Vol. 79 Issue 9

Mental Health | 5

Opinion | 6

Religion | 6

Lifestyle | 7

The year-round power of practicing gratitude

What does it mean to be a man in our world today?

Heaven: Imagining the unimaginable

Understanding the erosion of attention spans

November 8, 2023 Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Accent

Vol. 79 Issue 9

The student voice since 1926

Southern to construct cottages Rising trend: West coasters for surging student population flock to SAU Amanda Blake Editor-in-chief

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The preliminary floor plan for Southern Adventist University's cottage-style housing depicts the internal features of the 600-square-foot units, scheduled to be fully constructed by fall 2024. Each house will hold four students and include two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area and bathroom.

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Matthew Orquia Managing Editor Editor’s Note: This article is part two of a two-part series.

Southern Adventist University is working on building a new housing option to meet an expected rise in demand for campus housing next fall semester, according to Marty Hamilton, associate vice president for Financial Administration.

Hamilton said Southern’s Board of Trustees has approved the construction of 25 small, cottage-style houses off of Colcord

Drive, on the slope behind Campus Safety and the Art Annex.

According to Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, the university chose this location because the area has been cleared, and there are already buildings and structures on the land.

“Transforming this patch of land will be easier than other parts of campus,” he stated.

Negrón believes the new cottages will house only juniors and seniors due to the number of upperclassmen Southern expects to live on campus next fall. However, further analysis

SA strives to enhance safety on university grounds Celeste Lee Staff Writer Student Association (SA) has been working to improve safety on campus this semester through a special committee created by Senate to address the issue.

According to Kelsie Alonso, sophomore management major and a representative on the committee, it exists to ensure student safety by increasing awareness of the resources Southern already has on campus and recognizing the needs and voices of the students.

“We noticed a lack and need for more student safety,” Alonso said.

“Our goal is to increase and promote safety on campus.”

According to SA President Jared Chandler, he and the committee might be working on adding new heads to lights in campus parking lots to increase their brightness. In addition, Chandler said he, SA Vice President Dain Ochoa, Associate Vice President for Financial Administration Marty Hamilton and Director of Building Systems Dennis Clifford surveyed campus on a golf cart last week to identify dark areas.

“A complaint that we got was that there are areas on campus that are really dark. … So we went around, and we marked those locations where the lights are out so we can make it a brighter and safer place,” Chandler said. “It will help students feel a little bit safer.”

Another one of SA’s safety goals is to raise awareness of Title IX. There will be a convocation on Nov. 16 featuring a panel of Title IX and Campus Safety representatives to answer anonymous questions.

According to Chandler, methods of increasing safety on campus also will be discussed during the event.

“We want our students to be as informed as possible on what they can do to prevent situations from happening, or, if something happened to them, what are the next steps they can do,” Chandler said.

One safety method the safety committee plans to present at the convocation is the Omnilert mobile app. “[It is] a safety app, so you'll get messages from Campus Safety,” Alonso said. “You can dial Campus Safety, you can dial 911 or you can send in a silent alert.”

Chandler has retracted his plan to implement emergency towers on campus, a part of his campaign platform last school year.

At the beginning of this semester, Chandler researched the possibility of adding the towers and talked to University President Ken Shaw and Campus Safety.

“Shaw’s sentiment was that it wouldn't be effective,” he said. “ … Campus Safety’s response to me was more or less that they didn't see that this would be See SAFETY on page 3

of the classes would have to be done to know for sure.

The 600 square-foot houses will hold four students and include a kitchen, washer and dryer and dishwasher, according to Hamilton. The preliminary floor plan of the units shows two bedrooms separated by a living area, kitchen and bathroom.

“They’ll be very updated,” Hamilton said. “And I think while they’re not as comfy as Southern Village, it’s a different type of housing, and that’s what I’m excited about.”

Negrón wrote in an email to the Accent that the primary

Editor’s Note: This article is part two of a two-part series.

reason Southern is building these houses is the university’s expectation that enrollment will continue to grow. Although Southern is also building four new apartment buildings in Village Proper, those buildings are not expected to be completed in time for next year’s fall semester.

“These cottages can be built quicker and thus meet our deadline of having extra housing for students at the beginning of next academic year,” Negrón stated.

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The number of freshmen coming to Southern Adventist University from west coast states — California, Oregon and Washington — has increased by approximately 150 percent in ten years, based on numbers recorded in the university’s official Factbooks.

Chris Hansen, director of Institutional Research and Planning, provided the Accent with freshman enrollment numbers divided by home state going back to 2014, accounting for 10 sets of data representing 10 fall semesters.

The rise in west coasters choosing Southern remains significant even when considering the rise in total freshman enrollment.

This fall’s record-high freshman class of 758 students is 36 percent greater in size than the freshman enrollment recorded in 2014: 559.

The university recorded that 143 freshmen attending Southern this fall are from west coast states, comprising 19 percent of the class. In 2014, that number was 57, comprising 10 percent of the class.

The number of students coming from California has notably grown in recent years. Between 2014 and 2018, California, Florida and Georgia swapped places as the second, third and fourth top states sending freshmen to Southern. Since 2019, California has remained in second place. Tennessee has remained number one.

