faculty, students and staff moving in a forward direction, and the School of Health and Kinesiology will thrive under her leadership.”
According to Sloan, her past job experience helped prepare her for her new leadership position. Her previous experience includes being vice principal at Milo Academy in Southern Oregon, a teacher of multiple physical education classes, an intramural coordinator and an athletic director.
Since she assumed her role as dean in June, Sloan said she
has focused on growing the department, which currently has 183 students.
“The biggest thing that we are trying to work on as a department is to increase our enrollment in all of our degree areas,” Sloan said. “So, our main focus is probably to figure out better ways to recruit and also doing retention.”
Sloan said this year’s large freshman class and high undergraduate enrollment has significantly helped her school. She said her faculty members are up to the challenge of teaching, advising and guiding the future young minds of their field.
“That’s the thing that I think is awesome about this position that I’m in as the dean, because ultimately every single person in our department is good at what they do,” Sloan said. “My job is just to get them what they need to do their job well.”
Sloan emphasized the importance of physical activity in students' lives.
“You want [students] to realize the impact physical activity
UHC drops copays in favor of increased general fee
Andrew Boggess ReporterIn an effort to enhance accessibility to medical services on campus, Southern Adventist University’s administration has made a significant policy shift concerning the University Health Center (UHC). In previous years, students seeking medical attention at the UHC incurred a visit fee. However, this year, administration has eliminated this fee and instead is requiring all students taking more than six credits to pay an additional $150 on their general fee.
The Accent emailed the UHC to find out which services will continue to incur fees and which services will not. The
center replied that visitors are no longer charged for standard provider visits, such as travel consults, physicals and mental health visits with a resident nurse practitioner. The increased general fee also covers minor procedure care, including some overthe-counter medication, allergy and flu shots, ear irrigation and wound care, the center wrote. Visitors can freely obtain some durable medical equipment (DME), like ice packs, finger splints, arm slings, elastic support wraps and dressing supplies.
The center emailed that it continues to charge students for prescription medications dispensed through the clinic; vaccines; strep, flu and COVID19 tests and lab work. Complex
procedures — sutures, foreign body removal, wart removal, I&D, and EKG — still incur charges, as well as some durable medical equipment, including ankle braces, knee immobilizers, post op shoe and splints. The center also charges visitors to see the psychiatrist who visits campus weekly. In addition, dependents of students will continue to be charged for services, said Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, who spoke further with the Accent about why administration wanted to make the UHC more accessible to students.
has on their GPA and mental health,” Sloan said. She also explained the underlying goal that shapes decisions within her department.
“It matters to me that we meet the needs of the students, but
COVID-19
continued from page 1
began, students may return to normal activities but must wear a mask in public areas.
Briggs messaged the Accent about his experience having COVID-19 during SmartStart last year and how it compared to contracting the virus this year. Last year, Briggs struggled to catch up with schoolwork, but his most recent experience was definitely better, he said. Briggs hopes the nation does not have another breakout similar to the 2020 pandemic.
shuttle if someone asks them to be picked up on campus,” Negrón said. “The one thing the shuttle doesn’t do right now is pick up students who are sick. They don't want to have an enclosed small area where a sick person might get other people sick.”
the first desire that I have for this department is to help them have a personal relationship with God,” Sloane said. “So however we can help students with that — it doesn’t matter what their major is — that’s the goal.”
“It was a very lonely time for many people,” Briggs said.
Wing explained that administration does not expect to change current COVID-19-related policies at this time.
“They will continue to monitor the local case numbers, severity of symptoms and hospitalization rates for our area,” Wing said. Students can get tested for COVID-19 in several locations, including the UHC or local urgent care centers. Self-tests are available to purchase at most pharmacies.
“On a daily basis … students were either calling up [or] walking up [to the UHC] and saying, ‘Do I have to pay for this?’ And when we said ‘yes,’ they would walk away or hang up, and that’s just not okay,” Negrón said.
The UHC is also more accessible now due to the shuttle service on campus, he added.
“The UHC is not on the shuttle schedule; however, the shuttle will stop at the UHC if a student asks, ‘Will you drop me off there?’ The UHC can also call the
During the 2017-18 academic year, the UHC saw 4,805 total visits with 1,999 unique individuals. This is the highest total number of visitors the UHC has seen in the last ten years, according to Negrón. He expects to see more visits this year, not because of an increased number of students, but because of greater accessibility to the care students need.
The UHC has seen an increase in foot traffic already this semester.
“Students are seeking care earlier when sick,” the center wrote to the Accent. “We anticipate that this will continue as the year progresses.”
