Point issue 16, Feb. 23, 2015

The Point student newspaper of point loma nazarene university

monday, february 23, 2015

Features, page 4

volume 43 | issue 16

A&E, page 8

Sports, page 9

Opinion, page 11

More on Loma Beat!

ASB allocates over $400,000 for this year’s budget

BY KENDALL BOSHART STAFF WRITER

The Associated Student Body budgeted over $400,000 for activities, events and other services this year.

This included everything from silent dances to complaint dinners, all of which came directly from the current ASB Board of Directors. Due to the amount of moving parts and unsettled accounts, ASB is unable to provide specific totals on money spent to date.

The breakdown of spending occurs in two major categories: ASB allocation of funds to Media Board, collectively made up of The Point, Point T.V., Point Radio, Driftwood and The Mariner, and ASB spending within the ASB Board of Directors.

Within these two categories, there are over 30 subcategories of funding that is used to pay for everything from replacement staplers to expenses at the Sunset Ceremony at graduation.

The current ASB Director of Finance, Matt Herskowitz, managed ASB’s funds this year.

“We’ve focused on really increasing ASB’s impact around campus and reaching out to other areas on cam-

pus like commuter, Public Safety and Ryan Library,” said Herskowitz.

Of all the Media Board members in the 2014-2015 school year, The Point starts with the most generous budget, beginning the year with over $20,000. ASB contributes $5,000 to that overall figure. These funds are largely spent on printing which runs anywhere from about $830 to $1,030 depending on color and length per issue.

The rest of Media Board spends about $6,500 combined. mcKensey Wise, in an email sent to all Media Board directors Friday explained that ASB was planning on pulling back from their monetary involvement with Media Board.

“Rather than ASB allocating specific budgets to Media Board each fall, the school will separate $40,000 from the general fees before it ever reaches ASB’s budget and allocate it to the Media Board for each department to distribute to each Media Board branch’s needs,” said Wise in the email.

Collectively, ASB budgets the rest of their funds into five main categoSEE BUDGET, PAGE 2

Activities: $50,000 Clubs: $60,000 Club Reserves: $20,000 Fair Trade Fund: $14,379 School Spirit: $15,000 School Spirit Reserves: $50,000 Service Awards: $125,500 Special Projects: $60,000

roughly

98%

Spiritual Life: $10,000 $9,000 $8,000 $7,000 $6,000 $5,000

roughly

$4,000

2%

$3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $

GRAPHIC BY KELSEY VASQUEZ; INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ASB DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

ASB allocated $400,000 for this year’s budget. Nearly 98 percent of that goes toward nine different subcategories, as designated by the ASB Board of Directors. The other two percent is more activity-driven.

ASB inaugurates new board of direcMet Opera’s tors with traditional mementos Yelena Kurdina teaches ‘more sound, more breath, more emotion’ in Crill

BY KENDALL BOSHART STAFF WRITER

BY KATIE CALLAHAN STAFF WRITER

Yelena Kurdina, a Metropolitan Opera vocal coach and assistant conductor, coached four PLNU voice students in a master class at Crill Performance Hall Saturday.

Kurdina has partnered with many singers, including Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Approximately 100 people filled Crill to listen to her critique student performances.

“She is an internationally known pianist and vocal coach and works with the elite classical singers of the world,” said Craig Johnson, associate professor of music at PLNU, via email. “To have someone of this caliber on our campus says a lot about our program, our students and our commitment to the future of classical singing.”

Kurdina is no stranger to international opera houses, including Opera National de Paris, Houston Grand

Opera, Saito Kinen Festival in Japan, Summerscape in the New Frank Gehry Theater at Bard College, Teatro de la Maestranza in Sevilla, Spain, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C. She came to PLNU because a mutual friend, mezzo-soprano Susanna Poretsky, is a mutual friend of Johnson. The Metropolitan Opera National Council said they would pay the fee for the master’s class if winners from the Met Auditions were used in the performances. Five of the seven award winners are current PLNU seniors and PLOT members.

Currently, Kurdina works at the Metropolitan Opera as a guest coach in LA and does a lot of private coaching.

Hosted by Point Loma Opera Theatre (PLOT) and the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the master class consisted of students SEE OPERA, PAGE 2

“Your work starts today,” said current ASB President mcKensey Wise, to the ASB elect board of directors at Monday night’s inauguration. “[Today] you are students employed by students,” said Wise.

The official results of the ASB elections, which took place last week on Wednesday concluded Friday afternoon. The unofficial inauguration, held in Colt Forum, was attended by approximately 25 students and saw the traditional handing down of office items to the new board.

This year’s ASB Board of Directors is made up of president AJ Borland, Austin Flanagan, Riley Verner, Harrison Wise, Nick Kjeldgaard, Samantha Watkins, Austin Andrews and Jake Henry.

A staff with the name of every director of student relations on it since 1993 is passed down. The next director of finance is “knighted” with a white wooden sword. And to the president, an engraved gavel.

Current ASB Director of Finance, Matt Herskowitz summed up the way that this year’s board has left an impact at PLNU.

“It’s been a really great year,” said Herskowtiz. “We’ve focused on making activities a lot bigger and better, we’ve really taken up student initiatives. We’ve contributed money to Res Life for dorm events, to commuter services and focused on really kind of increasing ASB’s impact around campus.”

The newest members of the ASB board of directors all have a common interest in improving the student experience. Borland admits ASB president was not his original plan, but that as his passion for this campus has grown so has his desire to participate in students’ lives.

The event was open to all students to attend as a part of the transparency that this year’s ASB has tried to afford students.

“The weekly address [video] has been a really big outlet,” said Wise.

“We try to talk about all the big decisions we’ve made.”

Wise stressed that the job of all ASB boards is to be more than a voice to the students but to be a voice for the students to administration.

“I think [ASB] is the voice of the students to the administration,” said Wise. “It’s kind of that connection between students and administration.”

PHOTO BY KENDALL BOSHART Current ASB President mcKensey Wise presented A.J. Borland, the ASB-elect President, with an engraved gavel at last Monday’s unofficial inauguration.

The legacy of transparency that this year’s board has pushed is an aspect that Borland expects to persist next year as well.

“I want our board to be open and available to students,” said Borland.

“We want student feedback and for students to feel like we are listening to what they like and what they don’t like.”

Borland’s previous experience on the board along with other returning members Watkins and Riley Verner SEE INAUGURATION, PAGE 2

the point | monday, february 23, 2015

2 | NEWS

Wellness Center presents ‘Killing Us Softly’

PHOTO BY ZACHARY SOUSER Booths set up on Caf Lane promoted healthful practices and positive body image with the ‘Fuel Success Fair’ hosted by the Wellness Center.

BY JAKE HENRY STAFF WRITER

An advertisement splashed across the screen.

“I’d probably never be married if I hadn’t lost 49lbs.”

Wellness Center hosted the screening of Jean Kilbourne’s documentary, “Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women,” in Colt Forum Feb. 17 revealing the exploitation of women in media.

These usually took the form of advertisements and commercials.

“This video brings to light the advertisement that is all around us,” said Sarah Villafane, junior psychology major, via email. “We see it in magazines, movies, and on the internet.

These images affect us and distort our views of beauty.”

FROM OPERA, PAGE 1

performing operatic pieces and then receiving constructive criticism from Kurdina as they sang their pieces multiple times.

“It’s always amazing to hear a vocal coach work with young students and then you hear them go up just a little bit more, learn just a little bit more.

I’m not a vocalist but I’m a musician, I was, and I always learn something from these every time, so it was great,” said Ted McLaughlin, the San Diego district co-director for the Metropolitan Opera National Council.

The first performer was Nicholas Newton, a senior 21-year-old voice major at San Diego State University who sang “Ah, per sempre” from the opera, “I Puritani,” by Vincenzo Bellini.

“Breath is part of music and breath is part of expression...It’s also a musical device,” she advised the baritone.

For Kelsey Kammeraad, a soprano and senior managerial organizational communication and music major at PLNU, Kurdina gave praises, saying she was “vocally solid” and “supported sound.” Kammeraad sang “Depuis le jour” from “Louise” by Gustave Charpentier.

“Make a big beautiful arch out of the sound. Use that music because it’s part of you,” Kurdina advised Kammeraad.

Kurdina often asked the singers about the content of their song and how they would sing certain phrases or vowels. She taught them pronunciation and held their hand to show when to change pitch and when to breathe. When coaching Jonathan Lacyo, a tenor and senior music major, she emphasized vocal control, the completeness of the piece and following his instincts. He sang “Kuda, Kuda vï udalilis,” also known as “Lensky’s

Laurie S. Floren, senior clinician of the Wellness Center, hosted a panel consisting of Carrie Gunn, registered dietitian; Courtney Kelly, nurse practitioner; Varinia Peridon counselor and mcKensey Wise, PLNU’s ASB president. The panel answered questions and shared their personal insecurities which they in part attributed to the manipulation of women in media.

“My sophomore year here, I became hyper-aware of what I was eating and the way that I looked,” said Wise.

“I felt insecurities junior-highers struggled with.”

After finally reaching her breaking point, Wise sought help.

“Even though this [situation] was such a bummer, it has opened the doors to encouraging conversations, deep friendships and a more intimate relationship with the Lord,” Wise said Aria,” from “Eugene Onegin” by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky.

“That pulse inside your body, the pulse inside the music, if you don’t feel it, it’s approximate,” Kurdina said. “When you do feel it, it’s moving through. You have to expand, open up, then you need to open your mouth.”

For Kiana Bell, a mezzo-soprano and senior music major, Kurdina en-

via email.

Although Wise has grown from her experience, she says the manipulation of women in the media is still present. Peridon told the audience to stay strong through the exploitation in the media.

“Do you feel like God makes mistakes?” Peridon asked the audience. “I like the quote that says, ‘Be you because everyone else is taken.’”

