Volume 22 Issue 1: Revival

M A R S’ H I L L

REVIVAL VO LUME 2 2

ISSUE 1

S E PT. 2 0/ 17

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THE TEAM

ALEX GUST

Managing Editor

BROOKE PATTYN Layout Editor

NIKI MARA

Academy Editor

Visual Editor

CHRISALEEN CIRO News Editor

JOEL REDEKOP

Arts & Culture Editor

SABINE HENDERSON

HANNAH DEVRIES

MADISON POWERS

MAYA JUSMAN

BAILEY MARTENS

Chief Copy Editor

Illustration Editor

EMILIO RODRIGUEZ Media Editor

about being on a campus whose own heartbeat is one that aims to mimic Christ’s. While I want you to come here for news, at the same time we are not here solely to give you the latest updates, write articles that tell you about the various ongoings in the world or even write on important issues.

You can find that in any newspaper. We are different.

TORI AHRENDT

JAMISON DERKSEN Sports Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

Humour Editor

Photo Editor

Web Editor

Welcome to Mars’ Hill 22nd volume. If you are new to campus, Mars’ Hill serves as the student-run newspaper for the TWU community. If you have something you want to share, this is the place to do it.

We are different because our heartbeat is truly one of revival.

A heartbeat that speaks to truth and speaks to the very mission laid out in Acts 17. In these verses, Paul goes to Athens to speak about the true Gospel. While many sneer at him and joke that his teachings are silly, verse 35 shows that his undertaking at Mars’ Hill was not in vain. People’s hearts were softened and turned towards God.

My hope this year is that Mars’ Hill will be a wellspring of revival for you, particularly in your heart.

I hope that you can read words that not only inform and express but encourage and uplift. I hope that you can find this as an outI’ve asked myself many times let and a platform to convey your what I want the heartbeat of this own heart. paper to be for this year. On one hand, we must remain journalis- With all of that being said, we tic. We are, after all, a newspaper. want you to feel comfortable in I want you to come here for news. knowing that this is YOUR paper.

My hope is that you won’t simply It is your place to write, explain, go through this year uninformed, dialogue, evaluate, hold accountbut that you will open the paper able, chew over and celebrate because you know it will give ideas and topics in. you insight into what is going on Until next time, around you.

If you’re no stranger to Mars’ Hill, welcome back! We are excited for what this year has to offer and can’t wait to partner with you in writing truth and creating dialogue.

On the other hand, I think there Katie Maryschuk is something incredibly unique

RYAN SCHAFFRICK Advertising and Finance Manager

MARS’ HILL

MISSION TO MARS

EDITORIAL POLICY

CONTRIBUTORS

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University, floated with funds raised by the Student Association. Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, reflecting and challenging the TWU community, while intentionally addressing local, national and international issues.

The mission of Mars’ Hill, as the official student newspaper of Trinity Western University, is to inform and entertain its readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the TWU community and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members in accordance with the Community Covenant, Statement of Faith, and Core Values of the University.

Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and letters to the Editor.

Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity and compatibility with the Mission, Statement of Faith, the Community Community Covenant, and the Core Values of the University.

Anonymous authorship of any material may be granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Opinions expressed in Mars’ Hill belong to the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, Trinity Western University, its officials or its Student Association.

Hanna Waswa Kennedy Dragt Sammie Mahon Madeline Gallard Kirsten McAllister Isabella Hamm Aubree Farrell

M AR S ’ H I L L

What hurts but is defintely worth it?

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Loranne Brown

7600 Glover Rd, Langley, BC, V2Y 1Y1 604-513-2109 marshill@gmail.com www.marshill.ca This issue brought to you by Weenies

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C O M M U N I T Y CO R N E R

DE-CLASSIFIEDS Alex disGUSTing

buying nursing textbooks: ”Do you still have Diseases and Disorders?”...

“I know stuff - just not the right stuff” ~PJ eevee spelled backwards is ere santos I don’t need moodle telling me that I have assignments that need attention. like please, everything needs my attention moodle, stop it. it’s stressing me out.

Shoutout to McMillan 102, the naan was nice but pls step up your game. #nibblenibble #twubelike: “Let’s build a new building, adding students while severely minimizing parking spaces.”

“Brilliant!” erin turko can i have your number “Wait ‘til you hear ___ on ___.”

-Cal Townsend, foreshadowing future classes

Dear whomsoever sent in the entire script of the Bee Movie to the Mars’ Hill Declassifieds: We at the Mars’ Hill are pleased to announce a brand new character limit on our Declassifieds page.

Please be kind to our poor website.

– Alex is corissa landis amish yes no pls reply

Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up on its own?

It was too tired.

Skidmore Parking? More like Skid-less parking...

I’m so glad we have a new year where the Lincoln Nikkel obsession is just a memory.

Can I just say...Lincoln Nikkel... and leave it at that?

Can you imagine actually killing two birds with one stone?

If you can’t read this you’re too close.

Do you think Alex will let the incest one past? – No. – Alex Submit your declassifieds here.

Alex Miller has the voice of an angel. #marryme “I did it so it’s fine” - Andrew Richmond after farting Dear First Year, welcome to our weird campus where you are encouraged to go skinny dipping with your dorm but not to wear a crop top at the gym.

See all this empty space?

You could have filled it with all your witty, filtered puns.

Next time, submit your declassifieds at marshill.ca

Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon?

Great food, no atmosphere.

You uncultured stick.

Katie + Dirk

Bring back Ask.fm

Bailey Martens is the coolest person I know

My dad’s not a phone!

Alex Gust is weird – Thank you, random citizen.

– Alex DANG. what a crew this year on Mars’ Hill. excited for powerful and impactful content!

Joey Schweitzer is masculine energy.

Test test test

SUBMIT YOUR DECLASSIFIEDS AT: WWW.MARSHILLS.CA

I wouldn’t buy anything with velcro. It’s a total rip-off. not much hbu the mitochondria is the power house of the cell But why are they called busboys?

Mars’ Hill editors reserve the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not necessarily reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill staff, the student association, or that of the University. In fact, probably not.

LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE? Go to marshill.ca

In this issue ...

4

5 10

GETTING RID OF DREAMERS

13

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

16

RESURGENCE OF THE HEART

18

News

News

Feature

“Dorm initiation” – Matthew Peters

WASTING YOUR TIME WISELY

Arts & Culture

KEEP THE CHANGE

Sports

DEAR FIFTH YEAR Humour

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NEWS BIBLICAL CASE FOR HISTORICAL ERASURE CHRISALEEN CIRO On August 11th, a protest gathered to “Unite the Right” in Charlottesville, Virginia. While the protest as a whole has overwhelmingly been associated with Nazi rhetoric and tiki torches, some participants claim to have attended to protest the vandalism of the statue of Robert E. Lee. The tragic consequences of the protest have inspired a conversation throughout North America about problematic figures in public space. Instead of engaging in a drawn-out conversation, various institutions opted to take a stand. Universities such as the University of Texas chose to remove their statues of confederate leaders quietly, overnight. Canada has joined the discourse by changing place titles that have problematic namesakes. For instance, according to the CBC, the Vancouver 150 Place Naming Project seeks to make “streets, alleyways, plazas and buildings more representative of contributions from women, immigrants and Indigenous peoples.”

The Conversation I do not want to discount great sculpture, or offend any sculptors, but statuary is an inherently pagan art form. The purpose of Greco-Roman sculptures were to explore the physique of the ideal human. As Christians, we hold to the belief that the ideal man cannot be contained by marble or bronze. Look at the second of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not make graven images.”

We are neither to worship, nor uphold, a physical ideal.

Instead, we use a modern form of oral tradition, such as communally interpreting scripture and regular prayer.

Those whose positions in public spaces were challenged have a narrative in common. Each is a powerful figure who likely played a conquering role in our current political order and statehood. For instance, the statue of George Vancouver, which presides over Victoria Harbour, depicts a man who ventured to a “virginal” land (to use Bruce Shelvey’s word), and established a system of order and theoretical freedom. The most visible protest-

GETTING RID OF THE DREAMERS: IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

and have no criminal record. Additionally, “dreamers” have to prove themselves to be exceptional citizens; many have been honourably discharged from the armed forces, and several assisted with Hurricane Harvey relief.

EMILIO RODRÍGUEZ

The average DACA recipient arrived in the US at the age of six and is now 25 years old. This means that they were children upon their arrival and had little to no control in the decision to migrate. They were most likely running away from the Northern Triangle of Central America (Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala), which is currently the most dangerous place on Earth outside a war zone, with the world´s highest murder rate. They have grown up in the US, and now, largely because of DACA, are productive citizens. Over 93% of DACA recipients above the age of 25 are employed.

