Mars Hill Newspaper Vol 19 Issue 1

ACTS 17:19-20

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VOLUME 19, ISSUE 1

THE COVENANT CONUNDRUM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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marshillonline.com

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BIG “T” TRUTH

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

FROM THE EDITOR |

Mars’ Hill 7600 Glover Rd. Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 604 513 2109

THE TEAM

MARS’ HILL

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.

MISSION TO MARS

PETER WOEKEL

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.

managing editor

AMY GOERTZEN

EDITORIAL POLICY

visual editor

STEPHANIE REDEKOP

chief copy editor

COLTON MARTIN

layout editor

SIDSEL RICHMOND

illustration editor

JUNHO KIM

photo editor

ERIK DELANGE

web presence

REESE MARTIN

advertising & finance manager

The best year ever?

Learning from the bumps in the road

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tara GORMAN

I believe it is human nature to enter into a new experience with grand expectations. We tell ourselves that our future experiences are going to be amazing and lifechanging. Often, we have the self-given premonition that this is going to be the best year ever, and we keep telling ourselves this even in the midst of panicked allnighters and seemingly impossible midterms. Academically, we expect our view of the world to be challenged and broadened. Socially, we look forward to developing deep and intimate relationships, whether they are romantic or platonic. Spiritually, we seek to take steps closer to the unattainable goal of Christ-like faith and purity. Overall, I think that we desire the simple fulfillment of the mind, heart, and soul.

I certainly stepped onto the Trinity Western University campus on O-Day with similarly lofty expectations. I remember lumbering around campus in a daze, my palms sore and sweaty from receiving so many handshakes.

I remember observing the upperclassmen talking and laughing with both friends and freshmen while they wore fashionable clothes and confident grins. I remember thinking and hoping that, soon, I would mirror this scene of self-assurance that was playing out before me. From the

first day, it seemed clear that this would be one of the best experiences of my life thus far.

And it started out that way.

My classes were challenging and thought-provoking. My dorm was a wonderful place filled with enough boisterous extroverts to get me out of my shell and enough contemplative introverts to accompany me in my semi-solitary quiet time. My relationship with God grew as I immersed myself in prayer, conversation, and contemplation. By the second month on campus, I was convinced that this was going to be the best year ever in the best place ever.

In October of 2012, I had to miss a few days of classes in order to travel to Calgary to be the ring bearer for my cousin’s wedding.

My cousin, who started at Trinity in 2008, let me vicariously experience college-life (I remember her bouts of frustration with homework just as much as her giddy confession that she was dating a boy) until the day she graduated in 2012 (with an engagement ring on her finger). Having known her fiancé for most of the time that she attended Trinity, it was like welcoming an old friend into the family. It was a festive and exciting time, and that giddy excitement fueled me as my dorm went valiantly into the gong-show that is Fort Week, working our way up to the top and ultimately winning first place.

I remember sitting in my dorm’s lounge after we were handed our trophy and chocolate coin medals, our celebration loud and joyous. I remember the CF of Northwest entering the room

and gently starting to lead me into her apartment, where two strangers were waiting for me. I can still vividly feel that shift of emotion when they sat me down and told me that the new member of my family, Jordan Thiessen, had died in a workplace accident only twelve days after his wedding.

It is odd how quickly the best year ever can be transformed into the worst.

So, my first year at TWU wasn’t the most jubilant time of my life.

But I don’t write this as a sobstory. I don’t want to scare you.

Although that year brought me a lot of sadness, it also brought me perspective and transformation.

I learned how to love with more purpose. My relationships became a lot deeper, simply because I was able to truly appreciate the presence of the people in my life.

In many ways, I became happier simply because God allowed me to see and cherish his creation in a more profound manner.

I don’t write this because I believe that this won’t be the best year ever. This will be the best year ever, and all the years before have been the best as well, for one simple reason: wherever God is, that is the best place to be. And guess what? He’s everywhere.

He was there in the past, He is here in the present, and He will be here in future – no matter which path this school may take us. Let this year change you and form you. Trust me, you are going to look back in two, three, four years and it might not have been the best, but it will have shaped you in some remarkable ways.

Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and letters to the Editor. These must be signed and are due one week prior to publication. 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.

SENIOR EDITORS Tara Gorman Editor-in-Chief

Peter Woekel

Managing Editor

Amy Goertzen Visual Editor

SECTION EDITORS Sarah Grochowski News

Ellen Graham Academy

Mackenzie Cameron Arts & Culture

Connor Ewert Sports

Trevor McMahan Humour

PRODUCTION STAFF Junho Kim

Photo Editor

Sidsel Richmond Illustration Editor

Colton Martin Layout Editor

Stephanie Redekop Chief Copy Editor

OPERATIONS Reese Martin

Advertising & Finance Manager

Erik deLange Web Presence

CONTRIBUTORS

David Brynjolfson Chett Fitchett Cody Friesen Tia Glenn-Cooke Nicodemus Jancewicz Stuart Knott Cam Thiessen Matthew Wigmore Leanne Witten

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Loranne Brown

marshill@gmail.com www.marshillonline.com @marshillonline

This issue is brought to you by floral and fatigue.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Vanilla. Might as well drown in something you love.” -Ben Morley-Senkler

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

NEWS

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SARAH GROCHOWSKI

sarah.grochowski@mytwu.ca

A battle of circular reasoning TWU’s law school contraversy remains unresolved

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sarah GROCHOWSKI

Tracing back the constitutional history of Canada and its laws formed since 1867, there are equality rights granted to every citizen of Canada. They include – but are not limited to – freedoms of religious belief and sexual orientation. With regard to Trinity Western University and its ongoing campaign for a law school, which will be the first Christian-founded law school in Canada, both of these freedoms have come in direct confrontation in Supreme Court rulings and other spheres of society. TWU’s board of governors were initially shocked at large portions of the opposition, who were willing to dedicate their resources to fight a battle similar to that which involved TWU’s School of Education in 2001, which the Supreme Court deemed was protected under the principles of “liberty and respect.” TWU’s teachers, responsible to teach young and susceptible minds in matters of truth and worldview, were approved, and have since worked in many public schools with high distinction. So how would Trinity lawyers be different? Does this new case stand upon the same “vague suspicions and stereotypes” that the Supreme court once recognized to be unlawful? Examining the foundational clauses of Canadian law and the concepts that TWU’s president Bob Kuhn introduced in a recent interview will help us understand more.

Pertaining to religious freedom, we read in section 2a of the 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms that each individual has the right to “freedom of thought, conscience, religion, belief, opinion, expression, and association.”

This encompasses the very reason why TWU’s community covenant is able to lawfully exist and flourish. Each informed student signs an agreement to take part in a community that upholds sexual sacredness as being kept for a marriage union between a man and a woman, a value the Bible is historically known to possess.

Furthermore, in 2005, the Civil

Marriage Act was released to protect religious organizations where it is not against public policy to believe and express this standard of marriage. In the minds of the opposition, however, this traditional acknowledgment of marriage has been labeled as discriminatory. The covenant is exclusive, yes, but is it discriminatory in the way that some suggest?

