Volume 44, Issue 10

The Point

Fir Exc of P stha lusiv ari nd A e sA tta ccoun cks t pg 5

student newspaper of point loma nazarene university HOMECOMING EDITION monday, november 23, 2015

Features, page 4

volume 44 | issue 10

A&E, page 8

Sports, page 9

Opinion, page 11

More on Loma Beat!

PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN SOCH President Bob Brower gives a reflection and “President’s Perspective” for the dedication ceremony of Sator and Latter halls.

Student breaking chains with hand-made jewelry

BY JORDAN LIGONS

STAFF WRITER

It was the relentlessly hot Las Vegas summer after 6th grade when Demi White walked through the doors of Michael’s craft store. The weather had kept her and her family inside the house, bored and surrounded by electronics, so her mother drove her there and simply said, “Pick a hobby.”

A cheap plastic bead set, her first purchase, led to crafting classes with grandma and polaroid-filled photo albums of her creations, her 2008 version of Instagram.

Now, that cheap bead set has transformed into what is breaking. chains, the PLNU sophomore’s handmade jewelry line that she sells on Etsy, an online marketplace for people to make, sell, and buy uniquely made goods. In her Flex Farmer’s Market debut on Nov 14, she sold roughly 40 pieces of jewelry and nearly sold out.

On Instagram, @breaking.chains’ nearly 400 followers are always in anticipation of White’s next post. One follower commented, “Every time I see cool jewelry, I think, my friend Demi could make that, but way cooler.” Another attempts to make a personal request, and there are tons of heart-eyed emojies.

Her supply box has organized sections, cubbies that house an array of

gems. A herd of turquoise elephants neighbor small white seashells; purple and blue feathers blend with the multi-colored beads that reside next door. Some are perfect circles, some are not. There are gold chains, silver chains, two chains, one chain, long chains, short ones. Some are broken, some brand new.

“This is a piece of me giving to a part of you. I think that is a really cool idea,” said White, who collects her trinkets from thrift stores, Ocean Beach bead shops and gifts that once were useless and now serve a purpose.

People give White their broken necklaces, earrings, and bracelets because they no longer feel the need for them to sit unused on their dressers.

That is where her joy begins.

“There is something so beautiful about the story of restoration,” White writes on her Demchainz, another name for her brand, Etsy store’s ‘About’ page. “Christ came to take all of our broken pieces and make them whole again. We were reckless, abandoned, worn out, and hanging off our hinges until Jesus came.”

The name “breaking.chains” is rooted in that connection.

Her favorite necklace that she has made was one that took three days to complete. She continued to rearrange chain-links, switch the order of the ocean-colored beads to take a different

direction, and tighten and loosen the wire over and over. This perseverance resembles her faith, she says.

“This is a picture of what faith looks like. The growth that happens is sometimes really frustrating, and I feel like I am getting nowhere and I am not growing,” said White. “The obedience to keep on going, the faithfulness to try it again and to see how God has been working in your life, is more rewarding than anything.”

White is also a student-athlete on the PLNU Women’s Track and Field team, and she uses jewelry crafting as therapy, relaxation, and something to recharge her. She says that often she finds herself after a 9-hour track meet craving some alone time. And wrapping stones in gold wire and linking matchlessly different chains, sometimes until her fingers bleed, is that for her.

This has always been an on-andoff hobby for White, and it wasn’t until last year that she decided to create an Etsy to generate profit from her designs. She was highly encouraged by her friends and family.

“I’m kind of bad at the business part of it. It’s not really my personality,” White said with a chuckle. “I’d rather just give them away.”

SEE BREAKING CHAINS, PAGE 4

New changes for Comm & Theatre Department

BY JULIANA VERHAGE

STAFF WRITER

Professor Kathleen Czech is leaving PLNU after this fall semester making her the fifth full time professor to leave the Communication and Theatre Department in the past two years. Czech teaches Managerial and Organizational Communication.

Czech is leaving the department at the end of this fall semester and will be teaching at San Diego State University in its School of Communication.

“I feel there are more opportunities for growth there in my field, as cuts and support have been extreme to our department at PLNU,” Czech said. “While I cannot speak for all who have left I know that a general sentiment has been the school’s choice to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and cut humanity programs.”

This will leave the department and students without yet another one of its professors following the death of Dr. G.L. Forward in August.

“We know it’s been tough on her having G.L. gone but we’re happy for her that she got this new job at San Diego State, we’re excited for her,” said senior Andrew Borland, MOCM

major and Associated Student Body president, “but we’re going to miss her a lot.”

In the Spring, Czech’s classes will be taught by adjuncts until a permanent replacement is hired by next fall.

“In general adjuncts do not usually hold a doctoral degree and in this case many of the adjuncts teaching in the spring do not hold a degree in communication,” Czech said.

Junior MOCM major, Brett Bey shared his thoughts about Czech leaving.

“She has inspired more of a passion in me for my vocation than I thought I ever could possess. For all her work and dedication to the Communication department, our field of research, and our success as students and human beings. I am eternally grateful to Kathleen Czech.”

Leaving at the end of the 2014 school year, Dr. Clark Greer accepted a position at Liberty College in Virginia. Greer taught classes for Broadcast Journalism, a joint major with the Department of Communication and Theatre and the Department of Literature, Journalism, and Modern Languages (LJML).

SEE COMM & THEATRE , PAGE 3

the point | monday, november 23, 2015

2 | NEWS

PLNU dedicates Sator and Latter halls

BY KRYSTAL WELK

STAFF WRITER

After more than 20 years in the making, efforts for PLNU’s new science complex can now finally be called done. The dedication of Sator and Latter Hall took place Friday to a crowd of more than 100 donors, alumni, faculty and students.

The dedication opened with a prayer from Melanie Irwin Oakes of Research Associates.

“Reign over their minds, reign over their thoughts,” Oakes prayed to the facility’s future students, “that their occupations may reflect toward your glory and to the intellectual gain and to the advantage of this community.”

After the prayer, Executive Vice President Joe Watkins reminded the audience that the dedication is not only a celebration of the facility, but

also a commitment to science.

“It is also a recognition that the highest standards of science research can be achieved under the presence of a strong commitment to faith in Christ and that there is nothing to be feared at the intersection of science and faith,” said Watkins.

Watkins addressed each group of people involved in the project and asked them to stand while the crown recognized them.

These included, students, donors, members of Research Associates, members of the President’s Horizon Circle, professors, organizations, and the Board of Trustees.

Jerry Sanders, former San Diego mayor and current president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke next.

Sanders noted the importance of educational institutions in achieving this goal.

“Today we celebrate more than a

building,” said Sanders. “This is an investment.”

Sanders said that Sator and Latter Hall are not only investments in PLNU, but in the broader San Diego community.

Provost and Chief Academic Officer Kerry Fulcher commented on the architecture of the building and how the design displays symbolic themes and messages. The stainless steel wall with alpha and omega cut outs represent science and faith. This wall’s functionality serves to reflect light off toward Rohr Hall.

“The light and the shadows that occupy the space in between this wall and the building itself creates a space that symbolizes the mystery of overlapping boundaries between what is known and unknown,” said Fulcher.

Natasha Medici, a senior biologychemistry major, spoke about hard work it took to get the science facility built. She added that Rohr and Boney

Hall will remain special to her, but acknowledged that they had many limitations.

“Current freshman at PLNU will never know the struggle of performing chemistry labs sharing one fume hood or performing summer research in cramped quarters,” said Medici.

Medici said that the new facilities will allow the PLNU science department to better equip and launch students into professional graduate schools.

