The Point Weekly - 9.30.2013

RENEWAL WEEK SPEAKERS PG.5

STUDY ABROAD STUDENT IN SPAIN PG.4

The Point Weekly
point loma nazarene university
monday, september 30, 2013
volume 42 | issue 03

Caf rolls out new rules
BY GUIMEL SIBINGO OPINION EDITOR

NEW RULES
Students need ID cards in order to enter the facility. Mary Sossoman: “The system only allows us to deduct from the meal plan based on that ID card. The only way for dining and us to know that you have a meal plan is to actually see your ID card. We can’t tell otherwise because we don’t have access to the student’s information.” No food taken out of the dining hall except for a cookie or fruit. MS: “One of the reasons why taking food with you is not allowed, [is] because it’s an all you care to eat [facility]. It also…creates health concerns. If you leave the facility with…[a]…sandwich and it gets warm and then you eat it and then you get ill, we’re therefore responsible and liable for that food once it leaves the facility.” No double swiping on 15 meal plan MS: “One of the reasons we created the 180 and 120 meal plan this year was to allow students to do double swiping because last year they couldn’t. Students have now the option to purchase a meal plan so they can swipe their friends in.” Do not remove dishes from dining facility MS: “In our contract with the university we have a minimum requirement for dishes and silverware. When the students or faculty or staff or whoever remove those dishes from the facility, I am then required to purchase dishes to get back to our par level. That comes at a cost and our goal is to never increase the dormitories prices to dine with us.”

Res Life: new housing model going well so far
BY PARKER BUNCH STAFF WRITER

In an e-mail sent to the entire campus by Sodexo General Manager Mary Sossaman, it was reported that students who fail to follow Sodexo guidelines will be subject to ten hours of community service, served over 21 days. According to Sossoman, this fiveyear old policy was first implemented by a different general manager five years ago, was agreed upon by the university, most specifically by the Dean of Students Jeff Bolster. “I worked with Jeff Bolster… and we discussed how can we work on making sure that the policies are put in place,” Sossoman said. “He made the suggestion that we go back to how they used to do it five years ago.” Bolster was unavailable for comment. If a student repeatedly breaks a rule, Sossoman will send an e-mail to Bolster with the student’s name. Bolster will then contact the respective student’s Resident Director and Resident Assistant. The Resident Assistant will then assign ten hours of community service to be completed in 21 days. In the e-mail it was suggested the community service would consist of dishwashing. The community service policy is not a new policy. It was first implemented five years ago under a different general manager but fell out of use. Sossaman said that the risk of com
SEE CAF RULES, PAGE 2

PLNU made significant changes to its housing policies this fall, including reorganizing freshman and sophomore dorms to include both men and women and establishing the Colony apartments -- an off-campus, PLNUrun complex serving as an alternative

option for students seeking off-campus housing. The new on-campus dorm policy, known as the Flexible Housing Model, redistributes underclassmen according to their gender and class. Dorms such as Young Hall, which previously held freshman and sophomore men, now contains only sophomores, but houses both men and women.

Dr. Jeff Bolster, Dean of Students at PLNU, said the on-campus changes were originally driven by a need for space three years ago when the administration saw the incoming freshman class had more women than they had space for. They responded by moving women
SEE HOUSING, PAGE 2

Brewed Awakening draws large crowd to hear from survivors of sex trafficking

PHOTO BY MARISSA CHAMBERLAIN More than 100 people attended the first Brewed Awakening event in the Fermanian Business Center last week. San Diego Youth Services staff and recovering sex trafficking victims from spoke at the event.

APU faces decision on transgender professor: What would PLNU do?
BY KATIE CALLAHAN NEWS EDITOR

BY MARISSA CHAMBERLAIN STAFF WRITER

After one of its theology professors announced her gender identity as male two weeks ago, Azusa Pacific University has been forced to decide how it will respond as a Christian university. Heather Ann Clements, who now asks to be called Heath Adam Ackley, announced her identity as a transgender man via Facebook on Sept. 17, resulting in a public uproar due to the possibility that this could lead to her

dismissal, according to Azusa Pacific’s student newspaper, “The Clause.” Scott Daniels, the dean of APU’s school of theology, is a leading voice in the discussion on the administrative side. He is also a Nazarene pastor. APU is an evangelical university, its foundations connect to the Wesleyan tradition. “The dean of the School of Theology at APU is a highly visible and influential Nazarene pastor, and in fact is one of our very finest and most thoughtful scholar-pastors in the de
SEE TRANSGENDER, PAGE 02

More than 100 people filled the Fermanian Business Center, patio, hallways, and floor to hear San Diego Youth Services STARS staff and recovering sex trafficking victims for the first Brewed Awakening of the year. PLNU, SDSU, and USD students and faculty, community members and church groups gathered for a presentation by Michelle Atkins, the main speaker and representative from STARS program (Surviving Together, Achieving and Reaching for Success). Discussion included the details of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in San Diego and promotion of the on-campus group “Beauty For Ashes” that works against human trafficking.

Although questioning the survivors and documenting their stories was not permitted, Jamie Gates, director for Justice and Reconciliation and sociology professor at PLNU provided insight on the evening’s events. “We’re bringing to light a reality that’s been hidden for too long but it’s a delicate series of issues, so we want to move forward with the greatest wisdom and with patient urgency,” said Gates. Gates said the first step is to “pause and get educated.” According to Atkins’ presentation, the average age of entry into pornography and CSEC in the U.S. is 12 years old. Additionally, 20 to 30 percent of trafficking happens by victims’ own families who either sell them to or who are already

in CSEC. Atkins focused the discussion on the transition from a good relationship in the girls’ eyes into the sex trafficking realm. She said to fix this issue of sex trafficking means holding the right person responsible, which often isn’t the girl charged with prostitution and placed in juvenile hall. It also means changing our characterization of these women. “We never use the word prostitute, that puts the blame on these girls and not the ones it truly falls on [pimps],” said Atkins. The STARS program helps girls cope with their trauma and provides services for them immediately upon their arrival. One service they provide has a photographer come in and take
SEE BREWED, PAGE 2

2 | NEWS

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013 which are outlined in the university’s faculty and staff handbooks. Fulcher said that he wouldn’t comment on what he would do as an administrator if PLNU had a transgender teacher come to terms with her identity because he doesn’t know the APU issue’s confidential information. “I wouldn’t want to speculate on a hypothetical issue for PLNU, Fulcher said. “There are many issues that are dealt with in the course of a year and each of those are cared for individually with the specific variables and policies that are appropriate for the situation. In all personnel cases, we seek to act in ways that show compassion and respect for the individual while also honoring our Christian mission and values.” PLNU professor of writing, Michael Clark, is an APU alum and former adjunct professor there. He said it’s about time that Christian universities addressed transgender issues. “It’s a conversation that needs to happen and it’s something that I think Christian universities have been, in some ways, particularly graceless when it comes to LGBTQ issues, but particularly [issues of transgender identity],” said Clark. “Even in my understanding of gay communities’ conversations about themselves, transgender issues are vastly underrepresented in the general construct of the conversation.” More than that, Clark wants APU to be proactive, responding to the issue in a way that can be modeled, not looked over. “As for APU, I’m cautiously hopeful that this is the beginning of a conversation rather than the university shutting it down,” he said. “I would hope that my alma mater would be a leader in this issue rather than reactive only. That said, it’s a difficult position all around.” Fulcher cautions people from sensationalizing the APU incident and making their own conclusions about its handling without knowing all the facts. He said that the best response is to look at these officials as models of character. “It seems like the hurtful and unloving comments and reactions are coming from those who only know snippets of information about this issue,” said Fulcher. “The professor and the university officials, who are at the center of the case and have access to the information of this private personnel issue, seem to be responding to each other with grace, compassion and understanding. Perhaps it would be good for the rest of us to take our cues from them.” According to Clark, public response to this issue over others comes from the inability to come to terms with this person that people thought they knew. “We’re no longer judging them on who they’ve been for the past fifteen years, we’re judging them on this new representation,” said Clark. “I don’t think Ackley sees this as becoming a new person; I think the way he puts it, is that he’s now finally identified himself legitimately and this reaches back to childhood.” Annie Yu, editor-in-chief of “The Clause” said that this news has split student body opinions. “This is big news,” said Yu. “A lot of people are talking about it. Students are voicing their concerns, calling it an injustice, but a lot of students don’t feel that way. Some students support administration, but don’t feel comfortable talking about it.” Though Clements made the announcement via Facebook that she had been fired, she later rescinded the status, according to The Clause. She then posted a status saying she and the university were in conversation about the possibility of her leaving the university. While Clark said that in their best forms, Christian universities are places of discussion where issues can be wrestled with, that is not always the reality. This issue comes down to the Christian charter of universities. “There’s a reason universities aren’t churches and churches aren’t universities. Unfortunately, I wish there was a little bit more of an overlap between the two,” said Clark. The hesitation to make quick decisions on this issue is that university response sets a religious and public precedent as a faith-based institution, according to Clark. “We live in a culture where people want to make the way we respond to others a representative of not just a faith, but a faith that is soaked in current cultural and political norms,” he said. “Outside of professor speak, what that means to me is that when evangelical universities make decisions like this, they are doing their best to balance how they are defined, how they define their faith, and how that faith defines this particular issue. And in that definition process, we have a lot of bumps in the road.” But PLNU is different from APU, at least in culture, according to Clark. One thing might be similar though. “I don’t know if this is something we’ve encountered here and I don’t know if we’d be any more prepared to deal with this conversation,” said Clark. “[But] I would hope that this situation is part of a greater reconciliation between evangelical schools and people in the LGBTQ community.”

