volume 98, issue 1
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Summer 2013: The News Cycle's Greatest HitsTRANSCRIPT
6 19 20
3 October 2013 | Volume 98 | Issue 1
Collegianthe
Walla Walla University
4
Cover Photo Credit: Julian Weller, @singingarrow, David Richardson, flickr user chuck.taylor, Jon Mack
The Collegian is the official publication of ASWWU. Its views and opinions are not neces-sarily the official stance of Walla Walla University or its administration, faculty, staff, or students. Questions, letters, and comments can be mailed to [email protected] or [email protected]. This issue was completed at 3:30 a.m. on 3 October 2013.
The Collegian | Volume 98, Issue 1 | 204 S. College Avenue College Place, WA 99324 | collegian.wallawalla.edu
If you are interested in contributing to The Collegian, contact our page editors or the editor-in-chief at [email protected]. The Collegian is boosted by regularly incorporating a wide range of student perspectives.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Grant Perdew
Assistant Editor Nathan Stratte
Head Layout EditorAlix Harris
Head Copy EditorCarly Leggitt
News EditorCarolyn Green
Feature EditorsBroklynn LarsonKatie PekarJulian Weller
Grant PerdewEditor-In-Chief
The staff of The Collegian welcomes you to a new school year and to the newest edition, Volume 98 of our weekly student publication
As the official publication of ASWWU, The Collegian seeks to present relevant information, foster thoughtful discussion, and provide genuine entertainment to our campus community. We will endeavor to offer objective news stories, diverse opinions, and relevant features to enrich student life. Additionally, we will seek to be a safe place for members of this community to express their opinions and explore their beliefs. As members of the Walla Walla University community ourselves, we will seek to respect its mission as “a community of faith and discovery committed to: excellence in thought, generosity in service, beauty in expression, faith in God.”
Opinion EditorsBrandon TorkelsenRebecca WilliamsAndrew Woodruff
Fashion EditorBrenda Negoescu
Sports EditorGrayson Andregg
Religion EditorsRandy FolkenbergDaniel Peverini
Outdoor EditorJustin Mock
Diversions EditorEric Weber
Travel EditorJon Mack
Science & Technology EditorJoe Hughes
Food EDitorAndrea Johnson
Local Attractions Editor Timmy Barbosa
Arts & Media EditorChad Aufderhar
Backpage EditorRachel Logan
Creative Writing EditorRachel Blake
ColumnistBrenna Selby
Layout DesignersErik EdstromAndralyn IwasaIan Smith
Copy EditorsRachel BlakeJassica ChoiLauren Heathcock
Staff WritersLester BiggsSavannah KislingCarlton HenkesLauren Lewis
Office & Distribution ManagerHaley Coon
Our goal this year is to stay aligned to this purpose statement while strengthening bonds between the students and organizations on campus. You may soon notice more student contributions, as well as new sections for Campus Ministries, ASWWU Video, and more. I am also thrilled to announce that this school year marks the centennial of ASWWU. Secret: There will be many exciting things in store for the year, so get ready.
Last week, I sat down with the new VP for stu-dent life, David Richardson, to talk about his mis-sion, aims, and goals for WWU. I was encouraged by his passion for this campus and his plans in store. Ergo, I urge you to read his interview on page four. This debut edition of The Collegian is full of exciting, relevant content: from the latest fashion trends, to world religious history, to the critically acclaimed Diversions section, with our resident pontificator. Enjoy!
News|Interview|By the Numbers Calendar
Opinion|Religion|SM/ACA|SnapshotsDiversions|Column|Creative Writing
Summer 2013's Greatest Hits Arts+Media|Local|Food|Travel|Fashion Science|Outdoor|Sports|BackWord
Context Perspective feature life3–7 8–14 15–17 18–24
photo by kate gref photo by kate gref @singingarrow photo by jon mack
JumpStart 2013 was still a success despite the week of unruly weather. Many activities were moved indoors or cancelled when the sun failed to shine most days last week. In addition to the poor weather, the construction in the WEC gymnasium meant having to change or drop some events.
Over 400 incoming freshmen were split into 26 groups and led by 27 JumpStart leaders for the activities which started on Sunday, September 22, with President John McVay welcoming all the new faces.
The welcome back bash //
Many Walla Walla University students and faculty came out to the WEC on Sunday, September 29, for the yearly Welcome Back Bash.
The event, which takes place at the beginning of school, was designed not only to allow students, both new and old, the chance to mingle, but also to give students the opportunity to get involved on campus and sign up for clubs that piqued their interest.
Throughout the two-hour event, students walked from booth to booth to not only sign up, but to also enjoy the food and games provided by the clubs.
“Cycling stood out the most; this guy was on a bike on a treadmill. It was
sweet,” said freshman Brandon Jones.
Many of clubs included majors, such as the history, biology, chemistry, and business clubs; but there were also clubs for running, cycling, swimming, drama, and more.
The booth that drew one of the biggest crowds of the night was Campus Health and Wellness booth which provided students with the opportunity to hold and pet puppies.
Though many clubs were there to promote fun and outdoor activities, others were there to promote service in the community. These clubs included Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Serve, Hispanic Ministries, and — who could forget — Rusty’s Ministry.
The goals of these service-oriented clubs include planning programs for churches, community-development
projects, and raising money for projects inside and outside the U.S.
“Our goal for this year is to have a community growing in unity and faith in Christ,” said the hispanic ministries coordinator, sophomore Shintell Izquierdo.
The Welcome Back Bash also gave students the chance to advertise their new clubs, such as the Outdoors Club and Students' Kitchen, whose goal is to bring people together on campus.
“The purpose of my club is to have a small group of people who enjoy each other’s company. Everyone knows that food is where the company is, and we
are in college and we are all busy,” said the students’ kitchen co-president sophomore Kari Gomez.
Though the Bash is known for getting students to join clubs and participate on campus, this year the main focus seemed to be on getting students involved in the outdoors and in the community, as well as participating in ministry.
JumpStart, which is designed to ease freshman and transfer students into the WWU collegiate atmosphere, held meetings every morning and break-out sessions that were held and attended much like a normal class schedule. When asked about which of the sessions was his favorite, Mason Neil, television and media major, said without hesitation, “Dating and Relationship. I love Don Veverka.”
Supplemental to the breakout sessions were the morning worships and general sessions. Nursing major Kendra Haugen said, “Honestly I liked the morning worships and the informative lectures. It really helped make things clearer that I didn’t understand.”
A poll among a few of the incoming freshman headed to the cafeteria for lunch found they used words like “stressful,”
“fun,” and “orienting” to sum up their JumpStart experiences. According to Christian Siapco, an art and architecture major, the most helpful part was “meeting new people, and getting settled into a new home.”
Who could forget that meeting new people is one of the most integral parts of the college experience? During JumpStart, icebreaker activities and games were led by JumpStart leaders and University staff.
"I liked the games," freshman Mason Neil said. "I just hated the Captain of the Ship one. That was the most miserable game in the world." That didn't dampen his review of JumpStart as a whole though, which was quite positive.
C O N T E X TNEWS | 3
Arts+Media|Local|Food|Travel|Fashion Science|Outdoor|Sports|BackWord
photo by jon mack
Jumpstart 2013 //Savannah
KislingStaff Writer
Lester BiggsStaff Writer
RUN FOR SENATE
Have your voice heardMake a dif ference
Get paid
how to run for senate
Downlad Senate application from as.wallawalla.edu
Collect 20 signatures
Submit paper application to the ASWWU Executive Office
Candidacy deadline October 7
“Our goal for this year is to have a community growing in unity and faith in Christ.”
Interview with david richardson //
Plenty of things are new this school year, including the campus buildings. The Student Life office, the Winter Educational Complex, the Administration building, and Sittner Hall have all received significant facelifts.
The Student Life office recently finished placing new tile in the entryway.
The gym in the Winter Educational Complex is sporting a brand-new wood floor. It was covered during the Welcome Back Bash, but is now being used for all manner of indoor sports.
The Administration building is making use of its fourth floor for the first time since the new building was built. It had no plumbing and no electricity, making it more of an attic than a floor. Now it has all the modernity of a contemporary office building.
Jodi Wagner, vice president for university relations and advancement, says, “The view from our dormer windows is unequaled — on a good day we can look to the west and see the hills by the Tri-Cities, and if we look to the east we can see the Blue Mountains.”
The fourth floor features conference rooms paneled with glass, reception desks, and a welcoming hallway with plants and cushioned benches. The floor is now home to the Office of Advancement, Event Planning, and Alumni Parent Relations,
Last week, The Collegian sat down with the new Vice President for Student Life to discuss his mission, education, and Disneyland.
The Collegian: Tell me a little about yourself.
DR: First, I come from the South. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in physical education and religion from Oakwood University. After working on a Master of Divinity degree at Andrews, I pastored for several years in America’s finest city: San Diego. Soon, I realized I wanted to do more than just preach; I wanted to help the people! So I earned a master's in family therapy and counseling, became the conference evangelist in Riverside, and started working in education. After becoming the director of student services at Concorde Career Colleges, I obtained my doctorate degree in higher education, leadership, and administration. From there, I got promoted to the regional director of student affairs and I oversaw seven campuses in the Concorde system. After that, voilà! I’m here at WWU as the vice president for student life.
C: How would you summarize your mission as VP for student life?
Number one is student advocacy. I truly believe that I’m here to help the students to have a smooth ride on their academic
journeys. And that happens by making sure that when bumps arise, we can provide the resources that will help them; if they need support on campus, that I work along with student support services to help them along the way.
Students: My first goal and mission is about students. How do I help students? How do I help them become successful in an academic environment?
Staffing: My second priority is staffing and staff development. I want to ensure that I am helping the staff that are supporting the students to be successful in their jobs.
The Student Life office oversees many different departments: the directors of student activities, all the residential deans, chaplain’s office, campus security, etc. I am here so that these individuals have the support they need to be able to reach out and touch the lives of the students and to help them be successful while they’re here.