Ken Martin, former Chair of the Chemistry Department, spoke on behalf of the Science Program. He acknowledged donors, contributors, and founders of the science department.

“This moment also wouldn’t have happened without the vision and hard work of those who built the academic programs that these new buildings will house,” said Martin.

Current Chair of the Chemistry Department Sara Choung added that

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH

the science facility will run successfully due to the faculty and staff members.

“I can attest that my faculty and staff colleagues in Rohr Science are incredible teachers, talented researchers, gifted mentors, and genuine believers,” Sara Choung said.

PLNU President Bob Brower said that there were many times along the way that hindered the advancement of the project, including the events of Sept. 11, and the 2008 financial crisis.

“Had we built it then, it wouldn’t be what we need now and for the future. And as difficult as these years have been, this is the right time,” Brower said.

After the concluding remarks and benediction, Sator and Latter Hall was open for self-guided tours.

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SOCH (Top of page) Executive Vice President Joe Watkins provides the welcome and and acknowledgments. (Middle Left) Rev. Steve Scott, chairman of the Board of Trustees presents the benediction during the dedication. (Bottom photos) Students, alumni, and and faculty members watch the dedication from the lawn and entryway of Sator Hall.

monday, november 23, 2015 | the point weekly

3 | NEWS

Community classroom discusses refugees

BY HEIDI NICKLES

STAFF WRITER

A conversation on the effect of an “us versus them” mentality was held this past Tuesday in City Heights.

The “us versus them” mentality indicates that a person’s identity is based on group membership, excluding people who don’t identify with that group such as refugees and immigrants.

The main speaker, Katherine Bom, presented her story at the monthly Community Classroom dinner held at Mid-City Church of the Nazarene in City Heights with over 50 students, faculty, and community members in attendance.

All students participating in Community Classroom this semester are reading the book, Tattoos on the Heart by Father Greg Boyle, and the night’s conversation revolved around the applicability of the reading. The focal point was Boyle’s belief that, “it

is God’s dream come true when we recognize that there exists no daylight between us,” and them.

Bom works at RefugeeNet in San Diego, formerly known as the Episcopal Refugee Network, whose online mission states that they are “a non-profit organization that has been helping the refugee community for over 20 years.” RefugeeNet provides families with assistance in obtaining social security cards, driver’s licenses, schooling, health care, food stamps and household goods.

Bom moved to the United States as a refugee from what is now South Sudan, in 1992, and has not returned since.

“It was not easy to come to the U.S,” said Bom. “When we first came here, we were in City Heights. Ten people in a two-bedroom apartment.”

She shared her experience working 16 hour days in order to move her family into better housing and how the food

stamps provided by the government gave them currency to buy food they weren’t accustomed to.

PLNU Chaplain, Tim Whetstone, joined in the conversation and said that, “there’s a lot of transiency in San Diego that helps with overcoming the ‘us versus them’ issue, but outside of faith, it’s hard to dissolve.” He said that in his time in Pittsburg, PA and in San Diego he’s seen grouping work to separate people, making “them” anyone who isn’t counted in the person’s “us” group.

Bom lived in the southern region of Sudan where many people were Christians, but they still lived under the governmental Muslim rule of northern Sudan.

“You come from where your faith is challenged and you’re having to prove your faith,” said Bom, “and then you come to this free country and people don’t talk about it.” While Bom pointed out something Ameri-

cans tend to avoid talking about, Point Loma students and faculty brought up “us vesus them” issues that are being talked about in the U.S. “In politics it’s Democrats against Republicans with a lack of compromise,” said sophomore Business Administration -Management: Nonprofit major, Madison Elick.

Director of Community Ministries, Dana Hojsack added that there are Americans who don’t “want to let Syrian refugees into the States,” because they see them as the ‘other.’”

On Thursday, the House of Representatives supported this American desire when they voted to “halt the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the U.S.” as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

These divisive factors in the American culture are being practically faced in City Heights as the PLNU community has branches of Spiritual Development working to close the gap of

otherness.

Through Student Ministries, tutoring ministries Alima, and a group for the Episcopal Refugee Network, go out to City Heights each week to mentor and help refugee children from preschool through to high school with their homework. Community Classroom assists with Mid-City Church of the Nazarene’s food distributions and acts of mercy that go on throughout the year.

“We belong to each other in ministry- we’re one body,” said Freshman Christian Ministry major, Lauren Chafin. This message purveyed throughout the evening amidst classes, Filipino food, and ongoing conversation.

There will be one more Community Classroom dinner this semester, and then multiple others once Spring semester welcomes in a new group of students to the classroom in City Heights.

FROM COMM & THEATRE, PAGE 1

His position has not since been permanently replaced with a full time professor, only adjuncts. “What happens long term, I don’t know,” said Dr. Skip Rutledge, current Chair of the Department of Communication and Theatre and Director of Forensics.

Both the Communication and Theatre and LJML are undergoing a program review. Because of this, replacing Greer in the Broadcast Journalism major is “one of those things that has been put on the back burner,” said Rutledge.

In the spring, Dr. Paul Bassett, stepped down as Chair of the Department and retired, after 37 years of teaching at PLNU. He was also the theater director.

His position has not been filled either. With the recent reprioritization on campus, every department on campus went through an in depth review to “determine whether current expenditures were legitimized,” said Rutledge, “to trim areas that could be trimmed.”

It was decided that a major in Theatre would no longer be offered.

At that time, Bassett made the decision to retire. Now, three other professors in the department cover the theatre classes – Dr. Wally Williams, Dr. Ronda Winderl, and Professor Brian Redfern Professor and Assistant Director of Forensics Melissa Lazaro left last semester, after about 15 years teaching at PLNU. “She was kind of lured away by

private industry,” Rutledge said. “A lot of professors who are here could be making a lot more in the private industry.” Lazaro worked in consulting and training before coming to PLNU. A job application to fill her position has been posted and Rutledge hopes for good responses. Currently, she is replaced by non-permanent visiting professor, Lorina Schrauger.

Schrauger will only be at PLNU through spring semester because her husband, who is in the military, is set to be stationed elsewhere, according to Rutledge.

Following his death in early August, Dr. Forward’s position was filled

by Professor Melissa Newman. Forward taught MOCM alongside Czech.

“The hand of God was so apparent in bringing Dr. Newman here with G.L.’s situation,” Rutledge said.

A friend of hers suggested she apply for an adjunct position in the department, but they had all been filled by the time her application came in. “But I read her application and thought ‘Oh my goodness, she would be absolutely amazing if for some reason we had any difficulties in our organizational communication area.’”

With Forward’s death, she was contacted and hired immediately. She was hired as a non-permanent visiting professor.

Borland shared his thoughts about Newman.

“With GL passing there is no good way to bring in a new professor, it’s just going to be a tough situation. Luckily,

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH The department of Communication and Theater, based in Cabrillo Hall, has lost a number of faculties members for variety of reasons, with Professor of Communication Kathleen Czech leaving after this semester.

Dr. Newman came in and handled it with a lot of grace. She’s been very respectful of the situation and she’s also a great professor. So far the students have connected with her very well.”

According to Rutledge, the loss of these staff members will not af-

fect which classes will be offered, the amount offered, or any student’s ability to graduate.

“We trust in the department and in the administration that they’re going to bring in great professors, like the professors that we already have,” Bor-

land said. “We know it’s a process, but I think people in the major are excited to see who our new professors are going to be.”

Student Development hosts sexual identity book club

BY SHAKIA COLLINS

STAFF WRITER

The Sexual Identity Book and Discussion Group started on November 4th led by Director of Community Life Jake Gilbertson.

