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2 | NEWS the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

into the rst foor o Hendricks Hall

which has previously housed only

reshman and sophomore men.

The change accommodated the

space need, Bolster said. But the re-

lational aspect o it went so well that

we started paying attention to [that

Flexible Housing model].

As the size o the incoming classes

continued to increase and the need

or more widespread reorganization

o the dorms became apparent, Bol-

ster said, a tremendous amount o

research was conducted to determine

the most benecial way to redistribute

the students.What we ound is that there are

some pretty signicant advantages to

have -- especially or the rst two years

-- reshman living together and sopho-

mores living together, Bolster said.

Additionally, Bolster said this re-

distribution by class was infuenced by

the layout o the dorms. Their research

indicated that reshmen beneted rom

long, common hallways -- such as

those in Hendricks and Klassen Halls

-- which acilitate interaction with a

greater number o students, while soph-

omores beneted rom individual units,

such as those in Young and Wiley Hall.

This reorgan izat ion o theclasses by dorm layout and class,

Bolster said, made it necessary to

house both men and women in the

same dorms.

I we moved all o our resh-

man to our long hallways -- Klassen,

Nease, and Hendricks, wed have to

go to a Flexible Housing Model,

Bolster said. We had good data rom

the research, good data rom our own

experience, and a pretty signicant

need, so we said, Well, lets give it a

shot, and be as intentional as we can.

According to Bucky Bateman,

Resident Director o Young Hall, the

change has been a positive one and

has acilitated students relational andcommunal development.

Its a really cool vibe. It has a very

normal, natural eel, Bateman said.

I love it that theres not this awk-

wardness o Ooh theres girls here,

or Ooh theres guys here. Its just

more o a [riendly] eel.

Young is divided in hal, w ith the

bottom two foors housing about 100

men and the top two foors housing

a similar number o women. The

equal amount o males and emales

-- unlike the emale-heavy ratio per-

vasive on the rest o campus -- is a

welcome change or the women,

said Cheyenne Ferner, a sophomoreresident o Young.

The three-to-one ratio doesnt

exist in Young, which is pretty cool,

Ferner said. It seems to me in my ex-

perience when you have the same sex

living together, you get a more imma-

ture attitude. Its much more normal

in Young.

Kirby Challman, a sophomore Res-

ident Assistant in Nease Hall, said the

new Flexible Housing Program encour-

ages reshmen men to be more account-

able or their maturity.

I can only speak or the men,

but it sets us to a higher standard to

present ourselves in a certain way,

Challman said. Without that [e-male] presence that [standard] still

orms and shapes, but with them

here it ormed a lot sooner.

Challman said he and other mem-

bers o Residential Lie encouraged

the mantra o brothers and sisters in

Christ, and sees it exemplied on a

regular basis in Nease.

When Im sitting here working

the box on any given Thursday, I see

it in action the whole time, Chall-

man said. Its a very mature and

rooted relationship.

FROM PAGE 01

HOUSING

munity service becomes the stu-

dents responsibility.

We eel that you guys are

adults and certainly understand

these policies and should have

no problem ollowing them, shesaid. We dont eel like were go-

ing to have a lot o people end

up in community service, at least

thats our hope is that we dont

ever end up in that situation.

Some students were not pleased

with the e-mail.

Senior Faith Suh elt the e-mail

was condescending and patronizing.

Her tone was not respectul o

the students and it was said in a way

that was meant or ve-year olds

not 19 or 20 something year olds,

she said.

Sossaman said the goal o the e-

mail was not to treat students as less

than adults but to make the situation

more positive.

We tried to make it un, she said.

We were trying to take the negativity out

o the rulesthats why you see these

kind o unny little pieces to it. Its about

creating a more un environment.

Sossaman does not want din-ing to be a negative experience

or students.

We dont want to police you

guys, she said. Our goal is to take

care o the students and to have them

enjoy coming to the Dining Hall,

its not about being strict or hateul

or anything with them. Thats what

were hoping that this e-mail will

behelp them understand that these

are just the basic rulesand were

asking you on an honors system to

ollow them.

FROM PAGE 01

CAF RULES

GLOW WITH THE FLOW

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH

ASB held its second annual Glow With The Flow dance on the baseball eld Friday night. CampusActivities Director Kristi South estimates that nearly 400 students attended the event.

nomination, said Michael Lo-

dahl, proessor o theology and world

religions at PLNU via email.

Lodahl said that he does not see

much dierence between PLNU and

APU aith perspectives.

What you call the Nazarene aith

would not really be much dierent, i at

all, rom aith at Azusa. Both institutions

are in the Wesleyan tradition with a strongevangelical impetus, said Lodahl.

According to Lodahl, the Church

o the Nazarene doesnt have any stip-

ulations about transgender identity.

As ar as the doctrines and practices

o the Church o the Nazarene, I am

not aware o any specic teaching about

people who experience and interpret

themselves as transgender, he said.

PLNU non-discrimination policy

lists gender, and only states that as

a religious institution, PLNU retains

the right to exercise religious preer-

ence in employing aculty and sta

who agree with and support the reli-

gious mission o the University.

Dr. Kerry Fulcher, provost andchie academic ocer, said that hiring

practices at PLNU deal with quali-

cations, experience and good t with

University mission and values, all o

which are outlined in the universitys

aculty and sta handbooks.

Fulcher said that he wouldnt com-

ment on what he would do as an ad-

ministrator i PLNU had a transgen-

der teacher come to terms with her

identity because he doesnt know the

APU issues condential inormation.

I wouldnt want to speculate on a

hypothetical issue or PLNU, Fulcher

said. There are many issues that are

dealt with in the course o a year and

each o those are cared or individuallywith the specic variables and policies

that are appropriate or the situation.

In all personnel cases, we seek to act in

ways that show compassion and respect

or the individual while also honoring

our Christian mission and values.

PLNU proessor o writing, Mi-

chael Clark, is an APU alum and or-

mer adjunct proessor there. He said

its about time that Christian universi-

ties addressed transgender issues.

Its a conversation that needs to

happen and its something that I think

Christian universities have been, in

some ways, particularly graceless when

it comes to LGBTQ issues, but particu-

larly [issues o transgender identity],said Clark. Even in my understand-

ing o gay communities conversations

about themselves, transgender issues are

vastly underrepresented in the general

construct o the conversation.

More than that, Clark wants APU

to be proactive, responding to the is-

sue in a way that can be modeled, not

looked over.

As or APU, Im cautiously hope-

ul that this is the beginning o a con-

versation rather than the university

shutting it down, he said. I would

hope that my alma mater would be a

leader in this issue rather than reactive

only. That said, its a dicult position

all around.Fulcher cautions people rom sen-

sationalizing the APU incident and

making their own conclusions about its

handling without knowing all the acts.

He said that the best response is to look

at these ocials as models o character.

It seems like the hurtul and unlov-

ing comments and reactions are com-

ing rom those who only know snippets

o inormation about this issue, said

Fulcher. The proessor and the univer-

sity ocials, who are at the center o the

case and have access to the inormation

o this private personnel issue, seem to

be responding to each other with grace,

compassion and understanding. Per-

haps it would be good or the rest o usto take our cues rom them.

According to Clark, public re-

sponse to this issue over others comes

rom the inability to come to terms

with this person that people thought

they knew.

Were no longer judging them on

who theyve been or the past teen years,

were judging them on this new represen-

tation, said Clark. I dont think Ackley

sees this as becoming a new person; I think

the way he puts it, is that hes now nally

identied himsel legitimately and this

reaches back to childhood.