Structure: I want to help — along with other
individuals on this campus — to provide a student center. A place, a living room where our students can come and gather and hang out. A place that is their own. Well, what about an entire building that’s dedicated to students’ success? That’s what I want to see.
C: What are your long-term goals for WWU?
The Student Center and the growth and development of programming with the student life. What other things can we do? The continued development of student leadership, student government. Helping them continue to rise to that next level. Do we create partnerships or internships in the future? There are a lot of questions to be answered this year.
C: What advice would you give to new students this year?
Involvement is number one. What can we do to help you connect with others? Create cohorts of people you can study with, because we want you to be successful academically. Sometimes new students study by themselves, and it would be a great benefit if students created study groups where they could study together and help each other along the way.
C: The enrollment is up this year with a large influx of students. What things might change with a growing student body?
This provides more opportunities that says we need more resources for our students. A student center! More students? We need a place! They can’t call the gymnasium their own, they can’t call the village hall their own, the University church? No. The students need a place, so that the increase in enrollment should indicate that people love WWU and there’s a buzz here! We need to create a living room. Let’s find a place for our students.
C: What can students do if they are concerned about student life policies?
Come talk to me. Have a plan of how they
think it should be different. Here’s the thing: it’s not just complaining. That won’t help. Tell me what we can do to change it, because I am very interested in listening to our students. But changes don’t happen because you complain about it, they takes place because you are solution-oriented. Complaints don’t change policies. Having a legitimate argument that says this doesn't make sense and these are the reasons why. I’m gonna listen then. Some policies may not make sense because they were written years ago, and we need to reevaluate and relook at. We should always be assessing and reassessing our policies.
C: If you could spend a day anywhere in the world right now, what would your day be?
Disneyland! Who wouldn’t go to Disneyland? There’s so much to do there: the rides, the people — I love people. It’s the place of dreams. I’m a visionary and I’m always thinking about how we can take things to the next level. I would love to have our campus be a place where even kids can come and say, “I want to go here when I’m old enough to come to college,” because of the great things that take place here. A place where dreams come alive!
If you weren’t in academic administration and student life, what would your dream career be?
This is my dream career! But if I wasn’t ... I don’t know. My focus is helping people. That is what I do. I can’t believe I get paid to do this. I love this! This is my passion! If I had to pick, it would be in line with helping others move to the next level of their lives. That’s what I’m all about.
C: What do you think is the most important aspect of community?
People. It’s all about people. Jesus says all 10 commandments hinge on two things: love your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the rules and all the regulations are meaningless if it’s not about people. Everything we do is about people. Community. When we gather together to worship, it’s not about just gathering together. It’s about gathering together with family to worship the God that we love.
Visit his websites at davidrichardsonjr.com and nextleveloutreach.com.
"I truly believe that I’m here to help the students to have a smooth ride on their academic journeys."
C O N T E X TINTERVIEW | 4
"involvement is number one. what can we do to help you connect with others?"
photo by david richardson
C O N T E X TNEWS | 5
Interview with david richardson // Renovated university //
photo by carlton henkes
Plenty of things are new this school year, including the campus buildings. The Student Life office, the Winter Educational Complex, the Administration building, and Sittner Hall have all received significant facelifts.
The Student Life office recently finished placing new tile in the entryway.
The gym in the Winter Educational Complex is sporting a brand-new wood floor. It was covered during the Welcome Back Bash, but is now being used for all manner of indoor sports.
The Administration building is making use of its fourth floor for the first time since the new building was built. It had no plumbing and no electricity, making it more of an attic than a floor. Now it has all the modernity of a contemporary office building.
Jodi Wagner, vice president for university relations and advancement, says, “The view from our dormer windows is unequaled — on a good day we can look to the west and see the hills by the Tri-Cities, and if we look to the east we can see the Blue Mountains.”
The fourth floor features conference rooms paneled with glass, reception desks, and a welcoming hallway with plants and cushioned benches. The floor is now home to the Office of Advancement, Event Planning, and Alumni Parent Relations,
which were formerly in the Havstad Alumni Center. It took the contractors only four months to complete.
One of the most impressive changes around campus is the Sittner Hall dormitory. From the lobby, it now looks like a modern four-star hotel. And the rest of the dorm seems to be following in that fashion. The lobby features
brand-new cushioned seats and benches, modern art displays, new lamps, metal coffee tables with the university’s initials punched into the sides, a waist-high countertop with barstools, and a big-screen TV over a fake, electronically projected fireplace complete with flames and burning embers.
The bathrooms have also been redone, with shiny white tiles and a sleek black strip of tiles running horizontally. Even the large, brushed steel trashcans further the dorm’s modern-decor theme. The north third floor even has a new set of showers to match. New gray dividers separate the shower stalls with gold curtains in-between. The larger showerheads feature three water flow settings.
The dorm rooms themselves feature all new furniture. All of the old furniture was thrown out to be replaced by five semitrailer trucks full of desks, chairs, and shelves from Pepperdine University. Tom Blackwelder, associate men’s dean, comments, “I’ll just say ... we got it for a good price.”
Carlton HenkesStaff Writer
photo by kate gref
photo by kate gref
photo by kate gref
photos by kate gref
C O N T E X T6
#thecollegian
@christina9121
@janellejna
@singingarrow
@singingarrow
photo by carlton henkes photo by kai kopitzkephoto by carlton henkes
pho
to by kai ko
pitzke
BY T H E N U M B E R Sgovernment shutdown
17 800,000 $12.5 Million
Number of years since the last federal
government shutdown.
The number of government shutdowns
in U.S. history.
Number of government employees temporarily
furloughed.
Estimated lost economic output per hour caused
by the shutdown.
0Number of low-income
children who will be taken off of the free
school lunch program.
60%Percentage of Americans
who say it is more important to keep the
government running than make changes to the Affordable Care Act.
255
Number of new cancer patients who will not be allowed to start their scheduled clinical research trials at the National Institutes of Health.
3,000 Number of FAA safety inspectors furloughed.
Number of National Park Service locations closed. 401
28Number of Nubian goats pulled off their poison ivy grazing at the Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, N.J.
3Number of National Zoo pandas no longer live-streamed on the popular "panda cams."
535Number of people in Congress who are still getting paid.46%
Percentage of Americans who would primarily fault congressional Republicans.
36 %Percentage of
Americans who would primarily
fault Obama.
41Government agencies
completely shut down (38 more are partially closed) including the
FDA, Library of Congress, and most of the USDA.
C O N T E X T7
Undergraduate Students: Last day to withdraw from Classes with a 100% Refund. Last day to register, add, or drop class without a late fee.
3 Oct Thursday
Celebrate Sabbath6 p.m.
CTC 128Agape Feast
6 p.m.Kretschmar Lawn
WWU Vespers8 p.m.
Sittner Hall Courtyard
CABL Bonfire for ALL9 p.m.
Empty lot across from church
4 oct Friday
Collegiate/Young Adult Sabbath School
10:30 a.m. WWU Prayer House
Faculty Organ Recital: Kraig Scott
6 p.m.University Church
The Longest Table1:15 p.m.
4th Street
5 oct Saturday
WWU Athletic Showcase6 p.m.
WEC Gym
AGA Mudbowl10 a.m.
OPS Mudbowl12 p.m.
6 oct Sunday
Week of Worship11:40 a.m.
University ChurchSpeaking: Nathan Klingstrand &
Cindee BaileyASWWU Bonfire
9 p.m.Rogers Field
7 oct Monday
Week of Worship11:40 a.m.
University ChurchSpeaking: Joe Galusha
& Brian Roth
8 oct Tuesday 9 0ct Wednesday
week in forecast59° 36° 64° 41° 73° 48° 72° 48°
66° 45° 61° 48° 57° 45°
photo by kate gref
photo by kate grefphoto by kate gref
photo by kate gref
photo by kate gref
photo by kate gref
photo by kate gref
Week of Worship11:40 a.m.
University ChurchSpeaking:
Alma Alfaro & Doug Logan
P E R S P E C T I V EOPINION | 8
ignorance is bliss? //
Our society, generally speaking, is a privileged one. Of course there is poverty, disease, crime, corruption, and numerous other problems; however, compared to the majority of the world’s population, we’ve got it made in the shade. The problem is that we know it. In general, Americans (whether consciously or unconsciously) flaunt their good fortune and privilege while traveling abroad and interacting with different cultures. Unfortunately, this practice makes them appear arrogant and obnoxious. The truth is that in general Americans are rude, culturally ignorant, and unaware of the fact that they are not the center of the universe.
During my travels in South America this past school year, I saw many examples of rude American behavior, stemming from ignorance, inconsideration, and selfishness. In one instance, I witnessed a member of my group make a phone call seconds before she was to go through passport control. The officer had to instruct her repeatedly to pay attention before she finally hung up, grumbling about how “stupid” this place was and saying, “It’s not like I can understand him anyway.” This sort of behavior is just plain rude. Also, if you
have not learned enough Spanish by the third quarter of an intensive language study to understand a guy telling you to stop talking on your phone, then perhaps a change of major should be considered. Just saying. These kinds of encounters prove to other cultures that Americans are, in fact, stupid and arrogant. In this case, the member of our group was using her ignorance as an excuse to do whatever she wanted without respecting others.
Also, it seems that many Americans have difficulty accepting cultural customs that are different from their own. For example, in many cultures, the standard greeting is not a handshake. It is a kiss on the cheek, or both cheeks, or even three kisses, depending on where you are. In Argentina, the standard form of greeting, even if you have never met the person, is a kiss on the cheek. Sure, it is awkward at first, but hey, you only live once! (Does that even make sense here?) Some American students, however, did not have the same positive attitude that most of us did about the situation. One student, in front of a large group of Argentines, loudly said, “Ewww! We have to kiss people we don’t even know on the cheek? That’s disgusting.” Ok, well ... not really when you think about it. First of all, you aren’t really kissing them on
Rebecca WilliamsOpinion Editor
the cheek. All that happens is a little cheek-to-cheek action and a lip-smacking sound. There is no actual cheek-to-lip contact. Also, people’s hands are gross. Unless the person has been going around rubbing their face on everything, an air kiss is much more sanitary than a handshake.
