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REGARDING…
collegianVOLUME 99 | ISSUE 25 | 21 MAY 2015 |
THE WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY
POLICE MILITARIZATION | COFFEE | SPIRITUAL FORMATION | BEN CARSON
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07 context
Table of Contents | 2News | 3,5ASWWU | 4Snapshots | 6Week in forecast | 7
16 perspective
Opinion | 8-9Responses | 10-11Feature | 12-13Religion | 16
22 life
Culture | 14Food | 15CW/CW | 17#thecollegian | 18Humor | 19Travel | 20Fashion | 21Science | 22Sports | 23
Cover Credit: See photos in articles
The Collegian is the official publication of ASWWU. Its views and opinions are not necessarily the official stance of Walla Walla University or its administration, faculty, staff, or students. Questions, letters, and comments can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected]. This issue was completed at 1:37 A.M. on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
If you are interested in contributing to The Collegian, speak with one of our illustrious staff members. The Collegian is enhanced by regularly incorporating a wide range of campus perspectives.
For information about advertising, please contact Shandra Cady at [email protected].
The Collegian | Volume 99, Issue 25 | 204 S. College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324 | collegian.wallawalla.edu
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ricky Barbosa
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Karl Wallenkampf
LAYOUT EDITOR
Mindy Robinson
HEAD COPY EDITOR
Andrea Johnson
PERSPECTIVE EDITOR
Benjamin Ramey
CONTENT EDITOR
Carolyn Green
BACKPAGE & CREATIVE CURATOR
Abigail Wissink
CULTURE WRITER
River Davis
FASHION WRITER
Alyssa Hartwick
FOOD WRITER
Rachel Peterson
HUMOR WRITER Lauren Lewis
NEWS WRITERS
Morgan Sanker Alexandra BuleyKari Gomez
OFFICE MANAGER
Mae Liongco
RELIGION WRITER
Kenton Gonzalez
opinion writer
Alex Aamodt
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Shandra Cady
SCIENCE & TECH WRITER
Daniel Hulse
SPORTS WRITER & PROMOTION MANAGER
Alex Wagner
TRAVEL & LOCAL WRITER
Shannon Pierce
COPY EDITORS
Tyler JacobsonKayla AlbrechtRachel Blake
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Zachary Johnson
LAYOUT DESIGNERS
Matthew MoranIan SmithChloe Putnam
ASWWU HEAD PHOTO EDITOR
Erick Juarez
???
I’ll admit off the bat that this issue is a bit of a grab bag. Karl Wallenkampf is addressing an issue that has come to
the public’s attention relatively recently: police militarization. Local police departments are getting military hand-me-downs at
reduced prices. For what purpose? I encourage you to read and find out more.
As this school year begins to draw to a close for the Collegian staff, it gives us a chance to reflect and respond. The Coffee and Spiritual
Formation issues released in the last quarter have elicited many written responses, and we will be sharing two of them with you this week. One
is from an editor emeritus of the Collegian regarding the church’s stance on caffeine, the other is a response from Operation Iceberg to Benjamin Ramey and his spiritual formation feature. You’ll also find an apology from us for last week’s lapse of judgment when it came to back page content.
This week, I’m thankful that the Collegian is read widely enough to engage its readers in such a lively way. We aspire to high standards at the Collegian, and we seek to uphold our university’s values. I’m thankful for those who hold us to that.
RE: RESPONSES
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BARBOSARICKY
Editor-in-Chief
CONTEXT03NEWS
is from an editor emeritus of the Collegian regarding the church’s stance on caffeine, the other is a response from Operation Iceberg to Benjamin Ramey and his spiritual formation feature. You’ll also find an apology from us for last week’s lapse of judgment when it came to back page content.
This week, I’m thankful that the Collegian is read widely enough to engage its readers in such a lively way. We aspire to high standards at the Collegian, and we seek to uphold our university’s values. I’m thankful for those who hold us to that.
All the road blocks, construction cones, and machinery in sight has a name behind it — it’s the city of College Place’s CARS Project (College Avenue/Rose Street Reconstruction Project). The project, whose construction began last month on April 13, is set to re-construct a large portion of roads sur-rounding the Walla Walla University area. More specifically, according to the website of the city of College Place, the project will include the renovating of “11,300 feet of streets, provide 2,750 feet of multiuse path with a parking strip on the south side of Rose Street and 14,200 feet of 10 foot sidewalks along both sides of College Avenue.” The city’s project will also include pe-destrian and multimodal facilities that meet ADA standards, street lights and street trees along College Avenue.
Perhaps the most significant change that has made the CARS project evi-dent to the WWU community is the lack of traffic on College Avenue, nor-mally the most heavily trafficked area on campus. Many students appreciate the lack of traffic, including junior Milca Alvarez, who states, “It’s nice not to have to wait to cross the street.” Though a city funded project may not appear to have much of a significant impact to the Walla Walla University campus besides a momentary hold on sidewalk traffic, this could not be fur-ther from the truth.
The city of College Place has been kind enough to do renovation on city
property that also happens to fall in place with the parameters of WWU’s very own campus. Not only is the con-struction widening the campus’ most heavily trafficked sidewalks and re-paving the crosswalks, providing the campus with an aesthetic appeal, it is also leveling the area between the side-walks and the women’s residence halls. This also means the elimination of the bike racks beside Village Hall, which houses a significantly large amount of bicycles. ASWWU Senate encourages constituents to contact their respective senators for any suggestions regarding a new location for bike racks. Despite this elimination, the reconstruction of that area, which Plant Services is very excited about, is expected to have posi-tive reviews.
While the CARS project construc-tion may appear sudden, it actually began implementation due to a varied funding of numerous projects the city of College Place saw as imperative for long-term infrastructural needs. These numerous projects then became one, focusing on the heart of the downtown College Place area. The project, which is estimated to cost a total of $10.5 million, is set to finish construction between early and mid summer 2016. Construction that immediately effects the WWU campus such as the College Avenue sidewalks and the area between the women’s dorms and College Ave-nue is set to be completed by the end of this summer.
gomezKARI
News Writer
CARS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Caleb Riston
Caleb Riston
CONTEXTASWWU04
IMPROVING ON THE JUSTICE OF GODOPEN POSITIONS
Applications can be found at aswwu.com: ASWWU > Services > WORK FOR ASWWU. Note: you must send your application to
the context provided, along with a resumé/CV.
WEBTEAM
MARKETING
TREAD SHED
- Coders (for websites and iOS/Android)
Note: The Webteam application can be found at http://aswwu.
com/forms/apply
- Marketing Assistant- Graphic Designer- Media Consultant
- Bicycle Technician
SOCIAL
SENATE
ATLAS BARISTA
GLOBAL SERVICE
SPIRITUAL
OUTDOORS
- Officer for Marketing and Communication
- Officer for Major Gifts- Officer for Accounting
- Officer for Major Events
- Spiritual Team Members
- Trip Planner/Leader- Mt. Rents Assistant
kathryn.schwartzkopf@walla walla.edu
- Social Team Member
- Assistant to the EVP- Senate Secretary
On Wednesday evening, May 13, some of the theology professors and campus administrators were orga-nized in an ASWWU Confab to dis-cuss regional conferences in response to a request released by the Andrews University Student Association along with some of their on campus clubs. The request asked the North Amer-ican Division to outline a plan to re-structure the regional conferences by 2020 and/or release a statement in re-sponse to the original request explain-ing the current structure. In response, the NAD affirmed the current struc-ture, including regional conferences.
The gentlemen present at the con-fab were Dave Thomas, Dean of the School of Theology; Pedrito May-nard-Reid, professor of theology; Brant Berglin, professor of theology; and David Richardson, Vice President for Student Life. Each member of the panel brought a different perspective and voice to the discussion. All four were of the opinion that regional conferences had their advantages and disadvantages and were originally set up out of necessity. Regional confer-ences had their origin in the 1940s, when African Americans in the Unit-ed States had no voice in the Adventist Church. Therefore, they organized their own local conferences that were still under the jurisdiction of the Ad-ventist Church so they could have a sufficient representation and structure of leadership within the church. To-day, these conferences are still func-tional although many believe they are unnecessary.
However, the situation is more complicated than that. Because of the way society has functioned for many years, the top echelon of leadership
05NEWSCONTEXT
within Adventism is still widely gov-erned by older white males. Most of them are perfectly good at their jobs, but the fact still remains that the rep-resentation of the diversity of the Ad-ventist Church in North America is skewed.
Another problem that was dis-cussed is the distribution of power. In the Northeastern United States and Europe, church members of African descent are very much in control of the Adventist Church. As Pedrito said, “If you walk the streets of Europe, it’s all white, as soon as you walk into a church, it’s all black.” Just as the bal-ance of power in the United States is lopsided, it is in other areas of the world also. In the Northeastern Unit-ed States, church members of African descent primarily govern both the state conference and the regional con-ference as well. The problem with this model anywhere is that evangelism and outreach really suffer. People are automatically more attracted to simi-lar people. That is not a problem, but that means extra work needs to be put into reaching those who are different. Currently, that is not being done. Ul-timately, it would be ideal if regional conferences did not exist, but the bal-ance of power within the conferences reflected the diverse population that is present in the Adventist Church. A resolution that was voiced by more than one of the panelists was that we need to dissolve all the levels of struc-ture below the NAD, then rebuild one level of structure to have control over much wider geographical areas than conferences currently control, then have the leadership be representative of the population so everyone has a voice.
