Volume 100 | Issue 9

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Seek Knowledge Faculty and Graduate Students Present Research -p.3

PHOTO BY SCOTT MONCRIEFF

MULTIFAITH APPROACH TO SYRIAN REFUGEES

ADVENTISTS & POLTICS

MANN ON PILATES

“The image of the muscle man with “I think that as students of An- “Will Dr. Carson’s views and opin- his steroid­ -ripped muscles and drews University, we too have the ions hurt those Adventists who are face with blood veins bulging is ability to make a difference in the going to run in the future?” passé.” lives of the refugees.”

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FORGIVE AND FULFILL “The genocide almost broke my faith and trust in God...but (He) rescued me.”

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TRINA THOMPSON “We all approach music in different ways and with different gifts.”

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THE SELF SUFFICIENCY COMPLEX “We need to replace our maxims of self-reliance with one of Godbased reliance.”

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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

News

Honors Church Service Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the 13th Amendment

Shenika K. McDonald News Editor

Alaryss Bosco | On Oct. 31, the Annual Honors Church service was held in the Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC). The theme of this year’s service was “Songs of Freedom: 150 Years after the 13th Amendment.”

The program began at 11:45 with the sung preludes of “There is a Balm” and “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.”

Honors President and junior biology major Randy Sanchez welcomed those in attendance. Honors Director, L. Monique Pittman, Ph.D, gave a short talk on the importance of the commemoration, specifically highlighting the importance of African-American spirituals in the fight for freedom, and the role the music played after emancipation. During the talk, a short clip was shown from the film Twelve Years a Slave to demonstrate the importance of the spiri-

tuals in daily life and to unpack some of the musical techniques and characteristics.

The program featured a variety of readings, including excerpts from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789), Ellen White, Joseph Bates, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and Harriet Jacobs. The program also including poetry by George Moses Horton, James Weldon Johnson, Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, among others.

Interspersed throughout the readings were moments of congregational singing as well as several riveting performances by the newly formed Honors Choir, led by senior music education major Jonathan Doram.

The choir feature members from the Andrews University singing group Journey. Senior management major

Arleni Calderon said, “The program was a beautiful way to commemorate such a powerful time in history. The students brought to life the profound meaning of each reading and song with their passionate oration and melodious voices.”

Senior political science major Shenika McDonald delivered the call to action. McDonald emphasized the racial disparities that currently exist in the United States today. Although they make up only 13 percent of the population, African-Americans make up 38 percent of the United States’ imprisoned population. Almost 30 percent of blacks live in poverty, and 18 percent of blacks under 65 years of age lack health insurance coverage. McDonald recounted an incident that occurred earlier this year in a grocery store checkout line. A black woman and white woman were

blatantly served differently under the exact same circumstances, the darker woman subjected to an absurd level of scrutiny over her check in comparison to the lack of scrutiny the white woman received when she wrote her check.

McDonald then specifically addressed what Andrews University as a community can do to alleviate the disparities that remain, including our duty as Christians to fundamentally love one another.

Senior English major Dakota Hall said, “I found the service to be the most engaging spiritual event I have been to in a long time. The framing of the Honors Choir was beautiful, and their first song over a haunting reading of Equiano was moving. The concluding call to action was a definitive calling for the kind of social justice I think Christianity should be

all about.”

After prayer and the postlude of “Amazing Grace,” guests were invited into the HPAC lobby for challah bread and grape juice prepared by the Honors Officer Team.

Freshman business management and Spanish major Jessica Bujor said, “I was spiritually blessed by the poems and the call to action, as well as the wonderful song service. I look forward to the next Honors Church.”

A Hootin’, Hollerin’ Good Time: AUSA Barn Party

PHOTO BY TANYA EBENEZER

Khayla McDonald | This weekend was full of many fun events, one of which was the highly anticipated annual AUSA Barn Party. The Barn Party is an annual fall festival that AUSA hosts for the students, faculty and staff to celebrate the festivities of autumn. The party was held on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8-11:45 p.m.

Everyone was invited and was lured by the promise of pumpkin carving and face painting, even though there were many more activities. AUSA Social VP Ashley Neu and Assistant Director of Student Activi-

ties Emily Carlson were responsible for the planning of this event.

“The Barn Party has become a tradition at Andrews University for the last several years,” Neu said. Every year, the student association rents out Barbott Farms in Stevensville, Michigan. The barn is located right next to a corn maze, making it the perfect location for a fall festival.

The planning for the AUSA Barn Party started as early as last year.

Neu sat with Carlson and AUSA president Jason Shockey to pick the date and go over basic details. They knew

they wanted to do it at the same time twhey had it previous years. They attributed their success to the owners of Barbott Farms, who go above and beyond helping with the event.

Neu said, “The owners of Barbott Farms do a great job in making our vision come to life each year.”

In previous years, there have been activities such as laser tag, but this year AUSA decided to go for a more classic festival feeling. To help bring that to fruition, there were games and activities such as donuts on a string, pumpkin painting, a photo

booth and several other activities. A very popular activity and arguably beloved part of the festival was the mechanical bull. Those who didn’t ride the bull could watch and see countless other people try.

Sophomore Spanish and pre-dentistry major Alyssa Royster said she was very glad she went to the AUSA fall festival.

“The corn maze seemed cool, but I didn’t want to go because so many people’s shoes got messed up from the mud. However, the photo booth was fun. Everyone was taking group photos with their friends.”

According to students that attended, the party was well attended and had many surprising factors. Foods provided for partygoers included pizza, donuts, apples and warm drinks.

There was also great line dancing.

The Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide and the Wobble were all played and happily performed by the attendants.

Freshman music performance major Dana Wilson said, “The music overall brought lots of energy to the event, especially the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide and the Wobble. You got to see people of different ethnicities doing different interpretations of the different dances, which shows just how much of a melting pot we are. The food, mechanical bull and music made it an enjoyable night.”

The photo booth also had a lot

of positive feedback. There were props like mustaches and frames to go around for everybody. There was also face painting. A lot of people had skulls painted on their faces in the spirit of the month, while others got other basic face paintings like butterflies and cats. Many students took pictures on bales of hay with the friends they attended the event with, and it was a great way for freshmen to start off their year.

Freshman undeclared major Denae Keizs said, “I met a lot of new people and was able to see a new side of people I thought I knew. It was interesting seeing friends in a different environment off campus. It was a great way to end October.”

This year’s success is sure to have students anticipating the barn party next year, ready to go and enjoy it with their friends. Andrews always does a great job of having activities and festivities for the students on the weekends, and this particular event was no exception.

Senior computer science major Matthew Henry said, “This year’s event was both different and unique with its timely theme. I would say that the barn party was very successful and a great way to spend my Saturday night with friends.”

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News

Celebration of Research and Creative Scholarship Danni Francis | Talking about the vital role research plays in university life, President Niels-Erik Andreasen once said, “Research and creative scholarship permeate our academic life, inform our teaching and strengthen our emphasis on generous service.”

In furtherance of these ideals, on Friday, Oct. 30, Andrews University held its seventh annual Celebration of Research symposium as dozens of visitors surveyed the posters of faculty and graduate researchers. The Celebration of Research is a campuswide event showcasing the culture of research and creative scholarship at Andrews. The research featured comes from a variety of disciplines and is intended to inspire other scholars and scholars-to-be to further participate in research in their fields and the world for the glory of God. One of several presenters, Romulus Chelbegean, assistant professor of family studies and doctor of marriage and family therapy, presented on “Spiritual Headship in Female Clergy Marital Dyads” and interviewed 26 people — 13 married couples — over the course of the last

year and a half. The sessions lasted anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes.

Chelbegean’s interest lies in uncovering the dynamic within families containing a female pastor.

Amongst the couples interviewed were pairs that contained either a female and male pastor or families that contained only one pastor: the woman. Chelbegean’s curiosity included wondering how the couples handled the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 11:3, which says, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (KJV).

