Vol. 79 Issue 4

Southern Accent

Before the bear: Excavating the story of Southern's extinct dinosaur mascot

Collegedale church loses four pastors in one year

Andrew Boggess Reporter

In the past year, four pastors have left their positions at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists.

Southern Adventist University’s newly-approved bear mascot welcomed students at this semester’s Organization Showcase, and Student Association (SA) officially introduced the bear at Convocation earlier this month. However, more than three decades ago, Southern had another mascot, not a bear or a duck, but a dinosaur named Dobber. The Accent investigated the history of this unique character’s presence on campus.

The 1991-1992 SA created Dobber as an unofficial mascot. Its bright green fur costume was made by Lezlee Walters, a local seamstress and now Pathways coordinator for

the School of Business and Management. However, the mascot was the brainchild of Mike Magursky, who was the Strawberry Festival co-editor that school year. He has since passed away.

Sherrie Williams, then Strawberry Festival director of photography and current communications director for the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, told the Accent about Dobber, whom she described as a popular mascot on campus. The dinosaur appeared at sporting events, parties and other school functions.

Dobber made his debut to the student body at the 1991 Welcome Back Party, where his entrance song was “Walk The

Campus Safety installs AI-powered Flock cameras

Cameras that scan license plates and identify car owners to determine if they have active warrants or are banned from campus have been installed at every entrance at Southern Adventist University to increase safety on campus, according to Shawn Haas, associate director of Campus Safety. Safety has always been a top priority for the university, which is why the equipment – known as Flock cameras – were added, said Southern President Ken Shaw. According to Haas, the camera locations include Colcord Drive, University Drive by the Duck Pond and College Drive East.

“We have Flock cameras at all of the entrances to the university, and these Flock cameras actually pick up license plate numbers off of vehicles,” said Shaw. “And they go into a national database, and if there is a warrant out for the arrest of the individual that owns that vehicle, then that national database automatically sends a message to the Collegedale Police Department.”

The cameras can also help police track down stolen property, such as bicycles or cars, because they are linked to a national database, according to Shaw.

“Let’s say you have a vehicle on campus, and it was stolen. The license plate is registered at the police department, and so they’re looking for that vehicle,” Shaw said. “So, when someone drives that vehicle back on campus, then the national database would pick that up and say, ‘This is a stolen vehicle.’ Again, it lets the Collegedale Police Department know, [and] they immediately will contact our Campus Safety. Then we can be responsive as well.”

Campus Safety was first made aware of the cameras during a training offered by Flock Safety, Haas said. The officers thought they would be a good investment to increase security. Haas said the cameras were installed successfully on Sept. 6, 2023.

“I found out that the Collegedale Police Department had a couple … so we just reached out to them to see how they were working, if it was kind of worth the money,” Haas said. “They showed a pretty big spreadsheet of the volume of stolen cars, warrants, things of that nature that lead to a lot of drug busts and things of that nature.”

According to Haas, the cameras are not being monitored by a person. Instead, they are

Dinosaur” by Was (Not Was).

He was also featured in publications like the Southern Accent.

The dinosaur appeared at sporting events, parties and other school functions.

Williams discovered the identity of Dobber through a stroke of luck, she told the Accent. She found herself in the right place at the right time in a room where she knew Dobber had been. It was a hot day, and a person walked in dripping with sweat, and Williams’ first thought was, “That's Dobber.”

“So I said, ‘Do you enjoy being Dobber?’” Williams said. “They

stopped and stared at me, wondering how I knew. I said, ‘It was a lucky guess.’”

After Williams learned who one of the people inside the costume was, she started to be the person to carry Dobber’s tail around.

“There were two people that were inside Dobber, and, along with the SA social vice, those were the only three people that knew who was in it,” Williams said. “We have not revealed who was in Dobber, even to this day.”

In December of 1991, Dobber, Williams and other SA officers were attending Southern’s Christmas party. When it was time to leave, Williams noticed that they were being followed by the other SA officers, curi-

See MASCOT on page 2

David Ferguson, former lead pastor for the Collegedale church, transitioned to the position of campus pastor for Crosswalk, Chattanooga. His last Sabbath at the Collegedale church was May 13. Kris Eckenroth, former associate senior pastor for Connect, resigned, effective December 2, 2022, but continued working as the Connect worship pastor without his other duties until May 3, according to Melody Wallace, pastor of member care. Eckenroth is currently the president/executive director for Retro Ministries, a nonprofit supporting organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, according to the ministry’s website.

Jim Moon announced on Sept. 2 that his last Sabbath as pastor of worship will be September 30. A week later, Tim Cross announced that his last Sabbath as pastor of group life will be October 21.

“Our conference administration has decided to transfer me. Why? Their answer is longevity. They believe it is not good for the pastor or congregation for a pastor to stay too long at a local church,” Cross said during his announcement.

Cross said he has accepted an invitation to pastor the Harrison and Cedar Ridge Seventh-day Adventist churches.

See PASTORS on page 3

Collegedale Academy breaks ground for new elementary school building

Emma Boughman Reporter

Collegedale Academy (CA) had a groundbreaking ceremony for its new elementary school building on Sept. 13. The building will be built adjacent to the middle school on College Drive East.

Marilee Silverstein, director of Advancement at CA, shared some details about the event in an email to the Accent. The ceremony took place at the CA middle school. As guests arrived, the high school jazz band played.

The ceremony began with a welcome by Rick Stern, who chairs the school’s financial

campaign, titled “Inspire Now and for Eternity.” Head of School and CA Principal Brent Baldwin gave guests an overview of the new project and its key features.