The point I’m attempting to make is that Americans need to be more flexible when they interact with other cultures. When you travel, you shouldn’t try to change your
destination to your place of origin. If every place was suited to your exact, specific, personal needs then what would be the point of traveling? Every time we get to experience a different way of life, we should look at it as a learning opportunity. You get to grow as a person, develop new opinions about current issues, politics, and life, just by living life in someone else’s shoes. Brush up on your history; study how life
is experienced in other places. It is sad how uninformed Americans are about societies other than their own. And the only way one can be an effective citizen of his or her own country is if one is also a global citizen. So, do not succumb to the ignorance of the masses. Use this new school year as an opportunity to learn more about life outside your own shell and become a well-informed person, always eager for knowledge and the wisdom that accompanies experience.
The Gospel about Jesus: A promise Made //
As Christians, we believe ourselves to be called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. But when asked, we often don’t have a clear idea of this gospel. We might drop a pre-packaged catchphrase like “Jesus died for your sins,” or “the three angels’ messages,” or “love God and love others.” But these clichés are ultimately not very helpful because they are relatively meaningless. What then is the gospel?
The Christian gospel, or good word, is basically the story of Jesus.1
When believers take the Jesus story seriously, they engage in “theology.” For Christians, “theology” is not an esoteric intellectual discipline, but rather the task of interpreting the
U.S. government shutdown.No more Friday-night panda-cam marathons.
KFC chicken bucket now fits car cup holders.‘MURICA.
Bill Nye voted off Dancing with the Stars.Bill Nye the Salsa Guy?
Each NY prisoner costs state same as Ivy League tuition.Just as likely to get a job.
56% of U.K. pilots admit to falling asleep in cockpit.British Airways switches from tea to coffee.
C
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W I S D O Mcollegian
A strange approach //
Meeting strangers is uncomfortable. Too many things could go wrong. Take sidewalk etiquette for example: When do I make eye contact? When do I break it? Should I nod or say something? Strangers have a way of making my kinesphere significantly more awkward. The problem is I love people too much. So, I went hitchhiking.
I made two trips this summer, both of them state hopping between Washington and California. I was armed with only a spray can of mace and a desire to meet intriguing people. And I did. People from all walks of life gave me rides. In Gladstone, I met an ex-heroin addict who was “paying it forward” from recieving help getting clean. In Ellensburg, I met a Romanian geologist who came to the U.S. to drive a semi truck. It turned out that meeting people was awkward. There was very little common ground between these strangers and me. Finding a topic of conversation was nerve-racking at first. Yet my vehicle hosts and hostesses pressed on to really share who they were and find out who I was. I began to notice all these people had one thing in common: they didn’t let discomfort stop them from taking the chance to meet new people.
AndrewWoodruffOpinion Editor
Their attitudes were infectious. Soon, I was talking to people anywhere my backpack would take me. People chatted with me by bus stops, gas stations, on-ramps, and even the poverty-stricken sections of Seattle. I was constantly surrounded by people, but something had changed. For the first time, I saw them not as fixed parts of the scenery. These were not just Portlanders walking down a Portland street. These were people just like me — no ... I was just like them. I was one among many and every single person had a story to tell. I made the decision to open my comfort zone and let people in. That decision grew and grew and I no longer feared breaking the ice with these strangers, knowing it would only be the tip of the iceberg. It seems my fear of strangers was really fear of my own discomfort.
“Every time we get to experience a different way of life, we should look at it as a learning opportunity.”
P E R S P E C T I V ERELIGION | 9
the cheek. All that happens is a little cheek-to-cheek action and a lip-smacking sound. There is no actual cheek-to-lip contact. Also, people’s hands are gross. Unless the person has been going around rubbing their face on everything, an air kiss is much more sanitary than a handshake.
The point I’m attempting to make is that Americans need to be more flexible when they interact with other cultures. When you travel, you shouldn’t try to change your
destination to your place of origin. If every place was suited to your exact, specific, personal needs then what would be the point of traveling? Every time we get to experience a different way of life, we should look at it as a learning opportunity. You get to grow as a person, develop new opinions about current issues, politics, and life, just by living life in someone else’s shoes. Brush up on your history; study how life
is experienced in other places. It is sad how uninformed Americans are about societies other than their own. And the only way one can be an effective citizen of his or her own country is if one is also a global citizen. So, do not succumb to the ignorance of the masses. Use this new school year as an opportunity to learn more about life outside your own shell and become a well-informed person, always eager for knowledge and the wisdom that accompanies experience.
The Gospel about Jesus: A promise Made //
As Christians, we believe ourselves to be called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. But when asked, we often don’t have a clear idea of this gospel. We might drop a pre-packaged catchphrase like “Jesus died for your sins,” or “the three angels’ messages,” or “love God and love others.” But these clichés are ultimately not very helpful because they are relatively meaningless. What then is the gospel?
The Christian gospel, or good word, is basically the story of Jesus.1
When believers take the Jesus story seriously, they engage in “theology.” For Christians, “theology” is not an esoteric intellectual discipline, but rather the task of interpreting the
Daniel PeveriniReligion Editor
gospel to a given set of listeners. As such, theology involves two things. First, theology involves “story-telling”; that is, telling the story of Jesus. And second, theology involves “story-understanding,” in which we ask what God must be if God is the God of Jesus the Nazarene. Of course, these two elements build upon each other: We tell the story better when we understand it well, and we understand the story better when we tell it well.
Theology is interpretation of the gospel, but since the gospel is the story that claims also to include our own stories, theology constantly changes its interpretation of the gospel. Many different theologies operate in the Christian church today. For example, one popular theology of today draws heavily on Paul, using terms like “flesh,” “spirit,” “‘sin,” “faith,” “grace,” and “sacrifice” to interpret the story of Jesus. But theology, we said, changes with changing stories. So, while acknowledging the words of Paul, I will employ much different language to interpret the gospel for today. On then to the story.
Jesus, the story can be told, was a teacher who wandered around Judea proclaiming the kingdom of God.
For Jesus, the kingdom was basically the vision of the Jewish prophets who preceded him — a just political order, a healthy populace, and a new creation. Jesus’ teaching differed from the prophetic tradition, however, because Jesus proclaimed the present fulfillment of God’s kingdom. The kingdom was not postponed to some future time, but was right now.
Jesus’ proclamation of fulfillment, functions as a promise. All human communication can be classed in one of two categories: law–communication and promise–communication. Law is communication as demand, because it sees our future within a strictly linear structure of cause and effect. The law says, “If you do such-and-such, then such-and-such will happen.” Promise–communication, in contrast, expects the future as a gift. “Because I will do such-and-such,” a promise goes, “you may expect so-and-so.”
Law–communication is ubiquitous in our world. “If you have enough money,” the law proclaims, “you can come back for another quarter.” “If your life circumstances work well with the person you love, you may continue loving her.” “If you behave appropriately, your peers will choose to associate with
1. Throughout, I must acknowledge, I have drawn ideas liberally from Jenson, Story and Promise (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1973).
you.” “If you do well in class, you will get good grades.” Ultimately, the law makes the fulfillment of persons and communities conditional, dependent on the fulfillment of a demand.
In contrast to law, Jesus’ promise of God’s kingdom makes fulfillment unconditional. As such, his proclamation means a radical relativization of worldly powers. God’s kingdom would be fulfilled regardless of to the Jerusalem Temple or the Pax Romana. For us, Jesus’ promise implies a similar relativization: We will find fulfillment with or without a college degree, a functional marriage, a debt-free life, or many other relative goods. God is faithful to fulfill us despite ourselves.
Because Jesus proclaimed God’s unconditional promise to all, the powers conspired to execute him. On a dark Friday afternoon, they killed the man who lived wholly for others. Christians claim that God raised this Jesus from the dead. In next week’s article, we will consider what this central Christian claim means for us.
introducing Your religion editors
Greetings, fellow ASWWU-ites! Our names are Daniel and Randy. We will be your religion editors this year. If you want to know more about us, just ask.
Honestly, we wonder how many people will read the religion page. Many of us feel like we get enough religion already: going to church, racking up worship credits, singing endless praise sets, trying to read a stuffy old text (aka the Bible), and talking to a sky-friend referred to affectionately as “Jeezuz.” While some of us might find comfort in such forms, there are those who don’t.
So, we want to do something different.While hopefully providing interesting reading for those of you who consider yourselves deeply religious, if you are at least somewhat uncomfortable with conventional religious forms, this page is your space. We take our Adventist Christian heritage seriously, which is why we will test established beliefs and propose new ways of interpreting our tradition. If you want a fresh and/or alternative Christian perspective on an issue, we want to provide it.
We want to hear from you!
Campus Ministries Who are we and what do we do?
Are we a system or a people? Are we somebody who will seek to meet the needs of those around us? Who are we? We are a body looking to benefit the body of Christ. We are a group of students, like you, wanting to make a difference in the world and community around us. We are seekers of truth. We are your friends, your peers, your co-workers. We are different people from different walks of life, uniting for the same purpose. Our aim is to magnify Jesus in our hearts, on our campus, and to the world. We are inviting you — our friends, our peers, our co-workers — to join us in that aim. It is the body of Christ that unifies the kingdom of heaven. We need help and extend an invitation to you. Will you join us?
[email protected] [email protected].
Write us at:
P E R S P E C T I V E10
The showcase will begin with the introduction of all WWU Wolves sports teams, followed a volleyball game featuring the ladies’ volleyball team against our very own faculty-and-staff team.
