97.19

The Clocktower

April 19, 2023

Issue 19, Volume 97

Career Fair brings potential employers to meet with students

Grace Chilson and Sarah Gilbert share their experience

Last week students were met with the opportunity to network and learn about the different opportunities they may have after graduation. Over 30 employers and graduate schools attended the career fair, providing options for every major on campus.

Senior business administration major Grace Chilson, shared her experience: “This year, I went to the career fair and was actually interested in learning about the businesses and schools that showed up. In prior years, I had walked around aimlessly just to see what was there, and then leave if nothing really stood out.

“This year I made an effort to talk to the different people and learn why they were there and what they had to offer,” Chilson continued. “ I talked

Career Fair

©Union College with Nebraska Wesleyan University about their master’s programs and learned that I can easily get my Master of Business online while working after graduation. Some of the companies didn’t have jobs that I was interested in doing, or wouldn’t be qualified for, like Region V, but I talked to the ladies there for about five minutes, and it was amazing to learn how they were helping the

TURN THE PAGE

Editor–in–Chief

Annika Cambigue

Assistant Editor

Annelise Jacobs

Lead Photographer

Joseph Lee

Assistant Photographer

Christopher Jacobo

Assistant Photographer

Reef Peckham

Layout Editor

Shelby Jongema

Assistant Layout Editor

Arlyse Wash

Web Manager

Justin Anderson

Social Media Manager

Mariah Lee-Wong

NEWS

Editor

Lyndsey Elsey

Student Life and CM

Charles Metz

SA, Senate and Safety

Andrew Schwartz

Academics and Residential

Robert Tengker

ENTERTAINMENT

Editor

Hannah Olin

Pop Culture

Evan Majors

Comedy

Lacey Stecker

LIFESTYLE

Editor

Brian Peoples

Nebraska Politics

Aubrey Benton

Outlook

Gabriel Sanders

Nebraska Life

Sidney Needles

community. Overall it was a great experience.”

Student Success life coach Sarah Gilbert, who helped plan the event, said, “There were so many great companies represented that are eager to hire Union College students. I spoke with a couple of companies interested in creating paid internships for Union students. If you missed it this year, plan on attending next year!”

Career and graduate fairs are one of the best ways for students to network and also find what they may be interested in the future. It’s a great time to take resumes, throw a nice shirt on and start the career hunt.

ReUnion and Prince of Egypt finalized over the weekend

Alumni and current students gather for theater performance

Prince of Egypt cast and crew ©Union College Campus Ministries

Andrew Schwartz is a senior business administration major from Lincoln, Neb.

In religion classes, one way or another, the country of Egypt is usually mentioned. When Egypt is mentioned, it is often connected to two important biblical figures, Moses and Joseph. There have been many plays about these two individuals; and now, the play has come to Union.

Union College hosted a reunion for the Union alumni from decades before. Many alumni were present on campus during this event, named ReUnion, from April 13 to April 16. The event was dedicated in honor of the classes 1953, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2013.

The play “Prince of Egypt” took place in the College View Church on Friday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. The main story revolved around the biblical figure Moses who led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. The cast included many students from different majors. The play was successful and concluded with applause from students, faculty, and alumni present.

The individuals who were a part and helped contribute to the show are: Sean King, Alexia Rains, Anders SwansonLane, Annie Cobaxin, Isabella Mansilla, Brooke Henry, Caleb Schaber, Caleb Bonilla, Calista Covel, Camila Burgos, David Kabanje, Charles Metz, Emma

Bermeo, Erin Cramer, Andrew Jahn, Gabriel Sanders, Gabe Lorenzo, Gideon

Logan, Gilead Tarus, Halie Garrett, Hannah Burgeon, Heidi Jacobo, Isaac

Avila, James Smartt, Katelyn Zeismer, Korbin Peacock, Kylie Wehling, Liam Liversidge, Luke Toews, Mayah Evans, Mikaelti Lalane, Payton Arnett, Quinn Gillespie, Rachel Saylor, Rachel Pineiro, Sharon Lopez Gonzalez, Yve Ellis Lahav, Georgiana Achoki, Cody Butherus Moser,

Suzanne Ocsai, Chala Gemada, Kayleen Scott, Juanita Nicolas, Mallory Heinbaugh and more.