To understand more about discrimination, we have to acknowledge that most universities discriminate against individuals who possess lower high school grades when the highest-graded people are enrolled. This type of discrimination exists as we live in a diverse world with varying beliefs, convictions, and institutions. The shared ethos that TWU’s community has is another example of lawful discrimination. Its covenant does not promote or desire the judgment of gay people any more than universities would teach their students to mistreat or hold distain for those who do not attend their university. Furthermore, TWU has not expelled openly gay students that have chosen to attend the university. It is also important to note that TWU’s communal values regarding pre-marital sex “discriminates” against those who believe in sex outside of the marriage covenant, yet no legal action has been taken against this.

If the Supreme Court did everything in their power to balance the rights and values of everyone equally, we would lose all distinctives; this includes many of the very values that bring us life.

So in cases like this and those that have come before, law rulings allow both competing ideologies to coexist, as this discrimination is not the unlawful kind.

This pluralistic approach offers a set of eyes that see Christian institutions like TWU as a place whose morality is being pushed to the very outskirts of society for the sake of another’s. As civilization grows increasingly secular, there is no doubt that moral standards are seen as objectionable by much of the public. For this reason, TWU finds itself in a circular argument as the opposition expects from TWU everything that they themselves are not willing to give. Many are turning a blind eye to the 2001 rul-

ing where TWU won; therefore, they ignore the very laws which our legal system is based on. In so doing, they exemplify their own partiality in pushing their convictions above the rule of law itself.

We have to acknowledge that just as gay students may feel singled out by certain values of our University, the TWU community also feels that the few words which have been singled out of a larger, more meaningful covenant leaves every student who graduates from TWU presumed to be a bigot. The BC. Civil Liberties Association, an organization known to support LGBT rights, even claims that denying TWU’s application for accreditation would “result in unlawful discrimination against and infringement of the fundamental freedoms of those who seek only to be able to study law and be allowed entry to the legal profession without discrimination based on their religious beliefs.”

Now, regarding the legal rights that humans have to choose their sexual orientation, it was only 45 years ago that homosexuality was fully decriminalized. The push for a change in TWU’s covenant occurs as many in society seek to soothe the damage done by so many religious people before us.

It is not the physical pains that gay people faced at the hands of a punishing society that TWU battles in this legal dispute, it is the lingering effects of ostracism on a human soul. For this, and for similar struggles that many face in redeeming their own sexuality, our entire campus mourns.

TWU’s community cannot deny that Christians throughout history have deeply wounded the gay community, but we can remind the world that we strive for a greater purpose than any singularized precept; that is, the transformation of our very souls.

TWU is more than a University that seeks to adhere to moral righteousness apart from love; instead we are a place that, in the name of love, seeks to do what is right in order to redeem the broken world back to its Creator.

This means that to embody the covenant is not to say that homosexuality is wrong, but to say that loving everyone– no matter what differentiates them from us– is necessary; not to judge anyone, but to hold fast to the values that the Bible outlines. The graduated lawyers of TWU will not seek to play God in the courtroom by judging or harboring animosity towards those who hold different values, but rather, they will seek to exemplify the Son of God who willingly gave up his own flesh to allow the outsiders of the world to gain freedom.

April, 2012:

June 30, 2012:

TWU submits their law school proposal to B.C. government for approval

TWU senate and board of governors approve law school proposal

Dec. 18, 2012:

March 26, 2013:

Expert review panel of five law professors, appointed by Assessment Board, visits TWU, writes report-setting conditions for TWU to meet

Nov-Dec 2013:

TWU president Bob Kuhn writes to MLA Rich Coleman and Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk, asking for law school approval

Minister of Advanced Education refers TWU’s application to the ministry’s Degree Quality Assessment Board for consideration

June 10, 2013:

Assessment Board approves TWU proposal

Dec. 16, 2013:

Federation of Law Societies of Canada gives preliminary approval to TWU proposal

Dec 18, 2013:

Virk announces B.C. government approval of TWU proposal

Feb. 19, 2014:

TWU signs Terms and Conditions for Ministerial Consent

April, 2014:

B.C. Law Society benchers vote that TWU is entitled to status as an approved faculty of law

Sept 2, 2014:

Earl Phillips appointed as Executive Director for School of Law

June 10, 2014:

Special General Meeting held by Law Society of BC where a 3210 to 968 vote creates another obstacle for the TWU Faculty of Law

Sept, 2016:

Canada’s first Christian law school expected to open

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Oxygen flavour.” —Graeme Geddes

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Trouble in Iraq

United States amps up military role as thousands suffer through persecution

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david BRYNJOLFSON

The United States has begun using airstrikes in Iraq, only three years after its military withdrew.

ISIS, an extremist Muslim group, has captured large areas of the country, including its third largest city and several oil fields. The situation has caused serious instability and is leading to a refugee crisis, as well as fierce persecution of minorities. Reports have been surfacing about executions and other acts of inhumanity aimed at several minority groups, including Christians.

ISIS is a jihadist organization that sprung up recently. They gained power as a rebel group in the Syrian Civil War and then they crossed into Iraq. In June, they took over vast areas of the north and north-central areas of the country, establishing what they call the “Islamic State.”

Combined with the land they control in Syria, this has amounted to the creation of a Muslim theocracy in which a strict, vio-

lent interpretation of Sharia law is in full effect. Local forces including the Iraqi government, Kurdish nationalists, and other volunteers are trying to reclaim the taken land,, and the United States is helping them by both providing weapons and airstrikes.

These American airstrikes began in August and have so far helped reclaim some important towns.

So far, the United States plans to continue supporting local forces for the foreseeable future. In a press briefing on August 28th, President Barrack Obama said that any sort of success against ISIS cannot depend on US actions alone. Instead, the fight has to be led by locals – this means a strong and unified Iraqi force that is inclusive of major minority groups. The problem is that that may not be enough, and pressure is building for the United States to do more than just provide airstrikes. There are some good reasons for the United States to get involved again; ISIS provides a base for future terrorist attacks against the United States and threatens the stability of the entire region, yet few Americans would want another war there. In any case, the White House made

it very clear in comments made in June that they will not be sending US troops back into Iraq, and as of now there appears to be no change in attitude. Although delays could benefit ISIS, the situation is very complex and made more complex by the war in Syria and the tensions with Russia.

So it is unlikely that the United States is going to quickly make a decision on what it will do about ISIS. Its strategy is in the process of development, and these airstrikes that they have begun will perhaps be all they do for now.

Meanwhile, ISIS is perpetrating gross acts of inhumanity towards the region’s minority groups. Last year, they captured the city of Raqqa in Syria and imposed heavy restrictions on the Christians there. Christians had to convert, pay a fee, or die. The vast majority fled. This summer, the same restrictions were placed on Christians in Mosul and other captured parts of Iraq, and again the vast majority is fleeing. This news is distressing, of course – but unfortunately, the news gets even worse. Flavia Pansieri, the Deputy Human Rights Commissioner of the United Nations, says that the Islamic State is believed to have

committed “systematic and intentional attacks on civilians including targeted killings, forced conversions, slavery, sexual abuse and the besieging of entire communities.” Although Christians are suffering through these trials, a large number of these acts are actually against other minorities, including the Yazidis, Turkmens, and Shabaks. According to a BBC Article on September 1st, thousands of people have been killed – the majority of them civilians – and more than a million others have been forced to flee from their homes. Now hundreds of thousands of civilians from these communities have fled to remote and desolate locations where unconfirmed reports indicate that scores of children, elderly people, and people with disabilities have been dying as a result of exhaustion and deprivation (“Iraq Crisis: Acts of Inhumanity on unimaginable scale--UN”). Pansieri adds that these minority groups have “all been targeted through particularly brutal persecution” and that ISIS has “ruthlessly carried out what may amount to ethnic and religious cleansing.”