After the panel and discussion, Floren encouraged students to make a pledge about anything they wanted to work on.

Floren ended the panel discussion with prayer and a song encouraging people to love themselves for who they are.

Floren advises students to go to the Wellness Center should they need counseling and advice.

“Find someone you can trust and be brutally honest about what you’re going through, ask for help and turn to the Lord in prayer as often as possible,” said Wise.

PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN Students thumbprinted hearts on this sign as a reminder that they are worthy.

less I grow up to sing there, that’s the only time I’ll be able to work with someone who works there.”

Bell said Kurdina’s critiques were affirmations of things she needed to work on and a breath of fresh air when looking at the character she plays in her piece.

Laurina Nikkel, a professor of voice at San Diego State, attended the

PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN Yelena Kurdina coaches current students at PLNU and one at SDSU during the master class open to the public Saturday.

couraged her to increase her concentration with the sound and to carry her energy until the end. Bell performed, “Non so più cosa son” from “Le nozze de Figaro” or “The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“This was an incredible opportunity to have someone who works with the Metropolitan Opera which is one of the biggest, most important opera houses in the world,” Bell said. “Un-

event. She worked and coached with Kurdina previously. She attended the event to support her student, Newton.

“It’s wonderful for me to see her after all these years,” Nikkel said. “I think it’s amazing to have somebody of her caliber come here to San Diego and work with these really young students.”

After the performances, the audience asked questions about vocal coaching versus stage directors and

FROM BUDGET, PAGE 1

ries: activities, clubs, Fair Trade fund, service awards and special projects.

Activities include everything under the jurisdiction of the current ASB Director of Activities and Design, Samantha Watkins, like Skate Night and PLNU’s Fashion Show.

This year ASB allotted the most toward the Welcome Back week fall semester, the Christmas tree lighting and the Fashion Show.

“The Christmas tree lighting had a lot to do with getting the materials because it was the first year we’ve had it,” said Watkins. “Each year it will get successively less because now we have the basic materials to dress a 20-foot tree.”

Because the Fashion Show is one of the most attended events on campus, it also has a large allocation of money, said Watkins.

“I try to keep [events] around $2,000 [so] it’s pretty evenly spaced out,” said Watkins.

The 55 clubs on campus were given a budget of $60,000 with $20,000 in reserves. Hui O’ Hawaii uses part of these funds to put on their annual luau, but this category also includes Point Loma Opera Theater (PLOT) which is allocated $5,000 and the Surf Club, allocated $4,500 which are the two biggest spenders out of the 55.

The $20,000 in reserve refers to money that the clubs can dip into in case an event costs more than previously budgeted. So far over $12,500 has been spent out of this fund. The average of the allocations to each club comes out to $1,163.

The reexamination of club funding began before the beginning of the year when ASB Director of Student Relations Nate Guajardo had a oneon-one meeting with each club presiacting coaches. She said Americans were more versatile because they were better musically educated than those in Russia, her hometown.

Last October, PLNU hosted the Metropolitan National Council auditions, as it has the past three years.

This competition is open to American singers between 20- and 30-years-old.

Current students won first place, three encouragement awards and audience choice award. The first place winner, baritone and senior music major -Anthony Whitson-Martini- was auditioning for graduate school in Chicago at the time of the session. The three encouragement winners were Kammeraad, Lacayo and Bell.

“I hope that they have a better understanding of and fascination for their craft,” Johnson said. “As 21-yearolds they are all at the top of their game for their age. They are the best at what they do and have the experience and accolades to prove it. But it is important to see that their level of achievement now, as relatively wonderful as it is, is only the tip of the iceberg. They all have considerable work ahead as singing artists. I think that working with Kurdina helped them to realize this.”

Since 2008, PLNU and PLOT has produced seven 1st place winners, 14 encouragement award winners and two audience choice winners from the Metropolitan National Council Auditions. “ I don’t think that any other institution on the west coast (undergraduate, graduate or conservatory) can make that claim,” Johnson said.

Kudrina’s last piece of advice?

“Enjoy ourselves then everyone will get out if it what they will,” she said.

dent to discuss budgeting. Guajardo’s goal was to include club presidents in as much of the conversation about budgets as possible.

“In the past, clubs have been severely underfunded,” said Guajardo.

“So during NSO [New Student Orientation], I had every club president come in and meet with me and go over their budgets whether it was $200 or $6,000.”

Next, Guajardo began streamlining the process for club funding. Instead of going through Student Senate, clubs now deal more directly with student relations.

“The system for getting more funding [now] is much faster and more efficient,” said Guajardo.

The Fair Trade fund covers the costs of bringing fair trade items on campus. Over $14,000 was budgeted for the Fair Trade fund, but only $3,000 was used this year. The unused funds leftover in the Fair Trade budget will lead to a reevaluation of spending in this area in the coming months.

Service awards and special funds are among the top two largest sums of budgeted funds making up nearly half of all ASB budgeted funds.

Service awards include paying the Campus Activities Board, paying stipends to editors and staffers on Media Board, paying hourly student employees, paying the ASB Board of Directors and paying those on Student Senate. Stipends to editors and the ASB Board of Directors cover total $4,800 per semester.

Special funds acts as a catchall for any miscellaneous expenditures that ASB has to pay for like board initiatives. In total there have been 10 initiatives that have passed through the board’s hands including the cameras down at Young.

FROM INAUGURATION, PAGE 1

bring their experience as well.

“I think that [my previous experience] is definitely going to help me,” said Borland. “I know the structure of ASB so I know what’s expected of everyone including myself.”

The ASB elect board will sit in and go through trainings with each of the current board members to familiarize themselves with the positions. Both boards will communicate about decisions in ASB but the official transition to the new board will not take place until graduation in May. Wise believes that having the two boards work together will only enhance their ability as leaders to serve the student body.

“I think the collective spirit of both [boards] will make accomplishing dreams easier,” said Wise. “I am excited for our new board but thankful for the old.”

PHOTO BY KENDALL BOSHART ASB Vice President Rob Contreras hands over office mementos to Vice President-elect Austin Flanagan.

the point | monday, february 23, 2015

3 | NEWS

Young Hall outdoor security cameras installed to prevent crime Young Hall recently had cameras installed in its two parking lots, two in the lower and three in the upper lot. The five cameras were officially operational the weekend of Feb. 21. Public Safety partnered with ASB and the university to purchase the cameras from Samsung and Axis as an additional safety measure for students living down at Young. Read more about this effort on lomabeat.com.

INFORMATION COLLECTED AND PHOTOS BY KENDALL BOSHART

‘Dinner for your complaints’ rings in 40 student complaints

BY KATIE CALLAHAN STAFF WRITER

The single file line of guests waiting in the ASB lounge to document their complaints reached eight people within the first 10 minutes. Each person was greeted by ASB President mcKensey Wise who recorded their complaints from a small circular table to the left of the ASB offices and told them they could redeem their free food from the Robinson Conference Room.

“A lot of people complain about things often to me because they know I’m in a position where I can change things and so I thought this was a good outlet for them to be able to express their complaints in a constructive way,” Wise said.

This is a first for ASB. Thirty-five students and five ASB members dined together with Phil’s BBQ after “com-

plaining” Feb. 19.

Freshmen students Jayna Davis and Kimber Carter visited ASB because their resident assistant, Clara Welcome, told them about the event.

Davis complained that the campus could do more for the environment, while Carter said there needs to be more advertising for campus events.

“It’s good to let people know what we think and give good feedback,” Davis said.

Carter also said this opportunity is one to really respond to ASB about how they are serving the student body.

“I think it’s good for them to think about how we feel about their progress,” Carter said.

Freshman CourtneyTarnovsky said ASB needed to include “more commuter stuff.” She came to the event with her friends.

“I think it’s a great way to connect with people,” Tarnovsky said. “It’s a

good way to get ideas of what they need to improve on or how they can progress.”

Wise asked students to provide solutions to the problems they suggested ASB make. The idea for the meeting was just a thought she had to bring students into the conversation.

“I think it’s important to have a constant feedback loop with the students and so I want to do my job and communicate what the students are saying,” Wise said.

Ultimately, Wise will email each student to respond to their complaint, while looking into the more immediate and long term changes students asked for at the event.

“I plan on updating each student on where we’re at with this issue or where the department’s at with this issue so that they know their voice is being heard,” Wise said.

PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN Approximately 40 students meet in the Robinson Conference Room to eat Phil’s BBQ after discussing complaints with ASB.

The complaints: More guys at PLNU under Title IX More skate nights

More on-campus advertising: feels out of the know

Books in reference at the library

Events more geared toward upperclassmen

Fix the shuttle smell

Library opens too late on Sundays

Cash cab in the shuttle

Sodexo ruined Jamba for everyone

Laundry swipe system

Bring the panini maker back in the Caf

Do not do much for the environment More recycling Not enough commuter stuff (commuter movies) Lomalink sent out on Sunday night Finances for clubs (tough to buy things, getting cash)

Chicken in the salad bar

ASB Candidates (Spiritual Life - senior)

Toe pulls everywhere

Protein in the Caf - grilled

More relevant Chapels

Disability access to Starkey B, fix elevators

Advertising ASB events more (through RAs or big banners for ads)

No vegetarian section, no gluten free

Hand dryers in Nicholson Commons in the downstairs bathrooms

Cheese pizza too many calories (about 630)

tilation

Student speaker at graduation - one from sciences, one from humanities (transformed and how you want to be transformed)

Public Safety: Don’t feel safe (too focused on parking tickets)

no middle of week off-campus shuttle three-day weekend, library should be open (1/2 open, just for studying)

Parking

Want to have a scooter and a car G-unit doesn’t drain (bathroom) Renovate Brown Chapel

Caesar salad dressing in the Caf

Bring Roary back

Deli meat in the Caf sitting out is gross

Cleaning bathroom at bad time

Bathrooms in Wiley need more ven-

Smoothie machine in the Caf

the point | monday, february 23, 2015

4 | FEATURES

features

THINK ON THAT

“It’s to whom you sacrifice who has complete authority over your life.”

