2 | Editorial
THE
HILLTOP Student publication of Corban University 5000 Deer Park Dr. SE Salem, OR 97317
Editor-in-Chief Megan Trahan Managing Editor Claire Kasten Photo Editor Michaela Sanderson Staff Writers Obi Abonyi Mio Beard Anna Benjamin Trevor Bond Hannah Brumage Jessica Mccourt David Miller Connor Morton Carol Sotoj Steven Sullivan Columnist Jessica Abbott Guest Writers Brendan Fugere Chiara Elena Romero Travis Schulz Online Editor Jennifer Hutson
The Hilltop | October 30, 2018
Editorial: Loving amid hate talk The confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has given a harsh light to the ability of all people to be hateful and vindictive. These attitudes were strewn across all forms of communication: daily life, newspapers, television broadcast, social media. How do we as Christians address these kinds of scandals? Did we speak words out of civility and state our own opinions without hostility, or were we deaf to Christ’s call to be respectful? Everyone joined in the banter and shared opinions, but it often got out of hand. Disagreeing with someone shouldn’t result in lashing out. On our campus, students’ voices were raised to tear down both the nominee and the primary woman bringing the allegations, Christine Blasey Ford. In the news, people of all political parties expressed biased opinions that would benefit their personal agenda. This was shown in the way politically leaning news stations or newspapers chose their words, photos and quotes. Both Kavanaugh and Ford received a multitude of hate mail. They even received death threats. “My family has been destroyed by this, Senator,” Kavanaugh said to Sen. Dianne Feinstein in his sexual assault hearing. “Destroyed.” Throughout the whole ordeal, the majority of mockery and malice resided in social media. Because the online atmosphere provides a level of anonymity, many people feel comfortable acting more cruelly online than they would in person. Derogatory comments and raging discussion threads are common, especially in such a controversial case as this. Memes degrading both Ford and Kavanaugh popped up all over social media. Actors and public figures commented on the trial,
Advisers Katrina Delamarter Ellen Kersey
Their mission is to tell true stories that contribute to authentic Christian community at Corban. Their staff seeks to practice journalism that is true, substantiated, fair and dedicated to Jesus Christ. Hilltop publications do not represent Corban’s faculty, administration or trustees; rather, they provide a significant student perspective. Letters are welcomed and will be printed on a first-received basis. They must include the author’s name and phone number. Letters are subject to editing for space and clarity. The staff can be reached at hilltopnews@corban.edu.
”
”
The pain of learning how to breathe
Yearbook Editor Maddee Hawken
The Hilltop publications – newspaper, yearbook and website – serve as a student-led forum for the student body.
as well. While some were cordial and well passing off rumors as truth is. The Kavanathought out, many were venomous. ugh and Ford situation negatively affected Even Christians, people who are supposed their personal lives due to the rampant ruto embody Jesus’ love and compassion, left mors about them. They were on display for raging, hateful comments and posted fiery the entire world to judge and mock. rants to their profiles. We need to be humble when we go about There’s a stark contrast between sharing an accusing someone of wrongdoing. We must opinion and using every tactic imaginable to first remove the log in our own eye. Hebrews degrade someone. Engaging in online debates 5:2 says “he [a high priest] is able to deal isn’t offensive, but it becomes so when exple- gently with those who are ignorant and are tives and rude remarks are sprinkled in the going astray, since he himself is subject to mix. Even if we are careful not to use obscene weakness.” We must, in the same way, deal talk, we can still find ways to use our words with those who stumble with gentleness and to tear down instead of building up. So, are compassion because we are prone to wander we adding to the chaos or ourselves. helping to calm it? Posting rude comDo not let any “A soft answer turns ments and criticizunwholesome talk come away wrath, but a harsh ing someone else’s word stirs up anger” political views onout of your mouths, (Proverbs 15:1). We all line reflects poorly but only what is helpful know this often-quoted on our maturity and verse. God has told us character. If we want for buidling others up that we need to respond to have a debate on according to thier needs, to everyone with a “soft a social media platanswer.” form, we have opthat it may benefit those We are called to respect tions that produce who listen. each person as we would better responses: ourselves, for each human keep public interEphesians 4:29 actions short and being is made in the image of God. If we look at Kavanaugh or Ford cordial, privately mesas if they were made in the image of God, we sage the people or, if we know them personmight find ourselves treating them with more ally, ask to meet with them so we can further respect. discuss the topic. Even though it’s cheesy, our obnoxiously Choosing politeness, especially online, can wise parents got it right when they said, “If demonstrate Christ’s love to people. Epheyou don’t have something nice to say, don’t sians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome say anything at all.” While we should speak talk come out of your mouths, but only what our minds, there is a polite way to do so. is helpful for building others up according to We also need to consider spreading truth their needs, that it may benefit those who lisrather than rumors, no matter how aggravat- ten.” Instead of being sucked into the darking a situation might be. Making speculation ness, let’s illuminate the Internet and the or thinking critically isn’t a bad thing, but world with Christ’s graceful light.