“One of the most difficult questions I asked was, ‘Who is the spiritual head of your household?’ Couples said ‘We both are’ and ‘Jesus is; neither of us is the head’ (with that wife who was the pastor later telling me, ‘my husband is’). What’s interesting is that no couples said ‘She is’.”

Chelbegean explored these responses and reflected on their implications.

“None of the couples designated the woman as the sole spiritual head of the household. We may be comfortable with the woman being

the pastor in public, but apparently none of us are comfortable with the woman being the head at home, not even the woman herself,” Chelbegean said. “I think the family and social dynamics are changing. If the woman gets spiritual power, the gender roles get blurred and need to be renegotiated. If these couples don’t discuss these things and talk openly, the relationships will most likely lead to divorce.”

Additionally, Karl Bailey, director of the Behavioral Neuroscience program, presented his research on “Quantifying Sight: Methods for studying eye movement patterns while viewing paintings.” Bailey’s research was conducted in conjunction with Herbert Helm, professor of psychology, and Charles Abreu, senior psychology major.

“We want to know if artists are moving people’s eyes across a painting in the way that they think they are,” Bailey said. “We had to look at if the sequence of eye movements matched what the artists predicted.

The answer to the question ‘Can the artist guide the eye?’ is yes—some of the time.”

Several other presenters provided

their presentations of their areas of research, producing an environment rich with scholarly work. While poster sessions occurred, guests were welcomed to partake in the food provided.

Describing the purpose of this annual event, Christon Arthur, Associate Provost & Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research said, “This Celebration is in recognition of the importance of research and creative scholarship to academia, as well as appreciation of the hard work and accomplishments of faculty and graduate students. Research is part of our faithful witness.”

PHOTO BY SCOTT MONCRIEFF

Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Multifaith Approach to a Humanitarian Tragedy

PHOTO BY THATO LEHOKO

Alaryss M. Bosco and Samuel J. Fry | On Oct. 28, Dr. Georgette Bennett and Mr. Amin Ahmed from the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees (MFA) delivered a one hour lecture on the humanitarian response to the Syrian refugee crisis. The lecture was held in Garber Auditorium, Chan Shun Hall, with

students and faculty from a variety of departments present.

The MFA is the only interfaith organization in the United States to address the Syrian refugee crisis.

Consisting of multiple religious sects and major secular organizations, the MFA seeks to galvanize global multifaith support to alleviate the Syrian

refugee crisis, and promote awareness of the dangers such regional instability can cause.

Bennett founded the MFA as an effort to “delegitimize the use of religion as a justification for extremism.” Citing her Jewish roots, Bennett claimed she could not remain idle while suffering abounded.

“You may think it odd that I, as a Jew, would have been motivated to do something about this horrific humanitarian crisis,” Bennett said.

“You may be asking yourself, ‘Are Syrians your brother as a Jew? Syrians are your enemies.’ I think what you are also going to get out of this... is an inspirational story about how enemies can rise above politics in order to work together to alleviate horrific human suffering.”

According to Bennett, religion has moral authority and consequently provides a moral imperative to take care of people. Dr. Bennett contended that religious groups are easier to mobilize and have inbuilt communication networks.

Bennett concluded her portion of the lecture with a three-part call to action: first, that Andrews’ students can counter hateful websites which argue against resettling refugees; second, she suggested that Andrews create a scholarship for refugee students; and finally she encouraged

students to host a sleeping bag and blanket drive, as many refugees are heading into winter severely undersupplied.

“I’m not just here to teach…I’m an activist now,” Bennett said. “We are also here to ask you to do something in response to this crisis and to mobilize you.”

Ahmed’s portion of the lecture focused on his personal experiences in Syria as a hospital administrator. A self-proclaimed member of the “old generation,” it was the atrocities of the Assad regime against unarmed demonstrators that convince Ahmed to become an activist.

“I was the manager of a hospital located next to a university,” Ahmed said. “I would see these kids going out from university...Some of them were caught, and they were beaten in front of us—we couldn’t do anything to help them.”

When demonstrators came seeking medical treatment, Ahmed was forced to report them to the authorities—who would imprison and torture them. This became a moral dilemma for Ahmed, who felt he could not stand by idly and mobilized a team of medical staff to supply underground medical assistance.

“We decided, my friends and I, that we should act,” Ahmed said.

“We shouldn’t let anything stop

us from acting...we organized doctors and medical workers, and other professions. We started providing a network of medical supplies and treatment for people who were just getting hurt in these demonstrations.”

“Of course this was one of the most dangerous professions you could have in Syria. Some of our colleagues got killed—we don’t know where they are now,” Ahmed said.

After one and a half years of successfully running the underground operation, Ahmed was forced to leave all his possessions behind and flee Syria with only a small suitcase.

“We continued our work until we were discovered,” Ahmed said.

“I had to leave the country and my hometown. All of a sudden I became a refugee. I lost everything. I was planning where I was going to spend my life. All of a sudden I lost everything. My property was confiscated, and I left with one suitcase, barely made it out of Syria.”

Ahmed continues to work with MFA in order to help refugees with stories similar to his own. He repeated Bennett’s call to action and asked Andrews to take an active stance in alleviating the suffering of this conflict.

“I felt it was still my duty to do what I could do. I started helping

refugees and organizing aid to bring back to Syria,” Ahmed said. “This is the generation we are fearing that we are losing. If we don’t do something for them, we are going to have hundreds of thousands of them who felt abandoned by the whole world.”

“I was lucky that I could travel and go to safety. I feel it’s my obligation to help my countrymen and others who are in need, because it’s Syria now, but there were lots of countries that were affected before Syria...It was Darfur, Somalia, it was Bosnia, and I feel so sorry that I couldn’t have the freedom to help those who were in need before. But now, I have the ability. I hope you will join us in this effort to help other refugees throughout the world.”

“I was touched by Amin Ahmed’s story,” junior political science major Laisa Vakaloloma said. “I think that as students of Andrews University, we need to get involved in this cause, we too have the ability to make a difference in the lives of the refugees.”

A brief question and answer period concluded the session.

If you would like to know how you can get involved or contribute to the Multifaith Alliance’s efforts, you can visit their website at www.multifaithalliance.org.

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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

Ideas

Adventists in the Political Spotlight Lessons from the Exile Jaime Vargas | In light of Ben Car-

Daniel J. Fults

Ideas Editor

son’s increasing involvement in the political sphere, the issue of Adventism and politics is perhaps being revisited more and more by individuals in the SDA church, and it is being analyzed through many different angles. Is it within God’s will for people to pursue political involvement? Can an Adventist Christian hold a political position while not comprising on his or her Biblical principles and values? Is it moral and ethical to be involved in American politics given the fact that the United States doesn’t always operate under biblical principles and, in some ways, benefits itself at the expense of others?

These are some of the questions that sometimes come to my mind whenever I think of Ben Carson, a well-known and respected individual in the Adventist church, desiring to lead a nation that, according to Adventist theology, will be a key player in wooing and eventually compelling people to be unfaithful in their worship of God. Yet as I read over the previous sentence, I can’t help but notice some slight similarities between Carson’s situation and the situation of another person that, among Seventh-day Adventists, is also very wellknown and respected.

It is probably safe to say that Daniel was an individual of at least some reputation among his people, the Israelites, given the fact that he fit King Nebuchadnezzar’s

criteria for “young men in whom there was no blemish, but goodlooking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:4). Though Daniel was brought

would not be incorrect to say that Daniel stands out as an example of what deep commitment to God should look like in practical, everyday life. This very same individual found himself holding one of the highest political positions in

Carson and Daniel are not worlds apart.

And if Daniel’s history is to teach us a lesson about politics, I believe it is that God can help a man or a woman remain fully faithful and blameless throughout

I can’t help but notice some slight similarities between Carson’s situation and the situation of another person that, among Seventh-day Adventists, is also very wellknown and respected. into Babylon as a slave, we quickly discover that it was because of his allegiance to God and the wisdom given him by God that King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel to be the “ruler over the whole province of Babylon” (Daniel 2:48).

