Vo lu m e 7 . I s s u e 3 . S p r i ng 2 0 1 7 .
RUDES & HIS DUDES Band crafts sound from jazz, funk and hip-hop influences | 66
Ta k e a d e e p b r e at h Student's battle with cystic fibrosis results in newfound trust | 8
T h e a lo h a spirit Ambition in the heart of Hawaii | 20 Pursuit | 1
F E A T U R E S
Take a Deep Breath One woman's fight with an often fatal lung and digestive disorder
The Aloha Spirit Journey toward discovering lifelong passion
Rudes & His Dudes Jazz, funk and hip-hop culminate in new musical venture 2 | Pursuit
C O N T E N T S
Lifestyle
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It's My Major Taking your major into your own hands
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10 Morning Habits Cheaper Than a Latte How to wake up when the alarm clock rings
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Becoming Future You Tackling adulthood: The millennial dream
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Cosmic Campouts Wheres, whats and hows to stargazing in Southern California
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24 Hours in Portland The city named after a city
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Finding Art in the Middle of Nowhere Discovering a quirky world in Southern California
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Tales of Satire Stories behind the anonymous CBU Instagram accounts
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A Student's Guide to Following the News
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How Cows & Clothes are Connected How two of the largest industries are connected by one similar thread
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America Divided Binding national division through conversations of unity
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Persistently Living Cancer survivor's defiant journey to persevere through life's challenges
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One Last Time in Van Dyne Men's and women's basketball teams play final games in the historic gymnasium
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American Hero, Local Savior Heroic life of Enrico Rojo
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It's Not Business, It's Personal Balance between co-worker relations creates role clarity
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A Visual Voice Creating activism and meaning in contemporary art
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Show Some Etiquette Enjoy a performance the proper way while ensuring others enjoy it too
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Creativity Built the Architect How the architecture program utilizes creativity to make future architects
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Pursuit Recommends Films
77
Pursuit Recommends Podcasts
78
Pursuit Recommends Music
Travel
Trends
Relationships
Arts
Cover photo by Mariss Eanes Correction: Doug Misener was misidentified in the winter issue of Pursuit in "MVPs Behind the Wheel."
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S T A F F
Randy Plavajka Managing Editor
Rachael Kerchner Lifestyle & Trends Editor
Hayley Folk Arts Editor
Kathleen Phillips Travel & Relationships Editor
Caleb Bol Design Editor
Mariss Eanes Photo Editor
Allison Cordova Assistant Design Editor
Alem Carcamo Assistant Photo Editor
Dr. Michael Chute Director of Student Publications
Writers: Morgan Culberson, Mariss Eanes, Jasmine Emeish, Jonathan Logerstedt, Victoria Paul, Alexis Safoyan, Lauren Shelburne, Iona Brannon
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Sonya Singh Assistant Director of Student Publications
Photographers: Jacob Gonzalez, Randy Plavajka, Katie Ring, Lauren Shelburne
Jim Veneman Photojournalism Consultant
Designers: Jonathan Logerstedt, Lisa Orona, Micah Wong
I N
P U R S U I T
O F
G R O W T H
Courtney Coleman Editor-in-Chief “I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” –Lillian Smith
illian Smith has long stood as one of the authors I admire most. Her legacy developed during the 1940s, a time of radical racial injustice, where she defiantly spoke against said injustice despite being a white woman from the South. Her literary works challenged her peers until her passing, after a decade long battle with breast cancer. She was someone who understood that, while life is full of adversity, there is a resiliency within the hearts of mankind that keeps us all going and fighting for what matters most. This issue of Pursuit has, rather intentionally, taken on the theme of growth. There is a certain kind of peace that comes with
the acceptance that amid our failures and our shortcomings, the potential for new beginnings is always there. To dive into all life has to offer and to stop along the way, catching glimpses of ourselves in the reflections of our experiences, which pose as mirrors — that is what it means to be human. To stare into those mirrors and see with each pause in the journey that we are continuously becoming someone new — that is growth, and growth is rather hopeful. In the content of this magazine you will read about adventurers seeking what life has to offer. You will read the stories of cancer survivors and overcomers of debilitating disease. You will see how mankind can unite in times of uncertainty. You will read about the human spirit — and its
refusal to submit to the challenges of this life. What this issue of the magazine has become is more than a collection of stories. It has become an assemblage of thought-provoking and inspiring pieces that entertain, yes, but also challenge the individual to look within and rise above. Sincerely,
Courtney Coleman
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Y
IT S M
R O J A M r Majods r u o Han ng Y Taki our Own Y into
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Written by Morgan Culberson Photo Illustration by Mariss Eanes hat’s your major?” It is an age-old question for college students. We hear it time and time again from fellow students, family members, potential employers — virtually everyone with whom we come into contact during our college careers. Sometimes it is not so bothersome. It gives us an excuse to tell others about what we enjoy and what we are passionate about, but more often than not, it cues a sort of fight-or-flight instinct. We have our speeches prepared, ready to defend ourselves before we even hear their response. We are ready to explain how our degree is going to help us and what role it plays in society. We have rehearsed it, honed it and memorized facts about the industries we are going into, just so we can explain how it is not as useless as they may think it is. Families especially can be one of the most prominent factors in influencing the decision in choosing a major. Statistics show that 80 percent of students change their major at least once while they are in school, and one of the main reasons students switch majors is because of pressure to do so from family members. However, this is not always a bad thing. Many students are proud to go into the family business or find that, after realizing their first career choice was not exactly what they imagined, their family’s intuitions on what was best for them were right. The issue does not lie in the family’s desires for the student. Rather, the problem is that what is intended as encouragement and wisdom can sometimes escalate to overly controlling parenting. Of course, in the end, it is up to the individual to decide their major and career path, but the final deciding factor ultimately boils down to the difference between a career and a calling. Dr. Tae Sung, assistant professor of English at California Baptist University for Online Professional Studies and pastor at Ekko Church Anaheim, explains this concept: “There are some people for whom those two things will come together — their calling and their career. How they sustain their livelihood will also be the way through which they advance the kingdom of God,” Sung says. “For others, it’s
O.K. that they have their nine-to-five job. … At the same time they may sense that their calling is to be on the worship team on Sundays, or something like that.” The line between these two concepts can get blurry. Students are constantly bombarded with the idea that their career has to be some sacrificial thing worth living. Medical students should be missionary doctors, pre-law students should seek justice in Third World countries, engineers should be building wells. In one instance, an aspiring photographer was even told that her work could not truly glorify God. Perhaps this weight is why students change their majors so often. The education system places such a heavy emphasis on career choice that the importance of every other decision is pushed to the back. The entire college career revolves around this pressing, looming question as to whether we made the right decision. However, in reality, career and calling do not carry the same significance. While our career choice may be spurred by something we enjoy, it
One of the main reasons students switch majors is because of pressure to do so from family members." is one’s specific calling that carries the significant weight. What footprint will you leave in the lives of people you know? How will you portray yourself, your family, your community? As a Christian, how will you glorify God using what he has supplied? The apostle Paul, for example, is considered one of the most important figures in the New Testament. His career: a tentmaker. “You don’t get the sense that Paul was really passionate about making tents,” Sung laughs. In order to sustain himself, he maintained that profession, but that is not what he is known. He did not influence humanity through his career, but by his calling; his appointment as an apostle is what affected others. While family members’ intentions are for the good of the student, often their focus is misplaced. Such relationships include the inevitable pushing, encouragement and strengthening of each other. Without such interactions the relationship begins to look more like the fleeting friendships present in a junior high classroom. However, the necessity
to encourage each other has more to do with pointing each other in the direction of the calling, rather than the career. Roland Cabrera, junior intercultural studies major, says he experienced family pressure when he switched from public health to intercultural studies. “Parents want the best for their kid, and they want them to pursue something that’s going to be very beneficial,” he says. “I don’t think that is really selfish of a parent. They should have a role, but I also don’t think their role should be domineering.” In essence, while family members should absolutely encourage their children and impart wisdom to them, they cannot be the deciding factor in the student’s major decisions. As college students slowly grow into adults, they must also learn to have adult relationships. Part of that, unfortunately, means sometimes disagreeing with family and loved ones. Cabrera explains what this conflict looked like in his family: “I had to work them down. I actually remember sitting them down at a table — we went out to eat at Olive Garden — and we all sat down and I finally broke the news that I changed my major. I spoke and it went completely over their heads.” Cabrera recalls repeatedly having to assure his family that it was a good decision to change his major. Chas Henley, junior construction management major, says he had a similar experience. His immediate family had all earned degrees in some sector of the medical field, but Henley’s goals and desires were completely different. “It was hard because there was nothing I really wanted to do besides construction,” Henley says. These conflicts can be difficult to face, especially as college students who are just beginning to learn how to make independent decisions, but the major a person chooses is something that will affect the rest of his or her life. Ultimately, the student is the one who has to work in that career, not anyone else. So comes the point when the authority to make decisions passes from the steady grip of loved ones to the willing — perhaps a little shaky — hands of the student. ◆
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Ta k e a D e e p
B r e at h
Student s b at t l e W i t h C ys t i c F i b r o s i s R E s u lt s i n newFound trust Julie Phillips uses her breathing machine to help alleviate the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
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Written and Photographed by Lauren Shelburne
F
rom the day she was born she had to fight. Julie Phillips, junior Christian behavioral science major, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth. CF, as it is commonly known, is a genetically inherited disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Because of a defective gene, mucus builds up and clogs the airways of her lungs trapping bacteria and endangering her life. Despite her challenges, Phillips lives her life as any other college student, spending hours at coffee shops and enjoying time with her friends, but also educating others about her disease while sharing the love of God.
“It’s something I’ve always known, I’ve never known anything different than CF and so it’s been part of my day to day life,” Phillips says. Normal activities in life often taken for granted are not so simple for Phillips. Her everyday life consists of more than 30 pills and vitamins, eight enzymes at every meal to break down fats for nutrients since her body cannot do that itself, hour-long breathing treatments and a vest that shakes her lungs to break down mucus and clear her airways. Her kitchen table overflows with an array of medications that keep Phillips healthy and able to keep fighting. It is a long process, but one that is necessary. She will not sacrifice her health. ➸
In one month Phillips goes through 560 enzymes, 250 vitamins, 62 puffs of Advair, 124 puffs of Xopenex and 15 sinus rinses. A nurse visits each month to flush the port in her chest to prevent clots or infections.
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Phillips says she is thankful for the support system of friends that has stood by her through the peaks and valleys of her disease. Her roommate Brenna Warolin, junior international business major, has helped her with her breathing treatments, gone with her to doctor appointments and been by her side during hospital stays. Warolin had never met someone with a terminal disease prior to Phillips and says it has been eye-opening. “I enjoy spending time with someone who appreciates life,” Warolin says. “That’s a different kind of friendship.” Phillips continues to fight to stay healthy for her friends and family who love her. She
fibrosis is something that makes me feel joyful. Having that hope is all you can hang on to when you have a disease that’s terminal.” Phillip’s blog and social media presence connects her to other CF patients all over the country. She has had the chance to be an inspiration to them as she is often asked how she remains joyful despite having a terminal disease. Phillips uses her outlet to be a voice for God’s plan and promise. “I want people to see Jesus through suffering and that suffering doesn’t mean that we are empty of Christ but that God is even more present in the midst of all that,” Phillips says. CF patients cannot be within six feet
says that life is worth living regardless of her circumstances. Having a relationship with God and knowing the promise he has made to her of an eternity of health keeps her going. “I’ve always had a solid relationship with Christ and he is my joy and my confidence and hope,” Phillips says. “Knowing that this life isn’t the end for me and that I have eternity to look forward to where I’ll be fully healed of cystic
of one another because of dangers of crosscontamination. Another person with CF could be carrying bacteria Phillips has not built an immunity and therefore make her sick. Even a common cold can cause her to stay in the hospital for multiple weeks — yet social media has allowed her and anyone diagnosed to develop friendships. “If anybody could fight something like this and live with it, it is her,” Warolin says. “She ➸
Top Right: Sixty Five Apparel is a brand started by cystic fibrosis patient Taylor Stroop to bring awareness and start conversation about his disease. Like Stroop, Phillips shares her story with many other CF patients around the world with her blog, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Jules," and through other social media platforms. Julie Phillips (seated), junior Christian behavioral science major,Brenna Warolin, junior international business major, Taylor Vals (left), sophomore nursing major and Katelyn Grafton, junior health science major, skateboard down Palm Drive.
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If anybody could fight something like this and live with it, it is her." Brenna Warolin, junior international business major
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I've always had a solid relationship with Christ and he is my joy and confidence and hope.� Julie Phillips, junior Christian behavioral science major
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inspires so many people all over the U.S.” Warolin’s friendship with Phillips has shown her how much people throw away. Watching people smoking and ruining their respiratory systems when people with CF often are on a transplant list for new lungs frustrates Warolin in a way that it never did before. Taylor Vals, sophomore nursing major, says that because of her friendship with Phillips she has learned to stop worrying, but instead ask herself what her life goals are. There are times when Phillips cannot go outside because she needs to catch up on sleep or go home early and do her breathing treatments. Often peers do not understand how important it is for her to keep up her health. She says that people sometimes see this “ducking out” as an anti-social excuse
since she appears healthy at first glance. “CF is an invisible disease,” Vals says. “If you have cancer and you are going through chemo therapy, people can see that you are sick.” While the future is unclear for Phillips she says she is ready to continue the fight. She hopes to get married and start a family, continue blogging, work in ministry, write a book and, throughout it all, show others love. Phillips and her friends and family know and believe that God has a plan for her life — and not only does he have control, but he has the power to use it. “There is so much hope, not just for people with CF but for people with any disease,” Warolin says. “God is there and has a plan, you just need to be hopeful.” ◆
Opposite Page: Cystic Fibrosis is an “invisible disease.” Many do not know what Julie Phillips has endured when they first meet her. Despite her medical challenges, Phillips says she is able to live a normal life enjoying every moment. Below: Whether she is doing homework or out enjoying the CBU community, Phillips is always surrounded by friends. In this case, Katelyn Grafton (left) has stood by her through doctor’s appointments, treatments and hospital stays.
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10 A
morning habits c h e a p e r t h a n a l at t e
How to wake up when the alarm clock rings
Written by Victoria Paul Illustrated by Caleb Bol
An estimated 83 percent of American adults drink coffee, and most do so on a daily basis. In fact, Americans love coffee so much that they spend $40 billion on it each year. Although this may be true, one of the top New Year’s resolutions for many is to stop spending so much on coffee. The average person spends $20 a week on coffee, adding up to a grand total of $1,040 per year. Whether trying to kick the habit and go for a healthier option or simply cut down on spending, here are some alternatives to help tackle the dreaded alarm clock.
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Make your own coffee Sometimes that cup of joe just cannot be beat. So instead of spending $5 on the morning latte, try making your own at home. It may not be as fancy but it will get the job done.
2
Make a smoothie A great alternative to coffee is a smoothie. All the different fruits create just the right taste for a morning pick-me-up. Instead of going to your favorite juice bar, try buying the ingredients at the store as it will be much cheaper than buying one every morning.
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3
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4
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Listen to music Listening to music in the morning can help provide the motivation needed to get moving and start the day, as well as improve moods. Try creating a morning playlist with favorite upbeat songs. Continuously add new songs and keep it updated to avoid growing tired of your selected tunes.
Read a book One of the hardest things to do in the morning is actually getting out of the warm, safe space called bed, so why not try reading something to wake up the mind while the body continues to relax. Try reading the morning paper, the Bible, a fun blog or the latest bestseller to wake yourself up.