– Riley Verner, Chapel Friday

Students participate Styling Up for the Runway: in Lent project, Courtney Volek Chickens for Armenia

BY MADISEN STEELE

BY JAKE HENRY STAFF WRITER

The Lent Giving Campaign at PLNU is doing more than car washes and lemonade stands to raise money for charity. The campaign is providing chickens to the LoveWorks hosts in Armenia, in an effort to help 18 different families. The campaign has already received 32 donations since January twentieth. The idea for the chickens came from the Loveworks hosts in Armenia.

“They [The hosts] asked us to help them provide more chickens to families already in an agricultural project through the church,” said Brian Becker, director of International Ministries. “The families already have 10 chickens each and…the families asked for 10 more chickens each to increase the economic benefit to their households.”

Although sacrificing plays a huge role in Lent, Becker believes there is another aspect that is not stressed enough.

“Lent is a time for fasting, which gives us more time for prayer, and through prayer, Christ motivates us to give alms to the poor,” said Becker.

“The giving part often gets left out these days.”

This is PLNU’s fourth year doing a campaign for charity and this year their goal is to raise $7,200 in chickens.

Riley Verner, ASB Director of Spiritual Life said, “It is an awesome opportunity for us students to sow into the Kingdom of God by blessing these people with chickens. The ability to have say two chickens instead of one can double the income for a family.”

It is not the chickens that are providing the value but rather the eggs they’ll produce. “The chickens are purchased for the eggs so the Armenians can use the eggs.” said Milton Karahadian, director of Nicholson Commons.

“

It’s terribly hard to get people’s attention and to hold onto it long enough to motivate them to act.”

-Brian Becker

STAFF WRITER

As the PLNU fashion show draws near, sophomore Courtney Volek is preparing for the big night. Volek is a stylist for PLNU’s “Make a Statement” themed fashion show that will be held on March 27 at Liberty Station.

Volek is planning on styling five girls outfits with a fun and energetic theme of bohemian chic.

“It’s a beachy, kind of laid back style," said Volek. "I want to go a little bit more extravagant than last time.”

Volek describes styling a line as “picking out certain pieces that fit the models' body types and completing a look that works for her.”

Styling a line requires taking a theme and repeating it a couple different times on each model.

Derek Kirk planned the event and

the clothes from.

“Finding your source and figuring out where you’re going to get the mer-

PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY VOLEK Courtney Volek, a stylist for the Fashion Show, meets with her models (above) prior to the show for fittings.

pick girls that are super tall and skinny; I want to pick everyday girls as well. I pick a lot of my beautiful friends.”

Volek learned a great deal from her current internship with San Diego Visual Productions.

“I have an internship for San Diego Visual Productions, so I’ve done a lot of fashion shows with them, so this is one of the first times where the show doesn’t have changes," said Volek. "So that’s odd for me.”

San Diego Visual Productions' shows provided a range from expensive corporate events to small boutiques in San Diego.

Volek describes many differences, such as the backstage life being different, and the rehearsal process being different with the PLNU show and the shows that she has done at her internship. Regardless, she loves the PLNU show because it is a much different vibe than what she experiences at her internship.

The fashion show has a rehearsal the day of the event but Volek is planning on rehearsing with her models beforehand just so they can feel more comfortable with the process.

SEE CHICKENS, PAGE 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY VOLEK Courtney Volek poses with a model.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FACEBOOK/CHICKENS FOR ARMENIA Maria Lopes, the International Ministries assistant, talked with students on Caf Lane about the “Chickens for Armenia” Lent project. Certain donation amounts can receive t-shirts, socks or other items.

year as well.

“There are so many beautiful people here at Loma," said Volek. "I don’t

believes this evening will be spectacular because of its success in previous years.

“Luckily for us we have a strong base from past shows; this year we will just tie in all aspects of fashion from the Point Loma campus” said Kirk via email.

Volek was involved in last year's fashion show, and because of that experience, she is feeling confident about styling again this year.

“I styled a line last year," said Volek. "It was small town girl goes off to the big city and was more southern girl.”

Volek started her preparations process by finding a boutique to get

chandise from is the most important thing when you’re styling a line," said Volek. "Especially when you’re going for a certain theme, you want to make sure the store you’re getting it from has that same target market.”

Then, Volek focuses on getting the models together for sizing. She gets all the sizes beforehand and then meets the girls at the boutique to make sure the clothes fit perfectly.

“I’m basically picking out pieces that fit with the model's body type,” said Volek.

Volek works very closely with her models. She had many of her friends model for her last year and will have them come back to model for her this

“

It doesn’t have to be perfect. I just want to have fun; it’s for the experience.”

- Courtney Volek Volek has secured a boutique that she wants to keep secret till the show, and is planning on meeting with her models soon.

monday, february 23, 2015 | the point

FROM CHICKENS, PAGE 4

Despite the good cause of the campaign, PLNU is having a hard time getting people involved in the cause.

When people donate $20 for the Chickens to Armenia campaign, they will receive a pair of chicken socks or a t-shirt for as long as supplies last.

While only donations of $20 will receive a gift, any donation amount is welcomed. ”I think it’s classy that PLNU is taking this time and this opportunity as a campus to better our international programs,” said Brittany Abel, a freshman business major.

Verner is planning on donating in the upcoming weeks. “I believe in this and love the opportunity it is for us as a student body to bless others,” said Verner.

The Lent Giving Campaign: Chickens for Armenia, will continue until Easter Sunday. Offerings will be collected in Chapel and announcements about the number of chickens that have been raised will be announced every Wednesday in Chapel.

FEATURES | 5

To get involved, students can join a Lent committee to help raise money chickens for Armenia, they meet Wednesday nights from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. in the Caf. “Volunteer to help us plan the campaign for next year. Give and encourage others to give,” Becker said.

The Lent Giving Campaign: Chickens for Armenia, will continue until Easter Sunday. Offerings will be collected in Chapel and announcements about the number of chickens that have been raised will be announced every Wednesday in Chapel.

To get involved, students can join a Lent committee, they meet Wednesday nights from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. in the Caf. “Volunteer to help us plan the campaign for next year. Give and encourage others to give,” Becker said.

Ryan Library hosts game night

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH PIZZUTO Ryan Library hosts Game Night Friday night to a number of students who played multiple board games.

Comfort foods: Fettuccine Alfredo

BY AUTUMN SHULTZ STAFF WRITER

One of my favorite recipes, by far, is the deliciously gooey fettuccine Alfredo. Throughout my childhood, I constantly searched for the “perfect” recipes and the best ways to cook my favorite foods. I finally found the original recipe for this when I was 14, but its outcome still wasn’t cheesy enough for my tastes. It was then that my mom and I worked together to make the sauce just a little bit thicker and a tiny bit more flavorful. Of course, there have also been countless times when I’ve been told that I make this a little too cheesy, but hey, you can never have too much cheese.

For this recipe, I added and took out ingredients based on my taste buds. In the original recipe, a dash of garlic salt is required, but my mom’s congenital heart disease makes it more difficult for her to digest salt. I grew up omitting it from my meals and recipes and I learned to find other ways of adding flavor, such as spices, like nutmeg, and vegetables.

The best way to cook this is in two large pots: one for the pasta and one for the sauce. The one that you make the sauce in must be large enough to hold both the sauce and the noodles.

I don’t have a pan that was made specifically for pasta. I simply use the largest pans that I have or I pour the pasta into a mixing bowl after draining.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS • 24 ounces dry fettuccine noodles • 1 cup butter • 1 pint heavy cream • 2 packages cream cheese • 1 jar of pre-made alfredo sauce • pepper to taste • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg • 3/4 cup grated Romano cheese • 1-1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS: 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until al dente; about seven to ten minutes. Cool by running noodles under water and drain partway, leaving a bit of cool water in the pot to keep pasta from sticking.

2. In a large saucepan, melt butter into cream over low heat. Add pepper. Stir in cheese, cream cheese and pre-made sauce over medium heat until melted; this will thicken the sauce.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUTUMN SHULTZ

“Week 3 in Vienna: Hours of German taken: 39 Miles walked: too many Chocolate croissants eaten: not telling Schwarzenegger sightings: Zero. ”

STUDY ABROAD PHOTO OF THE WEEK

- Justina Del Duca PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTINA DEL DUCA

Justina Del Duca is a junior psychology major studying abroad in India with Josh Kimball, a junior psychology major.

‘Grey’ Matter: Students respond to R-rated ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Couple’s concept: Seeing ‘Fifty Shades’ together

BY STEPHANIE PEREZ CONTRIBUTOR

BY MADISEN STEELE & PAIGE ADLHOCH STAFF WRITER

From a book to a blockbuster film, “Fifty Shades of Grey” has managed to completely take love out of sex. Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan, degrades women by placing himself as the “dominant” in his relationship with Anastasia Steele, played by Dakota Johnson. By making a contract, he offers Anastasia the choice to sign away any chance at love to be his sex slave.

Although the decision to sign the contract was solely up to Anastasia, Christian was very persistent in persuading her to give him what he wanted. From a female standpoint, a contract such as this is very insulting.

Not only does it insult women, but by taking love out of the equation, it makes men look heartless.

The contract that Christian wanted this young and vulnerable virgin girl to sign was filled with rules that she would have to abide by. From her eating habits to the location of her sleep, the contract covered various aspects of Anastasia’s life.

The relationship may seem purely physical; however, there was an underlying story of love and romance that peeked through the blindfolds. The two had a chemistry that was unexplainable. The way that he looked at her; it was not out of lust, but out

of fascination and complete interest.