Annie Yu, editor-in-chie o The

Clause said that this news has split

student body opinions.This is big news, said Yu. A lot

o people are talking about it. Students

are voicing their concerns, calling it

an injustice, but a lot o students dont

eel that way. Some students support

administration, but dont eel com-

ortable talking about it.

Though Clements made the an-

nouncement via Facebook that she had

been red, she later rescinded the status,

according to The Clause. She then post-

ed a status saying she and the university

were in conversation about the possibil-

ity o her leaving the university.

While Clark said that in their best

orms, Christian universities are places

o discussion where issues can be wres-tled with, that is not always the reality.

This issue comes down to the Chris-

tian charter o universities.

Theres a reason universities

arent churches and churches arent

universities. Unortunately, I wish

there was a little bit more o an over-

lap between the two, said Clark. The

hesitation to make quick decisions on

this issue is that university response

sets a religious and public precedent

as a aith-based institution, according

to Clark.

We live in a culture where people

want to make the way we respond to

others a representative o not just a

aith, but a aith that is soaked in cur-rent cultural and political norms, he

said. Outside o proessor speak, what

that means to me is that when evan-

gelical universities make decisions like

this, they are doing their best to bal-

ance how they are dened, how they

dene their aith, and how that aith

denes this particular issue. And in

that denition process, we have a lot

o bumps in the road.

But PLNU is dierent rom APU,

at least in culture, according to Clark.

One thing might be similar though.

I dont know i this is something

weve encountered here and I dont

know i wed be any more prepared to

deal with this conversation, said Clark.[But] I would hope that this situation

is part o a greater reconciliation be-

tween evangelical schools and people

in the LGBTQ community.

FROM PAGE 01

TRANSGENDER

photos o their hands with

things written on them that they

couldnt say beore, like I am not

a prostitute.

Seduction and beriending arerecruitment tactics used to get young

girls into CSEC. Specic tactics by

pimps include making the girl eel

like shes in a amily, telling her

shes beautiul and that he loves her,

and buying her expensive things.

A survivor o CSEC spoke,

showed and described her vision

board that she had created o her

past, present and uture.

Dont try to x it, just be there,

said the survivor.

Atkins explained that something

that is lacking is a support group or

men and pimps because inormation

and insight rom the male point o

view is missing.Our young men need to learn

about this issue and discuss it in order

to prevent it, said Atkins.

Tyler Maskiewic z, a soph -

omore at PLNU and irst-timer to

Brewed Awakening events, said

that now he is better inormed

about these issues and can insti-

gate a conversation. Maskiewicz

described the event as, relevant,

real and empowering.

Michelle, an alumni andneighbor o PLNU who asked that

her last name not be used, has been

coming to these events or two years

and says that nally this issue has

been localized.

Hearing the survivors was so

powerul; it put a ace to the statistics

that I wasnt able to have yet, said

Michelle.

Atkins ended her presentation

asking the audience to report suspi-

cious activity, spread the inormation

learned here, seek representatives in

government and donate to a non-

prot (time, skills, services, money).

Human tracking is not some-

thing that happens only in oreigncountries, it is happening right here

in San Diego, our city, said Michelle.

FROM PAGE O1

BREWED

7/27/2019 The Point Weekly - 9.30.2013

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NEWS | 3the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

BY OLIVIA MOWRY

STAFF WRITER

I can readily admit that Im only

in the Point Weekly because I need

the class to graduate. But just because

Im a Media Communications major,doesnt mean I know the rst thing

about journalism. Thus, the Point

Weekly entrusts me with the really

hard hitting, important stories - such

as nding and interviewing the wild

cats o Loma.

Ater receiving this assignment, I

took it upon mysel to really shine in

this moment and be a legit reporter. So,

at about 9:00 PM on a Tuesday, I began

my duties as an investigative journalist.

Armed only with my DSLR camera,

my iPhone, and a desire or the truth, I

started my journey at the cross. Despite

seeing something dash through the

bushes, there were no cats to be ound.

However, I did discover an oering o

crackers waiting on the cement wall or

some hungry kitties to come by. I knew

I was on the right track.

Ater being unsuccessul in the

woodlands by Nease, the ront o

Goodwin, and the backyard o Finch,I was getting desperate. In an hour,

I had traveled all across that side o

campus and was no closer to getting

my story. The editors Flex apartment

wasnt too ar away, so I made my way

south to tell her o my ailure.

As I was walking around the track

and coming up the hill to Flex, some-

thing caught my eye. A small, black

blob ran across the street. A beautiul,

black cat!

There he was just chillin like a

trapeze artist and walking along the

top o the green ence like nobodys

business. He didnt like the attention

and hopped over the ence into the

brush. I leaned over. He was staring at

me; daring me to jump over the ence.

So I did.

He didnt move. Just stared into

my soul. This was my chance. I

whipped out all my interview ques-

tions: Whats it like being a cat on

campus? What do you think o the

new fexible housing model? Is the

dumpster ood any good? How has

Loma lie changed over the years -

rom your perspective?

I think I had scared him with all

my questions. He began to slowly

back away.

No! No! No! Stay there! I need

your photo! So I snapped one in the

dark. My fash lit up the area and his

yellow, night-vision eyes.

Hey! No fash photography!

came a shout rom the ultimate risbee

game happening below.

Instead o running away, he just

stayed there and posed in all his ma-

jestic beauty. He turned his head; I

snapped another pic. Then to show his

wild side, he hid in the green brush - a

natural model (literally).

When I had gotten enough pho-

tos, I smiled at him. He didnt care

anymore and was staring o into the

distance. I had lost his attention and

interest. Something else was more

important out there in the great wilds

o Loma shrubbery: dinner. Since he

could smell that I didnt have any ood

(cat or human) on me, I was much less

interesting.

I then hopped back over the ence.

A rush o success came over me. I had

interviewed and photographed the

wildest side o Loma besides the bun-

nies o Young. My rst ever journalism

assignment was a success.

Campus cats becoming more prevalentBY TONY ORDOO

STAFF WRITER

A new wave o eline vagabonds

has crashed on campus, landing one

student in the hospital. Lindsey Siri-

anni, a sophomore psychology major,

was bitten by a stray kitten ater tryingto pick it up.

I saw the kittens on the side o the

road between Finch and Nease and I

thought they were cute, so naturally I

went to pet them. Sirianni said in an

email. They seemed a little scared but not

vicious. I then tried to pick one up, and it

did not like that, so it hissed and bit me. So

basically it was totally my ault.

Sirianni didnt think much more o

the incident until she told her riends,

who suggested she go to the ER, where

she received several rabies shots.

The shots were pretty painul

and my muscles bruised a lot and were

swollen rom all o the injected liquid.

Ater the initial shots, I had to go back

three more times or more shots and

still have one visit let she said.

Sirianni couldnt participate in her

PE course because o the bruising,

soreness, atigue, and dizziness asso-ciated with the treatment. Now she

keeps her distance.

So basically I know the cats are

really cute and all, but dont try to pick

them up. Sirianni said.

Alicia Wong, a senior exercise sci-

ence major and cat adoption counselor

or Joanie and Suzies Cat Adoption,

also has experience dealing with the

strays around campus. Last all, Wong

took our kittens on campus to a vol-

unteer caretaker.

They were ound in the bushes

when you drive rom Nease to Finch,

Wong said in an email, Two other

people had initially ound the kittens

and were trying to gure out what to

do with them. I oered to take them

because I so happened to be on my

way to the adoption center.

