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The Clocktower

Parking lots closed

Renovations are in progress

For as long as Union College students can remember, renovations have been the norm on campus. Recently, something big and ambitious has been put into motion: the renovation and expansion of the nursing building and Larson Lifestyle Center. As exciting as it is, the idea of these renovations are nothing new. Conversation about the project had been going on since the first semester of last year.

With renovation comes the closure of some parking spaces around campus. Operations Specialist Chris Canine said, “When we were planning for the start of these projects, the contractor, Ayars & Ayars, Inc., requested full use of the small parking lot just to the north of the Krueger Center and west of Larson Lifestyle Center for equipment and materials staging, the lot near the tennis courts for construction traffic and flexible use of the lower Rees Hall student lot between 49th and 51st streets. Large trucks, earth movers and other equipment will be coming and going

Future site of Union’s fitness center ©Christopher Jacobo

at various times, so we anticipate that 51st St., from Calvert St. to Larson will also be inaccessible at times.”

At the moment, technicians are working in the field to reroute electrical wires, water and gas pipes and telecommunications near the building site before winter, as cold weather and frozen ground are difficult to work around. Groundwork is in progress and will continue for quite some time.

Students, employees and visitors are advised to watch out for fences, barriers, orange cones and moving heavy machinery for their safety as the construction area will become quite busy in the coming months.

It is expected that renovations for the nursing building and Larson Lifestyle Center will be completed by the summer of 2024. On the bright side, there are a few things that students can look forward to once the construction project is completed. The new AdventHealth complex will have its own parking area with increased capacity for patrons, staff, workers and nursing students who will utilize the newly renovated building. The old Larson parking lot will still be accessible to everyone, students and employees.

Bouldering cave offers free money to climbers

Students have the opportunity to win prizes for completing bounty route

Many Union College students, faculty and staff walk up the steps inside the atrium of the Don Love Building every day with many different goals. Some are headed to the student center to play ping-pong while others are studying in the library. One might be going for a snack at Cooper’s Corner and another might be on their way to Student Success. However, these people all have one thing in common—they are walking right over a feature of our campus that, while continuously offering great recreational opportunities to students, is now offering prize money to lucky ones who can prove that they have completed some complex challenges.

Beneath the stairs is the Bouldering Cave, a place where students can “rock climb” with little to no danger. Using a lot of finger strength and coordination, climbers can use the space with zero equipment. They are never high off the ground and it is much safer than traditional vertical rock climbing walls. Routes are changed by staff from year to year to keep things fresh and enjoyable.

The Bouldering Cave opened in January 2017 as a way to offer recreational options that were not dependent on the fluctuating Nebraska weather. The project was not funded

Robert Tengker is sophomore nursing major from Redlands, Calif.

by student tuition. Funding was raised by the Student Association asking alumni to match their contributions.

A new feature of the cave this year is the new “bounty routes” that are offered. The first students who complete these and submit video evidence to the Bouldering Cave Director Dan Keis are eligible to win a cash prize of $20 or $30, depending on the route difficulty.

“It’s very much … a budding community,” said Keis. “Prior to this year … there wasn’t much traction or momentum.” The staff hope to connect more students to the cave this year with tournaments, basic climbing classes and even a yoga/climbing collaboration.

“It’s a lot of fun to come climb here!” said Calista Covel, Bouldering Cave staff member.

Any student is able to climb with staff supervision; those who would like to climb outside of hours can fill out a waiver, allowing them to use their student ID to gain access to the area at any convenient time. “I think that’s something that a lot of students don’t know,” Covel said.

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

Student Senate is in session

Who are your representatives for this year?

For the first time this semester, the Union College Student Senate convened. What is the Student Senate? What do they do? Who is my representative?

These are all fair questions to ask about those working for you. The Student Senate is a body of the Student Government. Students represented are separated by the district they live in. Student Senators are able to take bills on issues that you face during your daily life at Union and to introduce ideas that you have to make Union a better place.