Christian’s dark and mysterious mannerisms were more than enough to get Anastasia to fall in love with him.

He was gentle with her and affectionate, treating her with great respect. Christian was falling for Anastasia. Her innocence captivated all of his attention. He found himself doing and feeling things that he had never done or felt with any other woman before.

Christian is portrayed to slowly but surely crack his hard shell and change for this woman that he is so entranced by. It is common to hold the belief that girls can’t change “bad boys.” Yet in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” Christian, the ultimate bad boy, tells Anastasia that she is changing him.

Artist and feminist Beyoncé Knowles is featured multiple times throughout the film. It is questionable as to why she would support a film that shows women as “submissive” in a relationship. However as the film went on, Anastasia seemed to hold all the power over Christian by not signing his contract, putting her in a more “dominant” role.

The end of this film will have everyone in the audience cringing and aggravated with a cliffhanger. There is no physical abuse in the film until the last 10 minutes when Anastasia attempts to understand SEE GREY, PAGE 7

Specs: ‘Fifty Shades’ of clarity Run time: 125 mins Producer: Jeb Brody, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, E.L. James, Marcus Viscidi Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson Based on: 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James Ratings: 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. 49% Audience score.

Synopsis: Literature student Anastasia Steele’s life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey.

Reactions: National Center on Sexual Exploitation is boycotting because it promotes sexual abuse and violence against women. Family value-oriented traditionalists are boycotting it for inappropriate material. Anti-pornography feminists protesting for the glamorized explicit content. BDSM community is upset due to misrepresentation of their lifestyle as a ‘mental illness’ rather than a ‘sexual orientation.’

Budget: $40 million (estimate)

Friday, Feb. 13 was the opening for the long awaited (for many) ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ film. My boyfriend, Adrian Alvarez, and I showed up to the 7:45 p.m. showing at AMC in Fashion Valley. Standing in line, I was wondering what I was doing there because the people standing in line were ladies who appeared to be older, for sure older than 40. The women giggled, made sexual jokes and even had grey ties around their necks; they seemed really excited!

There were also younger women who were probably in there 20s. Other than my boyfriend and I, there were maybe about five other couples, and a few guys who were there to see it on their own (weird, right?). Having read the books prior to viewing the film, I kind of knew what would happen; however, I did not expect that seeing it would be so much different from reading the book.

BY STEPHANIE PEREZ

BY ADRIAN ALVAREZ

CONTRIBUTOR

CONTRIBUTOR

If I were a movie critic, I would probably give the film four or five stars.

There was suspense, action and love.

For the most part, I think people look for one of these things in movies or even all three. Most people at the movie theater were on the edge of their seats waiting to see what would happen next (mainly those who probably didn’t read the books), “wooing” during sex scenes or even making sarcastic remarks.

Personally, I would rate this movie with one or two stars. The film is a story above love, a weird love story that’s for sure, but also a very abusive relationship. Even though the main character Anastasia, a college student, consented to everything that occurred, I think that the portrayal of a woman as submissive takes us back in time instead recognizing the progress that has been made.

I know the intent of this film was not to advocate for women’s rights, but what are we really telling women and men with this film? Are we saying it’s okay to be beat by someone we are interested in? That it is okay to be sexually, emotionally and physically abused by our partner because it is the way they demonstrate love? That a male’s riches outweigh all the negative things that make him who he is?

Many women will take this message and think that it is okay. It’s not!

Average. Fifty Shades of Grey is average. Both Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dorman played the role well given the script they had. Excluding E. L. James from any involvement from the script is a big mistake on Universal Studios because the connection between the actors and the storyline was not very well developed. Throughout the movie, viewers can sense the rigidity of the actors especially during the sexually intimate acts.

As a male viewer who only read half of the book, the portion of the movie that covered what I read was accurate to the storyline of the book and excluded scenes that would compromise the R-rating of the movie. With that being said, Universal Studios made a huge mistake by having the movie focus on what a male audience wants, which is visual stimulation. I’m sure the author, when writing the series, had a mature female audience in mind.

Most women are not stimulated visually as opposed to men. Universal

Studios should have left more for the imagination. The amount of nudity portrayed in the movie compared to other films was brief and the content of the scenes did push social boundaries.

The Bondage, Domination, Sadism and Masochism (BDSM) community were outraged by the portrayal of BDSM the book and movie portray stating that the events in the movie distort what people who practice BDSM actually do. The outrage by the community is invalidated by their intent on defining what BDSM is or is not.

“

Universal Studios made a huge mistake by having the the movie focus on what a male audience wants, which is visual stimulation.”

Human sexuality cannot be confined to sexual norms by a society because sexuality is an abstract part of SEE ALVAREZ, PAGE 7

“

I know the intent of the film was not to advocate for women’s rights, but what are we really telling women and men with this film?”

SEE PEREZ, PAGE 7

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR/M01229 ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ books on sale at Costco. The E.L. James novel has done 100 million in sales as of this month.

Opening weekend sales in San Diego: $85,171,450 Company Credits: Universal Pictures and Focus Features Popular quotes: “I like to see your face. Gives me some clue what you might be thinking.” - Christian Grey The end: There is a post-credits sequence that teases events that occur in the sequel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR/ HOT GOSSIP ITALIA Dakota Johnson plays Anastasia Steele in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR/ MIKEMOZART ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ bookstand advertises for the film at Target.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/SEBASO Jaime Dornan plays Christian Grey in the film.

6 things you missed at the Oscars

BY JONATHAN PICKETT STAFF WRITER

There were standing ovations, performances leaving no dry eyes, gut-busting jokes, amazing tributes and awards honoring some of the most outstanding works of art in motion picture.

This year honored some of the most groundbreaking works of cinema accompanied with a side of humor, statuettes and celebrities – well, actually a full 4-course meal of celebrities.

This is the glamorous and most popular telecast of the year: The Oscars.

Here are some highlights up until 8:oo p.m.

1. 50 Shades of Grey star arguing with her mom during pre-coverage -Dakota Johnson, who plays Anastasia Steele in “50 shades of Grey,” had her mom Melanie Griffith accompany her on the red carpet as her date. When reporter Lara Spencer asked Griffith if she had seen the film, she said, “I don’t think I can,” as Johnson looked clearly uncomfortable.

When asked if she wanted to see her daughter’s amazing acting on the big screen, she replied, “I don’t need to see that movie to know my daughter is a great actress,” at which point Johnson annoyingly said, “you don’t have to see it!” Their bickering went back and forth before the reporter changed

the topic. It was hilarious.

2. Neil Patrick Harris’ opening performance of the song “Moving Pictures” with guests -”I know the camera’s on and we’re behaving our best/secretly hope someone pulls a Kanye West.” Clint Eastwood’s face was hilariously unamused at this line.

Anna Kendrick accompanied him on stage before Jack Black came out of the audience to make hilarious commentary on the film industry in the form of rhyming song. “After ‘50 Shades of Grey,’ they’ll all have leather whips.”

It was impressive, inspiring and comical all at the same time.

3. Tegan and Sara and The Lonely Island perform the song that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the night. -“Everything is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie” was full of vibrant lego backgrounds, rotating stages, Andy Samberg rapping in a periwinkle blue suit, Oprah getting handed an Oscar made of Legos, Will Arnett in a Batman suit performing his grunge segment, awesome costumes, complicated choreography and confetti blasts. It was sensational and as catchy as ever.

4. Neil Patrick Harris in his underwear -We came back from the commercial break to the camera crew claiming NPH was “missing.” He was found backstage down with his robe caught in his door at which point he began his “Birdman” walk complete

Musoffee presents back-to-back solos

with paparazzi and jazz drumming courtesy of Miles Teller from “Whiplash.” Watching NPH on stage at The Oscars in his tighty whities tricked me into thinking Barney Stinson was back for a second. What a treat.

5. Channing Tatum and The Academy’s tribute to young filmmakers. -”Team Oscars” is the team of the next generation of Oscar winners who submitted a 60 second short film about the best advice they have ever received. The 6 young winners were invited to Hollywood to appear on stage and receive recognition for their hard work. Maybe Tatum should recognize that the real prize would be inviting them to be front-row extras on the next Magic Mike set.

6. “Animated and short” -These were Anna Kendrick’s words as her and Kevin Hart entered stage to announce the winner of the “Best Animated Short” category. “I wonder if they’re trying to say something,” she said. The beautifully done short film “Feast” took home the Oscar while “Big Hero 6” won for “Best Animated Feature.” Unfortunately, no amount of humor in this category could alleviate the bitterness felt from the arbitrary and staggering void of nomination for “The Lego Movie.”

Netflix Pick of the Week: ‘Short Term 12’

BY ALEXANDRA TAYLOR CONTRIBUTOR

This week’s film, “Short Term 12,” comes from our very own alumnus, Destin Daniel Cretton, who is a guest this week as a part of PLNU’s Writer’s Symposium By the Sea. The film was originally a short that premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and later became a featurelength film that premiered in 2013 at the South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Now it is on Netflix—right at your fingertips—and this is a film you do not want to miss.

The story is based on the experience Cretton had as a worker in a facility that took care of troubled teenagers. We follow the story of several teens and supervisors, all of whom suffer their own personal tragedies and relate to each other in ways that are both unexpected and intimate.

Brie Larson (“21 Jump Street,” “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World”) is spectacular in her role as Grace, a supervisor who becomes pregnant and must face some difficult decisions as a result. Her boyfriend, played by Jon Gallagher Jr. (“The Newsroom”), also

FROM GREY, PAGE 6

why Christian Grey is the way he is.

She asks him to show her the worst punishment that she would receive for not abiding by the rules of his contract if she did indeed sign. It is then that the film’s R rating shines true. This film was clearly R-rated through the film’s very visual sex scenes, but when Christian whips Anastasia six times as she cries, it is then that all women in the audience lose respect for the once sexy and mysterious man, and hope for poor broken Anastasia to leave him instantly.