Robert Tengker is sophomore nursing major from Redlands, Calif.

Advanced Speech and Oral Interpretation presents

“Good Morning Jerusalem”

A modern take on a timeless story

Good Morning Jerusalem poster ©uGroups

While many churches prepare classic robes and sandals for their Easter passion plays, students from Advanced Speech and Oral Interpretation donned blazers and slacks. On March 31, they performed “Good Morning Jerusalem,” a modern retelling of the Resurrection.

Advanced Speech, taught by Lori Peckham, consists of communication majors, along with education, theology, English and others. It is an advanced sequel to Public Speaking that many students take as part of their general education.

The production opened with students Annika Cambigue, Reef Peckham and Charles Metz as reporters reviewing plans for a special edition of their talk show and discussing the happening of the weekend – the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His rumored Resurrection. As the play progressed, Enoch Alcala, a Jewish commentator, was introduced, and he discussed the leadership potential of Jesus. Lyndsey Elsey, Quinn Gillespie and Katie Tahay Martinez provided their perspective from when Jesus threw money changers out of the temple.

The play took a somber turn as Cambigue and Peckham interviewed Shiloh Baillou, playing the apostle Peter, in an emotional depiction of the disciples’ final hours with the Savior. It wasn’t long before the newscast was interrupted for a live press conference from Evan Majors and Larissa Rusenescu, the Roman governor Pilate and his wife.

The last scene featured Metz interviewing Aubrey Benton, who played Mary Magdalene. They were interrupted by Cambigue and Gabriel Sanders, a Pharisee who wrote the book “100 Things You Can’t Do on the Sabbath,” generating much laughter from the audience. The scene ended in a final discussion with the four students; Benton delivering an emotional plea for the others to believe.

The well-received play is the largest but not the only project that the Advanced Speech class has worked on this semester. Students interested in taking their speaking skills to the next level while having some fun in the process are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor to see if the class will be a good fit for their schedule.

Charles Metz is a sophomore theology major from Lincoln, Neb.

ON THE RADAR

THURS. 4/20/23

uBelong Chapel | Woods Auditorium, 10:30 a.m.

FRI. 4/21/23

Spring Concert | CVC, 7:30 p.m.

SAT. 4/22/23

The Well | CVC, 9:45 a.m.

Worship Service | CVC, 11:00 a.m.

Gymnaires Homeshow | Thunderdome, 8:30 p.m.

SUN. 4/23/23

Union College Health Fair | Atrium, 1 p.m. Concert on the Lawn | Engel Hall lawn, 3 p.m.

TUES. 4/25/23

General Student Recital | Engel Hall #201, 7 p.m.

Christ on Demand | Student Success, 7:30 p.m.

The most rotten of the rotten

Watching some of Rotten Tomatoes’ worst-rated films so you don’t have to

and twenty minutes feel like an eternity! The sophomoric gags try to cover up the messy plot and fail miserably. I think I deserve worker’s compensation for the psychological damage this film caused me!

Jaws: The Revenge (1987) - 0%

It almost pains me to tear this one apart. The original “Jaws” was so iconic, it’s almost inconceivable to have a fall from grace this bad. Directed by Joseph Sargent, the nonsensical plot of this film makes the shark look smarter than the characters and it suffers from a host of plot holes and logical oversights. The special effects were a step down from its predecessors; the shark’s propelling mechanisms are plainly seen in some scenes. It’s also infamous for creating the cliché “this time, it’s personal”. This film was essentially slapped together to make profits for a struggling MCA Universal.