TRANSGENDER
FROM PAGE 01

nomination,” said Michael Lodahl, professor of theology and world religions at PLNU via email. Lodahl said that he does not see much difference between PLNU and APU faith perspectives. “What you call ‘the Nazarene faith’ would not really be much different, if at all, from faith at Azusa. Both institutions are in the Wesleyan tradition with a strong evangelical impetus,” said Lodahl. According to Lodahl, the Church of the Nazarene doesn’t have any stipulations about transgender identity. “As far as the doctrines and practices of the Church of the Nazarene, I am not aware of any specific teaching about people who experience and interpret themselves as transgender,” he said. PLNU non-discrimination policy lists gender, and only states that “as a religious institution, PLNU retains the right to exercise religious preference in employing faculty and staff who agree with and support the religious mission of the University.” Dr. Kerry Fulcher, provost and chief academic officer, said that hiring practices at PLNU deal with “qualifications, experience and good fit with University mission and values,” all of

BREWED
FROM PAGE O1

photos of their hands with things written on them that they couldn’t say before, like “I am not a prostitute.” Seduction and befriending are recruitment tactics used to get young girls into CSEC. Specific tactics by pimps include making the girl feel like she’s in a “family,” telling her she’s beautiful and that he loves her, and buying her expensive things. A survivor of CSEC spoke, showed and described her vision board that she had created of her past, present and future. “Don’t try to fix it, just be there,” said the survivor. Atkins explained that something that is lacking is a support group for men and pimps because information and insight from the male point of view is missing. “Our young men need to learn about this issue and discuss it in order to prevent it,” said Atkins. Tyler Maskiewicz, a soph-

omore at PLNU and first-timer to Brewed Awakening events, said that now he is better informed about these issues and can instigate a conversation. Maskiewicz described the event as, “relevant, real and empowering.” Michelle, an alumni and neighbor of PLNU who asked that her last name not be used, has been coming to these events for two years and says that finally this issue has been localized. “Hearing the survivors was so powerful; it put a face to the statistics that I wasn’t able to have yet,” said Michelle. Atkins ended her presentation asking the audience to report suspicious activity, spread the information learned here, seek representatives in government and donate to a nonprofit (time, skills, services, money). “Human trafficking is not something that happens only in foreign countries, it is happening right here in San Diego, our city,” said Michelle.

GLOW WITH THE FLOW

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH ASB held its second annual “Glow With The Flow” dance on the baseball field Friday night. Campus Activities Director Kristi South estimates that nearly 400 students attended the event.

HOUSING
FROM PAGE 01

FROM PAGE 01

CAF RULES
munity service becomes the student’s responsibility. “We feel that you guys are adults and certainly understand these policies and should have no problem following them,” she said.” We don’t feel like were going to have a lot of people end up in community service, at least that’s our hope is that we don’t ever end up in that situation.” Some students were not pleased with the e-mail. Senior Faith Suh felt the e-mail was “condescending and patronizing.” “Her tone was not respectful of the students and it was said in a way that was meant for five-year olds not 19 or 20 something year olds,” she said.

Sossaman said the goal of the email was not to treat students as less than adults but to make the situation more positive. “We tried to make it fun,” she said. We were trying to take the negativity out of the rules…that’s why you see these kind of funny little pieces to it. It’s about creating a more fun environment.” Sossaman does not want dining to be a negative experience for students. “We don’t want to police you guys,” she said. “Our goal is to take care of the students and to have them enjoy coming to the Dining Hall, it’s not about being strict or hateful or anything with them. That’s what we’re hoping that this e-mail will be…help them understand that these are just the basic rules…and we’re asking you on an honor’s system to follow them.”

into the first floor of Hendricks Hall which has previously housed only freshman and sophomore men. The change “accommodated the space need,” Bolster said. “But the relational aspect of it went so well that we started paying attention to [that Flexible Housing model].” As the size of the incoming classes continued to increase and the need for more widespread reorganization of the dorms became apparent, Bolster said, a tremendous amount of research was conducted to determine the most beneficial way to redistribute the students. “What we found is that there are some pretty significant advantages to have -- especially for the first two years -- freshman living together and sophomores living together,” Bolster said. Additionally, Bolster said this redistribution by class was influenced by the layout of the dorms. Their research indicated that freshmen benefited from long, “common” hallways -- such as those in Hendricks and Klassen Halls -- which facilitate interaction with a greater number of students, while sophomores benefited from individual units,

such as those in Young and Wiley Hall. This reorganization of the classes by dorm layout and class, Bolster said, made it necessary to house both men and women in the same dorms. “If we moved all of our freshman to our long hallways -- Klassen, Nease, and Hendricks, we’d have to go to a Flexible Housing Model,” Bolster said. “We had good data from the research, good data from our own experience, and a pretty significant need, so we said, ‘Well, let’s give it a shot, and be as intentional as we can.’” According to Bucky Bateman, Resident Director of Young Hall, the change has been a positive one and has facilitated students’ relational and communal development. “It’s a really cool vibe. It has a very normal, natural feel,” Bateman said. “I love it that there’s not this awkwardness of ‘Ooh there’s girls here,’ or ‘Ooh there’s guys here.’ It’s just more of a [friendly] feel.” Young is divided in half, with the bottom two floors housing about 100 men and the top two floors housing a similar number of women. The equal amount of males and females -- unlike the female-heavy ratio pervasive on the rest of campus -- is a

welcome change for the women, said Cheyenne Ferner, a sophomore resident of Young. “The three-to-one ratio doesn’t exist in Young, which is pretty cool,” Ferner said. “It seems to me in my experience when you have the same sex living together, you get a more immature attitude. It’s much more normal in Young.” Kirby Challman, a sophomore Resident Assistant in Nease Hall, said the new Flexible Housing Program encourages freshmen men to be more accountable for their maturity. “I can only speak for the men, but it sets us to a higher standard to present ourselves in a certain way,” Challman said. “Without that [female] presence that [standard] still forms and shapes, but with them here it formed a lot sooner.” Challman said he and other members of Residential Life encouraged the mantra of “brothers and sisters in Christ,” and sees it exemplified on a regular basis in Nease. When I’m sitting here working the box on any given Thursday, I see it in action the whole time,” Challman said. “It’s a very mature and rooted relationship.”

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

NEWS | 3

Campus cats becoming more prevalent
BY TONY ORDOÑO STAFF WRITER

A new wave of feline vagabonds has crashed on campus, landing one student in the hospital. Lindsey Sirianni, a sophomore psychology major, was bitten by a stray kitten after trying to pick it up. “I saw the kittens on the side of the road between Finch and Nease and I thought they were cute, so naturally I went to pet them.” Sirianni said in an email. “They seemed a little scared but not vicious. I then tried to pick one up, and it did not like that, so it hissed and bit me. So basically it was totally my fault.” Sirianni didn’t think much more of the incident until she told her friends, who suggested she go to the ER, where she received several rabies shots. “The shots were pretty painful

and my muscles bruised a lot and were swollen from all of the injected liquid. After the initial shots, I had to go back three more times for more shots and still have one visit left” she said. Sirianni couldn’t participate in her PE course because of the bruising, soreness, fatigue, and dizziness associated with the treatment. Now she keeps her distance. “So basically I know the cats are really cute and all, but don’t try to pick them up.” Sirianni said. Alicia Wong, a senior exercise science major and cat adoption counselor for Joanie and Suzie’s Cat Adoption, also has experience dealing with the strays around campus. Last fall, Wong took four kittens on campus to a volunteer caretaker. “They were found in the bushes when you drive from Nease to Finch,”

Wong said in an email, “Two other people had initially found the kittens and were trying to figure out what to do with them. I offered to take them because I so happened to be on my way to the adoption center.” Kathy Conner, PLNU’s Horticulture and Grounds Manager, said how exactly the cats became residents at PLNU is a mystery. “We don’t know exactly [where they came from],” said Conner, “There are lots of canyons around campus that they may be living in.”