SenateUPDATE
NEW BUSINESS:
Lauren Lewis for Collegian Editor-in-Chief
Ryan Robinson for Assistant Collegian Editor-in-Chief
Alex Buley for Perspective Editor
Kayla Albrecht for Collegian Head Copy Editor
Mary Aparicio for Collegian Head Layout Designer
Abigail Wissink for Collegian Life Editor
Meghann Heinrich and Lauren Epperson for a News Writer
Kenton Gonzalez, Macca Thompson, and Jonathan Stephan for Collegian Religion Writers
Brennan Stanyer, Joy Nelson, and Kate Pekar for Opinion Writers
Samantha Mattson and Lauren Wahlen for Collegian Columnist Writers
Maddy Boysen and Heather Ruiz for Feature Writers
NAD STRUCTURE
CONFAB robertsAUSTIN
Contributor
May 31 2015
CONTEXTSNAPSHOTS06
Caleb Riston Mac Ford
Monica Culler
Caleb Riston
Caleb RistonMonica Culler
Mac Ford
Mac Ford
Monica Culler
Monica Culler
Monica Culler
Monica Culler
Week inFORECAST
On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed in Le Bourget Field in Paris, France, thus finishing the first solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic.
FRIDAY
23
SATURDAY
24
SUNDAY
25
MONDAY TUESDAY
May 222
May 2381°
May 24
tMay 25
79°May 26
On this day in 1906, U.S. patent 821,393 was granted to the Orville and Wilbur Wright for their “Flying-Machine.”
2 74° t 72°
2 84°
National Escargot Day
CommUnityASWWU Year in Review, 11:00-11:50 A.M., University Church
Music Department Student Recital7:30-8:30 P.M., Melvin K. West FAC Auditorium
UPCOMINGEVENTSTin ManMay 29
ASWWU Outdoors River Float (Touchet River) and Bonfire (Old Rogers Field)May 29
EmmaMay 30, 31 & June 4, 6, 7
Spring JamMay 31
27
WEDNESDAY May 27
LLU Dentistry ConsultationsAll day (Sign up at the Career Development Center, KRH 217)
2 84°
THURSDAY May 21j 81°
Sabbath Seminar 10:30 A.M., CTC 105 Jill Lamberton: “Maude Royden, Radio, and the Sounds of a Preacher”
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Memorial Day: NO CLASSES
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CONTEXT07 WEEK IN FORECAST
PERSPECTIVEOPINION08
hallContributor
MICAH
For as long as I have been able, I have closely followed presidential elections. I still regularly make jokes about the 2012 Republican debates.1 I have been anxiously awaiting the 2016 election since the day Obama won for the second2 time. Nothing could have prepared me for the excitement I felt when I found out Ben Carson was running for president.
Now, everyone3 knows that Carson has no chance to actually become president. While he appeals to hard-line conservatives, he is getting little support from more moderate members of the Republican party. What is important now is how his candidacy will impact the election as a whole.
What presidential candidates are really fighting for through their extensive campaigns is voter turnout. The vast majority of people are going to consistently vote for the same party. Because of this, it is more important for candidates to convince people who are already on their side to go out on election day and vote. One major way the Republican party has been doing this recently is by convincing their voter base that something bad will happen if they don’t get put in office.4
This is where Carson becomes important. When he isn’t running for president, he is very effective at frightening people to go out and vote. When he goes on TV and says Obamacare is the worst thing to happen to America since slavery,5 it scares people. This type of comment helps make sure people come out and vote Republican on election day.
The problem for the Republican Party is that Carson isn’t just an activist former surgeon, he is a presidential candidate. So when he says that
CARSON FOR PRESIDENT?“I respect that Carson doesn’t compromise his beliefs, but his uncompromising stance is no longer just frightening Republicans into voting, it is becoming a national talking point.”
being gay is choice and backs it up by saying that people go into prison and come out gay,6 he is saying this as a prominent figure representing, not just himself, but the Republican party.
This isn’t good for the image of the Republican Party, especially since Romney only got 44% of the female vote, 27% of the non-white vote, and
22% of the LGBT vote. In order to be relevant in the next election, they need more than just middle-aged, white men to vote Republican.
I respect that Carson doesn’t compromise his beliefs, but his uncompromising stance is no longer just frightening Republicans into voting, it is becoming a national
1. Remember when Rick Perry couldn’t name the three governmental agencies he wanted to cut? Classic: http://tinyurl.com/aswwurickperry
2. http://tinyurl.com/aswwuthirdterm
3. *hopefully
4. The Democratic Party does this as well, but right now they don’t do it to the same degree.
5. http://tinyurl.com/aswwuacaslavery
6. http://tinyurl.com/aswwucarsonprison
7. http://tinyurl.com/aswwustarving
talking point. If he continues with the opinions he has expressed in the past,7 he is going to push away the voters that the Republican Party needs in order to have any chance of winning.
I loved watching the exciting debates of the last election, and I can’t wait to see Carson answer questions in his own unique and terribly politically incorrect way. Unfortunately for the Republican Party, unless he completely turns his campaign around and becomes a reasonable candidate who promotes actual common sense instead of Tea Party rhetoric, he isn’t going to promote conservative viewpoints, he will push people away from them.
bencarson.com
09OPINIONPERSPECTIVE
1. Remember when Rick Perry couldn’t name the three governmental agencies he wanted to cut? Classic: http://tinyurl.com/aswwurickperry
2. http://tinyurl.com/aswwuthirdterm
3. *hopefully
4. The Democratic Party does this as well, but right now they don’t do it to the same degree.
5. http://tinyurl.com/aswwuacaslavery
6. http://tinyurl.com/aswwucarsonprison
7. http://tinyurl.com/aswwustarving
BEN CARSONAdventist Rock Star
Ben Carson is an Adventist rock star. Probably the Adventist rock star. No other Adventist figure has the ability to draw an audience and get people of all ages excited. An attendee to one of his talks at the PUC church recalled to me how the Adventist community reacted to his arrival:
“It was very much packed. I remember showing up to [the church] about 10 minutes before to get a seat. I remember when I showed up the only seat available was in the very back row of the balcony. I have never seen the church that full before. Even the elementary school… the kindergarten class was right in front of me and all the little kids knew who Dr. Ben Carson was. Everyone was excited to be there.”
His popularity is not surprising, nor is the pride Adventists exhibit. The story he relates in the bestselling
Gifted Hands is equal parts unlikely and inspiring: a stratospheric rise from the depths of the inner city to the top of the medical profession, a feat seemingly accomplished through his own tenacity and unique, God-given talents (later reenacted by Cuba Gooding Jr., no less). This is our guy. We smiled to ourselves as he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, knowing that he’s not only a hero but also capable of navigating a Sabbath potluck line as adeptly as the operating room. How many countless kids have aspired to be surgeons or some other form of greatness because of this man? I know I have.
But all the odds he faced as a boy growing up in the poverty of Detroit are not as daunting as those he faces now. On May 4th Carson formally declared his presidential campaign after riding a growing swell of support following his keynote speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, fulfilling the call of “Ben Carson for President,” which followed in the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Carson’s campaign is unprecedented, though, as there has been no major presidential candidate in the last hundred years who has not previously held an elected office. If history is any guide, he will not win.
Despite the hugely unlikely odds, I keep talking to people so enthused by Carson’s candidacy. If he is an Adventist rock star, then we are his groupies, doggedly following the tour to every stop. Even though it might seem natural to follow after our leading man, there is an underlying
danger for a faith that holds religious liberty and the separation of church and state as fundamentally important values. Adventism is distinguished from other branches of Christianity by a few singular beliefs and the possibility of these becoming fodder for persecution at some point remains a deeply ingrained worry. Religious liberty commands enough importance for the Church to maintain the entire Liberty Magazine dedicated solely to the subject. We have every interest in keeping religion and politics in separate spheres.
If asked, I’m sure that Dr. Carson would say that a separation of church and state is important and something he supports, as laid out in the first amendment of the Constitution. Especially in recent times as his run has gone from that headline to campaign stumping reality, Carson has expressed a broad acceptance of different religions, such as in an April 7 Facebook post where he says, “being tolerant of someone else’s beliefs is not a denial of faith in Christ as our Savior… We must remember that we are all God’s children.” Being tolerant of other’s faith clearly means giving them full opportunity to practice whatever it is they believe.
The problem is, Carson has mixed politics and religion from the beginning. It was his 2013 speech at the National Prayer Breakfast that first garnered attention from the national media as he used his headlining status to address a series of partisan political issues as President Obama
awkwardly sat by. Afterwards, The
Wall Street Journal ran an editorial on the breakfast and the calls for Carson to run have followed him ever since. When confronted about the propriety of using a prayer breakfast for political ends, he responded, “I think there is virtually no better setting than something like the National Prayer Breakfast to talk about the spiritual state of the nation. I believe the spiritual state of the nation is not good.”1 By his account, the issues of health care and national fiscal policy, which he addresses in that speech, have now become a spiritual conflict and the stakes have raised that much higher.
In an event earlier this month in Detroit, Carson made his official candidacy announcement. After a gospel choir came out to a rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” a video began to play and a sonorous voice narrated, “We need a leader to revive the true promise of America… a leader who derives his strength from God.” Having religious candidates is not a problem. The concerning part is when they begin to mix their faith and politics because it can imply, even without implicitly stating, that their
views are endorsed from above.
The Adventist church and Christianity in general is made up of people hailing from all different backgrounds and political views. People should not feel alienated from their faith because their political views differ from someone else’s. Religion doesn’t need more politics and politics don’t need more religion. It’s natural for us to want to follow after our favorite star but I hope that if people vote for Dr. Carson it’s because they agree with his proposed policy and think he is the best candidate for the job. But, maybe a Ben Carson loss could be good for Adventism. I’m not sure we’re capable of such restraint and I’m not sure he is capable of leaving religion aside as he jumps into highly partisan issues. As an Adventist, I don’t need another Adventist in the oval office. I don’t need a Christian. I don’t even need a person of faith at all. I just need someone who maintains the separation of religion and politics, giving all of us the freedom to practice what we believe.