The group meets every Wednesday in Cunningham A to discuss the book “The End of Sexual Identity” by Jenell Williams Paris, which discusses heterosexuality, homosexuality, sexual

desires and celibacy. Each student that attends receives Paris’ book.

“Part of what we were hoping to do, was to say this is the beginning of an ongoing conversation,” said Gilbertson. “For people who want to dive into those conversations, there are now outlets to do that in a much deeper, more substantial way.”

The topic of sexual identity has been a topic that has been touched on before, but not in this way as an open conversation said Gilbertson.

“What we have realized is that there needs to be a continuous conversation, more so than just occasionally touching on it,” he said.

The club was introduced in chapel on October 26th, but Gilbertson said that this was only a starting point and it is hard to discuss those topics in the mere 20 minutes that were available.

The panel consisted of soccer coach Tim Hall, Associate Vice President of Student Development Jeffrey Carr, Director of Community Life Jake

Gilbertson, and students sophomore Richeda Sinclair and senior Adam Donason. This panel comes just over a month after Vice President of Student Development Caye Smith was appointed as the Title XI Coordinator.

“On our campus we have a range of beliefs about human sexuality and sexual identity, but what we don’t have or haven’t had until now is a safe place to come together and out of respect and love, have a conversation with each other,” said Gilbertson.

Along with discussing the book, the group discusses sexual identity in regards to the Christian community, PLNU, and the worldview. The group is focused on having an open conversation and in turn educating each other about different views. Last week the group discussed the PLNU’s gender identity policy and chapter two of Paris’ book that covered heterosexuality. The discussion group will meet again after Thanksgiving.

the point weekly | monday, november 23, 2015

4 | FEATURES

features

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Putting it in poetry makes people better, being able to hear everybody’s perspective and frame it within the context of poetry - it is turning a lot of pain that happens in life into beauty.”

Gia Cabarse, (page 8)

FROM BREAKING CHAINS, PAGE 1

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEMI WHITE A necklace displayed on Demi White’s Instagram.

Still, she remains grounded in her audience, which are primarily college students. With this mindset, she continually wants to keep her prices low, but she also is aware of how much time and energy she places into each piece.

White goes by the equation of adding

her cost of materials with the amount of time she’s put into it and multiplies that by two, all the while knowing that Etsy takes $0.20 USD for each item she lists for sale on the site and they charge a 3.5% transaction fee when a sale is made.

“I always want it to be a fun thing, a leisurely thing, a therapy thing and not like a time crunch thing,” said White. “That would stress me out. I don’t want to start doing something and then not love it anymore.”

White, a Child and Adolescent Development major, has her heart set on working with children with special needs, like Autism, but is not completely opposed to bringing her two passions together in possible charitable work and organizations.

“After the Farmer’s Market, it made me think that maybe this could be a part of what I do [futuristically],” said White. “But, at the same time, I am not opposed to this being a separate thing in my life because it has always been an outlet for me.”

As all of her supplies are spread over her wooden coffee table, her roommates prance around their Flex apartment casually rocking their breaking.chains original creations.

“I feel like I can take on the day when I wear my Demchainz,” sophomore Rachel Devine, White’s roommate. “And I love knowing I’m supporting someone’s passion when I wear them.”

They are trying on White’s collection left and right professing why this one is their favorite in what seems like a nightly fashion show-like routine.

The red pliers that rest on the table next to her box are the same pliers she bought on that first trip to Michael’s. They’re falling apart, they don’t clamp as strong and willingly as they used to, are broken even, but she still holds on, despite buying a brand new pair recently.

“I think there is just something so beautiful in the brokenness,” White explains. “This doesn’t work anymore for that purpose, but what else can I use it for?”

Maybe, just pure, sentimental value.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEMI WHITE Examples of necklaces offered by Demi White.

How to have a great ‘friends-giving’

BY MELISSA ST. AMANT

STAFF WRITER

If you are stuck at school and cannot go home, or are staying in your apartment for your first Thanksgiving away from home, here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving with friends, or “Friends-giving,” fantastic.

Gather some friends.

“Friends-giving” is best spent with (you guessed it!) friends. So find some others who will be around and invite them to join you. Find classmates, hall mates, and other students who aren’t going home, and who knows, maybe you’ll make some new friends.

Watch a holiday movie.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the actual holiday season –@People who play Christmas music in July – so kick it off with a festive film. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a classic that’s perfect for the occasion.

Try to cook something holiday appropriate together.

It’s always fun to cook something with the people you love. If you aren’t super talented in the kitchen try this recipe for an apple crisp. Buy 2 cans of seasoned apples – they’re in the aisle with the pie fillings – and pour them into a baking dish. In a bowl, mix 2 yellow cake mixes with 1.5 sticks of melted butter. Mix in some pumpkin pie spice. When it’s all mixed together dump it out over the apples in the baking dish. Add some more pumpkin pie spice and bake it at 350 degrees until the top looks golden brown and deli-

cious.

Talk about something you’re thankful for.

This is required for Thanksgiving.

Have a few moments of reflection for everyone to share something they’re thankful for. The reflections can be small or big, but don’t forget to do them.

Plan your Black Friday game plan.

Black Friday is the day after Friends-giving. You need to be ready with a game plan if you’re planning on fighting somebody for a piece of slightly-less-expensive merchandise that you don’t need anyway.

Map out your schedule, keep track of store hours, know what items you’re looking for and just in case, head for the on-sale helmets and body armor first.

Play board games.

Another fun thing you can do with your pals on Thanksgiving is to ruin the relationship you just said you were thankful for with a game of Monopoly.

Sever your friendships and demolish all sense of camaraderie by destroying your friends at Monopoly. There’s nothing like good old-fashioned family fun.

Call your parents.

Chances are your parents are pretty disappointed that they don’t get to spend the holiday with you, so give them a call and let them know that you love them. You’ll be glad you did it.

Volunteer.

If you aren’t too into board games, another great plan for “Friends-giving” is spending that time doing some

good together. There are many places you can go in San Diego to serve food at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen like the Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO) located down-

town, and doing so not only feeds the hungry, it can also help brighten someone’s day.

Decorate for Christmas!

Now that it is officially the holiday

season you can really start decking the halls. Put up your Christmas decorations and let the world know that your home is the most festive of them all.

Who can stop you?

STUDY ABROAD PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“My experience this semester has been life changing. This is my second semester in London so I feel like I have gotten to know this city really well and have fallen in love with it. I have grown in ways I didn’t think possible and have been so shaped by the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had.”

Emma Champion, senior studying abroad with PLNU’s London semester.

Photo taken in Paris, France.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA CHAMPION

monday, november 23, 2015 | the point weekly

5 | FEATURES

Exclusive: firsthand account of Paris attacks BY

JULIANA

VERHAGE

&

JONATHAN SOCH

STAFF WRITERS

Emma Bennett, PLNU Sophomore global business and nonprofit management major, is currently studying abroad in Paris, France. Bennett was at the soccer stadium where suicide bombings occurred on Friday, November 13 when Paris came under attack by terrorists with suspected ties to ISIS. In an interview with her, she discussed what happened to her that night, her thoughts on the attack, and Paris’s response since.

The Point: At the soccer game, did you hear the bombs go off?

What did you think was happening?

Bennett: Yes, we heard the two go off about 5 minutes apart during the beginning of the game. The noise was loud and startling, but we didn’t really think anything of it. We figured it was fireworks or a cannon of some sort. We did notice that the timing was off, because the soccer players even seemed surprised and slowed down their play. But we really had no idea how serious it was.