P E R S P E C T I V EACA/SM | 11
Menu MystÈre//
On my plate was a half-eaten slice of something I had never tried before, something so good I’d swim the Atlantic for another slice. We had walked into the little restaurant and immediately became aware of two things: how nice the restaurant really was and how truly American we were. The little restaurant didn’t look like much on the outside. Inside, the dark, polished wooden tables, perfectly placed silverware, and quiet, elderly couple in the corner contrasted our loud presence.
Jon SpracklenCollonges-sous-Salève,France
This was the first time any of us had been to this place and as the waiter came up to seat us, we realized he didn’t know a word of English. Through broken French and a few hand gestures, we conveyed that we had only come for dessert and would like a table. He showed us to a place and gave us our menus. We read through the list of sweets, but no one could recognize anything. It was then decided that we would all try something different and hope that one of them would be a hit. Although I didn’t know what it meant, the direct translation of my order was “Black Forest with English Sauce.”
Our waiter brought out our dishes and we began to sample each other’s mystery desserts. There was a bowl of berry sorbet, a plate of flan, some caramel praline ice cream, strawberry cake biscuits, and
several other things. It turns out that “Black Forest with English Sauce” is part brownie–part cake, sprinkled with dark chocolate chunks and doused in a runny cream frosting. It is the best thing I’ve eaten in France so far. We paid our bill,
not exactly conducive to sleep//
Why did the room just? ... AWAKE. I’m sitting in my room at 2:15 p.m. your time, which isn’t exactly conducive to sleep my time. I’m listening to thunder roll and rain fall in my little room in Banepa, Nepal, and the only difference between you and me? Twelve hours and 45 minutes.
ElliottBergerBanepa, Nepal
It’s not the first time I’ve been woken by the house shaking and the car alarms going off — no, the earthquake started that. You see, when you’re in a new situation, lots of new things begin to happen, and if you’re wondering why I’m up at such an indecent hour, I think it’s because I don’t want to miss any of it.
Ever since Andrew Rapp and I stepped off America and landed in Kathmandu, things have been really different and
really great. Since I started this article, I’ve: had unlimited Dal Bhat, had one of the best days of my life lugging kids up a mountain, received colds, caught my first glimpse of the Himalayas under sunrise, and downed a cup of tea with every meal of the day, sometimes more, always with great company. I don’t really see myself leaving here easily, but all good experiences end too soon.
I’ve been trying for a long time to figure out how to process all that has happened these last few years so I can keep these wonderful memories and hopefully share the stories into my old age. Unfortunately, you can’t really share your experiences — you can only give small glimpses.
I haven’t come to terms with our differences in experience this upcoming year. I want to be everywhere at once, not missing anything. We will all be in new boats. I don’t look forward to watching from the side as this year progresses for you, but I am excited to see how our individual stories diversify and direct our dispositions.
You are the sum of your experiences. “Sum,” being “I am” in Latin, adds every moment worth remembering and engrains it in your character. If I could give you advice this year, I’d say: Do more things and form a sum that can be divided into many stories so that when people catch a glimpse of you, they actually find you interesting.
They say that in college you can choose two options among getting sleep, having a social life, and getting good grades. … If you find this true, I urge you to let sleep slip. Sure, it’s really important to you, especially at this age, but I’ll wager it’s healthier than losing your social life or dealing with poor grades.
Absorb in every moment of your college experience; take more time watching the sunsets and then the stars from the field, sip your Atlas beverage, and then go on Rooks runs until your legs develop vibration syndromes. But most importantly, give your friends and the people you meet all the time you have and more, give them time to capture a good glimpse of you. Don’t set a bedtime; go to bed when you’re done with your day. And no, none of this is even remotely conducive to sleep. Accept it and enjoy your year.
Follow Elliott’s blog on http://nepal-elliott.
blogspot.com
thanked the patient waiter, and left. My fellow diners may argue that theirs was the best option, but like I said, I’d swim the Atlantic for another slice of “Black Forest with English Sauce.”
WELCOME BACK BASH12
photo by katharina gref
photo by arella aung
photo by arella aung
photo by arella aung
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WELCOME BACK BASH12
P E R S P E C T I V EDIVERSIONS | 13
Hello world. For those of you who are avid readers of my section, welcome home, now shut up and listen. And for those of you who are new to the world of Eric Weber, prepare yourself, because not only am I a huge deal on campus (like, John McVay huge), but I’m also the author of the most self-deprecating (I hate myself, but seriously ... ), emotionally charged (why won’t you love me!?) and offensive column (I mean, who really needs women?) you will ever have the privilege of read-ing. But I think we should get a few things straightened out. Firstly, if you think I’m making fun of you, I probably am. Secondly, If you don’t like satire, go watch FOX News or read the BackWord. And thirdly, if you’re looking for an easy read with perfect punctuation, mentally stimulating content, all within the framework of a socially conscious article, maybe you should read the sports section; wait, no, maybe the food section. Otherwise, welcome home, here’s some Kool-Aid.
welcome HomeEric WeberDiversions Editor & Pontificator
W R I T I N Gcreative
The pain is extensive.Toes curled.Fists clenched.I grit my teeth.My muscles near atrophyTrying to keep a comfortable position.Can’t relax.I’m dying to end this pain.I’m trapped.Nowhere to go.Everyone’s fineExcept me.Laughter,BanterFills the bus.We plod along.Relief has been wanted For over an hour.When will it come?“Please! Can we stop?I have to pee!”
— Andrea Johnson
No Relief //
Rachel BlakeCreative Writing Editor
(1) Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations.
(2) Geoffrey Parrinder, World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present.
A brief and thrilling history of Islam, Part 1 //
Brenna SelbyColumnist
ColumnP E R S P E C T I V E
CO LU M N | 14
Today, Muslims make up about 23.2% of the world’s population, and that number is climbing swiftly.1 Globally, the number of Muslims is estimated to increase by about 2% every year, making it the fastest-growing religion on our planet. Between the flocking and the fleeing, people’s beliefs and fears about Islam converge on the public arena in a fit of burqas and bombers, protests and apologetics. Whether you are Muslim, friends with Muslims, or read a lot of news, you’ve probably got some opinions of your own. Frankly, I’m not here to argue whether Islam is good or evil, true or otherwise. That is not my job. I would simply like to point out that Islam, being one of the most influential and prevalent religions on earth, is worth paying attention to. Love it or hate it as you will, but don’t ignore it. In the words of Rodney Crowell, “Ignorance is the enemy!”
I’ve done some research, and compiled a quick outline of Islamic history and practices. Not surprisingly, 550 words isn’t enough to even briefly cover Islam, so I’ll be continuing with this topic for a few weeks. Today I’ll talk
a bit about the prophet Muhammad himself: “The man behind the mosque” (thanks for the pun, Weller).
At the turn of the seventh century C.E., a modest tradesman named Muhammad lived in the valley of Mecca, located vaguely near the west coast of what is now Saudi Arabia. Born into the tribe of Quraysh and orphaned at an early age, Muhammad was raised by his father’s brother, Abu Talib. At age 25, he married the widowed merchant Lady Khadijah, and together they had three children: two boys — who unfortunately both died at a young age — and one girl.
Religiously inclined from youth, Muhammad regularly went into the wilderness to meditate, and it was during one such religious vigil, at the ripe age of 40, that he received his first vision and
divine revelation, thus marking the start of his career as a “messenger of God”. The year was 610 C.E. Muhammad’s revelatory visions continued for the next two decades, and it is the record of these revelations which make up the greater portion of Muslim scripture, known as the Quran.
In contrast to the typical Arab belief in multiple powers and deities, Muhammad’s teachings centered around obedience to Allah, the “one true God.” Allah, according to Muhammad, created the universe, controlled the destiny of mankind, and desired that all people submit to his sovereignty. It is duly noted that Muslim teaching often coincides with Christianity and Judaism. Even Muhammad was not blind to this, and in fact saw himself as a prophet of the same tradition as Moses, Abraham, David, and Jesus. His original intention was not to found an entirely new religion, but rather to renew and restore the moral guidelines laid out by his prophetic predecessors. Assuming Christians and Jews would embrace his teachings, Muhammad was shocked when both groups instead rejected him.
Three or so years after his first vision, having come to terms with the scope and significance of his calling, Muhammad went public. For the next decade or so he preached and prophesied to the tribes around Mecca ... and was largely ignored. Nevertheless, he was eventually able to amass a following, and by 630 C.E. (to cut to the chase) had secured possession of Mecca itself and was easily the most powerful man in Arabia.2
(Next week: part 2)
Please note: Because no major religion or culture can be sufficiently explored within a couple newspaper articles, I invite you to see this write-up and the next more as a catalyst for your own investigation than something definitive or comprehensive. Also, I make every effort to be a responsible historian, but if you happen to find any factual errors, etc. in my work, please send me scathing emails and I will publicly weep and correct myself.
F E AT U R E15
(1) Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations.
(2) Geoffrey Parrinder, World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present.
Summer 2013’s Greatest Hits
Aaand we’re back, after one long, hot, American summer (with the exception of the last week or two). In our absence, things have been heating up. You’ve probably heard something about the forest fires and floods in Colorado and Mexico. At time of writing there are 11 forests burning west of the Rockies.1 It’s been getting hotter abroad as well. Parts of Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia all broke high temperature records this summer, with even Siberia rising 30° higher than usual, warming to 90°F in July.2 Witnesses in China even reported seeing a willow tree spontaneously catch fire.3
It was a hot summer for the news cycle as well. International conflicts, internet activism, millennial-bashing — a lot has happened. That’s why news cycle fighters Julian Weller and Nate Stratte are here to guide you
through this summer’s biggest stories.
1. Internet Feminism
What is internet feminism? Julian Weller’s term for a general increase in the prominence of stories and posts about women’s rights and activism, from websites like Tumblr and Buzzfeed to more traditional news outlets.