Lastly, Tennessee General Assembly Representative Greg Vital presented a State of Tennessee Proclamation as a tribute to CA. The tribute honored CA as one of the schools in Tennessee that holds a place of honor in the cultural and educational history of the state.

“The Proclamation commended the groundbreaking of Collegedale Academy’s new elementary building, extending the very best wishes for future success,” Silverstein wrote.

In his welcome at the groundbreaking ceremony, Stern referred to Christian education as one of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s greatest evangelism tools. He said it is the “front door” to our entire school and church program.

According to Silverstein, the elementary school building is expected to be complete and operating by August of 2025.

“The new building will be a shining example of Collegedale Academy’s commitment to providing top-quality Christian education for all students,” Silverstein said, "and will be a source of pride for the community for years to come.”

Emma Rodriguez Reporter

Lauren Arant Staff Writer

1991-1992 Strawberry Festival Co-editor Mike Magursky, now deceased, poses with the mascot he helped create. (Photo courtesy of source)

School officials pose with Tennessee State Representative Greg Vital (middle right) at the groundbreaking ceremony. Wednesday, September 13, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Marilee Silverstein)

Matthew Orquia Managing Editor

Amy Beckworth, 1991-1992 Memories editor, gives Dobber a hug. (Photo courtesy of source)

MASCOT

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ous to know who was inside the costume. Williams and the other “insiders” quickly took Dobber to Williams’ house and hid him in the basement. While people were waiting outside for them to come out, Williams drove off in her car in another direction to lead the dinosaur hunters away.

Once the costume was finished, it became clear to the SA officers that it was a bit challenging to don. Walters said the fur was hot and heavy, and the wearer sweated buckets. Walters called it a “miserable costume to wear.”

Because of this, wearers were limited to 15 minutes in the costume at a time.

“He zipped up the back, underneath the tail, and you had to get up in him,” Williams said. “There was a snorkel that you would put in your mouth, and it had a long tube that came out his tail. That was how whoever was in it would breathe.”

CAMERAS

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actively watching the streets through AI. Essentially, they act as a digital gate for the university, he said.

“We have a lot of cameras on campus, but nothing that is actively watching,” Haas said. “You need a lot of people to watch all the cameras constantly, and that is AI.”

onds, enabling the police to respond quickly.

Campus Safety is still performing test runs of the cameras to make sure they are positioned the best way possible. Two cameras are currently being repositioned, but the general location of each has stayed the same.

that need to be done are logged, and you actually have to type in a case number or an investigative reason to do a search.”

Shaw said other communities are already using such cameras, and he feels it was a wise decision for the university to spend the money and invest in this security system.

Although popular, Dobber was not easy to wear. It was Magursky and Williams who drew a sketch of Dobber and talked to Walters about the logistics of making the costume. They discussed how the mascot would be worn, how the person would breathe, how long the tail should be and even the number of chest hairs he would have. In an interview with the Accent, Walters said, “Dobber was one of several hundred sewing projects I did that year. It was made of bright chartreuse green fur I found at the fur outlet in Rossville, Georgia. It wasn’t solid; it was kinda speckled or mottled with green and yellow, and when I saw it, it said ‘Dinosaur!’ I sewed it and stuffed it into shape.”

Dobber's life as Southern’s unofficial mascot was shortlived. After the school year of 1991-1992, he retired. The exact reason for his retirement is unknown, but it is possible that the heat and discomfort of the costume were simply too much for the wearers. However, Williams revealed that she found Dobber years after graduating, and he remains with her in storage to this day.

“It was probably ten years later when I found out where he was. He was dirty, muddy, and they had lost his clothes,” Williams said. “And so, I was just like, ‘Ok, if he is just gonna rot somewhere, I want him.’ And so, I ended up with him. He lives at my house.”

Despite his brief tenure, Dobber remains a fond memory for many Southern alumni, according to both Williams and Walters. They said he was a symbol of the school's spirit and sense of community, a reminder that even small things can make a big impact.

The Collegedale Police Department can access the footage, according to Haas. If a license plate is flagged, the cameras alert the police station in an average of 15 sec-

There have not been many concerns voiced about the cameras or how they will affect privacy, Haas said. He added that Flock safety cameras only monitor and track cars attached to warrants or thefts.

“Flock itself is built in a way that is very privacy driven, so they have a hard delete after thirty days,” Haas said. “Any searches

According to both Shaw and Haas, there is no single driving force behind installing the cameras other than the university’s desire to increase safety and security on campus.

“This isn’t the silver bullet that solves all of our security problems,” said Shaw. “But it is, I think, a valid response to help us to have a more secure campus.”

Behind the scenes of Capitol Hill: Q&A with an SDA lobbyist

Editor's Note: The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Melissa Reid, the associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), visited Southern Adventist University’s campus this month to help promote an upcoming on-campus religious liberty conference. As a representative of the SDA church in the nation’s capital, Reid’s long title aligns with the extensive and unique work she performs on a daily basis.

In your own words, what does your job entail?

My primary responsibility is to advocate for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its members on Capitol Hill. I pay attention to legislation that may impact the religious freedom of individuals or religious organizations, like the right of Southern to be able to be run in a way that is consistent with its faith tradition.

How did you end up on this unique career path?

I've always been very interested in things like civil liberties and social justice issues — fairness for individuals. I was an English major in college, and I was working for a publishing company and then heard about a job opening for Liberty Magazine, the magazine published

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by our department, which deals with religious freedom.

