Pw8

CRIMES OF THE HEART, “UNFORGETABLE” PG.7

FEW STUDENTS TAKE ON ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR PG.4

The Point Weekly point loma nazarene university

monday, november 11, 2013

volume 42 | issue 8

Students offered incentives to increase LSCC enrollment

BY PARKER BUNCH STAFF WRITER

As part of a multi-year plan to increase enrollment on PLNU’s campus, students will be offered monetary or scheduling incentives to take classes at Liberty Station Conference Center

(LSCC) this spring.

In a campus-wide email, Kerry Fulcher, PLNU’s provost and chief academic officer, said students who enroll in general education or elective classes at LSCC will receive benefits depending on their class level. Freshmen and sophomores will receive pri-

ority class registration for fall of 2014, while juniors and seniors will receive a $100 Visa gift card for every class they take at LSCC this spring.

Fulcher said LSCC serves as a significant part of an elaborate balancing act between the city-ordained campus enrollment cap and the university’s

goal of increasing campus enrollment.

As enrollment at LSCC increases, so do opportunities to offer more enrollment on campus.

“Managing our on-campus enrollments according to our conditional use permit creates challenges,” Fulcher said via email. “The part that

Local politicians speak on campus

the LSCC plays in that strategic priority is that it provides educational space that can allow us to serve about 200 more PLNU students.”

According to Fulcher, a large freshman class and high student retention rate encouraged the administra tion SEE LSCC, PAGE 2

Carl DeMaio speaks on campus despite some opposition

BY KATIE CALLAHAN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY AMY WILLIAMS Mayoral candidate Kevin Faulconer campaigns at PLNU to convince students and members of the community that it’s time to reinvest in neighborhoods.

STORY ON PAGE 3

PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio spoke to students in the ARC Thursday about student and national debt as a part of his college tour in which he also visited USD, UCSD and SDSU.

2014 Congressional candidate and “New Generation Republican” Carl DeMaio, as part of his college tour, spoke in the ARC Thursday night, but not before meeting some resistance from Democrats both on campus and beyond.

Right at 7 p.m., students Kai Pedersen and Roberto C. Torres with others, arrived with signs of protest, and were quickly met by Public Safety who made them put their signs outside and allowed them to stay if they SEE DEMAIO, PAGE 2

PLNU makes move to be more inclusive of all students

BY ANNIE BUELL AND KATIE CALLAHAN STAFF WRITERS

A Multicultural and International Student Center will soon be built within the ARC due to the efforts of MOSAIC and members of PLNU’s Diversity Council to promote diversity on campus and provide MOSAIC with official offices.

This center will be built within the ARC, according to Milton Karahadian, director of Nicholson Commons, and Lilia Davis, director of Multicultural and International Student Services. Others involved in the proposal and implementation process are the presidents of MOSAIC affinity groups and Jeffrey Carr, PLNU’s chief diversity officer and associate vice president for student development. Karahadian said that the Multicultural and International Student Center will be built over winter break and operational by late January.

According to ASB President, AJ

Wolf, ASB gave $10,000 to have the center built after it was approved by adminstration.

Karahadian said this effort will showcase and educate students on diversity.

“Part of our goals at PLNU is to have diversity on campus. We want to have multi-cultural and different ethnicities here so that we can offer our education to all people,” said Karahadian.

Carr said that this center will allow PLNU to better reflect the diversity in the world.

“This institution, like the rest of the world, is becoming more and more diverse,” Carr said. “Right now, this institution is changing in ways that represent the world we live in.

[W]e care about students from different backgrounds. I think it stamps on us, that’s important to us, and we accept and we’re inclusive.”

Karahadian said diversity groups haven’t had a central place where they can come and be together, much like any other department on campus.

“The Multicultural Center and

SIMULATIONS COURTESY OF JEFFREY CARR These simulated art renderings of the new Multicultural and International Student Center are expected to become a reality by late January of next semester.

MOSAIC have been sharing a spot in the commuter lounge and Lily Davis has an office down in the Bond Academic Center. And for a long time there’s not been a lot of support for them,” said Karahadian.

Looking around a lot at different areas and buildings on campus, Kara-

hadian said he realized the space at the entrance to the ARC was under-utilized.

“All it is is a passageway into the sitting area and off into the room. It doesn’t really take away from any functionality of the room,” he said. “There’s always a way to make things change. We can move the entrance way over and

have the doors be somewhere else.”

According to Karahadian, the ARC employees have agreed they could place a Multicultural and International Student Center within the ARC and that it would be a “good idea.” He stressed that there are advantages to having the SEE MULTICULTURAL, PAGE 2

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

2 | NEWS

KALEO CHAPEL PHOTOS BY OLIVIA MOWRY AND CASSLYN FISER At Kaleo chapel and Time Out Wednesday, students were given the opportunity to have a more creative worship experience than typical chapel.

DeMaio FROM PAGE 1

would be respectful.

Kai Pedersen, the vice president of the College Democrats Club, said that it wasn’t their intention to make a scene in protest.

“We don’t want to be seen as protestors, but people who want some questions to be answered,” said Pedersen.

The event then proceeded as planned with DeMaio addressing the current state of the U.S. government, his “Free to Be” plan, his past as a businessman, Roadmap to Recovery and the Affordable Care Act (often referred to as Obamacare). His focus was on his “Free to Be” plan, which accentuated five concepts for millennials: free to be in the job of your dreams, free to be anyone you are with equal rights under the law, free to afford tuition, free to be able to choose your healthcare and free to live your entire life without playing off the debts of someone else.

Then, he began a brief Q&A session with students. Approximately

Muliticultural FROM PAGE 1

Multicultural and International Services Center in the ARC. “It brings them into the student union building, which is the center place of the campus, that says, ‘You’re part of the family too. You’re just as important,’” said Karahadian. “[I]t also brings another demographic into the area to integrate with people that are also there now.”

Davis said via email, that the functions of the Multicultural and International Student Center will vary from a venue for prospective diverse or international students, a meeting or working place for MOSAIC students and their larger organizations and a place for current students to obtain resources and information about services.

LSCC FROM PAGE 1

to increase enrollment at LSCC in order to counterbalance the corresponding decrease in available oncampus enrollment space.

“The flexibility of having LSCC allows us to more effectively manage our enrollments to ensure that we operate within the conditions of our agreement with the city,” Fulcher said.

Fulcher’s claims align with pre-

50 people attended the event and the College Republican Club reported 73 people as the peak attendance of the event.

DeMaio began the event with a challenge, telling students that now is not the time to wait for the “old guard” to fix the problem and students need to work to be their own solution by getting involved.

“But this is exactly why you can’t tune it out and walk away because your future is on the line,” DeMaio said. “Your opportunities are not the same opportunities that prior generations had and that’s because of the failure of policies in Washington, in Sacramento and locally here at City Hall. So the question is, are you going to accept that?”

DeMaio also insisted that these governmental problems of economic opportunities and fiscal responsibilities span across both parties, that both must rise up and insist no more.

“There is not a democrat or republican solution to this problem,” DeMaio said. “There is not a Democrat or Republican blame to assign.

Applying labels to solutions, that’s not going to help us. This has got to be an American solution, where we say no one should sit on the sidelines. We should insist on leadership and we should insist on tough decisions being made.”

Pedersen was impressed with what DeMaio had to say, but still had some concerns.

“Overall, with the event, I was pretty impressed with the level of detail and with the level of thinking that candidate DeMaio portrayed,” he said. “I was concerned by some of the rhetoric that I heard.”

Pedersen said DeMaio claims to be a new kind of Republican, not afraid to challenge the Republican party on key issues, while still using the language of the “old guard,” something he finds concerning, especially in the way he “demonized Obamacare.”

“There’s a lot of misinformation and disinformation going around about Obamacare,” said Pedersen.

“One of the things that representative DeMaio said is that we’re going to see premiums skyrocket for everybody.

And at the same time, we know that

at least, is not completely true because we are seeing some examples of premiums becoming much more affordable through the new online health exchange that recently came online.”

DeMaio responded that young people and small businesses everywhere are getting notices that their coverage is no longer going to continue, and this is a problem that has been confirmed time and time again from an informal Facebook survey he took.