The Point: Can you describe how the attack began?

Bennett: I wasn’t sure where at the stadium that it was, but I actually found out that one of the explosions happened right in the spot that we entered through, like, thirty minutes before they blew up.

The Point: Did the game carry on? Was there a big disturbance in the crowd because of the bombs?

At what point did you find out what was really going on?

Bennett: The French President was attending the game and was evacuated as soon as the attack took place, everyone else didn’t know what had happened until the final 10 minutes.

It’s actually really good that the crowd didn’t try leaving, because apparently the plan of the bombers was to cause a disturbance by the first bomb, have the crowd run out of the stadium, then set off the second bomb in an attempt to kill more people.

Once the game was over though, there were stampedes of people trying to either get out of the stadium or flocking to the center of the field.

I only knew about it because we received a message from a friend saying

“That’s when it really hit me that the city was under attack.

I immediately s t a r t e d crying.” a restaurant near him was under attack, but even at that point we thought it was a joke. It wasn’t until my dad heard the news and texted me asking where I was that I knew something was wrong. I left my seat and called my

mom a few moments later to tell her I was okay, and she told me at that time 18 people were dead. That’s when it really hit me that the city was under attack. I immediately started crying.

The Point: Can you describe what happened when you left the game and tried to get home?

Bennett: I was outside the stadium for about an hour trying to figure out what to do. All the taxis I saw were all taken, and I couldn’t find any of my friends. I decided to get on the metro and made it to Gare du Nord. I found my friend Becca and our friend’s dad picked us up.

It took 3 hours from after the game to get home but I was so happy when we made it back to our area. None of the attacks occurred near our quiet residential neighborhood; I live in the 17th arrondissement (district) which is about 30 minutes from the stadium.

The Point: Was anyone you’ve

So in my area the next day everything was kind of open, you could tell everyone was a little tense, but nothing was really weird, but my friends who lived in the 10th and 11th, nothing was open, you could hear a pin drop outside they said, it was just so quiet.

After like two or three days people started coming out more, things started opening up.

The Point: What good do you hope comes from this tragedy?

What good have you already seen come from it?

Bennett: At the memorial site the other day, a friend and I drew a chalk drawing “United States stands with France” on the sidewalk. We had an elderly women come up and thank us profusely. Another man came up later and took a little piece of chalk and wrote “Merci” underneath it. He thanked us and we all hugged and cried. It was such a small moment that

“I actually found out that one of the explosions happened right in the spot that we entered through, like, thirty minutes before they blew up.” extremists.

I think we also all need to be aware of the other situations that are occurring around the world. Paris is getting a lot of attention, but we’re not the only people experiencing disaster.

Sending prayers to Paris is great, but pray for the whole world too.

Lastly I want to remind the people

who you care about how much you love them. I’m sure no one left their house that night for a concert or dinner thinking they may not see friends or family ever again. Be grateful for the people in your life, and send all the prayers you can to the victims and their families.

PHOTO COURTESY EMMA BENNETT A photo showing one of the explosion sites, two days after the attack.

PHOTO COURTESY EMMA BENNETT A photo of Emme Bennett (left) and her friend Rebecca Johnson, taken on November 13.

met while studying in Paris hurt, killed, or at any of the other attack cites?

Bennett: No, and I’m so thankful.

Where the attacks occurred is an area where my friends and I regularly go to, we know that if we wouldn’t have gone to the game we would’ve been in this area that night. But, one of my friends was near the Bataclan concert hall walking down the street, and two men on a motorcycle stop at the end.

He told me that there was a couple in front of him, and he saw the two men at the end of the street raise a gun and begin shooting at them. He grabbed the couple and told them to run, and they hid behind a car. He ran for his life and made it out okay.

The Point: How has the mood of the city changed?

Bennett: I live in the 17th (arrondissement), which is pretty far from where these attacks happened.

made a world of difference to us. Everyone’s really come together during this time of need and it’s been really nice to see a sense of community in such a big city.

The Point: Has your study abroad program been affected?

Bennett: From our school and Paris this year, there’s like 30 kids total that went home to whatever country they were from. So it’s kind of been a big impact and we’re kind of missing some people, but you know, overall I would say we’ve all gotten really close from it too.

The Point: Any final thoughts you’d like to share on the subject?

Bennett: One of my main thoughts and concerns is how people are generalizing the entire Muslim population for this. It’s important for everyone to remember that terrorism has no religion, and to not blame a sea of people for the horrible acts of a few

PHOTO COURTESY EMMA BENNETT The chock drawing made by Bennett at the memorial site.

the point weekly | monday, november 23, 2015

6 | FEATURES

2015 Coronation and Variety Show

BY BY MACKENZIE LEVEQUE

STAFF WRITER

tion manager Caleb Daniels, soccer player Daniel Ten Bosch, and club volleyball player Shane Hunt.

“I thought this was the new science building dedication!” said Chemistry professor Matthieu Rouffet jokingly to his co-host, Literature Chair and professor Karl Martin. Their banter continued throughout the night in between the many performances showcased in Friday’s Variety Show. Point Loma alumni and current students alike took the stage to show off their various talents.

Highlights of the show included the jazz band’s performance of the songs, “Feeling Good” and “Jump, Jive, and Wail.” Freshman PLNU student Mary Rose Gonzales was faced with a challenge as she went up to belt the song, “Stone Cold” with a non working microphone. However, she impressed the crowd by continuing her powerful vocals without falter, even through the exchange of microphones. Other notable performances included the “Mixed Tape Redux-Our College Years,” performed by the now married Gates alumni, the “Hanohano O Maui” dance by the Hui O’ Hawaii student dance club, and “Come Thou Fount,” by Pointless.

ASB Executive Secretary Jake Henry gave a warm welcome to these performers, brandishing a “gratitude list” that ran several feet long. The homecoming court was announced by coronation emcees Tim and Ron Benefiel. The freshman class was represented by Hayley Haas and Forrest Case, the sophomore class by Taylor Steele and Samuel Doctorian, and the junior class by Madison West and Jordan Pacheco. The senior class had six candidates for the homecoming king and queen. The candidates for queen included Finch Resident Advisor Jessica Hong, “The Point’s” Web Editor Jordan Ligons, and Goodwin Resident Advisor Addison Rucker. The candidates for king included Point Television Sta-

PLNU

The show concluded with the announcement of homecoming queen and king. The homecoming king for 2015 is Daniel ten Bosch, who studies physics and dances in Stomp, the Line Dancing Club. The homecoming queen is Jessica Hong, a hammock enthusiast who enjoys watching the sunset from the lower Goodwin parking lot.

Junior Prince and Princess

Daniel

Sophomore Prince and Princess Freshman Prince and Princess

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SOCH.

7 | FEATURES

monday, november 23, 2015 | the point weekly

U’s 2015 Homecoming King and Queen

l ten Bosch

Jessica Hong

the point weekly | monday, november 23, 2015

8 | A&E

a&e

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/24-29: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Broadway San Diego 11/25-29: San Diego Jazz Fest at Town and Country Resort & Convention Center 11/28: Breakfast with Tigers at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Spitting it in the right direction

BY JONATHAN SOCH

STAFF WRITER

The spirit of “Spit It” is a little bit impromptu.

For some of the students who performed at Thursday’s spoken word poetry event Spit It, the decision to stand up in front of the audience and recite may have been last minute.

“Seeing other people do it really inspires me to maybe starting doing it more often,” said sophomore biology student Joshua Abaca. “I’m better at articulating my thoughts, you know?”

Abaca had never participated at PLNU’s Spit It before, but for him it was an opportunity to practice spoken word and to perform live.