5
Hit the gym Working out not only reduces stress and normalizes sleep patterns, thereby improving your mood, but it also releases endorphins that make you feel energized in the morning. Working out starts the day in a positive way and on a healthy note. Hold yourself accountable by joining a class or working out with a friend to ensure you find your way there.
Try a facemask If there is no time for a shower in the morning that is no reason for your face to suffer. Washing your face in the morning removes unwanted skin cells and eliminates oil. Try a facemask to reinvigorate your skin. Most masks need to sit for awhile, allowing you a few minutes to multitask before washing the mask off.
Stretch Whether you do a couple of stretches or a full-blown yoga session, stretching first thing in the morning helps you wake up by getting the blood flowing and warming up your muscles. Keep a yoga mat close to the bed and find a yoga workout video on YouTube the night before to get you excited for the next morning of stretches and calm awakening.
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Take a walk Not the morning workout type? Consider taking a short walk around the neighborhood to get the blood flowing. Taking a 20-minute walk outside is proven to reduce fatigue by 65 percent. Being exposed to sunlight so early in the morning will help you become alert and ready for the day. If time is of concern, set your clothes and shoes out the night before so you can get up and go right when you wake up.
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Turn off your alarm There are plenty of alarm clocks that actually require you to do work to turn it off. Some have mental exercises, such as solving a puzzle or answering questions before you can turn off the alarm. The Clocky alarm wheels around the room evading capture, screaming until you catch it and turn it off. Even simply moving your alarm clock across the bedroom will force you to get out of bed to turn off the annoying buzzer.
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Eat smart Breakfast is the most important meal of the
day and a great distraction from the morning latte. Although doughnuts and sweet cereals are great, breakfast should contain a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates to provide full benefits. The body converts carbohydrates into energy right away so it is best to eat as early as possible to obtain the extra energy needed to get up and face the day. Typical oatmeal can get boring so try paring it with whole-grain toast with some almond butter. Drinking water is also essential to a balanced breakfast as it wakes up your body and keeps you healthy.
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BECOMING
FUTURE YOU
Tackling adulthood: The millennial dream 16 | Pursuit
In today’s society, not only are young people continuing to be taught to avoid negative emotions, but it is ingrained in their minds that happiness is still based on the unrealistic American concept of success: a home, nice car, good job and perfect family." right to both see it and seize it.” The pressure is on and the key word here is "earn." While every individual — sans the lucky few who were born into success — will have to work for success, the cultural climate of the United States has evolved over time to create a weak, hypercritical platform on which young people can build. Sure, earn the career, work toward the dream, but millennials have to "earn" the right to seize it all as well? Here’s an explanation: now, more than ever, the emphasis on success is placed on not just experience, but identity too. That is seen especially in the professional world with the popular trend to “brand yourself.” The last children of Generation Y are growing up and the unfortunate reality is that many of them are ill-equipped for the future — especially considering some of the obstacles millennials face. Keith Swiney-Brown, junior psychology major, demonstrates the transition from youth to adulthood.
Written by Courtney Coleman Photo Illustration by Alem Carcamo
T
he familiar ideology of the American Dream has long equated happiness with a pre-established definition of success: make money, have a family, get a job, or in other words, be the popular kid in the real world. Within the last decade, Generation X has
taken the backseat as Generation Y, the millennial generation, has been coming of age. Millennials are either settling into their “adult” lives, graduating from high school or falling somewhere in-between. To some capacity they are at the point in life where they are asking themselves the questions: “Who do I want to be?” and “what do I want out of life?” According to a Forbes article by Glenn Llopis, “The new American Dream is no longer about pursuing opportunity, but learning how to earn the
WHY THE BAD REPUTATION? According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, an individual must have his or her needs of self-esteem, respect of others and a sense of belonging met before they can achieve self-actualization, which is “the realization or fulfillment of one’s talents and potentialities.” By this acclaimed American psychologist’s theory, to have a positive envisage of the future self, which is determined by the perception of the current self, approval and encouragement from others is necessary. ➸
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It is no secret that Generation Y tends to get a bad rap. Los Angeles Times reporter, Ann Friedman, wrote in an opinion piece, “It’s the millennials’ turn to take the blame for the downfall of society.” In 2015, The Washington Post published an article titled “Five really good reasons to hate millennials.” Jeremy Boudinet, director of marketing for Ambition, a productivity software company, and contributor to Time magazine and The Daily Muse, says he has always hated the abasement of millennials. “We’re facing a totally different landscape than our parents faced,” he says. “Let’s have some context around why we are the way we are, what (society) needs from us and what we can deliver.” Generation Y came of age amid the Great Recession, the banking scandal of 2008, the terrorist attacks of September 11, numerous wars and armed conflicts. They are also faced with unique financial difficulties and have more loan debt than previous generations, all of which can be linked to counterproductivity and lack of motivation. In addition, millennials are the product of “helicopter parenting,” have been deemed the “anxious” generation and have grown up in the era of the Internet and social media, all of which influence emotional maturity. Now, society has a generation that still largely wants to succeed but has more pressure than they know how to handle. It is no wonder millennials are considered the anxious generation and have been known to obsess over achievements and approval. The problem is that not only can the obsessive desire to achieve become psychologically unhealthy, but young people lack the ability to differentiate between positive and negative emotions and have little ability to manage either. INTERVIEW UNHAPPINESS Imagine this hypothetical scenario: You are on a trip. You wake up one morning in your hotel room and turn on the news to find the headlines reporting that a man was caught with multiple people bound and tied in the basement of his home. The police begin an investigation: Who are these people? What do they have in common? What investigators find was that the people in the basement were all some of the most prudent people this man had met throughout his life — his former teachers, his mentors and leaders. This puzzled investigators. Why would he trap his wisest teachers and mentors in the basement of his home? What was his intent? It was an unfortunate act to lock away people from whom he could learn so much. When Shannon Ethridge, life coach and bestselling author of "Every Woman’s Battle," shared this
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metaphor, she prefaced the tale with “let me tell you a story that can explain unhappiness.” With her 20 years of experience helping individuals develop life skills and manage emotions, Ethridge repeatedly uses this story to show how people in the United States tend to deal with negative emotions. Anger, anxiety, sadness, stress and fear are only a few of the emotions that tend to make people cringe. A simple Internet search can show the plethora of information on how young people, especially, struggle with managing these emotions. Millennials, now entering their adult years, are establishing careers, transitioning into postgraduate life and attempting to achieve emotional intelligence. Studies show they are not ready for any of this. “We are taught at a very early age things such as 'you shouldn’t cry,'” Etheridge says, “or if you’re
Perhaps the key to happiness is not achieving the American Dream, but rather, true happiness – success – is linked to finding balance in all areas of life. going to be angry, go to your room until you calm down — stop being a scaredy cat or a cry baby. But, we are not being taught to listen to fear or anger or sadness, to learn what they can teach us. Those negative emotions are actually our wisest teachers.” "The Power of Negative Emotion," a book written by psychologists Robert Biswas-Diener and Todd Kashdan, discusses in its early chapters the concept of distress tolerance: the ability to withstand the discomfort of negative feelings. “Distress tolerance is important not just because it makes you a better camper or soldier,” the book reads, “but also because it allows you to become stronger, wiser, mentally agile and, most important,
happier in a more resilient, and therefore durable way.” According to Ethridge, personal growth is also largely linked to taking those “greatest teachers” — our negative emotions — and inviting them “up out of the basement.” “Unhappiness is a teacher too,” she says. “What is it telling you to do? Is it telling you that you’re in the wrong spot? Is it telling you that you have amends to make? Or how to take care of yourself? Invite unhappiness up out of the basement and interview it. Ask it, ‘Why are you here? What are you here to teach me?’” INVEST IN INVESTORS In a blog post for Ambition, Boudinet wrote, “The annoying lust for millennial schadenfreude (pleasure derived from another person's misfortune) is particularly counterproductive, especially in the workplace.” In an article for The Muse he wrote, “On a professional level, there is compelling evidence that Boomer and Gen-X mentorship is the cure for bridging the generation gap and ‘fixing’ millennials for the betterment of all parties involved.” Boudinet is not alone in his observations. “Mentoring is about establishing healthy relationships, sharing wisdom, cultivating conversations, praying and interceding for each other — disclosure and transparency,” says Christian life coach Michael Valcarcel. “There is really so much to mentoring that people, leaders in particular, feel that they don’t have the time for, to put it mildly.” Boudinet encourages young people to take on the responsibility of “(finding) a mentor — someone who will invest in your future,” he says. In his blog, he also appeals to older generations. “You want millennials to be more self-directed, proactive and accountable for their performance? Lead by example. That’s it.” MISSION POSSIBLE Valcarcel says life comes in cycles. “During these cycles — launching, doldrums, cocooning, preparing — people are working through their life situation,” he says. “It is important for people to understand where they are in the life cycle in order to find the necessary steps to move forward in the process.” Some of those steps toward a successful adult life include practical necessities such as finding a job, pursuing an education and gaining life experience. In addition, true success is linked to fostering personal and spiritual growth.
“Don’t be so hard on yourselves,” Valcarcel advises. “We all miss it and we can all improve ourselves. Be a constant, lifelong learner. Adulthood is inevitable providing we should live so long. Accept it. Move on. Have fun, don’t become cynical, explore, read good books, become a conversationalist and challenge yourself to grow.” Boudinet says millennials have been jaded by
everything that has impacted negative growth, but that “we are going to be so much better (than previous generations). … We’re either going to make it, or the country is going to be in serious trouble.” He has faith the former is true. “We are going to rise to the occasion,” he says. “I’m calling it as a late success story — a happy ending.”◆
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THE
A L O H A SPIRIT Ambition in the heart of Hawaii
Written and Photographed by Mariss Eanes oarding a plane at 6 in the morning, coffee in hand and suitcase at my side, camera gear safely tucked away and nothing but excitement in my heart, a long-term plan was now becoming a reality. Preparing for a two-week venture to Hawaii over the course of Thanksgiving break required certain sacrifice. While other students were heading home to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families, I was traveling more than 2,500 miles away from mine. I took the risk and kept my plan to go anyway, knowing that to progress within the surf industry I needed to make a big move. I was not scared or anxious in the slightest, though many elements of my journey still went unplanned; I knew that an open heart and ambitious spirit would be my guide. Aside from traveling to the Hawaiian Islands to photograph a surf contest — the last event of the year for the women's championship tour — I initially came with many unanswered questions. What was it about this place that people find so intriguing? What would motivate a person to uproot his or her life and trade the mainland for an island lifestyle? Could I potentially do the same thing? Lastly, is this dream that I have been
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chasing the right career path for me after all? After meeting a variety of people on this journey — each with different stories from unrelated backgrounds — I soon discovered that we all have one thing in common: We are each driven by passion and are turning those passions into a reality. This reassured me that it is possible to leave the nest of our daily college routine and gravitate toward new and exciting adventures beyond our comfort zone. I expected to come home with a basic knowledge of where to go and what to eat while visiting the different Hawaiian Islands. What I got was far more insightful than knowing where to find the best poke in town. If you are wondering, though, Sam’s Kitchen in the heart of Waikiki is always a safe bet. During my time alone, I opened my mind to all of the new sights and possibilities I was experiencing on this journey. While out exploring the city, I stumbled upon The Surf Jack Hotel, a soulful hotel in the heart of Waikiki with vintage décor and tributes to surfing’s roots. Inside the hotel was Olive & Oliver’s, a boutique shop with a fresh coffee bar and a variety of clothes and trinkets to browse. It was inside the shop where I met Hanna Hobensack, the store’s manager. I found that
she too was from the mainland. Coming from New Mexico, Hanna had moved at a young age to the island of Oahu, where she currently resides with her family. She was kind enough to offer suggestions for me during the rest of my time on Oahu. After sharing good conversation with Hanna, I met Parker Moosman, the store’s owner, who spent some time behind the counter serving coffee to customers. Moosman, originally from Seattle, started the Olive & Oliver boutiques with his wife in 2008. Aside from the Waikiki location,
the couple owns two additional shops in Kailua on the east side of Oahu. While Oliver Men’s Shop caters to men, the boutique is designed specifically for women. All three boutiques can be recognized for their colorful yet relaxed aesthetic, merging the elements of the Hawaiian lifestyle and vintage flair to create a charming place for locals and tourists to shop. After a quick stop on Oahu, exploring Waikiki, driving around the island and up to the stunning North Shore, it was time to head
over to Maui. During my stay for the contest, I was fortunate enough to meet the Barend family. Having briefly met Ana Barend last summer at a surf contest in Huntington Beach through mutual friends, I was able to spend more time getting to know her and the rest of her family. Chuck and Ana Barend, along with their son Edward and daughter Maria, brought nothing but light and joy to each occasion in Maui. Whether it was storytelling at Thanksgiving dinner or sunset surf sessions at the bay, it was clear the Barends are passionate about people and relationships. Currently living in Rhode Island, the Barends own Living Water Surf Co. in Little Compton, Rhode Island. This welcoming family seeks to combine their passion for the ocean along with their passion for people. “When we first moved to New England my husband, Chuck, worked as a sales representative to some surfing brands,” says Ana Barend. “To open our own surf shop was the logical next step. But Living Water is more than a business for us. It is a place to build community. It is a place where people can come and be comfortable. Many times they share deep things about their lives and we even have the privilege to pray with them. “Obviously, we also hope to make a living, but we put meaning behind our interactions with others and intentionality in valuing people for who they are and not in seeing them as buyers.” For the past three years Ana Barend has served as a chaplain for the Women’s Championship Tour. From the start of the 2014 season leading up to the end of the 2016 season, Ana has traveled around the world to some of the most significant stops on the tour. Often accompanied by family or occasionally solo, she has had the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with these surfers and provide guidance whenever needed. Both in and out of the water Ana has used her gifts of ministry in the world of surfing, a field that she greatly understands and loves. “The chaplaincy to me means this: Be available. God will use your experiences and passions for his glory. I love God; I love counseling; and I love surfing,” Barend says, “My past and present involve all of the above and God ➸
Opposite page: A surfer spends the morning at Honolua Bay, Maui’s treasured right-hand point break, favored among locals and professionals. Left: Store owner Parker Moosman takes a moment to brew a special latte for a customer while working in the Olive & Oliver location in Waikiki.
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allowed me to be an instrument of his love to those in the surf community.” Over the past few years she has had countless opportunities to pour into the lives of these young women as they balance the hectic schedule and deal with uncertainties that come with a surfing career. “There are many memories. God answered so many specific prayers. He knew I needed the encouragement to leave my family as much as I did," she says. “I was asking God for something concrete — for something to confirm his will regarding my involvement in the chaplaincy. "I asked specific questions. Two days later some girls wrote me a letter, and in it they answered my questions verbatim. They used the same terminology I was asking only God in my private prayers. It was one of those moments that tears kept rolling out of my eyes.” Barend shared how she learned more about herself while serving alongside these athletes. “It showed me that I better ‘walk the talk.’ I repeatedly expressed to the girls that they are not defined by their performance or appearance, while months later I would allow joy to seep out of my life if the scale showed extra pounds or a poor surfing day occurred. God kindly convicted me and it became a constant mind-renewal exercise in pondering from where my worth comes. I am
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valued for who I am in Christ. His image carrier, his acceptance and love is a constant in my life.” As Barend looks toward the next season with her family and business back at home, she says she is grateful for her time spent with the World Surf League and having served as chaplain. “I knew I was doing God’s will for my life when I could look into the girls’ eyes and speak truth, hug them without saying a word, share moments of laughter and sadness — being a safe and neutral pressure release to them,” she says. “In other words, I am loving them as God loves them. That is another prayer he answered, for I could not do so by my own strength.” As Barend’s season as chaplain comes to a close, she has been not only an inspirational figure to these athletes but to those she has met along the way — one of them being myself. Ana’s story has taught me that at the end of the day relationships are what matter most, not possessions or anything else. Meeting Ana left the biggest impact on me while in Maui. Through the love and care she demonstrated toward her family, the athletes and to old and new friends, she taught me the importance of enjoying every moment as it comes and to not take anything for granted. We are unaware of what the future holds and the impact we can make in the present. Her story revealed ➸
Top: Fellow Californian, Courtney Conlogue, makes it out of the barrel while spending a lay day out in the water training for the contest with her brother. Left: A morning sunrise view from the waters of Maui’s Honolua Bay moments before the start of day one at the Maui Women’s Pro. Opposite page (left): A moment underneath the surface of Maui’s crystal clear blue waters. Opposite page (right): Hanna Hobensack, store manager of Olive & Oliver’s folds shirts to keep things tidy at the store’s location inside The SurfJack Hotel in downtown Waikiki.