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever ©Rotten Tomatoes

Many movie buffs rely on the internet to determine whether a film is bad or good. One of the most popular review-aggregation sites is Rotten Tomatoes. In recent years, it has faced criticism for being too harsh on some films. Are Rotten Tomatoes’ poorlyrated films really as bad as they make them out to be? There is only one way to find out!

The Master of Disguise (2002) - 1%

If you want the most cringe-worthy kids’ film ever made, Perry Andelin Blake’s got you covered! Set in 1979 Italy, Pistachio Disguisey must train to become a “Master of Disguise” to save his parents who were kidnapped by master criminal Devlin Bowman. This film is an hour of non-stop, corny gags, plus 20 minutes of post-credits nonsense. They somehow made that hour

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) - 0%

I saved the worst for last. The film notorious for being the worst-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes was an hour and a half of my life that I am never getting back. Directed by Wych Kaosayananda, this poor excuse for a spy film starring Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu follows special agent Jeremiah Ecks as he is forced to team up with opposing special agent Sever to bring down their common enemy. In theory, this sounds like a decent plot. However, the abysmal writing made the film so uninteresting. The plot was all over the place, had zero consistency and relied too heavily on spy movie clichés, not to mention that the trailer literally spoiled the ending. Don’t even get me started on the terrible special effects, even by 2002’s standards. It was also a box-office bomb, as the film cost $70 million to make, but made only $20 million! Forget melatonin,

this film will put you to sleep in half the time!

I have learned that some films deserve a harsh rating. If you don’t believe me, watch these films at your own risk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Conspiracy theories

Real, fake or does it matter?

tell their kids little white lies — like the existence of Santa Claus — all the time. The government can’t possibly keep the country running without a few coverups. I would also argue; however, that true conspiracy theories don’t matter. Our realities don’t change no matter what “actually” happened. Let’s look at a couple of case studies.

Theory one: The moon landing was fake

Who hasn’t heard this one. Personally, I believe the moon landing was real. That being said, who cares if it was faked? What in this world could possibly be more American than faking the moon landing? That’s exactly the kind of bluff only the USA would make. It takes the same amount of guts and overconfidence to fly to the moon and to execute a believable landing video with no knowledge of what the moon is like. It’s such a ridiculous feat, it doesn’t matter which way it goes.

Theory two: Elvis faked his death

Okay…and? If the guy decided to get out of the limelight and live a normal life, let him. He certainly had an effect on the entertainment industry, and I’m sure any more music he had to share with the world would’ve been fantastic, but give the guy a break. He became so popular that he was quite literally unable to exist alone. If he decided to escape by faking his death, let him go. If not, his death was tragic. It’s hard, but sometimes that’s how it goes.

Every once in a while, I see a post online questioning if certain historical events are being presented accurately. Was JFK assassinated by the CIA? Are pigeons actually government robots sent to spy on us? Are we really in a simulation?

I would like to posit that while not all conspiracy theories are true, it’s unlikely all of them are false. Afterall, parents

Theory three: The government told Amelia Earhart to crash her plane

According to this theory, the US government told Earhart to crash her plane. The crash would provide the US government a reasonable cover to comb the Pacific Ocean (and nearby islands) where she allegedly crashed her plane. She lived happily ever after under an assumed

Evan Majors is a sophomore English major from Lincoln, Neb.

Filming of ‘Magnificent Desolation’ (not proof that the moon landing was fake)

©NBC News

identity. I would love for this to be true. I’ve always liked the idea that she was a talented enough pilot to survive her fateful flight. And being a spy? What’s cooler than that? She gets to live on and assist the government.

Do you see my point? Even if these conspiracies are true, what really changed about the way we live now? Our perception of reality may change, but it doesn’t change anything about the here and now.

Lacey Stecker is a senior English and communication major from Noblesville, Ind.

School safety bill advances to the Nebraska Legislature

Nebraska’s School Safety Task Force recommendations introduced through LB 516

Legislative Bill 516, a package of measures to improve school safety, is set to appear before the Nebraska Unicameral.