“Look, right now it’s pretty clear that premiums are more expensive and people have lost their coverage. That’s not rhetoric; it’s fact,” DeMaio said.

“And I want a health care reform that makes healthcare more affordable and more accessible. Those should be our measuring sticks. And clearly, the facts are piling up that people are paying more and losing insurance coverage because of these new regulations. We have to fix that.”

Justin Vos, president of the College Republican Club on campus, said that he thinks DeMaio is just the candidate needed to change the direction of government.

“Carl’s been a great advocate for reform. He’s really the kind of leader that we need in office. We’ve had so many people who just sit around not really doing the job that they’re expected to do,” Vos said. “You know, we don’t need wishy-washy politicians like the one we currently have, Scott Peters, who doesn’t have new ideas, doesn’t have bright solutions. We need somebody that can get things done. And that’s the kind of guy Carl is.”

Ultimately, Voss said this event is important for students because it received attention from both parties.

“Democrats are scared of Carl now. They’re scared because they know he’s going to be a great leader,” he said. “They know he’s going to come in, he’s going to make reform in Washington. They know that if they get him in there, that things are going to change there and that we’re going to see America become a better place.”

DeMaio visited PLNU on invitation by Voss and as a part of his college tour this past week in which he also visited USD, SDSU and UCSD.

MOSAIC club presidents Senior Allison Kendrix and Junior Meaghan Zuttermeister had a supportive role in the development of the proposal, alongside Carr and Davis.

Kendrix, president of the Black Student Union, said that students of their club are excited to have a consistent meeting place.

“Having this center built as a place for us to meet, create, plan and fellowship without the distraction of our previous location will be essential for all of our clubs,” said Kendrix. “It has been difficult in the past, trying to find different meeting locations and communicating with other clubs and leaders has been difficult, but now we will have a place to all work together and are thrilled.”

Zuttermeister, president of the

Hui O Hawaii club on campus, reiterated Kendrix’s statement that this center will give students a place to meet without distractions.

“The center gives my club a place to meet for Hui O Hawaii meetings.

Right now we meet in the MOSAIC/ commuter lounge,” said Zuttermeister. “Sometimes there will be commuters in there or people walking in and out causing a distraction during the meetings.”

The center will also give MOSAIC some publicity and presence on campus.

“The center also puts the whole idea of MOSAIC out there,” she said.

“MOSAIC is an organization that was established to help students that are minorities in Point Loma to feel welcomed and supported. Some people don’t realize that there is even such a

thing as MOSAIC or a Hawaii club.”

Karahadian said the center will share a wall with the fireplace in the ARC. A glass window will be built between Davis’s office and the lounge area. The center won’t be visible from the other side of the ARC. Organizationally, Karahadian said the room will function as before.

“We’ll take the seating that’s there and move it towards the ARC desk and the functionality will not change one bit.” Karahadian said.

Karahadian said he is unsure of what the reaction will be when students return from Christmas break, but the ARC staff’s initial reaction was receptive. “[This reaction is a] good indicator of their flexibility and willingness to share their space,” Karahadian said.

Davis said that a Multicultural and

International Service Center has been discussed for over two years. But according to Karahadian, the process has been expedited over the past two weeks.

“They’re a very important demographic that we slowly are building. This [center] will help raise our awareness and also give them a place of meeting and hanging out,” said Karahadian.

Carr said that this center gives PLNU the opportunity to better serve student needs.

“The ideas, the vision, the actual services need to grow and need to be what’s relevant for the people who are here,” said Carr. “As the needs change, we have a responsibility to the community to do things that make sense, things that will better serve all the students that are here on our campus.”

vious statements made by President Bob Brower, who said in a September email interview with the Point Weekly that offering classes at LSCC was part of the expansion “process of making the undergraduate program less confined to only the main campus,” while simultaneously creating more oncampus enrollment opportunities.

Fulcher said LSCC enrollment in general education and elective classes this fall was 47 students and that the administration has set a goal of 87

similarly-enrolled students in the spring. The long-term goal is to enroll 200 students at LSCC, Fulcher said.

In order to reach this goal, Fulcher said potential incentives were determined by the results of several student polls, which indicated that monetary compensation was the most common request. The funding for this incentive comes from PLNU’s general operating budget, which is influenced by overall enrollment.

Robert Contreras, a junior politi-

cal science major, said that though the offer was ill-timed and insufficient for him to change his spring schedule, he could be influenced by it in the future.

“Personally I think this incentive program was a good idea,” Contreras said. “I didn’t change my classes because the time frame and teachers I chose were very intentional. However, in the coming semesters I can only dream of the number of Cali burritos, pumpkin spice lattes, slurpees, dates and In-N-Out trips this incentive

might supply.”

Freshman Juan Iñiguez, who will take a New Testament class at LSCC this spring, echoed Brower’s sentiments about the significance of combating the educational confinement to PLNU’s main campus. “[PLNU] is a bubble,” Iñiguez said. “I’m glad to be studying [at LSCC] because it gets you outside and in a different ambiance. It just refreshes your mind.”

monday, november 11, 2013 | the point weekly

NEWS | 3

Google.org product manager addresses technology’s impact on poverty

BY ABBY HAMBLIN STAFF WRITER

Google is about more than just answering search inquiries and providing PLNU’s email service, according to Paul Lee, a senior product manager at Google.org.

Lee spoke Nov. 4 to a packed Fermanian Conference Center about technology’s impact on poverty. His research on internet access and affordability in Africa on behalf of Google. org (the philanthropic arm of Google) fits in with PLNU’s Center for International Development’s mission statement: “Business to Serve the Least of These,” according to the center’s director, Robert Gailey.

“The center is trying to engage students who say, ‘Are there other ways of doing poverty alleviation besides just governments and charities?’”

Gailey said. “I support those and I think those are great but there are business and corporations like Google that are attempting to do things on a more massive scale and so I want our

students to be exposed to that.”

Lee and his research team found that mobile data users in Ghana experienced a lack of price and data usage transparency needed to make informed decisions about Internet use, something that proved to cause problems for economic efficiency in the country.

In Ghana, research showed that most mobile data users assumed they were billed for their time spent on the Internet, not for the size or type of web page they were viewing, which led to confusion and extra spending.

“It was so interesting to find out that their Internet usage is totally different than ours,” said Annika Nousiainen, a junior business administration major. “Our access is pretty much unlimited and we take the Internet for granted while they’re spending huge amounts of their income that could go to food and shelter toward Internet.”

Lee said he was glad to present his research to students in particular, because his case study is just one example of ways technology can help to alleviate poverty and address oth-

er social issues.

“I think the students today are going to bring the most important innovations tomorrow,” Lee said. “I think the reason why all our technology is getting better is because of people who are in undergrad and graduate school right now become captivated by this problem space and get motivated to work really hard and solve it.”

He said he hopes the PLNU students who attended would be inspired by the possibility of innovation as he was as a student.

“If you look at the biggest technical innovations, the biggest startups, the biggest companies that have launched like Facebook and Google, they started with people who are in college or grad school and so forth,” Lee said. “Every major civic movement has had kind of like a student tie-in. I think that’s true with any major technological movement as well. I think especially this type of audience will help be the vanguard of that.”

PHOTO BY ABBY HAMBLIN Paul Lee, a senior product manager at Google.org, spoke to a packed Fermainan Conference Center on Nov. 4.

Invisible Children screening promotes student involvement

BY MIRANDA BROWN STAFF WRITER

The Invisible Children organization is back and going strong, showing a documentary across the country, including its founding city, San Diego, in order to increase students involvement in their organization.

PLNU’s Invisible Children (IC) Club’s promotions drew about 60 students to the ARC Nov. 4 as “roadies,” volunteer IC representatives, showed the nonprofit’s documentary called “The Rescue.”

The film explained the history of IC and their mission to stop Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), while also providing updates on what has been accomplished. Afterwards, a roadie from Uganda shared her story

and students asked questions about the organization. At the end of the evening, students were challenged to create a fundraising page on an available laptop to support IC in their mission to bring LRA child soldiers home.