The UHC also wrote that the increased general fee will help cover its budget, and its staff anticipate that they will break even this academic year. The UHC increased its staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, a budget increase initially covered by government funds. Now, administration’s recent policy change will cover staff salaries, as well as some new services, such as flu shots, and more educational opportunities, such as the center’s new “What about” series.
The change to the UHC health fee will be evaluated twice this school year, according to Negrón. Following the end of each semester, administration will review UHC visits and other relevant data to determine the effectiveness of this policy change.
Editor-in-chief Amanda Blake contributed to this article.
Writing and Tutoring Centers see rise in student appointments
Sienna Day Staff WriterThe Writing and Tutoring Centers have seen a large increase in foot traffic this semester. Compared to August of last year, the number of appointments has more than doubled, according to Sonja Fordham, director of the Writing and Tutoring Centers.
a half this August. She expects the number of appointments made this month to exceed 1,000.
Fordham said the increase in appointments is likely due to the rise in student numbers on campus. This high demand paired with a limited number of tutors has made it difficult for some students to schedule tutoring appointments this semester.
“We are very popular on campus,” said Fordham. “Sometimes students are unable to find an appointment because all the tutors have been booked, and all the appointments have been taken.”
ning of the semester and said it has been beneficial for him.
“I’m more prepared for the class and the class discussions because of it,” Savino said.
According to Fordham, employees of the Writing and Tutoring Centers have spoken at every freshman orientation and to each class with a corresponding tutor, so all new students should be aware of the centers’ services.
“I have been so happy to see students utilizing the Tutoring Center and the Writing Center,” Fordham said. “I feel like these resources are here for the students. They are paid for by the students’ tuition dollars, and I’m really happy when they utilize the services. The growth this semester has been great.”
Correction:
According to Fordham, there were 320 tutoring appointments this August compared to 159 last August, despite the Tutoring Center only being open for a week and
As of September 11, there are 72 tutors working for the Tutoring Center with specialties in nearly 50 different courses, according to Fordham. There are also 16 writing tutors available to help students with writing classes or personal writing projects.
Matthew Savino, freshman finance major, has been using the Tutoring Center since the begin-
In Issue 2, the Accent published an out-of-date number in the story titled "Freshman enrollment reaches all-time high." As of Southern Adventist University's census date on Sept. 4, there are 36 students in the freshman class at Southern who attended Loma Linda Academy, not 65, as stated in the article. However, 36 is a record high number of enrolled freshmen from Loma Linda Academy and represents a 47% increase from last fall, when Southern enrolled 19, according to Ryan Harrell, web and analytics manager for the university.
“Overall, we’ve seen an increase in yield from the Southern Californian region since pre-COVID,” Harrell wrote to the Accent.
"Students are seeking care earlier when sick. We anticipate that this will continue as the year progresses.”
"Sometimes students are unable to find an appointment because all the tutors have been booked, and all the appointments have been taken.”Ronn Agustin, a student worker at the Writing Center in McKee Library, works with Melissa Echavarria on her paper. Wednesday, September 13, 2023. (Photo by Mila Bales)
Editor's Note: Students in the Investigative Reporting class at Southern Adventist University produced stories for this new 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.
Ooltewah population influx leads Hamilton County growth, residents resist changes
Alexis Dewey Staff WriterThe significant influx of newcomers moving into Hamilton County in recent years has elevated the angst of local residents over population growth and traffic congestion in their neighborhoods. According to Nathan Janeway, the county’s director of development services, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the growth in Hamilton County. He said houses became more affordable at the start of the pandemic due to government stimulus checks and low interest rates, and many people from the northern and western United States headed south.
No one was prepared for the growth in Hamilton County. The community wasn’t ready, the roads were not ready, and so we’ve had to sort of react as we can to those things happening."
Janeway said Collegedale and unincorporated Ooltewah have experienced the fastest growth countywide. A big reason for the rapid population increase is the sewer availability, road access and zoning options, as well as school investments attracting more families, Janeway explained. However, an inevitable out-
come of the growth has been a traffic problem.
“It's definitely made it worse,” he said. “I think that’s obvious.” Ooltewah residents living in the areas along and around Hunter and Snow Hill roads are among those feeling the impact. Rezoning requests have pitted neighbors against developers seeking to build new housing to accommodate population growth.
On Tuesday, David Mayfield, of Mountain Pass Developments, withdrew a rezoning request that he submitted Aug. 1 for a
101-acre tract near Hunter and Bell Mill roads. If it had been approved, the rezoning of the parcel located at 8125 Bell Mill Road could have resulted in up to seven houses per acre. In the withdrawal paperwork, Mayfield stated that he needed additional time to prepare a concept plan.