If anything can be gathered from this appalling news, it is that

ISIS is a cruel organization, and if any political group deserves to be called evil, it is them. Christians and other minority groups are needlessly suffering and dying at their hands. As Christians, we need to pray for these persecuted groups – that the pain they are going through may end and that conditions in Iraq may soon become livable. Also, as the United States is firing at ISIS targets, we ought to pray for wisdom for the American government; it is navigating some very tricky political terrain, and its leaders need discernment. Hopefully, this turmoil can soon end.

ALS awareness goes viral

The predicted result

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stuart KNOTT

Prior to July of this year, public awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease) was restricted almost exclusively to those who suffered from the disease and their families. All of this changed with a trend that went viral. Now more than 2.4 million ALS Ice Bucket Challenge uploads have been uploaded to Facebook. The concept is simple: get a bucket of water, usually with ice in it, get a friend to dump it over your head, and then in your freezing cold stupor, nominate those who you want to see do the same. The most important part about this challenge is what you do after you get covered in frigid cold water: you are expected to donate at least ten dollars to the ALS Association.

This challenge wasn’t originally limited to only ALS donations but began as a way to bring awareness and donations to charities in general. There was no specific direction for the ice bucket challenge and one was encouraged to financially donate

to whichever cause they personally support. Soon, though, it was picked up to support former Boston College athlete Pete Frates; when other athletes and friends began to take the ice bucket challenge for ALS, the phenomenon was unleashed. It has been over a year since Frates began his campaign to find a cure for ALS. His campaign’s early success pales in comparison to what has been accomplished in the last month.

Now over $100 million has been donated to the ALS Association (up from $2.7 million donated during the same time last year), as well as donations to other charities. A viral sensation on social media has taken the awareness of an awful disease to astronomical numbers. But what does this all mean?

ALS is a disease that an estimated 30,000 Americans suffer from. In 2011, $22.9 million was donated to research for motor neuron diseases, which include ALS, a disease that 6,849 Americans died from that year. To grasp the concept of donations vs. deaths from disease, that same year $54.1 million was donated toward heart disease research, which took the lives of 596,577 Americans; and $257.85M for breast cancer, which claimed 41,374 lives.

Un fortunately, no cures for any of these diseases have been found. This does not give us an excuse to sit idly by in cynicism and not donate. If anything, it is a testament to human character that so much can be raised in such a short time because of human community, even in the form of social media.

With recent articles and research being done on the ALS Association, it has been brought out that only 27% of donations to the association actually go towards research; the other 73% goes to salaries, overhead costs, marketing, and maintaining the organization. The most notable salaries that have been brought to light are the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the association, with an annual salary of $142,875, and the CEO’s salary of $339,475. With these numbers painting a less-than-ideal picture for the charity, it provides social

med i a and the combined power of people the opportunity to push for even more change. Already having what seems like incredibly high salaries for their positions, with the massive influx of donations, sinful nature could take over and bonuses could be issued to those who ultimately allowed social media to fatten their wallets. As many social media phenomenona come and go with little more than a slight remembrance of what happened, we have the opportunity to keep an organization accountable and to push for a restructure that would allow more than just 27% of donations to go toward research.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Neapolitan, because I’m not racist.” —Andrew Perrin

Where does your $65.00 student fee go?

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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Collectively, the incoming 2014-2015 TWUSA, Pillar, & Mars’ Hill are excited and enthusiastic about creating another year of unforgettable memories on our campus. Making TWU’s student body our priority, we are all committed to appropriately spending this year’s fiscal amount to fulfill our vision for the year.

MARS’ HILL The Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, reflecting and challenging the TWU community.

PRINTING: This total reflects the costs of printing 12 issues throughout the year.

STIPENDS: Each position on Mars’ Hill receives a leadership grant, in the form of a stipend, to compensate the workload and commitment each individual displays during the production of the high-quality biweekly newspaper.

PILLAR

TWUSA

Pillar exists to document and memorialize the student experience at Trinity Western University. Primarily focused on designing the yearbook, it also actively collects content for the Pillar Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The Trinity Western University Student Association exists for three core reasons: Events, Services, and Advocacy. Its mission is to promote maturing and active commitment to Jesus Christ among its members; challenging one another spiritually, socially, and intellectually; providing individuals with opportunities for involvement; and positively impacting the life of the University and the community at large.

PUBLICATION COSTS: This represents the cost of printing approximately 1300 Pillar Yearbooks that are distributed at TWUSA’s annual year end BBQ. CAPITAL: Made up of camera equipment, office equipment and furnishings, and computer software.

EQUIPMENT UPGRADES: Allocated to fund office equipment and furnishing upgrades.

ADMINISTRATION: This includes stationery, supplies, ACP membership, and retreats.

ADMINISTRATION: These funds are intended to cover all the background costs required for successful production. Such costs include basic and necessary supplies for the office, retreats, and contributor incentives.

STIPENDS: Each position on Pillar receives a leadership grant, in the form of a stipend, to build and sustain the quality of work that Pillar produces each year.

STIPENDS: TWUSA consists of 19 paid leadership positions that can be summarized into 3 groups: executive, elected reps, and appointed positions. Each council member receives a leadership grant, in the form of a stipend, to help each individual further their educational endeavour at Trinity Western University.

STUDENT RELATIONS: This department is responsible for all the communication needs of TWUSA. Additionally, its funds are allocated for small scale creative events that are specifically tailored to building community among undergraduate students.

FACULTY REPS: In addition to advocating for students in their faculties, the faculty representatives each have their own budgets designed to promote community within their schools. They host events, bring in speakers, and promote faculty clubs.

THE CUBE: As a result of the shockingly high price of textbooks, TWUSA has established the CUBE to help students buy and sell their books at affordable prices.

EVENTS: This budget has been established to give students the opportunity to engage in the community, foster positive relationships, and create an overall sense of school spirit and pride through special, organized events.

SPECIAL INITIATIVES

It is commonly said by students that TWU has been a beneficial and transformative experience. As a result, the special initiatives budget exists to recognize students by a means of giving back to our University. Working together, TWUSA, Pillar, and Mars’ Hill will use these allocated funds to host fundraising events and provide donations to support the school.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Cookies and Cream to give people a search and rescue challenge.” Tunji Taylor-Lewis

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

ACADEMY

ACAD 101

Intro to Academy

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ellen GRAHAM

For those of you who don’t know me, hi! My name is Ellen and I am the newest Academy Editor of Mars’ Hill. I am super excited to be a part of Mars’ Hill and, naturally, have told as many people as possible about it.

The news of this job hasn’t always had the effect that I anticipated; diminishing my sense of importance somewhat, almost everyone I’ve told has asked me one question: what is Academy? I don’t blame them. Academy is perhaps the most obscure section of Mars’ Hill. The other sections are straightforward and self-explanatory. In Arts and Culture, you read about arts and culture, and so on. Academy’s title, however, is more cryptic.

