The Swinging Bridge - December Edition

MESSIAH UNIVERSITY'S

AWARD WINNING STUDENT RUN MAGAZINE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ETHAN DYRLI

DESIGN MANAGER

ISABELLA KERN

AUDIO & VISUAL MANAGER

HUNTER ROHRER DIRECTOR

EMILIE RUSH

ASST. DIRECTOR

JOSHUA MCCLEAF

THE SWINGING BRIDGE THE PULSE STAFF

WRITING

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR / PJ RIDDELL CULTURE & ARTS EDITOR / MACKENZIE CHRISTIE STUDENT LIFE EDITOR / KAYLEE GETZ

CREATIVE

DESIGN ASSISTANT / KATE TRIMBLE DESIGN ASSISTANT / AMBER SWAISGOOD YEARBOOK MANAGER / LILIANA MORA

DIGITAL & RADIO

AUDIO & VISUAL ASSISTANT / TYLER CARUSO RADIO MANAGER / MARIE MILLER MUSIC DIRECTOR / SABRINA STANDFORD WEB MANAGER / ADI MANSOUR

ADVERTISING

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER / PAM REINOSO BUSINESS MANAGER / HANNAH KURUVILLA

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ETHAN DYRLI

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF

This magazine marks the final issue of the fall semes ter. I greatly appreciate the support and feedback that we’ve received from the student body in these past months. While this December issue includes laughs and heartwarming moments, it is also the most important issue we’ve released yet this year.

In this magazine, you will find stories on both hazing and sexual assault and how they apply to the Messiah con text. These are serious conversations that have tangible consequences for those involved, ones that they are still dealing with to this day. Depending on who you are, you may not expect such topics to have much promi nence on Messiah’s campus. However, these pieces are important reminders of how wrongdoing, evil and sin are all still possible within the “Messiah bubble.”

This is especially true of this issues’ cover story, “Messiah’s Response to Sexual Assault,” written by Mackenzie Christie. This piece shares the stories of three victims of sexual assault and harrassment, and how they sought healing both inside and outside the Messiah community. This piece is a harrowing reminder of the reality of sexual abuse. It also stands to point out that abuse like that described in the article is all too common.

Within the Messiah community, it’s easy to ignore the harsher realities of life. We get so caught up in the menial problems of college life, we forget that this is an environment cu rated for us. This is not real life. When we forget that, it is easy to forget that within this space, there are people going through real problems, undergoing real struggles.

I don’t remind you of these realities in an attempt to scare you. Rather, I want to remind all of us the immense privilege that comes with attending a university such as this. I also aim to remind us of the dangers that come with refusing to recognize the reality of the world around you. A commu nity like Messiah is wonderful, but it also can distort the truth of the struggles others face.

Not to accuse anyone of anything, but living grounded in reali ty is not a strength of the average Messiah student.

This issue, among other things, will hopefully pull us all back into reality. There are bad things that happen at Messiah. This bubble is not perfect. In reading this issue, I hope that you can be come more aware of your fellow peers and the struggles they may be facing on their own.

It is my hope that this issue will continue to give voice to those who may not otherwise, to share the harsh realities of what people may face. It’s the truth, and it bears repeating.

Earnestly,

Sabrina's Christmas Party

WRITTEN BY SABRINA STANDFORD DESIGNED BY ISABELLA KERN

MESSIAH'S UNSUNG HEROES Laura Price

WRITTEN BY JOSH NIELSEN

DESIGNED BY AMBER SWAISGOOD AND ISABELLA KERN

Laura Price is a campus events supervisor. When one thinks of that title, they may think of someone who just helps set up for events. While that is true, there is so much more go ing on that you might not even see or realize.

Price puts in work while most people aren’t watching. She constantly makes sure that our campus is clean and looks neat for prospective and current students. Some times, this work isn’t always the most pleasant, but she always does it with a smile, because she works for the glory of God.

“When I keep God at the forefront of my mind, my work day normally goes well no matter what I'm doing,” Price said.

For Price, the atmosphere the students pro vide is part of why she loves what she does.

“A reason why I enjoy my job, and a reason why I stay motivated to do it is because of the way that Messiah students carry them selves,” Price said. “Most of the time, the students are very respectable and they do a good job of being happy, excited students.”

Although Price’s job might keep her away from the main spotlight of the student body, to her coworkers, she is a good role

model and a fantastic friend. Donna Her man, supervisor of student residence, spoke of Price’s commitment to others.

“The best way to describe Laura is a big sister,” Herman said. “She makes everyone feel special and good about themselves. With Laura, she always makes the extra effort to make sure her workers feel cared for. There have been many times where she will just pull me aside and just pray for me.”

According to Price, her cowork ers are a community, and she puts work in to build that community.

“I consider my coworkers as family,” Price said. “During my lunch time, I put aside work-related topics, and focus on becoming closer as a group. Occasional ly, we will even have pot-lucks, or play games at someone's house,” Price said.”

Being a person behind the scenes doesn’t mean that things don’t always go un noticed. Sometimes, Price will have someone approach her and thank her for her hard work around campus.

“About twice a week someone will approach me and thank me for cleaning the glass, or for shoveling the snow, ” Price said.

One thing Price didn’t want was for the spotlight to be solely on her. She in sisted that credit be given to all of the campus events workers on staff.

