The Clocktower, Volume 88, Issue 13

The

Clocktower

ISSUE 88.13

UNION COLLEGE

FEBUARY 5, 2014

COUCH SURFING

A COLLEGE STUDENT’S GUIDE There are few things that I enjoy less than sitting on a train by myself for 16 hours straight. Since the weather in the STEVEN Rocky Mountains is FOSTER unpredictable during Christmas break, I opted to ride the train from my home in Grand Junction, Colorado back to Lincoln. However, this year I was in for the most unexpected adventure I’ve had to date.

Chips. PB&J. “Oceans 12.” “The Defining Decade.” A lady who couldn’t remember why she boarded the train in the first place. These were the things that surrounded me as my long journey began.

Soon, I had tired of these amusements and decided to stand up to use the restroom and gaze out the windows. On my way, I noticed a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties editing video. After passing him for the fifth time, my curiosity got the best of me, and I tapped him on the shoulder—one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

As we began talking, I found out that his name was BC Serna, and he had traveled to more than 50 countries as a videographer for various nonprofits. He

had even created a video that was adapted as both a TED talk and the official video for the city of Denver. Being a videographer myself, I was awestruck. We talked for almost two hours before parting ways. I walked away with the feeling you get after great conversation.

Thirty minutes out of Denver, the conductor announced that our train was cancelled due to inclement weather but gave no further information. Fantastic. I was in a bind, but an idea popped into my head. Recalling that Serna had mentioned his couch surfing adventures numerous times and feeling that he was trustworthy, I asked him if I could crash at his place in Denver until the train was back on schedule. He happily agreed and told me that a 19-year-old German student was also staying with him.

Serna and I disembarked and met up with Jonas, the German student, and BC’s roommate Lindsay Majors, a barber who attended Ozark Adventist Academy back in the day.

Over the course of the next two days, we explored Denver and the surrounding mountains. Jonas and I must’ve covered 12 miles on foot sightseeing downtown. The four of us ate at iconic restaurants, watched (continued on page 2)

Jonas plays the guitar while Thunder, Lindsay Major’s Chihuahua, brings his stuffed dinosaur to BC Serna.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE ► QUEST FOR CALLING OPINION, PAGE 2

SUIT UP CULTURE, PAGE 4

TEXTING TIFFS

APPS FOR PRODUCTIVITY

SPECIAL INTEREST, PAGE 4

TECHNOLOGY, PAGE 6

OPINION

PAGE 2

EXPLORE CALLING AT COLLEGE I was raised by cave-dwelling sea hogs in a land called Wisconsin. My family lived on cheese curds and Packer games.

We were weird in SPENCER WAY innumerable ways, such as our belief that everything had a cosmic reason. Truly everything. The color of the flowers around the mailbox mattered, not just to the neighbors but to God himself.

The choice between Reeboks and Nikes required careful thought. Middle names demanded significance.

“

Calling is the force that combines identity and purpose in a mixture that yields action, results, and epics of Homeric discovery.

We believed that we were called to something specific, something different, something unique. There is an arrogance (or optimism) in the belief that you are designed for something that, if you failed, would be left undone for eternity.

But there is inspiration and hope in even the existence of the idea that you are called. Brief contact with Union’s Quest for Calling program has led me to think deeply about what calling is, whether or not it is important, and how to discover mine, apply it, and share it.

Can you search for your calling through a program without becoming the victim of leading questions and social pressure, ending up with a cookie cutter calling? When discussing “calling,” are we talking about a realizable destination or a lifelong journey? Is the discovery of calling meant for everyone? Is calling selective or corporate; is it for me and a lucky few, or also for you?

Calling is an elemental part of you and me. It can be defined, as nothing else can be, as the force that combines identity

and purpose in a mixture that yields action, results, and epics of Homeric discovery.

I suspect that to know yourself is only half the equation. To know your purpose still only half. But to know yourself and your purpose is to be called to grand responsibility, fevered activity, and mind-expanding voyages into unknown, unpredictable, deeply rewarding waters.

The Quest for Calling program at Union College is designed to aid the discovery of calling and identity. The people building this program are called to bring others to understand their callings.