1 http://tinyurl.com/khd6589
aamodtALEX
Opinion Writer
“If people vote for Dr. Carson it’s because they agree with his proposed policy and think he is the best candidate for the job.”
“The kindergarten class was right in front of me and all the little kids knew who Dr. Ben Carson was. Everyone was excited to be there.”
PERSPECTIVERESPONSES 10
RE: SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Dear Benjamin,
I and other speakers from Opera-tion Iceberg read your recent article carefully; we thank you for putting the effort into the research and for writ-ing it. That said, we were disappointed in the article’s slant. In particular, the statement,
“Operation Iceberg hosts meetings at Adventist churches and write books that propagate fearbased arguments to stir up the remnant against anyone or anything that may be promoting per-sonal devotion to Christ above church doctrine — the long held truths given to the Adventist movement by God himself.”
is inaccurate on a number of levels.
First, Operation Iceberg (OI) does not write books; rather, the books were written by authors who have spoken during OI-sposored events.
Second, to suggest we employed “fear-based” arguments was unneces-sarily emotive and showed a lack of thorough research. There are things the One Project and its supporters are saying with which we agree. How-ever, on those issues where we dif-fer, we have fairly demonstrated the antagonism toward historic, biblical
Seventh-day Adventism by those who promote the emergent message.
Third, the point about stirring up the remnant against anyone pro-moting personal devotion to Christ above church doctrine is a red her-ring. Those really sold out to Jesus and preaching the three angels’ messages readily understand one cannot bifur-cate Jesus from His teachings — they are one. As the Scripture states, “they are they which testify of Me” (Jn 5:39).
Fourth, the article’s portrayal of Pr. Bryan’s involvement is misleading. His work in the Georgia-Cumberland conference several years ago, and the fact he led a Seventh-day Adventist church into apostasy (by becoming a congregational Sunday-keeping church) was pathetic. He should have lost his credentials. For WWU lead-ership to have appointed him as its senior pastor demonstrated a lack of sound judgment. We’re not question-ing Pr. Bryan’s sincerity, yet we are questioning his fitness to lead a con-gregation of malleable and impres-sionable young people in a university setting after his previous failure.
Next, Elder McVay’s comments stating OI speakers are “accusers of the
brethren” is unfair; his appeal to Mat-thew 18 is inappropriate and attempts to demonize the speakers and the min-istry. If the comments and positions taken by emergent proponents were personal affronts that either purport-edly or actually harmed someone, then yes, Matthew 18 would be appropri-ate. However, these were public state-ments not geared toward individuals; thus, 1 Timothy 5:19, 20 applies. Fur-thermore, Ellen White used this scrip-tural passage to differentiate “public wrongs” from “personal trespass” in Testimonies Vol. 2:
“Her husband seemed to feel unrec-onciled to my bringing out her faults before the church, and stated that if Sister White had followed the counsel in Matt. 18:15-17, he should not have felt hurt. [Matt.18:15-17 quoted.] My husband then stated that he should understand that these words of our Lord had reference to cases of person-al trespass, and could not be applied in the case of this sister. She had not trespassed against Sister White. But that which had been reproved public-ly, was public wrongs which threat-ened the prosperity of the church and the cause. Here, said my husband, is a text applicable to the case: I Tim. 5:20:
‘Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear’.” (2T 15, emphasis added)
We believe we’ve satisfied this requirement biblically prior to our meetings. It appears the cry of “victim” on the part of Pr. Bryan, Elder McVay, et al., is simply a result of firm, biblical pushback.
Finally, the first paragraph in the concluding remarks highlights a bias either out of ignorance or undue in-fluence. The Scriptures highlight and promote God’s government: He does not allow people to believe and act the way they want. We are to submit to God; to hide His word in our hearts so that we might be transformed into the sinless character of Christ. This is the power of the Gospel! To proffer a “Burger King Theology” is outright heresy. Paul wrote unapologetically, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and of-fences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom 16:17, KJV). We believe we have done so with meekness and with fear. And we agree this “marking” must be done lovingly with a consecrated heart:
Not until you feel that you could…
lay down your life in order to save an erring brother, have you cast the beam out of your own eye so that you are prepared to help your brother…. A tender spirit, a gentle, winning de-portment, may save the erring and hide a multitude of sins. The revela-tion of Christ in your own character will have a transforming power upon all with whom you come in contact. (MB 128)
We are to maintain God’s stan-dards; we must do all we can so oth-ers may join to finish the work. We cannot permit postmodern thinking to prevail with its “do what thou wilt” philosophy. To separate Jesus from the teachings of the historic Sev-enth-day Adventist pillars is to obvi-ate Jesus entirely.
We thank you for addressing this controversial subject, yet we believe your ties to WWU and its leaders have prevented a fair and balanced as-sessment of the issues. Perhaps you’d be willing to entertain further dialog with others who have partnered with Operation Iceberg to share their con-cerns and convictions.
– Allen Davis Ph.D.
feature on April 30
RESPONSE
rameyBENJAMIN
Perspective Editor
Dr. Allen Davis,
First of all I would like to thank you for your detailed response to my fea-ture article “Spiritual Formation: Omega Emerging.” We at The Collegian strive to inform the campus of pertinent issues as well as inspire dialogue, while my own opinions were inserted into the work as mainly an informative piece. Unfor-tunately I do not have enough room to provide a lengthy response but I would like to make a few notes.
While it is true that Operation Ice-berg does not itself publish books, many of those in league with the organization have published works on the issues. This
is splitting hairs and is also the extent of my misrepresentations.
In preparation for my article, I watched Operation Iceberg’s media and read some of the books they promote as well as spent many hours in personal interviews. I did my research and stand by everything that I have written. From what I saw, read, and heard, the materi-al they either produce or promote does indeed contain arguments that promote fear. Words they use, such as “apostasy” or “heresy,” either explicitly or implicitly direct believers away from certain au-thors, preachers, and church leaders who, they argue, diverge from the “true Ad-ventist message.” Such arguments inspire
fear in readers, not only of being wrong in their spirituality, but of losing their salvation through “Eastern” practices.
The fourth point that mentions Pastor Alex Bryan is not only based on a gross misrepresentation of the facts surround-ing Pastor Bryan’s time with the Georgia Cumberland Conference but has created undue rumors and slanderous innuendo. Such allegations have been posed in the past and sufficiently answered.
In closing, the concluding remarks of the article were based off of my opin-ion as a whole. The controversy about Spiritual Formation to me seems to be a moot point within the context of Ad-
ventism, Christianity, and the general religious discussion revolving around the fulfillment of humankind. Even so, I would be happy to organize an event where a debate could be held on the issue and direct questions could be posed and answered — this would give everyone involved a chance to clear the air, so to speak, and begin to see the value in each other’s claims.
Please contact me if there is any in-terest in this offer or if you or any other readers have any other questions or con-cerns.
Benjamin Ramey [email protected]
The Collegian staff works continually to provide well-researched and thoughtful articles representing multi-faceted views. We encourage, and have received, a number of responses to our April 16 issue on coffee and our April 30 issue on Spiritual Formation. While we presented the benefits and detriments of coffee, we did not address the unique Adventist position, which we rectify here. In response to our Spiritual Formation issue, we received a statement from Dr. Allen Davis, a spokesperson for Operation Iceberg. To preserve his authentic voice, we have printed it in its entirety. However, we, the Editor in Chief, Assistant Editor, and Perspective Editor, do so with strong reservations. We believe Dr. Davis unfairly impugns the spiritual character and professional quality of Alex Bryan as a Seventh-day Adventist believer and pastor. We urge you to read his response thoughtfully.
11RESPONSESPERSPECTIVE
May 4, 2015
Dear Ricky,
I have just finished reading the April 16, 2015, issue of The Collegian
and have a few questions for you. But first I want to express my appreciation for the huge amount of time and en-ergy you invest in getting a 24-page Collegian put together each week! I had your job in 1949-50 when it was a measly four pages. In the April 16 issue there are seven articles that in one way or another endorse the use of coffee. My question is why is it that on a topic so controversial you do not include at least one article that speaks in defense of what the Adventist church teaches? That lack makes the whole issue come across more as an advertiser rather than something befitting the intellec-tual fairness of a university journal.
I wonder to what extent the Col-legian editors and writers see them-selves as responsible for upholding the message and mission of the Sev-enth-day Adventist church. For in-stance, Benjamin Ramey, in his article, “The Sabbath Dilemma,” refers to our promotion of the Sabbath doctrine as “church-sanctioned propaganda.” Rather than calling people to come out of Babylon, (Rev. 18:4), Ramey rec-ommends that the “Adventist church . . . make a conscious effort to worship with other Christians and become part of the greater body of Christ.” Is that supposed to encourage your readers to be preparing for the days ahead when the Sabbath-Sunday issue will be the great test of our loyalty to God?
The content of this issue raises the question of accountability. In the overall production of The Collegian
from week to week, where are the lines of accountability? I note the dis-claimer on page two that the “views and opinions” expressed in The Col-
legian “are not necessarily the official stance of Walla Walla University,” but there must be some kind of “it-stops-here” accountability in the program. When I had your job, a college profes-sor was assigned the task of regularly reviewing the content of The Collegian and giving some direction to me and my staff. Has that changed?
Ricky, I pray for God to bless and guide you in your heavy assignment. I want to say, too, that even though there were coffee stains on most pages, it wasn’t all bad. I was much blessed by Jordan Stephan’s piece, “Bringing My Prayer Life Back to Life.”