Thus, here we have a man whose most distinguished characteristics in the eyes of Christians include his boldness and courage in the face of earthly power, his unwavering faithfulness to God despite severe pressure to the contrary and his deep trust in that same God despite his dismal circumstances. It

what was, at that point in history, the world’s largest and strongest empire.

And yet, Babylon was an empire that God-sent prophets warned Israel about. Babylon was an empire that was brazen in its attempts to show dominance over Israel and the God they followed. Babylon was the very same empire that, after just having promoted Daniel and his three friends into positions of political power, would end up compelling God’s captured people to be unfaithful to the worship of their God. It would seem that Ben

their political career, never letting their circumstances mold their character or lead them to compromise. Even more than that, however, I believe God can use their political position to influence and turn the hearts of those in power towards Him. In other words, politics can become a bridge by which the Gospel can be spread.

There is, however, one important difference between Carson and Daniel that sets their two situations apart. That we know of, Daniel never sought a position in Babylonian politics. Instead, he

was found in Babylon as a slave and God decided to make the best of his situation, setting him up as His representative amidst a nation that was decidedly antagonistic to God. I do not believe that it was God’s will for Israel to go into exile and for Israel’s youth to be caught up in the politics of a pagan empire. Yet, God gave Daniel a purpose even in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar, and, if only for a time, Babylon’s king turned his heart, and hopefully the hearts of others, towards the true God. As for Ben Carson, I can’t say that I know of any Biblical precedent explicitly encouraging us to involve ourselves in the political realm. Rather than God finding Carson in a political position, he is seeking to place himself in one.

Whether he is doing this out of a personal or God-given conviction, I do not know. What I know is that God navigates through our voluntary human decisions, both good and bad, and brings forth an end that is ultimately good. And so, my hope is that Carson remains true to God, unwilling to compromise or let himself be molded by his circumstances, and that God would take his presidential campaign and somehow use it to influence and turn the hearts of Carson’s audience toward Himself.

Let’s Not Let Adventists Get Trumped Emily Cancel | Several weeks ago,

Dr. Ben Carson made headlines with a comment to the effect that he would not support a Muslim running for President. He justified himself by saying that an individual in support of Sharia law would not be able to fully support the Constitution on which this country was founded. His words were once again sensational when he questioned Donald Trump’s faith as a Presbyterian. Most recently, Trump made the statement that he “just didn’t know” about Seventhday Adventists. Upon hearing that, I could not decide whether I was more intrigued by this election’s preoccupation with religion, or by

the fact that Adventism, despite its growth globally, is still largely misunderstood by the American public.

The Washington Post pointed out that thus far, Dr. Ben Carson’s policy seems nebulous and that the details have not been well thought out. He has a grand scheme, but very little so far as actual plans to enact his goals. Following the recent polls in Iowa, Trump found out that Carson was leading him in the polls. Without a solid policy to compare to his own, and without having detailed plans in which to find loopholes, Trump has little material with which to cause separation in supporters.

With his statement, “I’m Presbyterian. Boy, that’s down the middle of the road, folks, in all fairness.

I mean, Seventh-day Adventists I don’t know about,” He claims he had no intention of criticizing Dr. Carson’s faith but was simply stating that he knew nothing about it.

When Dr. Ben Carson began his run for the presidency, the Seventh-day Adventist church released a statement that the church would maintain its neutral stance on voting for the presidency, regardless of a member of the church being in the running. The church has long held its uninvolved status as in politics, war or national issues, but doing this so completely

may have resulted in its shooting itself in the foot.

Few Adventists have gained notoriety of any sort, and the notoriety that has been gained has not necessarily been good. Cultish offshoots have given the Adventist church a bad rap, and though the church releases regular statements on current events, it remains distant and separated from the rest of the country. Adventist public relations affect so little of the populous at a time (PR is largely limited to statements, service and individual encounters) that it remains largely ineffective.

Avoiding involvement in this country has resulted the Adven-

tist church being unknown and misunderstood. While the church is cautioned against being “of this world,” it is called to spread to light to it. I don’t believe a political career should be pursued by anyone whose spiritual life is not up to the test of the political scene, but perhaps it is time for the Adventist church to be more publicly vocal and active to leave less to the imagination of the media and public.

Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post, October 24, 2015

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Ideas

“...I mean Seventh-day Adventist, I don’t know about.”

-Donald Trump

PHOTO PROVIDED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Do Adventists Belong in Politics?

Nathan Kim | About a week ago, in

what is already looking to be a very interesting political race in the Republican Party, Donald Trump raised the question of whether or not Ben Carson’s religious affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church would be fit for the presidency. As Adventists, this is a far-cry from what we are accustomed to as a church. For the first time in recent memory, Seventhday Adventists are in the political spotlight. This brings up an interesting question: Do Adventists belong in politics? This inquiry does not apply only to Ben Carson and

his presidential campaign, but to all future Adventists who might be running for office. Moreover, will

To anyone but the church itself, the doctrines of Seventh-day Adventism are largely unknown, as

ter he questioned the legitimacy of a Muslim president due to their beliefs, it was inevitable for the ques-

Will Dr. Carson’s views and opinions hurt those Adventists who are going to run in the future?

Dr. Carson’s views and opinions hurt those Adventists who are going to run in the future?

is our church’s overall stance on political issues. The irony of Dr. Carson’s situation is apparent; af-

tion of his Adventist beliefs and views on current topics to surface.

The issue is raised that the only

spokesperson from our denomination is on the opposite side of the political spectrum from many of the youth and young adults in the world, and perhaps even in our church.

To be a Seventh-day Adventist politician would mean that you would most likely lose a lot of young people’s votes. The doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church might not be very appealing to the average American youth: a very strict adherence to the Ten Commandments, including keeping the Sabbath holy, and abstaining from a lot of things that

people enjoy doing, such as drinking, eating whatever they like, and engaging in premarital sex. Yes, Dr. Carson is not looking for the vote of most American youth, but his beliefs put him at a huge disadvantage in the political perspective. Additionally, Adventist young people who could rise up as leaders in the future may be stuck with the representation of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs that Dr. Carson sets for our church in his presidential campaign, leading us to wonder as Adventists whether or not we belong in politics whatsoever.

Seventh-day Adventists in Public Office: Why It’s Complicated Erik Vyhmeister | The Seventh-

day Adventist church has had an interesting relationship with its members’ involvement in the government. In the 19th century, many members were opposed to even voting in elections due to concerns about being “of the world.”

Ellen White even said that “Any connection with...unbelievers that would identify us with them, is forbidden by the Word.”(1) However, she does also express that “there is nothing wrong with (working as a lawmaker)”(2). As evidenced this year as well, the Seventh-day Adventist church has a policy of neither supporting nor discrediting

any political candidate.

With Dr. Ben Carson’s run for presidency gaining some ground, more attention is being drawn to his religious beliefs, which usually happens when someone enters the public sphere with a largely ambiguous religious affiliation. There are about 18.5 million Adventists in the world, only about 1.1 million of those live in the U.S. That means that about 1 out of every 290 Americans is a Seventh-day Adventist.

Most Americans haven’t met many (or any) Seventh-day Adventists, and therefore don’t know much about us.

As Christians, we are called to

be Christ’s representatives wherever we go. Christians who hold public office hold a greater responsibility than others due to the farreaching example they give. One problem that arises with Christians in politics today is the perception of politicians as underhanded or dishonest. Public figures are held to a higher level of scrutiny, and so to be perceived well, their behavior must be very clearly in line with what they profess to believe. This is especially important for Adventist politicians because for many, these individuals may be the only example of what Seventh-day Adventists are like and what we be-

lieve.

Many Biblical characters held positions in high government.

Daniel held a high-ranking office under the king of Babylon for many years. Joseph became second in command in Egypt, just under the Pharaoh. Nehemiah was the cup-bearer to the king of Persia.