Rezoning requests
The site is not far from where another builder, GreenTech Homes, withdrew a similar rezoning request last week due to strong opposition from area residents. GreenTech — represented by
Mike Price, of MAP Engineers — sought to rezone the property from agricultural to residential for up to 300 homes on a 102tract parcel located at 8209 Bell Mill Road. The developer still plans to build 204 houses on the property, which feeds in to Hunter Road. However, under the current plans, no rezoning is required.
In August, Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah, proposed a resolution that would have placed a moratorium on rezoning requests along Hunter Road in response to neighbor’s concerns. The moratorium would have paused the rezoning of properties that front or have access to Hunter Road, between Highway 58 and Mountain View Road, for 18 months while a comprehensive study was con-
“The pandemic encouraged people to move away from their cities because a lot of people wanted more freedom and wanted to be in a place that wasn’t so densely populated,” Janeway said during a phone interview with the Accent. “ ...
Repairs to greenway damage from train derailment to restart this month
Norfolk Southern, the railroad company with trains running through Collegedale day and night, granted the city approval to restart repairs of the Wolftever Creek Greenway, which was damaged by a train derailment last December.
Collegedale Public Works
Director Eric Sines said damage to the popular walking trail disrupted easy access between the trail, the Thatcher Switch Recreation Area and Southern Adventist University’s campus. The city began repairs in the spring but was stopped by Norfolk Southern due to red tape, Sines told the Accent. The derailment occurred on Dec. 20 when a train rammed into a 134-foot concrete truss beam on the back of a semitrailer truck, as reported in a previous Accent article. The
truck, headed toward the Apison Pike bridge construction site, was waiting for the light to turn green at the Tucker Road-Apison Pike intersection. Its heavy cargo did not clear the tracks.
After the leading locomotive engine made contact with the beam, three engines and 10 cars became tangled and derailed, according to Sines, falling between the tracks and Tucker Road close to the greenway. Collegedale police arrested the truck driver, Jorge Luis Cruz-Vega, in January on three charges related to the incident, as reported in another Accent article.
However, Norfolk Southern informed Collegedale in January that it would reimburse the city for the total cost of repairs, currently projected at $138,600, Sines said. The city is also planning to submit bills to Norfolk Southern for the time and money it spent work-
New Little Debbie Park gains social media fame
ing through paperwork issues generated by the railroad company’s Public Projects Group, he explained, likely placing the final settlement cost between $150,000 and $160,000.
Norfolk Southern informed Collegedale in January that it would reimburse the city for the total cost of repairs, currently projected at $138,600.
Sines said Norfolk Southern’s commitment to reimbursing the city for post-derailment construction is standard practice because the train company’s hasty cleanup project did more damage to the surrounding area than the derailment.
“The train [cars] themselves only broke up a small section of the track,” Sines said, “but when [Norfolk Southern] came in with the excavators and dozers to get the trains out of the way and bring in the new sections of track, they tore everything up. … Their number one priority is to get the track up and running. Whatever they have to move or deal with to get the track up and running, they don’t care.”
While speaking to the Chattanooga Times Free Press the morning after the derailment, Norfolk Southern spokesman Connor Spielmaker said the company worked overnight
Jacob Nevis Staff WriterCollegedale’s newest recreational area, Little Debbie Park, opened near The Commons on June 30 and has since gained popularity on social media.
One park visitor uploaded a video to TikTok on Sept. 9 that amassed 4.9 million views, more than 480,000 likes and more than 170,000 shares. In the video, the visitor, whose username is “idcfe,” talked about her experience in the park and the Little Debbie Bakery Store.
Another visitor whose username is “Ashleyandblairbeauty” uploaded a video on July 2 talking about the McKee family and showcasing the park’s features. It has since garnered more than 16,000 likes and 6,000 shares.
The park seems to be a hit on Instagram as well. A user by the name of “hope.maum” uploaded a seven-second video talking about the park, and the video received five million views and 150,000 likes.
City leaders have noticed that Little Debbie Park has begun attracting tourists, according to a Chattanoogan article. At a Collegedale commission meeting on Aug. 7, City Planner Jason Allin said many online reviews of the park seem very positive, and Collegedale Mayor Morty Llyod said one third of cars seen at the park appear to be carrying out-of-town license plates, the article stated.
Students at Southern Adventist University seem to enjoy the park as well.
See LITTLE DEBBIE on page 6
"No one was prepared for the growth in Hamilton County. The community wasn't ready, the roads were not ready, and so we've had to sort of react as we can to those things happening.”
have pitted neighbors against developers seeking to build new housing to accomodate population growth.A current district map of Hamilton County, split into 13 areas. (Photo sourced from planhamilton.org) Ooltewah residents living on or around Hunter Rd. have felt the effects of local growth. Monday, September 18, 2023. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan) Amanda Blake Editor-in-chief A locomotive engine rests between the train track and Tucker Road.
because proper procedure had not been followed.