I actually came on in a supporting role for the magazine, and I’m still involved with the publication. It really was a God thing.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Engaging with others, whether it's denominations or religious freedom advocacy organizations. It's not a situation of compromising, just finding commonality.

Are politicians receptive to you, coming from an Adventist standpoint?

My experience has actually been really cool and surprising. We in the Adventist church say that we punch above our weight as far as our level of influence on Capitol Hill. I think the reason is because of our church structure. We have our education system, we have our health care system, we have Adventist community services — all of these ways that we are engaged with the community.

So, it's easy for me to come into political offices as a representative of the church and say, “Your district has X amount of [Adventist] elementary schools. We have a hospital system. When you guys had that disaster a few years back, we were here providing aid in this way.”

What does a day in your life generally look like?

I'm either meeting with our coalition or some of our coalition partners if we're working

Editor-in-Chief Amanda Blake

Managing Editor Matthew Orquia

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Photo Editor Adam De Lisser

on a particular piece of legislation, or we are preparing content to educate people, like our pastors, our local church religious liberty leaders or college and university students. I also meet with congressional offices to share our perspective on specific pieces of legislation.

The other perspective is saying, “I don't feel comfortable in the world that exists around me anymore because it's no longer representative of me in my faith.” You have these two extremes, and how do we navigate that? How are we, most importantly, faithful Christians in that environment? We're also going to be looking at the role social media plays in this real divide and this antagonism we feel towards each other.

That's what this two-day conference is going to talk about. It's free for students.

What legislation are you currently involved in?

uals who hold to sort of a traditional view of marriage should not be discriminated against, or their view should not be seen as bigoted. I was really proud of our church for engaging in that way because we weren't opposing something that was happening, but we were protecting their rights. By doing that, we developed some really positive relationships with some of the congressional offices.

Right now, my job is working on planning this conference. Our office is hosting a religious liberty conference on campus in October called “Reconstructing Religious Liberty in a Time of Secular and Religious Extremes.”

We feel like an academic environment really makes sense for this conversation because what we're talking about is how we're living, unfortunately, in a very polarized world right now, where there's an intolerance towards differing opinions.

The conference is about: “Where do we, as Christians, engage in this environment, particularly when we're dealing with religious freedom?” In these sort of polarized extremes, you see one extreme that is saying, “Oh, religious freedom, that's just a way to be bigoted.”

The area that we're paying the most attention to is legislation's impact on religious education at places like Southern — Christian colleges and universities. The impact that you're seeing is a more secular government that wants to sort of enforce or require a more secular perspective on those campuses.

This last year, we worked on a piece of legislation called the Respect for Marriage Act. Several years ago, same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States by a Supreme Court decision, but it was never made a law in the United States. This last year, there was a piece of legislation that wanted to make it a federal law for samesex marriage to be respected.

The way that we got involved as a church – and with a real diverse set of partners – was by including an amendment that said: At the same time, individ-

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This summer, there was a case in the Supreme Court about the standard for accommodating religious freedom in the workplace. From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective, that would be not working Saturday and having that Friday sundown. We will be involved in drafting legislation that will codify what the Supreme Court decision just did for Sabbath work.

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Amy Mejias Reporter

The university installed Flock cameras at three entrances to campus. Monday, September 25, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Melissa Reid advocates for the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Capitol Hill. (Photo courtesy of source)

"There were two people that were inside Dobber, and, along with the SA social vice, those were the only three people that knew who it was."

"I was really proud of our church for engaging in that way because we weren't opposing something that was happening, but we were protecting their rights."

Former embezzler of $8.5 million advocates for integrity on campus

Nathan Mueller grew up in a loving and supportive family. He found success in his social and academic circles, until he went to prison for embezzling nearly $8.5 million.

“I had everything going on in my life,” he said during a recent presentation at Southern Adventist University. “The one thing I didn’t have was money, and that became my focus.”

On Sept. 11, Mueller spoke at a School of Business event at Brock Hall, exhorting students to live with integrity. He was visiting the local area to do a presentation for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

how the experience changed his life. The event, sponsored by the School of Business, included an introduction by the FBI agent who handled Mueller’s case, David Kukura.

To Kukura, how Mueller spun what he did into something positive is a bigger story than the crime he committed.

After becoming a certified public accountant at Gustavus Adolphus College, Mueller worked for ReliaStar, an insurance company later purchased by ING.

He was the accounting manager for the reinsurance division, where he inadvertently received authorization to approve large amounts of money orders. Mueller thought of himself as honest, he told students during the presentation. He didn’t embezzle money for over a year. But, he knew that he could.

“It worked, and it was really easy,” Muller said about embezzling $83,000 dollars the first summer.

To camouflage the ongoing financial fraud, Mueller started gambling and soon developed an addiction, a new excuse for his crime.

“My whole fraud flipped to ‘I was stealing just [to] gamble,’” Mueller said. “ … It all became about the gambling addiction.”

When gambling wasn’t enough to cover up his sizable embezzlement, he withdrew from relationships, separated from his wife and stopped talking to his family. Then, his fraud was discovered.

“The best thing to do for me was just to be honest,” Mueller said, “ ... So I came to [the FBI] with everything that I had.”

who changed his mindset when he told him: “Your life's not over here.”

As a result, Mueller became an education clerk while incarcerated. He joined a community awareness program, through which he was given the opportunity to speak about 60 times on college campuses and at businesses and conduct fraud awareness and ethics training.