As you and I were starting university last week, nearly 800,000 young adults, students, and workers in the United States saw their futures hanging by a thread. Most of them are “Americans” in every way but legal paperwork. Yet, they may be forced to return to countries they never knew, which is sure to disrupt everything they have worked for.

These are the “dreamers,” beneficiaries of the program called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), initiated by the Obama administration and now being shut down by the Trump administration. I am not here to draw empathy for DACA recipients, also known as “dreamers,” but I will not discourage you from it either. To start, let me briefly share some details on DACA. DACA is a program that gives twoyear work and residency permits to undocumented immigrants younger than 31. Candidates had to have been brought to America before they were 16, be in, or have graduated from high school or university,

ers of these statues are either victims of said order, or have historically been denied access to said freedom. They may be African American citizens who were historically enslaved to perpetuate the state. They may be Mexican American “dreamers,” who are regularly threatened by policy makers and police charged with maintaining order (see DACA article). In Canada, they are likely to be a member of the indigenous community whose land was claimed and renamed to make room for a new dominion.

The Bible contains examples that condemn both the representation of an individual as “ideal” and representation of the state as “ideal.”

For instance, historians widely imagine the statue that figures prominently in the “fiery furnace” narrative to be a representation of the state. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have attained permanent positions in the Sunday school hall of fame for their unwillingness to acknowledge the statue. Instead of respecting the role the statue played in their political narrative, or the privilege granted them by the state,

up by facts, research, and a responsible opinion. If not, then you are not moved by national security or economic stability, but instead by plain fear and ignorance. It is racism masked by a faulty patriotism.

American Nobel Prize Winner in Economic Sciences, Paul Krugman, says that getting rid of the 800,000 “dreamers” does not make econom-

Bottom-line, we are talking about functioning members of society, who have gone through extensive screening processes to assure that they do not pose a danger to society. So, is the solution to an un-specified problem simply to send them back to countries they do not even know?

I understand that it is a country´s responsibility to secure its borders but I also believe that revisions to migration policies must be backed “A butterfly tramp stamp.” – Martin Garcia

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose to go to the fiery furnace.

There is a lie permeating this narrative, which states that if these statues come down, we will lose our history, that we will forget how we got here. US President Donald Trump, in a series of tweets, says this: “Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful states and monuments. You can’t change history, but you can learn from it.” This betrays an incredible lack of faith in oral tradition. Oral tradition has been the cornerstone of many of the cultures who are oppressed by these men, immortalized in pagan marble. It is the origin of Christian scripture, and our heritage as daughters and sons of Abraham and Sarah. We must not be afraid to lose the rigid physicality of our history, and allow history to become an evolving narrative. In order to preserve history, we do not need to preserve the men responsible for conquering and editing history. Instead, as Christians, we should use our substantial biblical precedent to join with marginalized people and remove problematic persons from public space.

ic sense at all—they are skilled labourers, typically college educated, likely to pay a great deal in taxes and prevent secular stagnation.

“There is no upside whatever to this cruelty,” Krugman said, “unless you just want to have fewer people with brown skin and Hispanic surnames around. Which is, of course, what this is really all about.”

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THE GOSPEL AS A TOOL OF OPPRESSION CHRISALEEN CIRO HANNA WASWA As News Editor, my vision for longer opinion pieces in the Mars’ Hill is that they could explore a historical trend or perspective which could be relevant to our understanding of current events.

Following the “Unite the Right” riots in Charlottesville, the influence residential schools have had on our political culture, and the mere presence of Evangelical supporters of Trump, it becomes clear that the modern world is still recovering from the consequences of institutions using the Christian narrative to justify causes that do not honour God. I am white. I am heterosexual. I am of Christian belief. To me, the Gospel has been a narrative of freedom and liberation. No one has ever tried to take my salvation away from me because of my identity. When the Gospel was present-

ed to me, it was not to assimilate me or to control me. Instead, it was an invitation to encounter my creator, and be un-burdened of my sin and shame.

As Christians, we must come to terms with the fact that our Gospel is a profound political narrative, which at some points in history, has been used to devastate and destroy. The Gospel has been used to both condemn and justify slavery, both condemn and justify imperialism, to both condemn and justify sexism.

We need to ask ourselves, “How long are we going to tolerate these individuals and these systems which horrifically appropriate our gospel which breaks the heart of Jesus?”

The Breaking Point I was raised by my father, a pastor, to value action, to put your body where your mouth is, and to show up for the hard work. I believe in loving humans, not condemning them. I truly believed that Christianity also universally held these beliefs.

Since the age of seven, however, my greatest issue with Christianity has been with the priests and pastors who ran residential schools. I have discussed this topic so many times with Christians and the response is always the same: those were not “real” Christians.

This is a blatant refusal to acknowledge the dark colonial side of Christianity. It ignores how governments, and political institutions have used Christianity to further their own interests. That is essentially saying, “I am not like those Christians,” and then remaining stationary, without addressing the effects or the cause.

When I came out as gay, I felt the pain of queer teenagers killing themselves because of their Christian community’s response. I listened to sermons condemning “the gays.” I read about a man walking into a nightclub and murdering 49 innocent people because of their sexual orientation.

So I wavered. I found myself saying, “I am not like those Christians.” I stopped going to church, even though I had finally found one that felt like home. I joked about it. I thought: “I hate the church for residential schools, and the church hates me because I am gay, so let’s just make it easier on everyone -- I’ll stay home,” but the joke was too real to be funny.

My breaking point came after the election of Trump. I noticed something small, silly and quite possibly petty, and the interaction happened over Facebook. Some man was raving about an obscure Christian prophecy that Trump would be “the leader America needs.”

A woman commented, “This influenced our vote.”

sionary with deep ties to my community, a woman who had seen firsthand the damage which state violence can inflict on Indigenous people, a Christian with no excuse for not considering the consequences for the minorities in America.

It appeared that she valued Christianity, not us.

I had seen it my whole life, the white missionaries who came home believing their weeklong missionary trips would change lives forever.

I had seen the callousness that drove Christian parents to reject their gay children. Even though I bear the inheritance of Christian-run residential schools, absurdity drove the point home in a way that pain never had.

Living as a Christian developed me into a hypocrite.

It is as though participating in altruistic aspects of Christianity entitle you to ignore that which Christian belief has justified: state sanctioned church violence, church racism, and the white savior complex. As well as the ways in which Christianity has upheld white supremacy: colonialism, capitalism, misogyny, and hetero-supremacy. The belief that Christianity is good obscures the reality that this religion has never been about radical liberation for my people, both queer and Indigenous. It has been a tool of genocide, subjugation, and dehumanization.

“I am not like those Christians,” became “I am not Christian.” I could live in accordance with the faith or I could live according to my values. I chose integrity; I chose what would allow me to do the most good in the world. And that wasn’t Christianity.

I knew this woman. She was a white mis-

TWUSA HAS A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY CHRISALEEN CIRO One of Trinity’s worst kept secrets is TWUSA’s unfortunate history of fiscal irresponsibility. This year, TWUSA’s budget is larger than it has ever been, and a discussion about fiscal responsibility is more imperative than ever. TWUSA’s budget has increased for several reasons. Firstly, the student fee has increased from $60 to $75, to adjust for natural inflation.

Secondly, Trinity has the largest incoming class in several years, thereby increasing the students paying the student fee. The third reason why TWUSA’s budget has increased is that part time students no longer pay a partial fee instead, due to the availability of services, part time students now pay the full fee.

In this year of expansion, TWUSA has redefined financial responsibility. Current TWUSA president, Jared Barkman, has made what he calls “financial equity” a priority. Jared seeks to ensure that each TWU student receives the same level of service and opportunity for engagement for the same student fee.

While Jared and Caleb Barkowsky (Vice-President of Finance) have ambitious goals, they have not lost sight of sustainability. The irony has certainly not escaped the student body that TWUSA currently has a surplus budget, while last year, they faced a significant deficit. Last year, TWUSA received a generous anonymous donation which allowed the previous administration to pay off the extensive debt which had accumulated over several years.

Caleb says, “the donation was given with the understanding we would do things differently. It definitely adds another level of responsibility.” To ensure TWUSA does not over extend itself, they have engaged the mentorship of Trinity’s financial department. Caleb affirms that TWUSA has taken steps to maintain their indepen-

“Being friends with Martin Garcia.” – Joey Schweitzer

dence, while still working closely with the administration.