– Lee Roy Holmes, College Place
RE: COFFEEfeature on April 16
RESPONSE Mr. Holmes,
I’d like to preface this by thanking you for your work as The Collegian
editor from 1949–50! It has been an honor to take up the gauntlet this year, and I have enormous respect for the editors in chief who made The
Collegian what it is today. Also, thank you very much for your thoughtful message. We received more than a few responses to the coffee issue, and I relish the chance to clarify a few things and also to rectify the exclu-sion of important content.
Although the consumption of caffeinated drinks such as coffee has become a more mainstream habit
among the young people of the Ad-ventist church, I do believe that we missed an opportunity to tell the whole story. The Adventist health message is something that many gen-erational Adventists know from ex-perience, but I believe we failed to tell the whole story for those who might be less familiar with it. Alongside my personal response, I will write my interpretation of what the Adventist church teaches regarding caffeine.
Unfortunately, I don’t have suffi-cient room to respond fully regard-ing “The Sabbath Dilemma.” I believe that Benjamin was addressing what he saw as an attitudinal problem
rather than a theological one. The religion page is one that is always open to submissions, and it’s not un-common for an issue to be debated by different authors over the course of multiple weeks.
As the editor of The Collegian, I believe the role of this paper is to provide genuine entertainment, rel-evant news, and thought-provoking perspectives in a way that upholds the values of Walla Walla University. The Collegian should be a place where students are free to share ideas and question the established in a respon-sible way — that’s what I’ve sought to maintain this year.
A weekly editorial board that is open to all is held to review con-tent before it goes to Hilary Catlett, our dean of students. The Collegian is where it is thanks to the freedom of discussion and the open line of com-munication afforded by Walla Walla University itself.
Thank you once again for your message. Readers like you who stay engaged and question our approach to such issues push us to become more responsible in what we do.
– Ricky Barbosa
barbosaRICKY
Editor-in-Chief
The health message has been a defining and public charac-teristic of the Adventist church since the time of its creation. Ellen White, a church leader who we believe was divinely inspired, wrote several books about her visions. Among many other things, she writes about living a healthy life.
One of the more shocking quotes comes from something she wrote in 1896: “Tea and coffee drinking is a sin, an injurious indulgence, which like other evils, injures the soul.”1 While this certainly seems extreme, she is addressing the harmful addictive properties of caffeine, which she believes can ultimately harm one’s spiritual life. “All these nerve irritants are wearing away the life forces; and the restlessness, the impa-tience, the mental feebleness caused by shattered nerves, become a warring element, ever working against spiritual progress.”2
Some write off some of these concepts as old-fashioned or misinformed. However, all minor health benefits, social perks and good tastes aside, caffeine is an addictive substance. When abused, the negative effects
are unquestionable.3
If you look to the 28 funda-mental beliefs of the Adventist church, you won’t find a men-tion of coffee. It does, however, stress the importance of living well, both for our own good and as an example to others: “...because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligent-ly. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our whole-someness, joy and goodness.”4
Recommended Reading: archives.adventistreview.org/2004-1508/story2.html
1. Counsels on Diet and Foods, Ellen White, p. 425, 18962. Temperance, Ellen White, p. 4423. See Science Writer Daniel Hulse's ar-ticle "Coffee: Drug" from The Collegian's issue 204. www.adventist.org/beliefs/living/christian-behavior/
COFFEE & ADVENTISM
FEATUREPOLICE MILITARIZATION 12
POLICE MILITARIZATION
If you have walked near a television in the last 10 months and not buried your head under-ground, you’ve likely heard about the deaths of Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Wenjian Liu, Rafael Ra-mos, and Brian Moore. These men — and boy — have all died in the last year for a range of reasons, including tragic or questionable police violence and outright revenge killings against police.1,2
Much of this literal and figurative conflagra-tion began on August 9, when Darren Wilson, a Ferguson, Mo., police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man.3 In the ensuing days, news media filled with images of Ferguson, Mo., staining our TV’s with flash-bangs, smoke, and fires. We are currently living in a time of peaceful protests, livid riots, burned buildings, media frenzies, disillusioned civilians, defensive police, and angered minorities. If you have ever disliked the police for ticketing you while driving or pulling you over on your bike, the zeitgeist has allowed you carte blanche to dis-like them even more. From all of this some inter-esting and important discussions arise. Though
important, the discussions pertaining to race and inequalities will not be addressed here. I seek to provide for you and myself a report on the appar-ently sudden revelations about police militariza-tion — when you walk on the street and see cops geared up like Navy SEALS on your main street. The questions thus arise: why do the police have military-grade weapons, armor, and vehicles? Also, why does Walla Walla have an MRAP?4
SWATFirst, one thing to keep in mind is the nature
of these “militarized police.” Hearing such a term, I often think Mayberry is suiting up for war, that I’ll soon see beat cops wearing riot gear and peer-ing through holographic sights while they walk down S. College Ave.5 However, such is usually not the case: military-grade weapons, materials, and vehicles are usually used by SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams, and not a stan-dard police officer.6 SWAT teams are “law en-forcement units which use military-style light weaponry and specialized tactics in high-risk operations that fall outside of the capabilities of regular, uniformed police.”7 These specialized po-lice officers originated in 1964, with the first such team created by the Philadelphia Police Depart-ment.8 Because of their important and dangerous role, they are often provided with armored ve-hicles, body armor, and high-grade weapons like assault and sniper rifles, making them look like military units. While these uniforms and mate-rials are usually a normal police blue or black,9 many have remained in their military camou-flage, resulting in some of the images seen from
Ferguson, Mo., and some of the fear many have about a “police state.”
OriginsWhile SWAT teams originated in the 1960s,
they really took off in the 1990s in an effort to fight the war on drugs. During this time, the Jus-tice Department and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed contracts and resolutions stating that they often are fighting on similar fronts against similar enemies. Thus, it only made sense to share some equipment.10 One such bill was the “National Defense Authorization Act,” first passed in 1990, which allowed the DoD to give military gear and weapons to police departments — as long as the materials were “suitable for use in counter-drug activities.”11 Sometimes, designs for military-grade vehicles, such as the Israeli-de-signed “Samson” — a riot-proof vehicle able to launch various munitions — have been market-ed to police with specific recommendations for how they could be retrofitted for civilian use,12 meaning the military/industrial complex spoken of by Eisenhower could, in some cases, become a military/police/industrial complex.
As the war on drugs segued to the war on terror, the DoD found they had many materials which could be given to police departments, spe-cifically, SWAT teams, across the United States as a sort of extension of their previous agreement about the mutual concerns of the police and the military. In the years between 2002 and 2011, the new Department of Homeland Security gave away in excess of $35 million in donations to lo-
cal police.13 Also, what has been called the “1033 program” lets the DoD disperse surplus military materials to local police for “counter-terrorism and counter-drug activities.” Impressively, the value of military equipment used by American police went from $1 million in 1990 (when the program was initiated) to some $450 million in 2013.14 Similarly, there were 3,000 SWAT de-ployments in 1980 — but in the past few years, those deployments have incrased to 50,000 times a year. Likewise, these increases occurred as crime has dropped — arguably due to an increase in SWAT deployments, but numbers seem to show that SWAT deployments increase as the number of SWAT teams increases, not as a func-tion of crime.15
DangersObviously, with this increase in military ma-
terial being given to local police and a rise in SWAT deployments as crime rates have fallen, the possibility of lethal accidents and the mis-use of materials or SWAT teams has risen. In-deed, there have been times when SWAT teams have been misused: in 2010, a SWAT team in New Haven, Conn., investigated a bar rumored as having served under-age drinkers, and other SWAT teams in Balitmore, Md., and Dallas, Tx., were deployed to break up poker games.16 There have been tragic cases alongside these absurd incidents. In 2006, Atlanta, Ga., police smashed down the door of Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old homeowner who mistook the police for bur-glars, and pulled out her pistol. Police shot her five times, killing her. In another case in Arizona,
wallenkampfKARL
Assistant Editor
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The New York Times, via i.kinja-img.com
1http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/05/04/new-york-cop-shot-dies/26882511/2http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/28/the-uptick-in-racial-tensions-has-far-less-to-do-with-obama-and-far-more-to-do-with-your-smartphone/3http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-plains/2015/05/economist-explains-224http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/apr/16/walla-walla-swat-team-armors/5That said, I've never seen a College Place cop walk more than 6 feet while in uniform.6Though the Walla Walla Regional SWAT team is run by the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and Wal-
13POLICE MILITARIZATIONFEATURE
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MRAP IN WALLA WALLA
a SWAT team killed a 26-year-old ex-Marine, who was ostensibly protecting his family with his personal AR-15. Both cases began with “no-knock” entries, and both resulted in inconclu-sive evidence, the innocence of the victims, and death.17,18 Given this preponderance of negativi-ty, can there be any benefit to militarized police, SWAT teams, and “no-knock” warrants?