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Pickleball mania sweeps campus Matthew Orquia Managing Editor Due to its rising popularity at Southern Adventist University, pickleball will be taught as a class next semester, according to Darin Bissel, facilities manager for the Hulsey Wellness Center.

Southern’s online course catalog shows that the class is already full, with a waitlist of four students as of Monday, Nov. 6.

The trend is not just happening on campus. Pickleball has been America’s fastest growing sport for the past three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Topline Participation Report. In the United States, pickleball now has 8.9 million players over the age of six, the report states.

Troy Walker, professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology and director of intramurals, said he has seen pickleball’s popularity continue to grow during his tenure at Southern.

“Every year it seems to be more popular than the last,” he said.

Walker teaches the basic tennis class at Southern, and when rain forces the class off the outdoor courts, he teaches his students pickleball in the gym.

“After one class period of learning how to play pickleball, they were loving it,” Walker said.

“They’d be like, ‘Walker can you make this an intramural sport?’”

Pickleball was added to the intramural program in 2021 and has been a hit ever since, according to Walker.

Bissell said a key indicator of pickleball’s popularity on campus is the activity on Southern’s courts.

“I mean, you just go out onto the courts in the evenings, especially evenings when the weather’s nice, [and] they’re hopping,” he said.

According to Bissell, even Southern’s upper courts, which are reserved for tennis and don’t have pickleball lines, sometimes accommodate pickleball players who need a place to play.

Pickleball is often played on modified tennis courts, although the net height for the sport is shorter than the net height for tennis. Pickleball also requires smaller court dimensions so tennis court lines cannot be used.

See PICKLEBALL on page 2

Students Josh Nerona and Tang Gualnam play pickleball at courts near Swinyar Drive. Saturday, November 4, 2023. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Amanda Blake at ablake@southern.edu

2 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

NEWS PICKLEBALL

continued from page 1 According to Walker and Bissell, court space at Southern’s tennis and pickleball courts has been affected by pickleball’s popularity. Walker said Southern’s tennis intramural players have had difficulty at times finding court space.

“We have to kind of battle for space sometimes with the pickleball players,” Walker said.

WEST COASTERS continued from page 1

This fall, 109 Californians comprise 14 percent of the freshman class, second only to 2021, when 96 Californians comprised 17 percent of the class, based on numbers from the past 10 years.

Ryan Harrell, web and analytics manager for the university, wrote to the Accent that Southern has received an increasing amount of students from a particular part of the Golden State.

“Overall, we’ve seen an increase in yield from the Southern California region since pre-COVID,”

However, tennis continues to grow in popularity at Southern alongside pickleball. According to Walker, more tennis doubles teams signed up for intramurals this semester than ever before.

“It’s not like pickleball is taking over tennis, thankfully,” he said. “ … There is still an active desire to have tennis tournaments and leagues and so forth.”

Pickleball’s popularity in the local, off-campus community has also limited court space for students at Southern. Although there are signs

on the courts saying students have priority, it is difficult for students to tell this to community members using the courts, Walker said.

“These courts are here first and foremost for the students,” Walker said, “but we don’t mind being open to the community. We just need to serve the students first. The community use of [the courts] has caused even more of an issue [to] where we really need to build pickleball courts.”

According to Walker and Bissell, although there is no timeline or

confirmation that Southern will be building pickleball courts, the idea has been discussed.

“That conversation is going on now between our department and Plant Services and administration,” Walker said.

“We’ve been talking with a number of people, … and it’s just a matter of funding and nailing down a location and stuff like that,” Bissell said.

When asked if he thinks pickleball will maintain its popularity, Bissel said: “It’s hard to say. Certain sports come and they die, [and] it’s

really hard to tell on some of those.

But you’ve got celebrities sponsoring teams these days, so it kind of looks like it’s gonna stick around.”

Walker, on the other hand, is confident pickleball will have staying power and continue growing alongside tennis.

“Honestly, when it first started booming, I thought, ‘This could be a fad,'” he said. “I don’t think so anymore. I really think it’s here to stay; it’s only gonna keep going. And I won’t stop pushing tennis either.

I feel like there’s a place for both.”

he wrote. “We were historically yielding only in the 20-30% range from that region, and we’ve been around 42-45% range in the last two years.”

As reported previously by the Accent, Southern saw a recordhigh 36 Loma Linda Academy (LLA) students enrolled in its freshman class this fall, according to Harrell. Loma Linda Academy is located near San Bernardino, California, an hour’s drive from Los Angeles. Last year, the rate of admitted LLA students who went on to enroll at Southern was 46 percent. This year, that rate rose to 77 percent, Harrell added.

Although the number of freshman Oregonians has risen signifi-

cantly when compared to 2014 — when only three freshmen came from the Beaver State — it has not experienced a large increase in recent years, remaining between 11 and 14 since 2020. The university recorded 13 freshmen from Oregon this fall.