Finally, TWUSA extends an invitation to the students to give their input on this year’s budget.

This can be done formally, at the TWUSA business meeting held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:10 p.m. in the Board of Governors room, or informally, by approaching a TWUSA member individually. It is also hosting an event at the end of September, lovingly nicknamed “Money Talks.” They will present the vision, break down the budget and serve free food. The purpose of this event is to give the student body the tools they need to hold student government accountable, as well as engage students in this year’s vision.

6

An

Interview

with

TWUSA President Jared Barkman CHRISALEEN CIRO Chrisaleen Ciro (CC): What is your vision for TWUSA this year?

want to serve the introverts, the academics, those whose idea of a good time isn’t exactly a loud dance party with people they may or may not know.

CC: Specifically, how do you inJared Barkman (JB): TWUSA’s offi- tend to reach out to marginalcial vision, and the reason why we ized groups on campus? exist, is to “foster a deeper sense of belonging on campus.” We JB: With regards to the commutseek to reach out to underrepre- ers, a simple way to meet some of sented groups here on campus their needs is implementing betwho have often been pushed to ter communication. Historically, the fringes. Our tangible vision TWUSA’s primary method of getis to move towards financial eq- ting the word out about specific uity for every student; although events has been through posters everyone pays the same student which went up three or four days fee, not every student receives before the event. This doesn’t the same value from TWUSA. We provide enough time to coordiare looking to change that this nate a carpool or change a work year. schedule. We are working on a universal online calendar which CC: Who do you see as a mar- is equipped with the dates of evginalized group here within the erything going on in the Trinity Trinity community? community, whether that is a networking event, a TWUSA party, a JB: There are many layers to this community building meeting at question. One of the most com- the Globe, or an academic lecmonly discussed cited groups on ture. campus is the commuting populations. In meeting with commut- Communication is also an importers during my campaign and over ant part of our outreach to interthe summer, I was made aware national students. By only adverof several barriers to involve- tising our events and services in ment that I had underestimated. the English language on Western I found that a significant popula- social media platforms, we are tion had part time jobs, relied on not always communicating to public transport, or car-pooled. them how much we value their These factors often prevent com- involvement and their insight. after my experience at the LLC, muters from joining most of the We are looking into using differ- TWUSA seemed like a perfect events that take place on cam- ent platforms (such as WeChat fit. I’m both honoured and humpus. As such, it is crucial that we and WhatsApp) which are more bled that the student body electfind new ways to reach out and widely used in the international ed me for this position. My feelserve them despite their unique community. We have spoken to ings of calling are irrelevant if the circumstances. several groups of international student body does not find me students on campus, and they are qualified. Even if I had not been A second underrepresented looking forward to hosting events elected, I remain confident that group on campus is the interna- such as a Chinese New Year for God would have placed me in an tional student population. Many the whole campus. Essentially, we alternative position where I could are still adjusting to a culture and want to give more opportunities have carried out my calling. language which are different, and for international students to host, CC: What is a constructive way new. Our events often don’t ca- and lead, Canadian students. for students to express dissoter to their needs. This is problematic because they make up a CC: How do you balance the nance? significant portion of our commu- idea of your being called by JB: Yes, this is very important. We nity, and I believe that there is so God, and your being elected? live in community, and we will much room to serve them more effectively.

JB: About a year ago I felt that inevitably disagree. Informally, I God laid on my heart to reach out think the least intimidating way to Finally, we wish to reach out to to different groups of students. I express dissonance would be to the students who might not fit wanted to be a part of creating approach one of us individually. If the mould of a visible extrovert- a deeper sense of belonging on a fellow student has concerns, ed, outgoing Trinity student – we campus. Therefore, particularly members of the TWUSA team are available to have a one-on-one

“Listening to my puns” – Kenzie Morgan

conversation. For those seeking a more formal option, all students are always welcome to attend our Tuesday afternoon business meeting (from 1:10-2:25pm in the Board of Governors room, Upper Reimer). If students feel compelled to formally present their concerns, this is another forum for them to do so.

CC: How can students pray for you, and your team, this year?

JB: Much of this job doesn’t take place in front of the students.

Instead, it is comprised of many small, fast paced decisions where there does not always seem to be a right answer. I would appreciate your prayers for those moments, and for God to give me and the rest of the team the discernment to authentically represent the student body.

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ACADEMY WELCOME TO ACADEMY NIKI MARA Hey there! Welcome to the Academy section of the paper. As this year’s section editor, I want to start by answering the question that almost definitely arose in your head when you turned the page: what is Academy?

Academy is a space in Mars’ Hill where people like you write about… well, pretty much anything! That’s the beauty of Academy – the writer possesses complete freedom in choice of topics, theses, and debate. Anything from physics to phi-

WHO COULD BE HARMED BY THIS?

losophy.

The goal of my section is to facilitate healthy dialogue on intellectually stimulating topics, and, if you prefer to learn alone, to provide a space for acquiring rare and juicy snippets of knowledge in your own field and in fields you never previously thought would catch your attention.

As a proponent of diversity and globalisation, I welcome any and all of you who have experienced unique cultural experiences to share them with me and the student body through this section.

KENNEDY DRAGT There are many statistics that Trinity Western University is proud of and avidly advertises. The front page of the TWU website boasts a 97% graduation satisfaction rate, 20 students in the average first year class, and a beautiful BC location.

However, there is one statistic not advertised, one that has become a joke. In past years, it was a ratio of 3:1, this year it is claimed to be as high as 6:1. The exact accuracy of this statistic is unclear. This is the ratio of female to male students. The number gives rise to much of the dating humour on campus. Young women often complain about this ratio, jokingly of course, grumbling about the impossibility of “a ring by spring” with such odds. And the men rejoice in their luck in finding such a school with so copious a selection. We flaunt this humor openly, in the de-classifieds and on social media. We love to laugh at comments such as the one reported by the Instagram account @overheardtwu: ‘‘Classes have already started and I haven’t found my husband yet . . . should I be worried?”. Diminishing our education to the search of a spouse is a classic Christian college move. Truly comedic. We baptize our farces of DTRs or ring by springs by convincing ourselves

that they are jokes, so who could be harmed by this?

After all, we all want healthy relationships, don’t we?

The problem with all of this is that the attitude towards dating is just the beginning of a subtle sexism present on campus. It is jokes like this, made by both men and women, that bleed into bigger issues. When we hold such underlying values, they become a part of us. Dorm skits are often a place where such issues surface. Displayed as humor, anything is acceptable.

This year’s skits were complete with a standard “hottie with a body”, as well as a Northwest slur. We are always sure to note the fine line between disturbing and adorable, and it always seems to be adorable that wins. If a skit is adorable, then why is there even a question of disturbing? Perhaps because of the mockery of childbirth, or maybe it was the near-naked boys dancing on stage?

What if a girls’ dorm had come out in their bras and underwear? Would that have been acceptable?

Amidst it all, there is still hope. Boys’ dorms seemed to be able to resist the allure of traipsing across stage with balloon breasts, blonde wigs and skirts this year, and the girls’ dorms such as Northwest and 2/3 Low pulled together, putting on a wonderful display of what it means to support each other as women, and as people. Perhaps past patterns are changing, and we are moving forward as a campus.

BUZZFEED SEQUEL quiz title: “What Kitchen Appliance are You Based on Your Knowledge of 1980’s Low-Grade Detective Novels?”

I must know.

NIKI MARA It’s two o’clock in the morning. The eleven-page paper I have been postponing until the day before it is due stares at me with its lonely title page. My professor gives leeway to no one, so I put my phone away where I can’t see it; there are less distractions and nothing can stop me now from creating a Red-Bull and self-hatred-fuelled writing extravaganza.

That is, until I need to find a relevant article in the atomic wastelands of Google and my eye catches the Facebook tab.

It’s right there, it’s so close. The willpower that I have so meticulously built up in the past 15 minutes falls in shambles as my eyes feast upon the latest Buzzfeed

After grinding my teeth, picking my brain for what is left of my coherent thinking, I answer every question as accurately as my self-determined two-minute time frame would allow. The results are loading. I’m sweating beads.

I’m a toaster.

Easy to understand, friendly, but at times unpredictable and a little off-setting to those who are not used to random loud popping sounds in their kitchen.

Now that I know, my mind is at peace.

I’ve acquired yet one more piece to the puzzle of my identity and can blissfully continue writing my soon-to-fail paper.