Many divisions have their own calling champions, people who want to help you on the journey of your calling while sharing theirs. Explore the multitude of resources available to you.

SPENCER WAY is a senior studying business administration.

Begin your Quest for Calling by exploring available resources at www.ucollege.edu/calling.

(continued from page 1) documentaries while eating ice cream into the wee hours of the morning, and hiked the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In the course of two days, we had become a family of strangers.

Some of you may think I’m crazy for even considering couch surfing, let alone actually doing it. But I’d argue that it’s actually one of the most exciting and joyful experiences that humans can do— when done right. I’m not advocating that you drop this newspaper immediately and find a stranger to live with, but I offer some

tips for those with wanderlust and a bit of bravery.

Trust your gut. Considering that situations similar to how I managed to couch surf aren’t all too common, try websites like www.couchsurfing.org. You can sign up for free and create a profile.

You can choose to host or find a host.

You can even become “verified” so you can know that you aren’t staying with a sketchy character.

Don’t be a jerk. While staying with a host, clean up your area, do the dishes and/or take them out to eat. I picked up the

tab for the ice cream when we all stayed up late watching documentaries, and everyone appreciated it.

Do it. Even if it’s just once, chances are you’ll have an incredible experience like mine if you do the research on your host and give it a shot.

What are you waiting for? Get out there and meet a stranger.

STEVEN FOSTER is a junior studying communication.

ON CAMPUS

PAGE 3

LONG WORSHIP Singer-songwriter Maria Long performed at the College View Church this past Friday. The concert was a special exception, since her MICHAEL touring schedule was put ROHM on hold until April due to the recent birth of her son.

Known for heartfelt lyrics and full musical sound, Long performed songs from both her albums alongside a full band and Union’s own Tyler Morrison and Azriel

Peckham. “I met her when she was still recruiting for Andrews,” says Morrison, who provided keyboard and vocals. “She had just released her first album.”

That was in 2006, and the album “Here With Me” launched Long into the public eye, earning her support from both fans and the music industry alike. CCM Magazine nominated her for Best New Independent Artist of the Year in 2007, and three of her songs were featured on television and an indie WOW album.

After the success of “Here With Me,”

Long continued to structure her music around her faith, crafting lyrics that address the struggles of sin and a God who can provide healing.

Her second and most recent album, “Endeavor,” is no exception. Created as a concept album, the songs are arranged in a timeline from sin to salvation—a human chronology from lost to found. Her website promotes “Endeavor’s” eleven songs as “a progression of steps that a sinner would take starting with realizing your sin . . . to experiencing a breakthrough in your life and then culminating with building a relationship with God.” “Find Me,” her first radio release, made Billboard’s top 40 within weeks of its debut.

Ultimately, Long is defined by her lyrics. Her website asserts that “Maria’s message isn’t comfortable at times, but it is real,” which is why Morrison asked her to come. “This year we’re trying to focus on worship sets instead of ‘concerts’” he says.

“Maria is perfect for that.”

MICHAEL ROHM is a senior pursuing a personalized degree in international relief and communication.

Maria Long’s latest album, “Endeavor.”

UPCOMING EVENTS SUN 2

MON 3

TUE 4

WED 5

THU 6

MAU Music Festival (through Feb. 8)

FRI

7 8 Grad Announcement MAU Music Festival Rep @ Campus Concert, 4 p.m.

Store, 10:30 a.m. to @ CVC Warrior’s Basketball: 3 p.m.

Faculty Senate, 10:30 a.m.

Women’s game, 5 p.m.; Men’s game, 7 p.m. @ Grace University

Vespers: MAU Music Festival, 7:30 p.m. @ CVC

9 10 11 12 13 14 Chapel, 10:30 a.m.

Winter Break National ACT testing, LSAT testing, 8 a.m.

Lincoln’s Birthday @ CVC (through Feb. 14) 8 a.m. @ DB 302 @ Career Center Warrior’s Basketball: Women’s game, 5 p.m. @ Brown Mackie Community College

Warrior’s Basketball: Men’s game, 7:30 p.m. @ Concordia University

SAT

V2, 5:30 p.m. @ CVC ASB Splash for Cash

15 Valentine’s Day

CULTURE

PAGE 4

WHY YES, I AM A SUITED HORSE As I stuffed my large personality into yet another fitted blazer, I felt my last flame of exuberance die out. Graduate school CASSANDRA interviews demanded JOHNSON I step into the role of stuffy professional at least a decade before I intended to make that my identity.