“You always hear that it’s a ‘we team,’ but really, I can’t do my job fully with out these people,” Price said.

The next time you see Price or any of the campus events workers, be sure to share your appreciation of some of Messiah’s unsung heroes.

PHOTOS BY TYLER CARUSO

Local

ChristmasFun

WRITTEN BY BELLA HACKMAN DESIGNED BY AMBER SWAISGOOD

Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends, and during your time here at Messiah University you may be wondering: What can I do or where can I go to celebrate the Christmas season? To help you out, here are a few places to check out before you leave for Christmas break.

LocalChristmasFun Hershypark Christmas Candylane

Agreat place to visit this Christmas season is Hersheypark. While enjoying your time at Hershey’s Chocolatetown, where the park hosts their variety of roller coasters and rides, make sure to check out the Christmas attractions that are set up between November 11 to January 1 during Hersheypark’s Christ mas Candylane season.

A fan favorite is the NOEL Lightshow, in which more than 250,000 lights dance and flash to your favorite holiday tunes.

Or you could take a stroll down the Boardwalk, which holds the next attraction, Treeville. This area has decorated trees, themed

Se th Lights

I f you are looking for a cheaper ac tivity, try taking a drive through the nearby neighborhoods where you can take in the sight of twinkling lights. One of these locations, Linglestown Lights, features over 50,000 lights that are synchronized to 13 Christmas tunes. If you make sure to visit this attraction between their designated hours of 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., most days there will be free snacks of fered to those who stop by.

to different sponsors and sectors of The Hershey Company.

Another great stop would be Santa & His Reindeer, where you can meet Santa and all his nine reindeer up until December 24 at Santa’s Reindeer Stables.

Hersheypark Sweet Lights is an attraction you don’t want to miss, with over two miles of land filled with over 60 displays and that are cov ered in millions of shining LED lights. Prices range from $23.95 – $35.95.

For more information, use the provided QR Code.

Hersheypark

Miracle of Lights is another lightshow, made up of 15,000 LED lights, that is open from November 24 through December 26. On weekdays the at traction is lit from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. and on weekends the times are 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Make sure to turn your radio to 87.9 FM when view ing the attraction.

A few other recommendations are BREEl ieve in the Magic in Camp Hill and Christmas Lights on Clouser in Mechanicsburg. For more information, use the provid ed QR Code.

Linglestown Lights

Christmas Candylane

BREElieve in the Magic

Miracle of Lights

Christmas Lights on Clouser

I f you enjoy the arts, take a minute, and go enjoy the performances put on by the area’s surrounding theaters. “The Nutcrack er,” a winter classic, tells the story of a young girl who befriends a nutcracker and is taken through a fantastical world filled with sugar plum fairies, swans, and mischievous mice. This Christmas season, the Hershey Theater and Whitaker Center will be showing “The Nutcracker,” performed by the dancers of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts will be open to the public December 10 -11 with ticket prices ranging from $30 to $48. The Hershey theater will be open to the public December 17 – 18 with tickets rang ing from $35 to $50.

Catcha Christmas Show

Another good place to visit would be the Capital Blue Cross Main Stage, which will be putting on “A Christmas Carol.” This Charles Dickens’s classic tells the story of an old man who is redeemed through a journey where he comes to interact with three spirits on the night of Christmas Eve. “A Christmas Carol” is being shown throughout December 3 – 23 with prices ranging from $21 to $40.

From November 18 to January 8, the Dutch Apple Theater will be performing “Elf,” the story of a man who comes to find his fami ly and remind New York of the true spirit of Christmas. Prices at the Dutch Apple Theater depend upon whether you intended to partake in the provided buffet $70 to $75 or simply enjoy the show for $50.

For more information, use the provided QR Code.

Ice Skating

I ce skating is a fun Christmas activity that can be enjoyed by skaters of all skill levels. Twin Ponds, lo cated in Harrisburg, is a great place to go out with friends and enjoy the thrill of skating.

Twin Ponds has two times set for the public: Regular Skate and Cheap Skate. Regular Skate takes place on Saturdays and Sundays for $15, which includes skate rentals. Cheap Skate takes place on Mondays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. for $10.

For more information, use the provided QR Code.

WRITTEN BY EMMA BANE DESIGNED BY KATE TRIMBLE

If you've been at Messiah for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the now-annual Zine Fair. The event seeks to breathe life into the art of making zines, small self-publications focusing on anything from poetry to politics. The event’s host, Laney Kuczmynda, is a passionate zine-lover. Hail ing from Baltimore, Maryland, she studies psychology, communication, and sociolo gy along with her dedication to making and swapping zines.

Zines are a form of collage art, typically hand-reproduced in order to be swapped or given away. Most zine-making stems from a passion for something, wheth er that be political issues, personal be liefs, or pop culture. For Kuczmynda, music was her initial stepping stone. “I am a big fan of music, and first got connect ed to the zine community through my interest in the underground punk scene,” Kuczmy nda said. “From that connection, the whole big world of zines was opened up to me.”

Historically, zines became popular in the 1970s, first being used by clubs and margin alized groups to educate the public in a way that couldn’t be constrained. They consist of scraps of paper, stickers, handwritten prose and poetry, song lyrics, and printed pictures. Since zines are self-published and produced, they cannot be censored or edited, meaning that in the suppres

sive political climate of the 70s, margin alized groups used the freedom that zines gave them in order to spread awareness.