Academy doesn’t fit into the usual categories; it’s not quite news and it’s not quite art. The boundaries are vague and the guidelines ambiguous. In the general sense, it is an outlet for academic discussion pertaining to Trinity Western University; however, the key to Academy is that it can change shape. It is greatly influenced by those who write for it because each contributor’s unique voice molds it in some way. The section alters from year to year simply because the people who write for it alter from year to year.

For me, this is ideal because I, too, am constantly changing. I have a deep love of literature – but also of trashy reality TV. The songs on my iPod range from misunder-

ELLEN GRAHAM

ellen.graham@mytwu.ca

stood young adult to 13-year-old girl. I don’t think my eclectic taste is unusual. Humans are puzzling creatures who are filled with conflicting emotions and ideas. We often forget our own complexity because we are taught by the media to pigeonhole and categorize.

To label a person is to find order in a perplexing world, but in reality, we are turbulent beings.

The changing nature of this section and our school makes my role as Academy Editor very interesting. It is a relatively tumultuous time on campus. Law schools are being fought for, covenants are being questioned, and buildings are being renovated.

Amid all this disorder, we are exploring and challenging our faith.

Discussion is being stirred up all over campus and it is my job to capture it on paper. Academy is a perfect venue for such dialogue, as well as other subjects including education, literature, and philosophy.

So just like myself, and just like this school, Academy is changing.

This sounds scary; change can be unnerving. Yet in my experience, the time just before and during a big shift is the most difficult.

Once the dust settles, something new and better always begins.

The shift that is occurring all over campus is allowing us to obtain a better understanding of our beliefs, and it is with excitement that I look forward to the year ahead with all its uncertainties.

Faith & the liberal arts

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leanne WITTEN

Whether you are a returning student or a freshman, all students at Trinity Western have something in common: we’re getting a Christian liberal arts education. This poses two important questions. Firstly, what exactly is a liberal arts education? Secondly, what is a liberal arts education from a Christian perspective?

Defining a liberal arts education requires a little digging into the history of the phrase “liberal arts.” A liberal arts education is closely related to the concepts of a classical education and citizenship. A classical education in ancient Greek and Roman cultures was not just about head knowledge. Defined by such thinkers as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, a classical education was always based on the concepts of the good, the true, and the beautiful.

Essentially, a classical education meant providing you with knowledge that would help you live a good life.

The liberal arts are about becoming a better citizen. To the early Greeks and Romans, citizenship meant understanding your country’s laws and history, and knowing your place in society. Getting a classical education

and learning what it is to be a citizen are both extremely important to having a good understanding of the world and your place in it.

Trinity is unique in that it is not only a liberal arts university, but it also approaches each subject from the perspective of faith.

As the 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said: “The greatest hazard of all, losing the self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss – an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife etc. – is sure to be noticed.” As university students, a crucial part of getting a liberal arts education is not just getting the work done, but allowing your knowledge to penetrate you, bringing you to a deeper level in your faith and shaping who you are as an individual.

One of the most transformative things about a liberal arts education is that school becomes not just about what you do, but also about who you are. The liberal arts help you understand yourself on a deeper level while also giving you the perspective of other disciplines, thus helping you develop an understanding of your place in the world.

By studying at Trinity Western you not only receive a liberal arts education, but also a faithbased perspective on the liberal arts. As Augustine stated: “And what did it profit me that I read and understood for myself all the books of what are called the Liberal Arts that I was able to get hold of since I remained the vile slave of evil desires? I enjoyed the books, while not knowing Him from whom came whatever was true or certain in them.” In this way, studying at Trinity Western gives us the incredible opportunity to receive a liberal arts edu-

cation from professors who help us discern our role in the world as Christians in light of the liberal arts. You have the opportunity to learn history, languages, philosophy, literature, math, theology, and numerous other subjects, all supported by a foundation of faith.

The beauty of a Christian liberal arts education is that what-

One of the most transformative things about a liberal arts education is that school becomes not just about what you do, but also about who you are. ever we study, we’re growing in our faith and coming to a greater understanding of our divine purpose in the world in light of our knowledge. If you study subjects like English, philosophy and religious studies, whether they’re your major or simply part of your core requirements, don’t just slog through them. Take advantage of the opportunity to expand your view of the liberal arts from a Christ-centered perspective.

Whether you’re a freshman or a fifth-year, Trinity Western provides students with the tremendous privilege of gaining a greater understanding of ourselves as individuals and of our place in the world as believers through a faith-based liberal arts education.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Better question: what flavour would I not like to drown in?” —Ellen Graham

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

I AM CAM

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Thoughts of a frustrated Bible student

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to dedicate my life to studying it.

That, my friends, is frustrating.

But more than frustrating, the Bible is inspiring and intriguing.

It stirs us to have faith, to persevere, to live life to its fullest, to love, and to strengthen one another. I believe that, at its core, the Bible shows us what it means to love and be loved, to be in relationship, to be human. In our obsession to know and declare the truth about something based on what the Bible says, we forget all this; but in the end, what good is being right or wrong if we don’t have love?

cam THIESSEN

Reading and interpreting the Bible while seeking to live a “Christian” life can be a frustrating and disheartening endeavor.

The world is a depressing place where depressed people do depressing things to other depressed people. As a Christian, I would like to say that I associate myself with a group of people who fight injustices and work hard to protect those who are oppressed, but I sometimes feel trapped within a system which has, throughout history, caused hurt, strife, war, and hatred; and has supported slavery, racism, misogyny, homophobia, political corruption, and militant individualism. “So leave the church…” some might say. Of course, it isn’t that easy.

You see, here’s the thing: I love church. I love being involved in church, serving in the church, and engaging the lives of the people I interact with at church. I love what the church stands for in its essence: the love of one’s neighbor and one’s enemy, community and fellowship, encouragement, relational support, creativity, and – most of all – belief in the gospel, the story of restoration to a broken humanity and a broken world through the loving actions of one flawless man. I love that this gospel involves people who choose to turn from self-righteousness and individual living to follow him as he seeks to save the poor, the powerless, the lost, and the lonely; as screwed up and flawed as we may be, we get to join in God’s mission to restore creation.

The problem is that Christians really love reading the Bible – let me finish – and we really love interpreting it to a) support something we’ve already been told, b) support something we have previously decided on our own, or c) be encouraging (I’m okay with this one, actually; at least you’re not hurting or offending anyone when you use Jeremiah 29:11 out of context). Finding affirmation in the Biblical text is a beautiful

But more than frustrating, the Bible is inspiring and intriguing. It stirs us to have faith, to persevere, to live life to its fullest, to love, and to strengthen one another.

thing for those of us who have chosen to build our lives around its teachings. But we often forget about the big picture, the overall Biblical story of redemption and restoration, and we make the Bible say things that it doesn’t really mean. In the process, we allow these interpretations to destroy our will to think critically and ask questions. When taking the Bible literally becomes more important to us than having sound philosophy, I become worried. When having blind faith becomes more important than seeking Truth, I struggle to buy in. And when

upholding correctness becomes more important than loving one another, I think we miss the most important truth of all: that God loves his creation and wants us to be living portraits of that love.

As someone who goes to school to study the Bible, I’m frustrated because I’m tired of seeing people reading my favourite book and using it to hurt people. I’m frustrated because I believe in the beauty of the gospel, but I am often too afraid to share it because of the offensive themes that have become associated with it.