“Confessing my sins to a bunch of strangers is really scary,” said Muller, “[but] it felt so good to hopefully use my mistakes to help other people.”

him an accounting position with entry-level pay but manager responsibilities.

Two years later, the business had doubled in staff.

“I think I just got a second chance all around in life,” Mueller said. “I am about to turn 50, and I'm finally happy.”

Mueller said he shares his story with college students so they can learn from his mistakes.

“When you get out into the workforce, you're going to be confronted with ethical dilemmas and questions about what's the right thing to do,” said Kukura.

Mueller talked about his $8.5 million embezzlement, his five-year prison sentence and

PASTORS

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In an interview with the Accent, Moon said he had to trust God in the transition process.

“I can’t speak to decision-making at the conference [or] … what their thought process is,” Moon said. “All I can speak to is that God has been faithful in my journey up to now, and so I’m trusting in that and trusting that He’s also looking to direct conference leadership.”

When asked by a friend if leaving Collegedale church was his choice, Moon responded, “It is now,” he told the Accent. The Accent reached out to the Georgia-Cumberland Conference and sent an email to Communication Director Nathan Zinner

The idea of stealing became conceivable for Mueller when working two full-time jobs that proved incapable of covering his school debt, credit card debt and the costs of caring for a newborn. After rationalizing the possibility of committing fraud, he cut checks under the name of a co-worker and proceeded to authorize and send them to his personal bank account.

with a list of questions. Zinner replied with the following statement: “The Collegedale University Church is a wonderful community of students, dedicated members, lay leaders, and staff, and the Georgia-Cumberland Conference looks forward to continuing to work alongside and support this congregation as it seeks to meet the evolving needs of those it serves.”

According to Carole Verrill, pastor for children’s ministries at the Collegedale church, and Wallace, there is a pastoral search committee currently working to fill the lead pastor position. The committee consists of two leaders from the Collegedale church – Verrill and Youth Pastor Kircio Mota – as well as two representatives from Southern Adventist University – President Ken Shaw and School of Religion Dean

He self-surrendered in February 2009 and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison.

“[His prison sentence] could be the end of the story … but really, for Nathan, it's just the beginning of his story,” Kukura said.

“When I got [to prison], I had just kind of given up on life,” said Mueller. “I was really feeling sorry for myself, recognizing that the situation I'm in is 100%, my fault.”

While looking for a job in prison, Mueller met an inmate

Greg King. Four Georgia-Cumberland Conference officials and five members from the Collegedale Church congregation also sit on the committee, according to Verrill.

His experience working for the program gave Mueller the confidence to build a new life out of prison and to work doing workshops for the staff at an accounting company.

Mueller continued speaking for a couple of years until COVID-19 hit, and then he had difficulty finding employment.

“Being an accountant with my history, it's not easy to find a job,” he said.

After a year of unemployment, a friend Mueller met in prison, who had started a self-storage business, offered

gregation has been praying about the process at its monthly seasons of prayer.

“We specifically pray for the search committee, for the process and for the new lead pastor, that he will hear God’s call,” Wallace said.

According to Wallace and Verrill, the pastors transitioning out of the Collegedale church have worked with the remaining staff to ensure their roles are being covered by someone else.

Mueller's goal is to inspire at least one person to be the best possible version of themself.

When asked for his advice for college students, Mueller said, “You can't do anything for the money. If you go into a career for the money, and you don't love it, life's gonna be miserable.”

cover the responsibilities that Cross held as group life pastor.

“As far as Chris Eckenroth goes, we decided to go with a pastoral liaison until we had a lead pastor who could work through the process of filling that role,” Wallace said. “So I’ve actually taken on that responsibility, which means I go to their leadership meetings, and we, as pastors, try to go to Connect as often as we can to give them pastoral support.”

“How that process is working is we are looking at names, narrowing down the list,” Verrill said. “[We are] hoping to get someone sooner rather than later, but you know, trying to move on in patience and trust.”

According to Verrill, the search committee received input from a focus group of students who spoke with Georgia-Cumberland Conference representatives about their hopes for the new lead pastor. Wallace said the conference also distributed a survey asking people what they wanted for the future of the Collegedale church.

“The conference sent out surveys to different church members, board members and, I believe, to different people at the university asking what their requests were for the church that is on the university campus,” Wallace said.

Verrill said she could not put a timeline on when the search committee will make its decision, and Wallace said the con-

Matt Spears, worship logistics director for the church, has stepped in as interim worship ministries director, and Verill is now the supporting pastor for worship ministries.

“[Spears] has been working with Pastor Jim Moon for several years now, so he’s kind of stepping up more in his role, and I’m coming along as pastoral support to help him in that role,” Verrill said.

According to Verrill, until the search committee finds a new lead pastor, the other three vacant positions will probably remain unfilled because the conference wants the lead pastor to have input on those hiring decisions.

“It’s been very clear to us … from the conference, which is the hiring entity of course, that we have to have that seniorly position in place before we can look at those other positions, because we want that person to speak into [those decisions],” Verrill said.

Wallace and Verrill are hopeful that this period of transition will ultimately be good for the Collegedale church.

“I did have one church member say, ‘Well, we’ve been praying for revival at Collegedale church, and maybe this is the way it’s going to happen,’” Wallace said.

Wallace is serving as pastoral liaison to help cover the responsibilities that Eckenroth previously held and is providing pastoral support for the Connect service as well as working to

“I know that God has the perfect person in mind for us,” Verrill added. “It’s not a perfect person that can walk on water, just the perfect one for us at this time.”