“That was something I wrote.

They’re just randomly like – whenever I have like thoughts in my head I just try to put it down so I don’t forget it. It wasn’t really refined or anything, but I’m just like ‘you know what, I’m supporting Gia, she needs more people,” said Abaca.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH Joy Fuliga performs an original song.

pression of social frustration.

“Spoken word poetry is a performance type of art, and it has, like, a lot of basis for poetry while incorporating mostly social issues,” said Cabarse. “I think a lot of the time, when people are frustrated with the way the world is working, or when they’re frustrated with the way people work it gets pretty easy to – I don’t’ know –internalize all

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH Audience members look on during Thursday’s “Spit It” event.

He got up on stage in the ARC to perform after being motivated by the encouragements of the event’s host, Gia Carbase. She is the president of the campus’s Spoken Word Club, which typically puts on the “Spit It” event once a semester. For her, Spit It is part performance and part an ex-

of that, and so this is a way to externalize that frustration.”

The event featured more than just poetry; it also included musical performances by several students.

“I don’t do spoken work, I’m, like not good at it,” said sophomore psychology major Joy Fuliga. She is a

commuter who attended “Spit It” with a friend and decided to perform one of her original songs.

The night also featured a headline performance by senior Kresta Ria Tabaranza.

“I’m just dumbfounded,” said Tabaranza, thanking all of the other speakers for their performances. “My form of expression is through song.”

According to Gia, events like “Spit It” are an opportunity for Spoken Word Club members to practice their skills. The club doesn’t hold weekly meetings and opts instead to host between two and three workshops a semester where members can write, practice, and get feedback from each other.

Cabarse believes that spoken word poetry is a way that people can find reconciliation and therapy for their problems, emotions, and the ugly sides of life, much in the same way that it does for her.

She has been writing since she was 16 and saw the popularity of spoken word at her home in the bay area before coming to PLNU. She’s been involved with the Spoken Word Club since her freshman year. According to her, the expression that comes with spoken word is a way of self-improvement.

“Putting it in poetry makes people better,” she said. “Being able to hear everybody’s perspective and frame it within the context of poetry – it is

PHOTO BY JWONATHAN SOCH Senior MOCM major Jacob Fletcher plays guitar for Kresta Tabaranza’s performance.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH Senior social work major Kendra Peterson on stage peforming spoken word.

Silhouettes: PLNU concert band show

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SOCH The PLNU Concert Band performed its homecoming show “Silhouettes” on Thursday.

9 | SPORTS

monday, november 23 2015 | the point weekly

sports

SEA LION SCORES

11/18: W. Basketball, Win 90-62 vs. Chaminade M. Basketball, Loss 53-54 vs. Cal Poly Pamona 11/21 (homecoming): W. Volleyball, Win 3-0 vs Concoria (CA) W. Basketball, Win 80-67 vs Northwest Nazarene M. Basketball, Win 91-76 vs Cal State East Bay

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/24: W. Basketball vs Seattle Pacific M. Basketball vs Young Harris 11/27: W. Basketball vs Cal State Dominguez Hills 11/28: W. Women’s Basketball vs Cal State Los Angeles M. Basketball at Cal State Los Angeles

Balanced scoring attack powers women’s basketball team over Northwest Nazarene

BY LOUIS SCHULER

STAFF WRITER

The PLNU women’s basketball team improved to a 3-0 record after beating Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) on Saturday night by a score of 80-67.

The win came on a night when the team’s leading scorer, sophomore Roya Rustamzada –who came in as the top scorer in the PacWest at 23 points per game-, finished the first half going 0-4 from the field. The Sea Lions responded by picking up the scoring through a balanced attack from junior Madison West, sophomore Alex Brunk and junior Sydney Tonack.

After leading for most of the game, however, the Sea Lions found themselves with their backs against the wall as NNU pulled within four points with about four minutes remaining in the game. The team was able to pull away after changing their initial defensive scheme of a 2-3 zone, which was used for the majority of the game.

West said the win was instrumental for the success of the team as they progress through the season.

“I would say critical,” said West.

“It came down pretty close and we obviously needed to step up in the end.

We switched to man [man-to-man defense]; we really wanted to get those deflections in and take their postmoves away. So I think going man was smart. In those last five minutes, it was just critical that we did not foul and get to the free-throw line more and we just played well.”

Their successful start to this season is in polar contrast to last year.

After playing eight games, the Sea Lions posted a 1-7 record. At one point during that stint, the team shot an abysmal 27.9% from the field against California State University, Los Angeles and made many costly turnovers.

However, this season has been a different story thus far.

“I just think that we’re ready,” said Rustamzada. “We’re hungry, we felt that we could’ve done so much better last season. We’re coming back as a new team, we all know each other. We know how we play and I think other teams still underestimate us; and we’re gladly proving them wrong.”

For 17-year head coach Bill Westphal, who is coaching the last season of his career, the key to this season’s early success has been the audacious nature of the roster after beating the number one ranked team in the country in last year’s NCAA West Regional tournament.

PHOTO BY LOUIS SCHULER Sophomore Alex Brunk converts a driving layup against an Northwest Nazarene University defender in the first half. Brunk scored 20 points on 8-12 shooting.

“I think the confidence and momentum from the end of last season has carried over, somewhat,” said Westphal. “This team thinks they’re better than they are; [but] they play hard, they play together and when we play smarter—we’re pretty good.”

The Sea Lions were led by a gamehigh of 22 points from West, 20 points from Brunk, 15 points from Rustamza-

da and 12 points from Tonack. However, the difference-maker was in the miscellaneous category. The team amassed 14 steals to NNU’s six.

“Well we’re not getting [the turnovers] off of the press. So you basically just get it off of hustle and scramble,” said Westphal. “Sometimes, on defense –especially zones- you just have to scramble. And if you scramble with

your hands out, and eventually get a deflection, then that’s when we go [on the fast-break].”

The women’s basketball team will host a tough game against Seattle Pacific University (2-2) on Tuesday, November 24.

spread people out and make cuts to the basket, it’s really hard to leave the guys outside the three [open],” said head coach Bill Carr. “We start a lineup where everyone can make a three, and that’s hard to deal with.

“Now as we substitute and get other groups in there, we got to have different plans and plays and different things. But when we spread you out, the ball’s moving and no one cares who’s making it—we’re hard to guard.”

The scoring outburst wasn’t merely a result of the myriad of shots taken by the Sea Lions. With a couple of seconds remaining in the first half, PLNU was leading by 16 points, shot six for 11 from behind the arc and 10 for 19 - 52.6 percent - from the field.

The hot shooting didn’t subside; however, as the team continued to torch the net from all over the court.

In the second half, the team made all eight three-point attempts, which amounted to a team season-high 73.7 percent from the three-point line for the game.

“We’re not as relied upon individually, but we’re more spread out and balanced,” said Senior Sam Okhotin, who is leading the Sea Lions in scoring with 16.8 points per game. “Like, Judd is averaging seven a game, but he had twenty-something tonight, so it’s kind of like anyone can go off. Our big guy [Tanner Lancona] can shoot three’s; I mean we’re so well-balanced that it’s really hard for any defense to guard everyone.”

After losing two All-PacWest players last season, –Hayden Lescault and Marek Klassen- head coach Bill Car –who had 20 years of prior coaching experience before signing on with the Sea Lions in 2011- was given the difficult task to find other sources of consistent scoring. Last season, Lescault and Klassen accounted for 32.4 percent of the team’s scoring average per game.

For the time being, that doubt seems to have been quelled as the team has averaged about 70 points per game through four games this season—the same average they had last year.