“I’ve seen the film 40 to 45 times,and different parts re-give you the motivation of why you’re here,” IC roadie Caroline Garcia said. “I hope the first time people will be watching it, they’ll be inspired not just to listen but to do something about it.”

Students could also get involved by raising awareness through social media, purchasing IC merchandise, or joining the IC club on campus. According to president Christina Issa, the club is planning fundraisers, a beach cleanup, a tour of the IC offices, and a spring benefit

concert at OB1 church. Documentary screenings meant to promote awareness of IC on campus.

“I hoped that people who came would leave with more knowledge than they had at the beginning of the night,” Issa said via email. “Through the clips the roadies showed and the Q&A session, I feel that that was accomplished.

I think the event went well and I’m excited there was a great turnout!”

The event was part of the roadies’ tour to fundraise and increase awareness throughout the country.

IC’s current focus is their #zeroLRA campaign. According to a Washington Post article last month, this 10-week campaign focuses on fundraising to help the 140 captive women and 72 children escape the LRA. Their slo-

San Diego mayoral candidate Kevin Faulconer campaigns in Cunningham

BY AMY WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Kevin Faulconer, a mayoral candidate for San Diego, came to PLNU Saturday morning to open up conversation about his campaign with students and community members.

The event was organized by The City Club. His speech “My Plans for Our Future” focused on reinvesting in the neighborhoods by repairing streets, sidewalks, sewage and water systems.

Sixty seven people were in attendance.

Faulconer is currently on the city council for District Two which includes Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Bay Park and North Bay. He talked about major changes he wanted to make if he were elected.

“We need to really get back into the neighborhoods’ services business by taking those savings we were going to have and in the future putting them back into the things that matter the most,” said Faulconer.

After Faulconer’s 10 minute speech, the President of The City

Club, George Mitrovich, an alum of Pasadena Nazarene College (before it moved to PLNU), mediated the question and answer session. Faulconer then gave his answers to questions about his opponents regarding what he admired about each of them. He also spoke about his plans for homelessness with his plan to transition the homeless out of that stage and try not to raise taxes. According to Mitrovich, the purpose of the forum was for Faulconer to have a conversation with the audience and act alone instead of with his competing candidates.

“We started this series and we did it purposely not wanting to do debates,” said Mitrovich. “There’s been a great many of those, but giving you an opportunity to judge the four major candidates on their own.”

The City Club is an organization led by Mitrovich that puts on events where citizens can converse with many people in government positions. They also held this same kind of event for the three other major mayoral candidates but were not on PLNU’s campus.

Many of the people in attendance were students from La Jolla Country Day School but there were also students from PLNU and other citizens.

“I thought that he made a really good point that instead of just raising taxes, they need to change the inner workings of the government so that we aren’t just handing them money to waste,” said Andrew Musgrave, senior accounting major. “Instead he just wants to make the current taxes more efficient.”

Election for San Diego Mayor will take place on Nov. 19.

SPECIAL MAYORAL ELECTION CONTENDERS:

Mike Aguirre David Alvarez Kevin Faulconer Nathan Fletcher

gan is “Stand for nothing (no child soldiers, no killing, no war), celebrate everything (every escape, every name, every life).”

IC was founded in 2004, and since then, the LRA has moved from Uganda into the Dominican Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Last year, their Kony 2012 video went viral with over 98 million Youtube views, aiming to make Kony famous and bring him to justice. After the widespread attention, of both support and criticism, IC still works to end the conflict.

According to their website, IC uses a four-part model to address the conflict: media, mobilization, protection and recovery. They raise awareness and inspire American youth to action,

while also providing support to LRA victims and working with political leaders around the world to bring the war to an end.

Club vice president Monique Gonzalez said seeing the hurt of these child soldiers is enough to motivate her to get involved with Invisible Children and do more.

“Every time I watch an Invisible Children documentary, I always cry,” Gonzalez said. “I always feel the struggle that these children are going through, and I feel inspired to help them.”

African journalists visit campus

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN RHINE Twelve African journalists visited Dean Nelson’s Intro to Journalism class in order to get a sense of American journalism and shed some light on the way they conduct journalism in their culture.

BY KATHLEEN RHINE STAFF WRITER

On Friday, Nov. 8, PLNU welcomed 12 journalists from various countries in Africa to Dean Nelson’s Intro to Journalism class in Taylor Hall.

Invited by the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, the journalists spoke about the struggles and joys they encounter in day-to-day reporting. Jean-Luc Emile from the island nation of Mauritius spoke of the government screening social media accounts and the few press freedoms he has in his country.

Students and the journalists interacted with questions about differences in culture and government and the universal similarity of sharing a person’s story. “We need to write stories that affect people. Think about the people,” said Robert Mugabe from Rwanda. “I wake up every day to speak for the people.”

When addressing challenges and dangers involved with reporting in her country, Ivana Abdallah from South Sudan responded, “When you have faith for any work, you can do it.

We have faith to do our job.”

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

4 | FEATURES

features

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“What if you were that one person somebody needs?” - said Bob Goff, author of “Love Does,” in chapel on Nov. 4.

A good place to dine hard: Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Restaurant review

BY TORY ORDOÑA STAFF WRITER

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern is a restaurant and bar on North Harbor Drive. It is about a 20-minute walk from the Liberty Station shuttle stop.

The atmosphere is upscale but casual and relaxed. The crowd is a mix of young and old adults, with only a few kids around. Jimmy’s is a busy place; so be sure to get reservations or expect a wait.

My roommate Carlos and I shared a spinach bacon fondue and tortilla chips to start. The cheese was very creamy and salty and the spinach added a touch of color.

The crumbled bacon was the most prominent ingredient in the fondue, though it was not present in every bite.

Apart from the appetizers, Jimmy’s is famous for its burgers. We had The Jimmy and The Cowboy burgers because their names were the coolest.

The Jimmy burger was dressed in melted cheddar cheese, jalapeno jelly and crunchy bacon. Every bite was warmed by the jelly and slathered with cheese. The meat was a little bland and the only interesting texture was the thick cut bacon.

The Cowboy burger was made with the same patty, bacon and bun but was spiced up with green chiles, an onion ring and barbecue sauce. Carlos enjoyed the burger but was surprised that the sauce was more prominent than the pepper. He suggests coming hungry, as the burgers are pretty large and heavy.

We also had apple walnut coleslaw and french fries with house ketchup.

The slaw was sweet and mild, with pleasant sharp notes from the vinegar, but the texture was a little soft for my

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MILLER Grab some good all-American food at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern on Harbor Drive.

taste. Jimmy’s ketchup is very smoky from chipotle but still has the tangysweet taste diners might expect from any other recipe.

Our server was quick and professional and we only waited a few min-

utes for our food once we were seated.

The price of the meal will be a little steep for many college age customers — the fondue and two burgers cost $40 before tax. Still, the charming atmosphere and great food make Jim-

my’s an establishment that is worth a try. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely hemorrhage money for it yet again.

Electrical Engineering promises high pay for only three students

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MILLER Junior Matt Smith sits in the lab of Rohr Science. Smith is one of three students studying Engineering Physics with an emphasis in Mechanics and Electrodynamics at PLNU.

BY ANNA LUSSIER STAFF WRITER

While graduating from college can be a wonderful experience, the joys of commencement can be followed by the worries associated with job hunting. Many students worry that the years they have invested in achieving their degrees may have done nothing but land them a minimum wage job.

For PLNU’s electrical engineering

students however, this is not the case.

According to the study “College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings”

by Georgetown University, electrical engineering majors have a 5.2 percent unemployment rate and starting salaries average at $57,000 for recent college graduates.

Despite this major’s high employment rates there are currently only three PLNU students pursuing a degree in Engineering Physics with an emphasis in Machanics and Electrody-

namics, (PLNU’s version of an Electrical Engineering degree).

Junior Ian Stubbs makes up one third of his major. Stubbs discovered his love for electrodynamics during his freshman year of high school.

“I got interested in electronics by my freshman science teacher,” said Stubbs. “He had several electronics texts that I would read during reading hours and as I got more confused by the textbooks I asked him more and more questions.”