Merge Worship embraces new gymnasium location

Erin Rouse

Staff

Writer

Merge Worship, a student-led church on campus that highlights an African American-style worship experience, has begun the new school year with a location change and a rapidly growing audience.

Merge Worship services were previously held in Lynn Wood Hall but are now taking place in the Collegedale Academy-Elementary gymnasium. The shift occurred due to construction in Lynn Wood Hall and the building’s limited space for the congregation, according to Reginald Horton, full-time pastor for Merge.

“We partnered with the University Church,” Horton said. “ … We all got together and [gathered] some funding to kind of help us in the transition.”

The new location has provided further space for innovation, such

as monthly potlucks, flags and signage lining the sidewalk leading up to the gym doors.

According to Horton, Merge’s top priority for finding a new location was to stay on campus. Merge’s vision since its conception was to stay local so students would not have to travel far to find a service that offered its worship style.

Nyah Banks, junior education major, said, “It was hard to find seating in [Merge’s] previous location unless I got there quite early. I think that deterred me from going a lot because I didn’t want to end up standing for the whole service.”

Banks believes the new location is a much better fit as it can adequately accommodate all the people who want to worship there.

Sofía Gil, junior piano performance major and media host for Merge, said the new space brings unique challenges to the musical aspect of Merge’s worship ser-

vices but agrees that it is a more suitable location for students to enjoy the sermon comfortably.

In addition to the physical move, Merge has new open leadership positions. Horton said he is excited to have new students interested in serving the Lord. What makes Merge unique is the various opportunities it offers students to lead and use their spiritual gifts.

“We always have spots open. We have students coming every Sabbath asking what they can do to help,” Horton said. “We don’t turn anybody away. We say, ‘If that’s what God is calling you to do, let’s do it.’”

Horton explained that the Merge team embraces creativity, new ideas and suggestions for ways to improve.

The ministry is focused on remaining open to people from all kinds of backgrounds, age groups

and families, according to Gil. The team wants to create a community that is inclusive for everybody.

“Merge just wants to be a family,” Gil said. “Hence the name, right?”

Banks said she attended Merge’s opening Sabbath this semester and left feeling blessed and uplifted by

the service. She said the event felt like a family reunion.

“There is a lot of support in various forms within the Merge community, and it’s easy to find belonging,” Banks said. “I think Merge is very intentional about connecting with its attendees and making them feel at home.”

“Confessing my sins to a bunch of strangers is really scary, [but] it felt so good to hopefully use my mistakes to help other people.”

Worship Pastor Jim Moon speaks at Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists about his transition out of the church during his family's farewell event. Moon's last day of service is September 30.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)

2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

“You can't do anything for the money. If you go into a career for the money, and you don't love it, life's going to be miserable.”

"Our conference administration has decided to transfer me. Why? Their answer is longevity."

"I know that God has the perfect person in mind for us. It's not a perfect person that can walk on water, just the perfect one for us at this time."

Clarissa Alberto Staff Writer

“I think I just got a second chance all around in life.”

For the love of the game

Rexy Hutubessy practices his pitching before the all-night softball tournament games begin.

Saturday, September 23, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Bri Zepeda runs to first base after landing a hit at bat.

Saturday, September 23, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

Amelia Duerksen starts running to first base after getting a hit against the Batties team.

Saturday, September 23, 2023. (Photo by Preston Waters)

The Slackerz and Freshman 15 players demonstrate their sportsmanship as they make their way through the handshake line. Saturday, September 23, 2023. (Photo by Adam De Lisser)

MENTAL HEALTH

Stigma-free suicide prevention: Always ask for help

Tiffany Bartell Contributor

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

Trigger Warning: The topic of suicide is discussed in detail in this article.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and this month is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide can be an uncomfortable topic for many, but it is an important one to discuss and explore.

I have often told new counselors that it is a question of “when” not “if” they will encounter a client experiencing suicidal ideation in their clinical practice. It has become increasingly apparent that most adults will come in contact with suicidal thoughts either personally or with someone near them. It is important to feel comfortable broaching these conversations and confident in how to help yourself or someone else experiencing a mental health crisis.

Our thoughts and feelings are the “pain” of the brain, and it can be helpful to use them as indicators of how our mental health is doing. If I wake up in the morning looking forward to the day with a sense of contentment and energy, I know that I am feeling well physically, emotionally and mentally. If I wake up in the morning and dread going to class or seeing people and feel that no matter what I do the day is going to go

poorly, then I know that I am not feeling well. If I experience thoughts of hopelessness and wish I had not woken up or that something would happen to me so I would not wake again, then I know that I am dangerously sick, and I need to seek help.

Part of the work of suicide prevention is destigmatizing and demystifying both asking for help and the process of seeking help. During the pandemic, 19% of surveyed college students experienced suicidal thoughts, according to the Jed Foundation. That means that almost two out of every 10 students experienced suicidal thoughts or even urges to harm or kill themselves.

With the current prevalence of mental illness and statistics

such as this one, the importance of knowing how to handle these types of situations has only increased. If you find yourself having suicidal thoughts, the first thing to do is tell someone. Here at Southern, you will never get in trouble for reaching out for help, and your professors, deans, RAs, mentors and LifeGroup coaches have all been trained how to help you get connected to services if you are struggling with your mental health. Making contact with someone outside yourself is the first step. If you are on campus, reach out to Campus Safety, which will then connect you with the counseling team. Our counseling team is highly trained on how to walk you through this

process, and we encourage you to reach out. If you are not on campus, calling 911 or 988 (the national suicide hotline) are also options, as well as driving to the nearest emergency room. Your future self will thank you for the brave and courageous act of getting help.