REPAIRS
continued from page 5
to fix the track and expected repairs to take approximately 24 hours. The Accent reported at the time that the derailment occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sines confirmed that the track was fixed and trains were running that Wednesday morning. On Aug. 7, the Collegedale Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an agreement detailing Norfolk Southern’s promise of reimbursement at a commission meeting. Collegedale began repairing the greenway on May 29, Sines wrote in the email to the Accent. Norfolk Southern stopped the project on June 14
LITTLE DEBBIE
continued from page 5
“This is one of the better parks that I have seen,” said student Jaden Hutchinson. “Coming from Texas, this park is a lot cleaner as well as a lot bigger than parks back in Texas.”
The park, donated to the city by McKee Foods Corporation, had been in development for a couple years, as the Collegedale Board of Commissioners approved it in April 2021. The park features playground equipment, walking paths, swings, educational signs about McKee Foods’ history and large Little Debbie snack cakes scattered throughout the vicinity.
Although city leaders appear pleased with the park now, the beginning of the park’s devel-
“[Norfolk Southern] Public Projects Group out of Atlanta has made this project way more complicated and time consuming than necessary,” he wrote.
The group caused a fourmonth delay in what was meant to be a four-week project, although Collegedale had the go-ahead in May from its local track supervisor and its local Norfolk Southern representative, John Carden, to begin construction, Sines said. The project was close to completion — workers were planning to pour concrete soon — when the Public Projects Group found out.
“They sent us an email telling us to cease and desist or they’d send out Norfolk Southern police to tell us to leave,” Sines said. “That’s when the project stopped, and we contacted the Public Projects Group and figured out the mountain of paperwork that they wanted and all the red tape.
The Accent contacted Carden, who said he was unable to comment at this time on construction caused by the train derailment or the Public Projects Group’s reasons for halting repairs. Greenway and sidewalk repairs should be completed by mid-October, according to Sines, and Wright Brothers Construction Company hopes to repave Tucker Road and the Thatcher Switch Recreation Area’s parking lot next month as well. Sines said the company had planned to complete the project earlier but faced delays due to issues concerning its asphalt contractor and storm basin installations.
“I call them about every other week, reminding them about it and putting pressure on them,” Sines said, “but they work at their own pace.”
Collegedale entered into an agreement with Norfolk Southern in the early 2000s to install a walking underpass beneath the train track. The city began
opment began amid some controversy. According to an ABC News Channel 9 article, plans for the park were negotiated by former City Manager Ted Rogers without informing the other city commissioners, which led to Rogers retiring. In addition to city commissioners feeling left in the dark at first, some citizens felt they were not properly involved during the development stage.
Dennis Gustafson, a resident of Greenbriar Cove, is quoted in the article saying, “We don't have a problem with the park. We're just saying the placement of the park should not be by a busy street, and the parking doesn't belong on a city street. It belongs within the facility.”
The park includes 83 standard parking spaces on Swinyar Drive.
GROWTH
continued from page 5 ducted. However, Highlander pulled the resolution after sensing that he did not have the support of his colleagues.
Since then, Hamilton County has held meetings for residents to express their concerns. Many have said they are not pleased with the rapid population growth and increased development in their neighborhoods. To address the issue, the county has divided the county into 13 areas as part of an effort to develop a comprehensive growth plan, according to Janeway. Five of the zones are in unincorporated Hamilton county; the rest are located in the City of Chattanooga. RaganSmith, an engineering firm, will help con-
With school back in session this fall, the Collegedale Police Department (CPD) has begun diligently enforcing traffic laws in local school zones, including around Collegedale Academy institutions and Hamilton County public schools, according to a CPD press release. The police department has been reminding drivers to slow down and pay attention to ensure the safety of the city’s schoolchildren.
In an interview with the Accent, CPD Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Heath said, “We try to do our best to educate the drivers, young or old. The main point of traffic enforcement is to correct bad behavior. [We’d prefer] if we could do that with a conversation or a PSA ad on one of our social media sites opposed to a ticket.”
According to the press release, officers cited 59 drivers and issued 34 warning citations to speeders in the city’s school
Although fuel and oil leaked into Wolftever Creek after the derailment, the city said there were no adverse effects. (Photo courtesy of Eric Sines) repairs on that underpass and surrounding area after the derailment with that agreement in mind, Sines said.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” he continued. “ … What we’re doing, how we’re doing it, meets all their requirements. It’s just they didn’t have their paperwork done. They hadn’t reviewed our plans. I get [that] on new projects, where you’re supplying the railroad with a brand new project, … you want to have everything figured
duct an analysis of the various zones to determine their infrastructure needs.