“I don’t see this as a rebuilding year as much as a reloading year. You know, what we miss with Marek [Klassen] is his experience, his competitiveness, his toughness and certainly the way he shot it,” said Carr. “And with Hayden [Lescault] we miss his playmaking ability and his experience in big games, and Junior [Morgan] was a load inside. I think we got different types of players and we’re built a little different than last year. But I really like the upside of this group.”

The men’s basketball team will look to continue their hot streak as they host Young Harris University (13) on Tuesday, November 24.

“I‘d like to praise the students for Wednesday night and tonight,” said Carr. “The students got to understand the more they’re here and the louder they are, the better our guys will play.

It’s a thrill for our guys to play in front of them.”

Men’s basketball team rides hot shooting en route to win

PHOTO BY LOUIS SCHULER Junior Mike Planeta goes for a layup to score two of his 10 points. He was one of six Sea Lions who scored in double-figures against Cal State University East Bay.

BY LOUIS SCHULER

STAFF WRITER

It’s not exactly the 5-0 start they had last season.

But they’ll take it.

The PLNU men’s basketball team won their homecoming game – in which they never trailed – in commanding fashion—91-76 against Cal State East Bay University last Saturday to improve their record to 2-2 on

the season.

Senior Judd Welfringer, who came into the contest averaging 7.3 points per game, had overtaken his scoring average 11 minutes into the first half after scoring 10 points; Welfringer also shot 80 percent from the threepoint line.

“It’s really easy when the rest of your team can all shoot and all play really well,” said Welfringer. “Teams will scout for them and then overlook me a little bit. And that gives me a chance to

shoot open shots, which is always nice.

Especially like with Sam (Okhotin), Mike (Planeta) and Josh (Rodriguez) and all of them hitting shots—it makes it easier for the rest of us.”

The scoring was contagious for virtually the entire Sea Lion’s starting five. While Welfringer ended with a game-high of 22 points, a total of six Sea Lion players scored in double figures—a feat that has been done twice since the 2009 homecoming game.

“Well [with] the way we tend to

the point weekly | monday, november 23, 2015

10 | SPORTS

Women’s volleyball takes win in straight sets over Concordia University

BY LOUIS SCHULER

STAFF WRITER

The Point Loma women’s volleyball team have guaranteed their spot in the NCAA West Regional Tournament -on December 3- after beating Concordia University (CU) in their final game of the season, 3-0 last Saturday.

The win marked the Sea Lion’s thirteenth win in their last 14 matches, and improved their record to 20-9 on the season.

Second-year head coach Jonathan Scott said the season hasn’t always been an easy ride for them, despite the lopsided victory. “[This season has been] An absolute emotional roller-coaster,” said Scott. “We have six seniors who I absolutely adore. We’ve had some struggles, but we’ve also played some of the best volleyball that I know is being played in the country, and we’re not ready for it to end.”

It was a win-or-go-home scenario for the team prior to their final game of the season. With a sixth seed in the regional ranking poll –all top eight seeds qualify for the tournament heading into the match- the team could not afford to lose against a Concordia squad they haven’t faced all season.

But the recent success hasn’t always been consistent this year.

At the halfway point of the schedule, the Sea Lions were 8-8—a record that would have kept them out of playoff contention.

And much like the team’s season,

PHOTO BY LOUIS SCHULER Senior Heather Leavitt rises up for multiple kills against Concordia defenders. Leavitt finished the match with 21 kills.

the game had many highs and lows.

Fast-forward to Saturday’s game.

On match point, junior Christin Fisher – who has led the team in digs for the past three consecutive seasons with 508 this year – leaped to dig out a kill from Concordia’s front line, which then resulted in a Heather Leavitt spike.

“It’s all pretty much [reading] the hitter,” said Fisher. “Where she’s facing, you have to read her hips, her shoulders, her arm and her elbow—if she drops it. And it also depends on our blockers, like how we set up our block –we always have a call for our blockers- so it just depends on that.”

If only it were that easy.

Concordia University dug the ball out on their side and tied the match at 24-24. Eventually, however, the Sea Lions closed out the match after a penalty was issued to CU after an illegal player came to the net to spike the ball.

The implications of the match were evident in the Sea Lion’s body

language on the court—they knew what was at stake as they were constantly communicating with each other.

Sophomore Bethany Mandon, who leads the team in blocks with 81 for the second consecutive year, said communication is crucial for the team.

“It’s so much of an emotional sport. So I think for us—being loud and talking about things and encouraging one another and stuff like that, it’s so important. I think that can make or break it,” said Mandon. “When people start getting silent or bickering—that’s when things cause problems. So constantly having that energy and excitement -especially in a game like volleyball- I think that’s a big part for us.”

From an individual performance, it was a special game for Leavitt and senior Savannah Wedemeyer. After notching her second kill of the game, Leavitt surpassed 1,500 career kills— which puts her at sixth place all-time behind Rochelle Short. This came at the same time as senior Savannah Wedemeyer came into the match third all-time in school history in career assists with 3,946. Wedemeyer led the team with 31 assists in her final regular season game as a Sea Lion.

The PLNU women’s volleyball team will take their momentum into the first round of the NCAA West Regional Tournament this Thursday in an effort to eventually qualify for the Division II Championship at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa, Florida.

PHOTO BY LOUIS SCHULER Senior Heather Leavitt rises up for multiple kills against Concordia defenders. Leavitt finished the match with 21 kills.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY BARNTS 1,933 spectator’s were in attendance for the men’s basketball game on Saturday night. Homecoming week kicked off with a professional painting exhibition on Nov. 16 at the Keller Gallery and ended with a 91-76 win. PLNU won all competitive games during homecoming.

PHOTO BY LOUIS SCHULER Senior Savannah Wedemeyer leaps in the air for one of her two aces.

Wedemeyer also finished with a game-high 31 assists.

11 | OPINION

monday, november 23, 2015 | the point weekly

opinion

Jonathan Soch // Editor-In-Chief Jake Henry // News Editor Samantha Watkins // Features Editor Louis Schuler // Sports Editor Autumn Schultz // A&E Editor

Cori Deason // Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart // Copy Editor Tory Ordoña // Copy Editor Valerie Kahn// Layout Editor Jordan Ligons// Web Editor

The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to corideason404@pointloma.edu.

Paris: we are giving ISIS exactly what they want

BY KAI PEDERSON

CONTRIBUTOR

It’s a bit difficult to write about the attacks in Paris as an American; Paris isn’t our capital, but I think for a lot of Americans the bombs and bullets that ripped apart the tranquil November evening in one of the most iconic cities in the world strummed for the first time those chords of memory struck on 9/11 still so painfully sore. Many Americans have sought to respond in a tangible way. Here’s what we’ve come up with:

Thirty of the fifty total Governors of our so called “United” States have vocally refused to accept any refugees fleeing Syria’s Civil War (despite their clear legal inability to do so).

How do the American people feel about this? According to two new Bloomberg polls 53% of Americans oppose President Obama’s plan to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States. Meanwhile, French President François Hollande just publically recommitted France to accept an even larger number of Syrian refugees— 30,000, than France had committed to in September. And I thought we were the home of the brave.

The attitude of the 30 governors who have voiced so bluntly their opposition to receiving Syrian refugees, as well as our collective attitude towards them as Americans is nothing less than an embarrassment. Not only is it a betrayal of one of our deepest professed values, that of bravery, but it represents a stunning strategic defeat in the “war on terror.”