Sound familiar? Here’s why. The overwhelming need to find out how an automated website characterizes our personality is easily explained with Erikson’s

Theory of Psychological Development.

His theory proposes eight stages of moral development, and he suggests that in each of the stages we deal with a crisis, the resolving of which grants us access to the next step in our psychological growth. A large portion of TWU students are going through the fifth stage – Identity Vs. Role Confusion. This stage typically occurs between 12 and 18 years of age. However, the hold it has on our moral development has become prolonged in recent years due to a general increase of the stress that modern society puts on “finding our inner selves” and “being unique and authentic”. With the recent explosive boost in social media usage, we find ourselves submerged in a virtual world where millions of strangers fabricate their “self” by means of unlimited profile personalization. Every day we see people online that seem better, more beautiful, more talented than us. This overload of information cultivates feelings of inferiority; of being average and ordinary.

Hence the Buzzfeed craze – every test you take, whether it determines person-

“Pooping” – Andrew Richmond

ality or tells you what kind of pizza you are, gives you a sense of identity completion. If something can give us more clarity in our search for self-determination, it’s clickbait. We are one step closer to figuring out how we differ from every other person who has taken that test.

Of course, it goes without saying that no web-generated test is qualified to give you a description of your personality. That is an aspect of our identity that we cultivate through nature and nurture.

And whether you’re an automatic meat grinder or a mini-fridge, you are a oneof-a-kind sentient being with a unique mind and a tailor-made personality. No quiz will ever be able to define you, no matter how badly you wanted the easy way out. Resolving the Identity Vs. Role Confusion crisis takes years of exploration and experimentation, and only by braving the awkward and difficult parts of self-discovery will you finally determine and accept your unrefined, uncensored self.

8

It' s Just a n A pple SAMMIE MAHON Finding something appetizing in the cafeteria can sometimes be a challenge, unless, of course, the special is butter chicken. Attempting to grab a sufficient meal while being held back by an eating disorder is next to impossible.

There you are, standing in the middle of the caf surrounded by a crowd of people who don’t understand the struggle that comes with the thought of consuming unwanted calories. Eating disorders are a topic that is not often given due attention; maybe it’s time to speak up. It is generally well-known that many mental illnesses involve more than one issue. However, in this article I would like to draw your attention to anorexia: it is just one type of eating disorder, but it’s the one I have unwillingly come to know.

Trinity Western is well equipped for dealing with various mental disorders, but unfortunately, anorexia is put on the back burner and rarely talked about, if at all. A common conversation I hear is the one concerning our body image combined with the ever- present fear of the ‘Freshman 15’. This is valid, and in no way am I belittling the difficulty of loving one’s body—many of us struggle with that even though we constantly hear that we “are made in the image of God” and we are perfect in His sight. We should be happy with the way—and weight—that we are. This is a hard idea to wrap

our heads around and an even harder thing for us to admit when we have a negative perception of ourselves. I think it is the fact that because many of us experience these negative ideas about our bodies, topics like anorexia are pushed aside—for people who don’t experience an eating disorder it seems like a call for attention. For me, when I’m eating an apple for lunch and I hear, “Wow! I wish I could eat as healthy as you!” it stings. Eating “healthy” seems desirable, except when that “healthy” is actually just the opposite.

Eating disorders are one of the most prevalent illnesses experienced by adolescents and young adults across Canada. TWU prides itself on being a strong, Christian community, and as such I believe it is our duty to bring attention to a problem that affects so many young adults, including people on campus. This eating disorder is my “normal”, so I want to make it normal for others by talking about it. Asking questions. Getting answers. Providing more ways for people who don’t experience eating disorders to get involved.

I feel very isolated because of the shame surrounding the topic of eating disorders on campus, mostly because I can’t talk openly about such a repressing issue.

The general belief about eating disorders is that it is the person’s choice to live in that manner. That is not the case for some, and of-

ten an eating disorder is a coping strategy used to deal with painful emotions or experiences. However, no matter the reason, once anorexia has a hold of you, it becomes difficult to live otherwise.

I did not choose to feel guilty for eating a piece of toast; I did not choose to be scared to eat around other people; and I especially did not choose to have this disorder consume my life. I want to do what I can to educate those who read this article. As much as it may not make sense to the general public, it is ten times more confusing for those experiencing it.

The symptoms and consequences of anorexia are pretty well known, but it seems more tangible when explained from a personal perspective. The main physical challenge for me is being exhausted all the time. This is due to a lack of nutrients as well as heart issues caused by self-starvation. Walking up a flight of stairs feels like running a marathon. It’s not like I have never stepped foot in a gym either, but I shouldn’t be out of breath just walking to class. The second symptom, and most difficult to accept, is having my hair fall out, as well as having shaky hands. Other noticeable characteristics would be eating small portions, or avoiding certain foods. Some of the signs are easily identifiable by friends, which is where you come in. The first and most important step in helping a friend with an eating disorder is encouraging that person to seek

“Tuition” – Vicki Froehlich

help from a counsellor. They need your love and support, but they often also need professional help to fully recover. One thing that can be frustrating when trying to help them is when they seem like they don’t want to change. Remember that an eating disorder is a coping mechanism and the only strategy that person knows at that time. An important thing to keep in mind is that it’s okay if someone isn’t ready to change. It’s hard and scary to give up something that provides stability and control. The best thing that you can do is to keep supporting your friend in any way that they need.

Sometimes just having someone to talk to is a huge help to someone dealing with an eating disorder. The last, and arguably most important method, in helping is educating yourself. Take some time to research eating disorders.

The knowledge you will gain may save a life someday.

For those of you who are currently struggling with an eating disorder, know that you are not alone.

Eating disorders are scary and confusing, but there is help readily available. The Wellness Center is a great place to start. I encourage you to take a step towards recovery, even though it seems impossible. There is hope. Don’t feel ashamed for having this disorder. This is just one chapter in your life that you will, in due course, conquer.

9

SOMEWHAT OF A SUPERPOWER NIKI MARA My world is white. Thursday is a dark shade of green. December is behind my right shoulder, and that chapter I read yesterday about Liesel Meminger in “The Book Thief” will forever be a mahogany brown. From a young age I’ve had an unexplained association between words and colours, sounds and colours, days of the week and months of the year. They were all placed on a visible timeline around me like a clock face. Objects, shapes, and sounds around me had personalities and relationships.

It was my life, and it was strange and beautiful. However, I never imagined that the colourful way I see the world was unique; everyone thinks the letter Z is green, right?

Upon entering my undergrad and finding one of my passions to be psychology, I learned, upon stumbling into the depths of YouTube videos about “neu-

rological mutations,” a shocking and disappointing fact: the unseen world does not, in fact, come in colour for everyone. Nor do objects have personalities or secret lives behind closed doors.

The world, for most people, is actually very much an ordinary place where sound is sound, colour is colour, and that’s that. The bright side? I learned my trippy life companion had a name: synesthesia.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes synesthesia as “a subjective sensation or image of a sense other than the one being stimulated.” In simpler terms, synesthesia can be explained as a connection of two or more senses when only one is being stimulated; joined perception.

An example of synesthesia would be tasting vanilla ice cream when hearing a certain song by The Lumineers, or feeling a touch on your shoulder when you see someone you know brushing the upper arm of someone else.

People who experience this mysterious phenomenon are called synesthetes, and they comprise about 4% of the population. Similarly to other mind phenomena, synesthesia has a

spectrum: it can vary in anything from double-sense perception in any combination, to the connection of all the senses (in rare cases). The most common form of synesthesia is called grapheme-colour synesthesia, and is manifested in perceiving letters, numbers, and words in inherent colours. The word “synesthesia” is light blue and canary yellow in my world, and the number four has been red to me since I can remember.

I will never be able to explain why my brain gave each letter and number a colour, but finding an answer to the nagging question would, no doubt, give me a new perspective on the cacophony inside my head. That being said, I am but a star in the galaxy of people who want to find the reason behind joint perception.

This neurological phenomenon has, in fact, been a topic of interest in the scientific and academic world for centuries. Isaac Newton proposed that colours and sounds have similar frequencies. Gustav Fetcher conducted the first empirical survey in this field with 73 synesthetes back in 1876. Ever since the uncanny phenomenon gained its status

“Breaking up with you. You know who you are.” – Mat Kim

of “undeniable,” it has become a gold mine for psychophysicists and neuroscientists who have been trying to find their way through the great labyrinth that is the human brain.

After numerous experiments and studies, synesthesia is finally becoming less of a mystery.