Stubbs and his teacher started an electronics and inventions club that grew over the next four years to the point where the club was able to design, construct and operate an electromagnetic coil launcher.

“An electro-magnetic coil launcher would probably be better known as a rail gun,” says Stubbs. “Its kind of like a cannon, but with electricity instead of gunpowder. That project made me want to know how to do what we did on my own and know the process, instead of just following one.”

During his time at PLNU, Stubbs has enjoyed learning even more about electronics and has been challenged by the difficulty of the program.

“It’s true engineering is hard, but it’s so worth it,” he says. “That moment when you do figure out that problem after four hours is really satisfying. When after 700 hours you finally get your invention to work it’s a pretty incredible feeling.”

Despite the challenging material, Stubbs recommends his major to anyone interested in electrical engineering.

“This program provides an environment that catalyzes growth in a team as well as an individual,” said Stubbs. “It has provided me with a very beneficial foundation for the rest of my career, a foundation for engineering, but also for other life skills, friendship, communication, networking, collaboration.”

Freshman Marissa Dotter is also studying electrodynamics and is pleased with how small the emphasis program is.

“You can get to know your professors and your fellow students and really get in touch with the material, which is super helpful,” she says. “I can tell this major is going to get diffi-

cult, but I think I’ve been doing pretty good so far.”

In addition to the small sizes and high quality of classes, Paul Schmelzenbach, associate professor of physics, feels that PLNU’s program in electrical engineering is competitive in the job market.

“The degree itself provides a strong foundation in the way the world works and teaches students how to solve problems using engineering,” he said. “A lot of the focus is placed on teaching students to adapt. So, when they get jobs, they can acclimate really quickly. This degree is very versatile, which is really key in the current job market.”

Upon graduating from PLNU, both Stubbs and Dotter hope to attend graduate school, Stubbs wishing to study hardware design and Dotter having dreams of working in aerospace engineering. Matt Smith, a junior also studying Engineering Physics with an emphasis in Mechanics and Electrodynamics, is interested in one day working in the automobile industry.

He plans to take some time after graduation to gain experience in the work force and then go back to school for a masters degree. Smith says he believes he will leave PLNU well equipped to begin work as an engineer.

“So many of the things I’ve learned in engineering carries on directly into the workforce,” he says. “I plan on using the skills I’ve acquired here at school to make me a better engineer.”

monday, november 11, 2013 | the point weekly

FEATURES | 5

Seeking to save feral cats

GREY AREA the black the white and the in between.

The holiday season is in full swing and some students are already counting down the days until Christmas. Starbucks brought out their seasonal red cups on Nov.1, Target had Christmas decorations on sale the begging of Oct. and the Christmas shopping season officially starts off on Black Friday.

So when is it appropriate for us to start celebrating Christmas?

“After Thanksgiving. If you start celebrating too early it is less special.”

- Mackenzie Cribb, Sophomore “I start celebrating Christmas right after Thanksgiving. Usually right after I go out and get a tree. It’s tradition.”

PHOTO BY SAM CHRISTOPHER Feral cats snack on food given to them by Debi Reis, assistant to PLNU’s vice president for external relations. The cats, which live in the bushes near the entrance to campus, are quickly multiplying as PLNU community members seek to control and protect them.

BY SAM CHRISTOPHER STAFF WRITER

Debi Reis drives onto campus every day in her red car and the cats start running. At the sound of her engine the furry feral cats by the cross at the entrance to campus emerge from their hiding places and seek her attention.

The cats are usually extremely elusive; yet they are fearless in the face of her red car. Ries is the assistant to vice president for external relations at PLNU and has taken it upon herself to see that the feral cats on campus are treated properly.

Several weeks ago Ries was walking with a friend and saw a kitten sleeping in the bushes which piqued her interest.

“I came back the next day, and I’ve come back every day since for five weeks to care for them,” she said.

Reis explained her love for ani-

mals and that her original interest in caring for them came out of a sense of compassion. It wasn’t until her husband showed her an article printed in U-T San Diego that things changed.

“It (the article) opened my eyes to what a big problem feral cats are in San Diego County,” said Reis.

According to the Feral Cat Coalition, a pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, “can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.”

Ries has drafted a proposal and is waiting to hear back from Physical Plant. The proposal would put her in charge of seeing that these feral cats are taken care of in the most humane way possible.

“I want to make sure that they are not killed, but I also want to make sure that they are not reproducing,” said Reis.

Her plan is to get the cats spayed and neutered and give them shots.

“I found this non-profit called the Feral Cat Coalition (FCC) and I have an appointment with them for November 17. They will spay and neuter and inoculate them against rabies,” she said.

The FCC will de-flea and clean the cat’s ears as well, all for free.

“My proposal is that I’ll be the crazy cat lady, if you will, and on my own time, [not work time] I am willing to set up the traps that the FCC loans [me] for free, and help try and get the population under control,” said Reis.

Another group on campus, the Association of Environmental Professionals at Point Loma (AEPPL) is also attempting to take care of the cats on campus, but through a different organization.

Senior Environmental Science Major Lindsay Powell, the club president, says they are going to help control the campus’ cats through the Society for the Prevention of Cru-

Live without regrets, Learn without borders.

elty to Animals which is a partner of the Humane Society. The club wants to set up live traps to help catch the cats and spay and neuter them. They would be doing this as a part of the club’s volunteer hours.

Reis has not received conformation from PLNU’s Physical Plant yet and they have declined to comment to the Point Weekly. The AEPPL club has also tried contacting Physical Plant regarding their plans and have yet to hear any response.

While the plan to control feral cats on campus is being sorted out between the school, the physical plant and cat lovers alike, Ries encourages all students to avoid the cats.

“Do not try to pick them up, they are wild animals. You run the risk of being bitten, and then you may have to get rabies shots,” she said.

NEWS EDITOR WANTED

- Jessica Escorza, Junior

“I think we need to stop forgetting about Thanksgiving.”

- Try Hunt, Junior

“After you get your candy on Halloween. When the costume come off then you can start celebrating Christmas and it’s all about the Christmas cookies.”

- Mike Marcouxl, Senior

“12 days before. Because of the 12 Days of Christmas song.”

-Dustin Ansley, Senior

“As soon as Thanksgiving is over I start decorating for Christmas. My roommate and I make snowflakes out of magazines.”

- Malissa Thomas, Junior

The Point Weekly is looking for a news editor for second semester. For more information,

“You can start celebrating the day after Thanksgiving because you have to give all of the holidays their own time. If you start celebrating any time sooner than Christmas becomes boring.”

-Nate Wright, Senior

please email Abby Hamblin Discover where you’ll study abroad at usac.unr.edu

abbyhamblin0105@ pointloma.edu

@StudyAbroadUSAC

USAC_New_6x5_B&W.indd 1

“Start celebrating Christmas the day before Halloween. Because you only live once.”

- Brittney Doehring, Senior

Compiled by Kimberly Miller 21/06/13 6:47 PM

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

6 | FEATURES

Debuting Dillon Kane in “Crimes of the Heart”

PHOTO BY BRITTANY NAYLOR Senior Dillon Kane, on the set of Solomon Theater’s “Crimes of the Heart,” in which he played the role of Doc Porter. Kane had never done theater before when he was cast in the play, which ran last week.

BY BRITTANY NAYLOR STAFF WRITER

Dillon Kane had never done theater before his debut in Solomon Theater last week.

A literature major in his senior year, Kane landed the role of Doc Porter in “Crimes of the Heart,” a PLNU production which explores the troubles of three young women as they return home to Mississippi.

Four weeks into production, the person originally cast to play Doc had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

A replacement needed to be found immediately. Elizabeth Lambert, a senior at PLNU who plays the lead role of Babe in “Crimes of the Heart” decided to ask Kane.

“Elizabeth approached me in our Postcolonial Lit class to consider doing the play,” said Kane via email. “She was addressing me and another male colleague of ours. She said that one of the two guys who were acting in the show dropped out, and that one of us could replace him and be a huge help in doing so. Elizabeth said we wouldn’t even need to audition.”

Lambert saw that the personalities of the role of Doc and Kane’s were similar enough to work together.