Why you should care: People talking online about feminist issues shows this is a relevant issue for our generation, and growing discussion on casual media sites shows it’s here to stay.
Misconceptions: A feminist is not a cartoon of a grouchy lesbian or a power-hungry man-hater in a pantsuit. And despite popular references to bra burning, there are no documented cases. In reality, a feminist
is anyone who believes women should be treated fairly. If you want women and men in the same jobs to receive the same pay, or you find the way women are used to sell products unsettling, or you’ve ever wondered why the “boys section” and “girls section” of the toy store look so different, or you don’t like that one in four women are sexually assaulted, then you’re a feminist.
Feminism in the news: Perhaps the biggest, most embarrassing news comes via Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines,” whose music video made very clear headlines this summer. Critics noted that repeated lines like “I know you want it,” combined with a visual power disparity where Thicke and artists Pharrell and T.I. sport suits and sing to three models wearing nude thongs created a “rapey” song.4 Among the varied responses,
three female students at the University of Auckland in New Zealand made a gender-swapped parody, “Defined Lines,”5 and the student unions of five British universities have banned playing of “Blurred Lines” in any of its buildings.6
2. Syria, aka the largest humanitarian crisis we’ve lived through
Why you should care: After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s use of sarin gas on civilians on August 21, the U.S. has debated military action to punish Assad’s violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The skinny: Syria has been in the news for two and a half years as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has attempted to quell rising protests against his government with increasing violence. Syria began making
divine revelation, thus marking the start of his career as a “messenger of God”. The year was 610 C.E. Muhammad’s revelatory visions continued for the next two decades, and it is the record of these revelations which make up the greater portion of Muslim scripture, known as the Quran.
In contrast to the typical Arab belief in multiple powers and deities, Muhammad’s teachings centered around obedience to Allah, the “one true God.” Allah, according to Muhammad, created the universe, controlled the destiny of mankind, and desired that all people submit to his sovereignty. It is duly noted that Muslim teaching often coincides with Christianity and Judaism. Even Muhammad was not blind to this, and in fact saw himself as a prophet of the same tradition as Moses, Abraham, David, and Jesus. His original intention was not to found an entirely new religion, but rather to renew and restore the moral guidelines laid out by his prophetic predecessors. Assuming Christians and Jews would embrace his teachings, Muhammad was shocked when both groups instead rejected him.
Three or so years after his first vision, having come to terms with the scope and significance of his calling, Muhammad went public. For the next decade or so he preached and prophesied to the tribes around Mecca ... and was largely ignored. Nevertheless, he was eventually able to amass a following, and by 630 C.E. (to cut to the chase) had secured possession of Mecca itself and was easily the most powerful man in Arabia.2
(Next week: part 2)
Please note: Because no major religion or culture can be sufficiently explored within a couple newspaper articles, I invite you to see this write-up and the next more as a catalyst for your own investigation than something definitive or comprehensive. Also, I make every effort to be a responsible historian, but if you happen to find any factual errors, etc. in my work, please send me scathing emails and I will publicly weep and correct myself.
Julian WellerFeature Editor
Nathan StratteAssistant Editor
F E AT U R E16
news in March 2011 as part of the wave of Arab Spring protests, when graffiti in the city of Daraa called for Assad to step down. A month later, protests had spread to major cities, and Assad responded with snipers firing into crowds and artillery shelling neighborhoods.7 In July, soldiers and military officials defected to form the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and have now been joined by the Syrian National Council (SNC) and other groups. But the rebels’ track record is far from perfect. In March 2012 the Human Rights Watch reported human rights abuses by rebels including kidnapping, detention, torture, and execution of Assad’s security force members as well as civilians.8
The United Nations has tried to apply diplomatic pressure to Syria, but Russia and China have vetoed proposals — Syria is a major financial interest for them — and not much progress has been made. Now over two million Syrian refugees have registered with the U.N., and more than five million are displaced and seeking safe haven within their country.9 Surrounding countries, from Turkey to Iraq to Egypt, have absorbed as many refugees as they can — Sweden has even offered to give current refugees permanent citizenship – but with over one third of Syria’s population displaced, the numbers keep climbing.
The crisis took special significance in the early hours of August 21, when President Assad reportedly used sarin gas on Syrian civilians in two opposition-controlled suburbs of Damascus. By September 16, U.N. investigators confirmed the attack used rocket-delivered, military-grade sarin
and claimed 1,400 lives, among them 400 children.10 The United States nearly launched air strikes against Syria to punish Assad’s breach of standard war conventions, but strikes were averted when Syria agreed to a peace deal proposed by their Russian ally involving a complete handover of their chemical weapons. On September 20, Syria submitted the first detail of their chemical weapons arsenal to the international community.
3. Egypt
Why you should care: The religious and political turmoil surrounding the deposition of Mohamed Morsi resulted in violence among Islamist supporters of Morsi, Christians, and the new military government, including the burning of a Seventh-day Adventist church.11
The skinny: Events in Egypt have their roots in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, also part of the Arab Spring protests. A diverse movement of marches, plaza occupations, riots, labor strikes, and civil resistance and disobedience was organized to overthrow the regime of Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt for over 30 years. Protesters focused on their lack of freedom (political censorship was high, and the economy was terrible) and the excess of power in the government. After Mubarak resigned, the military ruled until Mohamed Morsi was democratically elected in June 2012. A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood12, Morsi won by three percent, which some attribute to Egyptians voting against his Mubarak-esque opponent, rather than Morsi himself.13 However, when
Morsi granted himself nearly unlimited powers to “protect” the nation, including the power to legislate without oversight, over 200,000 people gathered in Cairo on November 27, 2012.
After four days of protests this summer, Morsi was removed from his presidency by the military which created a temporary government until new elections could be held.
Why’d they oust Morsi? He wasn’t, in the eyes of protesters, solving issues of the 2011 Revolution: economic stability and protection of citizens’ freedoms. Instead, he worked to pass fundamental Islamist laws that would impose strict Muslim guidelines on the entire country, rather than give people freedom and help fix the economy.14
Inclusiveness, compromise, and respect for human and minority rights, rather than an intolerant though democratically elected autocracy, are some of the values for which the country has protested. Generally characterized as either a coup or a remarkably peaceful enactment of the citizens’ demands, the events in Egypt have been one of summer’s biggest stories in this volatile part of the world.
4. Race
On August 28, about 100,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on to hear our president speak from the same spot that Martin Luther King Jr. stood and gave his “I Have A Dream” speech exactly 50 years prior. Obama recalled King’s words, noting the progresses
in civil rights indicated by the passing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act and the big changes in opportunity and education. But he also reminded listeners that inequality is still rampant, and many civil rights challenges exist.
Another big story this summer was the July 13 acquittal of George Zimmerman, the Florida man charged with second degree murder for shooting an unarmed 17 year-old, Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman at the time, had seen Martin walking to a friend’s house and incorrectly profiled the black youth as a criminal. Zimmerman called the police, expressing frustration to the dispatcher saying “these [cuss word]s always get away,” and calling them “[cuss]ing punks”.15 After being told to stand down by the dispatcher, Zimmerman confronted Martin and a fight ensued, during which Zimmerman reports he was knocked to the ground with his head banged on the sidewalk, at which point he shot and killed Martin. Zimmerman was acquitted in Florida courts.
On September 9, Zimmerman found his way back into headlines after threatening to shoot his wife and father-in-law, and punching the latter in the nose. Police detained and subsequently released Zimmerman, and his wife has filed for divorce, although TMZ (of all news sources) reports she has been unable to locate him to sign the papers.16
5. Marijuana
Why you should care: You are going to
Italian scientists claimed it’s now possible to transplant human heads.
photo under creative commons
Detroit filed for bankruptcy.
photo under creative commons
Al Qaeda created a complaints department.
photo by redux/the new york times
against usCongress weighed a bill
to put a national park on the moon.
photo by flickr user stephen rahn
Rush of articles declares Generation Y is entitled and lazy.
photo by lindsey plocek
F E AT U R E17
school in a state that recently legalized the possession of marijuana for adults age 21 and over, and the public opinion on it is turning.
The skinny: The budding movements for marijuana legalization have grown like weeds this summer. Chief medical correspondent for CNN, Sanjay Gupta, made headlines when he announced that after a year of traveling the world researching marijuana and its effects, he has changed his mind. Previously dismissing cannabis’ medical validity, he now fully supports its medical use and legalization. He even apologized, stating “We have been terribly and systematically misled [about marijuana’s dangers and negative effects] for nearly 70 years in the United States and I apologize for my own role in that.”17 He cited the case of Charlotte Figi as one reason for his change: “She started having seizures soon after birth. By age 3, she was having 300 a week, despite being on seven different medications. Medical marijuana has calmed her brain, limiting her seizures to 2 or 3 per month.”18
In addition, Attorney General Eric Holder told the governors of the states of Washington and Colorado in a joint phone call that the DOJ would not crack down on the marijuana legalization passed Colorado or Washington State.19 Though some may say that marijuana legalization is half-baked, as pot is still technically illegal under federal law, Holder’s comments indicate that the federal government is willing to work with the states’ new laws. When combined with Gupta’s comments, these public statements indicate the rolling tide of public opinion
on marijuana and a rethinking of the war on drugs.
6. Edward Snowden and the NSA’s Domestic Surveillance Program
Why you should care: The National Security Administration has been recording your entire electronic life for years. All of your bank codes, calls, texts, web activity, Facebook, even GPS locations, are stored in NSA computer banks in Utah.
The most chilling story this summer started on October 26, 2001, when former President Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act into law. Passed quickly in response to the September 11th Al Qaida hijackings, the act widely expanded the federal government’s ability to search for and detain suspected terrorists. In subsequent years, the NSA’s surveillance quickly expanded to include the searching and detention of US citizens.