This lifelong sensory experience is reportedly hereditary, as families have been seen to possess a lineage of synesthetes. Also, there seem to be a correlation between having synesthesia and being left-handed. The latter put the odds in my favour; I am the only left-handed person in my family. With more facts yet to be discovered about this phenomenon, it would only benefit me to draw the attention of intelligent and contemporarily conscious readers that may someday crack the Case of the Blended Senses.

Not that I mind, really; synesthesia was never a handicap for me, but rather, somewhat of a superpower. Maybe someday I will at least get the answer to why my Mondays are always so blue.

Literally.

11

One who pours out incessant, abundant life.

“Everybody dies, but not everybody lives”. It’s likely we’ve all read that sentiment, but what does it actually mean?

C

Coming back to campus this year, I have sensed something changing here. Through many con-

Last year, I realized I was hungry for more. While

versations with hungry, burning hearts, I believe

I felt as though I had a theological framework

that revival is unfolding in a way that we’ve nev-

of knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and moderate

er seen before! My heart for this campus is to

strength in my faith, my heart was weary. I knew

see this community become fully alive in Christ.

that I needed to change something, so I took

learly the desire to live, to really live, is something we all resonate with but it would seem that people define “living” quite differently. Some

people define “really living” as having an Insta-

time off from school to go to YWAM in New

Jesus will ask us to surrender our whole lives,

Zealand. There, I spent my days pressing closer

but He will take what was once dead and offer

to God while backpacking through the beau-

us new, transformed identities in Him. Please

tiful landscapes of New Zealand and Nepal.

don’t hold on to the brokenness of your old life

Through seeking intimacy with God, His Spirit

when there is immeasurable joy waiting for you

revived me.

in the new. I encourage you to grow in intimacy with God daily through prayer and reading the

gram-worthy life, full of travel, adventure, and plenty of “likes”. Others define it as completing a bucket list of must-have experiences. To some, “really living” is filling their time with as many adrenaline pumping experiences as possible, like urban climbing to incredible heights and taking the selfie to prove it. Others look to romance and the perfect wedding to fulfill their dream of “really living”. These are all cheap substitutes for what God promises us.

In a profound way, we all crave to be brought to life and live fully. In a simple word, what we are all looking for is revival. Too often when we hear the word “revival”, we think of a shouting preacher or a drummed up emotional conference, rather than the true heart of revival, which is the outpouring of Jesus’ love on his people in

While I was in Nepal, backpacking to remote

Bible. It is through constant pursuit of Him and

villages, I was struck by the villagers. The very

listening to Him speak that we can be revived!

people I once felt sorry for – the people I am ashamed to admit I originally felt intellectual-

This is not a journey we have to take alone. Will

ly and spiritually superior to – were more alive

you journey with me? Let us join together as

than anyone I had ever seen. They were living

the body of Christ, and seek to find our fulfill-

out their faith in a way that was real and conta-

ment in His love. TWU offers an abundance of

gious. Their instruments were out of tune, and

opportunities and provides phenomenal com-

their songs off key, yet they were truly satisfied,

munity. I encourage you to find people with a

and fully alive. I originally pitied them because

similar desire for God.

they did not have any of the comforts I grew up with, but as I lived with them, I began to crave

Let us do more than just read about Jesus’ abun-

what they had. I’ve never seen the Gospel lived

dant life. Let us plug into it, let it flow through

more purely and simply, and I’ve never seen

us, and watch as it impacts our community. Let

Christians more servant-hearted and passion-

us lay aside our heavy burdens and the weight

ate. They knew the presence of the Holy Spirit

of our sin and shame, and run recklessly into

and their lives were full of the fruit of it.

Jesus’ arms. Let us seek revival together.

Through this I came to realize that I crave the

If you want to take the next step towards revival

simple Gospel. Forget the over complicated

but do not know how, I invite you to join me

talk of “this denomination, that denomination,”

and other hungry hearts for nights of worship,

or “Hillsong or Bethel?” The heart of the Gos-

honest conversation, and prayer as we journey

pel is beautifully simple: we are broken and in

together throughout the year. If you’re wanting

desperate need of God’s life changing pres-

to talk more about this, send me a message.

a fresh new way.

The Bible is bursting with the concept of life lived to the fullest. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus Himself says that this is the reason that He came! Whether we know it or not, we are all in desperate need of a revival of our hearts: each of us individually, and altogether

ence, and His abundant life poured into and through us.

sarahpowell.11@gmail.com

as a community at TWU. We must plug into the

“Digging your finger into a mosquito bite to make an “X” – Matt Hayashi

12

ARTS & CULTURE A BLANK CANVAS JOEL REDEKOP Protests and counter-protests continued across the United States, which continue to increase in severity. The eclipse was all that nobody could look at for a couple of hours. Fidget spinners started – ahem – a revolution that quickly came to a halt. Dunkirk and “I’m the One” were both mass media phenomena; Baywatch and “Look What You Made Me Do” became critical punching bags. All of this was, for better or worse, what defined the North American cultural landscape over the past four months.

Even for the most easily swayed and in-

THE REDEMPTION OF SANSA STARK CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD! MADELINE GALLARD The cycle of death and rebirth is a common theme in HBO’s Game of Thrones. In episode six of season seven, Beric Dondarrion (now six times raised from the dead), declares outright “...Death is the enemy. The first enemy and the last.” Likewise, faithful viewers have now witnessed the debased Daenerys Targaryen enter a deadly fire and emerge reborn as the Mother of Dragons, observed a doomed Jorah Mormont brought back to full health through a skillful debridement, and, of course, watched a dead Jon Snow revived to glorious life and raised up as King in the North. Seemingly, Game of Thrones wishes to impress upon its viewers that nearly nothing in life is beyond some form of redemption.

fluenced members of society, though, this was not the limit to anyone’s cultural intake. Yes, I spent most weekends watching the latest summer blockbusters, and I shamelessly know every lyric to “I’m the One” down to Quavo’s mimicked gunfire; but I also filled my time by listening to Curtis Mayfield, reading Philip K. Dick and stumbling my way through the occasional squash game. Chances are that your summer was also split between partaking in what were near-universal experiences and engaging in subcultures that are off the well-trodden path of the mainstream.

In his book Culture Makers, Andy Crouch describes culture as what we make of the world in our attempts to comprehend it. Art is one example of this, yes, but its culture is even broader than that. Omelettes, chairs and snow

a character we loved to hate— petty, selfish, and prudish — to a strong-willed, resourceful, and largely even-handed leader in her own right. (Some may argue that her executions of Ramsey showed a certain cold-bloodedness, but I think we can reasonably say he deserved what he got.) Pointedly, season seven ends with Sansa clearly striking her own path, choosing to prioritize her family and own well-being over the possible advantage of maintaining an ally in the slippery, practically amoral Petyr Baelish. More broadly, with few resources, opportunities, and allies, Thrones uses Sansa to provide a powerful example of the ability to die to one’s old self and be reborn as something stronger.

angels: these are all examples of how humans interact with their environment.

This is all culture. Since culture is shaped by our actions, it is impossible to escape or withdraw from it. Crouch sees this as beautiful.

For most of us, our thoughts, beliefs and actions do not have a terribly broad reach. We don’t write for the New Yorker, nor are we releasing a hit album every other year. Yes, our spheres of influence may be smaller, but we still have communities that we are actively a part of, bringing life to something that simultaneously shapes us. These idiosyncratic communities may be tied to the region of the world in which we were brought up, our religious identification, our interests. For the majority of those reading this article, our shared sphere is Trinity Western University. And when we walk

through her suffering at the hands of those purported to love her and want the best for her (I’m looking at you, Littlefinger) that she can fully become who she was meant to be.

At this point, if you are beginning to think that you can read Christian themes of ‘death in sin’ and ‘rebirth in Christ’ into all of this, then you are not alone (whether Thrones intended to use Sansa in this way, it is difficult to say). In

On the other hand, through the character of Sansa, Thrones forces us to consider that this kind of rebirth comes with a terrible price. Her development from little girl to full-blown Lady of Winterfell comes from several agonizing seasons of torment, torture, and abuse, including a horrific rape scene that, single-handBeyond physical health or even edly, almost caused me to give magical means, however, Game up on Thrones. Overall, Sansa’s of Thrones most thoroughly car- storyline has been so terribly viries this message through the olent that it has actually caused development of its characters, critics to question whether there and, perhaps most prominently, are limits to what can ethically be through the character of Sansa portrayed on television. And yet, Stark. Through seven seasons, despite these horrors, Thrones Sansa has moved from being makes it evident that it is only

“Waxing.” – Daniel Schweitzer

onto campus, we bring all of these other distinctive communities with us. Thus, we each have something unique to contribute to Trinity Western’s culture.