BenefitsDespite the doubts which must result from
the data above, there is a similarly cogent case to be made for SWAT teams and military gear. A simple conclusion from those two tragic stories above: stop the no-knock entries, and send in beat cops. This possible solution was attempted once in Newington, Conn., in 2004: Peter Lav-ery, a Newington police officer, received a call about a domestic situation. When he came to the basement door of the home, he was shot multiple times, killing him. A SWAT team was called, and the shooter eventually committed suicide.19 In situations like these and in others when reason-able evidence of a drug cartel or violent situation is at hand, SWAT teams with advanced tactical gear are necessary. The thought of having violent criminals outgunning the police is anathema: af-ter all, that has long been the situation in Mexico, where cops have been outgunned by drug cartels for years.20 While the systematic terror across the border is unlikely to appear in the United States, southwestern states have seen serious dangers from Mexican drug cartels, which pose a danger numerically similar to (and geographically more frightening than) ISIS. While ISIS killed nearly 9,000 civilians and wounded some 17,000 more by late 2014, drug cartels killed some 16,000 civil-ians in Mexico alone — a statistic likely lowered
by Mexican authorities.21 Cartels commit hun-dreds of beheadings each year, along with dis-memberments and organ harvesting.22 Though seemingly distant from the United States, drug cartel violence has spilled into the United States, with some 5,700 Americans killed between 2006 and 2010.23 Though we in Walla Walla, Wash., may seem safe from such terrors, drug cartels have been seen as far away from the US-Mexico border as North Carolina and Maryland,24 and the Chicago Police Department named a Mexi-can drug lord “Public Enemy No. 1” in 2013.25
Walla Walla MRAPBut what about little Walla Walla, Wash.?
Why do we have an MRAP here? In 2014, the Walla Walla Police Department gained a mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) ar-mored vehicle. This vehicle, of a $733,000 val-ue, was provided to the WWPD by the Defense Department for only the price of transport, some $6,900, to replace the old, 1970s V-150 Com-mando the WWPD previously operated.26
In an effort to investigate why Walla Wal-la would have such a vehicle, I contacted the WWPD Public Information Officer, Tim Ben-nett. We talked on the phone and I asked him about the purpose of this vehicle in the valley, a seeming incongruity. I used the term “MRAP,” and he replied, “[That] does sound very mili-taristic. We have branded it as a ‘tactical rescue vehicle.’”27 Indeed, he assured me that it is in no way a patrol car, nor would it be activated for every SWAT call: only drastic cases would call for its use. As for why the WWPD would have this vehicle, he replied, “One, it was free,” but followed with some pertinent reasons for why it
serves a reasonable purpose in the valley. Com-pared to their previous V-150 Commando, it “provides a lot higher level of security and safety for the officers and deputies in the vehicle.” In-deed, he stated that their previous vehicle would not have withstood determined .308-caliber fire — the most popular big-game hunting round in the world28 and one that could very likely be in the hands of a campus shooter. In contrast, their newly-christened “tactical rescue vehicle” can withstand .50-caliber fire. Officer Bennett not-ed that this protection would be invaluable in a campus shooting at any one of the three tertiary institutions or numerous primary and second-ary schools in the valley, where the Walla Walla County SWAT team (and its medic) would need a way to “put the vehicle between the ‘bad guy’ and victim or victims.” Other notable targets in the valley include the Army Corps of Engineers’ location or the nearby dam. To conclude, Officer Bennett stated, “It’s not about being militarized, it’s about being safe and able to provide the best form of safety for our community.” He paused a moment. “Want to see it?”
The answer to that was absolutely, yes.
ResolutionsMy time at the WWPD building and my tour
with Officer Bennett resulted in photos of yours truly with an MRAP, some interesting informa-tion, and a meaningful talk with Officer Bennett, who spoke both as a police officer and as a fel-low, concerned human being (a role often denied police these days). As I was about to leave, I no-ticed something. The employee exit door of the WWPD has a sign on it: “Return with Honor.” That, to me, was a perfect prescription — though
a too infrequent description — for the activities of both civilians and police officers. To leave the negative aspects of SWAT teams and militarized police to stand alone, without speaking of the benefits and important use, would be a dishon-orable action on the part of critics. Similarly, the shooting of innocents and the indiscriminate use of military gear by police departments is patently dishonorable and tragic.
I saw the perfect microcosm of this discussion on the WWPD’s MRAP itself: it was emblazoned with the word “Rescue” — it is a tactical rescue vehicle for community service. However, I also found their logo: an eagle holding a knife and an assault rifle — a troubling reminder of the mili-taristic zeal that tags along with any tactical toy.
Such is the tension for SWAT teams and po-lice nation-wide: military hardware which is legitimate, even invaluable within reason, but which carries the weight of responsibility too easily shirked, as the numbers have shown. I, who played cops and robbers when I was a kid, was boyishly giddy at the mere sight of the MRAP — I can only imagine how some officers feel operating it. Similar tensions should be considered by every critic: police departments do not need some of the military hardware they receive, yet many sit-uations absolutely demand it. Whether critic or proponent, officer or civilian, I urge you to pre-serve your honor: respectful discourse, informed decisions, and empathetic insights should rule the day. But, a final word to the wise: don’t start a drug ring in Walla Walla. There’s a SWAT team here — Officer Bennett and the WWPD will do their job, and they will bring their MRAP.
I saw the perfect microcosm of this discussion on the WWPD’s MRAP itself: it was emblazoned with the word “Rescue” — it is a tactical rescue vehicle for community service. However, I also found their logo: an eagle holding a knife and an assault rifle — a troubling reminder of the militaristic zeal that tags along with any tactical toy.
1http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/05/04/new-york-cop-shot-dies/26882511/2http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/28/the-uptick-in-racial-tensions-has-far-less-to-do-with-obama-and-far-more-to-do-with-your-smartphone/3http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-plains/2015/05/economist-explains-224http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/apr/16/walla-walla-swat-team-armors/5That said, I've never seen a College Place cop walk more than 6 feet while in uniform.6Though the Walla Walla Regional SWAT team is run by the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and Wal-
la Walla Police Department as an “ancillary duty” of the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department’s members. http://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/de-partments/she/patrol.shtml7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT10http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/9/police-militarizationswattechnology.html11http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-plains/2015/05/economist-explains-2212http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/9/police-militarizationswattechnology.html13http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-
plains/2015/05/economist-explains-2214http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-plains/2015/05/economist-explains-2215http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21599349-americas-police-have-become-too-militarised-cops-or-soldiers#16http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21599349-americas-police-have-become-too-militarised-cops-or-soldiers#17http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21599349-americas-police-have-become-too-militarised-cops-or-soldiers#18http://www.wired.com/2011/05/drug-raid-turns-ugly-as-swat-guns-down-marine-vet/
19http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/26719184/mili-tary-gear-more-prominent-in-police-departments20http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-06-15-mexico-police_N.htm21http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/10/isil-vs-mexican-drugcartelsunitedstatesislamopho-bia.html22http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/10/isil-vs-mexican-drugcartelsunitedstatesislamopho-bia.html23http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/10/isil-vs-mexican-drugcartelsunitedstatesislamopho-bia.html24http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2603819/
Mexican-drug-cartels-outgunning-law-enforce-ment-U-S-not-just-near-border-infiltrated-3-000-cities-sheriffs-warn.html25http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na-tion/2013/04/01/mexican-drug-cartels-moving-in-to-usa/2042345/26http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/apr/16/wal-la-walla-swat-team-armors/27All quotes and subsequent information about the Walla Walla PD MRAP were gleaned from phone and in-person conversation with Officer Bennett.28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
TELESCOPE
SCOPE
the kaleidoscopeNew discoveries, far and near. Songs, books, and art, it’s shared right here. MICROSCOPE
Joseph Solomon: This refreshing collection of
spoken word pieces tells the story of a young man through
poems about doubt and his journey in finding faith in God.
Check out the spoken poetry in his album “Honestly,” and
explore the honest and down-to-earth experiences in love,
loss, and faith in an otherwise unfaithful world.
The 1975: This English indie-rock band
sounds like a mix of Passion Pit, M83, and your dreams.
Check out their massive 39-song self-titled album,
including a few of my favorites: “Chocolate,” “Fallingforyou,”
and “Settle Down.” This music works best when you close
the curtains, grab a friend, and dance like it’s 1986.
Calling All Shadows: Okay, shameless self-promotion here.
I just made some music and put it in an album called “Calling All Shadows.” I was
stoked to work with fellow WWU students Kevin Ellis, Haley Coon, and Erik Edstrom in
making this 14-song collection of songs about the struggle between the darkness on this earth
and our faith in God. Feel free to check it out on iTunes, Spotify, or Bandcamp!
LIFECULTURE 14
Lately I’ve been complaining to my-self about church.
“I’m tired of hymns. Can’t we sing more contemporary music?”
“I’m tired of Hillsong-style music. Whatever happened to just singing old hymns?”
“I’m sick of being called a millennial. It makes me feel like a specimen to be studied.”
“I’m so done with worship music. It’s all sounding the same.”
“Why do I not feel like going to church anymore? Why does nothing meet my needs?”
“What are my needs?”
Basically, I have become a chronic
complainer with no productive direc-tion. This last Sabbath I woke up late, took a shower, ate a bowl of oatmeal squares with a banana sliced on top, and started getting ready for church. I put on a striped shirt and tucked it into my black Levis while Portland’s overcast weather pushed a cool breeze through my open window.
I felt frustrated. I used to LOVE contemporary worship music. I used to love the long, passionate verses, act-ing as an altar call for the soul. There was so much emotion in the songs and classic 4-chord progressions, with the lead guitarist providing a thick, re-verb/delay ambience over everything. But recently, the songs have felt old and tired and empty to me, and I’m wondering what’s wrong with me.
Maybe today will be the day I feel a connection, I thought as I combed my hair and straightened my tie. I was headed to Sunnyside Church, which is a rather traditional, generally gray-haired Adventist church, and I wasn’t feeling too hopeful.
I found my way to a pew near the
corner and settled into its pale pink fabric. The service started with a few announcements about the church budget and the nominating commit-tee, and I casually check my phone for notifications or something.
I felt like I was at church just to say I went, in case someone were to ask me.
“Those who are able, please stand for our opening hymn, Praise to the Lord!” the elderly song leader an-nounced. The woman sitting at the organ pulled out a few stops and began playing. Having been through the mo-tions a thousand times, I tried to find a decent bass harmony to sing along with the classic hymn.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the
King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy
health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple
draw near;
Join ye in glad adoration!