In ISIS’ English-language magazine, “Dabiq” ISIS called for the “extinction” of the so called “grey zone”

between the Muslim and Western World shortly after the attack on the Charlie Hebdo Magazine in Paris in January.

ISIS writes “The Muslims in the West will quickly find themselves between one of two choices, they either… adopt the infidel religion propagated by Bush, Obama, Blair, Cameron, Sarkozy, and Hollande in the name of Islam so as to live amongst the infidels without hardship, or they… [emigrate] to the Islamic State and thereby escape persecution from the crusader governments and citizens...

Muslims in the crusader countries will find themselves driven to abandon their homes for a place to live in the Khilfah, as the crusaders increase persecution against Muslims living in Western lands…”

My friends— Americans, Point Lomans, we just got called out by ISIS. Not only are we behaving exactly how ISIS expects us to, we are behaving exactly how they want us to. For every Syrian refugee to whom we close a door ISIS wins a victory, and for every Syrian refugee to whom we hold the door open ISIS suffers a defeat.

When we were attacked on September 11th, 2001, the United States was faced with the greatest test of her moral character in her history. On behalf of Lady Liberty, we failed that test spectacularly. I beg of us to learn from our mistakes.

I’m reading a book for my Women Writers class called “Small Wonder,”

by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s not a book about terrorism, or Islamic Extremism (it’s a book about how to respond to such things) but it was written in response to 9/11 and published in 2002.

ARTWORK COURTESY OF FLICKR USER CALVIN OGAWA

I was stunned by this passage.

“This new enemy is not a person, or a place, it isn’t a country; it is a pure and fearsome ire as widespread as some raw element like fire. I can’t sensibly declare war on fire, or reasonably pretend that it lives in a secret hideout like some comic-book villain, irrationally waiting while my superhero locates it and then drags it out to the thrill of my applause. We try desperately to personify our enemy in this way, and who can blame us? It’s all we know how to do. Declaring war on a fragile human body and then driving the breath from it— that is how enmity has been dispatched for all of time…

“But now we are faced with something new: an enemy we can’t kill because it’s a widespread anger so

much stronger than physical want that its foot soldiers gladly surrender their lives in its service. We who live in this moment are not its cause— instead, a thousand historic hungers blended to create it— but we are its chosen target: We threaten this hatred, and it grows.

We smash the human vessels that contain it, and it doubles in volume like a magical liquid poison and pours itself into many more waiting vessels. We kill its leaders, and they swell to the size of martyrs and heroes, inspiring more martyrs and heroes. This terror now requires of us something that most us haven’t considered: how to defuse a lethal enemy through some tactic more effective than simply going at it with the biggest stick at hand…

“Some forms of enemy are made more deadly by killing. It would

require the deepest possible shift of our hearts to live in this world of fundamental animosity and devote ourselves not to the escalating exertion to kill, but rather, to lulling animosity to sleep. Modern humanity may not be up to the challenge. Modern humanity may not have a choice.”

I’m not quite ready to criticize France for bombing Raqqah (ISIS’s proclaimed capital) in response to the attacks last Friday, but what I do hope is that we, as Americans do our part to help our world heal from this era of terror far from over, and we can only do so by opening our hearts in time.

Kai Pedersen is a Senior political science major.

A red cup: every Christian’s nightmare

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH The Starbucks holiday cup has caused controversy for its not-so-festive design.

BY KRISTI JOHNSON

STAFF WRITER

As the holiday season fast approaches, one of the only signs that lets us Californian’s know that it is get-

ting colder in the rest of the country is Starbucks’ iconic holiday cup.

Typically, these cups are decorated with snowflakes, polar bears, snowmen, and even tree orna-

ments—all of which perfectly portray what Christmas is all about. This year, Starbucks has created a national war on Christmas. Their failure to place not even one snowflake on their iconic

red cup has given us every reason to just cancel Christmas this year.

This solid red cup has stirred up controversy all over the country, especially among the Christian community.

Many Christians believe that Starbucks is essentially selling “Satan sippers,” as many extremists are now calling them, all because of their failed attempt to place any sort of holiday decoration on their iconic cups.

PLNU nursing student and coffee enthusiast, Hannah Delahunty, weighs in on this controversy. She laughs, “Starbucks can put whatever they want on their cups. As long as they still fill it with my all time favorite vanilla soy late, I could care less about what’s on the outside.”

Now, you may be thinking to yourself: is the main reason for these anti-Christmas cups all because Starbucks hates polar bears and snowflakes? Well, Starbucks vice president of Design and Content, Jeffery Fields, clarified the true reason why these cups failed to meet our expectations this holiday season.

“In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs…this year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes

all of our stories,” Fields explains.

Then again, the idea that we get to fill our holiday cups with our own stories this year is not such a bad idea. We can use this blank canvas as a way to show our nation what it really means to be a Christian or what the true meaning of Christmas is.

For example, buy the person in line behind you a cup of coffee or one of those really yummy peppermint cake pops—if you haven’t tried them yet, you’re seriously missing out.

You could simply just wish the barista a Merry Christmas, as you purchase your daily cup of Joe. Or, if conversing with other human beings is far beyond your comfort zone, you could even use this red cup as a blank canvas to display your artistic abilities.

Our relationship with the Lord is not defined or based on whether or not Starbucks places a polar bear or a snowman on their holiday cups. It is more than that. It is about exemplifying who we are as followers of Christ.

In this season of giving and celebration, let’s celebrate all of life’s blessings—a plain red cup included.

the point weekly | monday, november 23, 2015

12 | OPINION

A little advice on how to move around

BY TORY ORDONA

STAFF WRITER

Alright kids, gather round; your old uncle Tory has some words for you.

The relationships between pedestrians and drivers around PLNU should result in a lot more scraped roads, bottomed-out vehicles, and exploding fruit stands. I’ve been both a driver and pedestrian on campus and I can tell you both are pretty awful experiences. I have a few suggestions (modest proposals, even) that I am confident will make our campus safer and more enjoyable.

Pedestrians, you must be mindful whenever you encounter a road. Why do so many of us take four and a half minutes to cross from the end of caf lane to the west entrance of brown chapel? It’s less than 30 feet. We drivers would really appreciate if pedestrians would power walk through crosswalks. And I mean crosswalks. I expect, quite reasonably, that you will use a crosswalk. If you cross before or after or just randomly in the middle of the street, I won’t be as ready to stop for you, and that puts both of us in danger.

I don’t want to sound like a curmudgeon (too late?), because we all get more than enough abuse from actual curmudgeons, but I also need you to look up from your phone or paper or what have you for just a second before you cross. Under state and federal law, pedestrians have the right of way-- but under Newton’s first law of motion, a two ton steel box powered by explosions and liquified dinosaur bones will continue moving a few feet after the brakes are engaged (I may be paraphrasing Newton here). Please don’t let your knees be in the space that my bumper is about to occupy. Do not assume that drivers will be able stop for you. Look both ways before crossing the street. Be aware and considerate of drivers who have been waiting.

Brown Chapel is probably the number one place drivers get frustrated with pedestrians. Immediately before and after chapel, we have sev-

eral cars and hundreds of pedestrians trying to get through the same spaces.

It’d be nice to have signals to tell us who gets to go and when, but drivers are often at the mercy of oblivious pedestrians. The choice of the driver then is to do something aggressive, like inch onto the crosswalk while people are on it, or wait for some kind hearted soul to wait (bless those of you who regularly let cars go when they’ve been waiting to get past the crosswalk.) I want to say cars should get priority after chapel because there are fewer of them and they can cross in a few seconds as opposed to the four and

15 mph. I know that it’s tempting to exceed this limit, especially if you’re late, but please consider slowing down. Remember that the motorist-pedestrian relationship is predicated on trust and the ability to reasonably expect certain behavior at certain places. Respect crosswalks. Take it slow. Park only in designated spots so that you don’t gum up the works (Physical Plant, why do you have to park vans in the street in front of the parking structure? We all need the lanes. Can we make room for you somehow?)