“I just had this feeling that Dillon should be Doc, so I just asked him if he would be interested in doing theatre and he kind of showed some interest,” said Lambert. “I just kept pushing and I said [he] would be great at it. He has a really good voice and he has the right

look for it and presence, so it kind of was a happy coincidence I guess.”

This feeling of Kane’s natural fit for the role was not Lambert’s alone, but was a mindset also shared by Walter Williams, PLNU professor of Theater and director for “Crimes of the Heart.”

“He seemed like he would be nice for the role,” said Williams. “It was too late in the process to do a formal audition; we were already four weeks into rehearsal. He got up on stage and read the role and started moving around in it and he was fine for it. I very much like what he is doing.”

Kane was excited about the possibility of acting in “Crimes of the Heart” though he had no previous experience acting on stage.

“I wanted to give it a real

shot,” said Kane. “I told Elizabeth on a Friday that I could and would love to do it. I met with Wally, the director, the following Monday morning, and started rehearsing with the cast that afternoon.”

Now that Kane has played his role of Doc Porter every night in the play’s five day running in Solomon Theatre, he shares how fun he finds acting to be.

“For the actors, we memorize our lines, we get our blocking down, we work on how to deal with each other on stage, in character, and after that, [the character] becomes you,” said Kane. “It’s been a lot of fun the whole time, but now that the shows are underway, I think it’s more fun because I get to live the character and experience what I wanted to experience

when I agreed to [filling in].”

Such an experience has made a lasting impression with Kane who says that if he could go back, he would consider double majoring in literature and theatre. Looking ahead in life, though, Kane has plans to continue his thespian career.

“I think I’m actually going to audition for the show that is going on in January called ‘Dark Matter,’” he said.

“I think I’m going to audition because it was fun.”

For those who missed “Crimes of the Heart,” two special showings will happen on Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. for Homecoming festivities.

STUDY ABROAD PHOTO OF THE WEEK “A few things that I really enjoy about Argentina are the language, greeting people with a kiss, the

Taking on

ARGENTINA

music, drinking mate, traveling and meeting people from all over the world.”

- James Spaite

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JAMES SPAITE Sophomore Music in Ministry major James Spaite stands in front of Iguazú Falls in the north east of Argentina. “It is basically Niagara Falls on steroids and it is in all three countries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay,” he says. Spaite is studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina through International Studies Abroad.

monday, november 11, 2013 | the point weekly

a&e

A&E | 7

PLAN YOUR WEEK

11/12: “Much Ado About Nothing”; The Old Globe- Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre; 7 p.m.

11/13-16: San Diego Asian Film Festival; Digiplex Mission Valley (and other theaters) 11/13: Mason Jennings; Belly Up Tavern; 8 p.m.

11/15: Mayday Parade with Man Overboard and Cartel; House of Blues; 6:30 p.m.

Review: Unforgettable “Crimes”

BY MORGAN CARNE STAFF WRITER

“It’s cause I didn’t like his looks,” says Babe MaGrath, introducing a central conflict of love and loss in “Crimes of the Heart.”

The opening scene immediately engaged the 30-person audience on Nov. 6. The Salomon Theatre production, which opened on Nov. 5, is directed by Walter Williams, professor of communication and theatre and stars several PLNU theater students.

Written by Beth Henley in 1978, the play follows the past and present of the three MaGrath sisters as they navigate life in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in the fall of 1974, five years after Hurricane Camille. Lenny, Meg and Babe each struggle with different issues in similar ways: avoidance and isolation.

The theatre set did wonders for developing a homey atmosphere.

From Campbell’s soup cans to Bisquick boxes, porcelain roosters to decorative salt and pepper shakers, the set appeared to reflect the ‘40s, yet the story takes place in the ‘70s.

The abundant nature scene paintings and yellow paisley wallpaper lent a rustic feel to the house. Aspen trees and green fields outside complete the snapshot of a quintessential southern abode. Such a peaceful setting belies the character of the turbulent events unfolding in the drama.

The actors portrayed each character eloquently, drawing the audience in at each turn of events. Lenny is played by senior Laura Hague, who gives off a

PHOTO BY CASSLYN FISER Freshman Katie Emma Filby and senior Laura Hague act out a scene in Salomon Theatre’s production of “Crimes of the Heart.” Both students play two of the three MaGrath sisters, some of the central characters in the play.

sense of ferocity fighting for control of her demeanor.

Babe — played by senior Elizabeth Lambert — is in jail at the outset of the play after shooting her abusive husband Zachary in the stomach. Lambert brings warmth and sincerity to the character, endearing the audience with each outburst of laughter.

“I think it’s an important thing that a person could win an important vendetta,” says Babe to Barnette Lloyd (senior Luciano Gallegos), the new lawyer in town, whose romantic feelings for

Babe grow with each passing scene.

Meg’s attempted singing career seems to have failed, and now that she has returned home, she is always in motion, both literally and figuratively. Freshman Katie Emma Filby portrays Meg as a true southern spitfire, flippantly brushing off any attempt at introspection.

Chick Boyle, played by sophomore Samantha Watkins, acts as her antagonist. Watkins lends her own charm and humor to the obnoxious and absurd character in the subtle nuances she

adds to her lines.

Even when Doc Porter, a love from Chick’s past, reappears, Watkins maintains a sense of apathy that pervades every her movement. Doc — played by senior Dillon Kane — is quiet and reserved, with the hope of a future different from his past shining in his eyes each time he speaks. Kane’s acting draws the audience in with a tender sadness that makes him relatable.

Despite Meg’s desperate fight to remain neutral among the emotional struggles of the characters, she finally

exclaims, “It’s an important human need — to talk about our lives.”

In the end, it is this simple discussion of their lives that leads the MaGrath sisters to discover that their ultimate salvation in the midst of the woes and throes of life is in each other.

Each of the actors depict the emotional darkness and vulnerability of the characters from the beginning of the play until the closing curtain.

“Crimes of the Heart” is showing again on Nov. 23 in Salomon Theatre.

Review: Band captivates crowd Blitzen Trapper promotes seventh album at show in La Jolla

PHOTO BY EDDIE MATTHEWS Country/rock quintet Blitzen Trapper performs at Porter’s Pub in La Jolla on Saturday, Nov. 9. Their show — consisting of 19 songs and one and half hours — promoted their seventh and newest album, “VII.”

BY EDDIE MATTHEWS STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, Nov. 9, La Jolla’s Porter’s Pub stage had an Oregon state flag hung from the stage-right keyboard and a Cascadian Independence flag hung from the stage-left keyboard. It was set up for Portland-

based Blitzen Trapper, a quintet playing in support of its new album, “VII,” the seventh of the band’s collection.

Lead singer Eric Earley is a small, compact man with black hair that flows into a full beard the same color. His eyes are often closed while singing, tucked under the shadow of his eyebrows. He

plays banjo and guitar precisely; his thin, dexterous fingers know each instrument as a craftsman knows his trade.

A few songs in, the band played “Shine On” off “VII.” The song is an amalgam of influence — a gospelsounding chorus, sung with the twang of Earley’s vocals, the pop keys from

Marty Marquis, and the long rock ‘n’ roll guitar solos. Earley journeyed away from the microphone and the theme to indulge his instinct to jam.

The band’s performance was often like jazz — collective improvisation that adds layers to the structure, but eventually comes back to the chordal theme.

“Thirsty Man” was a perfect example of the band elongating the song and adding the textures of each instrument — electric guitar, synth, bass, drums — each instrumentalist contributing to the playground of space between the last verse and the last note.

While longwinded at times, the many solos of Earley were a marvel to watch, especially when he picked up his black banjo and began plucking as fast as he sang.

“VII” is distinctly more country than any other genre that’s been applied to Blitzen Trapper. It synthesizes the rock ‘n’ roll tendencies of the band into a country sound that evokes a sense of place in the backwoods of Oregon.

During upbeat “Neck Tatts, Cadillacs,” the pace of Earley’s vocals was closer to rap than country. Then the band slowed the tempo with “Stolen Shoes and a Rifle,” leaving no doubt

that Blitzen Trapper is primarily a country band.