“Introducing this topic that I’m so passionate about was amazing,” Kuczmynda said.

“Zine fairs happen all over the world, and they are a place for creators to get together and sell or swap their zines. It’s a super cool culture of col laboration and creativity.”

While zines can truly center around any topic, Kuczmyn da’s own style of zines typical ly revolves around poetry and collage. She also ventures into the territory of politics and feminism, but enjoys making lighthearted mini-zines as well. Sharing her work is another important aspect to Kuczmynda. While zine swaps are a great way to do this, she also uses Insta gram to meet fellow zine-lov ers and showcase her work.

“About a year ago, I started posting regularly on my zine account, @zine4u, and I've been pretty astonished by the zine community,” Kuczmynda said. “The support, connections, collaboration and creativity is so refreshing.”

The most important thing to remember when making zines is simply to have fun with them. Zines can pack a hard punch and detail topics like politics or social justice, or can be more lighthearted and detail poetry, song lyrics, or a TV show. This is what allows zines to appeal to such a broad audience - their influence is far reaching, interesting, and fun.

“I love making zines because they don’t have to be perfect - that’s kind of the point,” Kuczmynda said. “It's this wonderful outlet of cutting and playing and getting your thoughts out on the page - it’s definitely cathartic regardless of what kind of zines you make. It’s really powerful to just make a tangible product that you can look

Anyone can make a zine with a sin gle piece of paper and an idea - start ing with a general topic or theme, your zine can form itself from there.

Kuczmynda recommends zine-making to any creative soul who is passionate about anything. Since zines are en tirely up to the artist’s discretion, they can be about books, sports, college life, plants, tea, or even about yourself. The possibilities are endless!

Messiah's response to SEXUAL ASSAULT SEX

Victims share their stories

Editor's Note: Please be advised the fol lowing article contains content that some readers might find difficult or upset ting to read. Discretion is advised.

The concept of sexual assault may sound to some like a distant, far-fetched issue left to be dealt with by bigger schools in bustling cities. But for others, sexual assault is a horrifying reality to be wary of no matter where you step foot, even here at Messiah University.

Though sexual assault is a difficult topic to discuss, it is also a deeply necessary one. It is estimated that 13% of all college students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Of this 13%, roughly 2 out of 3 crimes go unreported, perpetuating a pervasive cycle of silence and stigma around issues of sexual violence, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.

Three Messiah students have willingly shared their experiences of sexual assault in an effort to raise awareness and support others who have yet to share their own stories. All initials used have been changed in order to protect student identities.

JS, a junior male, was introduced to a girl through their mutual friends, but his relationship with her rapidly evolved into a non-consensual entanglement.

“Every time we were together, I had to reinstate my boundaries because she would keep pushing past them,” JS said. “One day, she got frustrated and said, ‘Hey, this is how I experience love. This is what I think people who love each other should do.’ Now that I sit back and think about it, it’s obviously manip

ulation, but at the moment I thought, ‘Wow, I’m a piece of sh*t. I’m not loving her well.’”

“She began making advances toward oral sex,” JS said. “I said no four times and she just ignored it, waiting for me to be silent instead of saying no. She ended up taking me out to her car to keep going.”

JS put the blame on himself in the begin ning, but after speaking with his counsel or through the Engle Center, he realized the severity of what actually happened.

“There is always that stigma, even as a guy, that assumes, ‘Oh, he clearly wanted it,’ but I didn’t,” JS said. “So initially, I was taking the blame. I thought ‘This is my fault, I wasn’t strong enough, I didn’t say no enough.’ My counselor finally convinced me, ‘This isn’t on you, you were assaulted.’”

SB, a sophomore female, experienced a similar situation on campus.

“Things were escalating with a guy I start ed talking to, but there was a certain point I didn’t want things to go past,” SB said. “He started pushing that point until one night I had to keep physically moving his hands away…I just remember him say ing things like ‘Please, just do it.’ It took me saying no multiple times and moving his hands before he eventually stopped, but not before doing other things.”

SB explained that she never considered her experience worth reporting to any counselors or investigators on campus.

WRITTEN BY MACKENZIE CHRISTIE

ASSAULT

"Until a couple of weeks ago, I never thought it was serious enough to report. I was mostly putting the blame on myself,” SB said.

Hannah McBride is Messiah’s Coordinator for Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Education. She and Messiah’s other Title IX investigators are tasked with navigating issues surround ing sexual assault and pro viding resources to students who have experienced this abuse.

The Title IX investigators on campus include Bryce Wickard, Brooke Good, Doug Wood, and Amanda Coffey. Since they are trained as investigators, they are nonconfidential, but they can all meet with a student to discuss their options.

Nonconfidential investigators are those who can’t promise that what they hear won’t be reported to someone else, documented with their name attached to it, or require further action. Our confidential resources include one pastor specifically for students: Mina Choi, one pastor for employees: Stephen Gallaher, our Engle Center counselors, and McBride.

AK, a sophomore female, reached out to Mc Bride after her friendship with a freshman male became extremely dangerous.

“We started dating, but the next day he told me that he didn’t actually feel the same, so I immediately tried to cut him off,” AK said. “He insisted on staying friends and became engrossed in every area of my life, controlling who I was friends with and what I did with my free time. This divulged into performing sexu al favors against my will, and eventually fullon rape almost every day.”