While none of them were elected, they did have considerable power and influence. However, given that they are spoken of highly, it seems clear that the Bible does nearly the opposite of condemning those who hold powerful office for simply that reason. However, in all of their stories there is an element regard-

ing the prioritization of serving God rather than man. This should be taken as a reminder to anyone seeking a position of influence to ensure their priorities are in order.

We are called to be in the world, not of it. Yet at the same time, our mission is to touch the lives of the people living in the world, so we cannot live disconnected from the world we live in. Leif Tobiassen writes: “The true Adventist is not of this world; he is swiftly on his way out. Yet, while passing through he seeks to attract other men to the heavenly kingdom by translating its divine principles into human action”(3). In doing so,

care must be taken to distinguish ourselves from others in the same line of work, even those working towards the same goals. Neither the Bible nor Seventh-day Adventist history forbids public office.

However, both encourage care and thoughtfulness due to the responsibility involved.

Ellen White, Gospel Workers, p. 394 Ellen White, Education, p. 82https:// www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1968/11/adventists-and-politics

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Pulse

“A Certain Kind of Light” Coming Soon Pulse Editor

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KEITH WAKEFIELD

Sam Fry | Keith Wakefield, ad-

junct faculty for the Andrews University Department of Public Health, Nutrition & Wellness, has produced his first short form documentary film, “A Certain Kind of Light,” to critical acclaim. Directed by renowned Hollywood filmmaker Brandon Vedder (“La Source,” “In Pursuit of Silence”), the film deals with the concept of whole person care in a healthcare setting.

Wakefield joined Vedder to

make his debut as producer. The documentary, which premiered this fall, has been accepted into 11 film festivals both in the United States and abroad. Wakefield, who is also a chaplain at Lakeland Health in St. Joseph, Michigan, has been overwhelmed by the positive response to “A Certain Kind of Light.”

“It’s been amazing to see the response to this film,” Wakefield said. “For people to connect with

the film emotionally and take the ideas presented back with them to their particular context is really more than I could have ever hoped to accomplish with this project.”

In addition to premiering at a host of film festivals internationally, “A Certain Kind of Light” has won several prestigious awards, including the “Gold Award” in the Best Documentary category at the Christian Life International Film Festival (CLIFF) in Ontario, Canada, and the “Olive Tree Storyteller Festival,” in New York City.

The documentary, funded by Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, California), explores the history of the idea of “whole person care,” beginning with the life and work of Wil Alexander, the founder of The Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness at LLU, and concludes with the ongoing work of the Center. Alexander taught religion at Andrews University in the 60s. Additionally, the film features contributions of scholars, clinicians, students and administrators at Loma Linda University Health who

have contributed to implementing the idea of whole person care.

“A Certain Kind of Light” is the first of its kind to get authentic access into hospital rooms and interview actual patients. This posed a unique challenge.

“It took us over a year and a half to shoot and produce this documentary,” Wakefield said. “There were definitely a lot of unique location-based challenges we had to overcome. To bring a whole bunch of people into a hospital room, to surround the bed of a patient and ask them personal questions is already difficult. Then, to add a camera on top of that just made it a larger mountain to climb.”

Over the course of filming, 31 patients were interviewed, all of whom shared their individual stories.

“Being a patient in the hospital is one of the most vulnerable positions in which one can find themselves,” Wakefield said. “In light of that, we were very cautious to not take advantage of anyone in their position. We shot the entire film

‘live’ so to speak. We never asked anyone, ‘Can you repeat that for the camera?’ If we missed it, then we missed it.”

Wakefield, an accomplished storyteller who was recently selected as a semifinalist for the Vandermey Nonfiction Prize for his written story, “Something Within Us,” has many more projects in mind for the future.

“Right now I am privileged to be working with the Christian Ministry department in the Seminary at Andrews University and with the Department of Religion & Biblical Languages at the undergraduate level,” Wakefield said. “There are a few other projects I have rattling around my brain. Everyone has a story that is, and will always be entirely unique. It’s amazing what can happen when we take the time to sit and just listen to people.”

To view the trailer for “A Certain Kind of Light” visit https://vimeo. com/140123110.

Lifeline Prayer Requests

GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY JOHN GONZALEZ

Editor’s Note: To encourage the formation of a suppor ive, praying community, the Student Movement will run several prayer requests in each week’s issue. The identities of those who submit prayer requests to AU Lifeline will remain anonymous.

If you would like to send in prayer requests, please text(269)820-8336.

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ids, place them on a bed and constantly monitor them to make sure they are okay,” Ulery said.

Wednesday seemed to be the busiest of the three days. Ulery explains, “Our goal for Wednesday was 53 units. We obtained 73. We were so busy that the Red Cross ran out of supplies and we ended up turning away about 15-20 people who wanted to donate. That’s a good problem to have, but we send our apologies to those who tried to give and couldn’t.”

The blood drive exceeded the overall goal of 103 units and instead collected 130 units, which impressed those who spearheaded the event.

Ulery said, “This was a fantastic blood drive. I want to thank all those who helped make this drive and all our past drives a success, which includes those who promoted, recruited, volunteered and support our blood drives in any way. And special thanks to the people who take the time and have the fortitude to donate and give the gift of life!”

event for over 20 years, spoke about the process of donating blood at Andrews.

“As soon as you walk in, you head to registration and read the requirements that allow you to donate. After going through a health history and physical health check, you are then able to donate,” Ulery said.

The main reasons as to why peo-

ple might be turned down for giving donations are low iron and recent travel to foreign countries.

“One of the biggest hurdles about Andrews is that a lot of people go on mission trips, which often prevents them from donating,” Lanning said.

Nurse Tricia, one of the nurses collecting blood, said, “Those who are interested in giving should pre-

pare themselves first by getting as much information as possible before choosing to donate.”

There were many students and even some people from the community who arrived to give blood.

Undeclared freshman Diamond Deguzman spoke about why he decided to donate.

“Even though I am getting extra credit for donating, I just want to help those who are in need.”

Sophomore biochemistry major Tammy Leong explained why she chose to donate for what is now her fifth time. Leong says, “I get rejected a lot because of low iron but I keep trying because I want to save lives.”

The type of blood one has also influences people’s decision to donate.

“I have type O blood, which I know is rare, so any opportunity there is to donate I usually go for it,” said Sonovia McFall, a graduate student in Speech Pathology.

Those who were donating for the first time expressed feelings of excitement and nervousness about what they should expect.

“I’ve never done this before, and although I am definitely nervous about the needles, I thought it would be good to try something new,” said Chinyere Erondu, freshman biology major.

After a student donates blood, they are offered refreshments in a resting area to make sure they have enough energy before they leave.

“If they begin to feel faint, we take them to a special area, give them flu-

For me, it is the 90 degree leg lift, where your back is flat on the floor and your legs are pointed toward the ceiling. I can’t do it. Perhaps either through sitting at desks throughout the entirety of my life or a severe lack of stretching, my flexibility is terrible. It has improved since I began the course; maybe I will be able to reach the full 90 by term’s end.

I have pushed myself harder in the course than any other form of exercise. Lifting weights is easy: you just have to commit to working hard for long period of time. Pilates is counter-intuitive and requires a strong will to complete. Such will I still am building.

What would you say is the least favorite aspect of Pilates?

The will to finish a particular exercise is unbelievably hard to maintain when your arms or legs are literally shaking uncontrollably. Pilates is as much mental as it is physical.

is the case in your Pilates class?

If so, is it awkward being one of the only males in the class?

There is only one other male in my section, which makes me sad. Cultural perception has long been the knife in the side of progress. The image of the muscle man with his steroidripped muscles and face with blood veins bulging is passé. I want next generation America to be healthy: that starts with healthier dieting and placing a greater focus on cardiovascular and flexibility-based exercise.