I’m frustrated that we can justify

praying to find our missing car keys before thinking to pray for people around the world who are suffering. I’m frustrated because I think that a religion based on love should be known for its love, not for its political stances. I’m frustrated when the goal of Christianity appears to be numbers of conversions rather than positive global change. I’m frustrated when I read the same thing as someone else and we find it saying two very different things. I am convinced that no book is more frustrating to read and discuss than the Bible. And I’ve chosen

Now, I have no intention of slandering the church or making Christians feel bad about the frustrating aspects of personal Bible study; Bible study is important, and developing a hermeneutic (a theological guideline by which to understand and interpret the Bible) is a key aspect of being an informed Christian. And although these things are frustrating, I am convinced they are worth every hair pulled in aggravation. I want to encourage you to think critically, to take action against the evils in the world, to care about loving one another and treating others as fellow creations of God. And maybe, as we discuss and contemplate the things that frustrate us, eventually we can learn to become less frustrated by the Bible and more inspired by it.

MARS’ HILL READS WHILE WE STILL HAD time east of eden john steinbeck

on the road jack kerouac

wise blood Flannery o’connor

a moveable feast Ernest Hemingway

What flavour ice cream would you like to drown in? “DEFINITELY not rum raisin.” —Cam Thiessen

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

The covenant conundrum A look into the school’s changing identity

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ellen GRAHAM

The controversy over Trinity Western’s recent decision to construct a law school has affected everyone attending or working at the university in some way. The covenant, which is meant to hold students accountable for their behaviour and encourage them to act in a manner that reflects the values of the school, has created an uproar. In some respects this controversy is a good thing because it has enabled students and faculty to openly discuss their beliefs. Trinity’s position, however, has often been misrepresented and misquoted. In order to open a constructive dialogue on the issue, it is imperative that we understand the school’s stance.

The main students must refrain from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”

Many feel that this statement discriminates against gay students.

Secular society fears that a Trinity Western University Law School would consequently produce prejudiced and intolerant lawyers. One possible solution that has been brought forth is to remove the words “between a man

and a woman” and eliminate any possible alienation; however, according to TWU President Bob Kuhn, “Trinity Western’s intention is not to be discriminatory, but to be biblical,” and the school feels that changing the covenant would compromise its identity as a biblically-based university.

The community covenant has come under scrutiny several times in the past. When TWU set about establishing its School of Education in 2001, the university had to examine the covenant closely. According to the online Lexum collection for the Supreme Court of Canada (scc-csc. lexum.com), concern arose from a list of practices that the covenant labeled as biblically condemned, such as “‘sexual sins including … homosexual behavior.’” Following this case, the language of the document was altered to better reflect the school’s loving and Christ-modeled character; however, it is important to note that the changes made were in the way TWU’s biblically-founded beliefs are communicated rather than in the beliefs themselves. This rewrite was necessary in order to update archaic language, yet the basic biblical principles that the university endorses remain the same.

The situation in 2001 is eerily similar to the current one. People were concerned then about the

integrity of the teachers that a Christian university would produce just as they are now concerned about the integrity of future TWU lawyers. Records of the education program case note that, similar to today, “the heart of the appeal is how to reconcile the religious freedoms of individuals wishing to attend TWU with the equality concerns of … society generally.” The Supreme Court of Canada ultimately ruled in favor of TWU, finding there to be “nothing in the TWU Community Standards … that indicates that graduates of TWU will not treat homosexuals fairly and respectfully.” Today, the Trinity Western University School of Education is a success and gives the university hope that the same can be said of its law school in the future.

One of the biggest differences today is that over the past 13 years, homosexual individuals have gained significant legal rights. In 2005, the Civil Marriage Act was passed, which allows same-sex marriage in Canada. Notably, this Act also specified that people of all faiths have a right to preserve a traditional religious definition of marriage. As a result, all faiths and sexual orientations have the freedom to their own interpretation of marriage and no one can be denied any legal right. Although Trinity Western’s values may not

correlate with popular opinion, the school has the legal right to define itself and its ideology upon biblical teaching. In a recent interview with Kuhn, he noted that although TWU students and faculty do not have to agree with the community covenant, it is crucial that everyone agrees that the school has a legal right to uphold these things as true. The covenant itself recognizes that “not all affirm the theological views that are vital to the University’s Christian identity,” but asks that students “sign this covenant with the commitment to abide by the expectations contained within.”

The university’s position is undeniably one of love and not hatred. TWU has been painted as bigoted and prejudiced, titles that have been historically linked (and accurately so) to Christians.

In the Trinity Western community, however, this is not the case.

Although there are a variety of opinions and ideas, the feeling on campus is one of support and affirmation. Everyone understands the necessity of treating all persons with respect and dignity. In fact, to do otherwise would be to violate the community covenant.

The document emphasizes that employees and students must “strive to achieve respectful and purposeful unity that aims for the advancement of all, recognizing the diversity of viewpoints, life

journeys, stages of maturity and roles within the TWU community.” The covenant asks those who sign it to model themselves on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, stating that they must “demonstrate concern for the well-being of others” and model “serviceoriented citizenship.” The earnest, caring, and benevolent attitude that is dominant on campus provides hope for the future of the university and the outcome of this debate.

Opinions on campus are diverse; some feel that same-sex married Christians are not sinning so long as they abstain from sex outside of marriage, while others feel that the Bible should be followed closely and literally on this topic. Differing opinions are natural and the discussion that stems from them is both helpful and crucial in developing one’s beliefs. Our understanding is being tested and Kuhn has made it a priority to keep students informed about this topic. The solution to this issue is not going to be simple, nor will it be black and white. Fortunately for us, we live in a country that welcomes diversity and has made steps to protect the legal rights of all people groups. In an environment such as this, we can safely explore and question our beliefs, taking advantage of this opportunity to grow in faith and understanding.

Looking for L.O.V.E.?

3 reasons to find it Chett Fitchett

Looking for L.O.V.E.? Well you found it!

L.O.V.E. is an acronym for local outreach, volunteering, and evangelism. More simply, L.O.V.E. is the 150+ students that go out each week into our local community to serve and love our neighbors. These neighbors are those suffering from addiction or homelessness, youth from broken homes, kids who need strong role models, the elderly, people who need their garage cleaned, inmates, and just anyone who needs to feel loved. And we invite you to join us in this movement of L.O.V.E. We just finished up our Student Ministries EXPO last night and we hope that you were able to connect with someone there. If you weren’t able to make it out, the best way to get involved is toget in touch with myself or one our 14 Outreach Leaders. around campus.

You can also visit our website twu.ca/outreach. Join our TWU FB group: L.O.V.E. – for updates, articles, and videos. Follow us on Twitter: @TWU_Outreach. Or shoot me an email: outreach@twu.ca. Still not convinced?

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BURST THE BUBBLE

University is great! You have your classes, your major, and your friends. You do what you want, you eat what you want, and you go to sleep when you want. University is about you, but life isn’t. So burst the bubble early. See this world through a different set of eyes, get out of your comfort zone, put yourself in a situation where your needs fade away as you long to meet the needs of someone else.

22 FAITH GROWS

I get both sad and annoyed every time I hear someone avoid outreach because they don’t think they are ready. You do not have to feel like a spiritual giant before getting involved. It is like an Olympic runner saying that they won’t run until they are a top contender. You have to run to get good at running. So

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THERE IS A WORLD

TO TAKE BACK That is right! Despite all the beautiful and great things, evil still has a strong hold on this world. This is why Jesus proclaimed the coming of God’s Kingdom and it’s why during his life on earth He began the advance of that Kingdom. Now with His authority we too take back His world, by bringing hope to the hopeless, healing to the broken, and light into the darkness. Let’s get out there and help build His Kingdom!