“Because of the frequency, I started allowing him to do whatever he wanted to me because I didn't think I had any ability to stop it,” AK said. “I wasn't aware of the resources on cam pus that could help me, and I was too afraid and ashamed to tell anyone the extent of what he was doing.”

After creating distance from her assaulter and forming healthier relationships the following semester, AK was encouraged to report her

assault to Hannah McBride, where she was in troduced to the variety of protective measures that can be provided to students in need.

“Reporting seemed so scary at first,” AK said. “When I made the appointment to see Hannah she was extremely gracious and accommodat ing. She made me feel much more at ease, let ting me cry and take as much time as I needed to as I explained the story. She was the key factor in securing my no-contact order and re moving him from my classes, which made my life much easier to handle.”

A major area of fear for students who have been assaulted is that they will be blamed or condemned for the larger harm inflicted upon them as a result of speaking up. This fear is amplified when the assault takes place in situ ations involving policy violations.

SB expressed that she felt this concern when she attempted to speak about her experience.

“I spent a lot of time blaming myself and thinking ‘Why did I get myself into that?’” SB said. “Especially knowing the culture I’m sur rounded by at Messiah, I was worried that if I said too much about it, then I would also have to tell people that we were in my room past visitation with the doors closed. It definite ly made me want to stay silent and turn the blame on myself.”

“Under our Amnesty Policy, we will always prioritize student care over policy violations in the event that someone wants to report in terpersonal harm…this extends to policy vio lations like visitation, consensual sex, alcohol consumption, or same-sex relationships,” Mc Bride said.

The University understands that its approach to student protection is a work in progress, especially as the conversation about sexual violence remains ongoing and dynamic. Fur thermore, its involvement in the conversation as a Christian community forces it to tackle the issue from a unique and challenging lens.

SB felt significantly more anxiety around her situation due to Messiah's faith and purity culture, especially considering it is an absti nence-preaching institution.

“When I told a few of my friends, they were upset with how he treated me in other ways, but when I told them about the assault, they basically said they couldn’t believe I’d do that,” SB said. “At that point, I didn’t want to bother telling anyone else if that was going to be the majority reaction.”

McBride feels that the stigma surrounding premarital sex often amplifies the tension be tween religious beliefs and sexual activity for students.

“There is a lot of fear-based messaging around Christians identifying as sexually active before marriage,” McBride said. “This is troubling because that language does not provide con text for addressing sexual experiences that are unwanted, violating, or violent. It is difficult to address prevention of harm in abstinence-on ly education, which doesn’t have any proven impact on reducing sexual violence, pregnan cy rates, or STIs on its own.”

The issue of addressing unhealthy sexual be haviors has no quick fix or easy answer. De spite this, McBride feels that the conversation needs to begin with a discussion of healthy sex.

McBride explains that despite our strict regi men of rules, Messiah staff abide by the uni versity’s Amnesty Policy, a document created to enhance student protection and care in cas es of medical and interpersonal safety.

“Why is sex “the thing” we choose to stigma tize?” McBride said. “Why do we feed these messages of shame, silence, and stigma around this area in particular? Without be ing able to talk about sex healthily, we really struggle to talk about sex when it’s unhealthy, which has quite an impact in these situations.”

"Why is sex 'the thing' we choose to stigmatize?"

Hannah McBride

Ultimately, experiences such as these are greater than one troublesome relationship or a difficult academic semester; these in stances of abuse follow survivors through out the rest of their lives. Though all three individuals have suffered immensely from their assault and abuse, their willingness to vocalize their struggles reflects the deep im portance of this conversation at large.

The goal of turning Messiah University into a space that facilitates healing is one of the most important visions that JS has in mind for Messiah.

• Report the incident to a confiden tial support person on-campus:

· Coord. For Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Education: ext. 2608

· Counselor (Engle Center): ext. 5357

· Nurse (Engle Center): ext. 6035

· Student Pastoral Resource: ext. 7224

· Community Pastor for Employees: communitypastor@messiah.edu

• Report the incident to a confidential professional off-campus:

Advocacy & Rape Crisis—

• 24/7 HOTLINE (Carlisle): 1-888-727-2877

• 24/7 HOTLINE (Harris burg): 1-888-727-2877

Domestic Violence Services—

“If I can help one other person through this, who cares if I spend an hour with something that’s painful?” JS said. “I would love to see a place where people who have been taken advantage of feel able to talk about it and not feel shame or stigma.”

For AK, her story is a reflection of the hope that exists for those in the midst of suffering.

“I want people in similar situations to mine to know that they are not alone: someone else has experienced this, and there are re sources here tailored to help them,” AK said. “I hope anyone reading this article who has experienced sexual abuse is aware that their experiences are not their fault, and they did not deserve what happened to them. Healing is possible, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

• 24/7 HOTLINE (Carlisle): 1-800-852-2102

• Scan to report anonymous ly through Silent Witness:

“I want people in similar situations to mine to know that they are not alone"

PREVENTING AT MESSIAH

HAZING

WRITTEN BY PJ RIDDELL DESIGNED BY AMBER SWAISGOOD

At the university level, hazing in athletics has long been a controversial and dangerous problem. In 2018, the issue came to a head, as the state of Pennsylvania en acted new anti-hazing legislation fol lowing the passing of Penn State foot ball player Tim Piazza: a direct result of a hazing incident.