After rejecting the tenth boring black power suit, I settled on a suitable (pun intended) compromise—a blue blazer with a ruched grey skirt, the intersection of professional and fun. Exuberance mildly rekindled, I prepared myself for the big day of interviewing at my state’s medical school.

Walking into the room of interviewees, I felt like a competitor at the horse races.

All the contenders were chomping at the bit and, in a quick glance, I sized up the competition.

At a most superficial level, the aspiring doctorss could be grouped according to their blazer styles. First off, we had the researchers, sorted by their polyester

jackets—two sizes too big and two years too old. They picked at the lint on their attire and blew their noses, adding Kleenexes to a growing pile on the table.

Next, there were the power suiters, headed as quickly as possible towards surgeon status. Aptly named for their expensive, impeccably fitted suit coats, intimidation was written all over their perfectly vertical spines.

Finally, my eyes landed on my most direct competition—the other future dermatologist. If her mouth weren’t already active, her scarf would have spoken for itself. Our blazers appeared intentionally coordinated, and the way she’d won over the room with her emphatic hand motions caused a lump in my throat.

Following her lead, I assumed my role in the races, positioning myself at the center of the room and starting a conversation with the professional speed-reader to my right. After a long day of selling myself to the admissions council, I contemplated the importance of outfit-personality continuity.

Your interview outfit will speak for itself. The horse gamblers, racetrack

owners, and fellow competitors will size you up within seconds of meeting. As intimidating as this may seem, this offers you an abundance of control. How do you desire to be perceived?

The future surgeons needed their expensive power suits to command confidence to a room of interviewers, much as they will need to inspire confidence in patients down the road. Although I wouldn’t be caught dead in the researcher’s lint-coated suits, they didn’t need my loudand-proud blazer. Their brains and 4.0 GPAs spoke for themselves. Those of us hoping to slide in by the skin of our social skills had to utilize excessive hand motions and cutting edge interview fashion to win over our superiors.

Consider your style as just another tool to prove you’re capable of the specific job you desire. Your interview outfit will speak for itself, and when your mouth follows, it better be in agreement.

CASSANDRA JOHNSON is a senior pursuing a business pre-med degree.

TEXTING IN RELATIONSHIPS College is a prime time for meeting new people and discovering who you are, what you want, and the kind of person you want to KATIE be with. For today’s MORRISON generation, a major part of the relationship journey now includes texting.

On average, people from ages 18 to 24 exchange almost 4,000 texts a month,

according to Business Insider. Along with the frequent use of texting comes many opportunities. In the past, loved ones had to rely on the Pony Express to transport words of affirmation. You could be waiting weeks for a quick note from your boo.

Now you can take a moment out of your day and shoot your significant other a text, which they will receive in less than twenty seconds.

Maureen McCarthy, a senior business major, knows how helpful texting is for

a long-distance relationship. “Texting is everything,” she says. “Since my boyfriend lives in a different state, it is the main way we communicate and get to know each other.”

Communicating electronically instead of face-to-face also has its downfalls.

Texting may feel spontaneous and natural, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case.

Loads of premeditation can go into one simple text: what to say and how to say it, (continued on page 5)

SPECIAL INTEREST

PAGE 5

(continued from page 4) what punctuation to use, what emoticons to add, and more.

The wrong emoticon and an incorrectly punctuated text can result in a misunderstanding. Misunderstandings can lead to confusion and unnecessary fights that face-to-face communication could prevent.

Texting is unparalleled in its usefulness. However, it can be harmful to ignore the negatives that accompany it. The trick is finding a balance.

KATIE MORRISON is a junior studying business administration.

Texting can both enhance and disrupt our communication.