An elderly man behind me was singing with full vibrato. I remember I used to roll my eyes when old peo-
ple would say things like “Why doesn’t this generation sing hymns anymore?” I used to think Hillsong was the future of all worship music, but then there I was, singing along to one of the most classic hymns in the Adventist Hym-nal. The organist adjusted a few stops, and were into the second verse with a little more vigor.
Praise to the Lord, Who o’er all things
so wondrously reigneth,
Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so
gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er
have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
The church was filling up with voic-es, reverberating around the stained-glassed windows of the sanctuary. I was beginning to feel the full glory of the song in a way I had never felt before. There was something about singing the ancient words, the simple poems of pure praise and adoration to our King that couldn’t be found in a song like “Blessed Be Your Name.” The organist pulled out a few more stops
and went full swing into the last verse.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper
thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here
daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can
do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
This time the music took me. A packed sanctuary was singing at full volume along with the pipe organ, and somehow with tears in my eyes I felt home again. Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee. The hymn seemed to shake the walls of the church, but it felt like it was shaking the walls of my heart. This is it. This is church. It’s not committees, it’s not Millennials, its not fancy stages and lights and bands, it’s not stingy elders, or anything else. It’s the pure, simple worship of God’s children on a Sab-bath morning. There we stood, young and old, singing together the words of an ancient love song to our Creator. It was so simple, but it healed me.
THE HYMN THAT HEALED ME
davisRIVER
Culture Writer
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15FOODLIFE
1 package Morning Star Griller Crumbles
1 (1 ¼oz package) taco seasoning
1 Roma tomato, diced
1 head romaine lettuce
½ red onion, diced
1 (15oz can) kidney beans or black beans
1 (15oz can) black olives, sliced
1 cup shredded cheese, fiesta blend
1 (16oz bottle) Kraft Catalina salad dressing
1 (10 ½) bag Fritos (may not use whole bag)
1. Brown Griller Crumbles in skillet.
2. Add taco seasoning and place in the refrigerator until chilled.
3. When the crumbles are no longer warm combine with the rest of the ingredients and serve.
INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS:
Here’s a toss up on a classic taco salad that you’re going to love. My family has been making this recipe for a while now and it’s always a hit!
I’d love to get feedback from
you! Send me an email if you have any comments or suggestions for
recipes you’d like to see featured at
PETERSONRACHEL
Food Writer
FeatureRECIPE: TACO SALAD
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PERSPECTIVERELIGION 16
I’ve been thinking a lot about the devil. Now that sounds all cryptic and weird, so let me explain a little bit.
The Chronicles of Narnia defined my childhood. The tales of Aslan and co. were awesome and adventurous and I couldn’t get enough. In my mind, Nar-nia was the epitome of fantasy litera-ture not written by a man with 2 Rs in his name. Then I got a little older and started looking at Lewis’ other stuff. Mere Christianity has been one of my guidebooks for theology, Letters
to Malcom became my devotional, and his essay “The Efficacy of Prayer” has be-come sermon notes more times than I care to admit. But one of his books has stood out like a ruby among diamonds (meaning, all of C.S. Lewis’s work is
precious): The Screwtape Letters.
The book takes the form of a group of letters from the viewpoint of the fictional devil Screwtape to his neph-ew and devil-in-training Wormwood. Ranging in topics from prayer to pen-ance, Screwtape “helpfully” outlines the best way to trap young, old, and really old Christians.
This idea caught my attention and imagination. I recently sat down with a hot glass of tea and my worn-out, note-ridden copy to reread it, which brings us to this article and me think-ing a lot about the devil. Taking a page from C. S. Lewis, I started thinking, “If I were the devil, how would I mess up and screw over the people of Walla Walla University?”
Well, I came up with a few ideas:
1. If I were the devil, distractions would be my friends — from Facebook to women’s ordination, Baltimore to the Grammys, and Taylor Swift’s lat-est haircut to cotton candy in the caf. Yet, Jesus says in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all na-
tions.” I mean really, how much more clear-cut can that be? If you believe in God, you are tasked to go out and teach others just how much God loves them. It’s interesting that “finding and rooting out evil” isn’t part of the last words Jesus said on Earth. Just teach, and make disciples. Not a super hard concept to process. So, instead, the devil tries to obscure this simple com-mand by making people focus on other things — like gossip. By the way, have you heard that some professors here are teaching Eastern meditation prac-tices???*
2. If I were the devil, I would make myself seem more powerful than I ac-tually am. We’ve all seen these people: THE DEVIL IS IN DISNEY MOVIES. AND ALSO IN RAP MUSIC AND FLASH DANCING! STAY AWAY LEST YOU LOSE YOUR SOUL! But those well-meaning people deny God’s power to not only shield, but also redeem the world. They give the devil a power over God (and God’s people) that isn’t actually there. The Bible clearly says that, “Fallen, fallen is’ Babylon [Satan] the great!”1 Now, as a
Greek student, I can tell you that the word used for “fallen” (I’ll spare you the actual Greek spelling2) implies an action that was finalized in the past.3 Satan is real, yes. But his ability to beat God? Not gunna happen, bro. He’s al-ready lost the fight.
3. If I were the devil, I’d put God ev-erywhere. And I do mean everywhere. You got a political problem? Just throw God in there. You got an ethical problem? Whoop, there He is. Having an argument on Facebook? Quote the Bible! You really hate a specific movie or a type of music? Bam, pull out the “God hates it” card and you win. Sat-urate the market with a product and you know what happens? It becomes
irrelevant. Tickle-Me-Elmo was all the rage for like three months back in 1996. Everyone wanted one, had one, or was selling one when suddenly peo-ple stopped caring. It just vanished. So sure, let God in. Don’t try to keep Him out. Make it so He’s no longer an ac-tive part of everyone’s lives, just back-ground noise. Don’t let people take time out of their schedule to focus on God. Let Him stay in the background.
There you have it. Three ways I would distract, scare, and repress. Now, don’t take this article the wrong way: Satan is real. Very real. I am in no means trying to trivialize that. But it doesn’t mean he’s omnipotent (remember point #2?) and lurking around every corner. Keep God on your side and you’ll be all right.
Now, I’ll leave the rest up to you. I by no means have all the answers, so I’m leaving this question open-ended. If you were the devil, what would you do? And what can we do to make sure the devil doesn’t get his way? I’m being serious here. Email me at [email protected] with your ideas and let’s start making sure things don’t go Satan’s way.
* If you have difficulty understanding sar-casm, this is not actually true — whatsoever.
1 Rev. 18:2. Read your Bibles people!
2 Look it up online or something. I can’t find the Greek font on my computer.
3 The technical terms: it’s a cumulative aorist active indicative. There, happy?
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS... AND THIS ARTICLE.
C.S. LEWIS TOP FIVE
The Chronicles of Narnia
Mere Christianity Letters to Malcom The World’s Last Night“The Efficacy Prayer”
The Screwtape Letters
blogspot.com amazon.com acrossthepage.net d.gr-assets.com northbridgechurch.com
gonzalesKENTON
Religion Writer
If you’d like to submit your poetry, prose,
songs, or any kind of creative writing, email me at abigail.wissink@
wallawalla.edu.
WRITINGCreative
wissinkABIGAIL
Creative Curator
17CW/CWLIFE
WISDOMCollegian
Fukushima nuclear plant ordered to
upgrade from Windows XP
Freezes, random restarts, total
meltdowns, what could go wrong?
Nikon made a camera that lets
dogs take photos of things they like
Ad promotes Pho-dog-raphers.
Hundreds pledge to attend vigil for ‘Bessie’ the cow
shot dead by armed police
She was tracked
down by a helicopter and six police
marksman
vimeo.com/aswwu
Walla Walla: Totally Rad!Spring is the greatest time to do rad things in Walla
Walla! Check out the montage, only on video.
video
Drought face-lift: California paints
lawns green
They look just as bad as Kenny.
Rogers
A patron brings back recollections of a girl I once knew. Blue eyes wide in earnestness, with a strong smile accented by dimples of the highest quality. A vision of innocence. This was a passing of no particular importance; She looked like someone I thought I knew, but there was no significance for anyone but me. A stranger I didn’t know at all, reminding me of a girl I hardly knew. No one would be interested in this story, no matter the degree of storytelling I utilized. This was a chance encounter of cosmic insignificance.
Except it wasn’t.
The patron looked like a girl I met abroad. A girl with a singularity of purpose and a plurality of beauty. She came from the north of the country; a region known for its clipped and precise expression of the lan-guage. Her mouth was well lubricated, evidenced by the slightly audible liquid noises escaping every time she spoke. This girl anthropomorphized the meaning of the term innocence. She had the sentiment of a child: that of global and encompassing wonder. Every stone must not go unturned, the world abundant with a plethora of new information and sights to see and people to meet and things to do and experiences to have. It wasn’t a question of being magical; the world itself simply was magic. Enthusiasm was like breathing to her. It was a necessity of life.
Obama to Cast Climate Change as a National Security
Threat
In other news: Texas bans local bans on
fracking
DARJABY BRANDON PIERCE
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS... AND THIS ARTICLE.
LIFE#thecollegian 18
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@swhite436
@circle.church
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@songbirdsdream
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19HUMORLIFE
thec
olleg
ian
SNAP
CHAT
“THOU SHALT READ, IN HER DARK EYES, HOPES OF VICTORY.”
Thanks to Karl and his extra tickets, three lady friends and I attended the famous opera Carmen at Cordiner Hall produced by the Walla Walla Symphony and Opera. It was magical. There was singing, dancing, innuendo, drama and more vibrato than imaginable.