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13-year-old Maui local, Savanna Stone, exhibits stylish form in the water, keeping her composure while surfing among the best ranked women in the world.
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that ministry can look different from what we might perceive. It can happen anywhere, at any time, even in the most unlikely of places. At California Baptist University, we are taught valuable information whether it comes straight from the textbook or directly from the mouths of our professors. We are being prepared with the necessary knowledge that will get us to the places we hope to go in our careers. Professors can give all the advice in the world. We could read every book in the library cover to cover. All of it will go to waste if there is no application of these resources. These individuals I have met, whether small business owners, chaplains or professional athletes, have each shown me that anything worth pursuing takes a level of bravery, and most importantly, an inexplicable passion that comes from the heart. â—†
Top: Ana Barend and her daughter Maria spend the day surfing Honolua Bay during sunset.
Bottom: Surfer and motivational speaker Bethany Hamilton paddles back out to the lineup while warming up to surf in the trials for the Maui Women’s Pro.
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COS M IC
CAMPOUTS The Wheres, Whats and Hows to Stargazing in Southern California
Written by Rachael Kerchner Photos by Jacob Gonzalez
A
large blanket of black spans the sky with pockets of light studding the seemingly endless length of night. Millions of stars fill every inch of space. The vastness of it all causes people’s breath to catch in their throats staring at the sky that is always present, yet not acknowledged enough. What is it about the night sky that causes people to stand with their heads back, hands in their pockets and mouths open while gazing at the sky as if waiting for something to happen? It is not the hope of entertainment that causes people to stop and stare, but the feeling that
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comes from looking at space. Seventeenth century astronomer, Johannes Kepler, describes the feeling of observing the sky: “The treasures hidden in the heavens are so rich that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.” THE RIGHT CONDITIONS For California Baptist University students, experiencing this euphoria of stargazing requires getting out of the city, where stars are often covered by light-pollution, and out into nature where the lights are undiminished. An online source for finding excellent stargazing areas that negate this problem is
called the Dark Sight Finder. On this website there is a map of light pollution in the United States clearly labeled. All you have to do is find a place that is colored dark near you and click on it for directions. “I have been stargazing on several occasions,” says Aaliyah Wilburn, senior psychology major. “When I look at the stars I am in awe. My first thought is of God’s vastness and how there are so many stars, yet, he loves us more than the stars in the sky.” To properly admire stars at any of these places, you must first consider the best stargazing conditions. Light pollution is only one of the many obstacles of stargazing.
“Obviously, you don’t want it to be cloudy,” says Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics at CBU. “It tends to be better in colder weather because the temperature affects how fast the air molecules are moving around — the colder, calmer, and more cloudless the night, the better.” Stewart says the warmer the air, the faster the air molecules move, making the atmosphere blurry and obscuring the stars. In order to get a clear, crisp view of the stars, the air must be calm and cool. “It is also best with a new moon, when there is no moon at all,” Stewart says, “or just a crescent, not a full moon — either you get to see
the moon or a bunch of stars, you can’t do both.” Elevation is a key element to stargazing. “It blocks the lights around you. On a global scale, some of the best places in the world are some of the mountains in Chile and Hawaii,” Stewart says. Once these conditions are met, seeing the stars will be easy, but what about finding constellations? The first record of constellations appeared in 270 B.C. You can look at those same patterns of stars today with the proper tools. GET PREPARED The easiest constellations to find are The Big Dipper, The Little Dipper, Orion, Taurus ➸
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and Gemini. All of these can be hard to find by yourself if you have no idea what they look like, but luckily there is an app for that. In fact, there are multiple. A few stargazing app examples include Sky Map, SkyView, Stargazer, Star Tracker and Heavens-Above. All of these apps are free and are able to link with your GPS to show you what constellations are visible in your area. Many also use real-time data. All you have to do is stand and rotate your phone while looking at the stars. It will draw out constellations on your screen making it easy to find them and impress your friends. What about when you want to see planets and close up stars instead of the entire sky? Then you must acquire a telescope. The larger the telescope the better the picture you will see. However, the bigger the telescope the more expensive it will be. Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles offers what is known as “star parties,” in which free public telescopes are placed outside the observatory and opened to the public. These telescopes are high-powered and offer close pictures of stars. A variety of massive telescopes inside the observatory are used for documentation and are open to the public. Sometimes there can be 100-200 people on a clear night or less than one hundred on an average night. Approximately 50 telescopes are set up by volunteers from a variety of astronomy clubs around Los Angeles. PLACES TO GO While stargazing spots in Riverside are limited, there are a few prime locations just outside the city where you can go to see the night sky in all its brilliance. San Timoteo Canyon Road in Riverside County — a 30-minute drive from CBU — is one of the closest. This two-lane road located in a shallow valley is blocked from much of the city lights, creating better stargazing conditions. Although not as good as the desert — since few houses and headlights will cause blockage — thousands of stars, including the Milky Way Galaxy, are still visible on clear nights. A little farther away than San Timoteo Canyon Road is Lytle Creek. This area is located in the San Bernardino National Forest where artificial lights are scarce, making stargazing skies superb. It is best to park
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safely on the side of the road and hike inland to get away from the headlights of passing traffic. Swarthout Canyon Road, also in San Bernardino County, is a dirt road secluded in the mountains. It is a perfect place to see millions of stars. Parking can be a bit muddy, but the large open spaces at higher elevations work well for admiring the stars. In Riverside County, Lake Hemet offers not only amazing views of the stars but also camping opportunities. This stargazing location is an hour and a half away but the drive is worth it to see some of the darkest skies in a non-desert area. Humans have been able to look at the stars from the beginning of time, yet they have never been able to absorb the vast beauty of it all. It is always worth it take a moment, slow down and stare at the stars for a while. The experience will be unforgettable. â—†
Supplies for Stargazing 1. Telescope 2. Flashlight 3. Warm Clothes 4. Phone 5. Binoculars 6. Observing chair 7. Blankets 8. snacks 9. Time to gaze at the heavens 10. A friend or two
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Written by Courtney Coleman Photos by Randy Plavajka & Sonya Singh he setting was the early 1800s and two pioneers co-owning 640 acres of land along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon were about to toss a coin to decide the naming of their settlement. The decision was between their hometowns of Boston, Mass., or Portland, Maine. Portland won. The establishment of the seaport town of Portland, Ore., was weird, and as the city’s motto “keep Portland weird” goes, the development of the city from then on has maintained the tradition. To tourist sites and travel top-picks, keeping Portland weird means Voodoo donuts, hole-inthe-wall coffee shops and just about whatever was aired in episodes of Portlandia, but during a one-day trip, with less than 12 hours to explore, I set out to find exactly what makes the city of roses unique. In the last year, I have frequented Oregon numerous times and during the summer, the vibrancy of Portland’s beautiful forested landscapes, nature parks and reserves never ceases to amaze me. Having traveled with two photographers and being chauffeured around town by a CBU alumna living in Bend, Ore. — all of whom were fairly new to the city — I had to show off the Columbia River Gorge from one of
the most famous viewing points, the Vista House. I had talked up the view as one of endless, near tropical greenery, and a river so blue it seems unreal, but when we arrived, there was nothing but fog and wild winds. In between trying to tame a rogue umbrella and protecting precious camera equipment from the rain, the fog parted for a split second, revealing just a small glimpse of the wide river below. Although nothing in comparison to a clear-day view, it was somewhat mystical seeing the low-set clouds blow away just long enough to tease our senses with the steep cliffs and gray water below. A quick minute of admiration was enough for us. We shoved the broken umbrella into the car, jumped in after, it and headed to McMenamin’s Kennedy school — a recommendation by Portland native Dr. Melissa Croteau, director of film studies at CBU. We arrived just before the rain really began to pour, and aside from a handful of employees, the massive renovated school-turned-hotel was completely empty. Windblown and damp, we approached the front desk and shared that we were from southern California. The concierge responded with a chuckle and a sarcastic explanation of what rain is, then he handed us a map and sent us to the infamous Kennedy School theater. Mike and Brian McMenamin are two philanthropists and businessmen who, back in the 1980s, began buying and renovating ➸
A passerby strolls near the iconic "Keep Portland Weird” sign in downtown Portland.
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Right: Katherine Walker, theater manager at McMenamin's Kennedy School, says her favorite aspect of the theater is the tightknit community. Bottom: The chalkboard at the Kennedy School's theater displays the evening's film selection.
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historic buildings into breweries, pubs and movie theaters. The Kennedy School was built in 1915 and abandoned by the 1990s. The McMenamins bought out the location, turning each of the classrooms into hotel guestrooms and adding an outdoor soaking pool, surrounded by a wall of vines and palm trees, and an eccentric movie theater using eclectic couches as seating. Katherine Walker, the spunky theater manager with short, wavy hair, says the theater is a huge community hub. Having worked at other McMenamins locations, she says that what sets the Kennedy School apart is that people who once attended the school are still around and come to visit. “You don’t really meet anyone that used
to go (to other locations),” Walker says. “People come here and they reminisce fondly of when they attended school.” With time to spare after our nature-viewing bust, we decided to do what all Portland tourist's do — coffee. Our shop of choice, Kainos, was chosen based on a few positive Yelp reviews, but mostly because of pictures of a colorful wall and coffee mugs displayed in the store. Kainos Coffee is the brain-child of a group of ambitious friends wanting to make an impact. What started out as a mobile trailer touring the Pacific Northwest is now a set location in Northern Portland that has been open since November 2016 and is co-owned by Marten Boyden, Brad Spring and Austin Roberts. “Ultimately, the entire purpose was to take the things we love doing, and use the ‘give back’ aspect of a company to make an impact,” Boyden says. The impact they are making began with a trip Boyden took to the Philippines four years ago where he worked at orphanages sponsored by his friend’s organization, Life Child. Currently, two homes care for 22 orphans and Kainos donates 21 percent of all of its profits to help. Between renting out four acres of land in the Philippines to a pineapple farmer and Kainos’ donations, the homes are staying afloat. The young entreprenuers got the idea to name the shop Kainos after the Greek word meaning “superior to what came before.” “That’s the word that is used when any man is, in Christ, made a new creation,” Boyden says. “These kids — we are able to give them something that is kainos — that is new.” What started as an impulse decision turned into what seemed like destiny, not only because we were touched by the story behind Kainos, but because a friend of the owners’ and a shop regular, Matt Mullins, happened to be there at the same time as us — and he also happened to be a CBU alum.
Mullins graduated from the bachelor's of theology program at CBU in 2006. After realizing he was not called for ministry, he went to professional umpire school and started working in major league baseball for five years. He moved to Portland in 2012 when his best friend Pau, who wanted to start a church, invited Mullins to stay with him. Now he owns rental houses and a side-business replacing ornamental plants with edible plants. He says one of his favorite aspects of Portland life is the strong sense of community. “Even though we don’t agree socially, ethically and politically on a lot of things, people will still find a way to gather around the table with you,” he says. Everyone is free to be themselves. “My legitimate next-door neighbor is a guy called the uni-piper — you’ve probably seen him on Facebook. He rides a unicycle, wears a Darth Vader mask and plays the bagpipes, and he’s a Portland icon,” Mullins says. “He rides around downtown, his bagpipes shoot out flames and that’s what he does.” Mullins points to the colorful Kainos wall — the reason we showed up. “In this last month, this wall has been blowing up on Instagram,” he says. “It’s just weird. Nobody cares. You want to ride around on a unicycle with bagpipes? Cool man.” Coincidentally, on our next stop the unipiper again came up in conversation with Lisa Freeman, co-owner of The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum in lower Portland. The peculiarium is a one-of-a-kind art gallery that greets guests at the door with a massive beast covered in fur with foot-long clawed hands hanging at its side. Curiosities, dead bugs and a plethora of bizarre art is what makes this gallery so intriguing — and at times disturbing. Freeman and her boyfriend, Mike Wellins, who previously worked in the film industry on ➸
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Marten Boyden (left), co-owner of Kainos Coffee, attends to the register while Brad Spring, another co-owner, prepares a customer's order.
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set design, took a chance renting the bright pink hole-in-the-wall location and have been running the gallery for six years. “We’ve always been horror fans and sci-fi fans,” Wellins says, explaining the many creepy and fantastical art installations. While some of the installations are created by other artists, a lot of what is seen was done by Wellins and Freeman themselves. The gallery and store has been so successful that all advertising is done by word-of-mouth. “My boyfriend kind of has a fun time insulting people,” Wellins says laughingly. “The customers just eat it up, they love it. It’s totally just for fun.” Maybe it is the fun aspect of Portland that keeps travelers flooding to the city. For Kelsey Nelson, manager at Upper Playground on the other side of town, what makes the city great is its art. Upper Playground, conveniently close to
Voodoo Donuts and not far from Portland literary paradise, Powell’s Books, is a more traditional art gallery featuring nontraditional art in the form of T-shirts. “Working in an art gallery, I get to see the artistic part of Portland,” Nelson says. “Everyone says keep Portland weird, but it’s very artistic. It’s a great place to meet people and get inspired. It’s just a really inspiring city. It’s soggy, but it’s inspiring.” At the end of our day packed with sightseeing, we were definitely inspired. We came with the question in mind, “What makes Portland so weird?” and after meeting kind people dedicated to community, viewing endless, colorful art and witnessing individuals chasing after their dreams, we learned that Nelson was right about the city named after a city — it is an exciting, inspiring, place of endless possibilities. ◆
Above: The hand-painted, technicolor back wall of Kainos Coffee has become a huge draw for customers and Instagrammers alike.
Matt Mullins, 2006 CBU alumnus, is a regular at Kainos Coffee when he is not running his own business or projects.