There are some other measures that can only be enacted by Public

know where traffic was coming from, and drivers could more easily navigate narrow roads and blocked lanes.

Some segments of campus are already one way, and barring Tilikum, they’re the nicer places to drive (this may have something to do with the lack of pedestrians.)

I want to thank all of you that skateboard, longboard, bike, rollerblade, unicycle, or segway across campus. You never take four and a half minutes to cross the street, and only very rarely do you make trouble for us motorists. You should share sidewalks with pedestrians as much as possible,

CONTRIBUTORS

The gender identity policy first seen in the 2013-2014 student handbook is a demonstration of hate and discrimination that clearly diverges from PLNU’s core values, dodges public responsibility, and undermines the academic integrity of the intellectual communities throughout the university.

As alumni, we believe this language – authored by Title IX coordinator, Caye Smith, with approval by the administration cabinet – fails to recognize the nuances of gender identity, incubates a culture of fear that contributes to a hateful discourse, and normalizes dangerous binaries; all of these things work together in conjunction to result in increasing violence against the transgender community, disproportionately experienced by persons of color.

We rebuke this language, and urge Caye Smith, the Board of Trustees, and the administration cabinet to reconsider their dangerous position on gender identity.

The student handbook claims

Have something to say? Submit your random thoughts, funny comments, or opinions!

Text your #LomaChatter to 619-786-6890!

Stay strong, don’t give up.

Is Lescart the only professor that wears jeans and t-shirts?

Open hours just doesn’t make sense because we’re all adults here.

Point Loma High School University I think it’s a little odd that we had class on Veterans Day. It feels like a slap in the face to our vets.

Well 10:32 pm seems like as good a time as any to start that paper due tomorrow.

Frat boy whimpers as God whispers “who do you know here?” at the pearly gates of heaven.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SOCH A car drives down Peppertree Lane.

a half minutes it takes for pedestrians sometimes, but I’m a member of the motorist party now, so make of my decision what you will.

Another hazardous point for pedestrians is the roundabout and the stretch of road between Cabrillo, the Greek, and the Fermanian Business Center. The road is a bit narrower than most places around campus, and the pedestrians walking there most mornings make me nervous. Would you kindly consider walking on the sidewalks by Evans and Taylor halls and through the Greek? I realize it might be a bit longer, but I would be a lot less likely to run into you with my two-ton death machine.

Drivers, there are things that we have to do as well to keep everyone safe. There are only three speed limit signs around campus. All of them read

Safety or whoever is responsible for managing the roads. The first thing is that speed bumps, specifically those

by Goodwin and Wiley, are too huge.

I named one of them Tilikum after another large, black thing with white markings that threatens the safety of those around it and costs San Diegans tons of money. If you have more than two people OR 180 lbs in your vehicle, Tilikum will get you. It doesn’t matter how slow you go: Tilikum wants oil, iron, and blood. That speed bump needs to be put down.

My last suggestion would probably be the most effective, but we will all have to give up some freedom of movement to make it happen. I think most campus roads should be one way.

The on-campus shuttle route would make the most sense for all motorists to follow. If every vehicle is moving in one direction, pedestrians would

but we all know how crowded they can get and understand if you need to use a lane to get around. Keep being rad.

The advice I’ve given these past two weeks, just to recap for you, is as follows: Pedestrians must use designated crosswalks and sidewalks whenever possible. Pedestrians must cross quickly and watch for drivers trying to use the street. Drivers must respect crosswalks. Drivers must watch for pedestrians trying to cross. Drivers should not exceed 15 miles per hour. Speed bumps on campus must be reduced in size. Finally, I humbly suggest that the people of PLNU consider making the roads one way to increase efficiency and safety.

Tory Ordona is a Senior writing major, and he is the copy editor for The Point.

Alumni respond to student handbook

BY DANE CARDIEL AND CAITLYN BURFORD

#LomaChatter

that the gender binary is divinely created and that gender is not a matter determined by personal preference.

This language reduces a person to their genitalia without giving respect to the full range of inner emotional complexities that inform identity and exist outside of that gender binary.

The regulations following this statement callously diminish our lived experiences and suggest that we choose our identities the way we choose our clothing in the morning; that our identities are a matter of preference, not the very fabric of who we are.

The handbook also states that a student’s choice of clothing should be consistent with his or her assigned sex at birth. The problem is clear, written overtly in the language of “assigned.”

Doctors frequently (much more frequently than is publicly assumed) do assign sex. One in 100 babies have genitalia that differ from the medical standard of male or female, and one in 500 births result in a small surgery to “normalize” genital appearance. Not only is gender a social construct; sex, too, is a scientific construct. Male and female are not absolutes. (Source: Intersex Society of North America) Social gender identities of men

and women should not be tied inextricably to a body part, and certainly not one that a doctor frequently and arbitrarily chooses. While the handbook acknowledges cases of “sexually ambiguous births,” one of these births in 100 is not rare. The handbook goes on to say that a student who faces such challenges can discuss their concerns with the Director of Residential Life, who will provide appropriate university resources and assistance. To this point, we think the administration and student health services should publish a publicly accessible list that specifies what these current resources are.

Language from the handbook also states that students will be given housing and athletic team assignments based on the assigned sex of students at birth. However, for transgender students, the effects of these rules can range from uncomfortable to downright dangerous. Transgender people are used to being forced to use facilities that are inappropriate for them; recent attention has come onto the need for public restrooms to become gender neutral, so that safer spaces are created for transgender people to live their daily lives. We urge the university to take note of this need and

change regulations so that transgender students can live their lives as safely and comfortably as possible; part of this starts with changing the dialogue and correcting the dangerous rhetoric propelled forward by this handbook.

(Source: Advocate) This is a global crisis, and the language used in the PLNU Student Handbook is very clearly a part of the systemic problem. Moving forward, we urge the university to reestablish a community that protects transgender and gender-nonconforming students.

We also encourage current students to discuss this initial critique, add your own thoughts to the discussion, and organize your efforts such that PLNU can emerge a more inclusive environment.

The real walk of shame is carrying your 5 plates, 2 bowls, and 3 drinks back to the dish return area because you eat like a horse.

You know you’re doing well in life when you get a slice of pumpkin pie at the caf Are you PLNU wifi? Cause I don’t feel a connection.

PLNU: where apparently 3D printing is free but regular printing is not

Trump wishes he had your hair.

Strangely attracted to low key guys not on social media with barely any friends that are always busy working on themselves.

God is SO good. Early morning chapel always puts me in the best mood.

College is cool because you could pass by a guy in a suit and a guy in pajamas and they could both have PHD’s Don’t get me wrong, I love college.

But I cant wait to actually get paid to do work, rather than paying to do work.

Time to cry into my cereal after that chem test.

When the song hits you in the honey nut feelios I have more money on my Starbucks card than in my checking account.

I know a philosophy major who dropped out of college because he convinced himself he didn’t exist.

I like to think I’m athletic. I’m probably not, but I like to think that I am.

Dane Cardiel is a Psychology; Character, Morality, & Culture major from the class of 2010. Caitlyn Buford is a Philosophy & Theology major from the class of 2010.

I pray that I don’t regret the decisions I am making.

My motivation for waking up is knowing I will see bae later in the day, and by bae I mean my bed.