The band left the stage before the encore, after playing 19 songs for the crowd of about 200 people. Earley returned to the stage alone with an acoustic guitar and harmonica.

He played “Stranger In A Strange Land,” the most intimate song of the night. Earley sang from a place of contentment with a song that provided balance and a break from the hard-driving guitar lines. It was simple and beautiful, speaking of regret but not lingering there. Earley achieved a connection with the crowd that was palpable.

Blitzen Trapper played with consistent energy, each song with a different twist from its recorded counterpart. Witnessing the process of songs being continually shaped and molded throughout the show was intriguing and refreshing.

The band finally stopped playing after about an hour and 45 minute set, but the crowd could’ve listened all night.

And they’d have good reason to.

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

8 | A&E

Set donated to Coastline News

PHOTO BY OLIVIA MOWRY Broadcast Journalism majors, junior Marissa Hornaday and senior Kalyn McMackin, situate themselves with the new donated Channel 10 set behind them for their bi-weekly newscast of Coastline News. Katie Seals is also pictured at right.

BY TORY ORDONA STAFF WRITER

Coastline News has a brand new look for its newscasts this year.

The biweekly live newscast, hosted on campus, acquired several set pieces valued at around $250,000 in early September, according to Rick Moncauskas, the Point TV media operations manager. The pieces were donated by one of Moncauskas’ contacts at Channel 10 News.

“We’ve shot the Society of Professional Journalists Payback Panel here in Fermanian for the last four or five

years,” Moncauskas said. “That’s how I met the guy at Channel 10 who gave us the set.”

J.W. August is the directing manager for Channel 10 and the executive producer for the Society of Professional Journalists. According to Moncauskas, Channel 10 is redoing its set and August offered the pieces to Coastline.

Usually the old set is thrown away, but because these sets are made of parts and components that can be separated, they can be salvaged easily by others.

Such professional equipment is desirable to studios like Point TV. Moncauskas and Clark Greer, pro-

fessor of communication, went to the Channel 10 studio in late June to select the pieces they liked and brought them to campus. According to Greer, the components needed to be modified to fit the Coastline set. The process took six weeks to complete.

“Some of these set pieces were eighteen feet long and very heavy,” Greer said. “We had to get bids from contractors, and it takes a lot of time to do this. We put the set up between teaching and doing other things.”

According to Greer, the work to adapt the set only cost about $1500, while it originally cost Channel 10

New book explores rock ‘n’ roll world

BY AUTUMN SHULTZ STAFF WRITER

In the time of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, one man was able to make a difference.

In his book, “Off My Rocker,” Kenny Weissberg — former Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay promoter and musician ­— recounts his adventures in the ever-changing music industry and describes the many musical icons he met on his journey. On Nov. 7, PLNU hosted the author’s launch of his new book.

The event began and ended with cheers and thunderous applause.

Prior to the event, Weissberg mingled with excited audience members and thanked them for their attendance.

The audience, a mix of students, PLNU staff members, fellow authors and individuals who had worked with and known Weissberg throughout his 35-year career, filled the small Draper Hall conference room. All eyes were on the man whose life story was encapsulated within the book that they held in their hands.

During the interview portion of the launch, journalism professor Dean Nelson asked Weissberg how he managed to craft such a detailed account of his careers as a disc jockey and music producer. Journaling was his number

one source of details.

“I have a great memory, but I also kept a journal during my time in Europe,” Weissberg said. “I stopped when I moved to San Diego, but soon started up again. The irony of keeping a journal and being a journalist was not lost on me though.”

Weissberg said the music industry has changed since he first began working in it.

“When I started my lifelong journey in the music business with jobs in radio and print journalism when I was 23-years-old, most people in the industry were passionate music lovers.” Weissberg said. “Music was in the foreground and I considered myself lucky enough to be a trendsetting tastemaker. As the years piled on and it became evident that there was huge money to be made in music, the corporations and suits started to take it over. The business, for the most part, has lost its soul. I was fortunate to have a 35-year career before I walked away from it all in 2007.”

Prior to his retirement, Weissberg influenced the lives and careers of many people. One of these was his former assistant and book launch attender, Mitzi Stone, who, with the help of Weissberg, raised her children in an almost entirely

musical environment.

“Working with Kenny for 20 years shaped me as a person in many ways,” Stone said after the event. “Most importantly, I was able to raise my children in the exciting world of music. Kenny always welcomed them at the office, at concerts and backstage.

His enthusiasm for music was infectious and eagerly shared with me and my kids. I believe he not only helped shape me as a person but also made a life-long impact on [my kids] as well.”

Weissberg also entertained audience members at the launch last Thursday evening. After the event, members of the audience converged into groups in order to discuss what they had just witnessed. One woman, a friend of Stone, described the launch as “perfect” and the author as a “sweetheart,” as she clutched her new book to her chest and headed to the autograph line.

“It made my heart soar to see the event so well-attended,” Stone said. “I actually met a few people who I had spoken to on the phone for years but never had the pleasure of meeting in person until tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the interaction between Kenny and Dean Nelson, especially during the Q&A segment. The event exceeded my expectations.”

upwards of $100,000 to construct.

Coastline received three backdrops, side panels to hold up the backdrops and a large LED light box that can be coordinated to any color for their studio.

Alan Hueth is another professor of communication that works with Point TV. He said getting the set through a donation saved the university tens of thousands of dollars and offers a more professional appearance.

“Viewers will interpret the new look so that it really adds to our ethos,” Hueth said. “And maybe students will prepare more when they appear [as

newscasters] in front of it.”

Greta Wall, Coastline’s news manager, said in an email that she was pleased with the latest addition to the studio.

“The first newscast with the new set went great, it looked better on camera than the old set,” Wall said. “All the students that have seen it love it.”

While some technical and mechanical elements of the set aren’t completed, it is functional and viewers can see it on Point TV, channel 23.

monday, november 11, 2013 | the point weekly

SPORTS | 9

sports

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/12: W. Volleyball vs. Hawaii Pacific 11/15: W.Basketball @ Central Washingtion 11/16: W. Volleyball @ Dixie State, W. Basketball @ Seattle Pacific, W. Soccer vs. Bethesda

Women’s basketball to build on last season

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION

BY KENDALL BOSHART STAFF WRITER

The women’s basketball program is kicking off its season in two weekends and the team has high hopes for this year.

Sophomore Jordan Ligons sees

that the success the team ended with last season is carrying over into this upcoming season.

“I think this year is our year,” said Ligons. “We really finished strong last year, especially after going 4-0 in Hawaii and after that our offense and

defense really started clicking.”

Ligons and the team will travel to Seattle to play their first games on Nov. 15 in a tournament against Central Washington and Seattle Pacific.

She said she is excited to start the season and sees the relationships between

teammates getting closer which will only add to their success on the court.

“We pretty much were all new last year so we didn’t know how to play with each other that well,” said Ligons. “But this year the returners know how each player plays and we know each other’s strengths and we are able to play well off each other.”

Senior Callie Rhoads agrees with Ligons, saying that the relationship between the girls is what will lead to their success on the court.

“We have the team chemistry, skill and endurance to beat any team that we come across,” said Rhoads. “It is our team chemistry that what will set us apart from the other teams.”

Rhoads and Ligons believe that spending one year in the conference has improved their team overall and that it was all that was necessary to successfully make the adjustment to NCAA Division II athletics. Rhoads sees the experience in NCAA DII last season only lending to the team’s performance in the upcoming season.

“We are not new to this conference anymore,” said Rhoads.

“This year will be the time to

show these teams that Point Loma doesn’t mess around.”

Coach Bill Westphal sees this year as a strong year for the team because of the way his returning players are setting examples on an off the court.

“We should be stronger this year because we have seven returners who have worked hard to improve their skills, plus seven new players,” said Westphal. “This year’s team will not be about any one player, it will be about a team where different players stand out on different nights,” said Westphal.

Westphal expects a lot from his returning players and sees the seniors as a leading force for the team. He has not selected captains yet but there are many upperclassmen that are well qualified. Rhoads and Liggins, as well as their coach, are excited about the upcoming season and have positive feelings about the success they will see on the court.

“I think this year is our year,” said Ligons. “We have a great senior class and I really want to go deep into playoffs to make their last year memorable.”