Despite legislation, hazing persists as a life-threatening problem at many uni versities, both within and beyond athletics. How ever, according to Doug Wood, Messiah’s Dean of Students since 1997, that hasn’t been the case at Messiah. The ability to prevent hazing in athletics, he says, im pacts the student body as a whole.

“I’m unaware of any significant athlet ic hazing during my tenure at Messiah University,” Wood said. “The continual cultivation of an atmosphere free from hazing promotes respect for all indi viduals, and extends throughout the student body.”

According to Hannah McBride, Messi ah’s Coordinator for Inter personal Violence Pre vention and Education, Messiah defines hazing as, “Any participation in an activity expect ed of someone joining/in a group that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional and/or physical harm regardless of the person's willingness to participate.”

How has Messiah curbed a trend so prevalent at so many other institutions? The NCAA and Messiah Athletics are intentional about explicitly laying the groundwork for healthy team cultures, and specifically making it a point to avoid hazing within sports teams.

“The NCAA requires annual edu cation on sexual assault and inter personal violence prevention for participating institutions; this educa tion includes both athletics person nel and student-athletes,” McBride said. “This year we focused on haz ing during our September sessions for upper-class student-athletes.”

The sessions on hazing pre vention for athletes sends the message that Messi ah’s Athletic Director Sarah Gustin-Hamrock wants to enforce across the department.

“It is obvious that we take hazing very seriously,” Gustin-Hamrock said. “It’s important to educate students, coaches and staff about hazing. Everyone needs to understand the consequences of haz ing activities and how those actions im pact the individual being hazed, those conducting hazing activities, and the organization or teams they represent.”

The men’s soccer team im plements a welcoming and Christ-like culture. Bringing first-year play ers into this culture im mediately is a priority for goalkeeper Drew Stief and the rest of the senior class.

“We have a huge emphasis on a healthy, Christ-like culture on our team,” Stief said. “I believe that more than any thing, our culture is the biggest reason that someone wants to join our team.”

The team carries on a number of tradi tions, many of which emphasize mem bers of the team investing in one anoth er’s spiritual and personal development.

men,” Miller said. “So [hazing] just doesn't really happen here. That makes sense, because it's just the culture, that as a senior, as an upperclassman, you're serving the freshmen.”

“They spend a lot of time together at cookouts at coaches’ houses, doing Bi ble studies, team dinners and meals, and doing everyday activities togeth er,” Gustin-Hamrock said.

“One of the first Sundays of our sea son we have everyone pick a name out of a hat and write a letter of en couragement to that teammate,” Stief said. “Not just a letter to hype someone up for soccer, but more so to point out the ways we see Christ in them and encourage them to contin ue to strive to be more Christ-like.”

Especially at a Christian institution like Messiah, considering the organi zation, teams, and faith the players represent is on the minds of coaches and players alike. For coaches like Scott Frey, head coach for Messiah women’s soccer for 23 seasons now, the idea of servant leadership guides and fu els the team culture and traditions.

Miller has seen servant leadership demonstrated within his team during his tenure, most notably with the team’s annual player-led retreat.

“The players on their own came up with the idea, and they've done it ever since,” Miller said. “They go away on a retreat, without any coaches, and do stuff like devotions. That's a tradi tion they have. First week end, you're here, you’re a new student, and they set the tone, and everybody's at peace.”

Beyond the special trips, the cultivation of team culture takes place each and every day, given the amount of time team mem bers spend with one another over a four year experience.

Building and maintaining healthy cul tures within athletics at Messiah is just a specific example of how athletes, and the department, can represent the uni versity as a whole.

“Respect for the person as made in the image of God is a foundational value of Messiah Uni versity,” Wood said.

“It is a constant conversation with players and leadership within the team as to what servant leadership should look like and feel like in a pro gram,” Frey said. “If something is being done, or be ing considered, that wouldn’t reflect the culture that we de sire to embrace, the worth of each person, and treat them with dignity and respect, then it probably isn’t a good idea.”

Mike Miller, Messiah’s women’s basketball head coach since 1986, believes that an attitude of servant leadership doesn’t allow any room for hazing or harassment.

“The concept of hazing just doesn't fit; seniors should be serving the fresh

Graduating in December

Messiah University currently only holds a graduation ceremony in May despite the fact that some students graduate in the fall. There are some benefits to this, but some December graduates wish that they got a little more recognition.

There are fewer December graduates than May graduates at Messiah. Although many col leges do hold both May and December grad uations, administrators at Messiah have cho sen to stick with just a May graduation.

According to Kathie Shafer, Messi ah’s Vice President for Operations, the small number of December graduates would mean a much smaller graduation ceremony.

“The number of December graduates is small and not conducive to the same scope and quality of the commencement experience we provide in May,” Shafer said, “so we have tra ditionally graduated the class together.”

After students graduate, they likely begin job searching and hopefully end up at a full-time job that they love. So if December graduates have moved on with their lives, do they still come back to Messi ah in May to attend their graduation ceremony?

ROHRER

-Caitlyn Lau

Jane Mylin graduated from Messiah in December 2021 and decided to come back for graduation.

She lives pretty close to campus, so it wasn’t in convenient for her to travel here the following May.

“I live so close and there’s really no excuse for me not to go,” Mylin said. “I also wanted that final goodbye and to get to see everyone again. I really love all that pomp and circum stance. And I was so involved on campus, it just would not have felt right to not go.”