If a friend or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts (or you suspect they are), the first step is to listen without judgment. It is key to ask clear questions, such as, “Are you having thoughts of hurting or killing yourself?” Then, when they share their truth with you, it is important to thank them for trusting you and then work to connect them with a staff member, such as a counselor, residence hall dean

or faculty member who will connect them with appropriate help.

Never leave someone who is suicidal alone, and keep in mind that your role is simply to be the bridge between them and the services they need. Remember, we do not keep secrets that have to do with health or safety. In addition, once they are safely with the people who can help them, be sure to connect with a counselor or someone you trust to debrief on how you feel and what happened to you in the situation.

Thinking about encountering this kind of situation can be overwhelming, but remember that each one of us is worthy of support and care in the hardest times of life. Here at Southern, you are surrounded by a community of support.

The MLB playoffs await: Exceptional teams and major disappointments

Sports Editor

Every year, the month of October is accompanied by exciting seasonal flavors and traditions. October reintroduces pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween and, the most important of them all: postseason baseball. The MLB playoffs are fast approaching, and this year is bound to be surprising and thrilling for baseball fans.

Around the time of the AllStar break each year, it starts to become clear who has a good shot at winning the World Series. While some teams that get off to slow starts often pave the way to victory, the Atlanta Braves have proven to be baseball’s best team since the start of the season.

The Braves, led by MVP frontrunner Ronald Acuna Jr., have the best offense in the league. Acuna Jr., an outfielder, has been one of the most exciting baseball players to watch of all time. Matt Olson, the first baseman for the Braves, leads the league in HRs and in RBIs. With the Braves offense, Atlanta makes a good case to win the World Series.

Another team in the National League has been on fire for most of this season. Continuing their impressive performance over the past couple of years, the Los Angeles Dodgers were met with success this year. Outfielder Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman have helped the Dodgers cruise into the playoffs once again.

In the American League, two teams stick out more than the others. The Baltimore Orioles, a small market team, built one of the best young rosters in the league. The Orioles, who have taken advantage of their farm system and draft picks, currently have the best record in the

American League and look to win the AL East for the first time since 2014.

Another team also in the AL East that sticks out is the Tampa Rays. The Rays have put together another good season and owe much of their success to skill players.

Other teams have been nothing short of disappointing. The two teams with the highest payrolls, the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres, both look like they are going to miss out on this year’s playoffs, even though they both came into the season with World Series aspirations.

A major story coming out of this MLB season is Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is the favorite to win the AL MVP and has been dominating the hitting and pitching fields. However, Ohtani, who is a free agent after this season, had bad news. Although he was going to command one of the biggest contracts in MLB history, he announced he would not resume pitching until the 2025 season.

With Ohtani not pitching this next season, the value of his contract might dip. Ohtani will still be the DH for whatever team signs him.

Editor’s Note: Another weekly update. The Miami Dolphins might have the best offense in all of football after scoring 70 points! Dolphins: 3-0!

Jacob Nevis

The MLB playoffs arrive next month. This baseball season has seen several exciting stories, which will likely create a thrilling tournament. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

If someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, listen without judgment and connect them with a professional. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

While some teams that get off to slow starts often pave the way to victory, the Atlanta Braves have proven to be baseball’s best team since the start of the season.

Know before you go: Are zoos ethical?

R’Nae Ruddock Contributor

I’ll be honest: I enjoy visiting places where I can see animals of all kinds. Seeing the nature and creatures God created helps me appreciate and love Him more. I mean, who doesn’t love going to the zoo and feeding goats while watching kids (including you) laugh while a lion sits pretty looking up at you as if you were its midday snack?

The zoo can be chaotically fun, but there is a question that comes to mind whenever I visit one: Are they ethical? The simple answer is: No, they are not very ethical. Not only are animals in zoos caged and constricted, unable to behave naturally, but they are also being used for profit.

Zoos are not the only unethical place where people visit animals. Aquariums are rather unethical, too. These establishments can’t recreate the habitats these creatures naturally grow up in.

“Without their natural habitat and the social structures of the wild, these animals can suffer from physical and psychological issues due to not being in their habitat,” said Frankie Osuch, a policy support officer for the United Kingdom, as quoted in an article on the-ethos.co.

I may think that zoos are unethical, but I will admit that the issue enters a gray area when certain situations make zoos necessary. In 2022, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) rescued over 60 animals from Tri-State Zoological Park in Maryland, according to

Animals in zoos are constricted, unable to exhibit their natural behaviors. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

the-ethos.co article. Tri-State Zoological Park was charged with various violations and forced to shut down, according to PETA.

PETA needed a place for the animals to stay. So, do you know what they did? They called other zoos and sanctuaries, and they entrusted Oakland Zoo with taking care of the animals, as explained in the article.

Zoos need to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in order to operate. They also have a set of welfare standards that they must uphold concerning how they take care of their animals.

RELIGION

However, accredited zoos like Oakland Zoo don’t always follow such high standards, according to the Ethos article. The article stated that Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, accredited by AZA, is named the “worst place for elephants.”

The Cincinnati Zoo’s elephant enclosure is only an acre in size, which is not adequate for elephants, according to the report. The zoo plans to increase the space by five acres, four of which are for the animals, by 2024, states the Ethos article. However, considering how huge elephants are, that space is still

too small for four of them to fit in comfortably.

Another issue with Cincinnati is the breeding situation.