STILL FROM SHORT TERM 12 Brie Larson, who plays Grace in the film “Short Term 12,” is pictured here riding with Kaitlyn Dever who plays Jayden.

FROM PEREZ, PAGE 6

FROM ALVAREZ, PAGE 6

But playing devil’s advocate, it is JUST a movie. This movie isn’t telling us to go and beat our partner to feel pleasure and be fulfilled. No movie tells us what to do. It is up to every individual to think and do as they please.

Ultimately, I think it is important to remember that even though it is just a film, media is a very powerful way of conveying messages.

human life that cannot be measured or defined. What is acceptable to a group of people might not be acceptable to another group. Evidently there is a grey area (no pun intended) in which certain people push their boundaries and others are satisfied by their sexuality.

Overall, the movie was average and I would recommend waiting until the movie is out on DVD. If there is a sequel, I hope that E. L. James is more involved in the script to help it get that spark that lacked in the first film. For those reading, if you desperately want to watch it, then go ahead, although you might be disappointed.

Alvarez is a senior psychology major with a Spanish minor.He is a pursuing a career in marriage and family therapy.

Perez is a senior Spanish major and sociology and women’s studies minor. She studied abroad in Spain and hopes to return to teach English.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN PICKETT Keyboard solos and guitar shredding by Matt Giles and Julius Obregon respectively at Musoffee last Thursday. Performances also featured Christian Spence and Jack French. Obregon is pictured performing an original song “Can We Start Again.”

delivers a raw performance as a fellow supervisor to these troubled teens.

The film explores the relationships of people and reveals not only our fragility as humans, but also our strength to persevere through hardship. No character is spared some sort of loss or struggle in this film and this mirrors our own lives.

Cretton managed to capture the rawness of human vulnerability without melodrama and cliché. In fact, it is the realness of the film that is so striking and so moving. Your heart will break for them, but you will also see triumph. It is not all heartache, but also a celebration for the little victories in life that we must not take for granted.

Watch “Short Term 12” on film on Netflix, and see Destin Daniel Cretton at PLNU’s Writer’s Symposium By the Sea Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, at 7:00 p.m., in that order. If you love film, story or just want to be inspired by someone who has made it after college, go.

Tickets are available online through PLNU’s website. Don’t miss out!

monday, february 23, 2015 | the point

a&e

A&E | 8

PLAN YOUR WEEK

2/23: David Cook| Belly Up Tavern | 8 p.m. | $23-41 2/25: Cold War Kids | Northern Park Theatre | 7:00 p.m. | $20-125 2/27: Hairspray| Joan Kroc Center | 7:00 p.m. | $25 2/28: Gauguin to Warhol |San Diego Museum of Art |All day | $0-28 03/01: Bo Burnham | Balboa Theatre | 8 p.m. | $32.50

‘Arrested Development’ star Tony Hale visits PLNU

Writer’s Symposium brings filmmaker, alumnus, Destin Daniel Cretton

BY ALEXANDRA TAYLOR CONTRIBUTOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY HALE Actor Tony Hale from “Arrested Development” visited PLNU Friday night and gave advice to students.

BY SAMANTHA WATKINS STAFF WRITER

“I feel like a lot of college students don’t get told this enough: everything is going to be OK. I know there’s so much stress and anxiety but everything will work itself out and you all will be OK,” said actor Tony Hale, who is best known for his role of Buster Bluth in “Arrested Development” and Gary Walsh in “Veep,” to PLNU students Friday.

Roughly 50 students of various majors showed up at Crill Performance Hall to attend a screening of “Arrested Development,” followed by a question-and-answer segment with actor Tony Hale.

Caleb Daniels, Point TV’s station manager, organized the event.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Tony a couple years ago by pure chance,” Daniels said.

Daniels’ sister attends the same school as Hale’s daughter, Pasadena Christian School, so he was able to talk to Hale one-on-one.

“We hoped that by bringing Hale in, he could speak into what it’s like to try and be successful in the film industry and be a Christian,” Daniels said.

The night started with a screening of “Arrested Development” so students who unfamiliar with the show could see Hale’s quirky, nervous and man-child character, Buster.

After the show, Daniels brought Hale onto the stage for a few questions.

Hale spoke to students about what it takes to be a Christian in the film industry. He said he did not become a Christian until college and that faith is a challenge in television.

“At times I tried to make being a Christian look good by saying ‘I’m Christian, but I also cuss,’” said Hale. “Now I take ownership of who I am. I know that God has my back.”

In acting, there is a fine line of what jobs to agree to; an example Hale provided was nudity. Hale said that he chooses a show based on the message; if he likes it or agrees with it, then he will accept. Turning down a job because it goes against your faith is not uncommon in the Los Angeles market.

“Some people refuse to do commercials to sell milk because they don’t like how cows are treated,” said Hale.

For Hale, it all depends on his the project and if it aligns with his faith. Contentment is also important to Hale. Hale explained that practicing contentment needs to happen now in the moment because contentment may not happen when goals are achieved.

“All I wanted in life was to be on a sitcom and when I got it, I wasn’t content because I didn’t practice content-

ment,” said Hale.

Practicing contentment can be a challenge in addition to managing the chaotic film schedule to spend time with family.

“Veep shoots in Baltimore so I spend several weeks there and my family is in LA, but I make an effort. Skype and Facetime are amazing,” said Hale.

Two rules that Hale always abides by are that he never goes two weeks without seeing his family, and when he is home from shooting, all his time goes to his family.

Hale’s wife, Martel Thompson, is supportive of his career and enjoys the time she gets to spend on set with him.

She won an Emmy in 2003 for work she did as a makeup artist.

“It’s fun getting to go everywhere with him,” said Martel to The Point. “Actors are in touch with their emotions, so I learn a lot about how to feel your feelings.”

A highlight of the night was when Hale did his famous Buster voice. He went on to explain what an average day on set looks like. Shows typically shoot seven to eight pages per day but Veep, a show he is currently working on, shoots 20 pages a day.

“There’s lots of waiting around, getting to know others and great food,” he said.

Each show has a different feel to it, but in many, the cast becomes like a family by going out to the movies after filming or getting dinner. Some of Hale’s favorite television shows to date include “Portlandia,” “Master Chef Junior” and “Project Runway.”

Hale admitted that seeing himself on television is not his favorite, but he would rather watch himself act than appear as a guest on a talk show.

“There is a separation from the character and me,” said Hale.

Max Espinoza, a computer science major at California State University Fullerton, came to PLNU to visit friends, but also to hear from Hale.

“I love all of his work,” said Espinoza. “Whenever I see his name in a project, I am going to watch it because I know it will be great.”

Students left pleased to have met the actor.

“He was super personable,” said Jonathan Paul, a junior math major at PLNU. To end the night strong, everyone took a group photo with Hale.

“For those that aren’t hoping to pursue a career in the industry, we hope it was a night of entertaining dialogue,” said Daniels.

Destin Daniel Cretton is a PLNU alumni and filmmaker who is a featured guest at this year’s Writer’s Symposium By the Sea. He has directed several critically acclaimed films, including “I am Not a Hipster” and “Short Term 12.” His next project is an adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ memoir, “The Glass Castle,” with Jennifer Lawrence. Buy your tickets on PLNU’s website and catch him on Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Crill Performance Hall. He is also leading a workshop entitled “The Nuts and Bolts of Screenwriting” from 3-4:30 p.m. the same day. The Point spoke with him on the phone over the weekend while he was walking around a Costco in Los Angeles.

The Point: How did your time at PLNU shape your future into becoming a filmmaker?

Destin Daniel Cretton: For me it was kind of a gradual thing. A lot of it had to do with building up my confidence. PLNU helped me try to make movies and continue to make short films. Even still, I have a hard time.

It’s what you want whether or not the stars align.

What stories are you most drawn to telling?

DDC: It’s hard to pinpoint what I’m drawn to. I’m drawn to stories the same way I’m drawn to people. I love people who are honest and honest about the difficult things in life. But they are also open and honest about the wonderful parts of life. I’m drawn to stories that are able to look at the really [bad] parts of real existence and the beautiful parts of it.

Which part of the production process is your favorite?

DDC: I have the most enjoyment out of the editing and a lot of the postproduction stuff. That is when all of the pressure is done. You can relax and make the best version of what you have.

“Short Term 12” is based on personal experiences of your work at a halfway house. What was it

like to tell the story of thousands of children who live in this situation?

DDC: When I was writing the story, it is a representation of in some ways of the large issue that is the foster care system. But when we were making it, we were more concerned with the stories of the authenticity of the characters. Hopefully the by-product is that the people in the system can use this snapshot and use it to create a conversation.

It was more than a decade between your time at the halfway house and the release of “Short Term 12.” What made you pursue this story from start to finish where others might have given up?

DDC: I can’t say that I didn’t give up because I did at some point. There were moments when I shelved it because I thought it was a wreck. A huge part of it is that the story is extremely personal to me. It was difficult to get funding. I was lucky to have a producer who believed in the story and pushed it.

“The Glass Castle” is your next project. What is it like to take on someone else’s memoir?

DDC: Scary. When I read that book, I was blown away. It felt really close to me. My upbringing was so different, but it felt so personal to me. I ended up adapting it with my friend Andrew Lanham. It was a big learning curve, but it was a balance to create a film out of all of these beautiful words and scenes into something that is coherent. The thing we kept telling ourselves is that we wanted to get to the heart of the book. We make whatever sacrifices we have to make and we’re trying to squeeze it into a two-hour movie.