The Walla Walla Symphony was established in 1907 and is the “oldest continually-operating symphony orchestra west of the Mississippi,” according to their website. The opera that they performed, George Bizet’s Carmen, is a French opera first produced in 1875. The performance is set in Seville, Spain, but is sung in French and
is basically about the passionate murder of a manipulating gypsy woman looking for love. Carmen is famous because it is one of the most frequently performed operas, specifically the songs “Habanera” and “Toreador.”
As you well know, the old cliche goes “with age comes maturity and wisdom.” But when you mix four 20-something-year-old-women in one of the most salacious opera stories together, only giggling will occur. Yes, we laughed through half of the productions. Not because it wasn’t good, but because Jerry Hartman was acting! Oui, you read that correctly, Professor Jerry Hartman of the communications
department was in the Opera. He played multiple characters, but the most entertaining was when he was a loveless thug looking for some fun. I will leave my readers to ask him exactly was his character was. Wink wink.
By the end of the production all four of us were starving for some food. If you didn’t know, operas are exhausting and make you extremely hangry. Running in our heels to the car we headed straight to our fridges and celebrated our cultured experience with a snack. My snack was also cultured: yogurt. I have found that absorbing knowledge, cultural experiences, and information always requires
one of two things: a hot drink and a snack of some kind. God knows that I and one of my traveling compatriots, Bryce Bower, have eaten an embarrassing amount of Nutella while observing cultural phenomena while traveling. Hey, no judgment, what other nut substitute are you suppose to eat in a continent with a sparse supply of peanut butter? Peanut
butter (aka the condiment of the gods,
American gods).
Below is a list of foods that pair well with each study. So the next time you attend the Opera or study in the library, take these snacks and enjoy the experience. You won’t regret it.
lewisLAUREN
Humor Writer
The Title Game is here! The first to email me at [email protected], with the author of the title quote will win a homemade baked good. Yum! Good luck!
@alecia_harris3
@eric_yeags94
@alecia_harris3
@songbirdsdream
HISTORY SCIENCE P.E. MATHCracker Jacks
Because you can’t go through the History of
Baseball without them.
Fried Chicken
Because as a scientist you will be studying muscles and fascia
for many years to come.
A Powerbar
So that everyone thinks your buff. But really you like the rock
hard, putty-like texture.
A multi-colored bag of M+M’s
Using the colors and sizes, probability and statistical analysis
can easily take place.
SOCIOLOGY ENGLISH THE OPERAChocolate
Because studying anxieties induces anxiety and only the cacao bean can reduce that.
Tea, biscuits, and clotted cream.
Get in the mood to embrace Jane Austen and John Milton with some
fancy and fattening food. Pinkies out.
Tomatoes
Because you need something to throw at Jerry Hartman. Ok, fine. He was great.
LIFETRAVEL20
This last Sunday I drove down to Portland to see Phantom of the Opera. Despite driving a total of eight hours there and back, it was nice to get out of town. This was my first time driving through the gorge when the trees weren’t dying and the ice wasn’t causing two hours of traffic jams — the gorge is gorgeous on the road to Portland.
I didn’t realize how gorgeous the Pacific Northwest is because I’ve never driven out of the east side of Washington until this year. I see pictures all the time on Grant Perdew and Jon Spracklen’s Instagram and
Facebook feeds which make me want to go out and explore, so thanks guys!
I live in Maine, also known as Vacationland, where trees are all you can see for miles while the wind whips up across the ocean sending a faint smell and feel of salt through the air. When you drive up to Acadia and Bar Harbor you can see out to sea for miles. They are typical East Coast towns: small, with the smell of seafood and the ocean floating through the air — the sounds of seagulls, ship bells, and the waves crashing onto the beach echo through the town.
Once upon a time, I lived in Portland — it lasted for six months. I asked my mom why we moved, and she explained that there was too much rain, so naturally we moved to Maine. Driving through the PNW is the complete opposite of what I’m used to. There’s so much green! There are waterfalls! The river is blue and there are railroad tracks along the side
of the road. I can’t decide if having slow Oregon drivers in front of me is a good or bad thing. The upside is that I can take in more of the beauty; the downside is we’re going under the speed limit. Oh, the choices.
The trip from Walla Walla to Portland offers a bounty of opportunities, some of them not so great, like the choice between Subway and McDonald’s, where to stop for gas and restrooms, or whether or not to exit at Interstate 84 in that one town that’s home to the “famous burger.” Besides the many vineyards, which are gorgeous when the grapes are growing, and besides the little towns situated below the highway looking all cute, there are more great attractions further into the gorge.
Crown Point Vista is a beautiful place to stop with a view overlooking the Gorge. It’s located on the Historic Columbia River Highway, so if you have the time to spare, take this
route. The octagonal building is up on a hill and was built in 1930 — it has withstood millions of visitors and gale-force winds from the east. It’s a museum, a gift shop, and an interest point with a historical interpretive display.
If you love lavender, there’s the Hood River Lavender Farm a few miles from the highway. They grow acres of lavender which is dried, or made into soap, essential oils, perfumes, teas, culinary products, and more.
The avid hiker will fall love with the many trails throughout the Gorge. I, however, would rather finish A Feast for Dragons first, but I can be convinced put the book down to hike around the waterfalls, in particular, Multnomah Falls. This is considered the oldest of the waterfalls in the Gorge. It’s 620 feet tall and the fourth tallest in the U.S., which means if you want to hike to the top, it’s 1.2 miles with a 600 foot gain in elevation. It
then hooks up to the Wahkeena Loop Trail. During the summer it’s a popular spot and during the fall it’s provides a perfect background for photos because of the foliage.
Then there’s the Horsetail Falls at a height of 176 feet off of the Historic Highway. This has a shorter trail to climb and it goes behind the base of the falls. It’s a scenic place to just stop and rest and look at the surroundings.
Honestly, I love driving through this area. My only complaint is the slow drivers, but I am from the East Coast, where we move in general at a quick pace. Go forth my friends and experience what Oregon and Washington have to offer.
traveloregon.com
THE GREAT PNW
traveloregon.com traveloregon.com
pierceSHANNON
Travel Writer
Portland Head Lighthouse Multnomah Falls Crown Point Vista
THE FIVE-PIECE FRENCH WARDROBE
LIFE21FASHION
traveloregon.com
This is the fun part! Each season you can allow yourself four to five updated pieces to wear. Set a personal budget for these five pieces for each new season, and have at it. You will feel better because you have limitations. You will make smarter shopping decisions and not overspend in the process. I really love this because it gives me more of an incentive to buy high quality items, because I only get five and they have to be durable from the consistent wear. Ladies, an example of five new pieces you might buy for the warmer season might be a pair of gladiator sandals, a trendy jumpsuit, a denim skirt, a peasant top, and a new watch. Et voila! Gentlemen, I would go for maybe a cool new pair of bermuda shorts, a unique button-down, espadrilles, a pair of sunglasses, and a contemporary pair of swim trunks (try a shorter cut like what’s in style now). There you have it!
Fashion’s most current trend is to actually go against consumerism. This new concept is called the five-piece French wardrobe. Let me break this down for you: it is the idea to reduce your closet to just basic essentials and only add five new pieces two times a year, once for fall and winter, and then for spring and summer. These new pieces can be anything from a patterned kimono top to a bright red pair of sandals — basically anything that is more of a want rather than a need. This means getting rid of everything that is simply a “meh” — you don’t really love it but you don’t really hate it. Just get rid of it! The idea is to whittle down your closet to only things that you absolutely love, which results in a less cluttered life and an easier and more satisfying time getting dressed in the morning. The name of the concept is said to be derived from an online forum that discusses the French philosophy of dressing, saying that the French buy less but acquire higher quality items. We Americans are finally catching onto this great concept for tackling spending, clutter, and just pure frustration. Here is how to get started on your own five-piece French wardrobe.
hartwickALYSSA
Fashion Writer
GET QUALITYBASICS
1.
PICK OUT YOURNEXT 5 NEW PIECES
2.
Make sure you have all the basics. We can define “basics” as anything that is a minimal classic piece that can be mixed and matched. Your basics are the glue that keep the rest of your wardrobe together. Here is a checklist for the ladies of what your essentials might look like. Gentlemen, this is a concept you can certainly adopt as well. Your list of basics will obviously be different but with a similar concept. Note that not everyone’s list of basics will look the same.
Worried about not having enough outfit choices? See the diagram below. Only two pairs of shoes, three jackets, 10 shirts, and five pairs of pants equals a potential of 300 outfit combinations! If one can do this with just these few items, you will have absolutely no problem with this proposed clothing diet. When making your five piece selections just remember: versatility, versatility, versatility!
lifestyledepartment.com
LIFESCIENCE22
WHEN I WAS WRONG
hulseDANIEL
Science Writer
Dear Readers,
One common recurring theme throughout my articles this year has been criticism — pointing out other people’s errors, whether they be errors of misinformation , bad design, or insulting movie physics. While I do believe that open criticism is one of the best ways to get closer to truth, I need to note that I, the criticizer, have not always been right, even in what I’ve written in this column throughout the year. Seeing that this is the penultimate issue of this year’s Collegian, I will be using this article to disclose all of the ways I was wrong this year, to dig up any of the misconceptions I might have sown
1) In attempting to explain why the iPhone 6 didn’t bend while the Galaxy Note didn’t, I butchered material mechanics. No, plastic is not stronger than metal; even the polycarbonate that makes up the Galaxy Note 3 is not as strong as the aluminum that makes up the back of the iPhone 6. The primary consideration in some phones breaking before others is thinness — especially at the scale phones are at. This is because stiffness is dependent of area moment of inertia, which varies with the cube of thickness.