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Written and Photographed by Randy Plavajka ut beyond the wind farms of Palm Springs and geologic wonders of Joshua Tree National Park, rests a one-ofa-kind community built upon the slabs of an abandoned World War II Marine Corps barracks of Camp Dunlap. Two hours of driving away from Riverside leads you out past the pungent Salton Sea and seemingly to the middle of nowhere. The exception is the small town of Niland, the last road mark before reaching the destination where art and life become so closely intertwined. Today, this region is known simply as Slab City, a haven for Canadian snowbirds and local
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squatters alike. They came seeking a home away from home where they can march to the beat of their own drum, far from the rest of Southern Californian civilization. Consisting simply of tents, trailers and other makeshift housing, it is astounding to witness firsthand how life happens in such a remote portion of the California desert. This community thrives with lifestyles centered around art, God and living “waste-free.” The “mountains” of Slab City are built of adobe and adorned with a multiplicity of paint colors; every part of the spectrum on full display. It is the tip of the iceberg when entering Slab City, a creation of Leonard Knight’s, who worked tirelessly until its completion 28 years prior to Knight’s death at the age of 82 in 2014. “Salvation Mountain,” as it came to be known,
is so visually overwhelming, it makes you forget that you truly are in the middle of nowhere. The words “God is Love” are the centerpiece of Knight’s creation. The essence of those words held the primary message he wanted all to see. Ella Ransear, docent at Salvation Mountain and resident of Slab City, says, “it is an amazing thing sitting and talking to people from all over the world.” People, Ransear says, save for years and carefully plan to make the trip to visit Leonard Knight’s creation and witness its grandeur for themselves. By all means, Salvation Mountain is a technicolor marvel of engineering showing a
to the cluttered cityscapes of Southern California, Slab City is home to a couple of libraries, a church, a dog rescue, coffee clubs, an internet cafe, a hostel, a gun range and other art installations as thoughtprovoking as they are aesthetically pleasing. Ransear says the freedom of residing in Slab City is what drew her to moving there 5 years ago. She is now able to run a rescue service in partnership with The Humane Society to help the “slabdogs,” a phrase she uses as a reference to the dogs who roam throughout Slab City. With the help of her best friend Andra Dakoda, part-time San Diego and Slab City resident, Ransear says the dog rescue was all made possible because of her assistance in getting dog
profound love for God, truly a one-of-a-kind treasure that cannot be experienced anywhere else. When summiting the 50-foot-tall mountain, the true scope of Slab City’s sporadic infrastructure becomes visible. Converted broken-down cars, trailers, tents and what appear to be small buildings create a polka-dot desert landscape admired like the spots on a dalmatian. Though it may not look appealing to eyes used
food, setting up a donation service and working an extra job to finance it all. Down the main road of Slab City, one of the more ambitious projects occupies the majority of the northside of town. It is truly a sight to behold. Empty glass bottles line the sides of the path leading to the project, creating a uniform pattern that leads to the grand entrance of it all, East Jesus. The main exhibit, or rather series of exhibits, is the “Sculpture Garden,” which houses ➸
Opening Page: The heavily painted firetruck that Leonard Knight, the founder of Salvation Mountain, where he once lived rests on the outskirts of the Slab City property. Left: The entrance sign to East Jesus, an ongoing art collective, welcomes visitors to "Slab City, U.S.A." Bottom Left: "The Hogan" is one of the inner rooms contained inside Salvation Mountain's elaborate structure. Bottom Right: The ever-expanding wall of televisions within East Jesus' sculpture garden displays points of societal conflict. Below: One of the many pieces that resides in East Jesus, "Sunken House" rests behind a sculpture of a man slumped over in a chair, frozen in time.
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dozens of completed and ongoing projects, each as detailed as a fine painting, but all made from recycled materials. “This place as a whole is so inspiring that I really can’t pinpoint a specific person or thing that made me want to be here,” Liz Peltola, East Jesus resident, says. “From the moment I set foot here, I
is looking out for one another to ensure it is a safe space for the community. “The Slabs as a whole are like any other community, there’s great people and some not so great ones,” Peltola says. “People here make more of an effort to get along than folks in the city do, however. We all share the same space, so it’s more
knew I was home.” Upon first examination of the place, it all may seem a little spontaneous, but in actuality there is a distinct flow to the garden, similar to a fine art gallery. Every piece beckons for the attention of onlookers, as if there were a magnetic force moving throughout the recycled art collective, forcing one to observe every minute detail down to the placement of a purposely broken CD. “The amount of collective knowledge and skills that everyone here has is amazing, as is the hard work our residents and guests all put in,” Peltola says. “The project is constantly growing and evolving.” Though East Jesus’ founder Charlie Russell passed away in 2011, Peltola says his vision has been maintained to this day and a large number of his friends remain involved on the project. Russell’s vision is evident when strolling the property. Every item has been repurposed from its original intention into something better and more visually fulfilling. Peltola says there is a strong sense of community and family within East Jesus. Everyone
important to be good to your neighbors than it would be elsewhere.” Upon the return from the slabs, it is worthwhile to make a couple of stops to properly transition back into civilization after experiencing the marvel of Slab City. The once-booming resort town of Bombay Beach now sits on the shore of the Salton Sea, largely abandoned after the late ’70s because of the deteriorating conditions caused by drought, pesticides and depleted oxygen levels, which led to massive amounts of fish death. The only thing remaining in the former resort town now is the smell, which is a combination of dead fish, pesticide pollution and immense concentration of salt in the water. It is the ultimate palette cleanse in contrast to the vibrance of Slab City. The journey back into Southern Californian civilization is officially signaled when passing the dinosaurs of Cabazon, a sight that does not look so out of place in comparison to the art found out in the middle of nowhere. ◆
Salvation Mountain features the "Lord's Prayer" on one of its sides, a testament left by Leonard Knight while he was alive and maintained the ongoing art project.
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Top: A resident cat of East Jesus sits inside a miniature version of Stonehenge, comprised entirely of painted bricks. Left: A statue of the Virgin Mary is surrounded by the "Bottle Wall" of East Jesus, a creation of Frank Redford, who is recognized by the collective as a "master bottle-wall builder."
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Written by Courtney Coleman Illustrated by Micah Wong e all know about them, we all follow them — the student-made, off-the-wall, California Baptist University Instagram accounts. The question is: Why? How do these often hilarious and completely random accounts draw so much attention and why are students talking about them?
The Good Raking in more than a thousand followers, @cbubarbie can safely be named an Instagram favorite. Barbie’s first post was made in 2015, depicting the ever-cheerful Barbie herself posing in front of Palm Drive — a CBU social media classic. The page gained instant popularity for being a lighthearted caricature of the “typical CBU girl.” The account creators have gone to great lengths to make each perfectly picturesque SoCal hipster post complete with carefully selected wardrobe choices and handmade props. The account has become so popular that it inspired another: @cbuken. About a month after @cbubarbie was created, @cbuken followed, launching the account with an over-the-shoulder view of Ken reading his Bible for Old Testament Survey class, cleverly followed by the hashtag #jesustakethemidterm. Both @cbuken and @cbubarbie poke fun at CBU students without being disrespectful. Students are drawn to the accounts partly because it is hilarious seeing Barbie and Ken around campus, but also for the inside jokes that only CBU students can truly understand. This bonding of the student body is something that can be seen in numerous CBU profiles and is actually the inspiration for many of them. The creators of the relatively new @cuteboysuniversity, an account that “features” random men on campus, say that the account “binds students together. … It’s kind of a key role in helping people just relax, take a break and have a good laugh. And it’s quite flattering for the guys we post, I’m sure.” The creators of @cbu_cone, who had a traffic cone lying around their dorm, started tossing ideas back and forth on what to do with the cone until the idea to start an Instagram account came up. “Somehow our dumb idea got 200 followers in just a few days,” one of the account creators says. As for how they come up with photo ideas, such as the cone playing ‘Battlefield” — complete with a prosthetic human hand.
The Bad While most of the off-the-wall CBU accounts are intended to make audiences laugh, there have been a few established in the past that do the opposite of bringing people together for a good time. One of the most well-known was @lancersfortrump. In a mature setting politics should be
able to be discussed openly, but this particular — no longer active — account took a turn for the worst when, according to numerous students, it became borderline abusive. “I thought he was just someone parodying a Trump support account because of the wild leaps in logic and invasion of privacy — such as tagging people who never asked to be involved — but it soon became clear that he was very serious,” says Andrew Cochran, senior theater major. After Cochran and a friend started to spark debates, the account creator took pictures off their Instagram feeds to post on the @lancersfortrump page, covering their faces with Donald Trump’s. “Then @lancersfortrump, whoever he is, took an actual photo of me, secretly, and uploaded it to Instagram,” Cochran says. “Textbook stalking behavior.” Oakes created his own account @LanceUpToStopTrump — now inactive — with the intention of preventing more students from associating the inappropriate behavior with his former university. “My fight was to remove CBU from the (account’s) name and content, since he didn’t have the permission from CBU to advertise,” Oakes says. After Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, and concerned that the creator simply needed someone to talk to, Oakes reached out to him, offering to buy him coffee. Almost instantly, @lancersfortrump was deleted.
The Best Profiles with less than favorable intentions are bound to be created, but the beauty of these often comedic accounts is that, more often than not, they bring students together. Take @cbuslumped for example. The classic epidemic of students falling asleep anywhere, anytime, inspired the creators of @cbuslumped to create their account. “It brings unity by having a variety of people sending in submissions and capturing slumped Lancers,” one of the account creators says. “People see the post and sometimes comment on the photo by tagging the slumped Lancer and joking around with the person in the picture.” Accounts like @cbuslumped give students a chance to bond over social media with a good laugh. An account that posts relatable CBU memes, @cbu_ probs, “makes light of ‘problems’ CBU students may face using tasteful and appropriate humor,” the creator of the account says. Posts are often based on real experiences or insidejokes that any CBU student can appreciate. “Students send their ideas, which I love because it makes the page relatable to its followers,” @cbu_probs creator says. “I can see a sense of unity when people contribute their ideas.” It is that kind of camaraderie that keeps CBU accounts coming and keeps CBU students wanting more. ◆
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a stud ent' s guid e to
FOLLOWING THE NEWS Written by Rachael Kerchner Illustrated by Caleb Bol Words and pictures flood the pages, phone screens and computers, each one trying to grab more attention than the rest. News providers with different opinions and agendas all shout at you, trying to tell you what you believe. You want to follow the news, but there are just too many options and it is too time-consuming. Sound familiar? With the busy schedules students have consisting of school, work and social activities, catching up on the current events of the world is often at the bottom of our to-do lists. However, that does nothing to degrade the importance of keeping up with the news.
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“If you are engaged in following Christ, it is important to follow the news,” says Brian Zunigha, director of Discipleship at California Baptist University. “Jesus knew local events — he referenced them in his teachings.” Nowadays, biased opinions fly back and forth and finding the truth among the political madness is often difficult. Amber Alexander, senior English major, says trying to get the whole story in news is “really depressing and biased.” Hope is not lost. There are still ways to stay informed — actually, there are endless ways to stay in the know. CONVENTIONAL OUTLETS Social media outlets can be a helpful
medium for students to keep up with current events. Although social media sites can often be flooded with poorly researched articles and “click bait,” by following news sources on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Instagram, news updates pop up constantly. Students can also keep up with current events by checking out newsstands on campus, which carry The Press Enterprise, The Banner and USA Today. If grabbing a hard copy is too much clutter in your backpack, almost all newspapers in the United States have their publication accessible online. Both local and international news can be found online and by bookmarking it on your computer that you can check anytime you like. Another online method to stay
informed is through a service called theSkimm. What makes this outlet different from the rest is the language the service uses. The interesting and often humorous headlines draw you to a story with a smooth transition into a news event. There is also a chance to win prizes by inviting friends onto the website and becoming a “Skimm’Bassador.” This website sends you a weekly email with the highlights of that week’s news and covers both local and international events. Over the years news has slowly adapted to the technological advancements of society as it tries to make news easily accessible for people just like you. One of the latest ways of news distribution is mobile news applications. NEWS APPS News apps allow students to carry around newspapers on their smart phones, unlike printed publications. According to Digital Trends, a website that specializes in helping people understand technology, the following news apps are ranked the best: New York Times Now, BuzzFeed, Smart News, Google News and CNN. New York Times Allows you to comment on interesting articles, swipe easily from section to section, choose if you want more pictures or headlines, and set up breaking news alerts so that you can get notified whenever a breaking news story is posted. Buzzfeed Puts news, quizzes and trending articles into a mix of interesting information, allowing users to experience exactly the kind of news for which they are looking. Links to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest connect readers to a variety of information outlets that connect to the stories. Smart News Partners with a multitude of news sources, such as Time and USA Today, to aggregate the trending articles and deliver the top stories to your fingertips. Its minimalistic style and smooth transitions
make it one of the easiest news apps to use. Google News & Weather Uses “My Location” on iPhones to organize local news tailored to you. It also offers a large selection of viewpoints for each story so that you can choose which one you wish to read. CNN Offers live coverage of various world events and users can follow live updates on stories as they unfold. Like many of the other apps, it offers Breaking News alerts that let you know, even before opening your app, what is happening in the world. CNN recently added a smooth-scrolling option and an easy browsing modification to the photos and videos on the app. PODCASTS Whether you are at home, on the run, or commuting to and from school, podcasts are one of the easiest news forms to consume. A podcast is a digital file that can be found online. While many of these are pure news, some podcasts are known to be more opinionated so you may want to screen what you listen to if you are looking for facts. Here are some of the best podcasts for news : NPR Hourly News Summary is a podcast that delivers a 5-minute news summary every hour on the hour, all day. If you want constant, timely news this is for you. BBC Global News is a twice a day, 30-minute podcast made from a compilation of BBC news shows. It regularly provides global, unbiased news. PBS NewsHour is an audio version of the PBS nightly broadcast that contributes daily news and is one of the only podcasts to provide weekend coverage. PRI’s The World is a radio show conveniently converted into a podcast. It is delivered to listeners daily in an hour-long increment full of political and cultural news.
Unfilter is a weekly podcast covering in-depth stories on topics many media outlets do not cover. Reviews on iTunes
describe this podcast as “Windex for the news”— clearing away mainstream ideals. If you are looking for more personal input from the host or correspondents, then these are for you. Crimetown, In the Dark and NPR Hourly News Summary are just a few of the options that can be found both online and in the iOS and Android app stores. TAILORING THE NEWS No one is without bias, but finding news sources that are more neutral in opinions could be beneficial. For example, Fox News is known to be more conservative, while CNN, more liberal. Al-Jazeera, one of the world’s largest news organizations, is more in the middle. Al-Jaz eera, the Econo mist and National Public Radio are outlets that not only cover news in the United States, but also focus on international events. All of these outlets are moderately neutral and are jam-packed with relevant articles and informative mixed media. News is accessible. The amount of ways to get the news in a fast, interesting way is astronomical. “It really just comes down to being informed and respecting that it is a valuable characteristic of a functioning society," says Dr. Heather Hamilton-Stilwell, assistant professor of journalism at CBU. "If people are not informed, they run the risk of losing their freedom. It is important to also understand the credibility of the information you are receiving, and there are certain sites that will vie for people’s attention and the believability that they are legitimate news outlets.” There are many ways to get the news, but the important thing is to pick one and stay up-to-date on what is happening locally, nationally and internationally. With the sheer amount of information available and the variety of outlets accessible, staying up to date comes down to one thing: you. ◆
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HOW
COWS
CLOTHES ARE CONNECTED
How two of the largest industries are connected by one similar thread 46 | Pursuit
Written by Jasmine Emeish Photos by Alem Carcamo
W
Wants versus needs: The concept seems simple enough. The majority of the population can define wants and needs readily. We need food, water, shelter and clothing. The rest are simply our wants, yet this distinction between these two concepts is far more complex than we realize. Our needs and our wants have webbed and meshed into each other, and the wants of yesterday become the needs of tomorrow at an astounding rate. The blurring of these two ideas has created a culture of consumerism that the environment and the individuals of this planet cannot sustain. Two of our most basic needs, food — especially the meat industry — and clothing, over the years have taken a turn for the indulgent. They have become major money-making industries because of the high consumer demand. The culture of consumerism, which has been created by irresponsibly turning "needs" into "wants," has caused the meat and clothing industries to boom at an unsustainable rate.