What advice would you give to students who are unsure of their future after PLNU? DDC: I had no idea what I was doing after Point Loma. You don’t have to know. Even if you do know, there’s a high likelihood it will change. The idea of having pressure to know what you want to do shouldn’t be there. Just explore life and it will come to you.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU WRITER’S SYMPOSIUM Destin Daniel Cretton will visit PLNU for Writer’s Symposium by the Sea Wednesday, Feb. 25 in Crill Performance Hall in the evening.

monday, february 23, 2015 | the point

sports

SPORTS | 9

UPCOMING EVENTS

02/23: M. & W.Tennis @ BYU Hawaii 02/23: W. Golf @ Cal Baptist Classic 02/26: M. & W. Tennis @ Vanguard 02/26: M.& W. Basketball @ Notre Dame de Namur

02/27: Baseball @ Cal State San Marcos 02/27: M. Tennis @ Sonoma State 02/28: M. Tennis @ Holy Names 02/28: M. & W. Basketball @ Dixie State

Women’s basketball makes first playoff in PacWest Division

BY JAKE HENRY STAFF WRITER

PLNU’s women basketball team proved they will be a threat at NCAA playoffs March 5 after beating their preseason predictions. The team was expected to rank eighth out of the 11 teams in the division but ended the season at third.

The preseason predictions were made Oct. 15.

“We’ve exceeded the preseason expectation,” said Head Coach Bill Westphal via telephone. “We do have the respect of a lot of different teams now.”

At the beginning of the season, the team struggled to determine how they worked best together.

“We were all new to each other and we were in the midst of finding an offense that suited our personnel,” said junior Jordan Ligons, a point guard, via email. “But as soon as we

clicked, no one could beat us. It’s really great how we all came together to make it this far.”

Westphal said there were some difficulties because of the large amount of young players. However, the team this year has qualities that previous teams haven’t had.

“There aren’t really any cliques within this team,” said Westphal.

“This year I feel like this team has the most commitment and closeness [compared to previous teams].”

Despite how well they have been working together, the team still has a lot of work to do if they want to bring home a win this year. Unlike past years where the team competed in the NCCAA, the women’s basketball team will play in the PacWest Division II tournament.

Although they’re competing in a higher division, Ligons is confident about her team’s odds. Other team members, like freshman forward

Amanda Cunningham, want to use playoffs as a way to redeem themselves.

“I think we’re all excited to see some teams we lost to [earlier] this season and give them a run for their money,” said Cunningham. “We want that chance to prove we are the best.”

Westphal said the team needs to work hard if they want to win the playoffs.

“We have to play our best to do well,” he said. “We’ll have to bring out our A-game,” said Westphal. “We have a good chance at playoffs.”

The playoffs in the PacWest tournament begin March 5 and will continue through March 8 at Concordia University. If they win the PacWest Championship, they will play in the national tournament at the end of March.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Sophomore Madison West goes in for a layup at a recent PLNU game.

PLNU surf team wins West Coast conference

BY JESSICA LUCAS STAFF WRITER

The PLNU surf team won the West Coast Conference, cementing their position as the best collegiate surf team on the West Coast, despite having restricted use of the training facilities on campus.

They compete against schools from every division, including Division 1 Schools and Community Colleges.

The team is favored to win at both the state and national championships.

“We called it from the beginning,” said Kai Pattison, the team’s vice president. “We knew we could win; we have a lot of great surfers.”

The surf team has an A-Team and a B-team. Each team is comprised of six short boarders, two female surfers and one long boarder. They compete in four contests during the regular season. They won three contests and took second place in one contest this season.

Team president Bryce John said

the team relied on their depth of talent.

“It was a joint effort by everyone

the perks that other teams at PLNU get.

Many members would like to see a

PHOTO COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM/PLNU SURF TEAM Surf team president Bryce John tucks into a wave in south San Diego.

on the A-team. Everyone made multiple semi-finals, quarter-finals and finals throughout the season,” said John.

The 2014-2015 season was the team’s most successful season since 1989. Although they have had much competitive success, they still don’t get

separation between the surf club and the team. Because surfing is not a sport recognized by the NCAA, the team is officially a club, which means they don’t have access to the privileges that the other teams have access to.

“It’s difficult because ASB wants us to include as many people as pos-

sible, but in order to be competitive, we have be selective of who we let on the team,” said Pattison.

While they want to be inclusive of other prospective athletes, they also want to continue their competitive dominance.

“I would like to see it go the direction of a separate team and club. It would be cool to see some of the guys on the team teach a surf class to students,” said John.

Every year the team implements new techniques to help the team improve.

“I’d like to organize practice meets and form better relationships with the other teams, like UCSD and SDSU,” said Eli Besser, a surf team member.

Many members of the team believe that they should be able to receive the same privileges as the other sports teams.

“Most of the guys on the team are as athletic as any of the members of the official sports teams,” said Pattison. They’re some of the most fit guys on campus, but it sucks when we don’t

get a lot of recognition. We’ll try to go to the weight room, but because we are only recognized as a club instead of a team, we don’t have the power to reserve it for ourselves like other teams do. We can’t even use the showers at Young.”

While they would love to gain a sense of legitimacy and more recognition from the school, their first goal is to perform well at the state and national championships. The state championship will be held in San Clemente March 6-8, and the national championship will be held at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point from June 13-15.

Even though they will be competing against teams they have defeated before, they don’t plan on slacking off anytime soon.

“Saddleback and SDSU are always good. Saddleback beat us once during the regular season. At nationals, we’ll have to watch out for University of North Florida because they have really good girls,” said John.

Seniors looking for a win at a home game in their honor

BY ARIEL ORIARTE & CORI DEASON STAFF WRITERS

Coming off a two-game winning streak, the men’s basketball team will honor its seniors Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

All four seniors on the team described closing their senior conference season as bittersweet and strange.

“It’s very surreal knowing it’s my last year,” said senior guard Marek Klassen. “I’ve been here five years, and it has all gone by so fast.”

Klassen has had a phenomenal five years for the Sea Lions. During freshman year, he was named to the PacWest First Team All-Conference. His sophomore year, he the led team in scoring 11 points per game while starting all 31 games. Last year, he helped his team to a national title. This year he aimed at accomplishing one goal:

getting a second national title.

“I want a national championship… same as last year,” said Klassen. “I have had high expectations for this team since day one and I am definitely not compromising now.”

Klassen has had much help along the way by senior guard Hayden Lescault and senior forward Junior Morgan. Lescault, a former NCCAA first team All-American guard, has averaged about 12 points per game this season. As last week’s co-player of the week, Lescault said he is determined to do what he can to contribute to the team.

Morgan transferred during his junior year and leads the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game. He also is leading the team with a high shooting percentage of 56.7 percentage. Upon hearing of being ranked eighth in the

region and receiving the sixth seed berth, Morgan was disappointed.

“I don’t feel it was appropriate because we put in more work than most people realize,” said Morgan. “And all the games that we have lost, we didn’t play our brand of basketball, so in the tournament our plan is to do that and show everyone we deserved a higher seed. Playing with a chip on our shoulder will help us go where we want.”

Due to injuries, senior forward Oeivind Lundestad has had to play a different role on the team. These injuries, however, have not stopped him from supporting his teammates.

His goal finishing out this season is of course winning, but also doing his part, whether that be on the court or from the bench.

“I want to do what I can to help the team win,” said Lundestad. “I’m

not playing, so [I’m going to do] whatever I can do to support and help out [the team].”

Today the team will be honored by the San Diego Hall of Champi-

ons when they receive the Significant Achievement Award for winning the NCCAA National Championship last year against Grace College.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Junior Morgan, a senior, dunks the ball during the game against St. Katherine. All four seniors will be honored at the home game Feb. 26.

monday, february 23, 2015 | the point

SPORTS | 10

PLNU basketball player Sam Okhotin wins $5,000 in shootout

BY PAIGE ADLHOCH STAFF WRITER

After 25 contestants attempted to make the challenging half-court shot, Sam Okhotin was the lucky winner of the $5,000 Sea Lion Shootout.

On Feb. 14, when Okhotin attended the PLNU women’s home basketball game, he said he was not expecting to take home a cash prize.

“Steve Riddle, the athletic director in charge of facilities, called me and asked me if I wanted to put my name in the drawing,” Okhotin said. “He sort of pushed me into doing it and I figured, Why not? Then they picked my name.”

Okhotin, 20, is a junior at PLNU double majoring in accounting and finance. He is the starting forward for the men’s basketball team. Despite Okhotin’s experience on the court, he still had mixed emotions when he heard that his name was drawn from the hat.

“I was pretty excited,” Okhotin said. “I think only two people put their name in so my chances were pretty high. I got a little nervous though because it’s a lot of money.”

Okhotin was the 26th contestant to try to win the $5,000 and he was one of three students on the basket-

ball team given the opportunity. Each home game, students’ names are selected from a hat submitted at a table at the front of Golden Gym. “I think to some extent, I did have an advantage as a basketball player,” Okhotin said. “When it comes to the free- throw and the three-point shot, because I practice them so much, it was a little bit of an advantage. But when it comes to the half-court shot, it’s hard for anyone.”

Danny Barnts, PLNU’s assistant athletic director for communications, attended the game. He said Okhotin is just a PLNU basketball player who was given an opportunity to make some cash.

“Let’s be honest, he did have a slight advantage,” Barnts said. “Sam is a decent shooter but he wasn’t given a leg up on anything. He just took advantage of the opportunity when he had it.”

The $5,000 came from ASB’s general budget. AJ Borland, ASB director of school spirit, contributed to the idea of having the Sea Lion Shootout. He said putting a cash prize on the table would attract more of the student body to attend the basketball games. Wanting to keep it fair, Borland opened up participation to any

PHOTO BY KENDALL BOSHART Junior Morgan goes in for a layup against Cal Baptist. The men’s basketball team lost 69-65 in the final three minutes of last Saturday’s game.

student.