If you are a male and wondering if you should take this class: do it.

ing traditional gender stereotypes simply consists of attending an accredited class at an institution of learning. Many women (with university degrees equal to or surpassing those of their male counterparts) struggle to obtain good, degree-relevant jobs and proper compensation for those jobs. Even if said jobs are successfully obtained, a large fraction will still have to deal with a culture that has for so long bred objectification and abuse. When compared with that reality, I feel embarrassed for my generation and resolved to act as an agent of change.

Pilates, and similar classes are traditionally speaking, female dominated. Would you say that

How does it feel breaking traditional gender stereotypes?

I feel privileged that my act of break-

Would you recommend others take this class?

Absolutely.

7

Pulse

Andrews University Blood Drive

PHOTOS BY THATO LEHOKO

Regine Senior | Andrews University hosted a blood drive in Pioneer Memorial Church, which began on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and ended on Thursday, Oct. 29. Many students and faculty arrived to donate their blood to the American Red Cross.

J.P. Lanning, a donor recruitment representative from the Red Cross, spoke about why Andrews is one of

his favorite institutions at which to conduct a blood drive.

“Andrews collects more blood than any other school in the southwest Michigan area. Each school year, Andrews saves at least 600 lives,” Lanning said.

Assistant Professor of the Department of Behavioral Sciences Larry Ulery, who has been in charge of this

If you are interested in getting involved with the next blood drive, make sure to contact Professor Larry Ulery at ulery@andrews.edu.

Mann on Pilates Name: Steven Mann Standing : Senior Major: Computer science Interviewed by: Tim McLean What inspired you to take a Pilates class?

I’ve always been interested in body forming practices (such as yoga), so something similar (but of a different breed) seemed appealing. It also happened to work very well with my insane and hectic schedule.

Is Pilates a form of yoga, or should they not be associated with each other?

Pilates isn’t a form of yoga, but rather a complementary exercise practice. Yoga is performed (mostly) in

an vertical position and focuses on flexibility and enhanced circulation, while Pilates is generally performed horizontally and primarily concerns itself with strengthening the body’s core muscles.

What kinds of exercises do you do in your class?

My instructor (Angelica Miller) has said—only half jokingly—that Pilates concerns itself with contracting muscles in a certain position and holding that position until the body has been shaking for a few seconds (which I assure you feels like an eternity).

What is the most difficult stretch for you to perform in the class?

What would you say is the easiest stretch to perform?

Child’s pose, without a doubt. I know, this is a cop-out because it comes straight from Yoga, but it’s just so relaxing. It is the feel-good pose.

What is your favorite aspect of the class?

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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

Humans

Hanz not Hans: Hanz Jouissance

Andrei Wayne K. Defino Humans Editor

Interviewed By: Ev Milliner

youth in my community.

Tell me a little about yourself.

Where are you from and what are you studying?

I’m from Brooklyn, New York and am currently studying to get my Master’s degree in Divinity.

Why are you at Andrews?

I love learning about new things, life, people, perspectives, Jesus and of course the information I’ll be getting through my Master’s studies.

What would targeting the youth in your community look like?

A lot of outreach! I want to incorporate fun activities that would engage the youth, impacting those in foster care. I find my passion in helping those who don’t feel wanted to find purpose and encouragement, which I guess brought me to focus my ministry towards youth in foster care, at the YMCA, or anywhere where there are young people.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

I plan to become a pastor, hopefully in Seattle, with a focus on targeting

What are your hobbies?

I’m very spontaneous, so I really don’t have a set hobby; whatever I feel like doing or decide to do I just

do it. If it counts, one of my hobbies is researching random things that pop into my head. I’m also trying to get back to playing the violin.

What make you different from every other student at Andrews University?

Well, I don’t know every other student at Andrews University, but I know what makes me, me. I’m very personal, very social and very selective with who my circle is. However, I make it an effort never to make people feel unwelcome. I get that I’m easy to talk to and spontaneous. I am also a realist. If you want hear the truth, I’ll give it to you straight. I don’t do the whole “he said, she said” thing;

if I want to know something I’ll get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

What advice would you give to an undergraduate student?

I would say the most important thing, even though I don’t want to sound cliché, is to have a relationship with God. Once you have a relationship with God, then you will know who you are, especially when you’re at the crucial time of life trying to discover your identity. The reason I say this is because I was in public school my whole life, until Oakwood (University), while also being involved church. I didn’t really know who I was. In church I was one person, and in school I was another because

of the environment. I was like a chameleon: whatever I touched I would adapt to. However, once I actually got back into my relationship with God, I started to put together the pieces of who I was and am. Eventually, who I was at church I was at school, and who I was at school I was at church.

It came to the point where kids in school were asking me about the Bible and I wasn’t ashamed to share that. In short, get your relationship game up with God and enjoy college.

The real world is coming, and you need to know who you are.

The Bridge Builders: Sonia Badenas and Davide Sciarabba

CAST PHOTO

Paris D. Rollins | Often it is the

most unassuming people who have the most to share. I recently sat down with Sonia Badenas and Davide Sciarabba. Badenas is assistant professor of French in the Department of International Languages. Sciarabba, her husband, was an adjunct faculty of the religion department and theological seminary for several years and recently became the Department of Religion’s newest assistant professor. Both are currently working

towards finishing Ph.D programs.

Badenas, pursuing a Ph.D. in applied linguistics, will defend her dissertation within the next few months. A scholar of systematic theology, Sciarabba plans to finish writing his dissertation by next year.

The couple has two kids: 13-year-old Flavia and almost10-year-old Marco. Sciarabba and Badenas do their best to balance work, education and family life; however, their educational pur-

suits have not gone unnoticed by their children.

“Since they were little, they would invent little computers with paper. My daughter once asked me, ‘Do I have to do a dissertation, too?’” Badenas said.

Perhaps the most striking part of this little family is their multiculturalism. Sciarabba hails from Bologna, Italy, and Badenas calls Valencia, Spain, her home. Their paths collided in the little French town of Collonges, the location of France’s only Seventh-day Adventist institute of higher education. Sciarabba was a student, and Badenas’ father was dean of the seminary. Their dating period was anything but ordinary. The two began corresponding by mail before having met in person, though Sciarabba spoke very little French.

Badenas explained, “He would write in French. Someone corrected his letters, and I would write in French, too. Once he came, it was clear to me that he did not write his letters by himself!” Sciarabba smiled, saying, “I spoke very slowly.”

Not to be deterred, Badenas suggested that Sciarabba speak to her in Italian.

“I already spoke three languages (Spanish, French and English) at that time, so I could understand him pretty well. He would talk in Italian, and I would answer in French,” Badenas said nonchalantly. “I guess at some point I started responding to him in Italian, because I knew Italian before we moved to Italy.”

Sciarabba said, “You can say that Sonia is a very good student, but she also had a great teacher.”

After a few months in Collonges, Sciarabba became fluent in French.

He didn’t stop there, though. He spent a lot of time in the Badenas household, which operated primarily in Spanish. Sciarabba admits that it was really difficult at the onset, but that, “little by little my ears opened to Spanish. I don’t really know how, but it happened.”

Though he studied for his bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and doctoral degree in three different foreign languages, Sciarabba speaks very modestly of his linguistic abilities.

“For me, languages are just means. I see that other people learn so fast. They master easily the languages, but this is not my domain.”

Badenas and Sciarabba’s polyglotism comes in handy. They worked in Italian, French and Spanish Seventh-day Adventist institutions for many years before moving to Berrien Springs in 2008. Their children are trilingual, speaking Spanish, English and Italian.

Sciarabba said, “I speak to them always in Italian. Sonia speaks to them always in Spanish. We have kept this pattern since the very beginning of their lives.”

Both Badenas and Sciarabba laud the benefits of learning another language. Besides cognitive enhancement and increased competitiveness in the professional world, multilingual people are able to understand new groups of people. According to Badenas, remaining monolingual creates cultural isolation.

“People who speak only one language are inclined to be less

inclusive and more nationalistic.