Kathy Conner, PLNUs Horticul-

ture and Grounds Manager, said howexactly the cats became residents at

PLNU is a mystery.

We dont know exactly [where

they came rom], said Conner,

There are lots o canyons around

campus that they may be living in.

According to Conner, the cats

werent a problem until a couple years

ago, but taking the strays to be neu-

tered and spayed resulted in much

lower populations in the area. The

population spikes ater the eral cats

have had litters in the spring and sum-

mer, but returns to normal over thecourse o the year.

And thats through attrition [a

gradual reduction o strength], whether

its the health o the cat, or the preda-

tory birds. I think we also have a coyote

population in the area. Conner said.

I students do see the cats around

campus, they are asked to call the

Physical Plant.

I one does start hanging around,

call [the Physical Plant] and we can

work with our pest control company

to set up some humane traps and get

them out o here, said Conner.Conner warns against interacting

and keeping the cats as pets.

They are wild animals. Conner

added. We do not want to encourage

students keeping cats in the dorms.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA MOWRYBlack cat near Flex Hill, daring sta writer to take a photo. She catches it looking right at her.

CAT PATROL

PLNU joins with Urban League to discuss diversityBY MIRANDA BROWN

STAFF WRITER

PLNU partnered with Urban

League to host their annual Equal Op-

portunity Day (EOD) and Diversity

Summit Sept. 20 at Liberty Station.

Speakers and discussion orums

promoted equality in education and

business, and discussed topics such as

internships, healthcare, immigration,

and education systems. Interim mayorTodd Gloria and democratic candidate

Nathan Fletcher attended and partici-

pated in the event, along with leaders

in local schools and businesses and

several city council members.

The event gave PLNU some posi-

tive exposure in the community. Ex-

ecutive Director o Extended Studies

Jeanne promoted the new Extended

Studies Learning Series in the event,

as well as PLNU as a whole.

It provided us with name recog-

nition, and it showed us supporting

diversity, Cochran said. It gave us

some opportunities to promote our

programming.

This is the rst time a college cam-

pus has hosted the EOD, according to

PLNUs Chie Diversity Ocer Dr.

Jerey Carr, who served as Chair or

the event.

[Urban League] is an old, presti-

gious organization, he said. Im glad

Point Loma is a school they can depend

on to accomplish their goals in their

mission. Its quite a eather in the hat oPoint Loma that were on their radar.

The National Urban League is

the nations oldest and largest com-

munity-based movement devoted to

empowering Arican Americans and

other underserved populations to en-

ter and sustain economic and social

mainstream (sdul.org). Locally, theUrban League o San Diego County

promotes that mission by advocating

or equality and providing services in

housing, workorce skills, education

and health. They also host the EOD

event yearly.

Carr chose education as the events

theme, and aspects o equity were ex-

amined through that ocus. Ray King,

president and CEO o Urban League,

shared his vision or the event.

Our goal here is to look at educa-

tion and see how it aects workorce

success, King said. We want to mo-

tivate the community to get engaged

in quality education. Every student

should have the opportunity to suc-

ceed, regardless o where they live orwhat their ather does or a living, but

depending on their ability to learn.

The day included speakers, break-

out sessions, and an awards luncheon,

where several businesses were present-

ed with Whitney M. Young awards or

valuing equity in education. It ended

with a community Call to Action

where participants discussed imple-

menting ideas into society.

According to PLNUs 2012-2013

common data set, approximately 66

percent o degree-seeking undergrad-

uate students are white, non-Hispan-

ic. In comparison, Biola University

and Azusa Pacic University students

are about 56 percent and 52 percent

white, respectively (2012-2013 com-

mon data sets).

However, Carr explained that the

schools commitment to diversity is

about more than statistics and one-time

events. He ocused on a long-term pur-

suit o an inclusive community. Its not

enough to just have a diverse campus;

people need to know how to get alongand relate to each other.

We live in a diverse, global com-

munity, and students should know

how to be eective members o the

community, he said. Our curriculum

needs to continue to change, so we can

provide students with what they need

to unction well in society and get

along with dierent kinds o people.

Cochran said that Urban Leagues

embrace o culture encouraged people

to get involved.

What stood out to me was their

pride in who they were, Cochran said.

They are so proud o their heritage,

and they showed such a strength and

call to action. They arent just ocused

on how they have been poorly treated;

they motivate people about what they

are going to do about it.

Carr said that EOD is a step in the

right direction to decrease discrimina-

tion in our society

We need to understand that the

work is never done, Carr said. As a

society, we are prone to make certainmistakes. Discrimination is something

were never going to solve completely,

just like other aspects o human nature.

This event keeps synergy or people to

work toward equal opportunity, and

not become atigued. We have not ar-

rived, but we need to continue to work

on the human condition.

Staf writer exposes secreteline world on campus

7/27/2019 The Point Weekly - 9.30.2013

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the point weekly | monday,september 30, 20134 | FEATURES

features I think of all poetry as response, a way to talk

back to myself, other writers, and to God. says Katie

Manning at a campus poetry reading last Thursday night.QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

BY AMY WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

Those who shop at the campus

Breakers Market are oten helped by

Irene Alvarado, a woman who always

has a smile on her ace. She smiles be-

cause she loves her job.

Irene began working at PLNU

16 years ago and has been helping

students at the Breakers Market or

the past ve years. The Point Week-

ly talked to Irene about her child-

hood, her aith and why she loves her

job so much.

Point Weekly: Where were

you born?

Irene Alvarado: I was born in Pa-

chuca Hidalgo, Mexico.

PW: What was your child-

hood like?

IA: I was a very happy child. I grew

up in a amily environment. My mom

and dad were married or 65 years. My

mom said that she had 14 pregnancies

but I grew up with nine brothers and

sisters. I was raised in Hermosillo in a

barnyard. I remember mysel running

all over the barnyard and when I got

hungry, I was underneath the grapes. I

was just relaxed. I was under the ruiteating it. Running around. It was a

happy childhood.

PW: Do you have a family now?

IA: I married in Mexico and I

got divorced there. Thank God that

I ound a great guy (she later remar-

ried). I was a single mom with ve kids

or nine years. I gave my kids a good

example. I raised them pretty good.

Theyre married now. All o them ex-

cept one. Because one got killed by a

bus in Mexico. I dont know what hap-

pened. It was hard or me but I accept-

ed it because I believe in God.

PW: What do you do when

youre not working?

IA: When Im not working, I go

home, cook dinner or my husband

or make a stop at the taco shop i Im

too tired. Twice a month, I go and

visit my kids in Hemet. Like when Isay that Im proud to be a grandma,

its because I know that my blood is

growing. Its so good to see the little

ones growing around me. Like beore

I get out o the car, theyre screaming

Grandma! Grandmas here!

PW: What do you like about

your job?

IA: The students. I couldnt ask

or a better job. The school is like my

second home. The students help me to

be a strong Christian woman. Its the

environment. Its something. I dont

know how to express it. Its a git rom

lie, being here in this environment.

PW: Why are you so nice?

IA: Because Im happy where I

am. I like what I do. My rst job in

the United States was here. Im a ano Point Loma and I think thats the

reason. In Mexico we say, respect

gets respect and I live that every day

o my lie. And I practice that with

the students. Everybody respects

me, I respect them. I understand

that there is good and bad people in

the world. Even here on campus, but

Ive never had bad experiences here.

I love everybody and everybody

shows me love.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID MCKEITHEN

Sophomore Kate Draeger, a co-leader o the Ministry with Mexico groupEunime, draws with a Tijuana orhpan.