“We didn’t close the shootout off to any students,” Borland said. “It was during the women’s basketball game so the men’s basketball team was allowed to sign up. I think closing it off to basketball players would have been unfair because we want it to be something that could benefit any student that participated.”

Barnts wanted to make the Sea

Lion Shootout available for every student, even the athletes. Since the shootout had a cash prize, Barnts did not want a legal issue to occur among the student athletes.

“The last thing we would want is anyone becoming ineligible,” Barnts said. “We had everything cleared with both the PacWest and the NCAA beforehand to make sure that, since we are opening it to all students, our regular students-athletes, let alone a basketball player, [could be] allowed to put their name in this hat and they allowed it.”

Barnts said Okhotin is a scholarathlete; therefore he is unable to accept the money as cash. Instead, Okhotin will receive a $5,000 dollar scholarship that will be applied to his tuition.

Many of Okhotin’s teammates cheered him on from the sidelines during the shootout.

“I was instantly tackled by my teammates,” Okhotin said. “It was just surprising; I was in shock because so many people have tried it. I couldn’t believe what was happening; it still hasn’t hit me that I won the money.”

Barnts, who’s attended every home game, said this shootout brought the student body together to cheer on

their fellow peers.

“I really liked the way the other members of the crowd got behind their fellow students. It didn’t matter, based on Sam’s ability, or whatever the person’s ability looked like basketballwise, they always supported them,” Barnts said. “Even though everyone wasn’t a winner, I thought it was really cool the way students did support their fellow students on the floor and everyone was rooting for that person to get it.”

Okhotin said he was very pleased to be a part of the Sea Lion Shootout.

“Basketball player or no basketball player, it’s still a pretty tough thing to accomplish,” Okhotin said. “I’m thankful. It’s a blessing that I was able to win that money. I’m probably going to take Steve Riddle out to lunch.”

It is still up in the air as to whether the Sea Lion Shootout will become a PLNU tradition. Since ASB is different every year, it is unclear what the student board will choose to do.

“If next year’s board wants to do something similar, that’s definitely a possibility, but it’s all going to come down to how next year’s board votes to allocate their money,” Borland said.

SEA LION SCORES Men’s Basketball: 2/20: Win 89-60 vs.

St. Katherine

Women’s Basketball: 2/18: Win 79-62 vs.

Cal State San Marcos

Men’s Tennis: 2/18: Win 8-1 vs.

Western New Mexico 2/21: Win 5-4 vs.

Pomona Pitzer

Women’s Tennis: 2/18: Win 9-0 vs.

Western New Mexico 2/21: Loss 2-7 vs.

Claremont-MuddScripps

Baseball: 2/17: Win 9-8 vs.UC San Diego 2/21: Win 10-0 vs. Bethesda 2/21: Win 2-1 vs. Bethesda

New track, new season for track and field

BY LOUIS SCHULER STAFF WRITER

The Sea Lion’s track and field team is starting off strong after placing fifth out of 26 universities at the NCCAA National Championships last year.

With this year marking the first competitive season at the Division II level, Head Coach Jerry Arvin said last year’s finish does not serve as an accurate determinant for success this season. Arvin said the competitive field has improved considerably from last year.

“The hard part is that’s like comparing apples to grapes,” said Arvin.

“The NCCAA was a good meet, and it was a challenging meet, but it’s nothing like the NCAA Division II meet, which we will be lucky if we get somebody qualified for that meet.”

Unlike previous NAIA policies, the NCAA qualifying standards for placing in the national championships are much more difficult. The former policy allowed for schools to select up to three athletes to represent each team as a right of entry even if the

players failed to meet the qualifying times. For Division II, athletes simply fail to qualify if they do not meet the most competitive times in the field, said Arvin.

“They have made it so that basically they’re going to fill the field with the best provisional athletes,” said Arvin. “In the NAIA, if you make the mark, you’re in the meet and if you make the provisional mark, each school had three right of entries—so you could take them and put them in the meet. You don’t have that with the NCAA; there’s no right of entry for any school. So with the NCAA, they limit the field.”

In spite of the new challenge, the Sea Lions bring athletes with impressive records to the table. Senior Chloe Soremekun won the NCCAA triple jump championship last year and placed fourth all-time on PLNU’s record list at the same meet. She finished with a personal best of 38 feet, 11 inches. She said this year’s team has potential despite losing Lyndsay Honea—two-time GSAC heptathlon champion. Honea is now one of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Senior Lindsey Honea jumps over a hurdle in a track meet last year.

five assistant coaches for the track and field team.

“She’s definitely kept the dynamic and the flow of the team going [as an athlete],” said Soremekun. “She’s been super encouraging, super supportive and her presence as a coach has been even more influential because she doesn’t necessarily have to focus on

herself to get her technique better, but she can use the skills that she’s learned herself to pour into other people, which has been really awesome.”

Another accomplished player who brings skill to the field events is senior Soliaana Faapouli. She placed in the top six for the hammer, shot put and javelin events during the NCCAA

championships. Faapouli said she takes on an influential role this year as one of two seniors on the team.

“This year, we have a huge class of freshmen,” said Faapouli. “So it’s kind of like I have to be more of a role model as far as work ethic and also my respect for other teammates and coaches. So [I am] just trying to be a good example for everybody.”

With the season opener approaching at the CMS Rossi Relays on Feb. 28, Arvin said the team has strengths, but the first year may be more of a learning experience for many of the athletes.

“I still think it’s very much a rebuilding year. We do have some good seniors, but we’re still young with the amount of freshmen and sophomores we have,” said Arvin. “All three of our main [pole] vaulters are all juniors so that’s another area in which they may grow really well this year... we won’t know until the season [starts], but they have great possibilities.”

the point | monday, february 23, 2015

11 | OPINION

opinion

The Point

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 ashingler000@pointloma.edu.

Should women be allowed in combat?

WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

BY MYRRHIAH PERKINS CONTRIBUTOR

If someone asked me if men and women are treated equally in the military, I would say no. Certainly, advances have been made and women are, for the most part, treated well. No one grabs my butt or cat whistles at me.

I can show up to my unit and feel safe, despite being a female in a predominantly male environment. I’m allowed on ships, submarines and can be a naval officer or someday maybe even an admiral. As a gender, females have made substantial headway in the realm of equality.

However, I often find that the inclusion of women comes with reservation, doubt and restrictions. Though this often gives me and my fellow women a great opportunity to prove people wrong, it opens the door to great opposition. Women aren’t allowed into most branches of special forces.

At the starting line for making an impression, women naturally begin with a handicap. Men are seen as more capable and more equipped. If I enter

any setting where I will be evaluated, I automatically have ground to make up compared to a male. Most women I talked to about this tell me that I better get used to it. Doesn’t sound like equality to me. That sounds more like settling. It is unfortunate that most women think the battle has been won for our equality.

I am no zealot feminist, but I believe that women have much ground to gain if we are stilled barred from even trying to be a SEAL or Marine on the premise that we can’t handle the baggage of war because of our feminine, motherly nature. That really makes my blood boil.

The other day, one of my friends told me that he doesn’t think women should be in positions of leadership in the military. I found it funny that he said this because we had just come from a Navy physical training session where I ran my hills faster, did more pushups and more sit-ups than him.

Yet, he stated, without reservation, that women were not designed to be leaders.

“It isn’t what God planned,” he said.

When I asked him what his reasoning was or if any evidence supports a women being less efficient or not as capable as a man, he said he had no proof. In fact, he thinks that women can do all the things men can and sometimes better, but that simply isn’t our role. It is not my hope to badger my friend about his belief, but to draw attention to beliefs about women in general, especially in the service.

Despite overwhelming evidence in favor of women making excellent candidates for leaders, people are still disposed to be biased toward women.

“

Give the woman the 100 pound rucksack and see if she can hike before

saying she can’t. The ability of a woman to do something can’t be determined in a discussion.”

One female participating in the trials for women to be allowed into

Marine combat infantry said, “They should see for themselves what we can do.” Amen. Give the woman the 100 pound rucksack and see if she can hike before saying she can’t. The ability of a woman to do something can’t be determined in a discussion.

Surely, not many women will make it as a SEAL or combat Marine. But do many men? The question therefore isn’t really if women can hack it. The question is if we, as a society, want women to be allowed to try. Are we ready to be shocked by what women can do, outside of the lines we draw for them?

People, men and women included, debate because of the existence of stereotypical prejudices toward women.

If a woman can do it, who are we to say that she can’t? It’s like looking at a green apple and saying it isn’t an apple because it isn’t red.

It has all the properties of an apple and by all means should be classified as an apple, but the mental tendency to cling to what we know and are comfortable with pulls us back from accepting reality. It isn’t red; therefore it can’t be an apple. A woman that can

make it through Marine combat training shouldn’t be denied to be in the force because she is a woman. Yet, she isn’t a man.

Equality for women is in the works. As women make their way through Marine combat training and every other aspect of the military, facing adversity and opposition, the evidence of what women are capable of will overwhelm the stereotypes.

I will point out an instance with three female Marines a while back.

These Marines went to infantry school and passed; however due to previous circumstances, they were not put into the infantry military occupational specialty (MOS). I do believe that these women should have been able to be in the Infantry MOS because they were able to pass the test and prove they had what it required.

Again, I want to stress the importance of the military’s focus on winning wars. This is the most important priority, and the generals and admirals should be determining how to do this and not senators and representatives.

If those generals and admirals determine that women in ground combat would impede that ability, then Congress should not require them to integrate women into ground combat.

While the feminist agenda is important at times, it should not supersede the military’s mission of winning wars and protecting the nation.

Perkins is a freshman at PLNU, currently studying Mathematics. She has a full-ride Navy ROTC scholarship. She is from Woodland Park, Colorado. She is a strong, independent woman - smarter than your average bear.