Although Mylin enjoyed having grad uation with the rest of the May grad uates, she wishes there was some acknowledgement in December.

“I do think it would have been nice to have been acknowledged in some way,” Mylin said. “Besides getting my diploma in the mail, they really didn’t do anything. It was kind of like, ‘I’ve graduated now, right? Am I allowed to say I graduated?’ There wasn’t even a confirmation email, just the fact that Degreeworks said I com pleted my graduation requirements.”

Manny Covington will be graduating in Decem ber 2022 and plans to attend the graduation ceremony in May.

“I would come to graduation no mat ter what,” Covington said. “It might feel weird in the moment after being away for so long, but it’ll be nice to see all of my friends back at school. I really don’t mind there not being a December graduation.”

Although Covington doesn’t mind every one graduating together in May, he does still wish that Messiah would do some thing else for December graduates.

“Even just a note on our transcript to acknowledge the achievement of graduating in three and a half years would be nice,” Covington said.

Caitlyn Lau, an international student from Selangor, Ma laysia, will also be graduat ing this December. She too plans to attend graduation in May. Like Covington, Lau wishes that something was done to recognize December graduates even though a separate graduation is not possible.

“It is kind of sad that we don’t have a separate December graduation ceremony in Decem ber, but at the same time I would like to walk with my friends who graduate in the spring,” Lau said. “It would be nice if we did have some sort of recognition for December grads like a luncheon or a gift-giving reception.”

Despite the barriers to returning in May, Lau still believes it will be worth it to return.

“Regardless of the location that I am in, even overseas, I would still come back to walk for graduation,” Lau said. “I think it’ll feel a little weird to start working as an indepen dent adult and then come back to campus, but coming back is something that I look forward to. I’m not returning for class, but because of the fond memories that I hold and the closure for a chapter in my life.”

"Regardless of the location that I am in, even overseas, I would still come back to walk for graduation"

HOW TEACHERS TEACH

HOW PROFESSORS' EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS IMPACT CLASSROOMS

WRITTEN BY KAYLEE GETZ DESIGNED BY AMBER SWAISGOOD

Professors at Messiah are not required to have any formal educa tion certificates, degrees, or experience. This in turn shapes their teaching styles, assessments, and other aspects of their classes.

According to Cynthia Wells, Professor of Higher Ed ucation and Director of Faculty Development, it is typical for educational institutes to hire experts in their field first and support their teaching skills with professional development.

“In higher education at large, it is the norm that faculty are hired on the basis of their expertise in an academic discipline or area of professional practice; such expertise is indeed foundational to good teaching,” Wells said. “Colleges and universities typically build on that expertise through faculty development initiatives that advance teaching and learning.”

Here at Messiah, those development initiatives include orientations, workshops, and continual support.

“All teaching faculty participate in faculty development programs early in their career, such as new educator orientation and Provost Seminar, that serve to advance quality teaching,” Wells said. “The Office of Fac ulty Development also offers a number of ongoing programs, includ ing workshops and learning communities, that support faculty in their teaching.”

But how does this support differ from formal education?

Kaelin Brennan, a junior middle level education ma jor, believes that educational knowledge is important for professors to be able to do their jobs.

“I believe that professors should be required to have at minimum a certification in education,” Brennan said. “While the professor may certainly have the knowledge in their field, to teach that knowledge is a whole different game.”

PHOTOS BY HUNTER ROHRER

Other education students do not think that an educational background is quite as important.

Mireliz Bermudez, a sophomore early childhood and special education major, believes that their knowledge of their field is more important than their educational knowledge.

“I feel their expertise out-rules their need to have an educational background,” Bermudez said. “I think there is value in having an ed ucational background; however, I think the professors having real-life experience is more important.”

Teaching style and assessments can look very different depending on the professor’s background.

“I think the biggest difference is the lecture style,” Bermudez said. “Education classes are more interactive and application-based, and we’re tested on application through projects and presentations rather than tests. Professors without educational background have a more rigid lecture style. While direct instruction is necessary, it sometimes becomes tiring to sit in a class and listen to a lecture every class.”

“In order to get to where they are to day, all professors are required to have spent a significant amount of time being a student,” Herrlin said, “which at mini mum gives them insight into what worked for them and their peers as students.”

Stella Ye, Associate Professor of Linguistics and Chinese, got her master’s degree in teaching English as a sec ond language. That degree did require courses in educa tion, and Ye believes those courses are crucial in her current role as a professor.

“I think those courses were essential,” Ye said. “They taught me teaching styles, teaching methods, how to get along with students, and how to build rapport. I wouldn’t have learned those without that formal education.”

Ye also references the importance of continu ing to develop that knowledge of education, especially within each field of study.

“It’s a nonstop and dynamic process,” Ye said. “These fields update all the time, and as a professional in that field, we need to catch up with it.”

“I knew pretty early on that I wanted a posi tion like this,” Schaeffer said. “Since I knew that, I was intentional about paying attention to the teachers I had, what was effective, what wasn’t effective.”

“Part of good teaching is emphasizing connec tions with students,” Schaeffer said. “I’m gen erally transparent about why I do the things that I do, and I often ask for feedback. That’s been helpful in learning what works and what doesn’t. I make sure students know that my fundamental concern is their learning.”