According to Conner, the cats weren’t a problem until a couple years ago, but taking the strays to be neutered and spayed resulted in much lower populations in the area. The population spikes after the feral cats have had litters in the spring and summer, but returns to normal over the course of the year. “And that’s through attrition [a gradual reduction of strength], whether it’s the health of the cat, or the predatory birds. I think we also have a coyote population in the area.” Conner said.

If students do see the cats around campus, they are asked to call the Physical Plant. “If one does start hanging around, call [the Physical Plant] and we can work with our pest control company to set up some humane traps and get them out of here,” said Conner. Conner warns against interacting and keeping the cats as pets. “They are wild animals.” Conner added. “We do not want to encourage students keeping cats in the dorms.”

CAT PATROL
Staff writer exposes secret feline world on campus
BY OLIVIA MOWRY STAFF WRITER

I can readily admit that I’m only in the Point Weekly because I need the class to graduate. But just because I’m a Media Communications major, doesn’t mean I know the first thing about journalism. Thus, the Point Weekly entrusts me with the really hard hitting, important stories - such as finding and interviewing the wild cats of Loma. After receiving this assignment, I took it upon myself to really shine in this moment and be a legit reporter. So, at about 9:00 PM on a Tuesday, I began my duties as an investigative journalist. Armed only with my DSLR camera, my iPhone, and a desire for the truth, I started my journey at the cross. Despite seeing something dash through the bushes, there were no cats to be found.

However, I did discover an offering of crackers waiting on the cement wall for some hungry kitties to come by. I knew I was on the right track. After being unsuccessful in the woodlands by Nease, the front of Goodwin, and the backyard of Finch, I was getting desperate. In an hour, I had traveled all across that side of campus and was no closer to getting my story. The editor’s Flex apartment wasn’t too far away, so I made my way south to tell her of my failure. As I was walking around the track and coming up the hill to Flex, something caught my eye. A small, black blob ran across the street. A beautiful, black cat! There he was just chillin’ like a trapeze artist and walking along the top of the green fence like nobody’s business. He didn’t like the attention and hopped over the fence into the

brush. I leaned over. He was staring at me; daring me to jump over the fence. So I did. He didn’t move. Just stared into my soul. This was my chance. I whipped out all my interview questions: “What’s it like being a cat on campus? What do you think of the new ‘flexible housing model’? Is the dumpster food any good? How has Loma life changed over the years from your perspective?” I think I had scared him with all my questions. He began to slowly back away.

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

“No! No! No! Stay there! I need your photo!” So I snapped one in the dark. My flash lit up the area and his yellow, night-vision eyes. “Hey! No flash photography!” came a shout from the ultimate frisbee game happening below. Instead of running away, he just stayed there and posed in all his majestic beauty. He turned his head; I snapped another pic. Then to show his wild side, he hid in the green brush - a natural model (literally). When I had gotten enough photos, I smiled at him. He didn’t care

anymore and was staring off into the distance. I had lost his attention and interest. Something else was more important out there in the great wilds of Loma shrubbery: dinner. Since he could smell that I didn’t have any food (cat or human) on me, I was much less interesting. I then hopped back over the fence. A rush of success came over me. I had interviewed and photographed the wildest side of Loma besides the bunnies of Young. My first ever journalism assignment was a success.

PLNU joins with Urban League to discuss diversity
BY MIRANDA BROWN STAFF WRITER

PLNU  partnered with Urban League to host their annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) and Diversity Summit Sept. 20 at Liberty Station. Speakers and discussion forums promoted equality in education and business, and discussed topics such as internships, healthcare, immigration, and education systems. Interim mayor Todd Gloria and democratic candidate Nathan Fletcher attended and participated in the event, along with leaders in local schools and businesses and several city council members. The event gave PLNU some positive exposure in the community. Executive Director of Extended Studies Jeanne promoted the new Extended Studies Learning Series in the event, as well as PLNU as a whole. “It provided us with name recognition, and it showed us supporting diversity,” Cochran said. “It gave us

some opportunities to promote our programming.” This is the first time a college campus has hosted the EOD, according to PLNU’s Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Jeffrey Carr, who served as Chair for the event. “[Urban League] is an old, prestigious organization,” he said. “I’m glad Point Loma is a school they can depend on to accomplish their goals in their mission. It’s quite a feather in the hat of Point Loma that we’re on their radar.” The National Urban League is “the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and other underserved populations to enter and sustain economic and social mainstream” (sdul.org). Locally, the Urban League of San Diego County promotes that mission by advocating for equality and providing services in housing, workforce skills, education and health. They also host the EOD event yearly.

Carr chose education as the event’s theme, and aspects of equity were examined through that focus. Ray King, president and CEO of Urban League, shared his vision for the event. “Our goal here is to look at education and see how it affects workforce success,” King said. “We want to motivate the community to get engaged in quality education. Every student should have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live or what their father does for a living, but depending on their ability to learn.” The day included speakers, breakout sessions, and an awards luncheon, where several businesses were presented with Whitney M. Young awards for valuing equity in education. It ended with a community “Call to Action” where participants discussed implementing ideas into society.       According to PLNU’s 2012-2013 common data set, approximately 66 percent of degree-seeking undergraduate students are “white, non-Hispan-

ic.” In comparison, Biola University and Azusa Pacific University students are about 56 percent and 52 percent white, respectively (2012-2013 common data sets). However, Carr explained that the school’s commitment to diversity is about more than statistics and one-time events. He focused on a long-term pursuit of an inclusive community. It’s not enough to just have a diverse campus; people need to know how to get along and relate to each other. “We live in a diverse, global community, and students should know how to be effective members of the community,” he said. “Our curriculum needs to continue to change, so we can provide students with what they need to function well in society and get along with different kinds of people.” Cochran said that Urban League’s embrace of culture encouraged people to get involved. “What stood out to me was their pride in who they were,” Cochran said.

“They are so proud of their heritage, and they showed such a strength and call to action. They aren’t just focused on how they have been poorly treated; they motivate people about what they are going to do about it.” Carr said that EOD is a step in the right direction to decrease discrimination in our society “We need to understand that the work is never done,” Carr said. “As a society, we are prone to make certain mistakes. Discrimination is something we’re never going to solve completely, just like other aspects of human nature. This event keeps synergy for people to work toward equal opportunity, and not become fatigued. We have not arrived, but we need to continue to work on the human condition.”

4 | FEATURES

features
Study Abroad Photo of the Week

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“ I think of all poetry as response, a way to talk back to myself, other writers, and to God.” says Katie Manning at a campus poetry reading last Thursday night.

¡Viva España!

Irene Alvarado’s eternal smile
BY AMY WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Those who shop at the campus Breaker’s Market are often helped by Irene Alvarado, a woman who always has a smile on her face. She smiles because she loves her job. Irene began working at PLNU 16 years ago and has been helping students at the Breaker’s Market for the past five years. The Point Weekly talked to Irene about her childhood, her faith and why she loves her job so much. Point Weekly: Where were you born? Irene Alvarado: I was born in Pachuca Hidalgo, Mexico. PW: What was your childhood like? IA: I was a very happy child. I grew up in a family environment. My mom and dad were married for 65 years. My mom said that she had 14 pregnancies but I grew up with nine brothers and sisters. I was raised in Hermosillo in a barnyard. I remember myself running all over the barnyard and when I got hungry, I was underneath the grapes. I was just relaxed. I was under the fruit eating it. Running around. It was a happy childhood. PW: Do you have a family now? IA: I married in Mexico and I got divorced there. Thank God that I found a great guy (she later remarried). I was a single mom with five kids for nine years. I gave my kids a good example. I raised them pretty good. They’re married now. All of them except one. Because one got killed by a bus in Mexico. I don’t know what hap-

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY WILLIAMS Irene Alvarado works at Breakers Market, always greeting students with a smile. She says she enjoys sharing daily life with the campus community and is strengthened by the faith of students.

pened. It was hard for me but I accepted it because I believe in God. PW: What do you do when you’re not working? IA: When I’m not working, I go home, cook dinner for my husband or make a stop at the taco shop if I’m too tired. Twice a month, I go and visit my kids in Hemet. Like when I say that I’m proud to be a grandma, it’s because I know that my blood is growing. It’s so good to see the little ones growing around me. Like before I get out of the car, they’re screaming “Grandma! Grandma’s here!”