The agency first began looking at email logs in 2010, and in January 2011, the NSA began “large-scale graph analysis on very large sets of communications metadata without having to check foreignness.”20 Documents leaked by former NSA employee Edward Snowden to the Guardian in May 2013 reveal the NSA’s domestic spying program to be extensive. Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Google, Paltalk, AOL, and Yahoo! were the first companies found to be working with the NSA’s PRISM surveillance program. Other internet providers and telecommunications companies like BT, Verizon, Vodafone, and AT&T, Australia’s Telstra, Hong Kong’s PCCW, and Japan’s
SoftBank (owner of Sprint), have been confirmed to work with the NSA. While it sounds unreal, it’s happening. 21
On the bright side, if servers are maintained, mankind will have an exhaustive record of early 21st century American life. Data are used to construct social graphs not unlike those in detective shows, which chart relationships, communications, locations, etc. A recent New York Times article quotes Orin S. Kerr, a law professor at George Washington University: “It’s the digital equivalent of tailing a suspect.” As the NSA’s programs expanded to domestic surveillance, agency officials involved in their crafting began to resign.
What you can do: Sign petitions to end surveillance activity, like this one.22 Throw off NSA logarithms by using buzz words and phrases like, “Grandma’s house is the bomb!” “Sure am glad there wasn’t any ammonium nitrate in my eggs this morning,” or “Good thing I don’t know how to make an IED.” Also, ordering 100lbs of fertilizer and pay-as-you go phones couldn’t hurt.
”We’re Millenials and We’re Sorry video” responds to Gen Y bashing.
Seattle Police Department infiltrate Seattle’s HempFest to hand out Doritos bags with new marijuana policies taped to them.
photo by flickr user cannabis culture
Austin mom Sharon Choksi launches non-girly, anti-pink girl’s clothing line Girls Will Be.
photo from girlswillbehq.com
Harvard scientists find a way to bind photons, making real lightsabers a possibility.
photo by flickr user dave bledsoe
In College Humor’s spoof activism video, women threaten to boycott HBO if the network doesn’t show more male nudity.
screenshot from youtube user college humor screenshot from youtube user stephen parkhurst
1. http://fires.globalincidentmap.com/home.php.
2. http://tcktcktck.org/2013/08/summer-of-2013-brings-record-breaking-heat-to-asia-europe-north-america/56088.
3. http://thinkprogress.org/cli-mate/2013/09/20/2655061/weather-summer-2013/.
4. UPI, “Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” dubbed ‘rapey’ by critics,” http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Blog/2013/06/18/Robin-Thickes-Blurred-Lines-dubbed-rapey-by-critics/9741371566710/.
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1XtnLRLPM
6. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/25/20690701-blurred-lines-banned-from-campus-bars-at-five-uk-universities?lite.
7. http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/03/20/syria-armed-opposition-groups-committing-abuses.
8. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/16/sauerbrey-syrias-humanitarian-crisis/.
9. “The Syrian refugee crisis in numbers,” The Guardian, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OWXoBtsHTY.
10. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/16/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE98F0ED2013091611. http://news.adventist.org/en/archive/ar-ticles/2013/08/15/in-egypt-mob-destroys-adventist-church-in-assiut.
12. The Muslim Brotherhood is a religiously conserva-tive organization of Muslims, and generally has sup-ported a government based on the teachings of Islam.
13. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/feb/07/egypt-rule-brotherhood/.
14. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/30/mohamed-morsi-egypt-protests.
15. ABC News, “George Zimmerman Found Not Guilty and Goes Free,” http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-found-guilty-free/story?id=19653300.
16. http://www.tmz.com/2013/09/22/george-zimmer-man-divorce-served-papers-wife-shellie/.
17. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na-tion/2013/08/08/sanjay-gupta-weed/2632181/.
18. http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/index.html.
19. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/eric-holder-marijuana-washington-colorado-doj_n_3837034.html].
20. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/nsa-examines-social-networks-of-us-citizens.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.
21. http://gigaom.com/2013/08/30/these-are-the-companies-alleged-to-have-links-to-the-nsa-surveil-lance-scandal/.
22. http://tinyurl.com/stopNSA.
for us
Garage Voice is a rock band, but not just that alone. They understand tradition and respect it. They play gospel-rock-infused spirituals that trust in the rich roots of the traditions that they now strive to emulate. The band and the album is an interesting case study on the importance of — and the struggle for — originality. We live in one of the noisiest ages, musically, with the internet opening the floodgates of media. Some art-ists flounder in an effort to keep up and oth-ers attempt to cut themselves off completely. These guys did something a little different; they found ways to say amen to the things that they enjoyed from hip hop, roots, and gospel. They finally feel that they hit a sweet spot and found themselves amenin' out a whole album.
So, how important is originality, or is it even possible to achieve? The way I see it, we all will have to find our voice regardless of what we want to do or make. If you, like me, struggle with that search at times, then may I suggest: find what speaks to you and emulate it. See what happens and then tell me about it, send me a picture of it, record it, and maybe it could end up here.
L I F ECULTUR E
L I F E18
AMEN TO THAT //Chad AufderharArts & Media
Editor
ARts and Media
Last Friday afternoon, if you had walked by our house you could have heard the moan of an organ and bright guitar punch wafting up my stairs. The Seattle rock trio Garage Voice stopped by on their way through town as they began a three-month national tour. The night before we recorded with them in the basement, they released a new album called AMENIN. Tommy, Bruce, and Pat-rick have released a few recordings together since 2009, but for them, AMENIN feels like a debut. They have found their sound, a sound they feel sure of, and it is grounded by a behemoth Hammond organ. The three of them talk about it almost as if it's a fourth member of the band.
With this video shoot, the most strenu-ous part by far was simply getting the organ down the stairs. The moment this arduous task began I immediately regretted setting up in the basement rather than the garage, and wondered if the organ was worth this ridiculous amount of work. But the moment the Leslie speaker spun and the first key played, I understood. This organ is a charac-ter and it empowers them to make the music they are both equipped and inspired to make.
Songs for Robot heartbreak
tinyurl.com/o5esw5c
“False Alarm”This may be mild, charming, poppy,
folk-something, but it's attached to a great band name.
Uncle Mountain
“Robots”They want to be loved by you. This is a good sing-along even if it doesn’t
quite make sense.
Dan Mangan“Broken Heart”
This jam is off the Philly rock band's 8th album, B-Room. There are varying
opinions about these boys, but they are relentless and personally I love that.
Dr. Dog
“Whip It”When starting school, I feel like we could use a reminder that is it's not
too late to whip it into shape.
Devo
“Foreign Bodies”This is an interesting use of modern electronic sounds with sensibilities
that sound much older.
Radiation City
“We all will have to find our voice regardless of what we want to do or make."
ASWWU Videovimeo.com/aswwu
We're really excited to make videos featuring you. We are
shooting events on campus and creative videos, and we want you
to be involved. Sign up as an actor in the caf next week if we missed
you at welcome back bash. Ideas? Email us at
photo by chadwick auf-
L I F EFOOD/LOCAL
19
The 100 years before the 100 years of ASWWU //
I’m not ready to give up summer. Not yet. People are rejoicing about comfy clothes, hot drinks, and everything pumpkin, but I don’t want to let go. As a final farewell to summer, I’ve decided to make spring rolls. I know what you’re thinking: “Andrea, if you love summer so much, why would you make something with 'spring' in its name?” Well, I associate summer with bright colors, bold flavors, and lazy times. Spring rolls embrace all of that. They are nice to look at, fun to eat, and easy to make.
Spring RollsINGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped or shredded carrots1 cup chopped cabbage1 cup bean sprouts1 avocado1 jalapeño¼ cup cilantro1 inch ginger root2 cloves garlic2 Tbsp. chopped almonds5 spring roll skins (quantity depends on fullness of roll)Bowl of hot waterDipping sauce, if desired
Rinse vegetables as necessary. Pit and slice avocado. Peel and chop ginger and garlic. Chop cilantro and jalapeño to desired size (remove seeds from jalapeño and use gloves). Dip a spring roll skin into the bowl of hot water for a few seconds and then remove it, placing it on a plate. Select desired amounts of the ingredients and place them in the center of the skin and wrap the veggies. The spring roll is ready to eat.
• Thinkofaburritoforveggieplacementandwrappingmethod.
• Swaporaddingredients(rice,tofu,thingsotherthanasianfood).Thisrecipejusthappenstobemyfavoritecombinationofingredients.
• Ifyou’refeelingparticularlylazy,gobuyanasiansaladanduseitasthefiller.
• Usesoysauce,peanutsauce,orsweetchilisauce(avail-ableinthecaf!)asadippingsauce.
• Putdippingsauceinsidetherollforlessmess.
• Servespringrollsatyournextparty.Haveguestsbringoneingredientandyouprovidetheskins.Everyonecancustomizetherollstotheirliking.
Tips and SuggestionsTo start off our reminiscent appreciation of ASWWU’s 100th year of service, I’d like
to reflect on the 100 years before it existed. The Walla Walla valley holds much historical significance and provides plenty of opportunity for education and entertainment.
In 1805, Lewis and Clark passed through Walla Walla County on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Only 13 years later, the North West Company established Fort Nez Percé as a fur trading post along the Columbia River. The fort was used for trading with natives until 1857, when it was abandoned. The old site lies along present-day Highway 12 but is underwater, submerged by McNary Dam in 1920. Legend has it that gold bullion stolen in a train heist is buried near the location to this day.
Whitman Mission was founded in 1836 along the newly completed Oregon Trail by Presbyterian missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Established on Cayuse land, Marcus attempted to learn the language of the natives to prevent war. This helped relations, but the growing popularity of the Oregon Trail with white settlers increased suspicion that white men were coming to take their land. An outbreak of measles in 1847 affected the whole population but fatalities were primarily native. Blaming the deaths on the missionaries, the Cayuse became enraged and slaughtered 13 people on the mission and held another 47 hostage. The massacre shocked the nation and inspired congress to make Oregon a U.S. territory, which subsequently instigated the Cayuse War. Whitman College was founded shortly after, named for Marcus and Narcissa. Whitman Mission is now a National Historic Site about two miles off campus and features Whitman National Monument, a beautiful park, and informative exhibits.