This year, there are six female representatives and six male representatives. Representing the women are Alexis Castro for Rees 1st floor, Salissa Tonkin for Rees 2nd floor, Aubrey Benton for Rees 3rd floor, Megan Johnson for Rees 4th floor, Tyler Okemwa for Off-Campus Housing and Mayah Evans as the Student Diversity Representative. Representing the men are Andrew Helmer for Prescott 2nd and 3rd floors, Jadon Gibson for Prescott 4th and 5th floors, Danset Okemwa for Prescott 6th and 7th floor, along with Jehiel Exil for Campus Housing and Maurie Andino representing Cooper Place Apartments.

If you have any questions about campus or any issues that you would like to see resolved, please reach out to your senator.

Bouldering cave ©Christopher Jacobo

“Student Senators are able to take bills on issues that you face during your daily life at Union .”

Your senator can do a lot for you, and they will be staying in communication with everyone in their respective districts. A common question is, “What are the types of bills that have been passed recently?” Bills come in all shapes and sizes. They can cover anything ranging from adding a water fountain to the Thunderdome to allowing skateboard use on campus.

If you have any questions about the Student Senate, you can reach out to your district representative, who would be happy to assist you, or the Executive Vice President Andrew Schwartz.

Out with the big screens, in with the

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Are movie theaters dying?

The movie theater experience: going with friends, eating popcorn, and seeing a newly-released movie for the first time on a giant screen. Hearing the crowd you’re sharing the movie with react to some of the best scenes is always an experience to remember. However, this is becoming less and less the case. Movie theaters across the country have been closing for several years due to stagnating numbers of customers. This, of course, was exacerbated thanks to the pandemic hitting the world like a train over two years ago. Movie theater visits are now few and far between. Speaking from personal experience, in January, I went to see Spider-Man: No Way Home at the theater. After watching it, I realized that it had been the first time I had been to a movie

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

ON THE RADAR

THURS. 9/29/22

uBelong | Woods, 10.35 a.m.

Warrior Volleyball Tri-match at Calvary University (Away) FRI. 9/30/22

Warriors Soccer vs. York University (Away)

Family Worship | Woods, 7:30 p.m.

Active Minds Stargazing | Holmes Lake, 9 p.m. SAT. 10/1/22

Communication Bonfire | 7 p.m. Bubble Soccer | Thunderdome, 8 p.m. SUN. 10/2/22

uGlowGirl Event | Engel, 10.30 a.m. MON. 10/3/22

Therapy Dogs | Atrium, 4 p.m.

Gavel

©Pexels

theater since 2018 when I went to see The Incredibles II. Before that, I hadn’t been to one since 2016, when Rogue One came out. You get the picture. My sister is eight years older than me, so we both grew up in very different times. When I was little, I remembered her going to see movies all the time. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The movies just aren’t as popular as they used to be, especially since COVID.

Contrary to popular belief, the economic shutdown wasn’t the only factor in theaters losing business. Actually, much of it can be attributed to the economic success of another medium of entertainment: streaming services.

I’m sure you heard the story of how Netflix came to be: a disgruntled Blockbuster employee decided to make his own movie rental company and ended up putting his competition out of business. Netflix later transitioned into the streaming service we all know today. Netflix has now grown to produce some of their own movies and series. Other streaming services, such as Hulu and Disney+, have started producing their own exclusive content, meaning that these original films will never hit movie theaters and will only be available on their prospective streaming service. For example, if you were thinking of going to see Disenchanted, think again. There will be no movie theater experience for this film. You will instead have to pay for a Disney+ subscription and watch it at home on your laptop or TV, which makes the film feel cheap in a way.

]If you’re like me and enjoy the movie theater experience and are sad about how it seems to be diminishing, then go grab some friends and find a good movie to go see. Support a local movie theater! It’s the surest way to make sure a timeless experience will remain for the next generation.

Evan Majors is a sophomore English major from WinstonSalem, N.C.

Warriors avenge Warriors!

A win at last

“Y

es!” Loud shouts ensued from the stands as Nyanbay Puok from the Warriors jump-served the ball and landed on the opponent’s court.