2) My article on finding out how many people have papal ancestry pushed an estimation formula well beyond its limits. Just a few generations back, and the formula would have found more descendants than there have been people, ever. While certainly no one was going to try to use that article for anything useful, it’s important to note that mathematical models aren’t just magic spells that give the right answer — they only work within certain limits.
3) My initial critique of superheroes that claim to be powered by sunlight did not take into account Birdman’s wingspan. While I did a more detailed analysis in a later article, human-powered flight is possible and has been proven. Regardless, the problem with solar-powered superheroes is that their “superpower” is not be very super.
4) Since my terrorism article did not include money spent on domestic programs to prevent crime, it didn’t provide enough information to compare the effectiveness of fighting violent deaths by focusing on domestic issues and the effectiveness of fighting terrorism.
5) My Birdman: “Superhero” article assumed a coefficient of drag. Never do that. The coefficient of drag of any object varies with Reynolds number, which varies with velocity and the length of the surface the fluid flows over (among other things). Furthermore, just deciding the wings have just already been designed in a certain way is sloppy because wing design is the primary factor in the aerodynamics of the craft. Simulating any flying craft requires a much, much more detailed analysis.
6) My article on new smartphone operating sort of implied that I thought those were the future. Given Android and iOS’s market domination and the near-impossibility of these operating systems’ app ecosystems growing to a comparable size overnight, their success seems unlikely.
7) “The Matrix Writers Don’t Want You To Learn This One Weird Truth!” used some sloppy assumptions for power transmitting through the human body. While using humans as an energy transfer mechanism is beyond inefficient, it could likely be made more practical than my assumptions showed it to be by isolating the brain from the rest of the body, allowing more power to transfer through without the person perceiving it. It’s still an objectively bad energy transfer mechanism, just not as much as I showed it to be.
8) “Global Warming is Real, and...” relied far too heavily on a website with an obvious agenda. While skepticalscience.com is a great website for explaining how certain myths about climate change are not true based on actual studies, I would have preferred to rely on those studies directly.
This summer I worked at a small business, and my boss, a lady who truly put the service in customer service, liked to say “The only thing you really have is your integrity.” I hope in your reading this year this year you haven’t just found my articles enjoyable, but informative.
See you next week,
- Daniel
LIFE23SPORTS
wagnerSports Writer
ALEX AT THE BALLPARKLast weekend I had the opportunity
to see the Seattle Steelheads take on the Boston Royal Giants. The Royal Giants won 4-2, in a game that was really between the Mariners and the Red Sox. The game was set up to pay homage to the 1940s Negro leagues as the two teams not only changed their names for the evening, but they wore throwback uniforms and hats in an effort to replicate how the Steelheads and Royal Giants might have looked around 70 years ago.
What really got my attention that evening were the lengths the Seattle stadium operations team went to, creating an atmosphere and an experience that was exciting to consume. In addition to the on-field look of the teams, the grounds crew fit the bill with white jumpsuits and hats. Baseball organ music filled the venue throughout the evening, and the game’s announcer spoke into a microphone that had that echoing, gramophone sound effect.
While I don’t expect every baseball game I attend to be like this, in a
way, this atmospheric exaggeration reminded me why I love going to baseball games so much.
Baseball, in a way, combines everything that is right about sports. Breaking it way down, there is a schedule in place for every team, and the goal is to win as many games as possible, so there is a competitive event taking place that fans will purchase tickets to watch. The competition gives it purpose, as you know someone will win — and someone will lose. Winning is generally more fun than losing, and the fans want to have fun, so they cheer when the home team scores or makes a great catch that puts them in position to win the game.
The thing about baseball is, the game doesn’t have the tempo to cheer and go crazy every single play. There are just too many pitches to consistently have that energy, and that’s what’s great. A more relaxed viewing environment is created. You can have a conversation with the people sitting around you about the pitcher on the mound who was just called up from AAA. Or you can talk about the big guy in front of you that just spilled beer all over his pants. It really doesn’t matter what you
talk about, the point is you don’t have to be a hardcore fan to enjoy your time at a game with friends.
The smell of a ballpark is something else that also puts it on another level. There are so many different fine scents that I can associate with baseball games. The smell of garlic fries at Safeco Field, barbeque in Boston, or the aroma of sugar roasted almonds walking through the gate at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Another cool thing about ballparks is they are all different! As opposed to a football stadium concourse or basketball and hockey arena, every ballpark is built differently and has its own visual touches that set it apart from the others. The left field wall in Fenway Park is thirty seven feet high while part of the left field wall at Dodger Stadium is less than five feet high. There is a hill in the outfield at Minute Maid Park in Houston, and in San Francisco, there is a cove that many home run balls hit towards right field drop into.
While it’s not just specific to baseball, going to games gives a sense of civic pride, or parochialism. At the Boston-Seattle game I was talking
about earlier, there was plenty of chatter between the Boston fans in attendance and the hometown Seattle crowd. Everything from Tom Brady and Pete Carroll to the Sonics and the Celtics was set on the verbal table in an effort to prove which was the better city. What makes this argument unique is that at baseball games the argument will be settled that night. When the visiting team wins, the fans have the right to talk up their city until the next day, when the home team wins. Unlike other sports, baseball teams play consecutive three or four game series against each other, giving the back-and-forth jabbing time to continue.
Ball parks offer fans a chance to get close to the game, regardless of where their seats are located. At Safeco Field, anyone can get within a few feet of Felix Hernandez as he warms up on the other side of a chain link fence in the bullpen. There isn’t a delay in the time it takes for the sound of the ball hitting the catcher’s glove to meet your eyes. Also, there can be the interaction of a ball from the playing field heading towards your seat!
I could keep going forever on the
great experiences baseball games offer, but instead I think I will wrap it up with a request: Try and make it out to at least one baseball game this summer! Whether you live in a town with a major league, minor league, or amateur team — there are few things better than a summer evening experiencing the sights and sounds of baseball.
You’re at the game — what else should you do?• Fill out a scorecard. Keeping score on your own scorecard is a great way to keep up with the game and track exactly what you are seeing. If you are asked after the game what you saw, the scorecard should be able to tell the story!
• Peanuts/sunflower seeds. These salty snacks are great to chew on or break into as you are watching the game.
• Go all out for the seventh inning stretch – Don’t be that person who mumbles “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Sing loud and sing proud!
• Talk to a random fellow spectator. Ballgames are environments where it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to strike up conversation with someone you don’t know!
Alex WagnerAlex WagnerAlex Wagner
THE M-WORD
the Other Cheekwissink
ABIGAIL
Backpage Writer
This last Sunday I took a trek down to Portland to see Phantom of the Opera with the Drama and Music clubs. I had no prior knowledge of the storyline what-soever, so it was exciting to be able to see it for the first time with the touring Broadway group. We were all blown away with the cool effects and how the back-story of the Phantom was told in shadows on the stage.
However, when the show was over, I didn’t un-derstand any of what had happened; not the reason why the Phantom was there, not the ending, not the weird Stockholm Syndrome-y relationship between the Phantom and Christine. None of it. While this may be due in part to the fact that I dozed off for a scene and a half in Act One,1 I feel as though major plot points were glossed over or assumed by the creators of the production to be already known by the audi-ence. Behind the mask of solid ensemble work, fancy set pieces, and impressive light and sound effects, the story itself left something to be desired that couldn’t be fully explained with shadows.
One of the students on the trip said they judged Phantom on how well the masquerade scene is per-formed, and they were not disappointed by what we saw on Sunday. However, this led me to wonder, are we more impressed by the masks we see and the move-ments that are made than by what is really going on? How often do we get so lost and focused on appearanc-es that we lose sight of what we’re really trying to say?
Regardless of the fact that I had to have someone explain what happened during Phantom, I still enjoyed the show. Maybe full comprehension isn’t always nec-essary and we can just sit back and watch pretty things happen with no meaning attached to them. Is that liv-ing, though? I want to see people for who they really are, what they really think, and the stories they have to tell. By the same token, it is important to know your audience. In the case of Phantom, maybe I was the awkward outsider in a group of people who knew exactly what was going on and didn’t need any more explanation.
As a writer for The Collegian, you as readers are not going to see exactly who I am in every regard. I must put on a bit of a mask, as it were, to produce writ-ing that is interesting to more than just my group of friends. I have to remember my audience. This also applies to when we spend time with people unlike us, or our community.
I say we get rid of our masks. Don’t hide who you are, don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, but what-ever you do, don’t forget to be kind — kindness is not a mask but a way of being respectful to people who don’t live the way we do, believe the things we do, or even find humor in the same things we do. Be yourself, but be kind.
1 What can I say, Casablanca was exhausting.
“You remind me of my mother, because she’s got a little dementia and a little OCD.”
- Professor Brandon Beck, to Johnel Lagabon
AN APOLOGY
In last week’s issue of The Collegian, we published a group of three Verbatim
submissions and three interviews on this page. This kind of content is sometimes
compiled and sent to print at the last minute and in this case, didn’t go
through the entirety of our multi-tiered review process before
going to press. The Verbatim and Interviews allow for a
humorous glimpse into the lives of our students and
faculty, but it’s clear that what we published crossed the line. While each of us read over the content in question during publication night, I believe that approving it was a lapse in judgment.
We aspire to high standards at The Collegian and we seek to uphold our university’s values. We represent and write for our fellow students, and we stand for the critical analysis of issues relevant to the university, the valley, the Adventist church and
the world at large. We only wish to do so in accordance with Walla Walla University’s core themes: excellence in thought, generosity in service, beauty in expression, and faith in God. In the future, we’ll do so more carefully.