According to Wells, if students are concerned with the way their class is being taught, going to the professor is a good first step.

Although professors have varying back grounds in education, they do have some thing in common: they have all been students before. Abby Herrlin, a junior math ed ucation major, believes that their previous experience as a student is important in their teaching careers even if they ha ven’t been formally taught how to teach.

Richard Schaeffer, a Messi ah professor in the Depart ment of Chemistry and Bio chemistry, has no formal background in education, but has learned how to develop effective teaching methods in other ways.

“Direct feedback can be very helpful to faculty in evaluating how their teaching strategies are being experienced by students,” Wells said. “Our Department Chairs are also especially helpful resources for students who would like to discuss the qualifications of their instructors.”

COACHES VETERAN VETERAN VETERAN COACHES

WRITTEN BY ROSIE SCHIANO DESIGNED BY AMBER SWAISGOOD

Sports is a monumental part of Messiah University’s culture. The success of these athletic programs is in large part due to the devoted coaching staff, some of whom have been here at Messiah for decades. These veteran coaches, among a number of others, have continued to dedicate themselves to Messiah and its athletes.

Matthew Fenton, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Events, sees the value of having coaches who have been in the program for so long.

“I think it's very unique,” Fenton said. “They know what their program should look and feel like, and that just comes with the experience of being a coach.”

MIKE MILLER

Coach Mike Miller started coaching the Falcons for the 1986-1987 sea son and is going into his 37th year as head coach of the Messiah Wom en's Basketball Team.

Miller is a member of the Messiah College graduating class of 1983 and was a guard for the Messiah Men’s Basketball team. After graduation, he got a job at Messiah College to teach in the business department.

Coaching was not part of Miller’s plan. One week before his first season, the coach at the time reached out and asked Miller to hold the posi tion for one season until they found someone. Little did Miller know, he would be the permanent fit.

Miller continued to teach and coach full time for 13 years until he stopped teaching business classes. However, as a coach, Miller still ed ucates. He teaches his players the importance of culture and leadership while coaching them in basketball and shaping them to be both better athletes and better people.

“I’m always an educator first,” Miller said.

Amongst Miller’s wishes for the team was his goal to give the women’s team the same recognition as the men's. Miller said when he was an athlete at Messiah, if you wanted a seat for the men's game, you had to be at the JV game by halftime. When the game was over, and it was time for the women to play, the spectators would be gone.

In 1996, 10 years into coaching the Falcons, his wish came true: 1,600 people filled Brubaker for the Middle Atlantic Conference game. Even though Miller was able to fulfill that wish, he still sets new goals for himself every season.

“Good is never good enough,” Miller said.

MILLER

COACHES VETERAN

PHOTOS BY MESSIAH UNIVERSITY

SCOTT FREY

Scott Frey started his 23rd year as head coach of the Messiah Women’s Soccer Team. Frey is a Messiah graduate and a former player on the men's soccer team, where he was a midfielder.

Frey was a soccer coach for Alma College in Michigan for seven years before returning to Messiah as a coach. After being away from friends and family, it was good to be back.

“This position opened in 2000,” Frey said. “The opportunity presented itself and the opportunity to come home and back to Messiah.”

Frey values Messiah Athletics and their commitment to both athletics and their faith.

“There aren't many places where you can do this job as a coach in this environment of integrating faith and athletics, '' Frey said. “There aren't many places who do it as well as Messiah.”

His athletes aren't the only ones learning new skills along the way. Frey is learning from his players. Over time, Frey has learned how to cultivate a strong faith environment for each student's academic and athletic ex perience by making faith such a strong aspect of the sport.

“I don’t want a player to feel like they need to give up one to have the other,” Frey said.

For Frey, the added bonus of being a coach for so long is seeing the growth and building long lasting relationships with their athletes even after their time at Messiah.

“My most favorite thing, after 20 some years, is getting to hold the ba bies of my former players when they come with their kids,” Frey said.

FOGE

FREY

DALE FOGELSANGER

Dale “Foge” Fogelsanger is the head coach of the track-and-field and the cross-country team at Messiah University, and is entering his 29th coaching season.

Fogelsanger is a Messiah graduate of the Class of ‘87 with a degree in bi ology. Before coaching at Messiah, Fogelsanger coached middle and high school track and field after graduating from Messiah College.

Doug Miller, Fogelsanger’s coach and the previous head coach of the track and field team, wrote Fogelsanger a letter expressing that he was leaving and that he wanted Fogelsanger to take his position. Fogelsanger accept ed, and is still grateful for Miller’s support.

“He was a big impact on my life and right away helped me be a confident coach at the high school level,” Fogelsanger said.

Since becoming a coach, Fogelsanger has worked with 29 years worth of athletes. In that time, not much has changed about the sport or the athletes.

“The sport, the event, and the type of athlete that does track and field and cross country does not change,” Fogelsanger said. “[The athletes] are very self-motivated, driven, type A. More of my job is balance and less glitz.”

For Fogelsanger, and many other coaches, their job is more than just coaching the next generation, it's about shaping their athletes to make them the best they can be in all aspects, on and off the field or court.

“It’s very impactful to us coaches who have played for Messiah to want to give back to our programs and keep that program as healthy as it was for us,” Fogelsanger said. “It was certainly a dream I never thought would be a dream, to come back and coach at Messiah.”