The number of freshmen coming from Washington has been more versatile in recent years, experiencing a jump between 2017 and 2018 from seven to 15, a plummet to six in 2021 — equal to 2014’s number — and now a 10-year high this fall at 21.

dents from west coast states to explain why they chose to attend Southern.

Multiple respondents stated that they chose Southern because it offered a quality academic program they wished to pursue.

Other common threads included the university's friendly environment, active student body and spiritual atmosphere. Many also mentioned the appeal of Tennessee's climate, with its mild winters, and Southern’s campus.

These responses align with the results of a survey conducted by Southern in September. The university texted 801 freshman and transfer students, asking them why they chose to attend South-

ern, and 111 responded. The top three reasons given by respondents recorded in the survey’s results were: “Adventist School/ Christian Environment/God Sent me,” “Academics” and “Location.”

Alison Connelly, a Loma Linda native and junior biology major, had a clear set of reasons affecting her decision to attend Southern. In a text conversation, she told the Accent about her deep connection to the university, rooted in family ties and fond childhood memories of the area.

“I always thought I would go to Southern,” she wrote to the Accent. “I have family about an hour away, and I grew up visiting and really liked it.”

Connelly also cited her post-graduate plans as a significant factor.

She shared that she plans to return to Loma Linda after graduating and wanted a change of scenery during her undergraduate years since she had lived in Loma Linda her entire life.

Aleena Hurd, a junior health science major from Washington, texted the Accent about her decision to attend Southern: “I wanted to go to an Adventist university, and I wanted to be able to explore other states for a period of my life.”

She considered other options like the University of Washington in Seattle and Walla Walla University, but her preference for an Adventist institution and desire to explore different states led her to Southern. Hurd wrote that she appreciates the small size of the university and its emphasis on providing a quality education.

Why Southern?

The Accent conducted a poll on its Instagram asking stu-

Freshman Enrollment by Home State

Depicted above are Southern Adventist University’s freshman enrollments for the fall semesters of 2014 and 2023 divided into two portions: freshmen from west coast states (California, Oregon and Washington) and freshmen from all other locations. In 2014, 57 of 559 freshmen came from west coast states. This fall, 143 of 758 freshmen came from west coast states. Note: In 2014, 26 freshmen’s home locations were unknown. In 2023, 17 freshmen’s home locations were unknown. The “unknown” numbers were counted to the “Other states, territories and countries” categories.

(Graphs by Amanda Blake using numbers provided by Chris Hansen, director of Institutional Research and Planning)

A glimpse into the challenges and rewards of international student life Emma Rodriguez Reporter

Tono found the fast-paced and independent culture in America to be surprising.

“Most students in the States have their own car while students in Japan use public transportation like trains to get to classes,” Tono said. “Although being in college is a different experience on its own, the cultural difference can be difficult for international students.

Fortunately, I’m adaptable to living in other countries, but missing family, food and my own language from home can be hard sometimes.”

Soto said he knew English when he came to Southern, but he still found it difficult to express himself at times.

“Many times, I couldn't really express myself the way I wanted to, or [people] didn't understand me, generating some awkward moments. And I got frustrated about it,” Soto said. “However, most people are understanding and try to help you.”

Tono has been struggling with the language barrier her whole life, but she is grateful for the friends who have supported her through it.

“Living in the states and having only a few people that can

speak Japanese can be lonely sometimes,” Tono said. “We all want somewhere to belong, and I’m sure most international students can agree with that.”

Despite the challenges, both Soto and Tono have enjoyed their time at Southern. Soto said he has been blessed with new friends, new challenges and new things to learn. Tono said she has found a family in

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Next week is International Student Week in the United States.

“International Student Week is a time to celebrate our F-1 international students, especially the hard work and sacrifices they made to join our Southern community,” Christina Donesky, the International Student Services Coordinator at Southern Adventist University, shared in an interview with the Accent.

F-1 students live outside the U.S. but are full-time students in the country.

According to Donesky, there are 164 F-1 students from 46 different countries studying at Southern. She said these students represent a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, and they enrich the Southern community in many ways. The International Student Services office is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all international students, Donesky said.

For international students, coming to a new country to study can be an exciting but also challenging experience. Jaziel Soto, freshman accounting major from

Mexico, and Himari Tono, junior health science major from Japan, recently shared their experiences with the Accent.

Soto said he chose Southern because of its quality of education and the value of a U.S. diploma. “[A U.S. diploma] is very valuable and may bring me more job opportunities, not only in my country but in other countries too,” Soto said.

Tono was also drawn to Southern's close-knit community and its opportunities for spiritual growth.

“I met multiple student missionaries who came from Southern. As I conversed with them, they shared their experience at Southern, and that’s how I got to know about the university,” Tono said. “They encouraged me to apply here, and, mind you, I also did my research about the place.”

Both Soto and Tono experienced culture shock in different ways. Soto struggled with American food and the multicultural environments in the U.S. “I find it very interesting since in my country we don't have so many different cultures living together at the same time,” Soto said.

Southern Accent The Accent encourages readers to write articles and voice their opinions. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Accent, Southern Adventist University or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

the States and is grateful for the support she has received from her community.