“The space provided is too small to breed more elephants, and other zoos tend to dismiss the fact that a lot of these animals are slowly going extinct,” Frankie Osuch said.

Instead of spending their money to help vulnerable animals in the wild, zoos are splurging on bringing more animals into captivity for entertainment and profit, the Ethos article stated.

I believe it is better to support animal sanctuaries, establish-

ments that do not buy animals from the wild, instead of zoos. Zoos are a complicated issue. While sometimes they uphold high standards to help and protect animals, other times they are nothing but places that want to exploit the animals and the people (yay capitalism). If you are able, support sanctuaries rather than zoos. Do as much research as you can on the zoo you want to visit (and this goes for sanctuaries as well). If it doesn’t feel right to you, then don’t go to that zoo.

Learning to trust in God’s mission plan

Mason Harmon Contributor get so caught up trying to handle the mission that I had completely missed the purpose of the mission.

There I was. Out of breath. Heart pounding. Mind racing. It was 7:23 a.m. on July 28, and I had barely made it onto my flight before boarding cut off. That was the beginning of my student mission experience.

Little did I know how similar the mission field in its entirety would be to the hectic airport experience that started it all. Since that day almost two months ago, I have coped with culture shock in a country I did not know I would be serving in until three weeks before getting here. I have faced numerous water, power and internet outages that seem to happen at the worst times. Almost daily, I have felt a persistent overwhelmed feeling about the work to be done with so few people and resources.

There have been days when I have felt utterly exhausted, others when I have called home crying and many more when I have felt a sense of hopeless frustration. Until recently, all these things had built a wall between me and God. As the challenges mounted, I routinely questioned why I was here, what difference I could make and if He was really a part of this mission year. Then, one day, when the electrical outlets burned out in my apartment, and the mission compound water pump broke, I decided I’d had enough.

I cried out to the Lord in anger — and I mean a deep anger — and He heard me and answered me. My fury ceased, and my attitude changed. There was a moment of silence when I only felt my heartbeat pounding. Then it hit me.

God was there; He had always been there. I just hadn’t been looking. I had allowed myself to

I had been struggling to live out the mission plan I had envisioned two months ago, but I had not been consulting the great Mission Planner. With this realization, I made a dramatic change, and I began to pray, not for the mission, for the difficulties or for personal endurance, but for a new vision.

I wanted to finally see what God could see, and I wanted to start taking on the mission from His point of view. Since that prayer and the many more that have followed, my vision has begun to change. I no longer see the problems, personal concerns and a path clouded with uncertainty. I see tests of faith, endurance builders and a path laid open for me that promises a tremendous impact.

This perspective realignment has allowed me to follow His mission plan and let go of everything else I had let get in the way. As I have worked to follow His guidance and leading, I am regularly reminded of a promise in His Word.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon writes, “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (NKJV).

This verse perfectly summarizes the lesson I am still learning and provides insight that every person should take to heart. No matter what phase of life you are in, your personal aspirations or your concerns for the future, God’s plan should come first. His plan comes with the greatest vision, the best destination and, most importantly, the perfect Person to guide you along.

A sunset near Mason Harmon’s mission site in Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. (Photo courtesy of Mason Harmon)

Two short books every college student should read

Madison Wilcox

Religion Editor

Does life feel short to you yet?

For most young people, it seems eternal. But, at around 20 years old, we’re already one-quarter of the way done. Life is long until it’s not. Death is just somewhere in the neighborhood until it rings your doorbell. But when it does, how will you answer it?

Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” may help you answer this question before it’s your turn. This 53-page novella follows a man who faces the loss of something he never truly had: life.

Ivan Ilyich lives with his eye set firmly on society’s expectations, dutifully climbing the 14-rung ladder of the Russian civil service, marrying an intelligent woman and simply attempting to live a decent and pleasant life. Outwardly, he has everything a high-class person could wish for.

But, when death suddenly stares him in the face, Ivan realizes that everything he has accumulated isn’t as important as he believed. A horrible thought forms in his mind: Did his cookie-cutter, follow-the-recipe, payyour-dues kind of life mean anything at all? Could he have done it all “right” and still got it all wrong?

Follow Ivan as he learns the answer to these pressing questions. Prepare for light in the darkest of places.

As a companion to the novella above, I recommend another, even shorter, book: “The Greatest Thing in the World,” written by a contemporary of Tolstoy, Henry Drummond. While the novella provokes a haunting question (What does it mean to do life right?) and offers glimpses

of the answer, Drummond fleshes the answer out in 44 pages, breathing life into the oldest, and perhaps most important, word of the Christian faith: love.

Isn’t it surprising how the brain turns off when it reaches that word on the other side of a colon?

The word is faded at best, weak from overuse. But this is only because the embodiment of the word is so unusual. Love occurs more often on paper than in ac-

tion. Like a muscle that has atrophied, the concept of love means little and does little for most.

But Drummond catches a higher vision of that word in this little book. He shares it with the reader by walking one verse at a time through 1 Corinthians 13. I won’t try to summarize his argument; I simply encourage you to approach the book as if you’d never heard of love before. Chances are, you’ve never heard

it described in quite the way he describes it. Let it convict you; I believe it will.

“On the last analysis, then, love is life. ... It is a thing that we are living now, not that we get when we die; that we shall have a poor chance of getting when we die unless we are living now. No worse fate can befall a man in this world than to live and grow old alone, unloving and unloved. To be lost is to live in an unre-

generate condition, loveless and unloved; and to be saved is to love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth already in God. For God is love.” Henry Drummond.