“Without a plan, it’ll happen exactly like it has happened over at Snow Hill or Hunter Road,” Janeway explained, referring to the traffic and congestion issue.
Janeway said there was a time when Hamilton County was less desirable.
“For years, we didn't grow as fast as cities like Knoxville and Nashville,” he said. “Some of that was due to just the resources here. Back in the early ’90s, our air quality was some of the worst in the country.”
However, the city made great strides under the leadership of former City Mayor Bob Corker, who served as mayor from 2001 to 2005 before becoming a United States Senator.
“He put big investments into the riverfront, the aquarium,”
out. But we’re literally putting it back exactly the way it was.”
Collegedale agreed to pay Norfolk Southern up to $20,000 to review construction plans. Carden confirmed, however, that the company will reimburse the city for those fees in addition to construction costs, Sines said.
In addition to greenway and Tucker Road damage, the city was concerned about engine oil and diesel fuel leaking into Wolftever Creek. Marion Environmental performed remediation after the derailment, and Sines’ department installed floating booms in the creek to catch dangerous materials. Sines said Collegedale has not seen any adverse effects to its environment caused by the oil and fuel spillage.
Janeway said. “He's one of the pivotable people that started working on clean air and clean water here in the city. And, of course, that had a rippling effect all the way out in the county.”
zones within the first four weeks of school. Officers also handed out 20 citations and written warnings to drivers who were using their cell phones while driving. Three citations/warnings were distributed to drivers not wearing seatbelts.
In the press release, CPD Chief Jack Sapp was quoted saying: “Our first priority in those school zones is the welfare and safety of your children. Regardless if you're speeding, using a handheld device, or carrying drugs through these protected
areas, my officers are keeping an eye out for you.”
To help enforce road safety, CPD officers are taking many actions, such as making faceto-face contact, posting PSA ads to the department’s social media accounts and working alongside the Tennessee Highways Safety Office. Every year, the state of Tennessee issues a grant to law enforcement agencies around the state, according to Heath. The main goal of this grant is to reduce crashes on Tennessee roadways.
"They sent us an email telling us to cease and desist or they'd sent out Norfolk Southern police to tell us to leave."The train derailment disrupted easy access between the greenway and Southern Adventist University's campus. (Photo courtesy of Eric Sines)
"The train [cars] themselves only broke up a small section of track, but when [Norfolk Southern] came in with the excavators and dozers to get the trains out of the way and bring in the new sections of track, they tore everything up."Visitors can find statues of Little Debbie snack cakes, like this giant Christmas Tree Cake, throughout the park. Thursday, September 14, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)
MENTAL HEALTH
Building confidence step by step: The benefit of trying something new
Khloe Mace ContributorEditor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.
Gaining the confidence to try something new can be tricky. Lots of people like the idea of trying something different; it is a natural feeling for us humans to want to explore and experience new things. But when we are in a new situation, it can be scary and stressful. This fear might stop us from trying new things altogether. So, how can we boost our confidence when we want to actually try something new?
One way to gain confidence is to be kind and patient with ourselves. Change can be tough, and it can get in the way of achieving something new. We may be really hard on ourselves mentally if we fail or have a fear of failing. It is important to maintain our self-esteem in such situations.
To do this, we can think back to all the times we achieved something we did not think we could do. Remembering those successes will give us confidence that we can do it again.
Being kind to ourselves also means avoiding negative thoughts that make us doubt our abilities. Self-doubt can destroy our motivation to try and succeed at something new. It is okay to accept failure if it happens. Nobody is perfect, and making mistakes is a natural part of learning and growing. These mistakes actually help us improve and become better at what we do, even if we do not realize it.
According to Carrie Steckl, a psychologist, trying new things can boost our self-confidence and self-worth. In other words, it helps us believe in ourselves and feel more capable. Steckl also suggests that before trying something new, we can visualize how we will do it and
make a plan. This will make us feel more confident and increase the chances of us following through with our plans. We can do this by making step-by-step “warmup” exercises to help prepare us. One way to do this is by making a list of five things you are not able to
do right now but wish to complete someday. This list will give you some motivation and confidence to keep pushing forward.
Even though change can be hard and scary, trying something new can be really beneficial for us. It can increase our confidence and self-worth, as well as
teach us many valuable lessons. We need to remember to be kind and patient with ourselves while we are learning because, as humans, we are definitely not perfect. So next time you want to try something new, make a plan, visualize it and go for it!