Both Soto and Tono said they would definitely recommend Southern to other international students. They want to encourage students to be prepared for the challenges of living in a new culture but also assure them that it is a rewarding experience.

Christina Donesky (left) poses with international students on Walnut Street Bridge. Each fall, Donesky takes new international students to downtown Chattanooga. Friday, August 18, 2023 (Photo courtesy of source)

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Copy Editors Stefanie Green Kathy Zelidon Photographers Mila Bales Ron Cabacungan Andre Ottati Preston Waters Staff Sponsor Alva James-Johnson Circulation Manager Norelie Cabrera

3 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

For more related news, visit our website at southern-accent.org

NEWS COTTAGES

continued from page 1 According to Hamilton, Southern’s goal is to complete one of the new Village buildings before the next fall semester and at least three of the buildings by 2025.

“We seriously need the housing for next fall, and so we’re scrambling to push the Southern Village projects and try to get them up and running so we’ve got room to breathe for our students,” Hamilton said.

Southern anticipates needing 256 additional beds by the fall of 2025 and 100 or more new beds before next fall, according to Hamilton. The 25 approvedcottage houses will provide 100 new beds. Hamilton said the university has plans to build five additional cottages to those already sanctioned. The plans cannot progress, however, until approved by the board.

The cottage units are being constructed by an outside company, Hamilton further explained, and Southern is working on building foundations and adding infrastructure for each house.

“I gotta bring in water, sewer and electricity to the site,” he said. “… So I’m going to be working on that for the next eight, nine months.”

There will be parking available around the cottages, but

SAFETY

continued from page 1 that great of a benefit to the campus or that it wouldn't have a big impact safety-wise.”

According to Chandler, emergency call towers and the Omnilert app each have pros and cons.

However, he said Southern already uses the app, which can track the location of where an incident occurs, and increasing awareness of the app will be more beneficial for students than building towers.

not enough for each student living there to park near their unit, according to Hamilton. He plans to encourage students living in the cottages to walk or bike around campus, as the units’ location is closer to the promenade and campus than Southern Village.

“So the idea is we will either have parking available for them by Campus Safety, or if you go over by WSMC and Brock Hall, we’ve got expanded parking,” Hamilton said. “And then we’re creating lighted pathways where you can get to these cottages.”

Each unit will cost around $143,000, with around $12,000 of initial costs going toward furnishing the units, according to Hamilton. He added that the cost per bed in the cottages will be much less than the cost per bed in Southern Village.

Rising demand for housing on campus is not only the result of Southern’s increased enrollment but also an effect of a growing number of students choosing to live on campus due to economic factors like increasing housing costs in the local area.

“Now, all the rents have gone way up, and so we normally would house maybe 70 to 72 percent of our student body,” Hamilton said. “ … Well now we’re over 80 [percent], so that is where all this pressure is coming [from].”

Hamilton said the cottages will be a flexible option for

“The emergency call tower is only in one location while your phone is always with you,” Chandler explained.

In addition to reminding students of the importance of the Omnilert app, Alonso also wants to remind students of the self-defense courses available on campus.

Campus Safety offers both female-only and male-only aggression defense classes.

“Not enough people know about it, and not enough people are taking it,” Alonso said.

Southern in the future if the units are not needed to house students because they could be rented out to the community or used by Southern staff. By constructing the new homes, the university is preparing for continued growth.

Southern had never housed 2,000 students on campus until

this semester, according to Hamilton. He said he thinks the university could accommodate 3,500 students on campus with its current infrastructure, but it would have to make changes to house more than that.

Despite the challenges that arise when the university must build more student housing,

A preliminary site plan of Southern's cottage-style housing. The university hopes to construct 30 units on the slope behind the Art Annex and Campus Safety facilities on Colcord Drive. (Site plan courtesy of source)

Students can download the Omnilert app on their mobile phones to send alerts to Campus Safety and the police. (Illustration by Preston Waters)

Exhibit Showing Until May 2025

FIND US HERE Museum Location: Hackman Hall, at Southern Adventist University Collegedale, Tennessee

Hamilton said he is happy to see more students living on campus.

“I think that’s what makes it special — is if we can keep as many kids on campus, they’re interacting; they’re building relationships long term,” Hamilton said. “I think having them on campus is the Southern experience.”

For more information: southern.edu/archaeology museum@southern.edu 423.236.2030

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Amanda Blake at ablake@southern.edu

4 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

NEWS

Symphony Orchestra Concert

Rebecca Fischer warms up with the Symphony Orchestra. Fischer, a renowned violinist who performs regularly with New York City-based ensembles, played Florence B. Price's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra in concert. Sunday, November 5, 2023.

(Photo by Preston Waters)

Luke Hodson plays french horn at the Symphony Orchestra concert. Sunday, November 5, 2023.

(Photo by Preston Waters)

Matthew Kimbley conducts the Symphony Orchestra as it plays "Atlantic Overture," a piece he composed. The ensemble premiered the piece at the concert. Sunday, November 5, 2023. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Corbin Weiss plays the cello. Sunday, November 5, 2023. (Photo by Preston Waters)

Beatrice Pang plays the violin. As first violinist, Pang is concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra. Sunday, November 5, 2023.