Learning another language brings understanding between nations and cultures.”

Sciarabba believes that the geographical location of the United States makes its residents less likely to learn another language.

“In Europe we have I don’t know how many languages, twenty or more, and here there is just one.

You don’t move so much, in the sense of outside the borders,” Sciarabba said.

However, Sciarabba and Badenas argue that does not imply that it is impossible to learn.

“At Andrews, it’s very easy to make friends with people from another country by joining a club.

You will make friends and pick up words that they always say. That’s a start,” Badenas said.

Sciarabba added, “Then you may take a second step: the full immersion. One year abroad would be great. Then you may decide to spend more years—that would be the third step. You find a job, and you say, ‘Okay, for the next five to 10 years, I will live my life in this foreign country.’”

Badenas and Sciarabba believe that learning another language builds bridges between people.

“If you live outside of the country, you will learn what it means to be a foreigner,” Sciarabba said.

“My first three months in France were a great experience for me, because I felt stupid. I was not even able to say a word. That’s important for when you try to understand others.”

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exhaustion, both spiritual and physical, I prayed to God to help me. It had gotten to a point where I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Then God showed me that there was only one way to healing, and it was through forgiveness. I said “It’s so hard!” But the Lord told me it wasn’t “hard,” because if it were (just) hard strong people could do it on their own. It was impossible—without his help. God was willing to help me to forgive, and, when I forgave those who had wronged me, it was like a ton of bricks off my shoulders. Since then, I have been sharing the good news of forgiveness to everyone who is willing to listen.

When people tell me “it’s so hard,” I tell them what God told me: if it were just “hard,” strong people could do on their own. But nobody can do it without God’s help. So there’s no point lamenting that it is hard—because it’s impossible without God’s help. People say “I’m trying.” No. Stop “trying.” Ask God to help you, because no matter how hard you try you won’t do it. So that’s my message, and I’m invited left and right to speak about forgiveness. Some people think that forgiveness is just relevant for those who have experienced terrible tragedies, such as genocide, but no, it’s not limited to wars and killings. It’s for every situation that robs us of peace because of grudges and resentment. For the devil, it does not matter how big or small the matter is, as long as it brings discord, trouble, turmoil, anxiety and the like.

giveness?

When you stand praying, if you hold something against anyone, forgive.

If you don’t forgive, your Father will not forgive you (Mark 11:25). People say, “Jesus is coming again, but I will never forgive that person.” We are waiting for God’s return, but saying “I will never forgive that person!”

Some people go to the extreme of saying, “If those people go to heaven, I won’t go.” If we talk like that we’re deceiving ourselves.

ISSUE 09

9

Humans

Emmanuel Rudatsikira Dean, School of Health Professions DrPH Epidemiology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA MPH, International Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA MD, Kinshasa University, Kinshasa, DRC You were a very successful researcher before coming to Andrews. What is it about your current job that led you to give up time on something at which you were very good?

It’s a natural progression in academia. You cannot lead people in doing things you don’t know or have no experience with. We want our faculty to be good researchers and good teachers, so you need a dean who has had experience in both. It’s natural for those who are successful in academia to advance to helping and supporting others.

What does a dean do to support faculty?

They make sure faculty have the resources they need for research, make sure their workload is reasonable, support them in attending conferences and finding clinical sites, support existing programs, help develop new programs, support the process of accreditation and be an advocate to central administration.

What should the rest of the university know about what’s going on at the School of Health Professions?

I think most people know that it’s a new school which started in 2012. So

much has happened, by the grace of God. We brought together existing departments from the College of Arts and Sciences to achieve synergy, develop interdisciplinary courses, research and clinics. We have also developed new programs, such as the Master’s of Public Health, Doctor of Nurse Practice, Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (on campus) and M.S. in Speech/Language Pathology.

We want to be a school of choice in Christian Health Sciences.

Your university bio says you have been involved in international projects to improve the quality of life. Could you give us an example?

When I graduated from medical school I worked in the largest hospital in Bujumbura (the capital of Burundi). After five years I left, because the people who needed to see me the most weren’t able to come; they did not have the understanding or the resources. So I left the hospital ward to meet the people where they were and work with them to improve their lives. We sought funding, and worked with ADRA. We started the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Health Services in Burundi in the 1980’s. We had six clinics in rural areas. Two of those clinics served refugees, like me—I was a refugee in Burundi. We also worked on providing wells for water, instructing mothers on nutrition and hygiene; we started an organization for the prevention of alcohol and drug dependency; we had programs with radio, TV, schools, churches, to help im-

prove public health.

So you were already working in Public Health in a big way before you came to the United States and studied for public health degrees.

Yes. When there was genocide in my country (Rwanda, 1994) and civil war in Burundi, I came here as an asylum seeker. I got refugee status in the United States and I had the opportunity to start formal training in public health. When I trained in public health, I wanted to focus on refugee health and disaster management, because of my experience. As a teacher, I initiated a course in disaster management at Loma Linda, which evolved to be a graduate certificate program in Emergency Preparedness and Response. After that, San Diego State University invited me to come and help them start a Master’s of Public Health program on Global Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Since then, I have continued to work on this topic and have edited special issues in emergency preparedness and response.

You have also done some work as a speaker on the topic of forgiveness.

The genocide against Tutsis in 1994 almost shattered my faith in God. I lived in Burundi at that time, where there was civil war and ethnic cleansing. Back home, I lost more than 200 relatives, including my grandparents, father-in-law, brothers-in-law, uncles, aunties and many cousins. When I was at the point of

What is different about your faith now than pre-genocide?

The genocide almost broke my faith and trust in God. It was a terrible trial, but God rescued me. The Bible says, “If you think you are strong, watch out that you don’t fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). I’m more dependent on God now. I plan, but I always say “if God is willing” or “by the grace of God.” What do you do to renew yourself?

I find comfort and rest in the Bible. I often listen to an audio version. Exercising and resting are important. I also have friends here and elsewhere that I stay in touch with. With today’s technologies I can reach my friends everywhere. It’s like we’re together.

What is a Bible text that is central to your perspective on for-

“(T)here’s no point lamenting that (forgiveness) is hard—because it’s impossible without God’s help.”

PHOTO BY SCOTT MONCRIEFF

by Scott Moncrieff Faculty Advisor

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THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

Arts & Entertainment

Movie Review: Panning Pan

Shanelle E. Kim Arts & Entertainment Editor

Warning: This article contains spoilers.

Carlyle Tagalog | On October 9, 2015, the movie Pan was released and available for showing in theaters nationwide. As part of the Hollywood trend of invigorating the classic tales of childhood, Pan seeks to provide a background story to J. M. Barrie’s 1904 story Peter Pan, which Disney animated into a film adaptation in 1953. With impressive visual aesthetic and a promising trailer, Pan provokes ex-

citement in the viewer regardless of whether or not they are familiar with the older cartoon. However, with a 6.0 IMDB rating and a 4.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes average rating, Pan did not meet expectations. After finally watching it on Oct. 24, I have to agree with the low ratings. As a fan of fictional and fantasy movies, I was both confused by and disappointed with the film.

While aesthetically pleasing, Pan excessively relies on the magic of computer-generated images (CGI) and fails to deliver the promised unhurried, enchanting plot that many looked forward to.

In the movie, 12-year-old orphan Peter (Levi Miller) is kidnapped from a boys’ orphanage in London by Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman), captain of a flying ship, and his pirates. They take him to the magical and wonderful world of Neverland. In this world, Peter, along with countless other captive orphans from our world, are forced to mine the ground in order to find crystallized fairy dust, or “Pixum,” which is later revealed to have the power to make anyone— or in this case, Blackbeard—stay young and strong. After acciden-

tally discovering his ability to fly and hearing of the prophecy that a boy who can fly will one day end Blackbeard’s reign of terror, Peter manages to escape with the help of an older fellow slave, James Hook (Garret Hedlund), and his accomplice Mr. Smee (Adeel Akhtar).