Last Tuesday, the Warriors united against the Falcons of Kansas Christian once more, but this time on the volleyball court. And what a game it was! It was evident that the Warriors came prepared to win. It was long overdue, as the Warriors have suffered several losses and near wins in previous games.

Edgewood Theater ©Joseph Lee

Warriors Women’s Volleyball Team ©Joseph Lee

“Bam!” The ball went over the heads of the Warriors. The referee blew the whistle almost immediately, signaling continuity. The ball had gone outside the court; it didn’t count. A loud cheer stirred from the fans on the side, “Go, Warriors!”

“I like the style of play today!” Alexandra Seferlis, a fan from the Warriors’ stand, exclaimed as the players formed a tight huddle before resuming the game. The style of play was intriguing and energetic.The tussle continued throughout the game as the Falcons landed a point. The Warriors nevertheless kept pushing and serving. This resilient attitude may have been due to their preparation for adversity or simply because they were currently ahead of the Falcons. The Warriors won the second set of the game, and their first set of the season, 25-15.

The Falcons began clapping as they prepared to serve the ball. The ball caught in the net. It seemed even the net favored home, and home was with the Warriors.

A thunderous shout came from the Warriors and the stands. They were on the verge of bagging a win they had worked so hard for. Third time is the charm, but the third round was the apex for the Warriors. The Falcons, who gained a hand in the second round, still couldn’t measure up to the ferocity of the Warriors.

The last set and fourth set was the tightest of the game. “Bam!” The last serve from Puok went off into the opponent’s court and landed the Warriors a victory. After winning the last three sets, the Warriors won 3-1.

Fortune Ogulere is a freshman English major from Mbaise, Nigeria.

Oh, H2O

It’s just water

Water is a simple compound made by God for us. We drink it everyday to stay hydrated, cool off, or to even warm up. But my question is which water should I drink? If all water is water then why do some of the expensive water distributors such as Voss, Smart Water and Evian have slightly different, but better tasting water?

For the longest time I was only given tap water to drink, no bottled water. We simply used our refillable bottles with whatever beverage we wanted and that was it. It was simple and easy. Then came the process of choosing what water I wanted to drink. I remember the first time I walked into a gas station. I wanted a Gatorade, but as I walked past the water and noticed that there were almost more water bottle brands than there were flavors of Gatorade. This was back in 2007 when Gatorade was still growing as a company and they only had a couple of flavors. The question still came to me, “Why are there so many types of waters?”

I looked at the cooler and pondered why there were so many different brands. Now I understand that they all taste slightly different, but they all do the same thing to us. They can rehydrate us and cool us off, but it also comes down to how much you are getting from the bottle and how expensive it is. For example, Life Water is a brand I like, but it is more expensive per ounce than other brands. That is the compromise I have made for a while, and I am willing to accept that.

Then comes pure water and the bottles. What even is “pure water”? Isn’t all water contaminated to some degree? People see the seals on those water bottles and think it is all glorified, but it’s just the manufacturing that puts it on there. I could

care less if my water bottle has water from the fountain, a waterfall or a glacier. All I want are water bottles that aren’t too expensive. I just want to be able to walk into a gas station and have a reliable brand that I go to. But no, these brands find it necessary to dig water out of everything and ask if we can do something with it. Whether it’s a glacier, waterfall, spring or even river, there is water from it and it will most certainly not please your taste buds.

Pumpkin spice and everything nice: explore Nebraska this autumn

Nebraska shows its fall spirit with unique local events

Happy Fall, Warriors! It’s time for a new season — a new beginning and letting go of anything that is holding you back or keeping you from your goals or your calling. It’s time to make new memories, relax and reset. Here are a few exciting options for those of you who are members of the fall fan club.

If you are a fan of fall activities such as making — and eating — caramel apples, apple fritters, apple pie etc, Nebraska City has a historical AppleJack festival annually that brings out about 60,00080,00 people to celebrate. Although this year’s festival has already ended, the orchards around Nebraska City are still open and full of delicious fall treats.