MEG CRISOSTOMO Sophomore Meg Crisostomo, a Child and Adolescent Development major, is studying through ISA in Barcelona, Spain. She stands in front of the Montjuic Castle, a military fortress dating back to 1640.

be a strong Christian woman. It’s the environment. It’s something. I don’t know how to express it. It’s a gift from life, being here in this environment.

“I think Barcelona better fits the description of ‘the city that never sleeps.’ With all the monuments and sites there is so much to see and do, and sleep really is not an option. Every day I have an opportunity to try something new, and I absolutely love it.”

- Meg Crisostomo
COMPILED BY SAMANTHA WATKINS

PW: What do you like about your job? IA: The students. I couldn’t ask for a better job. The school is like my second home. The students help me to

PW: Why are you so nice? IA: Because I’m happy where I am. I like what I do. My first job in the United States was here. I’m a fan of Point Loma and I think that’s the reason. In Mexico we say, ‘respect gets respect’ and I live that every day of my life. And I practice that with the students. Everybody respects me, I respect them. I understand that there is good and bad people in the world. Even here on campus, but I’ve never had bad experiences here. I love everybody and everybody shows me love.

Ministry with Mexico serves across border
BY MORGAN CARNE STAFF WRITER

Nearly every Saturday morning, two minivan loads of PLNU students drive away from campus heading south. Though some travel to Mexico for the tacos and night clubs, these students go for the orphans, the dilapidated buildings, the sick and the hungry. The students are a part of Ministry with Mexico, which consists of three different groups that take monthly trips to Tijuana. The ministry seeks to promote education, equality and peace by working with churches and government officials on projects such as construction and orphanage visits. Ministry with Mexico coordinator Michal Hoenecke, a PLNU senior, says the ministry creates space for students to encounter a different culture with the intention of spreading love. “I learned what it means to serve – to be present rather than just doing

things,” Hoenecke says. “We have just as much to give as we do to gain from both people in Mexico and the people on the trips.” David McKeithen, a senior who also helps lead the ministry, says the trips are teaching platforms enabling students to get a taste of international missions work. “It provides students with the opportunities to engage in general service versus partying, practice sharing time with others and learning to serve.” Ministry with Mexico started nearly 30 years ago and has greatly developed over the years, largely due to the help of Melissa Tucker a graduate from PLNU who worked as the campus’s Associate Director of International Ministries for several years until becoming an associate pastor of First Church of the Nazarene this past summer. Tucker says that at age 19 she was changed by interactions she had with cross-border issues and her time spent in Mexico.

“Some of the best growing that we can do comes from being uncomfortable – anytime we change our environment out of what’s familiar, it has the potential to stretch us in good ways,” says Tucker. The ministry is organized into three different groups - Eunime, which works with orphans who suffer from HIV and AIDS, Las Casas, which teaches English workshops and other tutoring programs at a Tijuana orphanage and La Iglesia, which partners with local Nazarene churches on construction projects. The groups are organized by a team of student leaders and the new Associate Director of International Ministries, Esteban Trujillo. Corrie King, a junior who has gone to Tecate, Mexico with La Iglesia in the past, says her favorite part of Ministry with Mexico is the building of cross cultural relationships. “We only go where we are called to go, and participate in work that is vital to both countries,” she says. Students can sign up for trips on

PLNU’s website at pointloma.edu/ experience/faith/spiritual-development/international-ministries/ mexico-programs/ministry-mexico

and can contact Esteban Trujillo for more information.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID MCKEITHEN Sophomore Kate Draeger, a co-leader of the Ministry with Mexico group Eunime, draws with a Tijuana orhpan.

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

FEATURES | 5

Fidel Sebahizi: “I want to be the voice of my people.” GREY AREA
the black the white and the in between.
BY ABBY HAMBLIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Six years and more than 9000 miles separate Fidele Sebahizi from the life he once knew in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Under a peaceful, sunny sky on the West Coast of the United States, the 31-year-old stands and admires a patch of multi-colored flowers he has just freed from oppressive weeds. Working as a groundskeeper by day, living as a student by night, Sebahizi spends most of his time at PLNU earning a degree as a writing major. It’s something that Sebahizi began working toward in the quiet moments he could find to himself in the small village where he grew up. When he wasn’t reading from the Bible, or “Pilgrim’s Progress” he was writing. “Back home we didn’t have computers so we just had to use normal hand-writing and I got really good at it,” Sebahizi said. “People in the village were really admiring how I was writing. Even, right now, people who I grew up with who are older, remember me because of my handwriting.” Sebahizi grew up in a village called Bijombo in the South Kivo region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is part of a group of ethnic Tutsi known as Banyamulenge that fled Rwanda a few hundred years ago and established themselves in the eastern region of the DRC. The Banyamulenge have undergone discrimination since the colonial era, when they were treated as immigrants from Rwanda who could not exercise any civic right in DRC. “We have faced a lot of discrimination in Congo because all the Con-

Fidele Sebahizi

golese tribes want us to go away and leave the country for them,” said Sebahizi. “They call us Rwandese because we didn’t intermarry with other tribes. We have our own culture. They are farmers and we are cow herders. That’s how we differ.” In the 1960s, thousands of Banyamulenge were systematically killed during what is known as the Mulele Rebellion. In the 1990s, conditions escalated to the point that DRC government soldiers publicly announced that if the Banyamulenge didn’t leave DRC, they would all be killed. Sebahizi and his family fled to a United Nations sponsored refugee camp in Burundi called Gatumba in 2004, but the violence followed them. Gatumba held nearly 825 Banyamulenge refugees according to humanrightswatch. org, and on the night of Aug. 13, 2004, it was burned to the ground. “Basically I was living just half a mile from the camp. I went to the camp ten minutes after the attack and bodies were burning,” said Sebahizi. “Some people were still alive but had bullets in their heads. People I had been talking to the night before…you could see them with their heads busted open. It was really, really, really terrible.”

Sebahizi and his family stayed near Gatumba for two week before they moved to another refugee camp in the DRC. Then in 2007, hundreds of Gatumba survivors were brought to the U.S., and now live throughout the country, from New York, to Texas, to Idaho. In April of that year, Sebahizi found himself in sunny San Diego: a city chosen for him that he has learned to love. He lives here with his wife and two-year-old daughter. It has been a few decades since the young Banyamulenge found solace in scribbling in his notebook in a refugee camp a world away, but his love for writing is the one thing that cannot be confined by borders. It is this idea that led him to start a blog, imurenge.com, that provides news and commentary for the Banyamuleng who are in not only the region in which he grew up, but who now dot the globe as immigrants just like him. Sebahizi said that he hopes to inspire a culture of writing among his people so they can learn to express themselves and share their stories with

the world. “I feel proud about it because as I told you my tribe has been voiceless for years and years. There’s no newspapers, not even one newspaper that writes about Banyamulenge in that region,” Sebahizi said. Sebahizi spends every spare moment fulfilling his duty as editor-inchief of the site that receives nearly 30,000 views per month. He eventually wants to have English translations available on the site for a more widespread communication of the plight of the Banyamulenge. He spends many hours on campus updating the website, but also working on his writing degree. Sitting in a classroom near that same flower patch where he labored, students introduce themselves on the first day of the school sharing their names, where they are from, and their aspirations for after college. “My name is Fidel. I am from Congo but have lived here for six years. I want to be the voice of my people,” Sebahizi said.

A theology professor at Azusa Pacific University, Dr. Heather Ann Clements, has gone public with her identity as a transgender man, throwing the school into a state of religious controversy and social dilemma. Students at PLNU give their input on the situation and describe how they would react to a transgender individual within the PLNU community.

“I wouldn’t care as long as the educational value remained unchanged.”
- Brandon Colchin, Junior

“They (Azusa Pacific administrators) need to show love and grace, but also stand up for what they believe in, even if it will be misinterpreted by some.” -Riko Ramos, Senior

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIDEL SEBAHIZI The village of Bijambo in the Democratic Republic of Congo where Sebahizi grew up.