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “A pool of pink bubblegum ice cream!” —Jen Logan

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

“The First Mourning” by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

T

hen the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:9

FALL 2014 COURSES

redeemerpacific.ca What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Is there such a thing as save-ory ice cream? ” —Brittany Martin

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Artisanal Ice Cream — I support small family business over corporation.” —Chris Townsend

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

We Are TWU |

Hello, fifth year – when did you get here?

I don’t know about you, but taking on a fifth year really excites me. This year is all about investing and leaving one lasting mark before I bid adieu (for now) to this stellar community. But why did I come back? Because we students need a bit of a wake-up call. This campus, and I’m going to be frank, has become more individualistically motivated over the four years that I have been here. Upon graduation, it’s a “sayonara,” “peace out,” “buh-bye” kind of feel. I hate that.

How could students who were part of a four-yearplus transformation be so bitter at the end of their TWU experience? The transformation I have undergone spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically – oh, Sodexo! (just kidding; I had a reverse freshman 15) – is largely to do with the experience that I have had here at TWU. But what is missing? Is there something that we have been overlooking?

I was challenged this summer, while working on campus to plan for this upcoming year, to have “the humility to hear and the courage to do.” Having the “humility to hear,” to me, is about humbling yourself to hear what God is saying to you and processing it.

Having the “courage to do” is easier said than done.

It’s one thing to hear what you have to do, but it’s another thing to act upon it (think Jonah).

It took four years for my faith to be rocked and deepened here at TWU and I have an alumni to thank for it. Scot Sustad, my mentor, saw something in me and thought that I was worth investing in. That was huge for me. We had begun to ask questions about TWU: Where are we winning? Where are we losing? What needs to change? What needs to stay the same? But these questions came with a price: the conversation began to start a culture shift on campus. A culture shift, to me, is a change in mindset.

A change in how we talk to each other, what our focus is, our language, and our identity. Scot would ask me this question every Friday and text it to me frequently throughout the week: What is God saying to you and what are you doing about it?

Frick, that was a hard question to answer. Then it hit me: how can I apply this question to TWU? What is God saying about TWU and what are we, the student body, doing about it?

Boom. The dynamite went off. It’s like the glass of the TWU experience was shattered. We had become comfortable, even complacent, in our educational experiences. The entitled attitude that TWU owes something to their students had become contagious. I worked with alumni this summer and got the chance to talk to recent grads. In multiple conversations, I could hear the disconnect. Rarely did they care about TWU. This is when the conversations began to pick up on what this year needed to be about: uniting the student body under one banner and redefining student experience.

We Are. Originally, this idea was spun together by Adriel Carey and me late one hot, summer afternoon in the TWUSA office. We had a longing for continuity, for an image and phrase that would tie everything TWUSA did together. Our first approach was purely aesthetic, to create the “We Are” brand. Naturally, we asked our good friend Google what Bible verses started with “We Are” and we came across Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Never have I heard scripture speak to me so strongly. I couldn’t shake it; this “We Are” concept needed to be unwrapped and explored. What does it mean to be a “We Are” campus?

cody FRIESEN

“We Are” is about removing all barriers, labels, and pre-formed identities that separate us from each other. So what if you’re a commuter – aren’t you first and foremost a TWU student? I’m a theatre student – does that mean I can’t be associated with the Spartans? I live in Fraser – can’t I chill in Douglas? Despite these preexisting naturally-formed and blessed communities, we wanted to create one banner that we all fly under.

We Are. We Are Douglas. We Are Commuters. We Are Spartans. We Are Fraser. We Are Northwest. We Are Here. We Are United. We Are Courageous.

We Are His. This year is the start of something so much bigger than ourselves. I want to challenge you, the student body, not to think of this year as only eight months, but as the start of the next 10 years here at TWU. These next eight months are the start of a culture shift on this campus. We are moving from a passive campus to a passionate campus.

With President Bob Kuhn, TWU is entering into a New Era, and it’s time the students showed up.

Who cares that no one will know who I am in 10 years, or that they won’t remember that awesome dorm date you had with 2A or that time you had your first DTR in the Back 40? What we should be focusing our time on is what TWU will look like in the next 10 years. We are here at TWU for a reason.

For such a time as this 2014-2015 school year, God has called us here. (Excuse the Christianese for a second, I’m attempting to be serious.) Some of us have heard this calling for years, some of us were forced here by our parents, and some of us just showed up.

We are here for a purpose, so let’s discover that purpose together.

God has called each and every one of us to be His. Ephesians 1:4 explains how God created us, loved us, knew us, and thought of us before the world began. Why? Because we are His. Let’s get real. Discovering this “We Are” vision was a huge “aha!” moment for me. I realized that I had been placing my identity in things that were of this world – theatre, the acceptance of others, how funny people think I am, TWUSA, being loud and outgoing – but I never owned the “I am His” identity.

All of those other things only attempted to fill the print that God placed on my life when he created me. I don’t want to be known as the TWUSA President. I don’t want to be known as the loud, funny theatre major. I want to be known as Cody, the lover of Christ, the dude that is solid in His faith.

Let me tell you, it’s a journey. It’s a journey that I want to take with you. Nowhere does Christ say to take up your cross and walk alone. He calls us to walk with Him in community.

TWU is going through some difficult times. From the law school to the community covenant to the cost of tuition and everything in between, I think it’s time that we, the students, take our educational experience in our own hands and make this year the start of the “We Are” legacy. Who doesn’t want to leave a legacy? How cool would it be at the end of the year to say, “Hey, I was part of that!” I am stoked about this coming year and the potential that we all have to make TWU bigger and better than before.

But what makes up TWU? The students. Without students, there is no Trinity Western. Now why on earth do we feel so entitled? Is it the money? Is it the world around us? What is it?

For a second, take a step back. Think about TWU. Are you thinking? No, seriously, stop and take an actual deep breath. Now what comes to your mind when you think about TWU? It’s a long list: community, geese, Sodexo, the Back 40, RAD, Banana Challenge, chapel, 3 a.m. chats, prayer nights, impromptu Fraser River runs, roof climbing...

I could go on.

Now tell me what other university has all of these things? There isn’t one. TWU is an amazing place that needs to be known for its student body, its community, its culture, its quality education, and for the way we emulate Christ’s love for all that’s around us.

I don’t know about you, but I love TWU a lot so I am ready to do my part this year.

But what does my role as TWUSA President mean? I ran for TWUSA President not because I think I am the most qualified or the best fit, but because I love TWU so much and want us to make this place the best it can possibly be. This year, TWUSA, Mars’ Hill, and Pillar are committing to this “We Are” vision for the next 10 years. That’s right, 10 years. Eight months is a great span to start something, but we can’t finish it. The team that I have the privilege of serving alongside has some of the biggest hearts on this campus. They dream higher than the sky, they have hands and feet ready to serve, and they are ready for the road ahead. But TWUSA can’t do this alone. That’s where you come in. I look at this community, and something’s different this year.