(Photo by Preston Waters)

5 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

For more related news, visit our website at accent-southern.org

MENTAL HEALTH

The year-round power of practicing gratitude Khloe Mace Contributor Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.

Thanksgiving is a special time when people focus on being grateful. It is a time when many people feel happier and experience a positive mood. Although we might be tempted to practice thankfulness only during the fall season, gratitude is actually good for us all year long. Being grateful has proven benefits for our mental health, including better sleep, less stress and depression and improved relationships.

When you feel thankful for something, it can help lower your stress and anxiety. Just thinking about what you’re grateful for can make you 10% happier overall and reduce feelings of depression by 35%, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Experts from Mental Health First Aid say that practicing gratitude is like a shield for your mental well-being. It protects you from feeling too anxious or sad, which is very helpful. Being thankful should not be limited to just Thanksgiving; it is something you can do throughout the year to improve your mental health. It provides a little boost of happiness that can last for up to six months, according to an article on the Mental Health First Aid website.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness conducted a study in 2021 and found that people who are aware of their

blessings and regularly practice gratitude are generally happier and less depressed.

They also sleep better, have lower stress and get along better with others. The best part is that you do not have to wait too long to see the effects.

Practicing gratitude can start making a positive difference in your life in just a couple of weeks, according to an article

on the National Alliance on Mental Illness website.

The ADAA suggests that we try to make gratitude a mental habit. Worrying, overthinking and negativity are common mental habits that produce bad outcomes. The ADAA’s research shows that simply replacing these negative thoughts with gratitude can combat their effects.

However, we have to be cautious about making gratitude a habit in our minds. Sometimes, it can go wrong and lead us back to negative thoughts. If we force ourselves to be grateful just because we feel guilty for being upset, it can actually harm our mental health. We should never use gratitude as a way to downplay or ignore our painful experiences. It is essential to acknowledge

and process our feelings honestly, according to an article on the ADAA website.

Being grateful can bring us joy, reduce stress and make our relationships with others even better. So, let’s remember to be thankful not only during Thanksgiving but throughout the year. It is a simple yet powerful way to take care of our mental well-being.

Regularly practicing thankfulness can significantly improve a person’s well-being by reducing their stress and enhacing their relationships with others. (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

SPORTS

America’s professional sports leagues go overseas Jacob Nevis Sports Editor America’s major sports — football, baseball and basketball — are a cornerstone of the country’s culture. The major leagues that operate these sports, the NFL, MLB and NBA, have, for a long time, focused their attention on America. In recent years, however, the leagues have started to spread out across the world to help grow their fan bases outside of the U.S. Football has long been considered an American-only sport.

Known as American football in other countries, football has struggled to build a fanbase

outside of the U.S. In recent years, however, the NFL has started visiting sites outside of the country to play some of their regular season games.

The first international city that the NFL visited was London, when the New York Giants took on the Miami Dolphins in Wembley Stadium in 2007. Since then, there has been at least one game played in London each season, minus the 2020 season due to the pandemic.

On top of the NFL regularly hosting games in London, teams have recently started to play in Germany as well. Last season, NFL teams traveled to Munich to play the league’s

first regular season game in the country, and this season saw the NFL head to Frankfurt for two games, which were highly requested by fans. According to the New York Times, tickets to all three Germany games sold out in minutes, and 3.6 million Germans claim to be avid fans of the NFL. Along with teams playing regular season games overseas, many teams now have international marketing rights in other countries. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars have marketing rights in the United Kingdom. The Jaguars have played in London 11 times, which has helped the

team build a sturdy fanbase in the country.

The MLB overseas tour is about to pick up for the 2024 season. The MLB first played overseas in 2000 when it visited Tokyo for the season opener, and it has been going to London since 2019 as well. This upcoming season will see baseball visit London again, as well as Seoul, Mexico City and Santo Domingo. The MLB season opener will be played in Seoul, when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the San Diego Padres.

American professional basketball teams have been going overseas for a while now. The NBA first played a regular sea-

Fans cheer for the Los Angeles Chargers. The team faced the Tennessee Titans in London’s Wembley Stadium in 2018. (Photo sourced from Unsplash)

son game internationally when the Phoenix Suns took on the Utah Jazz in Tokyo in 1990.

Since then, it has organized 32 other games overseas.

The international series made a return last season and will be continued this year. The first international game will be played in Mexico City on Thursday, Nov. 9, when the Orlando Magic will go up against the Atlanta Hawks.

Another game will be played in Paris when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

American sports’ popularity outside of the U.S. continues to grow, so it is only fitting that the professional leagues begin visiting more and more countries.

6 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Amanda Blake at ablake@southern.edu

OPINION

What does it mean to be a man in our world today?

Matthew Thomas Contributor A question many young men, myself included, often ask themselves is: What does it mean to be a man? We face this question almost daily as we are bombarded on social media with differing opinions and ideas on what being a man should look like.