ASK AMBER Dear Amber,

AMBER ALAS

My best friend is dating someone who is antisocial and doesn’t really have any other friends. I feel that my friend doesn’t see that he is the only person she is ever with! What would be the best way to tell him that I don’t think he is in a healthy relationship and that he could do a lot better?

Sincerely, Heartbreaker Dear Heartbreaker, Ask these questions of yourself. First, has he told you he is happy? Second, do they seem to get along in public when they are together? And lastly, does he tell you about how great they’re doing? If the answers are yes, then don’t mention anything to him.

If he’s content with his relationship, then there’s no good reason for you to get involved.

I know you want the best for your friend, but at this moment

he thinks his girlfriend is the best. He will start to realize on his own whether or not he wants to continue the relationship If you do mention your concerns, there’s a slight chance that he might get offended and upset with you. Ask yourself if that is something you want to risk.

Relationships look different from the outside. You may think he can do better, but that’s only what you see from the outside perspective. What you see as undesirable may be a good relationship for them.

Another route you can take is inviting him and his girlfriend along to places with you and your friends. That way, they can still be together but also get the chance to be around others. Or, if you are dating someone, go on a double date.

I understand why you want to speak up. You have the right intentions, but it may be the wrong timing. After reading my advice, if you still want to confront your best friend, at least wait until he starts to mention that they are having issues.

Sincerely, Amber

AMBER ALAS is a senior nursing student.

Have a question or situation that you think could benefit from someone else’s perspective? Ask Amber at www.tinyurl.com/uc-askamber. All inquiries are anonymous, so you get the insight without being in sight.

TECHNOLOGY

PAGE 6

UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY The past few weeks, winter has decided to take us to school and, quite frankly, it has been rather unpleasant. To counter that, I am going TYLER to talk about the summer ELLIS technology we have to look forward to. The Consumer Electronics Show was just a few weeks ago, and there are a lot of cool new products that will be hitting the shelves this summer.

Smart technology is being integrated into everything from light bulbs to ovens, and the latest household item to receive smart technology will be the age-old toothbrush. The Kolibree toothbrush has multiple sensors built into it and, after each brush, it grades your brushing skills, telling

you the areas of your mouth that need more focus. It sends all this data to a free app downloaded on your iPhone or android.

The toothbrush will cost $99.

Televisions are another sector that is introducing a big revision by summer. 4K technology is hitting the market and taking over. 4K televisions essentially offer twice the pixel density of a regular TV, making the picture something that is known as Ultra HD. On top of the 4K technology, a lot of the TV manufacturers are also coming out with the curved screen that slightly bows the glass toward the user for a more immersive experience. Right now, the technology costs about three times more than a regular television, but that price is expected to be cut in half by the end of the year.

In order to make room for the new 4K TVs, Panasonic announced that they would be discontinuing their line of plasma televisions, widely known as the best plasma televisions in the market.

The trends that emerged at the Consumer Electronic Show this year were the expansion of wearables and the integration of “smart technology” in almost everything. Almost every major electronics manufacturer displayed some sort of wearable smart band or watch that tracks different aspects of a person’s life.

Beyond toothbrushes, “smart technology” was installed in crock pots, house keys, garage door openers, and more.

TYLER ELLIS is a senior business major.

APPS FOR PRODUCTIVITY Many apps claim to improve organization and communication, but choosing the ones right for you can be a daunting task. Below are the apps DAN I feel work best for CARLSON boosting productivity.

These apps are available free for both the iOS and Android platforms, making them versatile between any smarphone or tablet.

Any.do. Any.do is a simple and sleek to-do list app. Tasks and goals can be sorted into categories such as personal, work, time, and geolocation.

Geolocation reminders will remind you of a task you have scheduled to do at a certain place. For instance, if I wanted to take a picture of my chicken sandwich from Raising Canes for my Instagram, Any.do would remind me when I get near the restaurant. Any.do will also remind you

to check on your tasks at certain times of the day. This feature is intended to make a habit of checking your notes to help you accomplish them. Both of these features can be turned off if the user finds them too annoying. Cal is another app made by this company that works in harmony with Any.do.

Pocket. The Pocket app is used to save interesting or helpful articles, pictures, and audio files so you can view them offline (videos cannot be viewed offline). When an article is saved, it will sync between all your devices that have the app installed.