The first measure included in the bill is hiring regional specialists to provide training and technical support and to serve as a central point of contact for school districts of K-12 schools. The second is continuing to fund the Safe2HelpNE through general funds. The third measure is creating a $15 million grant program for security related infrastructure and safety projects such as “surveillance equipment, door-locking systems, and double-entry doors for school buildings.” The last measure in the bill is a $5 million grant program for the hiring of mental health practitioners and school psychologists to provide mental health and behavior services and support for students.

The measures included in LB 516 were provided as recommendations from Nebraska’s School Safety Task Force, which was formed in October 2022. The task force is composed of public and private school educations, law enforcement, city leaders and parents. It is co-chaired by Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt and State Senator Lynne Walz. The task force facilitators are Joe Wright, Director of Security at Lincoln Public Schools and Dr. Denise Bulling, Senior Research Director at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

An amendment introduced by Walz clarifies that regional specialists would be available for accepted public and nonpublic accredited K-12 schools.

The bill, introduced by State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, passed out of the legislative committee in a 7-0 vote. Committee member State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha was not present for the vote.

LB 516 may face obstacles for passage due to ongoing filibusters and party tensions taking place in the Nebraska legislature, but currently it appears that the bill will have bipartisan support.

Safe2HelpNE, which will receive continued funding if LB 516 is passed, is an anonymous reporting hotline. It was designed so that students, staff and parents could report concerting behavior that could impact school or student safety regarding K-12 schools. These concerns include school threats, bullying, suicide concerns, crime, domestic violence, abuse and concerns for individual’s physical and mental health. Safe2HelpNE was created in 2021 by the Nebraska legislature through the passage of LB 322.

pallor on humanity’s hopes and dreams for the future. Forecasts of the world’s fate rarely fail to include a radiation-soaked planet, its life-sustaining capabilities severely diminished. In recent years, the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine — condemned by NATO — has renewed fears of an atomic showdown amongst world powers. This being the case, it seems only appropriate to discuss nuclear war in the context of Nebraska.

Aubrey Benton is a junior international relations major from Smithsburg, Md.

Would Nebraska outlast the blast?

How safe would Nebraska be during nuclear war?

A common assumption holds that Nebraska is relatively safe from this threat. After all, we have only a couple moderatelysized cities and no large industrial or financial centers. Surely places like New York, Washington D.C., or Silicon Valley would be higher up on a tactical hit list. Contrary to this assumption, Nebraska might actually be among the first states hit. Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Western Nebraska jointly contain 450 Minuteman III silos with a grand total of 400 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. Western Nebraska alone contains 82 of these silos which are fortified but penetrable — with the appropriate firepower. Their purpose is to draw the first wave of enemy missiles. Intentionally spaced apart, it would take numerous bombs to wipe them out completely. Additionally, their location across the more sparsely-populated rural Midwest means that more densely populated areas may have more time to evacuate in the case of nuclear attack.

Ever since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the distinct possibility of nuclear war casts an anxious

Besides its Western side, there’s another Nebraska spot that may take the brunt of nuclear assault. Maps of Soviet nuclear targets have been leaked to the American public since the fall of the Soviet Union. According to these, North Platte was regarded with a relatively high strike

Classroom

©Unsplash

priority. There are multiple reasons for this. The large Union Pacific railyard’s close proximity to highway 80 means that two transnational transportation checkpoints could be wiped out in one blow. Additionally, the North Platte River flows into the Missouri River and Mississippi Rivers. After a nuclear strike, it would act as a natural vehicle of destruction, dispersing nuclear contaminants all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. North Platte also sits on top of the subterranean Ogallala Aquifer. It’s one of the largest in the world and provides groundwater to support agriculture across the Midwest. All these things make North Platte a target that would trigger a domino effect of destruction.

Despite Nebraska’s reputation for being isolated and inconsequential, its role in a hypothetical nuclear war could be anything but. It’s important to pull back the veil of common assumptions by staying informed on the ripple effects of global conflicts. After all, even Nebraska may find itself caught in the crossfires of nuclear conflict.