Guys are constantly inundated with conflicted ideas about masculinity and how men should act. Should men be stone-faced brutes who have no emotions at all? Should they be hyper-emotional beings who cannot handle anything without sitting down and talking about their feelings?

I do not think we should strive to live up to either of these stereotypes, yet the society we live in is pulling us in these opposing directions simultaneously.

A good example of this comes from social media influencer Andrew Tate.

From 2020 to 2022, Andrew Tate took over the internet. A multi-millionaire, former kickboxing world champion and social media superstar, he came to center stage for the unapologetic promotion of his “ultra-masculine” lifestyle, as described by Shanti Das from The Guardian.

Tate gained popularity for the way he showed off his wealth and his shameless opinions about women, work and male behavior.

Young men were attracted to his message because he gave them the one thing they did not have: hope. Males finally had someone to cling to; someone who was not afraid to say what they were thinking on the inside. However, like most social media fads aiming to retain interest, Tate became more exorbitant with the things he said.

The problem that arose was that as Tate said more shocking things, he gained more attention and more followers subscribing to his ideology. Honestly, I do not blame them. I mean, who would not be attracted to an incredibly rich guy who has beautiful women at his beck and call and owns tons of supercars?

However, the problem with Tate’s ideology is that it spreads the wrong message of what masculinity truly is. There are some things to be admired about Tate’s message: work hard, be driven and stop wast-

ing your life away on the couch.

Although, when these good ideas are mixed with blatant misogyny, sexism and alleged rape and human trafficking charges, it ruins the picture.

So, once again, we circle back to the question men are always asked: What does it mean to be a man in our world today? I think the answer comes in the question itself: Be a man.

To be a man means you must make hard decisions. It means you will not always go with the most popular beliefs, but you will stand with the right be-

lief. It means you must stand strong amid all the chaos that is happening around you and not quiver when the odds are stacked against you. However, being a man also means that you are emotionally intelligent and you can communicate how you are feeling healthfully to those around you.

Being a man means you are willing to work hard to achieve your goals and be able to say when enough is enough. It means that you will not shy away from conflict, nor will you create conflict. Being a man means

that you can be comfortable in your skin, even when you stand alone. It means that you do not degrade, objectify, slander or mistreat women but rather uplift, protect and respect them.

I could keep going on, but I think you get the picture.

There is a funny trend going around online about how many times boys think about the Roman Empire. So, to follow along with that trend, here is a quote by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius: “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be like, and just be one.”

Navigating conflicting messages about masculinity in today’s world can be difficult for young men. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

RELIGION

Heaven: Imagining the unimaginable Madison Wilcox Religion Editor “Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall the moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.” (Isaiah 60:20-21) Life is a series of lessons in mourning gracefully — we learn to pack the bags, close the door gently behind us, wave goodbye from the backseat. We learn to lose, over and over. In small things and in larger things, we learn to surrender and move on. And though we may also gain much in life, each of us finish our lessons in loss with the same final exam: In death we lose everything, even ourselves.

But then — in Heaven — these losses, both trivial and great, will be over. Heaven will mark the boundary of mourning. We will never again lose another person, neither in death nor in brokenness. We will never again lose the dreams we once held in tightly closed fists. We will never again lose our way or our minds. We will never again lose our homes.

Having lost everything on Earth, our hearts will be ready to receive the inconceivable, that which Paul writes has not been seen, heard or even imagined by anyone: God’s great gift, a mystery already being prepared for the ones who love Him (I Corinthians 2:9).

What could this mystery be? We must try to imagine, though we are promised that our imaginations could never take us far enough into the glory of this future reality. Now we see as in a mirror dimly (I

Corinthians 13:12); let us look, nonetheless.

Part of the vision is found in the very next line: “Also your people shall all be righteous.”

Two words are fiercely important here: “all” and “righteous.”

Remember Romans 9:10? “No one is righteous, no not one.”

Isaiah 60:21 promises a great reversal. On Earth, none were righteous. In Heaven, all will be.

No restoration could be so complete as this one. This is not a neat evolution from a lesser form to a greater. It is a re-creation as complete and God-spoken as the original creation. This is a reversal of the center of man’s actions and desires, a rewriting of his spiritual DNA.

And what will this new DNA lead man to do? What will he be when he is no longer what he was? I John 3:2 holds a glimpse of the answer: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

“We shall be like Him.” Him. Who is He to you? Remember what you have read. Remember Who you have met in the stories. You will be like Him. The One who took on the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7), who did not receive honor from men (John 5:41), who carried the weight of the world and called it light, easy (Matthew 11:28-30). The

One who met you in the deepest darkness of your suffering and your sin and refused to leave (Hebrews 13:5). The One who taught you that fear flees when love walks through the door (1 John 4:18). You shall be like Him. All of this is spectacular — the end of mourning, the realization of righteousness, and not just righteousness, but a righteousness like His! All of this is nearly impossible to conceive of, but we have yet to reach the pinnacle of the mystery. Even with all of this, Heaven would be nothing without one more thing: His face.