MAN’S PERSPECTIVE

BY BENJAMIN FAUSEY CONTRIBUTOR

I want to note that this is my opinion and I am not seeking to offend anyone’s beliefs. If you think differently, feel free to ask me about anything in this article.

Personally, I am not opposed to women being in ground-combat military occupation specialty (MOS).

However, I do feel that how women are being integrated into this field has been conducted in the wrong way.

From my understanding, Congress is requiring the different services to have women in this field by a certain date.

While this method may be good at satisfying party lines and pleasing interest groups, Congress is micromanaging the military. I think that it would be best to let the military determine how women are integrated in

combat, but in the meantime, not to force them to make rash decisions that might impact our ability to fight and win wars. The top priority for the military is to win our nation’s wars, while satisfying the needs of interest groups is much lower.

The most the military should do, which they have started to do, is let women try to complete different schools that are ground-combat oriented. There should be no adjustment of standards to complete these schools, because lowering the standards will tarnish the effectiveness of those schools.

If a school had a requirement of being able to do 30 pull-ups for men and you change it so that women only have to do 5 pull-ups (these are made up numbers, but the same principle applies to any decrease in the require-

ment), you are now allowing someone who is not as physically strong to be out in the field with people who can outperform them by a lot. In turn, this will then limit the capabilities of that group because of this weak link.

“

The generals and admirals should be determining how to [integrate women into combat] not senators and representatives.”

From a more practical perspective, if women had an easier test at these schools, they would face much more disrespect from the combat specialties because they didn’t have to go through the harder version like their male counterparts.

Fausey is a junior psychology major who is also in Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps to become a United States Marine Corps Officer. He enjoys being a leader in discipleship ministries over at Nease.

Calling all artists!

Baseball receives new chairs from Petco Park

We are looking to decorate these new newspaper boxes that we will place around campus!

Look to our next issue for more on this campus addition!!

We are hosting a contest for the design concept!

Your design could be featured on the box below!

Contact info@lomabeat.com for more information or with any questions you may have.

the point | monday, february 23, 2015

12 | OPINION

opinion

Katie Callahan // Editor-In-Chief Brittany Naylor // News Editor Samantha Watkins // Features Editor Louis Schuler // Sports Editor Jordan Ligons // A&E Editor

Arthur Shingler // Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart // Copy Editor Grace Bailey // Design Editor Michelle Ito // Assistant Design Editor Jake Henry // Web Editor

The Point 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 ashingler000@pointloma.edu.

mcKensey Wise: Letter to the student body regarding Media Board PLNU, I write to you on behalf of the 2014-2015 Associated Student Body Board of Directors.

This year, our mission statement reads as follows: PLNU’s ASB exists to create a culture that encourages involvement, promotes unity, and enhances the student experience.

We also highly value open communication between students and ASB and ASB and the administration. I write to you today to keep communication open and to keep you informed on a decision that we have come to after several months of research. We are confident that this decision will best serve PLNU’s students moving forward.

Over the past seven months, we have conducted a review of ASB’s annual contribution to the Media Board.

The Media Board consists of the following areas: The Point (newspaper), Point TV, Driftwood (literary magazine), the Mariner (yearbook) and Point Radio. Over the past four school years, ASB has contributed a rough total of $396,563.24 to the Media Board. In the 2013-2014 school year, ASB’s contribution to the Media Board totaled $133,627.26.

Seeing that this accounts for 41 percent of ASB’s total budget each year, we found it appropriate to assess ASB’s contribution to the different aspects of Media Board—especially as it pertains to the overall impact on the broader student body.

“

ASB...does not have proper oversight, technical expertise or adequate information in order to manage Media Board well.”

It became apparent that the greatest impact of Media Board as a whole was to the students who were gaining experience as LJML and communication majors. While these opportunities are available to all students, the vast majority of students engaged in

ever, ASB does not fund opportunities like this for any other academic department and it seemed inappropriate to continue this trend.

We also know that ASB, because it rotates students from year to year, does not have the proper oversight, technical expertise or adequate information in order to manage the Media Board well. We understand the curricular importance of the Media Board to students in both the communication and LJML departments and do not wish to see these programs discontinue. With all of this in mind, we are

demic year, a total of $40,000 will be removed from ASB’s general budget and allocated directly to the communication and LJML departments to fund the Media Board. This way, the professors and advisors of each area of the Media Board, the individuals who are experts in their respective fields, will have direct oversight of Media Board funding and decision-making.

This sum of money will allow the Media Board to operate comfortably.

We stand behind this number with the research of four years of accounting records of Media Board’s total spending and operational expenses.

This decision will bring $60,000 a year back into the ASB budget—an accomplishment that will allow for bigger and better events, campus initiatives and student activities, while ensuring that students have a voice through media on our campus.

We have taken each step of this process with the good of the student body in mind. In every decision we make, we take the fact seriously that we operate fully on student fees for the benefit of the student body. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding these changes.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you this year.

Respectfully,

CONTRIBUTOR

In a previous installment of The Point, history professor Dr. Rick Kennedy explained the concept of ‘humblethink’ and why it’s so important that liberal arts institutions like PLNU preserve this traditional method of scholarship and learning. Humblethink is not simply accepting facts.

It is a logical process that helps us to understand why tradition and information passed on to us is both trustworthy and important. Humblethink is also our best tool for maintaining a healthy amount of skepticism in all our academic pursuits. Serving as a reliable guide, it prevents us from getting lost in the drudges of bad questions and losing sight of our original purpose – discovering Truth.

For a quick refresher, humblethink is an approach to knowledge, especially knowledge passed on to us through tradition, making it vital to trusting ancient texts like our Bibles.

The first step, as outlined by Kennedy, is ‘faithcraft.’ In this step, we are to have faith that the knowledge handed on to us is credible. The second step is “collecting pollen,” as Kennedy terms

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

Text your #LomaChatter to 619-786-6890!

I’m giving up for Lent.

Freshman 15, sophomore 15...I better graduate on time.

Youth in Asia? I think you mean euthanasia. if someone loves you but they never say it out loud, is it still true? #treefallingintheforest you know I love you but I’m playing for keeps #lomawomen I gave up caf cookies for lent.

Prayers for strength and perseverance are greatly appreciated. Also: The post-Time Out hunger is SO real.

Thank goodness Christopher Churchmouse has an audio book.

If Jesus loves me then like what does that mean?

mcKensey Wise Media Board are majoring in these areas. These experiences are valuable academic programs for these departments and they will continue; how-

excited to share with you the solution that we plan to implement in the next school year.

Beginning in the 2015-2016 aca-

ASB President

it. This is the stage where we gather the facts about a particular issue, question or tradition. Here we ask, ‘Who says what?’ Thirdly, we find harmony in what each voice says. This is tying together the ‘Literature Review’ for my fellow researchers and seeing what is largely considered true and false. Finally, we take the information considered factual and give it authority. This allows us to accept the information as truth and build from there. However, it also means that we accept their conclusions even if it is counter to our personal preferences. It is “submitting” to authority.

Many of you may ask why any of this is important. More of you may argue that it is entirely unhealthy to simply submit to traditional facts.

“We must examine everything for ourselves!” becomes the battle cry, a war song instilled in us from our first freshmen class. We are taught to question authority, find truth for ourselves and think independently. This is the basis of skepticism.

Skepticism is important. Dr. Kennedy defends it. Without skepticism, we would be uncreative in-the-box thinkers incapable of progress. But unbridled skepticism leaves us stand-

ing on water and building on nothing. In our quest for personal truth, we may over-examine everything until the very idea of universal Truth is in tatters. We must also consider that it may be arrogant if we 21st century millennials completely abandon the long-held conclusions of our predecessors simply because they don’t fit into our worldview. This is the extreme of skepticism, a post-modern analysis that makes truth entirely relative to the individual. Truth becomes ‘whatever you want it to be.’ Here lies the importance of humblethink.

In our research, studies, and defense of Christianity in an increasingly skeptical and secular world, we must remember that we really do want Truth that’s outside ourselves. With Truth, we can defend our work and our faith from skeptics, understand our place in society better and buildup our community rather than tear it down.

Consider why we accept information from textbooks as fact: generally because it comes from a trustworthy source, it is built upon previous knowledge and our authorities (in this case, our professors), also seem to accept it.

We believe it and move on with that

The guy at media services is on a computer. How fitting.

Don’t slump or you’ll get grandmas hump. #sophomoreslump

Are we asking the right questions?

Applying Humblethink

BY CLINT BETKEY

#LomaChatter

Every time I see the keep off the grass signs, I think of the Princess Diaries. information to build upon. We can approach the traditions and historicity of our faith, and our laws and societal norms, in a similar fashion. By first mastering humblethink, we then have a foundation to honestly question the information handed to us for Truth’s sake rather than our own.

As a student here at PLNU and as a growing Christian, I am troubled by our increasing disregard of the ancient and our emphasis as a culture on individual satisfaction. Together they combine to create an unhealthy distrust of inherited wisdom for the sake of personal truth. Are the questions we ask only benefiting ourselves or really seeking after the Truth? Do we disregard tradition because it doesn’t jive with our desires? Kennedy wasn’t simply ranting about the value of tradition – he was reintroducing an old logical process that helps us trust our Bibles, traditions and build upon our faith and work. So let’s remember that skepticism for skepticism’s sake doesn’t make us intelligent and creative thinkers – just pedantic scholars.

Betkey is a enior political science major with a minor in history.

I want to join The Point staff just so I can change the Lomachatter number to someone random so they get strange, confusing texts all day When you put on your freshlycleaned glasses and it’s like *Hallelujah chorus sings* Doing the awkward going-thesame-way-as-someone dance makes me feel like the basketball MVP So I guess we don’t get to laugh while we pee now? The Toilet Paper used to be a comical spice in my bathroom life!

The real issue is not that people mix up “your” and “you’re,” but that people think it’s “should of” when it’s really “should have.”

There are no words.