This is where Mars’ Hill’s Arts and Culture section comes into play. For the next eight months, these pages will represent Trinity Western’s reflections on the world around us, and how the world can be understood through various artistic mediums. Is the purpose of this section broad? Absolutely. And that is what makes it exciting. It is a place where one can read about cultural events specific to Trinity Western’s campus, perspectives on popular culture, odes to more specific subcultures, and to explore the unique ways in which they intersect. It is a blank canvas, and it is yours to draw upon.

one notable scene, Sansa Stark stands before her abusive husband, Ramsey, and tells him that when he dies, “all memory of [him] will disappear.” Likewise, when we are reborn through Jesus, all memory of our sin disappears. Perhaps, then, the purpose of Sansa and her suffering in Thrones speaks to a greater message to the world: that with faith, hope, and the pursuit of truth, no one is beyond their own form of rebirth.

13

KIRSTEN MCALLISTER So you punch in the first two letters of your favourite social media website, and Google, that old, wise friend Google, already knows where you want to go. You intend to scroll for only a few minutes before returning to your POLS 101 paper - just enough time to be inspired or find out what’s going on in the world. But then it happens. TOP 10 SALADS FOR NATIONAL SALAD MONTH. You haven’t had a salad in a long time because it is no longer an efficient use of space on your plate at the cafeteria. Yes, you think you will make salad tonight in your dorm, so you click on the link. Twenty minutes later, you are still researching the health benefits of arugula.

Let’s face it: during the semester, procrastination will happen to us all.

The good news is that if you are prepared, procrastination doesn’t have to be unproductive. We all need breaks, so having a good blog or magazine readily at hand this year could actually become your salvation from the darker dregs of the social media abyss.

Here are some healthy online distractions, which I have found to be soul-soothing rather than soul-sucking when I find myself pulling up an-

other tab.

informed, social Christians.

Brainpickings.org This is my favourite place to go for a little spiritual facelift or to peruse the minds of the greatest scientists, artists and philosophers of our time.

By nicely slicing big ideas into digestible articles, blogger and cultural critic Maria Popova writes about delightfully eclectic topics like “How to Neutralize Haters” with E.E Cummings, and “How Caroline Herschel, the First Professional Woman Astronomer, Nearly Died by Meathook in the Name of Science.” Don’t forget to check out the most meaningful work she does: an annual list of the best illustrated children’s books of the year.

(O.S.Y.W.T.R.B**? Great! Proposed paperback equivalent: Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke) Geez Magazine First advice: subscribe to their seasonal magazine in print! I firmly believe that there is nothing more therapeutic to the overworked student than mail. When I first found this magazine, I picked it off of a shelf at a bookshop in Penticton, thinking that it looked beautiful and creative.

Only after reading half of it did I realize that Christians created it. Smart,

justice-oriented

trying to make things a little better for the rest of us.

(O.S.Y.W.T.R.B? Great! Proposed paperback equivalent: Mars’ Hill Newspaper)

(O.S.Y.W.T.R.B? Great! Proposed paperback equivalent: For the Time Being by Annie Dillard)

First Things A little more adult and a little more conservative than Geez, First Things uses ecumenical dialogue to really get to the theological roots of current events. Bold and countercultural in the not-cool way, I trust this magazine to take me beyond Huffington Post and into the truth of things.

(O.S.Y.W.T.R.B? Great! Proposed paperback equivalent: Confessions by Augustine of Hippo) Onbeing.org Sort of like First Things, except less serious. Synthesizing a charitable approach to journalism with creative mediums for conversation, their initiative is to be a blog and podcast that connects “messy human reality with grand religious ideas.” Rather than getting rattled by that POLS 101 paper that is due in the morning, go here and listen to some “Poetry Radio,” or perhaps browse the “Civil Conversations Project,” where you will be reminded by the good, normal people in the world who are

** O.S.Y.W.T.R.B = “Oh, so you want to read BOOKS?”

Trinity Western University

SHUTTLE Sunday Mornings | Fall & Spring Semesters 11:30am pick up | 1:30pm drop off Mattson Building Traffic Circle lwchurch.ca “All you can eat sushi” – Becca Carsience

14

ALL ILLNESSES NEED REST

it”. Any more than someone with Parkinson’s can will their hands not to shake, they can’t simply will themselves through it.

ISABELLA HAMM Imagine, for a moment, that you were living under the shadow of a chronic illness, such as epilepsy. Imagine, while getting ready for work or school, something triggers a seizure. It would be perfectly reasonable to call in and ask for the day off, and whoever is in charge would almost certainly allow it, right?

Now imagine the same scenario, but with anxiety instead of epilepsy. How many managers or professors would still allow that time off? Not as many.

Both epilepsy and anxiety are illnesses resulting from neural dysfunction, and both affect a person’s ability to do work properly for a time after an episode has occurred. In either case, taking the day off to recover would be better for one’s health in both the short and long-term.

To take a pragmatic view, someone who has been given time to rest after an episode is actually being responsible, as they are acknowledging their inability to do their best work and taking steps to ensure that they can in the future.

This all makes sense regarding epilepsy, yet seems to get ignored when it comes to anxiety or depression, even though the exact same logic can be applied.

People with mental illnesses will likely be told they’re lazy, or to just “get over

LISTEN: DAUGHTER: MUSIC FROM BEFORE THE STORM NIKI MARA If you pride yourself in knowing your way around the gaming world and you know the impact a soundtrack can have on the quality of a graphic adventure game, then Daughter’s latest album, Music from Before the Storm, may be your newfound treasure. If you know nothing about the virtual world of gaming, this album will become a welcome companion in the rainy months to come.

Daughter, a British folk-rock band, recently gifted the world with a creation unlike anything they have previously composed. Music From Before The Storm acts as the soundtrack to the ad-

Another common assumption about mental illnesses is one that it’s all in the person’s head. In a way, that is correct. The illnesses affect a person’s brain, which is technically located in the head.

Studies have proven that there is a biological difference in operation between a mentally healthy brain and a mentally ill one. Depression is the result of lower levels of a chemical called serotonin, while anxiety occurs when one produces too much of it. To quote J.K. Rowling’s character, Albus Dumbledore, “Of course it’s happening inside your head. But why on earth should that mean it’s not real?”

For the greater amount of people without a pre-existing condition, maintaining mental health is still crucial. Most people, students especially, can relate to feeling stressed, and likely know the feeling of being too stressed to focus on what is right in front of you, be it a lecture, a reading, or a lab. This is the mental equivalent of the flu. It is a temporary state, but serious enough that going to work or class might end up being more detrimental than helpful.

dia and in their personal lives. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are more widely discussed and understood than ever before and by doing so, barriers of shame and guilt are broken down and lines of communication are formed. At the same time, though, a stigma around them still stands on the job site and in the classroom. If you’re reading this and you struggle with a mental illness, I urge you to take time off if you are having a rather stressful day. Your acaWith all of this going on, people have demic grades will survive and, more imstarted to share about their struggles portantly, so will you. with mental illness across social me-

venture game Life Is Strange: Before The Storm. The sound and lyrics, lead vocalist Elena Tonra explains, were written from the perspective of Chloe, the protagonist of the game. As the game trailer shows, Chloe is loud, strong-willed, and aggressive, but also possesses a caring heart and genuine soul. Tonra’s challenge of transforming a personality that is not her own into sound could not have been an easy task to undertake, but together with her bandmates, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella, she gives life to an epic, yet intimate, musical journey, an extension of her own soul.

Just as Chloe is, at times, both tender and stern, the songs of Daughter’s newest album deliberately vary in their emotion. “Burn It Down,” the album’s lead single, tells a tale of the dark side of Chloe’s life, her struggles with anger and her search for revenge on the universe for selfishly snatching away her father’s life and depriving her of her joyful spirit. Harsh lyrics, pulsating percussion, and a violent persistence of voices telling her to “burn it down” threaten the listener, while at the same time, intrigue them and pull them into Chloe’s heart-wrenching story. Inversely, “Hope,” a song one could describe as

the light at the end of the tunnel, greets us warmly with mesmerizing synth notes and Elena’s soothing vocals; the word “reborn” is sung repeatedly, a call to look for the silver lining and rejoice, for all is not lost.