I noticed that syncing between devices is rather slow compared to other paid apps such as Instapaper, which costs $2.99.

Pocket works with most online content and apps (especially RSS feeds, news, and social network apps) Fortunately, the list of supported apps grows each week.

Evernote. This app is an all-in-one note taker.

It includes a text editor for taking basic notes, a photo upload tool, and a voice recorder. Notes are also synced across all devices with Evernote installed. The app is free but can be upgraded to premium for $5 a month.

Benefits of the upgrade include being able to search within PDF documents, access notes offline, and an increase in allowed data uploads from 60 MB a month to 1 GB a month. Some may find it hard to take advantage of all the features Evernote offers, but once mastered, it is easily the best note-taking app available on all platforms.

DAN CARLSON is a sophomore communication major.

EVERYTHING ELSE

PAGE 7

THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN FROM UNION COLLEGE STUDENTS Azriel Peckham: for warm mittens during the cold weather.

Unknown: awareness.

to free pizza at business

Emily Syvertson: to being pushed down the stairs by the wind. Bully.

Trevor Kaldahl: Cody Cowin: Olivia May: makers.

to take-home tests. to the upcoming spring.

to artisan doughnut

The Clocktower Staff Editor-in-Chief Copy Editors

Emily Syvertson Taylor Roberts Aphelandra Messer Emily Syvertson Layout Editor Spencer Way Opinion Michael Rohm On Campus Chelsea Zumwalt Steven Foster Culture Cassandra Johnson Katie Morrison Special Interest Amber Alas Tyler Ellis Sports/Tech Dan Carlson Emily Wood Online Cody Blake Photographer Online Content Manager Megan Prescott Michael D. Steingas Sponsor

#UNIONUNITED

Feedback The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email us at cltower@ gmail.com.

The Clocktower is published weekly during the school year by the Associated Student Body of Union College, 3800 S. 48th St., Lincoln, NE 68506.

The opinions expressed are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinion of the editors, Associated Student Body, Union College, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Instagrammers: L to R, top: @fruitnibbla, @mailehoff93, @codamagilacudy; bottom: @isaacjh; @onielmillsap; @cassiesmithh.

Student Spotlight EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT

UNION UNITED

HI, HARRY Here are some things that the millions of The Clocktower readers need to know about Harrison Smith: he loves to laugh, tries AMANDA not to take life too ASHBURN seriously, is definitely open to meeting new people, and just likes to have a good time. That’s right! If you’re

in need of a best friend, Harry’s your man.

Okay, so he didn’t tell me to say that, but you do need to get to know the guy, and I’m going to help you start that process.

For almost three years, Harry has been part of BryanStars, a company that interviews alternative rock and metal bands on YouTube. Harry’s job is to keep the fan base active with social media. He creates content that includes questions and music

Photo courtesy of Harry Smith

Meet Harry Smith.

HOW TO FIND HARRY • Twitter.com/harrydahero • Youtube.com/bryanstars • Twitter.com/bryanstars updates for fans, as well as managing both the YouTube and Twitter accounts for BryanStars.

Harry is a communications major, emphasizing in emerging media, so it’s not hard to understand why he loves his job with BryanStars. However, the job can be nerve-wracking; if he makes a typo, one of the 230,000 Twitter followers is sure to let him know about it. At the end of the day, Harry has to admit that even when the fans get picky, the behind-the-scenes work is the best because he has the power to experiment with new ways to help fans engage.

Born in Omaha and a Lincolnite for seven years, the Nebraska life is all that Harry knows. As a computer science major at Southeast Community College, Harry wanted to find a school with a good program and a small population where he would be more than a number or a name on a roster. After Google helped Harry find Union, Harry scheduled a campus tour— which I just so happened to lead—and decided to join the family.

“I’m not swallowed up here,” says Harry. “It’s awesome!” He is also proud to report that after getting over the initial shock of a meatless cafeteria, he enjoys some of the vegetarian cuisine.

Harry enjoys being part of the Union College crowd and would love to meet any one of you readers. So go ahead, find Harry!

AMANDA ASHBURN is a junior studying language arts education.