“As a student, I would be flabbergasted at the whole change and controversy.”
-James Morar, Sophomore

Renewal Week with Tim and Shawna Gaines
to Chicago so I could complete a Ph.D in theology and ethics. While there, we became burdened for many of our friends who were on the younger side of life, struggling to find a place in the church. We wrote “A Seat at the T able” (Beacon Hill Press, 2012) to address that dynamic and do whatever we can to help young people engage the church with their passions and talents that may seem out of place. Shawna is a marathon finisher and self-proclaimed foodie. We have two fantastic children: Callen and Evalynne. PW: Where do you two work? TG: We are the co-lead pastors of the Bakersfield First Church of the Nazarene in beautiful Bakersfield, CA. PW: How did you two meet? TG: In Brown Chapel, and that’s not a joke. I was playing in the band for chapel that morning. The chaplain had called the freshmen to the altar to pray for them. After the service had ended, Shawna attempted to step over the altar, but her foot caught and she tumbled into a group of my friends on the front row. Rather than being embarrassed, she used the opportunity to introduce herself to her new acquaintances. I thought that was impressive and made it a point to talk to her. The rest, as they say, is history. PW: When you were invited to speak at Loma, what were your initial reactions? TG: I assumed that Dr. Paul’s first, second and third choices must have turned her down. She corrected my assumptions later, but in all honesty, we love PLNU and we are humbled by the opportunity to bring good news wherever we are asked. PW: This year’s chapel theme focuses on the Lord’s prayer, how are you going to talk about that theme during your time speaking in chapel? T&SG: We are going to issue the challenge to pray and live out of the Lord’s Prayer, giving particular attention to “Give us this day our daily bread.” Generally, we are going to explore the way that the prayer Jesus taught us has the power to form our worship, which forms or beliefs, which forms the way we live our lives.

“I know the circumstance goes against some Biblical things, but I also have friends in similar situations, so I find it hard to criticize her and the administration.” - Lexi Kerr, Senior

“The university has a right to uphold their beliefs, even if it isn’t the popular opinion.” - Austin Medica Sophomore

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM GAINES
BY BRITTANY NAYLOR STAFF WRITER

na Gaines, the speakers for this week’s chapel services, to find out their stories and goals for this time of reflection. The Point Weekly: What background information do you think people should know about you two? Tim Gaines: We are both PLNU alumni, and I worked for Point Loma as an admissions counselor before we went to seminary to pursue further education. After seminary in Kansas City, we moved

Every semester, PLNU invites individuals with connections to the campus to come and speak to students for an entire week of chapel services. The university calls this time Renewal Week, and it serves as a time for students to experience the tradition of spiritual renewal and refocusing. The Point Weekly connected via email with Tim and Shaw-

“In the perspective of a student and administrator, if it did not affect her teaching, who am I to criticize? But as a Christian institution, they would have to fire her because she is disagreeing with God’s work.” - William Schumacher, Sophomore
Compiled by Jenna Hussey

SOAK UP S
Ocean Beach Farmers Market
What to Know: Walk down Newport Ave. on Wednesday nights from 4 to 8, to experience a real cornucopia of sights, sounds and smells. Get lost in the eclectic surroundings of fresh produce, crazy art, ethnic foods, sweet smelling flowers and live music. Insider tip: Indulge in all the free samples, it’ll be enough to fill you up.

8 of our top picks for being

Balboa Park
What to Know: Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most beautiful and notable parks. Covering 1,200 acres, it has museums, gardens, outdoor theaters and the famous San Diego Zoo. One day here will not do it justice. Smell the scents at the Rose Garden, visit the newly renovated Japanese Friendship Garden, and get lost in the Natural History Museum. Picnicking is always a favorite.

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

Hillcrest
What to Know: The Chocolat, Buffalo Exchange, Champion Ballroom Academy. Make a day-trip out of visiting Hillcrest. Start with a lovely brunch at The Chocolat with gelato for dessert. Head on to Buffalo Exchange for some affordable used clothing shopping and finally end with a group ballroom class for $12 at Mary Murphy’s (”So You Think You Can Dance” judge) Champion Ballroom Academy. Insider Tip: Word is you can meet Mary Murphy if she there!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park
What to Know: If you want to see a variety of wild animals, the San Diego Zoo has a Safari Park located in Escondido. Although the distance and ticket prices might deter you from going, it is a great opportunity to see a variety of wild animals. Animals include giraffes, rhinos, antelopes, lions, tigers, monkeys and many more. Insider Tip: There is a 2/3-mile zip lining adventure available with a great view of the 1,800-acre wild park.

SAN DIEGO

g a tourist in your own city
La Jolla Children’s Pool
What to Know: Looking to see some lazy sea mammals? Skip the expensive boat excursions and go to La Jolla Children’s Pool for free. There are always seals there swimming and sun tanning, not to mention great views and tons of photo ops! Insider tip: La Jolla Cove is right around the corner from the Children’s Pool and offers calm and safe snorkeling and swimming. Scripps Park is an awesome grassy area also right near there for perfect picnics and Frisbee space!

Hiking in Torrey Pines
What to Know: This state park has awesome trails with stunning views of the ocean. Hike on well-maintained paths or explore the beach's cliff ravines. Food is not allowed on the mountain’s trails but hide a picnic in your backpack to enjoy on the shore. Insider tip: The state park charges $15 to park your car in their lots but public street parking is usually available a short walk away on Mc Gonigle Road.

Con PanE CafE at Liberty Station
What to Know: A lovely place for breakfast and lunch, Con Pane is known for its scrumptious scones, ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls and gourmet sandwiches. Don’t miss its famous chocolate bread only available on the weekends. Insider Tip: Grassy parks are in abundance throughout Liberty Station, so bring a blanket, order some sandwiches and have a picnic either across the street from the café or closer to the harbor. Con Pane is closed on Wednesdays.

Twilight Trek at the San Diego Zoo
What to Know: An educator-led tour of the zoo at night! Need there be more? For only $19, you can hear insider information about nocturnal animals, pick the minds of your educator, and hear their personal stories. Limited space is available and this is offered only a couple times a month, Oct. 18 and 25 (Fridays from 6:30-8 p.m.) so plan ahead and buy your ticket online. Insider Tip: Dessert and drinks will be served and a surprise theme will be revealed!

COMPILED BY THE POINT WEEKLY STAFF DESIGNED BY RACHEL HARRELL

8 | FEATURES

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

Awarding Loma’s Twittersphere
Staff writer ranks campus tweeters
BY JORDAN LIGONS STAFF WRITER

Tweet! Tweet! Twitter, the growing social media forum, serves as a place where people can express themselves in 140 characters. Many campus departments and

professors are turning to Twitter hoping to communicate more efficiently with the student body. According to Communications professor Dr. Clark Greer, Twitter is all about instant updates and constant, current information on your feed. “I think it is good that the univer-

sity is using this type of tool to communicate to students,” said Dr. Greer. “If I ran across an article, I’ll retweet it to my students that are subscribing to me.” Dr. Michael Clark, professor of writing, says he uses his Twitter account for personal use and also to

communicate with students. “As a writer, it’s also an invaluable social media tool where I can think out loud and ponder what’s going on in my field or work,” said Clark. “Twitter is increasingly the easiest and quickest way to stay in touch with my students for minor issues or to con-

tinue the conversation from class.” So who in the PLNU community uses Twitter best? After searching the Twitter-sphere several campus departments, faculty and staff have been noted of deserving special recognition. Please see the prestigious awards below.

PLNU Public Safety (@PLNUDPS) Recently, Public Safety has tapped into social media to “make finding parking in the morning easier” by tweeting about the current parking situation on campus.

The Newest Addition:

PLNU (@Go2PLNU) I tweeted over the summer that I missed PLNU. This account tweeted me back and said, “We miss you too :(“ –That was a moment in time where I decided I loved my school and that they loved me back. Then, I shed a tear. Then after that, I tweeted about it.

The Must Follow:

Charles Lyons-Purdue (@CharlieLP) The Chaplaincy Ministries Assistant & Creative Arts Coordinator simply sounds cool: “Husband. New dad. Artist. Worship Curator & Church Planter. In search of awe & wonder. Trying my best to imitate Jesus.”

The Best Twitter Bio:

R.B. Anthony (@RB_Anthony ) The adjunct professor of music is killing the T witter game with 1,413 followers. The runner-up is Spanish professor Scott Bennett (@scottmbennett) with 747 followers.