To keep peace between settlers and native tribes, Fort Walla Walla was built in 1856 by the U.S. Army. Though it was home to dragoon, infantry, artillery, and cavalry units, the fort and its men saw only a few military engagements. The fort closed in 1910 and relocated all military units. Today, Fort Walla Walla Park is home to Fort Walla Walla Museum which features five exhibit halls, a pioneer village, and military cemetery. Many of the structures in the pioneer village are buildings from the actual fort and several were transported in the early 1900s from Fort Nez Percé. The museum hosts a variety of events and programs including a weekly Living History presentation put on by community volunteers.
Last but not least, Walla Walla University was founded in 1892. These are simply some of the more relevant sites and stories from Walla Walla’s 100 years prior to ASWWU; many more can be discovered with a healthy sense of curiosity. As you celebrate the accomplishments of the present, don’t forget how we got here. While we live, let us live.
Timothy BarbosaLocal AttractionsAndrea Johnson
Food Editor
photo by flickr user chuck.
photo by andrea johnson
TRAVEL | 20
Jon MackTravel Editor
Adventure is not a Destination //
Paris, Sydney, Rome, Bangkok, New York, and College Place are often destinations that millions of world travelers find themselves in each year. Families, friends, lovers, and just about everyone else make long, expensive voyages to these far places in search of what the heart longs for: adventure. But don’t be fooled by the name of the place you are traveling to or are currently in. People often believe that adventure is the product of a new place and experiencing it for yourself, but I’m here to tell you right now that adventure is not a destination, but rather a lifestyle.
Last school year I studied abroad in the far reaches of Sagunto, España. I was surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and groves of oranges. It was the change I desired after spending the last few years of my life bordered by the Palouse and onions. I was certain that I was living in the heart of adventure, and adventure would beg its way into my life. I was wrong. After two days in Sagunto, boredom fell upon me. I no longer cared about oranges, and routine soon became my life.
One day I decided to break the routine, go somewhere on my own. That afternoon I began the long journey through the
orange groves and through Sagunto to the train station. Valencia wasn’t far away, and in 40 minutes I was there. After some food, a quick peek in the Apple Store, and the quintessential gelato stop, I was bored. I’d seen the sights, smelled the roses, and I didn’t have anything else I wanted to accomplish or experience by myself. I was in the heart of Spanish culture and I didn’t care. There were activities I could have experienced, but I
didn’t see the point
because I didn’t have
anyone to share them
with. This was the first time in
the process of traveling abroad
when I realized that adventure doesn’t just happen, there has to be a catalyst, something to stimulate an adventure into your life.
I’ve found that all too often, who you share an experience with is more important than where you share the experience.
Human nature dictates that people generally want to be with or recognized by other people; Facebook and marriage are good examples of this statement. Facebook is an excellent source to share where you’ve been and marriage is a good way to share that experience with someone directly. The catalyst is people. Two, four, or eight brains working together have much more potential for creative thinking than one brain. Different individuals have different personalities that allow for creative diversity. Adventures are like snowflakes: no two are alike, and complexity increases interest and originality. When people get together, there is a higher chance for original experiences.
If you’re lucky enough, an unplanned adventure may just fall into your life, but
don’t be alarmed or feel jilted by life if an adventure doesn't
appear because creating new experiences often requires effort.
Get out there and do something, and take someone with you.
Sharing an experience is much more fulfilling than simply talking
about the future and what could take place. Adventure is out there, and it’s
more than a destination, but it is your responsibility to find it and make it happen.
DESTINATION OF THE WEEK: L O N D O NLocation: England, Europe
Population: About 8.174 million (2011)Common Food and Drink: Fish and Chips, Earl Grey tea, and Blood Pudding
Bands with Most Current World Popularity: Coldplay and One DirectionFamous for: Big Ben, London cabs, stoic guards, the BBC, football (a.k.a. soccer), the
Queen, Harry Potter, and Homo sapiens with sexy accents.
TRAVEL NECESSITY OF THE WEEK:
DEODORANTWHY? BECAUSE SOMETIMES
YOU ARE WHERE SHOWERS
AREN’T, AND YOU’LL WISH
YOU HAD SOME GOOD-
SMELLING DEODORANT TO
HIDE ALL OF YOUR VALIANT
TRAVELING EFFORTS.
Fall Fashion //
photos by jon mack
L I F E
GENTLEMENGuys, I know you want to be comfortable all the time — roll out of bed and throw some-thing on. Well us girls aren't really diggin' those ridiculous grey sweatpants and old sweatshirt you got for free at your last camp meeting. Dress it up a little! You can be stylish and comfortable. The key is picking items that have a little extra detail to them — like these River Island joggers and sweatshirt.
FASHION| 21
Brenda negoescuFashion Editor
Fall Fashion //
This fall, I am really loving the look of high tops and leather pants. Let's just say London has definitely influenced my fashion sense over the summer. I have already purchased five new pairs of high tops of all sorts, black leather-studded high tops, Nike wedge high tops, Converse high tops — it's high tops galore in my closet right now, and I love it! It's so exciting when comfy shoes are in, especially when they've been mastered to look effortlessly fashionable. Here is some inspiration on how to wear the day look and how to turn it into a date night look.
STYLE PROFILECONNOR WASYLUCHA
SophomoreFinance Major
Jacket: G-StarShirt and Belt: Club MonacoJeans: Joes JeansBoots: UggsWatch: TimexBracelets: Street vendors/Costa Rica
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR FASHION INSPIRATION FROM?
"I don't really have a fashion icon, I get a sense of what looks nice just by looking at what people are wearing everyday on the street."
ABOUT ME:I’m a senior marketing major with a love
for all things creative and tasteful, especially fashion. Over the summer, I interned as an assistant fashion stylist in London, styling for magazine editorials and advertising campaigns. I am currently interning with Magnolia, an online fashion magazine. With a summer full of fashion inspiration from venturing through fashion capitals of the world, I am going to share all of the hottest trends and help keep your wardrobe immaculate and up to date.
STYLE TIP Don’t go overboard with jewelry; instead, wear a statement piece. Choose a chunky chain necklace to complete your look.
STYLE TIPHave a little fun with tex-ture! When wearing black and whites add a fun fringe jacket. Get a little daring and add a furry clutch too.
The key to a chic sporty look is making sure your top and pants look crisp and clean. Look
for sweatshirts that have a modern, oversized cut, while keeping your pants fitted.
DAY LOOK
DATE NIGHT
River Island sweat-shirt, $35 / River Island faux leather skinny pants, $56 / River Island handbag, $32 / River Island chunky chain jewel-ry, $13 / River Island Black quilted panel high tops, $48.
River Island handbag, $32 / Riv-er Island chunky chain necklace, $13 / River Island Black quilted panel high tops, $49.
River Island black croc panel high tops, $73 / River Island black coated quilted joggers, $65 / River Island gunmetal tone oversized bracelet watch, $57 / River Island black and white two-tone triangle sweatshirt, $39.
STYLE TIP Add a nice watch to finish this luxe lax look.
photos by brenda negoescu
L I F E
dock. So to go forward, don't fly forward, fly down, wait, then fly back up. Moving forward takes you up, moving down takes you forward; we're not in Kansas anymore.
Another curious thing that plays a part in satellite design is light. Light is really weird for a lot of reasons; one of them is that is has momentum. Momentum is the reason paintballs hurt more than pingpong balls but less than bullets. It’s basically the ability of an object to hit another object and move it. To have momentum, an object has have to have mass as well as velocity. Everything we know about light so far says that light doesn’t have mass, but somehow it has momentum. This is really strange.
One way this is used in satellite design is to make pinwheels. Because light bounces differently off of things of different color,
if you make paddles that are black on one
side and silver on the other the light
bounces harder off the silver
side than the black side,
and it will spin. Some satellites
are designed to spin about a certain
axis, and if you give them little paddles you
can get them to only spin a certain way (provided that they are in sunlight). Even though this effect is tiny, it is still really weird and really surprising.
SCIENCE | 22
Joe HughesScience & Tech Editor
Curious Spaces //
Hello fellow Wallentonians! For new readers of The Collegian, my name is Joe Hughes and this is the science and technology column. Over the next year, I will be trying to unravel, re-ravel, and razzle-dazzle some big science questions on these very pages.
So, why bother to write about science anyway? Stepping back, why bother to do science anyway? And what defines science? Well, one reason people do science is for utility. Most technological advances are the result of science, and technology is huge. From good things like aspirin, seat belts (and the cars they are attached to), eyeglasses, and YouTube to awful things like cruise missiles and the auto company Kia, technology has dramatically changed the way we live.
The other reason people do science is for curiosity’s sake. You could say either that it’s more pure, or that it’s less useful, but instead of looking for a usable solution, you are just looking. This is enabled curiosity, this is turning over rocks, this is for fun. You find a different set of things when you are just looking and there is a whole universe out there of stuff that we don’t know, and to me that’s really exciting. Writing this article from a campsite beneath Mt. Adams, I am getting very excited about tomorrow’s climb, because even though thousands of people have done it before, I will be discovering the route for the first time. I am a naturally curious person (I also have a sleek fur coat and tail, bushy whiskers, and odd sleeping habits) but I think there is a bit of an explorer in everyone, and science gives us some awesome exploration tools.
So let's talk about some curious things. Thing one: gravity. You probably think you know gravity pretty well, and you
probably do, on earth. You may have learned in high school, college, or graduate school (hey, I don’t know who’s reading this), that the gravitational attraction between two objects decreases in proportion to the square of the distance between them. For most of our lives, however, we haven’t changed that d i s t a n c e m u c h ; we’ve stayed basically the same distance from the center of the earth. This teaches us that the force of gravity is basically constant.