Ministry with Mexico serves across borderBY MORGAN CARNE

STAFF WRITER

Nearly every Saturday morning,

two minivan loads o PLNU stu-

dents drive away rom campus head-

ing south. Though some travel to

Mexico or the tacos and night clubs,

these students go or the orphans,

the dilapidated buildings, the sick

and the hungry.

The students are a part o Min-

istry with Mexico, which consistso three dierent groups that take

monthly trips to Tijuana. The min-

istry seeks to promote education,

equality and peace by working with

churches and government ocials

on projects such as construction and

orphanage visits.

Mini stry with Mexi co coordi-

nator Michal Hoenecke, a PLNU

senior, says the ministry creates

space or students to encounter a

dierent culture with the intention

o spreading love.

I learned what it means to serve

to be present rather than just doing

things, Hoenecke says. We have just

as much to give as we do to gain rom

both people in Mexico and the people

on the trips.

David McKeithen, a senior who

also helps lead the ministry, says the

trips are teaching platorms enabling

students to get a taste o international

missions work.

It provides students with the

opportunities to engage in general

service versus partying, practice

sharing time with others and learn-ing to serve.

Ministry with Mexico started

nearly 30 years ago and has greatly

developed over the years, largely

due to the help o Melissa Tucker a

graduate rom PLNU who worked

as the campuss Associate Director o

International Ministries or several

years until becoming an associate

pastor o First Church o the Naza-

rene this past summer.

Tucker says that at age 19 she was

changed by interactions she had with

cross-border issues and her time spent

in Mexico.

Some o the best growing that we

can do comes rom being uncomort-

able anytime we change our environ-

ment out o whats amiliar, it has the

potential to stretch us in good ways,

says Tucker.

The ministry is organized into

three dierent groups - Eunime,

which works with orphans who su-

er rom HIV and AIDS, Las Casas,

which teaches English workshops

and other tutoring programs at a

Tijuana orphanage and La Iglesia,which partners with local Nazarene

churches on construction projects.

The groups are organ ized by a team

o student leaders and the new Asso-

ciate Director o International Min-

istries, Esteban Trujillo.

Corrie King, a junior who has

gone to Tecate, Mexico with La Igle-

sia in the past, says her avorite part

o Ministry with Mexico is the build-

ing o cross cultural relationships.

We only go where we are called

to go, and participate in work that is

vital to both countries, she says.

Students can sign up or trips on

PLNUs website at pointloma.edu/

experience/aith/spiritual-devel-

opment/international-ministries/

mexico-programs/ministry-mexico

and can contact Esteban Trujillo

or more inormation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY WILLIAMS

Irene Alvarado works at Breakers Market, always greeting students witha smile. She says she enjoys sharing daily lie with the campus commu-nity and is strengthened by the aith o students.

VivaEspaa!

I think Barcelona better ts thedescription o the city that never sleeps.

With all the monuments and sites there

is so much to see and do, and sleep really

is not an option. Every day I have an

opportunity to try something new, and I

absolutely love it.

- Meg Crisostomo

Study Abroad Photo of the Week

MEG CRISOSTOMO

Sophomore Meg Crisostomo, a Child and Adolescent Developmentmajor, is studying through ISA in Barcelona, Spain. She stands inront o the Montjuic Castle, a military ortress dating back to 1640.

COMPILED BY SAMANTHA WATKINS

Irene Alvarados eternal smile

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the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013 FEATURES | 5

Fidel Sebahizi: I want tobe the voice o my people.BY ABBY HAMBLIN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Six years and more than 9000 miles

separate Fidele Sebahizi rom the lie

he once knew in the Democratic Re-

public o Congo (DRC).

Under a peaceul, sunny sky on

the West Coast o the United States,

the 31-year-old stands and admires a

patch o multi-colored fowers he has

just reed rom oppressive weeds.

Working as a groundskeeper by

day, living as a student by night, Seba-

hizi spends most o his time at PLNU

earning a degree as a writing major.

Its something that Sebahizi began

working toward in the quiet moments

he could nd to himsel in the small

village where he grew up. When hewasnt reading rom the Bible, or Pil-

grims Progress he was writing.

Back home we didnt have com-

puters so we just had to use normal

hand-writing and I got really good at

it, Sebahizi said. People in the vil-

lage were really admiring how I was

writing. Even, right now, people who I

grew up with who are older, remember

me because o my handwriting.

Sebahizi grew up in a village called

Bijombo in the South Kivo region o

the Democratic Republic o Congo.

He is part o a group o ethnic Tutsi

known as Banyamulenge that fed

Rwanda a ew hundred years ago and

established themselves in the easternregion o the DRC. The Banyamu-

lenge have undergone discrimination

since the colonial era, when they were

treated as immigrants rom Rwanda

who could not exercise any civic right

in DRC.

We have aced a lot o discrimi-

nation in Congo because all the Con-

golese tribes want us to go away and

leave the country or them, said Se-

bahizi. They call us Rwandese be-

cause we didnt intermarry with other

tribes. We have our own culture. They

are armers and we are cow herders.

Thats how we dier.

In the 1960s, thousands o Ban-yamulenge were systematically killed

during what is known as the Mulele

Rebellion. In the 1990s, conditions

escalated to the point that DRC gov-

ernment soldiers publicly announced

that i the Banyamulenge didnt leave

DRC, they would all be killed. Se-

bahizi and his amily fed to a United

Nations sponsored reugee camp in

Burundi called Gatumba in 2004, but

the violence ollowed them. Gatumba

held nearly 825 Banyamulenge reu-

gees according to humanrightswatch.

org, and on the night o Aug. 13, 2004,

it was burned to the ground.

Basically I was living just hal

a mile rom the camp. I went to thecamp ten minutes ater the attack

and bodies were burning, said Se-

bahizi. Some people were still alive

but had bullets in their heads. People

I had been talking to the night be-

oreyou could see them with their

heads busted open. It was really, re-

ally, really terrible.

Sebahizi and his amily stayed

near Gatumba or two week beore

they moved to another reugee campin the DRC. Then in 2007, hundreds

o Gatumba survivors were brought to

the U.S., and now live throughout the

country, rom New York, to Texas, to

Idaho. In April o that year, Sebahizi

ound himsel in sunny San Diego: a

city chosen or him that he has learned

to love. He lives here with his wie and

two-year-old daughter.

It has been a ew decades since the

young Banyamulenge ound solace in

scribbling in his notebook in a reugee

camp a world away, but his love or

writing is the one thing that cannot be

conned by borders.

It is this idea that led him to start

a blog, imurenge.com, that providesnews and commentary or the Ban-

yamuleng who are in not only the

region in which he grew up, but who

now dot the globe as immigrants just

like him. Sebahizi said that he hopes

to inspire a culture o writing among

his people so they can learn to express

themselves and share their stories with

the world.

I eel proud about it because as I

told you my tribe has been voicelessor years and years. Theres no news-

papers, not even one newspaper that

writes about Banyamulenge in that

region, Sebahizi said.

Sebahizi spends every spare mo-

ment ullling his duty as editor-in-

chie o the site that receives nearly

30,000 views per month. He eventu-

ally wants to have English translations

available on the site or a more wide-

spread communication o the plight o

the Banyamulenge.

He spends many hours on campus

updating the website, but also work-

ing on his writing degree. Sitting in

a classroom near that same fower

patch where he labored, students in-troduce themselves on the rst day o

the school sharing their names, where

they are rom, and their aspirations or

ater college.