The face of God may be the most mysterious thing of all. God did not even reveal His face to

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) (Photo sourced from Pexels)

Moses, knowing that looking at it would kill him (Exodus 33:20).

Even in Christ, God’s face was yet hidden behind the skin of humanity. But when He returns, His face will meet us uncovered, full of glory. And in that moment, we will finally receive faces that can look upon His own and live. Our faces will be forever changed, for His name will be on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4).

Is this hope enough? Remember it, and it will be. Think often of the implications of Heaven, of righteousness, and of the face of God. And in moments of complete darkness, hold tightly to this future light: The face of the One you love awaits you.

7 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

For more related news, visit our website at southern-accent.org

LIFESTYLE

Understanding the erosion of attention spans Gabriella Grundy Contributor Have you ever found yourself working on an assignment, and next thing you know, you’ve been scrolling on Instagram or TikTok for an hour? Maybe you were having a conversation with friends, felt the buzz of a notification on your phone, and just couldn’t resist checking it despite being in the middle of something. Becoming easily distracted like this is quite common nowadays. In fact, research shows that our attention spans have significantly decreased over the past few decades.

Gloria Mark, professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, said in an interview with the American Psychological Association, “Back in 2004, we found the average attention span on any screen to be two and a half minutes on average. Throughout the years it became shorter. So, around 2012, we found it to be 75 seconds. … And then, in the last five, six years, we found it to average about 47 seconds.”

As you can see, these are some pretty stark numbers.

An article on Harvard Business Review’s psychology section described an experiment that was conducted to see if having one’s smartphone near them influences their cognitive abilities.

To no surprise, individuals who did not have their phones in the same room as them performed the best in the experiment.

“Our research suggests that, in a way, the mere presence of our smartphones is like the sound of our names — they are constantly calling to us, exert-

ing a gravitational pull on our attention,” the article states.

When I was thinking about things that are affected by our decreased attention spans, one of the first things that came to mind was reading books. A recent poll conducted by Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm, found that American adults are reading fewer books each year. Americans read an average of 12.6 books in 2022, which is the smallest number this poll has measured in any prior survey dating back to 1990.

While the decline in books read each year doesn’t account for the surge in online books and audio books in recent years, it points to a trend toward more shallow engagement at large. Aaron Quinn, a Chattanooga-based author, said, “We have so many options now that we’ve become paralyzed by those options. I think that’s why a lot of times we go to social media because we have so much content to scan … and that is a distraction in itself.”

Writer and author Scott Young said in an article, “Reading books is an activity that struggles to compete with the algorithmic engineering underlying most online content.”

The instant gratification that we get from social media and other forms of online content makes a focus-based activity like reading more difficult than ever.

Matthew Taylor, a sophomore mass communication-media production major at Southern Adventist University, has been diagnosed with ADHD and described his experience with ADHD combined with access to the internet and social media.

“When I started having access to technology and the internet and had instant access to all kinds of information and knowledge in small snippets, it became massively easier to not pay attention,” Taylor said.

“I’m able to access information that runs at the same speed as my brain, and doing such has

made it difficult to pay attention for longer.”

This article is not intended to be disheartening; rather, I hope it helps us be mindful of staying connected and informed while being aware of the impact that modern technologies can have on our attention spans.

Because people are so connected to their phones, they may not be able to give their full attention to the things that matter most to them. (Photo sourced from Pexels)

SOCIAL

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

Dear Kevin

#SAUlife J

Dear Kevin, How do I navigate postgrad life?

Dear Senior Sally, You are entering an exciting chapter of life, and you should be proud of your accomplishments thus far. Only 6.7 percent of people in the world hold a bachelor’s degree, so it is an accomplishment that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Navigating post-grad life can be both exciting and challenging. It’s a time of transition and self-discovery, where you’ll be making important decisions about your career, personal life and future goals.

As you navigate the inevitable challenges life after college brings, it is important to embrace the uncertainty of this stage. Understand that it’s normal to experience uncertain-

ty and setbacks. Be adaptable and open to change, and don’t be discouraged by rejections or failures. Don’t be too hard on yourself!

Success in your post-graduate journey may take time. Be patient and persistent. Keep refining your approach and learning from your experiences.

Lastly, never lose your spark for learning. Be a lifelong learner. The world is constantly changing, and staying informed and adaptable is key to longterm success.

The post-graduate phase is a time for growth and exploration. It’s normal to face challenges and uncertainties, but with determination, adaptability and the right strategies, you can navigate this period successfully and build a fulfilling life and career.

As a college student, it can be especially difficult to stay focused with so much going on, but I encourage everyone to try out small steps, such as putting your phone away during lectures or while doing assignments. And if you made it through reading this entire article, undistracted, that in itself is a sign that not all hope is lost for us.