W h i l e t h i s
simplification works well on earth, it’s
actually wrong. In wacky
circumstances, g r a v i t y ’ s
v a r i a t i o n can give a
twist as well as a pull. This
twist is called a gravity-gradient
torque, and it is one of the phenomena
used in satellite design. Because of the inverse
square law, the force of gravity is stronger on the parts of the satellite that are closer to the center of the earth. Right now, the force of gravity is stronger on your feet than on your head (unless, of course, you are reading this while hanging upside down, which might be fun to try). Because the difference between the force on your feet and the force on your head is so small, you hardly notice, but in orbit, you would. This force would tend to turn you, so that if you were flying like superman in space, you would end up upside down with your head pointed down. This is weird. We all
think of gravity as something that just pulls you down, not something that spins you; but it does, and that’s part of the fun of discovery.
Another curious thing about gravity comes from orbit. When an object is moving so fast that it falls towards earth
only by the amount that earth falls away due to
its curvature, it's in orbit. Orbits differ in
their shape and their speed, as a general
rule, lower orbits move faster. So
the fact that someth ing
d o e s n ' t have to fall back
to earth if you get
it going fast enough and let
go is strange enough, but
it gets even weirder: for
two ships trying to dock in orbit, you
have to fly away to get closer. Let's imagine that you are trying to dock with a big ship that you are following; if you fly towards the ship, you will speed up which would cause you to go above the ship rather approach it. So if you aim for your target, you end up way off. The thing to do is really counterintuitive, to move forward you have to fly down. This moves you to a lower and faster orbit. Once you're about to overpass the target, fly up to
"Right now, the force of
gravity is stronger on your feet than
on your head."
"One way this is used in
satellite design is to make pin-
wheels."
L I F E
TRAVEL | 23
Hello family, friends, and freshmen. My name is Grayson, I’m a sophomore, and I love sports! So this year, I’m going to try to entertain you by not only keeping you updated on world events in sports, but also by keeping you involved in the sporting events that happen here on our campus. As this year becomes busier and busier, I’m sure all of you diligent students have your own ways to keep yourselves on track and focused on your schoolwork, which will eventually lead you to a successful and fulfilling life. Well, it gives me no pleasure to inform you that there is a loophole in the system! Its name? Fantasy football.
For those of you who really have no idea how it works, fantasy football is a way for us normal people to have our own football teams and get some sort of life-fulfilling adrenaline out of it to make us feel like we are actually getting something done. It consists of "drafting" players to be on your team and
when your players do well in real life, it gives your whole team points. Usually in groups of 8–12, friends and/or nemeses will put their teams together to form a league. Every week you are matched up against a fellow league-mate, and whoever’s team gets the
most points wins. This will continue on to the league playoffs and eventually, there will be a league winner. This sounds like such a riveting time, I know. But people can get
so caught up in fantasy football that they sometimes forget to update their real lives as well.
Fantasy football is fun; I think that all of us who have played it can admit to that. But what happens when that fantasy becomes a
reality? I recently started watching a show called The League. Now don’t get me wrong, this show has become one of my favorites and one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. A group of friends all live out their lives, but sacrifice some very impor t ant things all in order to be the champion of their league.
It’s a hilarious feud between friends, but it has completely overtaken their lives — and it’s not just on the show that this happens. I bet you didn’t know
that fantasy sports cost employers 6.5 billions dollars a year on wasted time. So as this year progresses, let's try to stay on track. Be social, of course, and if a fantasy league is a must-have for you, then so be it. But try not to get so involved that you forget what’s important in life.
Grayson AndreggSports Editor
Fantasy Becomes Reality //
With the beginning of a new year, the air on campus is alive and buzzing with the energy of a fresh start. This got me thinking: Since fall has only just begun and there are still remnants of summer sunshine, why not use this energy to get active and get outside? Hopefully, the following suggestions will spark an idea for you so you can take advantage of the fleeting sunshine and meet some new people.
Seeking Out the Sun //Justin mockOutdoors Editor
OutdoorsOne great, yet simple, idea is to take a
hike. No specific skills are necessary and there are many great locations in the Walla Walla area. Besides the classic hikes like South Fork, Bennington Lake, and Palouse Falls, many other hikes in the area can be found online. One site that I found is go-washington.com, which provides names, descriptions, and directions for trails, along with the phone number of the ranger station for that area. If you want more of a walk than a hike, Whitman Mission lies just a few miles to the west of campus with numerous pathways.
One unusual idea for some outdoor fun is Walla Walla’s BMX track on the corner of Myra Road and Dalles Military Road. You don’t have to be a pro to have fun at this
track. Just bring whatever bike you own, and you will probably find the track empty.
Disc golf is another great idea for an afternoon in the sun. Fort Walla Walla park has an 18-hole disc golf course that is free and open to the public. Even if you don’t own official discs (which can be purchased at Big 5), you can use a normal Frisbee.
If you are in the mood for an activity that is a bit more thrilling, one idea is cliff jumping. However, I cannot over-emphasize safety. Be sure to check the depth of the water, check the cliff face for a clean pathway into the water, check the launch area for stable footing, use the buddy system, and never attempt anything beyond your skill level. Cliff jumping is fun, but one must use common sense.
With winter fast approaching, hopefully this article provided a spark of an idea to get you outside. Use this first week’s energy to take advantage of the autumn sunshine.
6 SWEET SOLAR FACTS1. The sun’s surface is referred to as the photosphere.
2. Just under one million earths could fit inside the sun.
3. The sun accounts for over 99% of our solar system’s mass.
4. The temperature of the sun’s surface is around 9941 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Solar winds can reach speeds of 280 miles per second.
6. The Sun contains enough hydro-gen to burn for another five billion years.
Don’t forget to make it to the Athletic
Showcase this Sunday at 6 p.m. Come to support and meet
your school’s athletes, get a free meal, and even
win some prizes. See you there.
source: fx networks
L I F E
wordback
v e r b at i m If you could take any class, regardless of your major, what would you take?
RachelL o g a nBackWord Editor
It’s been three days since I purchased my textbooks and I’m still thinking about all the things I could’ve bought with that money: 103 cups of coffee from the Atlas, 68 burritos from The Worm Ranch, or 3.5 bags of those sinfully delicious dried mangos from the DX, to name a few. That being said, it is good to be back at WWU. Whether you’ve just started your first week here with us or you’re starting your last quarter, I’d like to officially congratulate you on making it through your first three days.
I don’t know about you, but no matter how many times I have a first day of school, it’s always the same. My outfit is picked out the night before, my class schedule is tucked into my pristinely packed backpack, and I’m determined (so help me ... ) to get a full eight hours of sleep.
It’s like, I don’t even know why I try.
I never get eight hours of sleep. Who can even go to bed at 10 p.m.? It’s practically still light outside. I end up lying awake for hours, picturing myself walking into the wrong classroom; and when that terrifies me into a palm-sweating frenzy, I just give up and troll on Facebook.
When I finally do wake up in the morning (after a solid four hours of actual sleeping), I’m a complete terror. Suddenly, my outfit looks stupid. My hair is ridiculous. And I can’t even believe I let my mom talk me into purchasing those “sensible walking shoes.” By the time I’ve changed my shoes, thrown my hair up, and grabbed a sweater, I’m already running late. I’m trying to get across campus, doing that
awkward half-walk–half-run. (You know, the one where you’re still trying to look cool and casual but you’re really thinking: If you don’t move out of my way on this hello walk I might just have to knock you over.)
By the time I make it to my first class, I’m not really out of breath (because the walk–run hardly allows for such speed — just enough for your backpack to smack you on the back of the neck as you canter), but I’m disheveled enough that I have to pull my hair off my lip gloss. When I sit down, I try to find some sense of dignity that I feel like I lost somewhere between the Ad building and the FAC. I plunge my hand into my backpack to pull out my planner so I can pretend to look academic while the professor waxes eloquent on the syllabus (please, tell me
more about your attendance policy) and my hand comes up with about five paper cuts. My neatly placed pencils and pens have dislodged themselves from their straight rows and have rallied with my three-by-five cards to form an Office Max war zone in my backpack. How does that even happen? How?
At any rate, by the time I’ve made it to my five different classes I’m completely exhausted and I haven’t even done anything except “walk” and “take notes.” At which point I treat myself to a cookie, because if anyone deserves a cookie, it’s someone that can’t even find her classes after three years of college. Cheers to a new year!
“Pottery, so I can learn something I can actually use.”
— Megan Cleveland, graduating senior Spanish and international communications
“Psychology; it's very interesting to learn about the dynamism of the human mind.”
— Chadwick Young, graduating senior French and
business administration
“French, because it's so romantic and classy. And I've heard the professor is awesome.”
— Jennifer Negoescu, junior psychology, pre-med
“Aerobics, because it's a good stress reliever while getting credit.”
— Taylor Larsen, junior health science, pre-dent
“I'm trying to think of a class I haven't already taken."
— John Lubke, senior nursing
"Do not trust anyone in a bow tie; they are serial killers." — Terry Gottschall, on classroom dress code
"You get to come in and write! Write, write, write until your little hand cramps and you start crying." — Monte Buell, on blue book exams
"Don't be intimidated by the thickness.” — Grant Perdew, handing an article packet to an editor
“As long as you don't break the pipettors, physical violence is perfectly okay.”— Jim Nestler
“Well, that's how we use cocaine today." — Austin Archer, on snorting cocaine vs. other methods
c o n f e s s i o n“A few years ago, three friends and I snuck into Bowers Hall at one in the morning and used the projector/sound system of the lecture hall to learn how to do the Soulja Boy Superman Dance.”
Sincerely, Dancing in the Fluorescent Moonlight
To send an anonymous confession, sign into the gmail account w w u c o n f e s s i o n s @ g m a i l . c o m password: wwusecrets. From there, compose an email with your deep, dark secrets and send it to me at