My name is Fidel. I am rom

Congo but have lived here or six

years. I want to be the voice o my

people, Sebahizi said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIDEL SEBAHIZI

The village o Bijambo in the Democratic Republic o Congo whereSebahizi grew up.

GREY AREA

A theology professor at

Azusa Pacic Universi ty, Dr.

Heather Ann Clements, has

gone public with her identity

as a transgender man,

throwing the school into a

state of religious controversy

and social dilemma. Students

at PLNU give their input on

the situation and describe

how they would react to a

transgender individual within

the PLNU community.

I wouldnt care as long as theeducational value remainedunchanged.

- Brandon Colchin,

Junior

As a student, I would beflabbergasted at the whole changeand controversy.

-James Morar,

Sophomore

The university has a right touphold their beliefs, even if it isntthe popular opinion.

- Austin MedicaSophomore

They (Azusa Pacificadministrators) need to show loveand grace, but also stand up forwhat they believe in, even if it willbe misinterpreted by some.

-Riko Ramos,Senior

I know the circumstancegoes against some Biblicalthings, but I also have friendsin similar situations, so I findit hard to criticize her and the

administration.

- Lexi Kerr,Senior

In the perspective of a studentand administrator, if it did notaffect her teaching, who am Ito criticize? But as a Christianinstitution, they would have to fireher because she is disagreeing withGods work.

- William Schumacher,Sophomore

the black the white and

the in between.

Compiled by Jenna Hussey

Renewal Week with Tim and

Shawna Gaines

BY BRITTANY NAYLOR

STAFF WRITER

Every semester, PLNU invites indi-

viduals with connections to the campus to

come and speak to students or an entire

week o chapel services.

The university calls this time Renewal

Week, and it serves as a time or students

to experience the tradition o spiritual re-

newal and reocusing. The Point Weekly

connected via email with Tim and Shaw-

na Gaines, the speakers or this weeks

chapel services, to nd out their stories and

goals or this time o refection.

The Point Weekly: What back-

ground information do you think

people should know about you two?

Tim Gaines: We are both PLNU

alumni, and I worked or Point Loma as

an admissions counselor beore we went

to seminary to pursue urther education.

Ater seminary in Kansas City, we moved

to Chicago so I could complete a Ph.D in

theology and ethics. While there, we be-

came burdened or many o our riends

who were on the younger side o lie,

struggling to nd a place in the church.

We wrote A Seat at the Table (Beacon

Hill Press, 2012) to address that dynamic

and do whatever we can to help young

people engage the church with their pas-

sions and talents that may seem out o

place. Shawna is a marathon nisher and

sel-proclaimed oodie. We have two an-

tastic children: Callen and Evalynne.

PW: Where do you two work?

TG: We are the co-lead pastorso the Bakerseld First Church o the

Nazarene in beautiul Bakerseld, CA.

PW: How did you two meet?

TG: In Brown Chapel, and thats

not a joke. I was playing in the band

or chapel that morning. The chaplain

had called the reshmen to the altar to

pray or them. Ater the service had

ended, Shawna attempted to step over

the altar, but her oot caught and she

tumbled into a group o my riends on

the ront row. Rather than being em-

barrassed, she used the opportunity to

introduce hersel to her new acquain-

tances. I thought that was impressive

and made it a point to talk to her. The

rest, as they say, is history.

PW: When you were invited to

speak at Loma, what were your ini-

tial reactions?

TG: I assumed that Dr. Pauls rst,

second and third choices must have

turned her down. She corrected my

assumptions later, but in all honesty,

we love PLNU and we are humbled

by the opportunity to bring good news

wherever we are asked.

PW: This years chapel theme

focuses on the Lords prayer, howare you going to talk about that

theme during your time speaking

in chapel?

T&SG: We are going to issue the

challenge to pray and live out o the

Lords Prayer, giving particular at-

tention to Give us this day our daily

bread. Generally, we are going to

explore the way that the prayer Jesus

taught us has the power to orm our

worship, which orms or belies, which

orms the way we live our lives.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM GAINES

Fidele Sebahizi

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Ocean Beach Farmers MarketWhat to Know: Walk down Newport Ave. on Wednesday nights from 4 to 8, toexperience a real cornucopia of sights, sounds and smells. Get lost in the eclecticsurroundings of fresh produce, crazy art, ethnic foods, sweet smelling flowers and livemusic.

Insider tip: Indulge in all the free samples, itll be enough to fill you up.

Balboa ParkWhat to Know: Balboa Park is one of San Diegos most beautiful and notableparks. Covering 1,200 acres, it has museums, gardens, outdoor theaters and thefamous San Diego Zoo. One day here will not do it justice. Smell the scents at the

Rose Garden, visit the newly renovated Japanese Friendship Garden, and get lostin the Natural History Museum. Picnicking is always a favorite.

Insider Tip: Every Tuesday, museums rotate for free admission to residents. Showyour school ID for free admission.

HillcrestWhat to Know: The Chocolat, Buffalo Exchange, Champion Ballroom Academy.Make a day-trip out of visiting Hillcrest. Start with a lovely brunch at The Chocolatwith gelato for dessert. Head on to Buffalo Exchange for some affordable usedclothing shopping and finally end with a group ballroom class for $12 at MaryMurphys (So You Think You Can Dance judge) Champion Ballroom Academy.

Insider Tip: Word is you can meet Mary Murphy if she there!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

What to Know: If you want to see a variety of wild animals, the San Diego Zoo hasa Safari Park located in Escondido. Although the distance and ticket prices mightdeter you from going, it is a great opportunity to see a variety of wild animals.Animals include giraffes, rhinos, antelopes, lions, tigers, monkeys and many more.

Insider Tip: There is a 2/3-mile zip lining adventure available with a great view ofthe 1,800-acre wild park.

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COMPILED BY THE POINT WEEKLY STAFF

DESIGNED BY RACHEL HARRELL

Hiking in Torrey PinesWhat to Know: This state park has awesome trails with stunning views of the ocean.

Hike on well-maintained paths or explore the beach's cliff ravines. Food is not allowedon the mountains trails but hide a picnic in your backpack to enjoy on the shore.

Insider tip: The state park charges $15 to park your car in their lots but publicstreet parking is usually available a short walk away on Mc Gonigle Road.

Con PanE CafE at Liberty Station

What to Know: A lovely place for breakfast and lunch, Con Pane is known for itsscrumptious scones, ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls and gourmet sandwiches. Dontmiss its famous chocolate bread only available on the weekends.

Insider Tip: Grassy parks are in abundance throughout Liberty Station, so bring ablanket, order some sandwiches and have a picnic either across the street from thecaf or closer to the harbor. Con Pane is closed on Wednesdays.

La Jolla Childrens Pool

What to Know: Looking to see some lazy sea mammals? Skip the expensive boatexcursions and go to La Jolla Childrens Pool for free. There are always seals thereswimming and sun tanning, not to mention great views and tons of photo ops!

Insider tip: La Jolla Cove is right around the corner from the Childrens Pool andoffers calm and safe snorkeling and swimming. Scripps Park is an awesomegrassy area also right near there for perfect picnics and Frisbee space!

Twilig ht Trek at the San Di ego ZooWhat to Know:An educator-led tour of the zoo at night! Need there be more? Foronly $19, you can hear insider information about nocturnal animals, pick the mindsof your educator, and hear their personal stories. Limited space is available andthis is offered only a couple times a month, Oct. 18 and 25 (Fridays from 6:30-8

p.m.) so plan ahead and buy your ticket online.

Insider Tip:Dessert and drinks will be served and a surprise theme will be revealed!