‘Tis the time for outside activities

5 activities you and your friends can enjoy right now!

Picnics:

Grab a couple of your closest buddies, a big blanket and some of your favorite snacks and cheese and enjoy the sun together. You have plenty of parks around Lincoln to choose from for that afternoon picnic. A couple that are popular but often crowded are Holmes Lake and Pioneers Park. Other less frequented parks that are still on par include Van Dorn or Tierra Briarhurst Park. As it can be windy in the spring, crackers might not be the best option but sandwiches can still work. Stop by your local sandwich shop or grocery store on

Mushroom cloud ©Wikimedia Commons

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Psalm 46:1-3

Sidney Needles is a senior international relations and history major from Centralia, Mo.

your way to the park and enjoy the fresh air. Don’t forget to pack your allergy meds!

Outings:

Have a favorite restaurant or local café you like to go to? You can bring out the good old bike, skateboard, scooter or rollerblades and get active instead of relying on a car. Sometimes it can get lonely out there, so simply send out a couple texts to some friends and make memories with great people beside you. It could be as close as across the street or down the road. It is totally up to you but be reasonable and don’t over exert yourself. Every adventure is best when hydrated — remember that water!

Camping:

Have some IRR friends that are addicted to the woods or one that might let you borrow some gear? Take a camping trip! We only have a few weekends left before summer — just enough to enjoy the woods in Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado. All you would need is a tent or a hammock and a sleeping bag. Stop by the store for some camp-friendly foods and embrace the wilderness for a couple days while you escape the stresses of finals.

Conquer the water:

Glide across the water with a paddleboard, kayak or canoe. Who said you could only have fun on land? Take action on the water and splash some friends while you’re at it. Maybe even buy a water gun in secret and surprise your friends when you reach the watering hole of your choice.

for a car. Take as many friends as you can and pack them into your back seat or hop in someone else’s for a drive around town. It can be a great way to learn your friend’s music taste and potentially a way to find out that you share some of the same favorites. A simple drive and jam never hurt anyone, right?

Go for a drive:

The wind might have ruined your picnic and walking chances, but it is no challenge

Gabriel Sanders is a sophomore English major from Apopka, Fla.

Camping trip

©Reef Peckham

Personal finance tips for students

Jordan Judge shares advice from his job at Lincoln SDA Credit Union.

Ihave a passion for personal finance and helping people understand their finances. I have finally had the opportunity to put my passion to work in my job at the Lincoln SDA Credit Union. Here are some insights that I have seen that can help you with your financial future. These are two things that you can do now as a student that will help you later in life.

1. Learn what your credit score is and find ways to raise it.

The biggest thing that you can do right now to set up for your financial future is building your credit score. A good credit score makes a big difference. You will need it for when you are apartment or house shopping after you graduate, or when you need to finance a vehicle. There are ways to get around a bad credit score, but if you make your credit score better it will be much easier. First of all, figure out your credit score. Several different credit bureaus online can give a pretty good estimate of what your credit score is at the moment. Do not check your score too often, that can lower your score. Find a credit bureau that you like, hopefully one that gives you free credit reports. Look at your credit report and the factors that affect it. Payment history and paying debts on time is the biggest factor that you can control. If you can, and if you believe that

having a credit card would help you boost your credit score and not get you in debt, I would recommend getting a credit builder credit card. It will have a low available balance, but you can use it to spend money and pay it off each month so you aren’t charged interest. That will help you build credit history.

2. Make a habit of saving some from your paycheck.

Tough financial times will happen to everyone. Putting a little bit of money aside will help to cover those true emergency expenses and give you some breathing room until your situation gets better. If you know you have a big semiannual or annual expense coming up, save extra money for it. Budgeting will be your friend by helping you see how much money you can live on each month and how much you should save. Managing your money will be the biggest financial decision you can make to help yourself.

Jordan Judge is a senior business major from Lincoln, Neb.

Personal Finance ©Unsplash