People are happier. They are joyful, even more than usual. There is a shift in the atmosphere. The amount of love, excitement, joy, honesty, humility, care, passion, ambition, and potential that I have seen in the first few weeks of school has blown my mind. This is not just in the student leaders, but in every single student. We are ready for this.

We, as TWUSA, are committed to being transparent this year. We don’t want a year of secrets or of sneaky decisions (I’m not saying that years past have done that), but a year of ‘what you see is what you get.’ Whether it’s how we’re spending our money, events we are producing, conversations we are having about the university’s future, or anything else, we have an open book policy.

We Are: Taking the time to dedicate every TWUSA event to God In our office, creating a “We Are” space where anyone – staff, faculty, alumni, and students alike – can come in and feel like they belong.

Making sure that everything we do reflects not only the mission of TWUSA but also the mission of the university.

Christ left us with one mission before he ascended into heaven: “to go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). How are disciples made? By having lives worth imitating.

Now I ask you, is your life worth imitating?

We want to do our part in making this “We Are” vision tangible, but we can only do so much. Will you venture into this journey with us? Will you step into a year of uncertainty as we dive into what it means to have a “We Are” culture? Will you commit to living the “We Are” lifestyle?

As we enter this year, let’s band together. Let us flyour banner high in the sky about what it means to be a student at TWU – but more importantly, to be a student who loves Christ. Let’s take on “the humility to hear and the courage to do,” because that is when we are able to see God moving on our campus.

TWUSA isn’t perfect. By no means am I saying that we completely have our act together, what I am saying is that this year we want to be known for our vision. Not for our events or the fact that we only have five guys on the team. Not for our crazy bootyshaking dance moves, but for being culture shakers. We want to be known as the student body who dared to do something different.

We define culture. We all define culture. We Are culture.

Do you love this place? I do.

To God be all the Glory.

We are His, after all.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Oprah Chai Tea. But with Oprah.” —Matthew Wigmore

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

CREATIVE

inspired by

[spaces]

A cruel angel’s thesis

Foreword Working at Norma over the summer, I was assigned to condensing the Dewey collection, which consists mostly of antique theology volumes and evangelical pulp from the seventies. Among these texts I found a journal bound in new leather treated to make it appear old and worn. Since it was not library material, I kept it.

What I found in its pages were the ruthlessly honest confessions of a Trinity student, whom for anonymity’s sake I name Norman, to honor the place where I encountered his written legacy.

If the reader is curious as to my opinion of him, he or she needs only refer to the serial’s title.

I cannot quite explain why I approached the Mars’ Hill to print a selection of the journal entries which form a cohesive narrative.

However, that honorable publication kindly accepted, and the matter is settled. The first entry to follow this foreword is an experiment; should reception prove non-threatening, I shall release the sequels.

Norman’s Journal Entry Dated: September 10 I arrived on campus two weeks ago and took residence in Fraser Hall—in a single occupancy room, thank God. I don’t think I could tolerate another year of

rooming with Walker, listening to his frequent updates about how Christ is helping him to overcome his hatred of the New Atheists. The first book I placed on my bookcase in my new room is God is not Great, by Hitchens.

I haven’t read it, and probably never will.

For the time being, I suppose having acquired my own room is a pyrrhic victory, for the beautiful summer weather has not yet wasted away into fall.

On campus, it is as though God has relaxed the consequences of the Fall, leaving behind only those devil-spawn geese and construction barricades around RNT as reminders of man’s first disobedience. The campus is still adorned with the seasonal landscaping, and all three of the fountains are still active in the moat. It is only a matter of time before one of them—Father, Son, or Holy Ghost, I wonder?—runs dry (always taking longer than three days to repair, however).

Even the ancient apple tree outside the Atrium invokes the image of the tree of knowledge, but I doubt that even the serpent could tempt a student into eating one of the worm-bitten fruits protruding from its warty appendages.

As I sit in the Atrium writing this entry, I have every reason

to feel content. A single room situated on what could be Eden and excellent prospects for the upcoming academic year, for I have finally completed all my core requirements (no more human kinetics, thank God!) and can now focus solely on courses for my English major. But I feel rather vexed. Across from me, at the opposite end of the Atrium, I spy Olivia Singer teaching a university orientation class to a group of freshmen. They seem to be enjoying themselves, for their laughter reverberates over the choir-music streaming in from the adjoining room. It should be me, not her, teaching that course.

Last year, I applied for a teaching position and didn’t win one due to a blunder I made during tryouts.

They were held last spring in Fraser lounge. The interviewers organized all the applicants into teams and provided each with a list of charities for third-world countries. A narrative also: your team is the executive board of a massive multinational company and has money to donate, but can choose only three charities from the list to receive money. As a team, we had to decide which charities would receive the mone, and then present our decisions and rationales to the others.

The charities we ought to

choose, I assumed, were the ones that supplied the most basic necessities for survival in thirdworld countries: food, water, and medicine, for without the basics, nothing higher on Maslow’s pyramid can be sustained.

Waiting for one of the judges to fall into earshot of our team’s negotiations, I proposed three such worthy charities.

My competitor-colleagues, however, replied only with silence. Olivia, who was in my group, looked at me in the eyes with uncertainty, and said: “But none of your charities include any food for the spirit.

Food for the spirit is just as important as food for the body.”

If I were not so well-composed, my jaw would have dropped. I nearly blurted out, “What good is spiritual food to a man who is starving in his stomach?” I was further reduced to silence when my other team members agreed with Olivia, that food, drink and medicine are no good unless one knows Jesus first in order to thank Him for all of those things. So, of the three charities I had proposed, my teammates struck off the medicine one and endowed some Bible translation organization with funds instead. When we shared our results later the other teams corroborated, for they had

variably sacrificed food, water, medicine, shelter, or clothin, for bloody Bible translators.

Apparentl, the interviewers noticed my indiscretion, for I was not invited back following that evening for a one-on-one interview. Olivia was, and she was eventually awarded a position as a student orientation teache, so that she may unload her good Evangelical sensibilities upon unsuspecting freshmen.

Although, I suppose I am being something of a hypocrite. Olivia actually embarks on missions trips to provide aid to those thirdworld countries, whereas I do not dare leave the comforts of my ivory tower here on campus.

She is lucky that she’s never fallen ill on one of those trips, for her missions team, if she had any say, probably wouldn’t have had access to medicine –—only Bibles.

But I am being petty, and should just move on from that dismal failure. At least it taught me much about Evangelical thinking that I had not understood then. I should not dwell on it, for I have a much more ambitious goal ahead of me that I have yet to seriously uptake.

I will seduce Olivia Singer, to cause her fall in love with me, even though I am an atheist.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Water flavour, so I know it’s real.” —Alec Gloanec

ARTS & CULTURE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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MACKENZIE CAMERON

mackenzie.cameron@mytwu.ca

Vicky Beeching

Pushing solidarity to its limits

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matthew WIGMORE

Early this past August, worship singer-songwriter – and now Oxford theologian – Vicky Beeching announced that she is gay and had been struggling with feelings of same-sex attraction since age 13. Beeching, an England-native, is best known for her songs “Awesome God,” “Your Voice”, and “Glory to God Forever.” These songs, along with many others, are commonly found in the worship repertoire of Hillsong and many North American evangelical churches.

It was only 12 years ago that Beeching moved to Nashville with a contract from EMI, a division of Capitol Records, a move that she hoped would lead to more freedom instead of the legacy of locked diaries and perfected veneers that she had been carrying. She was greeted, however, by roadside “reparative therapy” advertisements and a headstrongness even more pronounced than that of her native land.