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the point weekly | monday,september 30, 20138 | FEATURES

Awarding Lomas TwittersphereStaf writer ranks campus tweeters

BY SAM CHRISTOPHER

STAFF WRITER

Incoming reshman are not the

only new aces on campus, as many

transer students are joining the com-

munity as well. There are a total o

145 transer students this semester,

coming rom all over the world to live

in sunny San Diego.

Kelby Sarti, the senior admission

counselor at PLNU says the major-

ity o transer students this semester

came rom Caliornia but some rom

as ar as Sweden. Transer students

range in age but Sarti says most trans-

ers are sophomores and juniors.As transer students transition

into lie at PLNU they can choose

to get involved in a Transer Activi-

ties Group, also known as TAG. Se-

nior Kai Carlson is the coordinator

or the group and says his vision is to

help provide a smoother transition or

students by creating networking op-

portunities or transers to become

amiliar with one another.

We want to be there or transer

students who dont know anybody,

or just want something un to do,

says Carlson.

As this years new TAG coordi-

nator, Carlson plans to revamp theprogram by providing even more

events or students to have un and

eel welcome. This past Saturday the

group had a Beach Day and BBQ in

Ocean Beach, which included ree

sur lessons.

Earlier in the semester the

group put together a transers bon-

ire on Shelter Island where nearly

60 students showed up including

students who just wanted to come

and meet the new transers. Many

other events are planned or the

rest o the semester including a

Hip Hop dance night, Broomball

and Capture the Flag.Carol Anne Kachele, a rst time

TAG leader and ormer transer stu-

dent says that this year the leaders are

trying to be more intentional in be-

riending transer students. She says

that she and her ellow TAG leaders

are reaching out but says ultimately,

its up to the students to get involved.

Its really what you make o it; so

jump in, we dont want to leave any-

body on the side lines, she says.

Each TAG leader has about 10

students in their group and will con-

nect with them on a regular basis via

email or text message to coordinate

hangouts or inorm them o upcom-ing events.

Emma Hayman, a transer stu-

dent rom San Diego State Univer-

sity, does not regret her decision to

get involved.

I have made more real riends

and connections here in the past

ew weeks than I have in the last two

years at my previous college , she

says. Being a part o a TAG group

has allowed me to eel like I am a

part o a real community.

TAG youre in: transfers get involved

BY JORDAN LIGONS

STAFF WRITER

Tweet! Tweet! Twitter, the grow-

ing social media orum, serves as aplace where people can express them-

selves in 140 characters.

Many campus departments and

proessors are turning to Twitter hop-

ing to communicate more eciently

with the student body.

According to Communications

proessor Dr. Clark Greer, Twitter isall about instant updates and constant,

current inormation on your eed.

I think it is good that the univer-

sity is using this type o tool to com-

municate to students, said Dr. Greer.

I I ran across an article, Ill retweet

it to my students that are subscribing

to me.Dr. Michael Clark, proessor o

writing, says he uses his Twitter ac-

count or personal use and also to

communicate with students.

As a writer, its also an invaluable

social media tool where I can think

out loud and ponder whats going

on in my eld or work, said Clark.Twitter is increasingly the easiest and

quickest way to stay in touch with my

students or minor issues or to con-

tinue the conversation rom class.

So who in the PLNU communi-

ty uses Twitter best? Ater searching

the Twitter-sphere several campus

departments, aculty and sta havebeen noted o deserving special rec-

ognition. Please see the prestigious

awards below.

The Most Followers:R.B. Anthony (@RB_Anthony ) The adjunct proessor o music is killing the Twitter game with 1,413

ollowers. The runner-up is Spanish proessor Scott Bennett (@scottmbennett) with 747 ollowers.

The Newest Addition:PLNU Public Saety (@PLNUDPS) Recently, Public Saety has tapped into social media to make

nding parking in the morning easier by tweeting about the current parking situation on campus.

The Coolest Default Picture:Neil Shigley (@Visiblepeople) As an Art Illustration proessor here at PLNU, Proessor Shig-

ley displays his artwork on Twitter. I do portraits o the homeless, Shigleys Twitter bio reads.

Here are my thoughts and the thoughts o people living on the streets.

The Best @ Name:President Bob Brower (@PresBobbyB) Its catchy, its subtle, and it just has a nice ring to it,

doesnt it? Expecting more tweets about his cute grandkids!

The Best Hashtag Use:Bobby B (@PointLomaProbs) Not to be conused with the real Bobby B, this parody account

uses the hashtag #PointLomaProbs to tweet about unny, relatable things happening around cam-

pus that only us Sea Lions would understand.

The Best Tweet of the Week:

Brittney Cannizzan (@BrittneyCan) The admissions counselor made me L.O.L with her tweet o theweek because, lets ace it, we have all had that exact realization. That boss moment when you catch yoursel

watching New Girl, eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch out o the box, pretending to study.

The Must Follow:PLNU (@Go2PLNU) I tweeted over the summer that I missed PLNU. This account tweeted me

back and said, We miss you too :( That was a moment in time where I decided I loved my school and

that they loved me back. Then, I shed a tear. Then ater that, I tweeted about it.

The Best Twitter Bio:Charles Lyons-Purdue (@CharlieLP) The Chaplaincy Ministries Assistant & Creative Arts

Coordinator simply sounds cool: Husband. New dad. Artist. Worship Curator & Church Planter.

In search o awe & wonder. Trying my best to imitate Jesus.

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the point weekly | monday,september 30, 201310 | SPORTS

sports UPCOMINGEVENTSAlumna returns as new head athletic trainerBY ALYSSA BOSHARTSTAFF WRITER

The Athletic Training Education Pro-

gram (ATEP) welcomes Shawna Baker as

the new head athletic trainer. Baker will be

in charge o all athletic training duties and

teams and has already been working with

athletes since August to prepare them or

their seasons.

I handle paperwork and the hands

on side o athletic training on a daily

basis, said Baker. I am also the insur-

ance coordinator or all PLNU ath-

letes so I handle that side as well.

Baker was chosen out o a variety

o highly qualied candidates or her

previous experience as a head athletictrainer at San Diego Christian Uni-

versity, according to assistant athletic

director Sarah Gustin.

We strive to have people o excel-

lence to match the rest o PLNU [and

Shawna] was a great mission t or the

university, said Gustin.

The Athletic Department led the

interviews with representation rom

the Kinesiology department.

The search committee was com-prised o 8 people including represen-

tation rom Kinesiology, Athletic ad-

ministration and the coaching stas,

said Gustin. Vice President Caye

Smith and Athletic Director Ethan

Hamilton played a large role in the

decision making process as well.

Baker, a PLNU alumnus, has had

already had interaction with the Ath-

letic Training Program hersel having

been an athletic training student. Shesaid she is excited to return to work

with the amily o PLNU again.

Many o the same people I was in-

structed by I am colleagues with now

and its very cool to have that amily

relationship, said Baker. Like or in-

stance Tim Hall, I was a reshman when

he was coming in and so we grew up

together as he always says and I see that

as very benecial to already have thoserelationships established.

Womens soccer coach Tim Hall

explained how he has seen Baker grow

throughout her time here at PLNU-

rom student to head athletic trainer.

When I rst came here 18 years

ago Shawna was one o the rst student

athletic trainers I had interaction with,

said Hall. Shes a great young lady and

Ive always been impressed with the way

she carries hersel proessionally.

Baker said that her previous ath-

letic training methods and experience

made or a smooth transition rom

NAIA to NCAA Division 2.