Bold predictions for NFL season PLAYOFF PICKS AFC

1. Denver Broncos 2. New England Patriots 3. Cincinnati Bengals 4. Indianapolis Colts 5. Kansas City Chiefs 6. New York Jets

NFC PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFFREY BEALL

BY AUSTIN CHALLIS COLUMNIST

The 2013 NFL season has proven to be unpredictable; I have struggled to predict where we would be at this point, but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to stop trying. This midseason let’s not look back at what was but what will happen.

The Chiefs will finish with 5 losses.

That’s right; the midseason champs will finish enjoying only two more wins.

Andy Reid’s crew has struggled to win the last three weeks to beat much lesser teams all of which started a quarterback who began the year as a backup! The Chiefs have played teams with a combined record of only 20-41 through week 8 and the Bills weren’t an upgrade in competition. The second half only gets harder. In the back half, they must face Denver and San Diego twice, along with the “Giant Killers”, the Indianapolis Colts. And you can’t count out tough games in Washington and in the Black

Hole where the Oakland Raiders are starting to surge with Terrelle Pryor at the helm. Their 9-0 start is impressive, but that pace will be tough to match.

Indianapolis will lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Even though the Colt’s big wins against Denver, Seattle and San Francisco have bolted them into the NFL’s elite, their magic will not follow into the post season. Unfortunately for Indy, they are on track to have to play second place from the AFC West in the first round. That’s going to be Denver or Kansas City. It doesn’t seem likely for Indy’s luck to carry them past a team with that much talent again (pun intended).

Carolina will win the NFC. Carolina wasn’t much of a talk at the beginning of the year to a Super Bowl, but it’s about time to recognize them as a contender. Cam Newton has been a solid quarterback with only 7 interceptions and 13 passing TDs,

with 4 rushing TDs in eight games.

Carolina boasts a top ten red-zone efficiency; but what’s most impressive is their defense, which is only giving up 301.4 yards and 13.7 points per game.

Carolina will win the NFC South and eventually the NFC Championship game. The week nine loss to the Jets will hold the Saints out of the playoffs.

Midseason Award Predictions: MVP: Peyton Manning. It’s hard to argue against Peyton who is on track to have the greatest season – for a quarterback – ever. And that pace won’t change through the back half of the season. If the pace is broken, however, Jamaal Charles will be happy to accept the MVP award.

Defensive Player of the Year: Richard Sherman. He’s the best player on the best defense in the NFL. Many, myself included, are sometimes blinded by his off-field antics, but his numbers don’t lie. He is tied with the NFL-best four interceptions and he

seems to be involved in every big play the Seahawks have.

Coach of the Year: Andy Reid.

Yes, the Chiefs won’t keep up the pace they set, but Andy Reid deserves huge credit for transforming the worst team in the NFL into a contender. Even though Reid is an offensive coach, his biggest accomplishment is awakening the defense. (Lowest points allowed per game.)

Rookie of the Year: Zac Stacy/ Eddie Lacy. Take your pick. Either one of these guys will be worthy of the ROY award. Stacy has given opposing teams something to be afraid of when scouting, and has given St. Louis something they didn’t have in the first quarter of the season – a run game.

Eddie Lacy is averaging more yards per game than any other RB since his return from injury. Lacy may have the advantage here because his team has a chance to win the NFC.

1. Seattle Seahawks 2. Detroit Lions 3. Carolina Panthers 4. Dallas Cowboys 5. San Francisco 49ers 6. New Orleans Saints

Wild-Card Round: 1. Chiefs over Colts 2. Jets over Bengals 3. Panthers over Saints 4. 49ers over Cowboys

Divisional Round: 1. Broncos over Jets 2. Patriots over Chiefs 3. Panthers over Lions 4. Seahawks over 49ers

Championship Round: 1. Broncos over Patriots 2. Panthers over Seahawks

Super Bowl:

1. Broncos over Panthers

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

10 | SPORTS

WOMEN’S SOCCER

SEASON SNAPSHOTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Men’s Basketball: 11/8: Win 65-54 vs.

Northwest Nazarene 11/9: Loss 75-93 vs. College of Idaho

Women’s Volleyball 11/8: Win 3-1 vs. Chaminade 11/9 Loss 1-3 vs. BYU-Hawaii

Men’s Soccer 11/9: Loss 0-1 vs. Azusa Pacific

Women’s Soccer 11/9: Win 2-0 vs. Azusa Pacific

Women’s Basketball Season Schedule

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION

MEN’S SOCCER

11/ 15 @ Central Washington 11/ 16 @ Seattle Pacific 11/20 vs. Vanguard 11/23 vs. Concordia 11/29 @ Cal State Dominguez Hills 11/ 30 @ Cal State Los Angeles 12/ 3 @ Academy of Art 12/5 @ Holy Names 12/ 7 @ Dominican 12/ 14 @ Dixie State 12/21 vs. Notre Dame de Namur 1/2 vs. Holy Names 1/6 @ Hawaii Hilo 1/8 @ Hawaii Pacific 1/ 10 @ BYU-Hawaii 1/ 15 vs. Cal State San Marcos 1/ 17 vs. Azusa Pacific 1/20 @ California Baptist 1/25 vs. Dixie State 1/ 30 vs. Dominican 2/ 1 vs. Academy of Art 2/5 @ Cal State San Marcos 2/8 @ Fresno Pacific 2/ 11 vs. Chaminade 2/ 13 vs. Hawaii Pacific 2/ 15 vs. BYU-Hawaii 2/ 18 vs. South Dakota School of Mines 2/22 @ Azusa Pacific 2/26 vs. California Baptist 3/ 7 NCCAA Regionals 3/ 19 NCCAA National Championship

PHOTO BY CASSLYN FISER

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monday, november 11, 2013 | the point weekly

opinion

OPINION | 11

Abby Hamblin /// Editor-In-Chief Kathleen Callahan ///News Editor Kimberly Miller /// Features Editor Tavis Robertson /// Sports Editor Kathleen Rhine /// A&E Editor

Guimel Sibingo /// Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart /// Copy Editor Rachel Harrell /// Design Editor Matthew Linman ///AssistantDesignEditor Rachel Barr /// Web Editor

The Point Weekly

The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly 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 gsibingo1992@pointloma.edu.

CHRISTMAS: Counterfeit, Corporate-America Consumerism

BY SAM CHRISTOPHER SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR

Ho Ho-Hum. I can say with confidence that I do not like Christmas. Call me a Grinch, call me Scrooge, but my view of Christmas has been poisoned. Just hear me out. This is the story about how I became jaded toward one of the world’s most beloved holidays.

It is November, and that means it is unofficially okay for Christmas lovers everywhere to start putting up Christmas decorations. To them, it beckons the season to come sooner.

I personally think that it is still too soon; in fact I would be okay if those Christmas decorations never went up.

Here’s why: I worked in retail for three years. It was not my cup of hot cocoa to begin

with, but I needed work experience.

Every holiday season eager customers stampeded to the outlet mall in search of the best holiday deals. People were ruthless to get what they wanted, snappy if they didn’t get it,and typically didn’t exude much “holiday cheer”.

Being the most wonderful time of year, people sure didn’t seem to enjoy themselves.

Being in low position at work, I was often scheduled for the least desirable 12-hour shifts on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve. I would work all night with unpleasant people, while Christmas tunes played on repeat. Hearing dozens of renditions of “White Christmas” was enough to make me want to stick my head in the snow- permanently. People at the mall did no

“mixing or mingling”, yet the jingle bell rock kept on jingling. There was a disconnect somewhere.

I have fond memories of Christmas growing up. My family and I would sit by the fire as my dad told the story of Jesus in a manger. My brothers and I would fight to place the next ornament on the advent calendar. We would all spend time together as a family and sing Christmas songs: real ones – about Jesus, not about Rudolph kissing mommy in a winter wonderland; no chestnuts, sleigh rides, or snowmen in sight.

My experience at the outlet mall showed me that my idea of Christmas growing up was in stark contrast to what Christmas had actually become, a counterfeit, corporate America cashin on consumerism, disguised as the “season of giving”!