By Claire Kasten Managing editor
She couldn’t breathe. She was under a haunted past that choked her every day. Moving almost every year cost her every friend she ever had. Pressure to conform to cliques led her to lash out at classmates and eat lunch alone. Bullying hacked away at her usually cheerful soul, and school became a place of trauma – not education. She was too weird. Too goofy. Too “Christian.” She was constantly a victim of good intentions that had severe, damaging impacts. Her family was blind to the consequences it had when they placed her in online school. It stripped her of a social life beside the comforting one she found on a computer screen. Depression was a confusing phenomenon, one that immobilized her. She was once eager to jump out of bed in the morning, but she started to wish that her bed was just another appendage. Seemingly endless pools of joy became stagnant puddles. She found herself hollow-hearted and foul in spirit. Conversations with concerned souls evoked defiant behavior, radically different from her once playful demeanor. Her pain was unexplainable. She herself did not know what was wrong. But something was terribly off. On an especially turbulent day, only the
pounding Oregon downpour outside of their mini-van could have shrouded the obscenities she screamed at her mother. Shocked by her actions, she became achingly aware of her deep sorrow. She knew she needed to find a solution. The various churches and youth groups she visited, no matter how staggered her attendance, always claimed that “Jesus was the only answer.” So, she decided to give Jesus a try. Her timid prayer and hesitant Scripture reading led her to realize God had an abundance of love and grace for her. The Holy Spirit filled her hollowness. He fought her lingering downheartedness – and He won. He took her by the hand and led her down His path. She was under the smothering stress college greeted her with. She thought college would be a fresh start. Real friends. A clean reputation. New challenges. And it actually was – a very fresh and verdant start. But, one by one, the stitches containing her tormented sadness tore open. She felt the numbness that she desperately tried to escape bubbling up. She clawed at anything that might distract her, so she surrounded herself with friends and schoolwork. It only added to the panic she felt in her heart. She had never opened up to people outside of her family, but she felt trusting new friends was the only option she had left. A mention of free counseling interested her. Maybe an educated person knew of a way to help. She was under the difficult discoveries that counseling uncovered. Counseling did a number on her emotional health. Vulnerability led to processing emotional trauma she never knew she suffered from. She lamented on journal pages to squeeze out all the pus and bacteria from her mind. She sobbed on tissues, shouted at God and stopped doing homework. She struggled to come to terms with the truth for fear of overdramatizing her feelings. But her patient counselor guided her to a place of healing.
And she began to understand herself and her pain. She found answers and clarity. But, underneath, the hurt still remained. To refocus her mind on Jesus, she found herself serving at a summer camp. Even more anxiety and drama piled onto her heaping plate. She hid the darkness with big smiles and silly skits. No matter how hard she tried, it came out in deep conversations and stressful situations.
Illustration by Jeslyn Pool
She was back at square one. Just masking her pain and pushing through it. In a moment of despair and panic, she sought refuge in the only One who could deliver her. “God,” she sobbed. “I cannot do this alone.” Her Chacos halted on the crunchy gravel path. Ducks floated near the lake’s shore and quacked at one another. Bugs chirped and buzzed in the warm summer air. “If you care, show up and let me feel You,” she said, as she stretched her arms up toward His painted afternoon sky. Tears pricked her eyes and her throat tightened. Little, sorrowful tears rolled down her cheeks. A sob escaped from her lips. The wind riffled through the evergreen trees and past her ears. “Everything will work out perfectly,” He said. And I could breathe again.