Meat The massive demand for meat products has led many Western countries, including the United States, to stray from traditional farming methods and switch to intensive factory farming. This shift in industry has had devastating effects on the environment. Plot after plot of land must be cleared for the farm facilities themselves. This is often done with extensive deforestation and land degradation. More ground must then be cleared for the farms that will produce the grains and soybeans for the cows to eat. This feed is also produced at an accelerated rate to keep up with the enormous amount of cows being raised at the factory. Because of this stimulation, the majority of the grain crop will be genetically modified and heavily doused with pesticide and other chemicals, which affects surrounding areas. “The typical industrial way of raising livestock is to have a plot of land and put a thousand cows in that area, and they are generating a ton of waste,” says Dr. Jacob Lanphere, assistant professor of environmental science at California Baptist University.“Their waste has to be taken care of and typically it is left to go into the environment in that specific area, which can potentially contaminate water
sources, the soil and things like that.” Not only is the water contaminated, but massive amounts of the clean water is needed for the cows to drink and for the grain crop to be irrigated. Statistics from PETA show that it takes 2,400 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. However, wasted water is not the only issue with industrial meat production. “Another negative impact of having cattle in such high volumes in such a small area is that you have to give them antibiotics otherwise they will all spread diseases and die,” Lanphere says. “Now we have antibiotics going into our meat and we’re consuming it.” The United States is ranked second highest in the world for meat consumption, coming up just behind Luxembourg. The average American,
The culture of consumerism, which has been created by irresponsibly turning needs into wants, has caused the meat and clothing industries to boom at an unsustainable rate.” according to a report by National Public Radio, consumes 270 pounds of beef per year. Translate that into steaks per person and each person would consume 540 steaks a year. To produce that amount of meat, massive amounts of land, water and fuel resources are needed. In 2012, NPR recorded the amount of environmental resources needed to produce a quarter pound of beef: 6.7 pounds of grain (animal feed), 52.8 gallons of water and 74.5 square feet of land. Along with extensive resource waste, the meat production process affects the atmosphere. According to the Worldwatch Institute, 51 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture. Electricity powered by fossil fuels is used to power the factory and grain farms. Additional fossil fuels are then needed to fuel the trucks that drive the meat to various locations for distribution. While this entire process is taking place, the methane gases expelled ➸
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from the cows themselves are penetrating the ozone layer. Methane gas, although naturally occurring in humans and animals, can be 23 times more damaging to the environment than CO2, especially when present in high concentrations. An immense amount of pollution is caused by the meat industry as well. Large amounts of fossil fuels are burned, emitting harmful greenhouse gases into the air. An article published by Grace Communications Foundation stated that animal feeding operations annually produce 100 times more manure than the amount of human sewage processed in wastewater plants. One dairy farm with 2,500 cows can produce as much waste as a city with 411,000 residents in a year. One of the key concerns with systems such as this is sustainability. While this system might seem to cause minimal harm at the moment, the fact is that it is unsupportable. While human beings have been eating meat since the beginning of time, we were never doing so at the rate or conditions in which we are now. Meat has become a consumer product. It has become an industry because of the massive demand. It is not the meat itself that is causing the destruction but the way in which we are producing it. “The more traditional way of the beef industry was smaller scale, letting the cows roam freely and be grass-fed,” Lanphere says. "When you do it that way you don’t have all these problems of the waste, antibiotics and hormones. So it is this large-scale process that hurts the environment.” The planet simply will not be able to support the factory farming techniques that have arisen from this demand.
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Clothing How does this relate to the clothing industry? While seemingly a world away from the meat empire, the clothing industry relates to food as it is another leader in significant environmental devastation. The massive increase in consumer ideals has led to what has now been popularly termed “fast fashion.” Corporations have taken the world by storm as clothing stores such as Forever21 and H&M provide new products at minimum expense. These low prices make it easy for consumers to purchase frequently, but also makes it painless for them to dispose of clothes. New styles and trends are hitting stores and catwalks faster than ever before. Taken at face value, fast fashion might seem to have little to do with the environment, yet that could not be further from the truth. The documentary, “The True Cost,” released in 2015, stated that the fast fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter, right behind the oil industry. Clothing stores seem to be increasing their presence while lowering their prices. Sale signs have oddly become permanent installations. Prices are kept low and demand remains high. While this may seem like a pretty sweet deal, for the environment and those living in it, this is far from an ideal circumstance. Perhaps the most effective way to illustrate this unsustainable path consumer culture created is to follow a T-shirt through its life cycle. A $10 T-shirt. At that price the average American would not think twice about the purchase or buying another as soon as this one goes out of style. An important factor to remember is to keep prices low most companies
produce overseas where environmental laws and regulations are far more relaxed and in order to make a shirt in the first place the textiles must be available. Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used in clothing, but cotton is also one of the most water-intensive crops. According to Environmental Leader, an environmental news source, cotton production accounts for nearly 2.6 percent of the entire world’s water use. This is not to mention the physical land needed for growing cotton and the effect that GMO cotton has on the soil and other plant life around it. GMO’s use of pesticides on their cotton greatly harm the environment. Once the cotton and other fibers are produced, they must then be dyed, printed and treated with other chemicals. The waste and runoff from these chemicals infiltrate water and land systems, completely altering and disrupting the natural processes. An estimated 17-20 percent of industrial water pollution comes from the chemical process of dyeing and treating textiles used in clothing. The T-shirt is then made. Machines using fossil fuels are needed to make the clothing. More fuels are used to then ship the T-shirt back to the United States and transport it to stores. The shirt is then bought and worn for a while, yet even in its period of wear the shirt is causing environmental harm. The microfibers in the material used to make the T-shirt are often harmful to the environment. “For example, when you wash a jacket, say a windbreaker, there are all of these plastic microfibers that come off in the washing machine,” Lanphere says. “That eventually goes to the wastewater treatment plant and eventually
becomes biosolids that are applied to the land. So all of these small plastic fibers are getting applied to the land and that is potentially harmful to soil communities or fish in that area.” The shirt is then discarded. The life of that T-shirt does not end there, however. The shirt ends up in a landfill, the chemicals from the dyes and GMO cotton slowly seep into the soil and gradually permeate the air, or the shirt is shipped back overseas to be sold in street markets in the countries that produced it in the first place. That shipment takes more fuel and more energy, and the shirt will still end up in a landfill.
Meat & Clothing If this story were merely about one T-shirt or one steak, the outcry would sound like paranoia, but this is not one T-shirt — it is billions of shirts, pants, dresses, shoes and more. It is billions of pounds of meat and thousands of industrial farms. The rate at which styles come and go and consumers buy is outstanding. The facts show that fast fashion and industrial livestock farms cannot be sustained by planet Earth. As of now, these stories seem to have a bleak ending, but that ending is written in pencil and we have a chance to erase it. Industrial meat and fast fashion are fueled by the consumer dollar. At its core, this is a story about money. These two industries have expanded to their current size and have cut environmental and ethical corners because that is where the money is. Without the extreme consumer purchase of these two goods the industries would have no motivation to continue down their current path. Several movers and shakers are at the
forefront of the battle to reverse the effects of fast fashion and consumer culture. Atelier & Repairs is a company committed to reducing waste from textiles and other materials by taking objects that have already been discarded and using them to create something new. In this way they are working to counter the effects of over-consumption. In an interview with Contemporary Standard, Maurizio Donadi, the co-founder of Atelier & Repairs says, “Our society produces a lot more than needed, so the waste is immense. I wanted to utilize the leftovers, the abandoned, the overproduced and the defected. This process starts with deconstructing, repairing and strengthening objects, giving them a longer life.” The average consumer can work to combat consumer waste, especially from fast fashion by purchasing from organizations such as Atelier & Repairs or other recycled stores. “People can vote with their wallet,” Lanphere says. While he is specifically referring to buying grass-fed, organic meat as a way of turning the tables on the factory farming industry, this concept applies to clothing as well. Simply stop buying new, cheap, fast-fashion clothing. Limit your purchasing of new items to once a month, once every six months or even once a year. Buy more ethically made clothing that will last. The cycle of consumer culture, money and environmental destruction seems unending, but the culture can be reversed and the cycle can be stopped. It is simply up to us to decide if we care enough to put aside our short-term satisfactions for the long-term salvation of the environment. ◆
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AMERICA DIVIDED Binding national division through conversations of unity
Written and Illustrated by Jonathan Logerstedt ickering and back-talk. Coalitions formed in the spirit of condescendence. Just log onto Twitter or Facebook and you will tune in to people airing every unfiltered political opinion, thought and criticism in one another’s faces. It seems the more polarized the nation becomes, the more we lose the ability to talk to one another. Is America as divided as it seems? Any tension or division Americans may feel in their personal lives and relationships — on the Internet or in person — is reflected first and foremost in public political leadership. Every four years, after the presidential election, Harvard University invites high-profile staff from the presidential campaigns to Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a postelection conference. The goal is to hash out the campaign process, discuss what worked, what did not and what can be improved going forward. This year, in a live podcast
recorded out of Cambridge the day of the conference, White House correspondent Tamara Keith with National Public Radio compared the meeting to an episode of “Jerry Springer.” Just as the front lines of a war, Democrats lined up bitterly on one side of the Harvard conference room while members of the GOP lined up belligerently on the other side. Both groups shouted past each other. NPR reporter Sam Sanders compared it to “the first time the parents meet after a divorce.” NPR politics editor Domenico Montanaro said, “This is not what it’s supposed to be about.” His point was that this conversation is designed to be centered around mechanics. Chances are the political vitriol that seeped into the walls of the conference room in Cambridge can be found at family dinner tables and in college dorm rooms around the country — brothers mock sisters and children turn their parents into caricatures of ideas. For many in the wake of postelection America, the United States ➸ Pursuit | 51
feels more divided than ever. Daniel Dominguez, senior music composition major at CBU, left El Salvador in 2013 to attend college in the United States. To Dominguez, an outside observer of the U.S. political climate, America feels very divided. “It feels like more and more people are going to their own personal benefits," he says. “Only polar opposites are being represented.” Dominguez also points to a lack of communal identity. “America is based on diversity and now it feels like it is going back," he says. "There’s value in diversity. It’s not ‘me’ who makes America, it is ‘us’ who make America.” Julie Goodman, CBU assistant professor of anthropology, also attributes division to loss of common identity. “What pluralism has done is that it has divided us, not just into two camps, but it has divided us religiously, culturally and ethnically," she says. "How many ways can we divide? When we look at other cultures that are monocultural with a shared experience [it] comes down to ‘how have we lost our identity?’ America is so unique, because yes, there is a unique history, but now we have all these differences. We have lost a common identity.” Cydney Kirkpatrick, junior public health major, points to lines that have been drawn since the United States was founded. She is involved on campus working as a commuter representative for ASCBU and is secretary for the United Club. Earlier, in the fall semester, ASCBU hosted a political event in partnership with Residence Life to create a platform for communication. “We’re politically divided. Racially divided. We’ve been through so much, but we still can’t see each other as equals,” Kirkpatrick says. “We’re under the same government, but we can’t see each other as equals.” She argued that division is something 52 | Pursuit
you can avoid by pretending it does not exist. One reason for the felt division is an inability to communicate. “Politics comes down to race because that’s what it was built upon," Kirkpatrick says. "You try to stray from that but you can’t stray away from the only thing you know. People don’t like to talk about it. But how are we going to get our problems solved if we don’t talk about it? Just like in a relationship, you need communication. Right now we’re a nation without communication.” During the ASCBU-sponsored event, students had the chance to become educated
America is based on diversity and now it feels like it is going back. There’s value in diversity. It’s not ‘me’ who makes America, it is ‘us’ who make America.” Daniel Dominguez, senior music composition major on local propositions, learn about each presidential candidate and their party’s history and ask political questions to a small panel. Kirkpatrick had just joined ASCBU and did not have a role in planning the event but did, however, praise on-campus events that provide a space for politics to be discussed in constructive ways. Kirkpatrick notes it is important to start with a positive setting, simultaneously
addressing the shortcomings of exclusively having individual interactions. “Personal conversation is good but it’s not enough,” Kirkpatrick says. Larger groups, she explains, help avoid conversations devolving into personal attacks. Kirkpatrick says it is absolutely necessary to have hard discussions. “If it matters in a small relationship, it matters with a nation,” she says. She also mentions how people may opt out but the conversation will still take place and will still be relevant to citizens. Citizenship is a state of being, either by default or design. “Whether or not you’re active or inactive, you are American. It pertains to you,” says John HaHyung Lee, junior applied theology major. Lee agrees that it is critical to speak one’s mind in the public sphere, especially for people of faith. “It’s important to have those conversations because it does affect things more than people let on," Lee says. "The fact that we have a voice in our government is a privilege and a unique position for Christians.” He says being jaded or cynical about systems actually does citizens a disservice, especially if they refuse to speak up. “What you’ve effectively done is remove yourself from the conversation and perpetuate echo chambers," Lee says. "There’s a certain responsibility to come out and be firm, but gracious. I just want my name in the game. The usefulness isn’t convincing anyone that I’m right; it’s to accurately represent a certain viewpoint.” Lee says he has experience with heated conversations. “I went to a predominantly secular and highly intellectual high school — the number two public high school in the nation at the time,” he says. Lee was a Lincoln Douglas Debater and has two friends who currently attend Harvard and Princeton.
“We’re friends first. We don’t let our political allegiances affect our friendship. We talk frequently, and I think those conversations are important,” he says. Relationships, Lee says, are the crux of constructive conversations. It is the relationships Lee has developed with his friends that have caused them to not only seek out his difference of opinion, but to also defend him on their own campuses as someone who is thoughtful and compassionate. Lee says that healing divisions that exist is about having healthy conversations, which stem from humility, empathy and a desire to learn. Instead of trying to control a conversation by being condescending and shoving answers in people’s faces, seek to ask more questions. “Some people try to water a small plant using a fire hydrant. When you do that, you remove the possibility for all future conversations," he says. He continues by pointing out that anytime people disagree there is going to be a tension, but that is OK. He says diffusing that tension is about "reading people and having specific goals that don’t involve being right. That’s coming from a speech and debate guy. Not all conversations have to be a debate.” Not talking about division does not make it go away. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that “true peace is not merely the absence of tension: It is the presence of justice.” In the shared life of citizens, the only way to seek and learn what is just for a pluralistic community is a commitment to listen, learn, love and respect. We cannot start by reducing our neighbor as a tiny face, with an opinion in the comments section on our social media apps. Unity is not uniformity. It is a dedication to search beyond the lines that our differences draw. It is to see our brothers and sisters as humans whose stories matter. ◆ Pursuit | 53
LIVING
P e r s i s t e n t ly
Cancer survivor s defiant journey to persevere through life s challenges 54 | Pursuit
Written by Kathleen Phillips Photos by Katie Ring hey sat in the eerily quiet patient room on January 28, 2012. The voice of Tracey Fernandez pierced the gloomy silence, “This does not change you. This does not define who you are,” she said to her daughter, Brittany Fernandez. Fernandez, now a junior nutrition major at California Baptist University, remembers that day clearly. No one could have expected to be in that waiting room, anticipating the test results that could potentially mean a new life of uncertainty and pain. If anything, they believed they would be coming out of the doctor’s office with news of a blood infection from traveling overseas on a vacation cruise. Just prior to the hospital visit, Fernandez and her family went on the New Year’s Disney Cruise. Fernandez had just recovered from a spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis, which she was diagnosed with at the age of 13. She and her family were excited for a trip that Fernandez could finally enjoy. The year of 2012 was promising. While celebrating family and a seemingly new and healthy life for Brittany, they remained ignorant of the cancer ailing her body. They had been down this road before. Her grandfather suffered from lung cancer years prior, passing away in 2008. Her grandfather’s ailment was Fernandez's first interaction with the
disease that, according to the National Cancer Institute, killed about 600,000 people in the year 2016. Suddenly, it was no longer her grandfather's journey, but her own. Her cancer. Fernandez's thoughts were, “I am going to die.” She sat on the patient table as her mother asked if she wanted to make the call to which she responded, “I cannot tell my father I have cancer.” Fernandez is the youngest among three siblings, her father’s only daughter and the youngest child. On that day, she waited in the patient room alone as her mother called her father, who was out of the state, and told him to get the next plane ticket home because their daughter had just been diagnosed with leukemia. “When we were informed Brittany had cancer, it was quite a shock,” Tracey Fernandez says. “Many things rushed through my head, but the most important thing at the moment was to be strong for my daughter and to let her know that everything would be OK. I was scared because of the uncertainty at the moment, but always felt that God would take care of her. ... We would get through it together.” After the diagnosis, Fernandez was immediately admitted into the children’s pediatric unit at the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. Fernandez's peers began acting differently around her after her diagnosis. “I lost a lot of friends,” she says. She remembers how people’s changed expressions and speech showed their discomfort around her, and their pity toward her led to the end of many relationships. Halfway through her junior year, ➸
Left: Brittany Fernandez relaxes on her bed as she pets her dog.