The Most Followers:

Brittney Cannizzan (@BrittneyCan) The admissions counselor made me L.O.L with her tweet of the week because, let’s face it, we have all had that exact realization. “That boss moment when you catch yourself watching New Girl, eating Cinnamon T oast Crunch out of the box, pretending to study.”

The Best Tweet of the Week:

President Bob Brower (@PresBobbyB) It’s catchy, it’s subtle, and it just has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Expecting more tweets about his cute grandkids!

The Best “@” Name:

Bobby B (@PointLomaProbs) Not to be confused with the real Bobby B, this parody account uses the hashtag #PointLomaProbs to tweet about funny, relatable things happening around campus that only us Sea Lions would understand.

The Best Hashtag Use:

Neil Shigley (@Visiblepeople) As an Art Illustration professor here at PLNU, Professor Shigley displays his artwork on Twitter. “I do portraits of the homeless,” Shigley’s Twitter bio reads. “Here are my thoughts and the thoughts of people living on the streets.”

The Coolest Default Picture:

TAG you’re in: transfers get involved
BY SAM CHRISTOPHER STAFF WRITER

Incoming freshman are not the only new faces on campus, as many transfer students are joining the community as well. There are a total of 145 transfer students this semester, coming from all over the world to live in sunny San Diego. Kelby Sarti, the senior admission counselor at PLNU says the majority of transfer students this semester came from California but some from as far as Sweden. Transfer students range in age but Sarti says most trans-

fers are sophomores and juniors. As transfer students transition into life at PLNU they can choose to get involved in a Transfer Activities Group, also known as TAG. Senior Kai Carlson is the coordinator for the group and says his vision is to help provide a smoother transition for students by creating networking opportunities for transfers to become familiar with one another. “We want to be there for transfer students who don’t know anybody, or just want something fun to do,” says Carlson. As this year’s new TAG coordi-

nator, Carlson plans to revamp the program by providing even more events for students to have fun and feel welcome. This past Saturday the group had a Beach Day and BBQ in Ocean Beach, which included free surf lessons. Earlier in the semester the group put together a transfers bonfire on Shelter Island where nearly 60 students showed up including students who just wanted to come and meet the new transfers. Many other events are planned for the rest of the semester including a Hip Hop dance night, Broomball

and Capture the Flag. Carol Anne Kachele, a first time TAG leader and former transfer student says that this year the leaders are trying to be more intentional in befriending transfer students. She says that she and her fellow TAG leaders are reaching out but says ultimately, it’s up to the students to get involved. “It’s really what you make of it; so jump in, we don’t want to leave anybody on the side lines,” she says. Each TAG leader has about 10 students in their group and will connect with them on a regular basis via email or text message to coordinate

hangouts or inform them of upcoming events. Emma Hayman, a transfer student from San Diego State University, does not regret her decision to get involved. “I have made more real friends and connections here in the past few weeks than I have in the last two years at my previous college,” she says. “Being a part of a TAG group has allowed me to feel like I am a part of a real community.”

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

OPINION | 9

opinion
BY SAMUEL M. POWELL FACULTY CONTRIBUTOR

Abby Hamblin /// Editor-In-Chief Kathleen Callahan ///News Editor Kimberly Miller /// Features Editor Tavis Robertson /// Sports Editor Kathleen Rhine /// A&E Editor

Guimel Sibingo /// Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart /// Copy Editor Rachel Harrell /// Design Editor Matthew Linman ///AssistantDesignEditor Rachel Barr /// Web Editor

The Point Weekly

The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to [email protected].

A parable: The slug and the snail
All the networks were abuzz at Mollusc University; a professor had declared that she had for some time felt that she was, although physiologically a slug, actually a snail--respecting the body, a slug; respecting the soul, a snail. She had, moreover, announced her intention of seeking medical help to be fitted for a shell, thus bringing her body into agreement with her soul. Those of us present experienced feelings ranging from shock to perplexity to curiosity to moral outrage. After all, none of us could bear the thought of being transformed into a snail by having a shell artificially mounted onto our slug-bodies. The very thought was abhorrent to some, painful to others, inconceivable to still others. It was therefore not a surprise when the poobahs of Mollusc University (the Grand Exalted Mollusc-inChief, the Chief Operating Bi-Valve, the Chief Academic Squid, and so on, down to the lesser chief slugs who didn’t seem to have any real function but who all strangely had the term “chief officer” in their obscure titles) gathered in a slug-confab to discuss the matter. From the meeting came the decree that surgical enhancement in the form of receiving a shell and thus losing one’s status as a slug constituted breach of contract and that said professor must be encouraged to slither away. Skeptics wondered where in the slug’s contract it stipulated that genus-reassignment was incompatible with employment as Mollusc University; cynics observed that slugs are hermaphrodites, wondering why surgical alteration should have any bearing on the professor’s ability to teach molluscs (for all molluscs are made in the image of God; snails are no less like God than are slugs). At any rate, with the university’s exalted ones mandating termination, the stage was set for a grand slugfest. The consensus among the worker-molluscs at the university was that the exalted ones were acting out of fear. But was it fear of the unknown, as when young slugs hesitate to eat something new? Or was it fear of the monied slugs among the alumni on whose support the university depended and whose creed contained the immortal and inspired words, “God has made each of us as we ought to be. Change is sin.” Some of us wondered about this. Hadn’t mollusc medical science, with its technology and therapeutic interventions, made life better for molluscs everywhere? Hadn’t it fixed some birth defects and mended many ailing slug-bodies? Why is it right to use technology to undo the damage done by birth defects but not right to use it to undo genetic mayhem that causes a snail to be born into the body of a slug? But, molluscs being a rather quiet phylum, we said nothing, trusting in the undoubted wisdom of the exalted ones. Moral of the parable: Nomine mutato de te fabula narratur. Commentary Fear, with its affective neighbor anger, is one of the most pervasive of human emotions. Sadly, it can also be one of the most destructive emotions. Sometimes fear is well-placed, as when we confront an object proven to be threatening. More often, however, we fear what we do not understand, what doesn’t fit the narrow confines of our preconceptions. In our technological world today, where things such as gender reassignment are possible that even a few years ago were inconceivable, we are faced with unprecedented moral issues. In the face of them, we have a choice between responding with an angry-fearful, dogmatic “No” or responding with gentleness, compassion and a spirit of generous inquiry. I think we should be gentle, compassionate and generous. Samuel M. Powell, Ph.D. is professor of Philosophy and Religion at the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. He is also the Secretary of Treasurer for the Wesleyan Theological Society.

#LomaChatter
Save Point Loma Running

Have something to say? Submit your random thoughts, funny comments, or opinions! Text your #LomaChatter to 619-603-0728

I made myself a cream cheese, captain crunch and Oreo sandwich because the lines were too long for everything else. #CreativeCafSolutions

“What the Fox Say” is the silliest most obnoxious popular song ever but also the most addicting #guiltypleasure

Food stamp program cuts: wise choice?
BY PATRICIA LESLIE FACULTY CONTRIBUTOR

Sneaky Point Loma making us go to the Padres game on Hispanic Heritage Night to make us more diverse....

“In the real world, we measure success by results. It’s time for Washington to measure success by how many families are lifted out of poverty and helped back on their feet,” said U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-IN). I couldn’t agree more! So, let’s think about that together… If that is the federal intent, the SNAP bill has many problems. Many jobs in the U.S. do not pay enough to lift a family out of poverty. In fact, many of our welfare policies shift people between categories of poverty – moving them from ‘dependent poor’ who use food stamps and other federal supports to the ‘working poor’ who work for minimum wage or are ‘under-employed’. The change in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program reduces support to these households. It also requires adults between 18 and 50 without minor children to find a job or to enroll in a worktraining program in order to receive benefits. Similar work requirements in programs like Temporary Assistance to Needs Families (TANF) make it virtually impossible for a person to successfully complete higher education. And there is much evidence that higher education improves social and economic outcomes. You’ve heard of “starving students,” right? Some students currently qualify for SNAP assistance, making it possible to bridge gaps in

other supports – like tuition. The bill also limits the time those recipients could get benefits to three months. Currently, states can extend food stamp benefits past three months for able-bodied people who are working or preparing for work as part of a job-training program. And what does the Food Study completed by FBEI at PLNU last spring tell us? It suggests the food insecurity also challenges opportunities for balanced nutrition. And we know nutrition impacts a person’s abilities in social, economic, and behavioral aspect of life. Do we need to use resources wisely? Absolutely, especially if we want to follow Wesley’s tradition. I ask myself, which do we need more: a bigger defense fund? four government--sponsored race cars? (Yes, I said race cars) . Or should we ensure that basic needs, like food, are secured so that people have the essential tools to succeed. Am I in favor of the reduction in the SNAPS? No, it is time that we ask congress and ourselves to honestly measure our success in lifting people out of poverty. Patricia Leslie, MSW, Ph.D. is the Director of Social Work program at the Department of Sociology and Social Work and the Faciliator for Regional Continuum of Care.
COMIC BY DARIN VEDA

Just saw the wonderful Dr. Lescart walking down Catalina with one sandal on. I hope you find the other one, monsieur!