E

Jeaneva Bautista

🍐

_jen1b life lately Photo Credit: herself

J

Eian Dumanon

eiandacannon pangkin spai|| 20231028 Photo Credit: Ron Cabacungan

Joemily Rivera

M

Melissa Maguire

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 @unhappymeql. To collect your prize, go to the Student Development office.

jojojrl MR. OCTOBER Photo Credit: Gillian Stevenson

melissajmaguire Melissa Maguire Photo Credit: Herself

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A

Nyah Banks

Allison Grundy

Knowing that students crave Chinese food, Kevin is offering a:

$10 Gift Card to Panda Express DM us on Instagram with a photo of where Kevin is hiding in the paper!

nyah.ks you had me at pumpkin chai

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☕️

oatmilk.allison While it’s still warm out

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8 | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

If you would like to be a contributor, contact Amanda Blake at ablake@southern.edu

CHATTER Today — 8 81 - 58

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Weekly Birthdays

W24 Registration Opens Online for Returning Freshman <24 Faculty Development. 12:00 p.m. @ Presidential Banquet Room

Thursday — 9 •

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Friday ­— 10 60 - 43

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Veteran’s Day Sunset 5:37 p.m.

Vespers - Jared Chandler / Esteban Grajales. 7:30 p.m. @ Iles PE Center Pierson Weekend - Tim Madding.

7:30 p.m. @ Thatcher Chapel Afterglow. 8:45 p.m.

Convocation: Is Journalism a Bad Word? Reclaiming Its Mission and Purpose for a New Generation. 11:00 a.m. @ Iles PE Center Dean’s Luncheon. 12:00 p.m. @ Presidential Banquet Room Graduate Council. 3:30 p.m.

Lynn Sauls Lecture Series - Michel Martin. 7:00 p.m. @ Iles PE Center

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TODAY |8

Friday |10

Brandy Canterberry

Hannah Evert

Monday |13

Reid Dempsey

Jared Ing

Isabella Abugan

Naomi Dufraine

Vannida Kim

Carlie Alvarez

Gabriel H Hernandez

Cason Marr

Sara Cruzado

Othniel Kim

Saturday |11

Kareena Hansen

Oren Lowrie (Martell)

Amanda Blake

Hollie Macomber

Ashly Perez

Ethan Lee

Karis McConnell

Crystal Rodriguez

Romany Asaad Fouad

Kristen Sobrepena

Ariana Roldan

Moussa

Aaron Wolf

Lisa Wright

Nema Ogal

Tuesday |14

Thursday |9

Eduardo Resendez

Abby Dizon

Ashley Austin

Andrea Sihotang

Shaleinah Inalvez

Christian Coleman

Sunday |12

Seth McKelvey

Christine Lee

Lynae Ash

Cecilia Moreno

Juliana Mendez

Alec Bivens

Jimmy Piayas

Calissa Reich

Cristian Bivens

Allyson Rasco

Jasmy Rodriguez

Zach Dale

Andrew Reed

Lizette Trawick

Angel Perez

Tyler States

Nancy Reyes Osorto

Sophia L. Wright

Saturday — 11 Connect - Goliath Wall. 9:00 a.m. @ Goliath Wall // Rain Collegedale Gym Collegedale Church Service: Adoration.

9:00 a.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church Sabbath Morning Chats. 10:00 a.m. @ The Grid Collegedale Church Service: Renewal.

11:45 a.m. @ Collegedale SDA Church Merge Worship. 11:45 a.m. @ Collegedale Academy Elementary Evensong: I Cantori. 5:30 p.m.

Battle of the Steel Bands. 8:00 p.m. @ Goliath Wall Veteran’s Day

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Sunday — 12 63 - 38

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International Student Week Starts (11/12-11/17) Psychology Major Field Test. 2:005:00 p.m. @ Summerour 2820

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Sabbath Chats: Join 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.

Experience, Collegiate Life Sabbath School: The Experience, a Sabbath School for college-aged students, will resume for the 2023-2024 school year. The Experience is a discussion-based Sabbath School that meets from 10:30-11:30 am in the fellowship hall of the Collegedale SDA Church.

Battle of the Steel Bands:

Monday — 13 • •

Tuesday — 14 62 - 44

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W24 Registration Opens Online for New/Transfer students December graduates deadline to finish incompletes, correspondence, and Christian Service Staff Advisory Council. 3:30 p.m.

Faculty Senate. 3:30 p.m.

Student Activities Announcements

For two cultural credits, please join us for “Battle of the Steel Bands” organized by the School of Music. The battle will be between Southern and Walker Memorial Academy.

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This event will take place at 8 p.m. in Iles PE Center.

Last day to order December Graduation regalia online Non-Southern Union Virtual “Get Acquainted” Interviews 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.

MASTER’S DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Learn the Technology That Shapes the Future Southern’s Master of Computer Science degree puts you on the road to a successful career in a cutting-edge field.

A built-in advantage Recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree gain the equivalent of five years of work experience—time relativity at its finest.

Positive outcomes Position yourself for job growth and enhancement and straight-forward access to administrative roles.

Financial rewards Graduates can expect to earn up to an additional $12,000 to $20,000 annual salary.

Areas of study • Software architecture, engineering and development • Network security • Distributed systems – cloud computing • Embedded systems – small electronics in all new technology • Algorithms With careful planning, you can complete a bachelor’s degree AND a master’s degree in five years!

1.800.SOUTHERN • southern.edu/graduatestudies