Grief is an ever-present theme in Music from Before the Storm, colouring the whole album in blue-grey melancholy.

Yet, if you look hard enough amidst the weary notes, you will uncover the song of morning birds and the soothing drizzle of an Indian summer’s rain.

The songs truly reveal a darker side of Daughter’s art, and yet, every time I dive into the album, I can’t help but feel... hopeful.

Whether you are a dedicated Daughter fan or have never heard their music, give this album a try.

“Cardio” – Carlos Alvaro

Its sense of mystery and suspense will give you goosebumps; its overpowering emotional charge will force your mind onto a deeper and colder wavelength.

What this album will become is ultimately for you to decide, dear reader, but as for me, it has secured a spot on my meticulously-crafted playlist and will accompany me on my weary, yet fulfilling, autumn journey. It is a true musical masterpiece, one I will revere and discover for myself anew each time I sink deeply into the world of music.

15

STORIES FROM THE NATIONS This issue’s topic is: Culture Shock

The Netherlands FEMKE VAN DE WETERINGH It has been three weeks since I left my home in the Netherlands and traveled across the globe to Canada.

I have enjoyed every minute spent in this country. As far as I have seen, Canadians are very hospitable and friendly. The landscape here is one I have never seen before, and the nature is phenomenal! I love the mountains, especially because we do not have any significant mountain ranges in Holland.

However, I have faced a slight culture shock since I have been here. I have noticed that Canadians tend to have different mindsets then most Dutch people, or Europeans in general. It seems to me that Canadians are longterm oriented, whereas the Dutch are more short-term oriented. From what I have seen, Canadians are primarily focused on the next thing that is on the agenda rather than focusing on what they are actually doing in that moment.

When one is immersed into a new culture, sometimes things do not go quite as one might hope. In regards to the language, unexpected misunderstandings can occur— this happened a few days ago. A good friend of mine from the Netherlands, who is also attending Trinity Western this semester, was in a group chat with a number of others, when at one point someone asked, “Does anyone want to go on a pizza run?” We were extremely confused by this question. Going on a run at ten ‘o’clock at night? Why would anyone want to run all the way to a pizza place?

Eventually, we realized that this was not literally what we had thought it meant; it was simply a way of asking if anyone wanted to get pizza.

Despite these differences, I still think European and Canadian cultures are relatively similar. I love this country so far; it has great people, amazing scenery, and I am excited for the future!

Thailand GABRIELLE FITCHETT This summer, I spent two and a half weeks in Takua Pa, Thailand, with my youth group. Working through the Imagine Thailand and HistoryMaker organizations, we visited local schools and taught English to children for a couple days at a time.

Many aspects of Thai culture required getting accustomed to, such as bowing to each other in greeting and the reverence of the recently deceased monarchy.

Throughout everything, I found that the children we taught provided the most culture shock. Elementary and secondary school assemblies in North America normally consist of bored or mildly interested children, but I was dumbfounded to find that every child in Thai schools was exuberant and utterly delighted to meet us. Many of them had never encoun-

“Squats and lunges” – Brooke Pattyn

tered a white person before. They ran up to us and eagerly showed off their extensive knowledge of Western culture by shaking my hand, or giving a high five, a fist bump, a hug, or all of them in random order.

They sat patiently and attentively during class as we struggled to explain concepts and complicated English words. Dozens of girls came up to me after teachings and asked for my Facebook, and on my first day at one school, a group of 11-year-old boys invited me to play soccer with them (which I am exceedingly bad at). Their openness and willingness to have fun with complete strangers left me stunned. These children also understood the importance of education, which one might say is quite different from our own culture.

Upon arriving home, I eventually thought: why do these differences exist in the first place?

16

SPORTS WELCOME TO SPORTS JAMISON DERKSEN Hey there!

My name is Jamison Derksen and I am the 2017/18 Mars’ Hill Sports Editor.

That means you can: A) count on me to supply you with sports content in every Mars’ Hill issue, and B) get in contact with me if you have a passion for sports and want to share your voice in the newspaper!

I love sports and I hope that if you consistently read Mars’ Hill, that you will enjoy my section.

If you do not regularly read the student newspaper, I encourage you to give it a shot, and I will try to write you some content you will love to read.

Sport is one of the easiest ways to connect people and I am happy that I have the opportunity to share it with you this year.

SWEAT, SUNGLASSES, AND SUNBURNS JAMISON DERKSEN “Back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that I am not a fool.” These immortal words of Billy Madison ring in my mind around this time every year.

The beginning of the school year is the best time of year to try something new; it’s beautiful outside, and you don’t have to worry about homework just yet.

Other than the NFL, there isn’t too much to watch on television in regards to sports, unless you enjoy watching golf, tennis, the CFL, or feel the need to watch every game of your favourite baseball team. (I, for one, am trying to avoid watching my Oakland Athletics toil at the bottom of their division yet again). So, take this time to learn a new sport! Here are some suggestions that will make it easy for you.

Spikeball Spikeball has quickly become one of my favourite summer activities. It is basically two-ontwo volleyball. Instead of using a volleyball net though, there is a small, circular, trampolinelike net that you and your teammate need to bounce the ball off to the other team.

Points are awarded when a team misses the net or hits the rim of the net, and there are no boundaries. This game is perfect for the beach or for a lawn, and you can put a wireless speaker under the net to blare your favourite summer vibes too!

Tennis This is the sport your parents most likely played before you were born. Surely if you look in their garage you will find a few racquets, probably adorned in some awesome 90’s colours like purple or teal! If you are not local, don’t worry; you can rent from the gym. Grab a friend and get out to the courts!

Lastly, don’t worry about the people in the court next to you who probably look like pros; they are too focused on their own match to worry about the skills of the rookie nearby.

Golf Golf is a bit pricier than the other sports I have suggested, as you need to pay every time you play a round, but you may think it is worth the money. If you don’t have clubs, you may be able to borrow some from a friend, or you can rent some at the course. Take a look at the local courses near Langley like Belmont or the Redwoods, and go play nine holes to see how you like it! It is a good social sport to play with friends and family; it has a slower pace that is great for long chats, and if you want, you can drive a golf cart without stealing it from TWU campus security!

With these last few weeks of summer lingering, I urge you to enjoy the weather and try something new.

You may discover a new passion that you can enjoy to stay active and avoid your schoolwork.

Whether you are swinging a club, a racquet, a bat, or enjoying any other sunny weather activities, don’t forget your sunscreen!

Two dollars. A toonie. Some sort of combination of loonies and quarters, which, as you know is the equivalent of gold for residents, usually saved for the washing machines.

This used to be what you needed to scrape together to attend a TWU Spartans home game. It’s not that much (let’s be real, you spent more at Tim Horton’s after the game anyway), but it was still annoying to look for the change.

Well, this year is different.

Explore Your Future at Canada’s Largest International University

ALL SPARTAN HOME GAMES ARE FREE!

and Student Travel Expo

That means you have no excuse, so get out there and support your Spartans!

SEPTEMBER 24

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

FREE ADMISSION

Expo: 1 pm - 5 pm • Free Seminars: 12 noon - 5 pm

www.studyandgoabroad.com “Having to eat the cutest animal cracker…RIP sweet angel…” – Lauren Kozol

17 helmets, and white t-shirts. While sitting in the cafeteria on Friday night, I heard the approaching sound of loud eager voices and in came a group of shirtless guys with blue body paint clothing them, cut off short-shorts and AUBREE FARRELL a feeling of excitement I could sense from across the room. This Collective chants, booming was not intimidating as much as it screams, blue face paint and a was funny, but it did get me thinkpre-game barbecue. On Friday, ing about what being a Spartan September 8th, Spartan spirit means. marched through campus hours before the game, with anticipa- For the most part I had the attire tion of the first whistle. It is a re- down, despite not having gallons surgence, a legacy that continues of blue paint, and I was ready for with the spark of a new year for the cheering and screaming. Yet, I Trinity Western Athletics and its was not exactly sure I understood supporters. what it meant to be part of this

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SPARTAN

community until I realized the different ways in which people contributed. From the athletes who spend days on end training and As an incoming freshman, it is easy working hard within their sport for me to by intimidated by the and academics, to the coaches overwhelming amount of school providing guidance, to the way spirit some people around me to the hundreds of supporters have. During orientation we were throughout the campus, everytold, “You are all Spartans!” and one who is a part of our school were given hand-knitted Spartan So, what does it mean to be a Spartan?