Above: Fernandez explains the process of chemotherapy as she holds out a photo of her and her twin brother.
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Above: Fernandez holds her dog as she sits on the front porch of her house.
"
I Think It Made Me A Better Person
"
Brittany Fernandez, junior nutrition major
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16-year-old Fernandez left Martin Luther King High School and started schooling through what Fernandez calls “home hospital.” She was still registered in her classes, but all of her course work was brought to her at the hospital by a tutor. Fernandez's journey of fighting cancer began. First, doctors sat Fernandez and her parents down to describe the process. They were told of the risks of chemotherapy and were showed how cancer cells mutated and spread. “They show it to you for understanding. If you do not understand, it makes it a lot more difficult,” Fernandez says. Doctors then gave Fernandez and her family a thick binder describing what to do and what not to do with regards to medical issues that could arise. There was a chance for Fernandez to be part of a new scientific study, but it involved a threemonth hospital stay. Fernandez was not chosen to be a part of the study, so doctors proceeded with the traditional treatment plan. She underwent intensive chemotherapy for nearly a month with treatments that took place three to four times a week. They also tested her bone marrow to be sure the cancer had not spread. While in remission, the chemo treatments became less frequent and the treatment changed. Intensive chemo became shots in her arm that Fernandez gave herself, then lumbar puncture —
chemo in the spinal fluid — then later oral pills. She also underwent radiation therapy on her head as a precautionary measure. Were the cancer to spread further or come back, there would be a high chance it would go straight to the brain. After ending treatment and finally going home, Fernandez found herself back in the hospital, but this time in the Intensive Care Unit. She had contracted an infection that threatened an immediate danger to her life. She was there for three months. After being cleared to move out of the ICU and into a normal hospital room, Fernandez gathered fresh soaps and shampoo to take a shower. “I got in the shower,” she remembers. "I washed my hair and I took my hands down and saw my hair on my hands. It looked like it was all of it." The antibiotics she was prescribed were causing her to once again lose her hair. Fernandez lost all of her hair and was bald during her beginning chemo treatments, before being hospitalized with the infection. She knew what she looked like bald and so did all of her friends and family, even her senior pictures were taken when her hair was gone, but this was different. Fernandez did not think she would lose her hair again. The sight she saw as she stepped out of the shower showed an emotional reality of her
health that Brittany was not prepared to face. “My eyebrows and eyelashes were gone, with only small patches of hair on my head, it made me look very sick. I did not take that well,” Fernandez says. “It was hard to look at myself and see myself in that way and try to tell myself that it was OK. I had a breakdown,” she says. “It was hard for me to cope with. I went in my room to get ready for bed and I stopped when I saw the expression on my mom's face. I hated it. It was a look of such pity. I started crying.” In remission and back at home, Fernandez had acquired Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in her left humerus, a rare condition that slowly eats away at the bone, a side effect of the chemo and radiation she underwent. In 2016 at the age of 20, Fernandez got into a car accident in which she broke her left humerus bone, weakened from the AVN, and had to receive a shoulder replacement. In six years, Fernandez underwent spinal surgery, a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and she developed a destructive condition and underwent shoulder replacement surgery. It will take five years being cancer-free until Fernandez is medically declared cured. Throughout this time, Fernandez has kept a positive attitude. “I think it made me a better person. I don’t take things too seriously anymore. I don’t need much. I am content with what I’ve got,” she says. Alyssa Cumings, family friend of Fernandez , says, “I've bassically been her big sister. We would talk about her emotions and everything she was going through.” “She missed time with friends, homecomings and proms. ... She didn't live that typical high school life,” she says. “It takes a lot to live through something like that being young. I'm proud of how she overcame everything. Honestly, she's the one who inspires me. ... Even though she's about five years younger, she has always inspired me.” Fernandez has not and does not let the fear of dying limit who she is. She continues to hold fast to her mother's words said to her on the day of her diagnosis, the day no mother wishes her child to have: “This does not change you. This does not define who you are.” Cummings says, “She's full of life, that's for sure. Fun and chatty. She loves every moment and truly cares for other people. Through everything she would put others before herself.” Tracey Fernandez says, “Brittany is the strongest, bravest person I know. She has persevered through multiple medical issues.
Brittany had to deal with all this in her teenage years and had many opportunities to feel sorry for herself, but she remained a light of sunshine to all. Her strength in herself and God has brought her to be the healthy, happy woman who is pursuing her career of being a clinical dietitian. “I know she will be a great success in whatever her future brings and am hopeful that all her medical issues are behind her.” Fernandez is not ashamed of her past illnesses. She recognizes it as a roadblock that has built her character. She is now 21 and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in nutrition. She did not crumble when faced with constant challenges — she persevered despite it. Being a survivor transcends the meaning of living through difficult times. It is persistently living and defiantly withstanding any ailment, fear or suffering that could possibly be experienced. ◆ Below: Reminiscing over old photos, Fernandez highlights some of her favorite moments displayed on the wall.
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one last time in
3...
Written and Photographed by Randy Plavajka
VAN
3… 2… 1… The buzzer sounds signaling the conclusion of the regular season of the California Baptist University’s men’s basketball team and more importantly, the last time either men's or women's basketball team will play in the Van Dyne Gymnasium. The box score indicates a loss for the men’s team and a victory for the women’s team, though next season provides a chance for both teams to form fresh legacies in a new facility, the Events Center, after 49 years of hard effort in the 1,100seat gymnasium. Formerly the Van Dyne Field House, the gym has hosted every event imaginable on campus and has arguably been the single most important facility at CBU. No other place builds student community, Lancer athletic legacies, and contributes to the quintessential CBU lifestyle, often simultaneously, quite like Van Dyne. Win or lose, it is always there, the neutral observer, though the fans packed inside for home games have been known to make it one of the most formidable gymnasiums for opponents to play in the PacWest Conference. Dr. Micah Parker, director of athletics, says he has never experienced a dull moment while the teams played in Van Dyne, partially because
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and by 2018, Division I of the NCAA. Graphic makeovers traditionally accommodate each period of the gymnasium’s life cycle, dating all the way back to the first additions to the Van Dyne Field House. Wooden bleachers, open office areas and a limited weight room have all been traded in over the years to improve the building and increase its lifespan for the Lancer athletic teams calling the facility home. This evolution will be no different. Parker says Van Dyne will progress into being more of a volleyball-centric facility and receive a fair amount of updates to the interior appearance, including the lobbies and spaces being vacated as team administrative offices move to the Events Center. The only thing missing will be the gym’s mainstay event since its construction: basketball. Senior players from this year’s teams have set new records, joined the 2,000-point club and led the Lancers to PacWest conference titles in their final seasons at CBU, but for the juniors and underclassmen remaining, a new facility presents new opportunity with an even larger crowd, though Van Dyne had its own personality and benefits. “We have the biggest home court advantage
of the environment and primarily because in Lancer culture, there is no option to quit. In the past seven years, the gymnasium has transitioned and progressed alongside the athletic programs, moving from the National
out of any team in our conference, simply for the atmosphere that is brought every single game,” says Jordan Heading, junior kinesiology major and gaurd on the men’s basketball team. “Van Dyne could erupt at any moment with any shot and that
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DYNE
Men s and women s basketball teams play final games in the historic gymnasium
Left: Cliff Hartwell goes up for a layup in the first game at the Van Dyne Field House. Above: Kalidou Diouf, junior journlaism and new media major and center, wins the final tip-off in Van Dyne gym.
is a really exciting environment in which to play.” Heading says the gym has an intimate feel given the crowd is at floor level, amplifying the noise and cheering in the building. His favorite moments spent in Van Dyne are the match-ups between CBU and Azusa Pacific University. “I love the rivalry we have with them and I’m always blown away by the support and investment that the student body has in it,” Heading says. “We always know that when APU comes to town, the place will be rocking and the same goes for when we visit their place.” Emily Schmidt, junior liberal studies major and forward on the women’s basketball team, says she shares the sentiment, citing Van Dyne’s noise levels and fans as the backbone for supporting teams during games. “When Van Dyne is full and everyone is cheering it can be a pretty awesome atmosphere, and if I was as an opposing player, would not enjoy playing in (it),” Schmidt says. “If there is something I am really going to miss about Van Dyne it is probably how loud the fans could make the gym. As a team, it really gives us confidence knowing that the crowd is behind us.” The environment created inside Van Dyne by its crazy fans has been a mainstay since its 1968 installation on campus. In its final game of service to the basketball teams, alumni, former players, former coaches and longtime fans all showed up
he was in attendance to see the final points scored in Van Dyne. Forkum, a standout guard during his time on the team, says he wanted to ensure he was the first one to score in the new facility. As a part of his work-study program and scholarship, he helped maintain the gymnasium and even had his own set of keys. “I was so fixated on scoring the first basket in the gym I did not want to take the chance that I would miss out on it in the game,” Forkum says. “When we received the baskets, I opened them and the rims before they were even put together, before the building was even finished, and I put a ball through each one so I could say ‘I put the first ball through those two rims.’” Forkum’s dedication to scoring the first points in a game paid off in Van Dyne Field House’s inaugural game. The ball was tipped off toward him and he made a beeline for the hoop, laying in the ball for the first two points ever in the gym. Since that day, an estimated 90,691 points have been scored in Van Dyne and numerous titles, conference championships and other accolades have been accrued across its lifespan. Van Dyne has been an integral piece of the CBU campus and will continue to serve Lancer athletic teams even beyond the departure of its basketball teams. It will always be a reminder
in attendance to bid the venue farewell. The man who scored the first points in Van Dyne, Jim Forkum, 1968 alumnus and now the MCAA Collegiate Recruitment Coordinator for Concordia University–Irvine, says he made sure
of the heart and soul of its teams, fans, alumni and most importantly, the visionary institution it represents, California Baptist University. ◆
90,691
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Written by Iona Brannon Photos Courtesy of Michelle Medina have to help,” he said. Those were his last words on Dec. 19, 2016, closing the book of his life with the same faithful attitude evident in everything he did. His disposition to serve others had once again put the safety and well-being of others above his own. Semper Fi; always faithful. This is the motto of the U. S. Marine Corps and a motto carried by the late Staff Sergeant Enrico Antonio Rojo, even unto the end of the road as he pulled over to help. It did not matter that it was 1 a.m., nor did it matter that they were on their way to the airport, flying back to visit his family over the holidays. A car had flipped over on Interstate 10 and he stepped in to help, disregarding all else. Cars stopped, emergency flashers were turned on. Everyone halted, waiting. Another car, driving fast and unaware of the accident, drove in the open lane and struck Rojo. The driver of the overturned car was later suspected of driving under the influence — a reckless mistake that cost Rojo his life, something he gave away sacrificially. Enrico Rojo, or Rico, as his fiancé Michelle Medina would affectionately call him, was a senior unmanned aircraft systems major at California Baptist University. However, he was not the average scrappy, young college student. Rojo was also in the Marine Force Reserves stationed at Twentynine Palms, the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. No matter who surrounded him, be they brothers in the war zone or fellow students in the classroom, he always left a wide, brilliant smile. He was known for that, evident through
testimonials scattered across the country by those who had been touched by his presence. “Rico had such a capacity for goodness; I admire that most about him," Medina says. "I was always so amazed in what he did, not just in the military but outside of the military as well.” Rojo enlisted with the Marines in 2010. He joined a platoon under Capt. Christopher Silva. Unlike most newcomers, Rojo had a small adjustment period and was not the typical “new guy” figuring out how to belong. Instead, he was immediately welcomed into the platoon. He had a way of connecting with others and everybody enjoyed his company. He endeared himself to others and left an image as someone who was humble and eager to learn, Silva says. “He was always upbeat no matter how miserable or bad the situation was,” Silva says.
Rico had such a capacity for goodness; I admire that most about him.” Michelle Medina “He always put a smile on his face to cheer everybody on.” Their platoon was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Rojo was awarded a Purple Heart after being injured in the explosion of an improvised explosive device at the end of 2011. Rojo spent the next three years serving the United States on active duty. In July 2013, Rojo was back in Texas on leave. Medina was in Palm Springs, living with her family. They connected through an online dating site and after a few weeks of messaging they ➸
Opposite Page: The late Staff Sgt. Enrico Rojo stands in front of an airplane with a wide smile, a trademark of his caring personality.
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decided to meet up. It was a cool, early morning in July that Rojo flew back to the base in Twentynine Palms from his home in Humble, Texas, and drove straight to Medina’s house. “It was so early in the morning,” she says wistfully about their first date. “I took him on the tram and there was an aerial, 360-degree
graduated, continuing to show his faithfulness to serving his country. Rojo was passionate about people and flying. Oftentimes, he would take Medina up to fly with him as he fulfilled his in-air hours, flying anywhere from Havasu to Temecula; sometimes they would go for a quick lunch or date night. “I pretend I’m his co-pilot,” Medina says,
view. We stayed up there all day. It felt natural, like ‘Where have you been all my life?’ I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t scared.” That was the first of many dates; they fell in love. Medina says she knew on that day that Rojo was the one with whom she wanted to spend her life. That December, he gave her a promise ring. Two years later, in 2015, when he had saved up enough money, he gave her an engagement ring. They decided to go to CBU because the university honored the G.I. Bill, says Medina, adding that once they were at CBU, Rojo really fell in love with the idea of finding and living his purpose. “That’s what I want to do,” he had told her when the school came out with the unmanned aircraft systems major. Rojo was planning to use his degree to fly drones for the military after he
and she laughs. “He loves to fly.” Medina and Rojo participated in the Kugel walk, a long-standing tradition at CBU’s orientation. They touched the Kugel, a massive globe that stands at the entrance of CBU, during part of an orientation tradition fully expecting to be able to complete the tradition of touching it again together as they graduated. Rojo and Medina, like most engaged couples, had gone on a hunt to find the perfect venue for their wedding. Always planning for the most practical things, they decided their wedding would be in 2018, after they graduated from the university together. First, they were going to have a civil wedding in the summer of 2017. “We had dates and places and deposits,” Medina says, her voice trailing off. They picked out a church. There was an apartment in Rancho Cucamonga. There were Above: At his funeral service, notes from friends, family and loved ones alike adorn a bulletin board, each a message to Rojo.
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thousands of photos. There were plans of a life together. A move back to Texas to be closer to his family. However, as Medina reflects, we do not get to choose our time. It is fragile and easily lost. Death, however, is not strong enough to destroy someone like Rojo, because there is nothing quite as powerful as love and its ability to move. Rojo loved others fiercely and now they carry that love with them as they continue living.
Now, Michelle takes the Interstate 10 on the way to school even though it takes 15 minutes longer just so she can wave and say hello because as Thomas Campbell wrote in a poem long ago: “To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Rojo lives on, always faithful, in the hearts of those he touched. ◆
Above: Michelle Medina and Enrico Rojo embrace for a photograph shortly after they were engaged in 2015.