Editor’s Note: If you are interested in a copy of either or both books, email me at madisonw@ southern.edu.

Friday,

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

Dear Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Any tips on how to get over a one-sided crush?

Dear One-sided Sally, Waddling across the lonely stone road of the promenade, I look upon my life and think about my past flames, now extinguished by the hard rain of life.

Getting over a one-sided crush can be challenging, but it’s important for your emotional well-being. Here are some steps to help you move on:

Recognize that you have a one-sided crush and that it’s normal to feel this way sometimes.

Try to limit contact with the person you have a crush on. This can help you create emotional distance and reduce the temptation to dwell on your feelings.

Talk to people who can offer support, advice and a different perspective on your situation.

Remember your worth. Remind yourself that your value is not determined by whether someone reciprocates your feelings or not.

Dear Kevin, I don’t know what I want to do for work after I graduate.

What should I do?

Dear Lost Louie, The crossroads of adulthood is a frustrating place to be because every decision you make has the chance to change your life. I recommend talking to your friends or reaching out to your professors for some solid career advice.

There are resources on campus, too! On the third floor of Bietz, there’s the Career Services office. They can help you find your strengths and which career fields might be best for you.

I started as an astronomy major in college, and then I realized that wasn’t the best fit for me. Now, I patrol the pond and write this advice column; it’s what I love to do. It’s okay to change your major and try something different.

Don’t forget, always let your true passions guide you, not what other people say.

Do you have a question for Kevin?

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

This week’s winner is Elyse Baltodano. To collect your prize, contact the editor @ablake@southern.edu.

Tolstoy’s novella asks a pressing question. Drummond’s book answers it.

September 22, 2023. (Photo by Madison Wilcox)

rubbyg ��

Photo Credit: Alejandra Camacho

zo_young_14 “The sun is in your eyes”

Photo Credit: Cata Niño

Ruby Garcia Frank Lizardo R F

bennsantoss Coming to the nearest hospital…⏳

Photo Credit: Paige Rufo

sophcirig cappuccino’s everyday ☕

Benjamin (Benny) Dos Santos Sophia Cirigliano B S

Jack Bell Lesieli Savelio J L

Today — 27

Thursday — 28

2nd ViewSouthern Convocation: Robert Peters- Week of Worship at 11:00 a.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church

• Graduate Council at 3:30 p.m.

Friday — 29

• Taste of Southern Gala at 6:00 p.m. @ The Chattanoogan

• Fall Week of Worship - Robert Peters at 8:00 p.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church

Saturday — 30

• Connect at 9:00 a.m. @ Goliath Wall // Rain: Collegedale Gym

Sunday — 1

• Collegedale Church Service: Adoration at 9:00 a.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church Sabbath Morning Chats from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. @ The Grid Collegedale Church Service: Renewal at 11:45 a.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church Merge Worship at 11:45 a.m. @ Collegedale Academy-Elementary Evensong - Collegedale Academy Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. SA Presents - Y2K Party: Back to the 2000’s at 9:00 p.m. @ Iles PE Center

Monday — 2

No Field Trips or Tours Financial Aid for 2024-25

• Last day for 60% tuition refund for 16-week classes

• Undergraduate Council at 3:30 p.m.

Weekly Birthdays

TODAY |27 Chase Bennett

Gabriel Castro

Nathan Dickerhoff

Jordan Esquivel

Lorena Feliciano

Esteban Grajales

Jeff Horn

Moises Salazar

Mandy Velez

Thursday |28

Priya Carmona

Isaac Cisneros

Ben Davis

Yonatan Liudvih De-

myan

Charlynneth Dizon

CJ Jones

Livia Liga

Mike Narita

Cade Ottati

Anaya Parker

Jadd Sampayan

John Smith

Friday |29

Lexi Barnum

Adam Bellis

Midrene Francois

Etienne Hein

Roisbel Hernandez

Condrasheera Joao

Ella Kim

Alexis Nennich

Christianna Nesmith

Tamara Penn

Jordan Richards

Lydia Riffel

Jose Sarabia Montiel

Saturday |30

Kirsten Antolin

Mateus Dutra

Olivia Fisher

Tang Gualnam

Yewon Kang

Renee Kendall

Luz Mandujano

Yissy Martinez

Jade Reuben

William Rios

Jacob Simmons

Elizabeth Stauffer

Erika Stiles

Sunday |1

Maria Cortez

Gracie Culpepper

Emma Davis

Lauren Fenwick

Alison Handysides

Carson Huenergardt

Evan M. Kim

Kamilla King

Josemy Velazquez-Coutino

Alex Yaste

Monday |2

Renee Elias

Danyla Etienne

George Imuro

Joel Miller

Casey Morgan

Matthew Orquia

Tuesday |19

Kellie Azor

Jack Bell

Christian Drexler

Laura Gibbs

Misty Haggard

Alicia Hill-Redd

Braden Knapp

Leah Lauzon

Eh Htee Paw

Brooke Reams

SA & Student Life Announcements

SA presents: ”Y2K Party: Back to the 2000s”

“Sing your heart out to classic songs, get in touch with your inner child on giant inflatables, run through a giant bubble machine, eat fried oreos, win PRIZES and more at our nostalgic 2000s party! We’re so excited to see you there!” 9:00 p.m. at the Iles P.E. Center.

Sabbath Chats

Join us 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. Dr. Keith Snyder will be speaking on the topic: “Is there a creator?”

Tuesday — 3

MASTER’S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK

Facilitate Positive Change in People’s Lives

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.