Coco Gauff secures first singles title with US Open win
Jacob Nevis Sports EditorA US Open victory has finally been brought back to the United States. For the first time since 2017 when Sloane Stephens won, 19-year-old American tennis player Coco Gauff made history by securing her first major singles title at the US Open in early September.
Coco Gauff, whose real name is Cori Gauff, defeated Aryna Sabalenka, ranked number two internationally, in the finals in three sets. Gauff became the first American teenager to win the US Open
since one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams, did so at age 17.
Coco Gauff is no stranger to the tennis world, though. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Gauff started playing tennis when she was six and was trained by Patrick Mouratoglou, longtime coach of Serena Williams.
After securing her US Open victory, Coco Gauff is now ranked third in the world tennis rankings. Right below Gauff, ranked at fourth, is her doubles partner Jessica Pegula.
Pegula, daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, the multi-billionaire
owners of the Buffalo Bills, has won five doubles titles with Gauff. The pair is the world’s numberone-ranked doubles team, and it doesn’t look like the team plans to slow down anytime soon.
Coco Gauff’s US Open victory could be the start of a road to glory. Gauff will look to become a Grand Slam champion and bring tennis fame back to America.
In Other Sports News
Along with Coco Gauff’s victory, this weekend has been nothing short of exciting for sports fans. In the NFL on Sunday, eight teams moved to 2-0. With the
completion of week 2, week 3 will resume on Thursday with the New York Giants traveling to San Francisco to take on the hard-hitting 49ers.
Week three of college football saw a very intense rivalry pick-up between Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams. Before the game, Colorado State’s coach, Jay Norvell, had some very choice words to say about Coach Prime, which led to even higher tension. The game was also nothing short of thrilling, with Colorado winning in double overtime.
Colorado, which now seems to be one of the hottest teams in college football, will look to play tenth-ranked Oregon next week. In baseball, the MLB season is winding down and heading to the playoffs. Los Angeles superstar pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani cleaned his locker out this weekend as the Angels put the upcoming free agent on the 10-day injured list. Ohtani will look to command what might be the biggest baseball contract in history.
Editor’s Note: Weekly update, Dolphins win again. 2-0!
Girl dinner: Another toxic lie for diet culture
Alexis Dewey Opinion EditorRyan Tedder, a songwriter who has written for Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, One Republic and others, shared how songs these days become hits in an interview with ctznzmusic on TikTok.
“Ninety-nine percent of all hits are now generated or reinforced by TikTok,”he said.
Tedder continued to explain that you can’t write a good song and have it become a hit without the influence of TikTok anymore. Your song has to go viral on the app if you want to succeed.
With the influence TikTok has on society these days, we need to be careful with how much we consume and pay attention to the type of content we are absorbing.
If you are on TikTok, or even Instagram, you may have heard of the newest social media-famous phenomenon called “girl dinner.” This phrase has taken over the internet.
Olivia Mahar, a content creator from California, posted a video sharing her meal that she pieced together from different snacks and leftovers, calling it her “girl dinner.” Now, people have hopped on the trend and are making videos about the unique meals they are eating and calling it “girl dinner.”
Girl dinner is now widely considered a “meal” in which a girl will just eat an array of snacks and call it dinner. The snack items chosen are normally random and odd foods, such as cheetos, fruit and pickles. TikTok now has a sound that people use over their videos when they are displaying their “girl dinner.”
Nutritionists, however, don’t seem to approve of this new trend.
Rebecca Ditkoff, a registered dietitian, said during an interview with Women’s Health that the part of the trend that can be the most damaging is the “comparison of plates.” Ditkoff also said the fact it’s called “girl dinner” can support a negative idea that girls should be eating less.
“Promoting [these meals] as ‘girl dinner’ gives the impression that women need to have smaller portions or a special kind of meal compared to men,” said Mackenzie Burgess, registered dietitian nutritionist, in an interview with Health. “This can lead women to have unhealthy body image concerns and increase the risk for eating disorders.”
Mahar had good intentions with her video. During an interview with Women’s Health, Mahar shared, “I just get to enjoy exactly what I want and the bits of everything I want to have.”
Her goal was to create an idea that encourages intuitive eating and allows people to see that having healthy habits is not always glamorous.
Growing up with the rise of social media, I agree that the media has affected the way people think about food. There always seems to be a new “diet” trend that everyone must try. Whether it be wketo, vegan, plant-based or a liquid diet, the internet will make you believe it’s the healthiest choice out there.
As I see it, though, diets are not healthy. Not a single one. Bouncing from diet to diet is not good for you, physically or mentally. People need to stop being so concerned about their diet and start caring about their lifestyle choices. Diets
Nutritionists believe the “girl dinner” trend supports the “comparison of plates.” (Photo sourced from Pexels) come and go, lifestyles last, well, for your lifetime. Don’t eat healthy for two weeks because you’re “on a diet.” Eat healthy because you want to be healthy and you care about your body.