They escape by stealing one of Blackbeard’s flying pirate ships, which eventually crashes into a forest in Neverland. Convinced that his mother lived in Neverland, Peter takes the unwilling Hook and Mr. Smee on an adventure through Neverland while managing to escape the grips of Blackbeard and his pirates. Throughout their journey, they stumble upon the natives, led by Princess Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara), who further reveals the identity and destiny of their savior, the Pan, who would one day liberate Neverland.

Eventually, Peter fulfills his destiny as Pan and finally achieves his goals in order to defeat Blackbeard. After an emotional and brief encounter between Peter and his mother (Amanda Seyfried) in the secret fairy kingdom, the movie concludes with both Peter Pan and Captain Hook taking the kids

from the miserable London orphanage into the magical land of Neverland—their new home.

Indeed, Neverland is magical place. The movie is full of creative, mystical details. There are floating islands, starry skies, dazzling fairies, flying fish, bright butterflies, colorful natives, gigantic neverbirds and never-crocodiles, the Never Forest, mystical mermaids, the Tree of Memories, magicallyinfused water, a pan flute key and much more. All of these minute details were obviously intended to create a world that can plunge the viewer into a fascinating experience.

However, there was so much emphasis on creating this magical world that the plot flow was either hurried or somehow always conveniently resolved with each minor conflict. For example, when a large crocodile attacked their float and took Peter down the river, a trio of mermaids appeared to save him from death. Shortly after, Tiger Lily suddenly revealed that the water in the river is magically-infused by the mermaids with memories. Peter Pan then used this water to see the memories of his mother fight-

ing against Blackbeard.

In fact, there were many deus ex machina moments, which were probably placed not just to help move the plot faster than it already does, but also to unnecessarily show off the wonders of CGI. There were also many redundant dramatic details and scenes that did not contribute to the overall plot.

Ironically, the high emphasis upon creating the beauty and wonder of Neverland eclipsed the flow of the adventure one should have experienced in Pan. In conclusion, Pan tries too hard to create mind-boggling settings and narrative than to tell a classic tale. Compared to other fantasy-genre films that fit the trend such as Maleficent, Oz the Great and Powerful and Jack the Giant Killer, Pan undoubtedly fails to execute a potential for a great story line. Instead of giving the viewer a renewed perspective on the more familiar story, Pan leaves the viewer almost with more questions than answers. Seeing as there are better movies to watch in the theatres out there, I definitely do not recommend watching this movie.

Throwback: Fleetwood Mac’s Misunderstood Masterpiece Demetri Kirchberg | How can an album that sold millions, landed in the top five of the Billboard charts, spawned two top ten singles and set a precedent for experimentation in pop music be considered a failure?

That’s exactly what happened when Fleetwood Mac (FM) released their extra-long, extra-creative double album Tusk. Torn down as being not commercial by record label executives, and thus not a successful effort by the titans of California, it has always been a marginalized part of the group’s discography. Yet in spite of its critical reception, Tusk holds both fan favorites and some of the band’s greatest musical triumphs.

After two massively successful albums—their self-titled Fleetwood Mac and the notorious Rumours— the pressure was on for the BritishAmerican, pop-rock fusion band.

Instead of doing the expected and

continuing on in the same form, the band decided to risk it all for the sake of following inspiration. Lindsey Buckingham, lead guitarist, vocalist and one of the band’s three songwriters, took on the role of producer, ensuring that it was their creative voice being heard. The title track he wrote shows such a drastic departure from the squeaky clean anthemic “Go Your Own Way” of Rumours. Rather, the track “Tusk” is a nuanced assemblage of tribal beats, psychedelic rock, marching band brass and wild vocals. To create the song, the band didn’t rent out a glamorous recording studio; no, that would be too small for Buckingham’s big ideas. Instead, they rented out Dodgers stadium, and enlisted the help of the whole University of Southern California marching band for this recording session. The track set a record for greatest number of musicians on a single. Bucking-

ham’s later track “What Makes You Think You’re the One” is a prime example of his impact on modern popular music, with its melody and style which can easily be compared to Sara Bareilles.

From the very first seconds of the expansive 20-track album, it is clear that something is different. Their previous two hit records started as if lively, jovial compositions from Buckingham. In contrast, Tusk begins with a quieter and more contemplative tone in “Over & Over” by way of Christine McVie, their resident pop radio-friendly writer. The building song asking, “What can I do to keep you around over and over?” is one of Mcvie’s greatest moments in her long career, and ultimately became a staple in FM’s live shows for the next decade. The rest of McVie’s contributions are sprinkled across the album, and while they are not as experimen-

tal as Buckingham’s, or as intense as Nicks’s, they keep a distinctly FM sound constant throughout.

Stevie Nicks, the band’s iconic songstress and revolutionary songwriter, has some of her most beautiful and passionate compositions on Tusk. While the second single “Sara” is very recognizable as a FM hit, less popular deep cuts like “Storms” and “Beautiful Child” show Nicks exposing vulnerabilities, both in her lyrics and in her raw and unfiltered vocals.

Midway track “Sisters of the Moon” showcases Nicks at her career best.

Above a pumping rhythm section, Nicks takes flight in a performance that is equal parts seduction and catharsis. With the pairing of intense vocals and wailing guitars that swell till the very end, this song’s live performances have become the stuff of legends.

This experimental album, char-

acterized by its juxtapositioning of minimalist ballads with heavily indulgent anthems, was at the time the most expensive album ever made, costing the band well over a million dollars to produce. Tusk is about to turn 35, and as the years have passed, it has become clear to FM fans that it was no failure, rather a creative expression that valued authenticity of art over number of sales. For this big anniversary, FM is releasing a special reissue of the album with never before heard alternate versions of the songs, behind the scenes footage and beautiful art, a collector’s piece that will certainly end up on my shelf. All things considered, Tusk receives a 8 of 10, and deserves a listen by all.

“Declare Your Maker’s Praise” Concert this Saturday The Andrews University Singers and University Chorale present “Declare Your Maker’s Praise” in concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University.

The featured work is “Missa In Tempore Belli” (Mass in Time of War), also known as the “Paukenmesse” (Timpani Mass) by Franz Joseph Haydn. This piece is the tenth and perhaps the most popular of his

14 masses.

Also included in the program are works by William Byrd, Johann Pachelbel, Antonio Vivaldi, Morten Lauridsen, Dan Forrest, Jonathan Dove, René Clausen and John Rutter. The

program will conclude with lighter fare by composers Garrison Keillor and Carly Simon.

Tickets are $6 general admission; $4 students and seniors; free for kids ages 12 and under. To purchase tick-

ets visit howard.andrews.edu or call the box office at 269-471-3560.

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ISSUE 09

chapel, she inspired Andrews students with creativity and the wish to cultivate our God-given gifts through the incredible presentation of her own gifts and talents.

After this inspiring poem, she shared some stories of one very important woman who is part of her heritage—her grandmother. The stories were quite humorous and profound. One of them told about how her grandmother met her grandfather through a pair of shoes and an agreement between sisters. The one thing she said she learned from her grandmother that has really stuck with her is that we need to be still and quiet when God is working. Her grandmother saw thunderstorms as God working on the earth, so Amena Brown was supposed to be still and quiet during storms, or else she would get in trouble. The stories were told very entertainingly, but we were left thinking about the profound message behind these simple stories.

One of the most profound truths she communicated was about finding God’s will for our life. She struggled in college to find what her “purpose” was. She avoided liberal arts at first, despite her natural inclination for reading and writing, because she perceived it as a field with few job opportunities. When she finally began to consider it through the promptings

of a friend, she began to realize that this was God’s will for her. Her experience prompted her to encourage all of us to ask God what His purpose was for us and to follow it, because He will use us. Her testimony was truly inspiring, and she gave hope to all the aspiring English majors in the room.