VETERAN COACHES

Christmas Date Ideas

WRITTEN BY ETHAN DYRLI DESIGNED BY KATE TRIMBLE

Oh the holidays - the perfect time to cozy up with your lover. The winter air brings with it some of the most romantic seasonal dates of the whole year. Ice skating, warm cups of cocoa, snowball fights, the typical stuff.

But I hear what you’re saying - you’re not the typical couple. Why do the same boring old dates as everyone else?

To make the holidays more exciting for you and your snow angel, we’ve created some new and exciting winter date ideas to get the two of you in the mood for the holiday seasons.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

This one may seem like a classic Christ mas activity - but hold your reindeer dear reader. I guarantee you never did caroling like this before.

Think Christmas Caroling, but make it more intimate. Before, you were out on the street, cordially knocking on the front door. Instead, you and your sweet ie get in your car (nice and warm) and drive into their backyard. Roll down your windows and start signing. Now you don’t have to worry about anyone else watching your performance, it’s just the carolers and the caroled.

When met with questions such as “Who are you?” and “What have you done to my yard?” put that puppy in reverse and drive out of there. Onto the next house to spread Christmas cheer!

VISITING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTIES

You remember those fun times the day before Christmas break back in gradeschool? Don’t let those parties stay as memories! Go to your local elementary school and visit, take part in the festivities!

Try some of the finest cafeteria pizza cut into miniscule slices for cost-effective feeding. Wash that down with some flat Diet Pepsi that’s been sitting in the arts-and-crafts cabinet since last year. Top all of that off with a viewing of the first half of “Polar Express” (we don’t have time to finish the movie because of the half-day schedule).

Don’t let the fun end there! On the way out, tell all those poor children that San ta isn’t real and that their parents are lying to them. They deserve the truth!

START A TREE FARM

For the couples looking for forced longterm commitment, consider starting a tree farm. Plant the saplings as early as pos sible. We recommend pine trees - they’re better suited for cooler climates and can withstand a variety of soils. You’ve like ly missed planting season, so mark your calendars for early fall or late spring.

If the two of you work hard, the two of you will start to see a high return on your investment in about 7-10 years. What fun!

LIGHTNING ROUND ROAST CHESTNUTS ON AN OPEN FIRE FAMILY PORTRAIT

I guarantee you’re the first person to do it.

Go to the JCPenny and join a random family’s family portrait. Send them to your real families and spook them out a little bit!

BAKE COOKIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Make those jawns inedible! Mm, mm, mm, yummy!

PEOPLE WATCHING

Just look at ‘em.

TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

I haven’t seen them before, but I’m proud of them for living their truth.

Wow. I’m feeling romantic already. I can almost see the snowflakes falling down on your next date-night. Try out these tips and you’re sure to have a Merry Christmas.

WRITTEN BY MACKENZIE CHRISTIE DESIGNED BY KATE TRIMBLE

We’ve seen Christmas in July milked for years now, but in this econ omy, it seems doubled profits aren’t making the cut anymore. The Biden Administration has recently released word that Christmas – as a federal holiday – is to be celebrated quarterly in order to better coincide with each fiscal quarter.

Cecilia Rouse, Chairperson of the US Council of Economic Advi sors, explains the reasons for a revamped Christmas industry.

“Large capitalist corporations have been luring folks into gluttonous over consumption to celebrate the birth of one of the world’s greatest socialists for a long time now, but recently it’s lost its effect on the economy. As it turns out, deception only goes so far,” Rouse said with a subtle frown.

To be specific, deception lasts about 6 months before the economy starts tank ing like clockwork. Good old-fashioned Christmas in December and Christmas in July are commonplace, but it’s time to raise the stakes by introducing Christmas in April and Christmas in September.

“You suckers hear Gingerbread Houses and Candy Canes and start frothing at the mouth like rabid animals,” said Rouse. “It’s a downright gift from God. We figured with all that extra cash you’ve got lying around, why not exploit you on a quarterly basis too? Quadruple the festivities, and you won’t even know you’re being sucked dry. It’s the American dream, really.”

Rouse and her henchmen Jar ed Bernstein high-fived joyfully throughout the entire interview.

Many Christian advocacy groups, such as the Christian Legal Soci ety, have weighed in on the con versation, expressing concerns about the exploitation of a reli gious holiday for economic gain.

“It’s an ethical dilemma, what they’re doing to the general public. You can’t value economic profit over the personal and religious tradi tions of countless Americans. We can’t stand for it,” Christian Life Society CEO David Nammo said.

When asked about the U.S. Fed eral Reserves’ ethical compliances, Rouse quickly thumbed through her pocket dictionary to the subheading ‘E’ before declining a comment.

The USCEA has proposed several methods of increasing Christmas Commercial ization. These efforts include providing all Christmas carolers a wireless card reader and tip screen to charge unsus pecting bystanders for their musical services, initiating mass incarceration of those suffering from red-green color blindness (they consistently fail to buy the right colored Christmas decorations and it’s killing the mood), and rebrand ing all trees, shrubs, and related green ery as ‘Christmas Trees’ to keep up with the projected increase in demand.

Open Hours: Monday - Friday, 1 - 5 pm thepulse@messiah.edu | 717-691-6081

pulse.messiah.edu @MessiahPulse THE HEARTBEAT OF MESSIAH UNIVERSITY