Alva Johnson, communication professor at Southern Adventist University, explained in a class last semester that a person’s physical body shape or size are not their greatest asset, but in-
stead it’s their mind. You should care more about what your body does for you and how you fuel it rather than how it looks.
RELIGION Grappling with Ellen G. White: A story of surrender
Lucas Bueno
Contributor
Ellen G. White: a name of immense importance to the Seventh-day Adventist church but also a source of controversy. For some individuals, the teachings of Ellen White have been used as a strict rod of condemnation and shame rather than the guiding rod of a gentle and loving shepherd. Everyone has a different experience with Ellen White. I would like to share mine.
From birth, I was raised Adventist, and I learned basic church history early. I also learned of the important involvement of Ellen White in this history. Often, I heard her fascinating story and learned interesting biblical facts from her writings.
Later on, as I neared my college years, I took an online class, Life and Teachings of Jesus, where I read much of The Desire of Ages. This book, with its flood of powerful insights, page after page, confirmed to me that Ellen White was inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, I would still have occasional doubts about the way Ellen White should be used, and I never truly confronted them.
After I began attending Southern Adventist University, I encountered Ellen White more frequently, especially as a religion student. Soon I started to experience confusion and even anger about her. When I would hear about Ellen White in a sermon, I would get angry but eventually move on, stubbornly refusing to consider more about the values of her teaching. I never doubted the divine inspiration of Ellen White, but my conflict concerned the ways her writings are often used.
This struggle continued into my junior year.
Then, in the Fall 2021 semester, I enrolled in Biblical Preaching. In
the class, we each had to blindly pick a Bible verse for our sermon topic. After reading mine, I thought to myself, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I knew God was working. My verse was 1 Thessalonians 19:22, which says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”
God saw my internal conflict and reached down to grab my attention. With some reluctance and awe, I proceeded and preached
biblical truth to my classmates and even myself. Yet I still refused to confront my conflict.
Later, in the fall of 2022, I began serving as a student missionary at Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen in Austria. There I continued to encounter Ellen White and talk about her with family and friends. Over time, resisting the conflict and the pleadings of the Holy Spirit grew exhausting. In another conversation with family, my mother recommended a sermon regarding the 18th fundamental belief about
the Spirit of Prophecy. After some initial hesitation, I finally watched it —and praise the Lord — shortly after that powerful yet simple sermon, I surrendered. I told God that I was done fighting Him and I was going to give Ellen White a chance. My journey isn’t over yet, but surrendering this conflict to God was the best decision.
I don’t know what your experience with Ellen White is. Perhaps, you’ve had a solid, God-led experience, or perhaps you’ve seen Ellen White misrepresented or mis-
used. Either way, I encourage you to talk to others and most importantly to God about it. And do not stubbornly resist the directions of the Holy Spirit. He wants to guide you to the truth.
I hope and pray that this testimony might encourage someone who is struggling to understand the validity of Ellen White or the Adventist church’s applications of her teachings and show how following the guidance of God is one of the greatest decisions you can make.
The art of collecting memories
Alicia Anderson
Contributor
For a while now, my main source of home decor has been things I have collected, not just because this method is cheap, but because at the end of the year, I have a physical narrative of the highs and lows of my semesters — a kind of crime board where everything is connected.
I appreciate the slow process of curating a space that represents myself. During my freshman year, I collected things on a bulletin board above my desk that represented my year and what it’s like to be a student at Southern Adventist University. Some notable items included:
1. Five parking tickets issued by Campus Safety
2. A self-care poster from the counseling center
3. A sticker from a Student Association candidate
4. The business card of Tropical Cuisine Restaurant from the time I went with friends at the beginning of the year
5. A postcard from the Coca Cola museum in Atlanta. I visited the city and drank Coca Cola for the first time that year, and Coca Cola soon became a favorite of mine.
6. A sticker of two cats with headscarves that my resident assistant gave me.
7. A Galentines-day card of a cat on top of a washing machine that a friend from my chemistry class gave
me. In it, she wrote, “We will pass!!” And we did.
8. A photo booth strip from a Southern event–I can’t remember which one, but it says, “Southern Serves!”
9. An excused absence report from the University Health Center
10. A passage written down from one of Joan Didion’s “Slouching towards Bethlehem” essays titled “On Keeping a Notebook,”– one of my favorite books and an essay that spoke to my soul
11. A disposable camera photo from my high school grad-
uation day, a reminder of the life I had before college
12. A photo booth strip of my sister and I, ages 11 and
9: our girlhood commemorated on the wall of the first place I ever lived on my own
At the end of freshman year, I dismantled my wall of memories and put them all into a notebook. Now, I can flip through that notebook and see what I saw on the wall above my desk during all those late nights I spent studying. When I look into my notebook, it is a
reminder of what it feels like to be 18 and independent. It reminds me of what it felt like to apply to the nursing program.