At rst I thought that [the transi-

tion] was a possible concern but I havealways held mysel to very high stan-

dards and I tried to model my training

clinic [at San Diego Christian Univer-

sity] ater an NCAA model, said Baker.

While she has not made as many

changes to her standards, Baker said she

has enorced new standards in the clinic

that were not previously met as well as

adding equipment or athlete use.

We invested in a really thoroughcleaning, a new paint job, new exer-

cise equipment; weve also done a lot

with our policies and procedures, and

implemented a pretty comprehensive

concussion protocol, said Baker.

Due to the amount o torn anterior

cruciate ligaments (ACL) and menis-

cuses, especially in emale athletes, the

athletic training clinic has implemented

exercises and warm-ups that are geared

toward injury prevention. This was one

o the needs that was impressed upon

her during interviews said Baker.

A lot o prevention programs are

now included in warm-ups with both

mens and womens teams, said Baker.

Baker said her time at PLNU asa student and now as head athletic

trainer has given her the opportunity

to return to a place that has given her

so much.

My classroom now is my training

room and I am excited to give back to

a place that has given me so much and

shaped me as a proessional and most im-

portantly a person o God, said Baker.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION

Shawna Baker

PLNU volleyball player returns ater season o redshirtingBY MARISSA HORNADAY

STAFF WRITER

Alyssa Dwyer, junior PLNU vol-leyball player, has started the season

ater making the decision to redshirt

last season while recovering rom sur-

gery. She talked to us via e-mail.

The Point Weekly: How does it

feel to be playing again this season?

Alyssa Dwyer: It has been great

getting to compete with my team

again. They are all incredible athletes

and as a team we are very talented and

passionate; so playing again with them

is exciting.

PW: In what other areas did you

grow and learn from while not be-

ing able to play?

AD: Volleyball is a huge part o my ev-

eryday lie, so not playing in competition (Istill practiced once the ankle healed), was

a huge mental struggle as an athlete and

person. I had to rediscover the true mean-

ing o team. Learning that despite the lack

o presence I could provide on the court,

I was still a huge part o the program and

could be there or my team in many ways

besides physical.

PW: How was your training different

after your recovery from the surgeries?

AD: Training is a natural progres-

sion o any sport. Injured or not, col-

legiate athletes have to put in many,

many hours to be at the top o their

game. The same went or me; though

I was ghting back rom multiple sur-

geries all I could do was train hardlike I always have. Injuries are merely

roadblocks or me. Though the injury

may take me on a brie detour, I will

eventually nd my way back to the de-

sired path.

PW: What has been the high-

light so far in the new season?

AD: The highlight o this season

so ar was the very rst weekend we

got to compete as a team in the Azusa

Pacic tournament. It showed the in-

credible amount o potential this team

holds and allowed our team to start the

season o on a high note. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATIONJunior Alyssa Dwyer (seen right in these photos) is a 62 middle blocker rom Gilbert, Ariz.

10/1: M. Soccer vs. BYU Hawaii, W. Soccer vs. BYU Hawaii

10/3: M. Soccer vs. Chaminade, W. Soccer vs. Chaminade, W. Volleyball vs. Azusa Pacific

10/5: M. Soccer vs. Hawaii Pacific, W. Soccer vs. Hawaii Pacific, W. Volleyball vs. California

Baptist, W. Cross Country v@ Williamete Invitational

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the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013 SPORTS | 11

Back to the roots

BY TAVIS ROBERTSON

SPORTS EDITOR

Church, southern cooking and

ootball. That was my childhood.

When I was eight, I had the privi-

lege o moving to Oklahoma, and

coming rom southern Caliornia, that

was quite the shit. Trac was being

stuck behind a tractor, and ast ood

wasnt so ast. There was a completely

dierent sense o time, and nothing

was ever worth being in a rush over.

Unless it was ootball.

I lived in a decent sized town Ed-

mond, Okla. It was home to 80,000

people, and was a nice enough place,but my amily lived on the outskirts,

the boonies compared Caliornia, and

the community was somewhat secluded;

it was built around two hubs: Oakdale,

the K-8th school o maybe 600 students,

and the local church, Witcher Baptist. It

was one o those gems o a church that

had been around or ninety-something

years, and had more than a handul o

eighty-somethings that spent almost ev-

ery Sunday o their lives in the pews o

that one-room church and they all still

came religiously.

You see, every Sunday there was

a service, and during ootball season

all post-service ellowship took place

in ront o the big(ish) screen watch-ing whatever games were on that day,

eating whatever potluck delicacies

(mostly grits, chicken or ried okra)

the churchgoers brought. During

haltime the kids and some o the dads

would play touch ootball on the eld

outside, claiming the team name o

whichever team they were rooting or

as their own.

I that church had a written mis-

sion statement, Im sure ootball was

in there somewhere.

When I was 15 I moved back to

Caliornia, and have been here eversince. My lie got busy in the not-

really-busy way that only a teenagers

lie can, and I havent really ollowed

ootball, or any sports or that matter,

since Ive been back.

But this year, out o nowhere,

sports have muscled their way back

into my lie. As the sports editor, what

I had once relegated to my past has

now become a big part o my pres-

ent, and as Ive struggled to keep up

Ive gotten this weird eeling watching

games that I havent gotten in years.

At Witcher Baptist, ootball might as

well have been another spiritual git

ranking up there with prophecy and

speaking in tongues, and today when Ind mysel watching games, both here

at PLNU and on TV (Well, the In-

ternet. Who watches TV anymore?),

I nd mysel experiencing something

spiritual in nature.

And Im not gonna lie, that kind o

reaks me out. But in that, there is also

some part o it that cant help but eel

a little bit like home.

Sitting in The Point Weekly oce

every Sunday trying to gure out what

will be most important to PLNUs

sports ans is both a new experience

and reminiscent o something amiliar

that I havent visited in a long time,

and it takes me back my to childhood

something erce. I havent eaten gritsor ried okra in years, but when I watch

ootball I can almost taste them again.

So, heres to the roots:

Church, southern cooking and ootball.

Womens Soccer

9/28: Won 3-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

Mens Soccer

9/25: Los s0-1 vs.San Diego Christian

9/28: Won 1-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

Womens Volleyball

9/27: Win 3-0 vs. Dominican

9/28: Win 1-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

SEA LION SCORES

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION

Number 19, Madi White goes to congratulate Jessica Van Loo or her goal against Hawaii-Hilo in their3-0 win on Saturday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION

Savanna Wedemeyer sets the ball in their Saturday sweep o Holy Names.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION

The mens soccer team celebrates just ater Grifn Fuller scored the only goal in the 1-0 win againstHawaii-Hilo on Saturday.

SEASON SNAPSHOTS

PHOTO COURTESY BY KEITH ALLISON

NEWS FROM THE BIG LEAGUES

Mariano Rivera, considered the

greatest closer in MLB history,

pitched his last game Thursday.

Known for his baseball chops

and charitable works through

the Mariano Rivera Foundation,

Rivera is an outspoken Christian

having sponsored youth

centers, provided scholarships

and funded churches. After 19

seasons playing for the New

York Yankees, Rivera decides to

put down the glove.

7/27/2019 The Point Weekly - 9.30.2013

12/12

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 201312 | A&E

10/2-6: San Diego Film Festival; Gaslamp & La Jolla theaters; all day

10/2-6: Fashion Week San Diego; Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier

10/4: John Mayer; Sleep Train Amphitheatre; 7:30 p.m.