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I t s not
BUSINESS
It s
PERSONAL Balance between co-worker relations creates role clarity Written and photographed by Randy Plavajka n a professional environment, working at a “fun” company or organization can often be one of the most emotionally rewarding aspects of a job — or the most catastrophic. Being friends with your boss, supervisor or co-workers seems like a great idea, and on occasion it may result in lifelong friendships, but those relationships have more potential to have negative effects on the quality and quantity of work being done than positive effects. As many young adults are working while in college or plan to do so after graduation, all of
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us enter the workforce with certain expectations of how we should be treated in the workplace, given our time at service-oriented California Baptist University. Some of us want our jobs to be fun. The workplace should not be a place where everything is 100 percent serious, 100 percent of the time. Some of us prefer the infrastructure of “Corporate America,” where work is strictly that: work. The weekends are for time away from the office and our co-workers. Where everything gets blurry, though, is when you throw a meaningful friendship into that mix of serious or work-related fun. For many student workers on campus, our coworkers are our friends and our friends are our co-workers.
It is natural to want to invest in each others’ lives because it is a part of the culture here on campus, but the workplace may not be the place to do so. Whether somebody is a resident adviser, facility lead at the Recreation Center or holds another position of higher responsibility as a student worker on campus, defining the relationship between friend and person of authority can be difficult. Sarah Hom, sophomore psychology major and RA in The Cottages, says the age difference between herself and her residents has caused a challenge in how she interacts with them because of the fine line between being an RA and a genuine friend. “I am consistent when I am around my friends and my residents,” Hom says. “However, there comes a time when I need to come directly from the angle of being an RA.” Hom says she loves being friends with everyone, but finds that it has not been the easiest of tasks to remind herself of the authority she has over her residents. By no means is there anything wrong with sharing more than a superficial bond with those above or below us within the hierarchy of a business, but clear definition is needed to make being friends distinct from being a co-worker or supervisor to others. Karis Mooney, sophomore business administration major and RA in North Colony, says she finds that being in a position of higher responsibility gives her a great avenue to show grace and have conversations about important topics with her residents. “I have attempted to pursue all of them equally and make sure they all know that I care for them and want to be their friend,” Mooney says. “Some of my residents are not really interested in having a relationship with me and that is totally OK.” There are several positive aspects to being friends with those under our supervision or those in charge of supervising the work we do. Chemistry in the workplace is an underrated value, especially considering the effects it has on morale, mood and motivation as a whole. Not everyone is able to work mechanically like a robot on his or her own individual mission with no regard to the co-workers or other employees in the workplace. Being a workhorse
with no social ties in the workplace is really only rewarding momentarily, which should not be at the top of the priority list anyway. Especially as a student worker, the time spent working at the Office of Community Life, Conference and Events or as an office assistant or intern should be about the experience resulting from the effort placed into the job. Remy Diaz, junior business administration major and student worker in the Student Accounts Office, says the added aspect of a social bond with her co-workers helps her “feel more comfortable asking for help when I need it and it makes the work environment more enjoyable.” Diaz says she works with some of her best friends in the office, and though they were friends prior to working as students in the same office, it has not changed the quality of their work. In an ideal situation, working with friends at the same level or underneath the supervision of one, it all comes down to one simple principle determining whether or not the work experience and relationships will end successfully or catastrophically: responsibility. In an article written for Time magazine, Kristin Van Ogtrop, former editor of Real Simple, said that lack of responsibility is the biggest downfall of friendships in a younger workplace. Without understanding important tasks at hand, no progress on crucial projects can be accomplished, especially when your friend or co-worker is more concerned with your weekend and future recreational plans than the priorities at hand. “If your boss is a good one — meaning smart and kind — he or she definitely wants you to have a rich, fulfilling personal life,” Van Ogtrop says. “Partly because he or she is a nice person, and partly because that will help make you a happy, successful employee.” There is a time for being personal and a time for business; having enough responsibility to address the former when appropriate is ultimately what defines a productive friendship in the workplace. It is possible to be friends with co-workers, as student workers on campus and as adults, so long as there is a clear definition between the two roles and a mutual understanding of the responsibility for the work entrusted to each person. ◆
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S E D U R s i h & S E D U D Band s t n e Stud from d n u s so d craft z, funk an jaz nces e u l f p in hip-ho
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Written by Randy Plavajka Photos by Mariss Eanes young boy sits across the room from his grandpa, keenly listening to the sounds and artistry of his grandfather’s improvisational saxophone skills as each note resonates from the instrument, painting a spontaneous song technically perfect in structure. As the melodious piece progresses, the child dreams of the day he, too, can play as masterfully as his virtuoso mentor, hoping to improvise on the saxophone at least half as well as his inspiration. Years later, he is still progressing to achieve his childhood aspiration of matching his grandfather’s level of skill, but Rudy Villarruel is proficient with the saxophone in his own right. “He sat me down one day and said, ‘You’re going to learn how to play,’” says Villarruel, California Baptist University graduate student in instrument performance and saxophone virtuoso. “Ever since that day I have played.” It only takes a moment of listening to
understand why Villarruel is heralded by many as the best young jazz musician at CBU, as his style gives the music a feeling all its own. Villarruel has been playing the saxophone since third grade and is now in his second year of graduate school, earning his master’s degree in instrument performance. In his second year and final semester of his graduate program, Villarruel says he devotes the majority of his passion for the instrument into honing his improvisational work, though he knows there will always be more to learn even beyond graduate school. He has performed with a variety of groups during his time at the Collinsworth School of Music at CBU, such as the jazz band, University Choir and Orchestra and other ensembles, but recalls his favorite group to work with came about on a whim in September of 2016. Geoff Gouveia, 2013 CBU alumnus, was unveiling a new T-shirt design for Augie’s Coffee House at the company’s Riverside location and needed a small bill of acts to provide live music ➸
Above: Alex Hart, guitarist of Rude's Dudes, adjusts the knobs on his special effects pedals to dial in his Fender Stratocaster's tone and sound. Left: Rudy Villarruel, graduate student in instrument performance, jams on his saxophone during a rehearsal with Rude's Dudes.
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Above: Alex Hart (left), guitarist, and Steven Burgos, multi-instrumentalist, provide the riffs and melodies during a Rude's Dudes rehearsal. Right: Rudy Villarruel unleashes a powerful solo on his saxophone while Jacob DeRieux, sophomore music major and drummer, accompanies him.
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for the event. “Rudy has always been dope on the saxophone,” Gouveia says. “I always tell him that however good I am at art, he’s miles ahead of me. The guy knows so much about music, but he’s too humble to rub it in your face.” Gouveia called to see if his best friend, Villarruel, would like to play the show with his own ensemble, but there was one minor problem: No ensemble existed. Two phone calls later, Alex Hart, guitarist, and Steven Burgos, multi-instrumentalist, were jamming alongside Villarruel and playing tunes from jazz to indie music, feeling confident and excited about what was coming together. Another set of phone calls brought in Richard Blacksher, 2014 CBU alumnus on keys, and Eric Lee, senior electrical and computer engineering major and bassist, who both became a part of the nameless five-piece band set to play their first show within the month. “When I was a freshman, I joined (the CBU) jazz band and first played with Rudy there,” Lee says. “He has always been a great improviser since we first met four years ago, so when I got the phone call, there was no hesitation to join at all.” The only item left to address: the name. A
crucial identifier for any band, the name is as essential as the talent within the band. Without something substantial, different or simply cool, a band may not even be signed to play the smallest of venues. Luckily, for Rudy and his accompanying ensemble, this is not the case. “The name was spur of the moment,” Villarruel says. “Geoff needed a name for the bill. I talked it over with the guys, and I was like, ‘What about Rude's Dudes?’ We laughed and just went through with it.” “Rudes” has been a signature nickname among Villarruel’s friends. “It has always been my thing where I wanted to open up a show and say, ‘Hey, my name is Rudes and these are my dudes.’” Since the initial show, Rudes and his dudes have maintained the group steadily, rehearsing off-and-on over the course of the last several months, amid the busy schedules of each member of the group. “We definitely know there is something here,” Villarruel says. “We always have a bunch of ideas, whenever we jam together it is as if we could just sit and play one riff for 10 minutes, it is so natural.”
The band performs with a style all its own, drawing upon jazz, indie, funk, soul, hip-hop and R&B into a composition of multiple genres, with each musician's influences on display throughout every song. “It didn’t feel like a coffee shop. It didn’t feel like the band had been together for a few weeks,” Gouveia says about their debut show. “When I asked Rudy to play at my show, I figured he’d solo it with his saxophone. He blew it out of the water by sourcing the guys together.” Villarruel’s saxophone highlights the mixture of funky, groovy bass-lines from Lee, with the keys of Blacksher and Hart’s guitar providing the melodious riffs on top of Burgos’ perfectly synced drumming to bring the mixture to a perfect balance. The only thing missing, Villarruel says, is lyrics to accompany their original tunes; this is because of his tendency to overthink the process and second-guess the content of the words. Regardless of the lyricism, Rude’s Dudes has an inherent ability to take a song, such as City and Colour’s “Mizzy C,” and transform it into a new work all their own while still doing justice to the original tune, a quality that requires a great deal of chemistry and coordination to master as they have done. “Even if the band doesn’t hold together, he can make it work,” Gouveia says. “Rudy’s got that jazz mentality and that’s probably the reason why I love being friends with him. He’ll make it work.” Upon graduation from his master’s program, Villarruel says he plans to “round up the troops,” play more shows, and try to assemble a local tour to better showcase the work of this still-progressing musical ensemble. Currently, on the setlist of projects for the band is a collaboration with Tom Shay, local musician and friend of the band, a house show or two, depending upon who offers them a space, and lastly, a special song near and dear to Villarruel. “I have a tune I have been kind of working on for a while for my recital,” Villarruel says. “It’s a tune for my grandpa, so I know it is something I want to work out with the band and see what their thoughts are to make it the best tune possible.” There is no doubt Rude's Dudes has the potential to become something greater and bring more people a sound that, in Gouveia’s words, “Leaves you wondering how they sourced that many influences.” The sound is new, eclectic and, most importantly, a coalition of five dudes collaborating to make awesome music. ◆
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A Visual Voice Creating activism and meaning in contemporary art
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Written and Photographed by Kathleen Phillips As the Broadway lights finished illuminating the story of an American past told through song by artists of today, the cast members stood on stage, together in the same light. Last November, the voices of millions of Americans manifested through one: lead actor Brandon Dixon spoke. “There’s nothing to boo here. We’re all here sharing a story of love.” The cast of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” had completed their bows when Dixon took the stage. The reason he spoke was to address then Vice President-elect, Michael Pence, who waited to leave the theater so he could listen to Dixon. “We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir," Dixon spoke. "But, we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Again, we truly thank you, truly, for seeing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations.”
Pence then left. A national uproar that happened overnight not only revealed citizens defending or mocking the event, but also unifying in light of Dixon's message. In the face of social, cultural and political confusion, artists have united as the voices of change. They have long used their art as a tool to create a unique voice. The beauty they create inspires activism. Some believe art begins with an untouched, blank canvas. They are not wrong. Humanity has left its prints on a once bare creation. The carvings of scenes on the walls of caves have become paintings adorning city streets and subway walls. Hidden truths of our world peek their way, regardless of consciousness, through the artistry of man. Art is the product of experience: happenings, knowledge, feelings and values. Although at times it can seem abstract and illusory, it originates from tangible human experiences. The analysis of art reflects the human condition; its voice is in the truth it reflects. Behind social movements, artists will be found at work. As humans, it is a universal desire to want to feel connected and purposeful. We are able to connect to our world through the art we create. “Art is indigenous everywhere,” says Paul
Johnson, junior music composition major at California Baptist University. “It influences us even when unnoticed. “There is an unspoken dialogue that occurs ubiquitously in everyday life: when engineers construct roads to be intuitive for the driver, when you make just enough eye contact with someone coming toward you on the sidewalk so you don’t bump him or her, when words might be insensitive so you regard another with a careful embrace. The same art is as much a part of routine life as it is a part of hours of practice in aesthetic creativity. Art is an inescapable reality for humanity.” Johnson is also aware of how art both creates and inspires activism in our culture. “Art has the opportunity to resonate with or discomfit humanity intimately, guiding some to operate the ideals presented by it.” He continues, "Facts may inform someone, but the connection between art and man through the effective use of such factual information represented in the art can be powerful. What presses someone to embody and act on a piece of art is being presented with the representation, based in reality and being incapable of living blithely knowing what could be.” Street artist Banksy for years has been known for his provocative graffiti work, which spans the edges of alleyways and the sides of buildings. He once said, “If graffiti changed anything, it would be illegal.” The trend of using public street art as activism is increasingly being seen. As of January 20, Donald Trump stepped into the role of America's new president, motivating a slew of artists worldwide to create suggestive material in response to the inauguration. One artist, TABBY of Vienna, painted controversial murals with the message of "Love Trumps All" in vibrant graffiti. The day after the inauguration, protesters marched the streets of cities baring colorful signs — their own cry for change. Artistic impulse pierces the deepest part of our psyche and insists on being seen and felt. As seen with the political uproar in the U.S., art's voice — its revolutionary potential — demands to be heard. Photographer Benjamin Von Wong uses his photography to raise awareness on social issues that he wants to be a part of changing. In a recent project, he acquired 10,000 plastic
bottles and found volunteers to help him bring his vision to life. To show the amount of plastic the world consumes and its harmful polluting affects, he arranged the plastic bottles to look like water. Models made up as mermaids lay on the bottles, depicted to be sick and dying. Unaware of the popularity and unity his project would bring, Wong created his work with the hope he would be heard. His impact led many to realize the detrimental effects of our world's consumerism and its environmental impact. Wong recognized the necessity to create, to have a voice — to be fully human. When artists become affected by social and political changes, they channel their expressions in their art in a way that is universally relatable. Bailey Dahlgren, senior biology major, is a past employee at CBU’s art gallery. Most recognize her by her preference for thrift-store sweaters and free-spirit, eternal-hippy aesthetic. “We learn a lot about a person through a piece they make,” Dahlgren says. “Their uniqueness can be seen in the colors, language and customs that the piece signifies, but their likeness — what they have in common — brings any type of person together.” Unity among people comes with shared experiences conveyed through personal expression. While that expression may not always be well-received, goodness, truth and voice — all of which are contained in artistic expression — are the components of art that create community. Dixon could have shriveled in fear at the inevitable backlash of his actions, but he did not. The powerful themes of “Hamilton” spurred him to use his art and his voice as a tool for representation. He and the rest of the cast stood by the art they created and watched as the nation reacted. The nature of their relationship and action held great power. The art they created, despite the range of interpretation, reached millions. Artists like Dixon, Von Wong and many others are consistently using their honesty and convictions to make a difference in society. In light of a nation on the brink of major change, individuals should acknowledge their ability to do the same. ◆
Above: Original artwork by Bailey Dahlgren, senior biology major, lays against a colorful wall of her own design. Opposite Page: Dahlgren's brushes and cans of paint rest near her creative space.
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Enjoy a performance the proper way, while ensuring others enjoy it too Written by Alexis Safoyan Illustrated by Allison Cordova Have you ever missed out on a song lyric, great monologue or key presentation point because someone around you was being loud or distracting? During a live performance, it is important to respect the audience around you and the performers on stage. In a choir concert, theater play or special lecture, audience members should adhere to the following ideals.
Attire Unless you are a Vogue model, and even if you are, please wear appropriate clothes to a performance. Nobody showed up to the event in desperate need of a fashion show — so do not give one to them. Feel free to model your more extravagant outfits in the comfort of your home bathroom instead of distracting the patrons of a performance.