Another example of my love of collecting memories is my water bottle: an old, yellow Hydro Flask, covered with stickers I’ve been gifted from friends, found on vacations and collected in my lifetime. When I take out that water bottle, I definitely feel embarrassed at the ostentatiousness of it, but I’m comforted by the reminder that I carry all the past versions of myself through it.
I don’t want to seem materialistic, but I find that items that
are full of memories bring perspective to my life. I love to feel nostalgic about the times in my life that were turning points of growth for me.
As Walt Whitman once said, “I am large, I contain multitudes.” I hope to continue the search for small tidbits of my daily life that will anchor me back to this present moment. And because of the sentimental value this memory-collecting method brings to my life, I encourage you to begin your own journey of collecting and commemorating as well.
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Dear Kevin
Dear Kevin, All my favorite study spots are occupied. Where do I go now?
Follow the Accent on social media! Instagram: @sauaccent Facebook:
Dear Aspiring Archaeologist, Usually when I’m looking at the ground for something, it’s just nuts or seeds, but I have always wanted to discover a fossil or priceless artifact.
The Student Park might be a great place to check out, as well as Lynn Wood Hall (I hear it’s pretty old). For inspiration, I recommend checking out Lynn Wood’s archeological museum. Who knows? Maybe the Duck Pond is a fruitful archaeological site just waiting to be explored. Just make sure not to dig up my nest!
Dear Straying Scholar, With campus filling up, even the Duck Pond is getting crowded. Still, by being creative, you can usually find some nice places to study. In the hallway past the Kayak there are several chairs and tables to study at, and you can even grab a smoothie if you get hungry! As the weather cools down, you can try studying outside, and don’t be afraid to set out a blanket and study on the grass if you don’t need a table. If all else fails, McKee Library usually has space for any straggling studiers.
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.
Knowing that students need an early morning recharge, Kevin is offering a
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Southern
Today — 20
Thursday — 21
Weekly Birthdays
TODAY |20
Arianna Creutzburg
Payton Easley
Josiah Espinal
Dulce Margarita Her-
nandez
Ennis Johnson
Elizabeth Kiswani
Storyie Miller
Angela Peoples
Friday — 22
Payday Hourly/Students
• Ministerial Candidate Recognition Weekend - Joe Womack: 7:30 p.m. @ Thatcher Chapel
• Vespers - Mark Galvez: 7:30 p.m. @ Iles PE Center
Sunday — 24
• Social Work SWIP Trip: Washington DC begins (9/24-10/1)
• School of Music Faculty Recital:
Saturday — 23
Thursday |21
Woobin Cho
Valerie Grajales
Bryce Haloviak
Dana McGrew
Steve Mota
Irma Peden
Victoria Ranney
Pat Reese
Branyely Vega
Friday |22
Scott Anderson
Monday — 25
Katherine Chavez
Judah Emelio
Gabby Gerken
Lexi Gillard
Matthew Hallam
Yolanda Theresa Inniss
Viggo Patrona
Joash Protacio
Jared Ramos
Zachariah J.F. Reich
Brett Seasly
Genesis Ventura
Saturday |23
Luis Cabezas
Norelie Cabrera
Megan Carney
Maya Castillo
Nicole Chwast
Amelia Cripe
Brandon Gonie
Molly Jeffers
Hayden Rigsby
Aleia Vanderwaal
Lanikai Warren
Sunday |24
Ben Barrera
Madison Griswold
Jenny H. Lun
Chidi Onyeije
Emily Rice
Katelynn Webster
Monday |25
Gabriele Figueroa
Vera Macarova
Alexey Melnik
Ashauna Simms
Tuesday |26
Mikael Almario
Stella Fernandes
Alyssa Kim
Hannah Moravetz
Joah Simmons
Angel Villalobos
Joy Vital
SA & Student Life Announcements
“For The Love of the Game” intramural softball tournament (formerly known as “All
Night Softball”) will take place at: Summit of Softball 4900 La Collina Way
Collegedale, TN 37315
Games will start at 8:30 p.m. SHARP!
Come this Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. for breakfast and Bible study in the Bietz Center for Sabbath Chats! Sabbath Chats is a Student Association Sabbath school led by students in collaboration with professors to answer relevant questions through the Bible while providing breakfast. This week, Dr. Saaman will be leading discussion.
Tuesday — 26
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