10/5-6: Julian Apple Days Festival; Julian, CA; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.a&e UPCOMINGEVENTS

BY JORDAN LIGONS

STAFF WRITER

Pac was like Jesus / Nas wrote the

Bible. These lyrics by J. Cole rom

his album Born Sinner bring up

questions o religion in rap music.

This summer, multiple albums

were released with elements o lyri-

cism and culture heard over the radio.

Hip-hop and Christianity are noted as

polar opposites; but, listeners could

not avoid the religious reerences with

many o the albums remixing Chris-

tian terms and Biblical allusions into

their lyrics, bringing to question themotives o many hip-hop artists.

On J. Coles Born Sinner al-

bum released in June, the words

Born sinner, opposite o a winner

echo through the song Villuminati.

These lyrics are reminiscent o rapper

Kendrick Lamars chart-topping track

Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe rom al-

bum Good Kid M.A.A.D. City re-

leased in 2012.

It rhymes: I am a sinner, who

is probably going to sin again / Lord

orgive me, Lord orgive me things I

dont understand.

Lyrics, such as these, have raised

the question o hip-hop artists using

religious contradictions in their songs.

One moment they could be praising

God and the next using oul and vul-

gar language.

Hit single, Amen rom Meek

Mills album Dreams and Night-

mares is a perect example o reli-

gious contradiction. The songs hook

in itsel is said to be mocking the

church: Theres a lot o bad bitches in

the building, Amen!

Ater the tracks release, Mill re-sponded to much criticism about the

songs crudeness and association with

religion. He was even asked to apolo-

gize and repent by a Philadelphia pas-

tor. In an interview with BETs 106 &

Park, a music video show, Mill deend-

ed himsel against the church.

No preacher, no church approve

o any rap music [] cause rap music

period, theres a lot o bad stu thats

being said. But at the end o the day,

its real lie, he said.

While religious themes may seem

trendy in hip-hop as o late, literature

proessor Dr. Karl Martin explains

that music by black artists has had reli-

gious connections or more than hal a

century, dating back to the 1950s with

artists like Ray Charles, Sam Cook and

Aretha Franklin who came straight

rom the church singing gospel music,

then transitioned into secular music.

Ray Charles, an American sing-

er-songwriter, was known or using

rhythm and blues, gospel and pop to-

gether. In 1956, he released a song ti-

tled, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, which

was highly controversial at the time.The church wasnt happy with

Ray Charles, but also people in the

clubs werent happy with Ray Charles

either because [people in the club

would say] Youre bringing my Sun-

day morning into my Saturday night,

said Martin, who teaches an Arican-

American literature class.

Thus, the secular versus sacred de-

bate ensues. According to Martin, secular

is or the time being, whereas sacred is

Gods sacred plan or all o history.

Secular music that uses Christian

terms doesnt mean its a Christian

song, Martin said.

These artists are secular; it

doesnt matter i they are Christian in

their private lives, they are producing

popular music or the world to hear

or now.

Martin continues to compare this

to an artist that makes no claim to aith

personally but sings Christian songs.

There are similarities to the blues

and hip-hop such as instrumental beats

and hip-hop artists sampling choruses

rom rhythm and blues tracks. Accord-

ing to Martin, hip-hop takes the idea othe brag and the boast rom the genre.

The I am the greatest in the

world attitude comes straight rom

the blues. These men were either say-

ing that they were the best artist or the

best lover, he said.

Kanye Wests latest album Yee-

zus, released in June, caught a lot o

attention or its multiple religiously

boastul reerences in tracks like

I Am A God, New Slaves and

Black Skinhead.

The track I Am A God reads: I

just talked to Jesus / He said, What up

Yeezus? / I said, Im chilling / Tryingto stack these millions I know he

the most high / But I am a close high

I am a God / I am a God.

This could mean that West is to mu-

sic like Jesus is to the Christian aith.

Can we hold these secular artists to a

standard o aith because they are using

Christian terms and Biblical allusions?

I think what this points to is how

secular our society is and how post-

Christian America is becoming, said

Kara Lyons-Pardue, PLNU theology

proessor. [The rappers] still recog-

nize that these words create more o a

charge in their listeners. Saying I am

important doesnt say nearly as much

as saying I am a God, which tells ussomething about our culture.

Lyons-Pardue thinks that the

Jay-Z track Heaven, rom his hit

album Magna Carta Holy Grail,

was the most obvious example, yet

she thinks hes explicitly saying

Dont hold me to those standards

o being God-like.

Jay-Z comments on the track in a

promotional video Jay-Z+ Samsung+

Magna Carter Holy Grail saying,

This song is toying with that idea

that Heaven and Hell are on earth

no matter what religion you are, you

have to accept other peoples ideas be-

cause, Have you ever been to Heaven?

Have you ever seen the gates? Jay-Zcontinues, Its just the idea that God

will make you burn in eternity or ree

will, something that He gave you.

Senior Nikki Holguin loves music

and respects the arts, but has mixed eel-

ings about Kanye Westss recent MTV

Video Music Awards perormance.

It wasnt even Kanyes actual

perormance that bothered me, but

the way they introduced him, Hol-

guin said. They mocked the church

and how we praise Jesus, not Yeezus.

So to me, the act that they allowed

that shows me that my aith has be-

come a mockery and to some extent

has lost signicance.

Holguin also writes and sings as ahobby and says that it will always be a

passion o hers.

I try to write or perorm songs

that are popular without being too out

there. But, as a Christian, you can still

sing songs, be you, and have your ar-

tistic edge without having to conorm

to what the world wants you to be. Its

time we realize that, Holguin said.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Religion and Rhymes:

How hip-hop and Christianity are crossing paths

BY SAMANTHA WATKINS

STAFF WRITER

Move over Shakespeare, Beth

Henleys tragically comedic Crimes

o the Heart is on the Salomon The-

atre Playbill.

As You Like It, a Shakespearean

comedy, was going to be perormed

this all at the Salomon Theatre, but

the play has been changed to the com-

edy Crimes o the Heart. Proessor

Wally Williams, a theatre instructor at

PLNU, is also the director or the all

h

about twenty-six perorm Shakespeare.

I like to do Shakespeare once in

a while and I thought we were due,

Williams said.

With many theatre students study-

ing abroad in London this semester,

Proessor Williams re-worked the

script so he would only need twelve

men, or even ten, i necessary. But only

three men auditioned or the play.

That was going to do it. This

hasnt happened beore, but I think it

may be or the good. Shakespeare can

b l d Willi id

he had to make, Williams knew who

his talent was and the potential actors

he could work with. This made it eas-

ier or him to choose a new play, one

with strong women roles.

Crimes o the Heart was the so-

lution. The six-person play consists o

our emale roles and two male roles.

Williams said that with a small group

you have to make do with what you

have; he turned a potential crisis into

an opportunity.

The cast is comprised o actors

h h i l k d h

and there is an already existing bond

among the cast which will denitely

be channeled to the audience, said

senior theatre major Luciano Gallos,

who is cast as Mr. Barnett.

Seniors Lara Hague, Elizabeth

Lambert and reshman Katie Emma

Filby play the three sisters, who the

play is based upon.

Im sad to hear that there wont

be a Shakespeare play anymore. I love

them. But I understand that things

have to be changed, and Im excited

C i h H id h

Theatre play changed to accomodate actorsSAVE THE DATE

San Diego Film Festival

Oct. 2-6

Reading Theater

Arclight Cinemas

Dont miss the behind-the-

scenes documentary Fading

West, about San Diego native

band Switchfoot, premiering at

Reading Theater on Oct 5