GAME STATS Several Spartan teams are already in the full swing of competition! The numbers in each standings column stand for “wins-losses-ties”.

Volleyball exhibition games start this Friday, September 22nd with the men’s team playing against Thompson Rivers. Regular gameplay starts for both teams on Friday, October 20th at the University of Saskatchewan.

Men’s hockey sees regular gameplay pick up on October 6th in Victoria.

The women’s basketball team is still in China on their 2017 Goodwill Tour, and begin regular gameplay on Friday, October 27th at the University of Alberta. The men’s team plays their first regular season game on November 4th at UBC Okanagan.

The TWU Bombers hockey team also started their season this past weekend with a 5-3 win over the Kodiaks.

Be sure to check each issue to keep up with our awesome Spartan teams.

We’ll cover the latest on statistics, CanWest and U Sports standings as well as upcoming games.

contributes to the meaning of being a Spartan. It is a title that has earned not only championships, but has also earned respect for the way we represent ourselves, on and off campus, whether that be on the field, court, or inside the workforce.

it means to be a Spartan and to contribute to the legacy that will go on for future generations. To be a Spartan is to uphold the values that Trinity Western intends to instill within the student body, staff, and faculty – values that include the development of spirituality, leadership, honesty and I love the idea that I can contribute personal growth. It is because of to my school, whether by going these aspirations and the success to sporting events, writing for the of my predecessors that I can newspaper, or by simply caring proudly say, I am a Spartan. for those around me. A great sense of relief comes from knowing that most of the people around me are here to engage in the same thing. I am excited for loud, infectious cheers, the face paint, and the barbecued food; but, most importantly, I am ready to experience what

MEN’S SOCCER Recent

Canwest Pacific Standings

5-1 W vs Lethbridge (Sept. 15)

1 UBC (5-0-1)

1-0 L vs Saskatchewan (Sept. 16)

2 TRU (3-1-3)

Upcoming

3 TWU (3-2-3

at Alberta (1:00 PM, Sept. 23)

4 UVIC (3-4-1)

at Calgary (1:15 PM, Sept. 24)

5 UBCO (2-3-0)

at UBC Okanagan (3:00 PM, Sept. 30)

6 UNBC (2-3-3)

at Thompson Rivers (12:00 PM, Oct. 1)

7 UFV (1-4-1)

WOMEN’S SOCCER Recent

Canwest Pacific Standings

3-0 L vs Calgray (Sept.16)

1 MacEwan (4-0-0)

2-0 W vs Lethbridge (Sept. 17)

2 UBC (4-1-0)

Upcoming

3 UVIC (3-1-1)

at UNBC (6:00 PM, Sept. 22)

4 UNBC (2-2-0)

at MacEwan (11:00 AM, Sept. 24)

5 TWU (2-2-0)

vs UBC Okanagan (5:00 PM, Sept. 29)

6 UFV (1-2-1)

vs Thompson Rivers (5:00 PM, Sept. 30)

7 TRU (1-3-0) 8 UBCO (0-3-1)

MEN’S HOCKEY Recent

The winner of the upcoming game is the inaugural winner of the “Captain’s Cup” preseason tournament.

2-1 W vs SFU (Sept. 16) Upcoming at UBC (2:00 PM, Sept. 30)

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Recent University of Washington Sundodger Open:

Women: Mirelle Martens finished 5th Men: Nick Colyn finished 4th

Upcoming UVIC Invitational at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria (Oct. 14) “Puberty” – Sarah Wright

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HUMOUR DEAR FIFTH YEAR

Dear Fifth Year,

Dear Crazy in Love,

I have a question regarding life here at TWU, and given your years (many years…many many years) of experience, I thought you might be able to help.

How can I tell if I’m in love with the guy from my connections group? Like…we haven’t talked at all really but I think he’s the one. I mean, he even liked one of my Instagram posts. Please help!

The secret here, surprisingly, is math. That’s right! All you have to do is multiply the number of times he subtly glances in your direction by your heart rate when you think about him, all divided by his room number in his dorm (if he commutes, substitute this for the last three digits of his SSN). If the number is above five, then congratulations! He’s the one!

Sincerely, Monica

My personal philosophy is that dating in your first semester isn’t the wisest idea, since you’re probably both undergoing radical personal growth at a breakneck intensity. But if you really like this guy as much as you like the word “many”, maybe you should go out on a limb and do something bold—double tap one of his Instagram posts.

REVIVAL OF THE FIRST YEAR PHOTO Revival. Rejuvenation. A resurfacing of what was once known but has been long forgotten—including those dreaded first-year photos. Hoping these images would never see the light of day again, your very own professors, administrators, and student life staff allowed them to slip away beneath layers of cobwebs and dust, in boxes, basements, and the depths of internet archives…until today.

Pictured here are eight of the bravest people on campus, those who are willing to face the past (and the sneezing fits).

It’s up to you, however, to figure out who these courageous souls are.

Submit your best guess to marshill@gmail.com by September 27 for a chance to win.

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2

3

4

Fondly, Abe, A Fifth-Year

Dear Fifth Year,

Dear Too Scared to Tell Me Your Name,

I heard that if you come late to class there are consequences. I I’ve only heard one story of want to know what really hap- someone who was late to class and lived to tell the tale, and it’s pens. a rumour at best. His name was Sincerely, Anonymous Andrew Richmond. They locked him in the Strombeck basement for weeks, submitting him to repeated syllabus shock while playing “10,000 Reasons” on repeat. To this day, he wakes up in a cold sweat, haunted by the possibility that he forgot about an annotated bibliography.

5

6

He now arrives an hour early to every class. I suggest you do the same.

Fondly, Abe, A Fifth-Year 7 “DTR. Usually. Nevermind.” – June Na

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MEDIA We’ve rebranded!

Check out our updated media f o r n e w c o n t e n t w e e k l y.

Website w w w. m a r s h i l l . c a Instagram @marshillnewspaper Facebook Mars’ Hill Online Tw i t t e r @marshillnews

M AR S’ H I L L “Having a shower in Robson” – Jamison Derksen

ALEX’S ANNEX CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE CHAPTER 1 You awaken. Your eyes burn. You are lying on a stone slab. You sit up. You are clothed in a simple, well-fitting black jumpsuit. The ground around you is all hard stone, stretching as far as you can see in every direction, given, of course, that you can only see a few feet away. Your vision is clouded, but you can see a single flickering torch on the far wall of what seems to be a wide, open cave. You wait for a moment. Realizing that nothing is going to happen, you rise and begin walking toward the flickering torch. As you move, you realize the torch is much farther away than you thought; somehow, it still gives off enough light for you to see the outline of your arms and feet. As well, you can see light glistening through a series of cracks on the floor, an almost crystalline structure that glints blue in the faint light of the torch. The sapphire blue glint of the crystals is the brightest blue you have ever seen. You continue walking. The torch never seems to get any closer.

As you walk, the ground underneath your feet begins to change. You bend down to touch the ground, and realize that the stone has become grass, and the blue crystals have all but disappeared. You suddenly see a glint in the grass to your right – but it’s not blue. It’s silver. When you stand up again to walk towards the glint, you realize that the far-away torch that was guiding you has sputtered out. It’s pitch black.

In place of the torch, another moving light has appeared to your left, slowly bouncing up and down, as if it was being carried by a person.

Do you: 1. Keep going towards where you last saw the lit torch 2. Go towards the new moving light 3. Try and find whatever was glinting in the grass Cast Your Vote by Sept. 27 at marshill.ca See what happens next ... in Issue 2, out Oct. 4/17!

THE Nathan HIMNAL Ahrendt

year: 1st

age: 18

Major: Computer Science height: 6’0’’

Age limit (max/min)? I’m not sure what this question means, so if it refers to the max difference in age between me and potential datee, then probably 8 Hometown: Kelowna, BC How would you win their parents over?

What theme do you envision for the years.

Idea of a perfect date?

Late night walks after the fire alarm wakes up the dorm

Best place for a first kiss?

Church

How long before you propose?

40 days and 40 nights

Best pick-up line?

Do you know what the temple veil and I have in common? We are both ripped!

Use my guest swipe on them.

How do you know if it’s love?

If the dove returns with a ring.

Good age to get married?

In third year so we can live in apartments.

What skill will you pass on to your future children?

Student loans.

“being a Mars’ Hill Section Editor” – Niki Mara :(

wedding?

Mariachi Band.

What is your signature dish?

Unlimited-swipes meal plan.

Favourite bible verse?

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of [women]”

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“A high-fibre diet” – Lauren Kozol

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