I am recovering though. It’s been several years since I’ve worked in retail. I am just now warming up to the idea of Christmas decorations. My neighbors already have theirs up and upon seeing them I didn’t have any nervous flashbacks. I no longer feel uneasy when I see Christmas countdowns on Facebook, “Only 49 days!”

But please forgive me if I don’t join you on singing Christmas carols or buying presents this year; I’m not quite there yet, and frankly don’t know if I’ll ever be.

I’m not here to tell you you’re wrong if you like Christmas, I just want to encourage you to do some of the following: Buy less things, spend time loving your friends and family, try to enjoy fall while it’s here and don’t forget about Jesus.

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Have something to say? Submit your random thoughts, funny comments, or opinions! Text your #LomaChatter to 619-630-0728

I’m cutting all my classes this week because Bob Goff told me to. At least I’ll know every line in Hook.... #diplomaticimmunity So ready for Thanksgiving Twerk-y.

Save Point Loma souls

Prins for king #homecoming2013

Iraqi refugees of El Cajon: Their story and how you can help

BY CLINT BETKEY JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR

Drive east on the I-8. Exit in El Cajon and on certain streets, you’ll begin to notice something peculiar: some signs written in Arabic as well as in English. This is because El Cajon is home to thousands of Iraqi refugees, people who were forced to trade the comfortable and the familiar, for hardship and uncertainty.

History is littered with blank pages, untold stories from untold masses of people who did not sow violence, but were the inheritors of its fruits. These often forgotten people are the refugees, the noncombatants who, whether by violence, persecution, or coercion, were evicted from their homes.

The United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) states that by the end of 2012, there were 15.4 million refugees worldwide.

However, the reality of human suffer-

ing can’t be conveyed in stoic numbers.

We may ask, ‘What does this have to do with us? How can we possibly help?’

All it takes is a stroll through downtown El Cajon to discover that these refugees are not a statistic. They are living, breathing people, who laugh at the same things, cry at the same tragedies, and take heart in the same joys that we do. And their struggles aren’t distant or abstract; they’re 30 minutes down the I-8!

According to the State of California’s website, nearly 13,000 of the total 18,982 Iraqi refugees that have been placed in California from 1995-2012 have been placed in San Diego County alone, making our county the largest Iraqi refugee haven in California.

For many refugees living stateside, the dangers of Iraq may have passed, but feelings of frustration, isolation and poverty remain very real. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to talk to and meet with several of these people. Not

all of their stories are the same, but many begin with a sense of urgency, a need to escape an overwhelming danger, where everything material becomes inconsequential. Leaving everything behind was difficult for most, but when daily events like walking to school became life-threatening, there was little choice.

Escaping with their families was only the first step. For those lucky enough to find asylum in El Cajon, new challenges emerged with new frustrations. Some are former doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and teachers, but now many work as cashiers and liquor store clerks. A degree or experience that made them qualified at home does not necessarily make them eligible to work the same job in the US. Their kids are equally frustrated, as they try to learn a new language and fight a sense of inefficacy. Some of the youth, without a sense of stability, struggle to see purpose in any efforts to learn or pursue a goal.

Various organizations work to help this community, such as Youth and Leaders Living Actively, or YALLA. On its website, YALLA expresses its mission “to help child survivors of war rebuild their lives with education and soccer.” Using a mix of soccer and tutoring, YALLA helps refugee children rediscover a purpose through education while at the same time providing a fun respite from everyday life.

Whether as volunteer tutors, coaches, donors, or local mentors, there are countless ways for us to help.

Various churches offer refugee volunteer opportunities as well as numerous charities. As university students living in San Diego, we are in a unique position to make a real impact on a community that is located so close to our own. People need stability to grow, and we can provide them with solid ground. For more information about how to become involved or give to the refugee community, visit yallasd.org.

Why hasn’t there been a story on Dean Nelson in the PW? I know he’s the advisor and all but he is seriously the coolest. He has to be shared with the world. #themshoesdoe An incentive to take classes at liberty station. Well played Kerry Fulcher.

Please no bananas in the caf before chapel #hotbreath #lomachatter

i just wasted 15 mins and almost a fourth tank of gas looking for parking. :( #CommuterProblems The triune of women’s worship at PLNU: Pseudo-Feminism, Bob Goff, Beyonce.

Sucks to be short when you’re sitting behind the basketball players in chapel.

Enjoying the ocean view on a fine, beautiful November morning.

Gotta love San Diego weather!

You know, sometimes you just need to go on a run whilst rocking out to One Direction.

Before I do anything, I ask myself: would an idiot do that that thing?

If the the answer is yes, I do not do that thing. #THEGOFFATHER COMIC BY DARIN VERA

the point weekly | monday, november 11, 2013

12 | OPINION

Converse vs. Vans: The search for Loma’s all-star sneaker

COURTNEY CRIMMINS FRESHMAN

MACKENZIE HARUNG FRESHMAN BYARTHUR SHINGLER FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTOR

Look left, look right, you wont see them. But look down? Look down and they’re everywhere.

I was sitting in the dimly-lit Mac Lab on campus when I looked at the fellows next to me, both friends and it occurred to me, then, to look at their feet.

To my left, I eyed Superman on a pair of thick gray Converse. To my right, a casual pair of blue Vans with leather cord laces. The owners of these kicks?

Freshman graphic design major Cory Dobbins representing Converse and freshman Philosophy-Theology and Writing major Rhys Lee sporting Vans.

When asked his opinion on Vans, Lee responded fondly about his shoes.

“I, personally, love them. I’ve always enjoyed Vans. I guess I just like

NATHAN PETERSON JUNIOR

the look of them, the feel of them.”

More specifically, Lee appreciates Vans’ potential for stylistic freedom.

“The last pair I had, had hiking laces instead of the regular ones and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool,’ and then I saw these with leather laces and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s cool too!’”

Additionally, being a man of discriminating taste, Lee was not without strong comment on the opposition.

“I’ve never liked Converse,” he said. “I’ve never worn them and I probably never will. I personally don’t like them.”

In contrast to Lee’s passion for the subject, Dobbins, a recent Converse convert, expressed his opinion with an air of neutrality.

“I only actually got into Converse in the past year but I love the style and I love how there are different designs

so they can fit anyone’s needs,” he said.

“I used to wear Vans all the time and I just walked into Converse one day and Converse are like a higher class skating shoe. They keep the classic feel.”

When asked what his Converse say about him, Dobbins shared that his pop-art Superman clad shoes are “playful” and express his love for illustration.

However, we know that there is more to a shoe than meets the eye. Remember Airwalk shoes? “The poorman’s Vans,” according to UrbanDictionary.com; these shoes looked great but did not hold up. What about Converse and Vans?

For freshman visual arts major Alice Bachour, it’s all in the toes.

“I used to wear Converse, but then I switched to Vans because they were what was in,” she said. “I wiggle my

TAVIS ROBERTSON SENIOR

ALI LANSING JUNIOR

toes when I’m nervous, so I wore holes through them after just a few months, but Converse have the rubber toes.”

For freshman literature major and Community Service Officer Josh Morse, holes are the least of his worries. On the contrary, he views rips and tears as trophies of time gone by.

“Vans seem to last forever,” he said. “And even when they look like they’re not lasting, they still will carry on.”

Morse’s hall-mate, psychology major Louis Hidalgo, who wore a pair of clean black Vans overheard and was quick to take the offensive in favor of Converse.

“I bought these shoes [Vans] and look, they’re getting all messed up,” he says. “Like torn up. And I haven’t even really skated with these shoes. Imagine when I start skating with these shoes.”

“And you prefer nicer looking shoes?” I asked.

“Like Converse. They last,” he said.

So which is superior, Converse or Vans? In truth, both brands have the potential to be whatever their wearers perceive them to be. Both can be worn, signals of roads well traveled.

Both can also be clean and classy.

Either one can be “playful,” “what’s in,” or shoes that “last forever,” if the wearer chooses to make them so.

However, there is a higher truth to be told here; one that emphasizes the wearer, not the worn.

“What spirit is so empty and blind that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed?” Michelangelo said. Think about it.

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