Is it just me, or do the new rules and “community service” punishments of the caf/Capitol make you feel like District 12? Hashtag “nofoodforyou”.

Go with the flow suuuups fun!

Beating the caf lunch rush by five minutes is my crowning achievement this week #winning

I can’t wait till Spiritual Renewal Week; it’s always such a special time!

Gonna take 2 apples from the caf everyday this week #rebel

10 | SPORTS

sports
BY ALYSSA BOSHART STAFF WRITER

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/1: M. Soccer vs. BYU Hawaii, W. Soccer vs. BYU Hawaii 10/3: M. Soccer vs. Chaminade, W. Soccer vs. Chaminade, W. Volleyball vs. Azusa Pacific 10/5: M. Soccer vs. Hawaii Pacific, W. Soccer vs. Hawaii Pacific, W. Volleyball vs. California Baptist, W. Cross Country v@ Williamete Invitational

Alumna returns as new head athletic trainer
The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) welcomes Shawna Baker as the new head athletic trainer. Baker will be in charge of all athletic training duties and teams and has already been working with athletes since August to prepare them for their seasons. “I handle paperwork and the hands on side of athletic training on a daily basis,” said Baker. “I am also the insurance coordinator for all PLNU athletes so I handle that side as well.” Baker was chosen out of a variety of highly qualified candidates for her previous experience as a head athletic trainer at San Diego Christian University, according to assistant athletic director Sarah Gustin. “We strive to have people of excellence to match the rest of PLNU [and Shawna] was a great mission fit for the university,” said Gustin. The Athletic Department led the interviews with representation from as very beneficial to already have those relationships established.” Women’s soccer coach Tim Hall explained how he has seen Baker grow throughout her time here at PLNUfrom student to head athletic trainer. “When I first came here 18 years ago Shawna was one of the first student athletic trainers I had interaction with,” said Hall. “She’s a great young lady and I’ve always been impressed with the way she carries herself professionally.” Baker said that her previous athletic training methods and experience made for a smooth transition from NAIA to NCAA Division 2. “At first I thought that [the transition] was a possible concern but I have always held myself to very high standards and I tried to model my training clinic [at San Diego Christian University] after an NCAA model,” said Baker. While she has not made as many changes to her standards, Baker said she has enforced new standards in the clinic that were not previously met as well as adding equipment for athlete use. “We invested in a really thorough cleaning, a new paint job, new exercise equipment; we’ve also done a lot with our policies and procedures, and implemented a pretty comprehensive concussion protocol,” said Baker. Due to the amount of torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) and meniscuses, especially in female athletes, the athletic training clinic has implemented exercises and warm-ups that are geared toward injury prevention. This was one of the needs that was impressed upon her during interviews said Baker. “A lot of prevention programs are now included in warm-ups with both men’s and women’s teams,” said Baker. Baker said her time at PLNU as a student and now as head athletic trainer has given her the opportunity to return to a place that has given her so much. “My classroom now is my training room and I am excited to give back to a place that has given me so much and shaped me as a professional and most importantly a person of God,” said Baker.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Shawna Baker

the Kinesiology department. “The search committee was comprised of 8 people including representation from Kinesiology, Athletic administration and the coaching staffs,” said Gustin. “Vice President Caye Smith and Athletic Director Ethan Hamilton played a large role in the decision making process as well.” Baker, a PLNU alumnus, has had already had interaction with the Ath-

letic Training Program herself having been an athletic training student. She said she is excited to return to work with the family of PLNU again. “Many of the same people I was instructed by I am colleagues with now and it’s very cool to have that family relationship,” said Baker. “Like for instance Tim Hall, I was a freshman when he was coming in and so we ‘grew up together’ as he always says and I see that

PLNU volleyball player returns after season of redshirting
BY MARISSA HORNADAY STAFF WRITER

Alyssa Dwyer, junior PLNU volleyball player, has started the season after making the decision to redshirt last season while recovering from surgery. She talked to us via e-mail. The Point Weekly: How does it feel to be playing again this season? Alyssa Dwyer: It has been great getting to compete with my team again. They are all incredible athletes and as a team we are very talented and passionate; so playing again with them is exciting. PW: In what other areas did you grow and learn from while not being able to play? AD: Volleyball is a huge part of my everyday life, so not playing in competition (I still practiced once the ankle healed), was a huge mental struggle as an athlete and person. I had to rediscover the true meaning of team. Learning that despite the lack of presence I could provide on the court, I was still a huge part of the program and could be there for my team in many ways besides physical. PW: How was your training different after your recovery from the surgeries? AD: Training is a natural progression of any sport. Injured or not, collegiate athletes have to put in many, many hours to be at the top of their game. The same went for me; though I was fighting back from multiple surgeries all I could do was train hard like I always have. Injuries are merely roadblocks for me. Though the injury may take me on a brief detour, I will eventually find my way back to the desired path. PW: What has been the highlight so far in the new season? AD: The highlight of this season so far was the very first weekend we got to compete as a team in the Azusa Pacific tournament. It showed the incredible amount of potential this team holds and allowed our team to start the season off on a high note.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Junior Alyssa Dwyer (seen right in these photos) is a 6’2” middle blocker from Gilbert, Ariz.

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

SPORTS | 11

Back to the roots
would play touch football on the field outside, claiming the team name of whichever team they were rooting for as their own. If that church had a written mission statement, I’m sure football was in there somewhere. When I was 15 I moved back to California, and have been here ever since. My life got busy in the notreally-busy way that only a teenager’s life can, and I haven’t really followed football, or any sports for that matter, since I’ve been back. But this year, out of nowhere, sports have muscled their way back into my life. As the sports editor, what I had once relegated to my past has now become a big part of my present, and as I’ve struggled to keep up I’ve gotten this weird feeling watching games that I haven’t gotten in years. At Witcher Baptist, football might as well have been another spiritual gift ranking up there with prophecy and speaking in tongues, and today when I find myself watching games, both here at PLNU and on TV (Well, the Internet. Who watches TV anymore?), I find myself experiencing something spiritual in nature. And I’m not gonna lie, that kind of freaks me out. But in that, there is also some part of it that can’t help but feel a little bit like home. Sitting in The Point Weekly office every Sunday trying to figure out what will be most important to PLNU’s sports fans is both a new experience and reminiscent of something familiar that I haven’t visited in a long time, and it takes me back my to childhood something fierce. I haven’t eaten grits or fried okra in years, but when I watch football I can almost taste them again. So, here’s to the roots: Church, southern cooking and football.

SEASON SNAPSHOTS

BY TAVIS ROBERTSON SPORTS EDITOR

Church, southern cooking and football. That was my childhood. When I was eight, I had the “privilege” of moving to Oklahoma, and coming from southern California, that was quite the shift. Traffic was being stuck behind a tractor, and fast food wasn’t so fast. There was a completely different sense of time, and nothing was ever worth being in a rush over. Unless it was football. I lived in a decent sized town – Edmond, Okla. It was home to 80,000 people, and was a nice enough place, but my family lived on the outskirts, the boonies compared California, and the community was somewhat secluded; it was built around two hubs: Oakdale, the K-8th school of maybe 600 students, and the local church, Witcher Baptist. It was one of those gems of a church that had been around for ninety-something years, and had more than a handful of eighty-somethings that spent almost every Sunday of their lives in the pews of that one-room church and they all still came religiously. You see, every Sunday there was a service, and during football season all post-service fellowship took place in front of the big(ish) screen watching whatever games were on that day, eating whatever potluck delicacies (mostly grits, chicken or fried okra) the churchgoers brought. During halftime the kids and some of the dads

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Number 19, Madi White goes to congratulate Jessica Van Loo for her goal against Hawaii-Hilo in their 3-0 win on Saturday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Savanna Wedemeyer sets the ball in their Saturday sweep of Holy Names.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION The men’s soccer team celebrates just after Griffin Fuller scored the only goal in the 1-0 win against Hawaii-Hilo on Saturday.