T-shirts are a No-Go Whether you’re #TeamEdward or #TeamJacob: We #TeamJacob, we don’t care, so don’t wear a T-shirt that expresses your devotion to “Twilight” at a performing arts event. Dress appropriately for the occasion of the specific
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event. Do not wear a graphic T-shirt for a lecture and, unless you’re the queen of England, do not wear a ballgown to a school theater performance.
Leave the Hats in Grandma s Hat Box If you want to see gorgeous peacock feathers or fierce leopard print, go to the zoo. But at a performance event, nobody wants to see clothes with obnoxious colors or patterns. Audience members aren’t paying to look at the back of your hat for two hours. Shy away from large hats that could block the view of those sitting behind you.
Electronics We all love our technology. Our phones have become extra limbs and they are constantly connecting to the world around us. There are some Some times, though, that we don’t need to know about what John just tweeted or look at Sally’s aesthetically pleasing dinner. When you’re at a performance, it is time to disconnect and enjoy what is happening LIVE.
Turn Off That Annoying Marimba Ringtone Even buzzing from the vibrating alerts can be disturbing to you and the people around you.
All cellphones and electronic devices should be completely turned off or in airplane mode during a performance.
No Bright Lights, Please As a performer, there are few things more distracting than seeing somebody’s camera light flash during a performance. As an audience member, flashing camera lights are not a popular addition to any show. Even without a flash, pulling out a camera and taking pictures is an obnoxious distraction. Always assume that photography is not permitted unless otherwise told so.
Food You can enjoy a delicious breakfast, scrumptious lunch and superb dinner during your day. You can delight in a tasty dessert or an ice cold ice-cold beverage any time before or after a show. Think about it this way: Venues usually even provide you an intermission if your stomach is grumbling. Since you have all day to eat, do it then and not during a performance.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH! Avoid snacks with loud wrappers. If you must eat loudly wrapped snacks, please open
them before the production begins and do not crumple them up during the show.
Eww, Does Anybody Smell That? You do not want to be half way through your spaghetti and meatballs when you realize that your food smells like an Italian restaurant. Do not bring any sort of strongly scented food that could offend other patrons. Also avoid loudly chewing foods and slurping beverages.
Participation Are you up on the stage? No. Did the audience pay to see you perform at this event? No. Do you want to be a distraction and annoy others with your unnecessary, novice-level “entertainment”? Maybe, but it does not matter because nobody else does. Sit down respectfully and enjoy the event and please let others do the same.
Sorry, It s Not a Sing-Along Make sure not to sing along to musicals or choir concerts. The audience is here to see the performers, not you.
Hold for Applause Performers love the recognition of an engaged crowd, but not in the middle of a monologue or during the emotional peak of a production. Reward the performers with applause at the appropriate times.
Whispers Sound Like Shouts It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional critic or an Acting 101 student, do not talk about a show while it is happening. Save your commentary for after the show. Whispering detracts from everyone’s experience. ◆
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b u i lt y t i e at i v
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Written by Hayley Folk Photos by Randy Plavajka any students at California Baptist University hear daily about popular, rigorous majors such as nursing, engineering and Christian studies. However, there is another challenging and creative program of which students may be unaware: CBU’s architecture program. CBU is “building” architects with the skills, creativity and work ethic necessary to be successful in the field. The architecture major has attracted various students, some of whom have a knack for both technical skills and creativity. Two architecture students in their junior year, Wesley Yngsdal and Alex Gordon, were asked why they chose their major. Both gave the same response: They knew they had interest in building and creating, however, they were unsure of what that could translate into career-wise. “I didn’t know what architecture really was,” Yngsdal says. “As a child, I liked to play with LEGO
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or KNEX and I liked to build things.” Yngsdal explained how, as he got older, he discovered his niche. He began to take technical drawing classes in high school, where he fell into the world of architecture and learned more about the possibilities that existed there. For Gordon, the realization of his love for architecture came later. In the beginning of his college career, Gordon declared his major in mechanical engineering, but he quickly realized that he wanted to be challenged in a way different than what engineering had to offer. “I found architecture because the blandness of the engineering world was too much for me,” Gordon says. “There needs to be a little creativity in what we do as humans and that is what architecture gives you. It gives you a little bit of creativity and a little bit of technicality.” In the beginning of Yngsdal and Gordon’s architecture experience at CBU, their foundational courses set the stage for what was to come. The two men took basic design classes alongside film majors, graphic designers and visual arts majors. The purpose of these classes were to teach the students to not only think, but to think creatively and in a way they had never
done before. The classes proposed these questions in each student’s mind. They learned about basic drawing concepts, relationships of color and shadows and how to form a composition of art. Gaining these basic skills allowed Yngsdal and Gordon to understand how to translate art into something more with the end goal being a architectural concept or even a building. “It becomes more than just a pretty picture on a page, which really is the difficult part about making something work,” Gordon says. “We need to be able to learn to incorporate everything so that a building can actually become real.” As Yngsdal and Gordon have gone further into their studies, they have gotten deeper into challenging classes, projects and requirements. They have taken courses such as structural integrity, acoustics and thermal systems. Each architecture major is also required to fulfill what is called “studio.” The students are required to work 12 hours a week either within the classroom or at an internship with an architectural firm. Eventually, they will reach “comprehensive studio,” which will hold more hours of work each week. Within
both of these, they must pull information from each of the courses they have taken. Throughout this time, they get to plan, make perspective drawings, build models and do renderings. Then, they present their work to CBU professors and actual architects within the field. Yngsdal and Gordon say this allows the students to receive feedback, make connections with professionals and improve their work, overall. Yngsdal and Gordon offer insight into how CBU's architecture program is different from others. They say most architecture programs have different approaches. Gordon uses words such as “ruthless” to describe other programs. While other programs are known for trying to push students into becoming the best, CBU takes a different approach, which the men say they feel is far more beneficial to their studies and work. CBU approaches the architecture program like several other programs — with a viewpoint of grace and encouragement. Instead of beating the students down with harsh words, Gordon and Yngsdal explain that professors always give helpful advice and words of encouragement. Both say CBU’s approach has, ultimately, led them to be more successful and wise in all that
they are learning. According to CBU’s archiecture program, its primary goal within the major is to “help students develop the capacity and judgment necessary to understand the built environment and generate architecture as a critical response, so that each student can engage both the discipline of architecture and the multiple discourses — artistic, technological, social, political, environmental, economic and spiritual — necessary to be a successful practitioner and a conscientious citizen with a Biblical worldview.” When talking to Yngsdal and Gordon, it is easy to see their passion for architecture. As they answered questions about their major, one would look at the other and excitedly say, “We actually talked about this the other day.” As they discussed, they looked at photos of different architectural designs they enjoy: for example, the structural design of The Mall of America in Minnesota. Throughout the conversation, the passion and interest seemed to beam from their voices. When they discussed terms used in the field, they explained architects have a way of speaking to one another — in ways others may not understand — and they coined this as “archi-speak.” The interest, passion and growth that both Yngsdal and Gordon seem to have for architecture is substantial. Any onlooker would be able to tell Yngsdal and Gordon have a passion for what they do, and they have seemed to have found
their purpose. After five years of being in the architecture program, Yngsdal and Gordon are expected to graduate in the spring of 2019. The two students will be leaving with knowledge and big dreams — both men have hopes to one day start their own architecture firm. With hard work and a lot of patience, Gordon reiterates, they can continue to learn and grow in their field. “Architecture school is almost like a crash course in actual architecture,” Gordon says,“and like any other practice, it’s a practice of architecture for the rest of your life, because you’ll never learn it all.” As Yngsdal and Gordon have demonstrated, the program allows students the opportunity to learn to think both technically and creatively, while teaching them skills that will carry them into successful careers. The architecture program at CBU is hopeful in continually growing and expanding, as more students learn about the program and what it has to offer. ◆
Top Left: The mock Olympic village reflects junior architecture major Alex Gordon's eye for detail and dedication to perfecting the small-scale model. Left: Wesley Yngsdal, junior architecture major, uses an X-Acto knife to carve out shapes and designs.
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PURSUIT RECOMMENDS
Summit Entertainment
Working Title Films
Warner Bros.
Written by Alexis Safoyan
'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Not only does “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” push the boundaries of computer graphics and live-action integration, but it also lays out the foundation for a new generation of wizarding fans to discover. Faced with a world of dedicated fans’ expectations, “Fantastic Beasts” holds its own by providing a new story in a familiar narrative world. David Yates, the director of “Fantastic Beasts” and several other films in the Harry Potter franchise, maintains the “Potter” aura of the films while also pushing the story 70 years back from the classic tales to which fans are accustomed. J.K. Rowling, creator of the Potter universe and writer of the “Fantastic Beasts” screenplay, gently includes humor to lighten the mood of the adventurous film. Perhaps the greatest assets to the film are the foundational elements that subtly set up the plots for the next four movies that span a total of 19 years. Foreshadowing of locations, characters and events are a large concentration in the film and the open-ended feeling of the film leaves fans excited for more.
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'Hail, Caesar!
'La la Land
Premiering in the beginning of 2016, “Hail, Caesar!” is a tale of an overwhelmed producer who struggles to complete a film about Jesus’ time. The film takes audiences on an unexpected journey with ridiculous plots, twists and radical character choices that are both entertaining and imaginative, a familiar and acclaimed hallmark of films by Joel and Ethan Coen. Great acting sells numerous zany plot points. Tilda Swinton plays a set of twin reporters battling against one other for information. Scarlett Johansson portrays a pregnant actress struggling to fit in her costume's mermaid tail during a film shoot. Channing Tatum makes a cameo as a musical actor with an extensive tap number. George Clooney brings to life a dense actor who is kidnapped by a gang of communists staying in Malibu. To glue the picture together, Josh Brolin portrays Eddie Mannix, who attempts to solve the many issues arising at Capitol Pictures. A daring use of color, costume and character revive the Golden Age of Hollywood. The 1950s perfectly fit this unique comedy and allow for mystery and a detachment from realism. Where some may find the film too silly or even pointless, the story reveals that sometimes life in show business can be truly ridiculous. The more realistic aspects of
An ode to classic Hollywood musicals, “La La Land” paints a gorgeous cinematic picture of the idealized conception that dreamers have developed of Hollywood. It then reveals the dark nature of the struggling artist and broken reality of constant rejection. Chemistry and compelling performances from Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone grip audiences around the world. The surprisingly emotional journey of the two dreamers is both original and fantastical. The fresh perspective on show business is a delight and a pleasant breath of air. The concept is paired beautifully with the powerful use of color, outstanding choreography and dazzling special effects. Although, typically, the vocal power lacks strength, there is a charm to the protagonists’ imperfections. Their obvious flaws are relatable and altogether human. The performer’s work is highlighted by uninterrupted takes. These scenes reveal Gosling’s talent as a pianist and Stone’s ability to reach dynamic emotional ranges. Audiences are inspired by Gosling’s portrayal of Sebastian as he leads both Stone’s character Mia, and residents of Los Angeles, to a renewed appreciation for jazz music. The musical score, which includes invigorating jazz, provides
the film hint at the impacts of the Red Scare and the Cold War. During a time where many films are regurgitated and remakes are highly prevalent, the Coen brothers create a film that is dynamic, fresh and completely new.
a delightful juxtaposition between old-Hollywood fantasy and modern L.A. reality. The music, acting and cinematography show audiences a new story instead of telling them what it is. Overall, “La La Land” rejuvenates a respect for musical talent and classic filmmaking. ◆
PURSUIT RECOMMENDS
Written by Hannah Preston
The budget-minded traveler
The baby-sitters club club
T
T
ravel-junkies, this one is for you. Summer is the perfect time to travel the world, but in case your bank account is holding you back, this podcast provides tips for international traveling while on a budget. Founded and hosted by Jackie Nourse, “The BudgetMinded Traveler” is meant to inspire those who want to check destinations off the bucket list. For Nourse, “World travel is available to anyone who wants it.”
My brother, my brother and me
T
he McElroy brothers are not experts, and their advice should never be followed,” announces the narrator. What could possibly follow this introduction? Complete hysteria or an actual quality podcast? With “My Brother, My Brother and Me,” listeners get both. Tackling an array of subjects, audiences are able to enjoy the humorous bickering between brothers while discussing deep, relevant topics. If new to the world of podcasts, MBMBAM is a great step.
his light-hearted podcast features two friends diving into Ann M. Martin’s novels. Best known for her “BabySitters Club” series, hence, from where the podcast’s title derives, Martin is a children’s book author. Jack Shepherd and Tanner Greenring not only dramatically read the children’s stories, but also bring a new and deeper meaning to Martin’s original stories. Whether you are a literature enthusiast or simply trying to pass time, “The Baby-Sitters Club Club” can be your one-stop shop.
The moth
R
eal people, real stories. This particular podcast features an array of speakers, each with a compelling story that draws in listeners effortlessly. Each show ranges from 15–30 minutes, so there is no need to worry about the commitment to an hour-long podcast. Ranging from stories of an adventurous blind man to a widow finding the do’s and don’ts of her new life. “The Moth” is a podcast that deserves its own category. ◆
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M
USI
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PURSUIT RECOMMENDS
Written by Randy Plavajka
W Republic Records
ho could have fathomed The Rolling Stones, the quintessential classic rock band of classic rock bands, would be producing their 25th American studio album 54 years after their founding? Yet, here we are in 2017, and here is one of your father’s favorite classic rock bands with a new Stones album, “Blue and Lonesome.” Recorded in just three days in December 2015, the album is composed solely of covers and is
'
The Rolling Stones 'Blue and Lonesome
Polydor
the first full-length studio release in more than a decade. The 12-song, 42-minute compilation includes renditions of blues icons from Little Walter and Memphis Slim to Willie Dixon and Magic Sam. For many listeners, it serves as a great introduction to what playing “the blues” really sounds like, and for the Stones it's a return to their roots in blues. Similar to the past five decades, The Rolling Stones continue to deliver some of the best classic rock available today.
Ninja Tune
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'
S
imon Green, better known as Bonobo, has found the perfect harmony between downtempo electronic music and general appeal with his sixth album, “Migration.” Combining a sophisticated production process with progressive, almost classical, movements, Green channels a new energy on this work that seems as if it had been missing slightly throughout his musical career. Known more recently for the success he found on 2013’s “Late Night Tales,” Bonobo has evolved into a musical endeavor that
PHANTOGRAM 'THREE '
BONOBO 'MIGRATION
pushes the border of what great downtempo electronica should sound like with highlight songs such as “Break Apart” and “Kerala.” Migration is the kind of album with more value than just being music you listen to once and stow away on a hard drive. It is essentially “walking around” music, and is generally enjoyable to experience in any setting. The hour-long ensemble of electronic tuneage is calming, fun and sets a relatively high bar for 2017 in terms of the niche genre it occupies.
P
hantogram, in this era of alternative rock, is an enigma all its own; it exists in a musical genre where no other band can rival its sound or songs. The band consists of Josh Carter on vocals and guitar and Sarah Barthel on vocals and keyboard. Together, they have created one of 2016’s best albums without even seeing mainstream success on the top-40 charts. “Three,” the duo’s third full-length studio album, is no exception to that darker electronic pop sound they made famous. As the two evolve further into a
“mainstream” group, no quality is lost. From electropop and dream pop to trip-hop, “Three” has a portion of every weird subgenre of alternative music within its 36-minute playtime. This entire album is highly underrated. It has a quality that many other albums these days lack: a cohesive image. Some of the tracks that make this album so great are “Same Old Blues,” “Run Run Blood” and “Answer,” which all demonstrate Phantogram’s ever-evolving electronic rock sound. ◆
Pursuit magazine is a student-produced publication of California Baptist University working to utilize professional, balanced journalism to tell the stories of CBU s community and the real-life, relevant factors that affect that community.
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