According to “USA Today” Nebraska City AppleJack Festival has been named one of the top 10 fall harvest festivals in The United States. This annual festival starts at the beginning of harvest season, this year from Sep. 16 to Sep. 25. This is an all day event for friends, families, and even your furry friends! You can start off with breakfast, an outdoor worship service, or a couple of contests. Then, you can enjoy a parade of local community members, schools, and businesses celebrating the season. High school marching bands put on a great show and children are thrown loads of candy. Have a craving for carnival food? They’ve got that as well. This is the perfect activity to

Water ©Joseph Lee

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

put on your calendar for next year. If you are looking for more festivals, this is the perfect time to go. Some additional options that are available include the “Fall Fest” on Oct. 1 in Omaha, Nebraska. This is a free festival from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with nature hikes, outdoor games, fall crafts and more. The location is Hummel Park Nature Center (3033 Hummel Rd., Omaha). With this new season, think about changes you can make in your own life. Some things that might take you out of your comfort zone, time to change up a routine, meet new people — whatever the case is, it’s time for a new start and to remember that change is good!

Nebraska’s minimum wage proposal will appear on midterm ballot

Voters will decide if Nebraska’s minimum wage wil be increased to $15

Aproposal to raise Nebraska’s minimum wage to $15 per hour will appear on the ballot in November. The increase in the minimum wage will happen in yearly increments of $1.50, starting on Jan. 1, 2023 and ending on Jan. 1, 2026. The incremental system of increase was designed to allow businesses to adjust to the higher wages they will need to pay employees. The minimum wage in Nebraska has been $9 per hour since Jan. 1, 2016. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Ashira

Initiative 433, The Minimum Wage Statute, succeeded in gaining the necessary amount of signatures to appear on the November ballot. A petition ballot initiative requires signatures from at least 7% of registered Nebraska voters, which equals 86,776 individuals. The initiative gained around 160,000 signatures before it went through the verification process.

The petition campaign was led by Raise the Wage Nebraska. The organization states on their website that the increase in minimum wage would directly benefit 150,000 Nebraskans. Other issues that they advocate for include closing the gender pay gap, as 60% of Nebraska minimum wage workers are female, as well as closing the racial pay gap because 32% of individuals who will benefit from the minimum wage increase are people of color.

Apple Picking

©Reef Peckham

Campbell is a sophomore communication major from Denver, Colo.

Arguments against increasing the minimum wage include potential job losses and an increase in the prices of goods and services.

The minimum wage is applicable to any employer with over 4 employees with the exception of small businesses with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less, but does not apply to all workers in Nebraska. The minimum tipped wage is currently $2.13 per hour and several other groups are exempt from being paid minimum wage. These groups include agricultural and farm employees, government employees, volunteer nonprofit workers, immediatefamily employees and certain physically or mentally disabled workers.

The midterm elections are quickly approaching. Voting will take place on Nov. 8, 2022. The outcome of this election will directly impact students at Union who are paid minimum wage on and off campus. While many students are not permanent residents of Nebraska and cannot vote in this election, there is still time for registered voters to request a mailin ballot and exercise their constitutional right to vote and affect change within their own state. Be sure to check the status of your voting registration and the specific registration deadlines in your individual states. Happy voting!

Dangerous Deoderant?

Exploring cancer risk claims

The bright fluorescent lights of Target beam on the aisle of the personal care products. In front of you are two long rows with seemingly endless options for deodorants. Different brands, prices, scents and colors jump out at you. The sheer amount of options almost makes it impossible to choose. Yet, you suddenly remember all of the daunting rumors you heard about deodorants. As you pick up a stick of Degree, you wonder, “Will this give me cancer?”

The wellness industry seems to have tried its best to cast doubt on the safety of deodorant. Some claims are that antiperspirants possess cancer-causing substances that are absorbed through the skin, leading to the build-up of toxins. Others cite that because breast cancer usually occurs in the upper part of the breast, close to the armpit, there is a connection between wearing deodorant and developing tumors. Regardless of the format of the story, the principle is always that “natural” products are safe, while standard deodorants will cause serious illness. Luckily, this narrative has a weak scientific basis and is no reason to create concern.