SEA LION SCORES
Women’s Volleyball
• 9/27: Win 3-0 vs. Dominican • 9/28: Win 1-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

Men’s Soccer
•9/25: Los s0-1 vs.San Diego Christian • 9/28: Won 1-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

Women’s Soccer
• 9/28: Won 3-0 vs. Hawaii Hilo

NEWS FROM THE BIG LEAGUES
Mariano Rivera, considered the greatest closer in MLB history, pitched his last game Thursday. Known for his baseball chops and charitable works through the Mariano Rivera Foundation, Rivera is an outspoken Christian having sponsored youth centers, provided scholarships and funded churches. After 19 seasons playing for the New York Yankees, Rivera decides to put down the glove.

PHOTO COURTESY BY KEITH ALLISON

12 | A&E

a&e

the point weekly | monday,september 30, 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/2-6: San Diego Film Festival; Gaslamp & La Jolla theaters; all day 10/2-6: Fashion Week San Diego; Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier 10/4: John Mayer; Sleep Train Amphitheatre; 7:30 p.m. 10/5-6: Julian Apple Days Festival; Julian, CA; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Religion and Rhymes: How hip-hop and Christianity are crossing paths
BY JORDAN LIGONS STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“Pac was like Jesus / Nas wrote the Bible.” These lyrics by J. Cole from his album “Born Sinner” bring up questions of religion in rap music. This summer, multiple albums were released with elements of lyricism and culture heard over the radio. Hip-hop and Christianity are noted as polar opposites; but, listeners could not avoid the religious references with many of the albums remixing Christian terms and Biblical allusions into their lyrics, bringing to question the motives of many hip-hop artists. On J. Cole’s “Born Sinner” album released in June, the words “Born sinner, opposite of a winner” echo through the song “Villuminati.” These lyrics are reminiscent of rapper Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping track “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” from album “Good Kid M.A.A.D. City” released in 2012. It rhymes: “I am a sinner, who is probably going to sin again / Lord

forgive me, Lord forgive me things I don’t understand.” Lyrics, such as these, have raised the question of hip-hop artists using religious contradictions in their songs. One moment they could be praising God and the next using foul and vulgar language. Hit single, “Amen” from Meek Mill’s album “Dreams and Nightmares” is a perfect example of religious contradiction. The song’s hook in itself is said to be mocking the church: “There’s a lot of bad bitches in the building, Amen!” After the track’s release, Mill responded to much criticism about the song’s crudeness and association with religion. He was even asked to apologize and repent by a Philadelphia pastor. In an interview with BET’s 106 & Park, a music video show, Mill defended himself against the church. “No preacher, no church approve of any rap music […] ‘cause rap music period, there’s a lot of bad stuff that’s being said. But at the end of the day, it’s real life,” he said.

While religious themes may seem trendy in hip-hop as of late, literature professor Dr. Karl Martin explains that music by black artists has had religious connections for more than half a century, dating back to the 1950s with artists like Ray Charles, Sam Cook and Aretha Franklin — who came straight from the church singing gospel music, then transitioned into secular music. Ray Charles, an American singer-songwriter, was known for fusing rhythm and blues, gospel and pop together. In 1956, he released a song titled, “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”, which was highly controversial at the time. “The church wasn’t happy with Ray Charles, but also people in the clubs weren’t happy with Ray Charles either because [people in the club would say] ‘You’re bringing my Sunday morning into my Saturday night,’” said Martin, who teaches an AfricanAmerican literature class. Thus, the ‘secular’ versus ‘sacred’ debate ensues. According to Martin, ‘secular’ is for the time being, whereas ‘sacred’ is God’s sacred plan for all of history.

Secular music that uses Christian terms doesn’t mean it’s a Christian song, Martin said. “These artists are secular; it doesn’t matter if they are Christian in their private lives, they are producing popular music for the world to hear — for now.” Martin continues to compare this to an artist that makes no claim to faith personally but sings Christian songs. There are similarities to the blues and hip-hop such as instrumental beats and hip-hop artists sampling choruses from rhythm and blues tracks. According to Martin, hip-hop takes the idea of the brag and the boast from the genre. “The ‘I am the greatest in the world’ attitude comes straight from the blues. These men were either saying that they were the best artist or the best lover,” he said. Kanye West’s latest album “Yeezus,” released in June, caught a lot of attention for its multiple religiously boastful references in tracks like “I Am A God,” “New Slaves” and “Black Skinhead.”

The track “I Am A God” reads: “I just talked to Jesus / He said, ‘What up Yeezus?’ / I said, ‘I’m chilling / Trying to stack these millions’ … I know he the most high / But I am a close high … I am a God / I am a God.” This could mean that West is to music like Jesus is to the Christian faith. Can we hold these secular artists to a standard of faith because they are using Christian terms and Biblical allusions? “I think what this points to is how secular our society is and how postChristian America is becoming,” said Kara Lyons-Pardue, PLNU theology professor. “[The rappers] still recognize that these words create more of a charge in their listeners. Saying ‘I am important’ doesn’t say nearly as much as saying ‘I am a God,’ which tells us something about our culture.” Lyons-Pardue thinks that the Jay-Z track “Heaven,” from his hit album “Magna Carta Holy Grail,” was the most obvious example, yet she thinks he’s explicitly saying ‘Don’t hold me to those standards’ of being God-like. Jay-Z comments on the track in a promotional video “Jay-Z+ Samsung+ Magna Carter Holy Grail” saying, “This song is toying with that idea that Heaven and Hell are on earth … no matter what religion you are, you have to accept other people’s ideas because, Have you ever been to Heaven? Have you ever seen the gates?” Jay-Z continues, “It’s just the idea that God will make you burn in eternity for free will, something that He gave you.” Senior Nikki Holguin loves music and respects the arts, but has mixed feelings about Kanye Wests’s recent MTV Video Music Awards performance. “It wasn’t even Kanye’s actual performance that bothered me, but the way they introduced him,” Holguin said. “They mocked the church and how we praise Jesus, not Yeezus. So to me, the fact that they allowed that shows me that my faith has become a mockery and to some extent has lost significance.” Holguin also writes and sings as a hobby and says that it will always be a passion of hers. “I try to write or perform songs that are popular without being too out there. But, as a Christian, you can still sing songs, be you, and have your artistic edge without having to conform to what the world wants you to be. It’s time we realize that,” Holguin said.

Theatre play changed to accomodate actors
BY SAMANTHA WATKINS STAFF WRITER

SAVE THE DATE
San Diego Film Festival Oct. 2-6 Reading Theater Arclight Cinemas Don’t miss the behind-thescenes documentary “Fading West,” about San Diego native band Switchfoot, premiering at Reading Theater on Oct. 5.

Move over Shakespeare, Beth Henley’s tragically comedic “Crimes of the Heart” is on the Salomon Theatre Playbill. “As You Like It,” a Shakespearean comedy, was going to be performed this fall at the Salomon Theatre, but the play has been changed to the comedy “Crimes of the Heart.” Professor Wally Williams, a theatre instructor at PLNU, is also the director for the fall semester show. He intended to have a large cast of

about twenty-six perform Shakespeare. “I like to do Shakespeare once in a while and I thought we were due,” Williams said. With many theatre students studying abroad in London this semester, Professor Williams re-worked the script so he would only need twelve men, or even ten, if necessary. But only three men auditioned for the play. “That was going to do it. This hasn’t happened before, but I think it may be for the good. Shakespeare can be a lot to do,” Williams said. Adjusting quickly to the changes

he had to make, Williams knew who his talent was and the potential actors he could work with. This made it easier for him to choose a new play, one with strong women roles. “Crimes of the Heart” was the solution. The six-person play consists of four female roles and two male roles. Williams said that with a small group you have to make do with what you have; he turned a potential crisis into an opportunity. “The cast is comprised of actors who have previously worked together in a comedy last season, ‘Tartuffe,’

and there is an already existing bond among the cast which will definitely be channeled to the audience,” said senior theatre major Luciano Gallos, who is cast as Mr. Barnett. Seniors Lara Hague, Elizabeth Lambert and freshman Katie Emma Filby play the three sisters, who the play is based upon. “I’m sad to hear that there won’t be a Shakespeare play anymore. I love them. But I understand that things have to be changed, and I’m excited for ‘Crimes of the Heart,’” said sophomore theatre performer Kat Potter.