To wrap up her performance, Brown did a spoken word of John 1 that was amazing. She spoke of how Jesus was the true freestyler and the true Spoken Word. She challenged all of us to be freestylers in the manner that we are willing to follow God’s will for us at a moment’s notice. Her testimony and performance give good evidence that following God’s will for us will be both rewarding and difficult at times. It might leave us confused on occasion, but God will help us get through those periods of doubt.

11

Arts & Entertainment

Amena Brown Speaks the Word

PHOTO BY EMMANUEL LAPOTERIE

Maria Wixwat | On Thursday, Oct. 29, Amena Brown performed spoken word for chapel. Brown performs professionally across the

nation with her husband, Matt, who is known as DJ Opdiggy. Their performance usually includes a mixture of poetry, spoken word,

DJing and monologue. Brown uses her messages to inspire creativity and share messages about relationships and about God. In

Faculty Spotlight: Trina Thompson Interviewed by: Nicole Hwang Assistant Professor of Theory and Piano At what age did you start playing piano?

I started music classes around age five or six. I don’t really have memory of a time before piano. I have also studied the harp, but piano has my heart.

Did you have childhood struggles in playing or learning to love music?

I have loved music always, and playing the piano feels good to me. But I think I’ve learned how to practice better than I used to, bringing curiosity to bear in conscious ways. Creativity shouldn’t begin during the performance; I’d rather build it deep into the process.

Why did you decide to come to Andrews?

The fact that this university places primary emphasis on purpose was really important to me. I was also excited about the opportunity to teach music from multiple angles—both theory and piano.

What’s your favorite part about being in the music department?

I love working with students and colleagues from all over the world. We all approach music in different ways

and with different gifts. There is such a richness of people.

If you could restart your life, would you still choose the one you have now? What would you do differently?

I’ve known I wanted to teach at a university since forever. Originally, I thought I’d finish university doing music and humanities, then come back for a second round in the sciences. As it turns out, music theory makes a pretty exact bridge between the modes of thinking that have always interested me. While I can imagine other lives, this one feels like my calling.

If money were no object, what would your perfect day look like?

This is like choosing my favorite piece—I feel like there’s no such single day. So I’ll say (it’s) a day in which I connect meaningfully, work and play creatively, appreciate deeply, experience something new and feel convinced that I’ve lived out my purpose.

What do you do for fun besides music?

Read. Spend times with my husband and cats. Explore the city. Read.

Swim in the lake. Read. Kayak. Read.

How would you describe your first few years of teaching?

Brown started out with a spoken word about Jesus and then moved on share a poem about the first time she shared one of her own poems in public. It is called “Roots and Wings,” and it chronicles her reluctance to share publicly the private thoughts she had written. I think this was something many of us could relate to. Public speaking is one of the most common phobias, so often we hide our talents in hopes that we won’t have to display them publicly. In her poem, Brown said she was the same, but her classmates pointed her out as a poet and she had to perform in front of all of them. In this poem, she also contemplates the roots of words and shows how words are inherited, like seeds. She has inherited words from all the people who suffered and lived before her. This is again a perfect reminder for us that we are not simply a product of our own effort, but also the effort of those that have paved the way and gone before us.

Andrews University Theatre Wing Presents “The Belle of Amherst” Enthralling and overwhelming. I’ve been teaching music since I was in high school, but each time I begin a new teaching job, there’s so much to be created and so much to learn.

You adapt to different textbooks, pedagogical approaches, schedules, classes and students. It’s very exciting but also time-consuming.

How does your faith factor into your career? Can you give an example?

Musical creativity can feel instinctive, mysterious and intangible. But musical growth is the result of longterm dedication and immersion. I think faith is the same: it is both a gift of God and a daily practice. As a music theorist studying Debussy, I work with materials on which there is no total clarity or agreement. And yet, working toward understanding is incredibly rewarding. We see through a glass darkly, but even that partial glimpse is powerful and compelling.

Anything else to add?

Yes, apropos of nothing: (a haiku) I have discovered The single best way to eat Popcorn: with chopsticks.

Andrews University Theatre Wing (AUTW) club will be putting on “The Belle of Amherst,” a one-woman play

by William Luce, starring Kaitlyn Litvak, a sophomore pre-physical therapy major. The production will take place in Burman Hall chapel, on November 13 at 2:00 p.m. and November 14 and 15 at 7:00 p.m.

On April 28, 1976, the original Broadway production, directed by Charles Nelson Reilly and starring Julie Harris, took the stage by storm.

It ran for 116 performances, with the Wall Street Journal reviewer writing, “Miss Harris can convey profound inner turmoil at the same time that she displays irrepressible gaiety of spirit.”

The play is based on the life of Emily Dickinson from 1830 to 1886 and set in her Amherst, Massachusetts home. Dickinson was an American poet who lived a reclusive life and is

considered one of the towering figures of American literature. Upon her death, Dickinson’s family discovered 40 hand-bound volumes of nearly 1800 poems.

By using her poetic works, diary entries, letters and other written material, the production captures the essence of the woman while exploring her encounters with the influential people in her life. The juxtaposition of her seclusion and brief moments of joy create a compelling experience for viewers.

AUTW welcomes all students, faculty and community members to purchase tickets in the student center or before the doors open. It is sure to be a captivating performance by Litvak.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AUTW

“(T)he production captures the essence of the woman while exploring her encounters with the influential people in her life.”

THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

The Last Word THE STUDENT MOVEMENT STAFF

The Self-Sufficiency Complex

Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief

There is a very common myth that permeates modern culture and thinking. It erodes our faith in God and His infinite capacity to care for all of our needs. It leads us to doubt His very existence and to trust in ourselves to solve life’s problems. It is the belief that we are capable of providing for ourselves in place of God. When we are subjected to the miseries of this fallen world, we are not quick to call upon God’s name. When sin and burdens weigh us down, when life’s disappointments knock on our door, we often seem to place the responsibilities of fixing our hearts and minds on ourselves. Sure, we may say a quick prayer asking God for a solution that painlessly re-

solves our crises, but then how many of us carry on and go about finding our own solution as if God never heard us? We like the idea of invoking an all-powerful God, but have we the faith to believe in His Holy name?

Far too often God is placed in a box, because our limited vision cannot see the scope of his power and mercies. We hold the mentality that if we do not see an immediate response to our prayers that God must not be present or listening to us. That is a very dangerous thought process because the more we reject His divine abilities to provide for us the quicker we are to lose our faith and succumb to taking our own initiative rather than dropping to our knees in

moments of distress. As this cycle repeats we distance ourselves from His love and teach ourselves that we alone are to bear our burdens. I like to call it the self-sufficiency complex.

Why is being completely self-reliant such a virtue? Why is it considered a strength? Humans are fragile creatures. We have basic needs for survival. If interactions with others is paramount for success, how much more is our interaction with our Heavenly Father? Our faith and religion is an important driving force in our lives — and by placing complete reliance upon ourselves we negate the power that faith brings.

A truer alternative would not seek to minimize the effect of our father’s

compassionate provisions, but would contend that our inability to provide for ourselves is not a weakness in the conventional sense, but a proof of our daily need to place overwhelming reliance on God’s providence.

This is what C. S. Lewis referred to when he said, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” We need to replace our maxims of self-reliance with one of God-based reliance.

Let us pray for reliance on God when problems arise in our lives—for that is far more courageous than shouldering our burdens alone.

Samuel James Fry Editor-in-Chief Paris D. Rollins Assistant Editor Shenika K. McDonald News Editor Daniel J. Fults Ideas Editor Coming soon Pulse Editor Andrei Wayne K. Defino Humans Editor Shanelle E. Kim Arts & Entertainment Editor Thato M. Lehoko Photo Editor David A. Forner Copy Editor Nichole A. Reid Layout Editor L.J. Robinson Multimedia Manager Scott E. Moncrieff Faculty Advisor

Letters to the editor can be submitted to smeditor@andrews.edu All letters subject to publication.

The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventhday Adventist church.

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