The American Cancer Society states that no epidemiological studies have been able to link antiperspirants to cancer risk and that there is very little evidence to substantiate many of the claims made about the danger of these products. In 2002, a study was conducted where approximately 800 participants with breast cancer were compared to 800 without the disease. The researchers found no link between breast cancer risk

Finances

©Reef Peckham

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

©Reef

and using antiperspirants. Specifically, the key ingredient that stops sweating, aluminum, has been scrutinized in particular. Rumors were that this compound may impact hormones, inadvertently promoting the growth of breast cancer. Yet again, none of these claims have been substantiated. While there’s nothing wrong with avoiding certain types of deodorants, there is simply no reason for serious safety concerns when using these products. If developing cancer is a point of worry, there are many lifestyle changes that one can make. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assert that alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking and low physical activity are all elements that increase the risk of breast cancer.

their products. Because of this, it is usually a good rule to vet information and health claims made in commercials or other promotional material. In the meantime, use your deodorant free of guilt.

Nicole Hardt is a sophomore biomedical science from Apopka, Fla.

Although the origin of the anti-deodorant claims is unknown, many “natural” companies will promote these rumors on their websites and in their marketing. Unfortunately, many of these entities exploit concerns about diseases to sell

EDITORIAL

A defense for monsters

Monsters have plagued humanity for millennia, always lurking in the shadows and dark corners of our civilized world. They are born from fears that we have about that which is unknown. They are conquered when we either find out the true nature of something unknown or when we become familiar with that which was previously alien to us. They represent all that scares us, both as individuals and as societies. However, monsters are more complex than a tool to scare young children with their grotesque and frightening appearance.

Some of the earliest monsters to appear were drawn on maps of the world. Here we could see entire civilizations of “monster races” that lived on the outskirts of the known world. These “monsters” represented the xenophobic attitudes that the civilizations that created them had against those that lived outside of their culture. As societies mingled and

Deodorant

Peckham

“The American Cancer Society states that no epidemiological studies have been able to link antiperspirants to cancer risk”

interacted, these depictions of each other as actual monsters slowly dissipated, but the idea of the “monster other” still remained for centuries to come. Even today, it is not uncommon for us to call the reprehensible actions of our enemies as “monstrous.”

Another type of monster depicted on maps were the infamous sea monsters of old nautical maps. These creatures stuck around for a lot longer than the aforementioned “monster races”, but there is good reason for this. Much of the ocean was unexplored for a lot of maritime history and some of the deep sea creatures that resided in it were nothing short of nightmarish. It took a long time for people to research and catalogue the different animals of the sea. Slowly, monsters began to disappear from maps as people began to understand the seven seas. On some maps, however, they still remained as a means to show the control a certain nation had over an area by depicting its ruler sitting atop a sea monster. Other decorative maps kept the aquatic terrors merely as something interesting to look at as it hung on the wall.

There is another thing that monsters can represent other than the unknowns of the world and differing cultures: the values and fears of a culture itself. Many monsters find their roots in folk tales, and many of these folk tales are told as means of preserving a certain cultural value through fear. One example of this is the infamous cannibal spirit of Algonquin legend, the Wendigo, that displays the dangers of greed and the winter while encouraging fellowship and selflessness. Another is the devilish German antithesis to Santa Claus, Krampus, who encourages good behavior and obedience in children. All over the world, monsters are used to encourage and/or discourage certain behaviors to promote the betterment of that culture’s society.

Monsters are much more than just a vehicle for horror and a tool to scare us, they are ingrained into our very perceptions of the world around us. From that which we consider unknown to the very values of the culture we exist in, monsters are a way for us to conceptualize and preserve the most abstract of ideas. Whether they are people, places, or creatures, monsters represent so much more than just the fear that they produce.

Caleb Schaber is a sophomore communication major from Lincoln, Neb.

Monster made of hands ©Unsplash

The Clocktower, established in 1927 and sponsored by the Student Association of Union College, is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions expressed are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinions of the editors, Student Association, Union College or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.