Beeching stands firm: “I am not angry with the Church, even though it has been very difficult,” she told Ruth Gledhill for Chris-

tian Today. “The Church is still my family. Family do not always agree or see eye to eye. But family stick together, and I am committed to being part of the Church, working for change.”

The question at hand is whether her family – the church – will stand by her. Since announcing her solidarity with the LGBT community a year ago, before she came out herself, Beeching has faced exceeding backlash from fans and churches alike.

In an interview with The Independent, Beeching stated: “I am afraid because my livelihood has been based on working within that conservative Christian culture. My life has been about writing these songs that the church sings. They pay royalties when they sing them and that pays my rent and puts food on the table.

Once I’ve spoken out about this I doubt very much whether those churches will continue to sing my songs.”

Though Beeching’s personal economic repercussions from church boycotts are worth noting, the issue has further ideological implications. Although Beeching told Christian Today that she still considers herself an evangelical, she is now treated as if she has wronged the church.

Adam Ackley, PhD, adds in an article for Huffpost: “If you liked

her music ministry and witness when you didn’t happen to know she was gay, then you noticed her good spiritual fruits.”

In light of World Vision’s March 2014 announcement that they would hire employees in same-sex relationships – and then immediate reversal due to a significant threat of child sponsorship loss – the evangelical majority has proved itself immo vable on this issue.

All of this begs the question: will certain tenets and beliefs continue to be held to the point of jeopardizing solidarity and brotherhood?

Dear Diary

An open entry to the world

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mackenzie CAMERON

Gone are the days of padlocked diaries tucked safely beneath mattresses. We are in the thick of the technological age, documenting our daily existences like it’s our

obligation. If you want to know what I ate for breakfast two days ago, or how many “friends” I have, or who I’m angry at (because I’ll probably just post a vague passive aggressive status about them), then just check the good old Facebook wall. And then there are others who, although keeping in line with the online documentation, do so in a much more tasteful and creative venue – the online diary keepers: bloggers.

Personal blogging first hit the interwebs in early 1994, paving the way for millions more to follow. Blogging seems to be a coming-of-age milestone, a rite of passage for anyone prone to selfreflection and the idea of “editing” your life. You select which pieces of your life are worth sharing, package them into paragraphed parcels, and deliver them straight to the door of your readers with your own aesthetic twist to the

experience. Blogs can be moving, insightful, challenging, and highly personal.

I’m connected to quite a few blogs at the moment. I feel ties to New York, Atlanta, Florida, Texas, and Portland – five different stories occurring in five different places, yet uniquely tied to me. I carry their stories with me, growing in depth and insight and appreciation as their words transform the coloring of my own

life. Stories have a way of doing that, and so here at Arts & Culture, we’ll be bringing a different TWU blogger to you every issue.

May you enjoy the words of those who’ve shared your experiences and are here to blog about it.

If you or someone you know would like to be featured on TWU Blogs-A-Lot, send me a message at mackenzie.cameron@ mytwu.ca.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “I would not want to drown, so I choose none.” —Noel Muddamalle

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

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mackenzie CAMERON

Interview with Juju Milay Do you have a fashion motto?

JM: My thing is whatever makes you comfortable. Wearing whatever makes you feel comfortable will make you feel confident, which is really important. Once you step outside, if you don’t feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, you lack that confidence.

What kind of things are you drawn to when picking out clothing?

JM: I love antiques! Thrift shopping is one of my favourite things to do. And I just love simplicity; I love colours, but I love colours that are earthy and neutral- toned. When I put colours together, it’s usually just one pop of colour and everything else is neutral. I’m most drawn to things that are vintage- looking and classic. I also tend to pick out things that nobody else would wear and I have the confidence to pull it off.

How would you describe your style?

JM: It switches depending on my mood. Sometimes I dress more on the boyish end, and other times I dress very feminine, or I’m somewhere right in

the middle. I just love classy and clean-cut pieces, no matter what my mood is.

What’s one of your favourite pieces of clothing?

JM: I love dresses and skirts; you can do so much with them.

They’re easy to dress up or down and they’re very freeing. I particularly love skirts because I can wear whatever top I want. Say I want to wear a nice button up shirt with a bowtie –; it’ll look great with a skirt. They’re both incredibly versatile.

Would you say that style choices are a form of artistic expression?

JM: In a way, yes. Not all of us are traditionally artsy - – not all

MACKENZIE CAMERON

I wrote this for you A letter to the pencil pushers

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tia

GLENN-COOKE

Dear Student, Look at you! Beginning a new year. Good for you. My years have been beginning in January for a little while now. It’s all very logical and disconcerting.

In the next little while, you will be experiencing the joy of passing up a crisp new textbook just to scrounge around for a used copy

that probably smells like ramen and graphite. Luckily for you, all the information you really need is right here in this handy list. So put down the textbook and listen to me.

1. You don’t need to have your whole life figured out – not in your first year, and not in your fifth year. It might help (I wouldn’t really know), but the point is that I didn’t and I’m just fine. Better than fine. I am receiving regular paychecks and following some scary/exciting dreams.

2. Bullies exist in grown up life.

They exist at Christian universi-

ties. Please do not be one, and do not put up with them when you meet them. Know that you are worthy of love and that those bullies need it too. Maybe in a few years, you will be friends. Or maybe they’ll graduate and still treat you like a lower class citizen. No promises either way, both things have been known to happen.

Their treatment of you does not determine how awesome/good/ talented you are.

3. There are people who will keep your secrets and who care about keeping you well. Find them.

They are officially in Reimer or in

Douglas Centre. A few notes on that: a) Ignoring your ADD or whatever is ailing your precious headcomputer doesn’t actually make it go away. Go get an academic coach. b) If you’re facing depression or anxiety, please go make an appointment with a counselor. They are your friends. They’re actually a little bit better than your friends, because they just sit there and listen to you and they’re not going to get awkward if you cry or if you just want to tell them about the weird dream you had last night. c) If you pull an all-nighter and smash your head on a brick wall in your fatigue, and then tell your BFF the next day and he then grabs your head and inexplicably cracks it against his own (Read: boys, this doesn’t make sense. Stop. Stop doing this.), go to the doctor because you have a concussion and the doctor has drugs and will write a note for your prof in case you can’t remember what day it is later.

4. Starbucks really cares about you, you guys. But Denny’s cares about you more. You don’t need to be part of an elite club to get free refills there. Just don’t be rude to your server and he or she will top that cup up all night long.

5. Make friends with people in different disciplines because it is good to be well-rounded, and it is VERY good to have your geography major friend as your TA when you finally take your nonlab science in your third year. But guys, always make sure your maps are awesome. Nothing hurts more than the disappointment in your really smart friend’s eyes when you don’t use enough colour and your cows aren’t to scale.

of us can draw, not all of us are great photographers –, so we all have to find a way of expressing ourselves. And I find that with clothing, it is a very artistic form of expression. I find it fascinating to see how other people dress, and then I can take ideas from them and make itthem my own.

What kind of role do you think clothing can play in identity?

JM: It can play either a positive or negative role. Particularly with our society, we use clothing as a way of disguising how we’re feeing inside. You can be well put together but feeling very poorly inside and just trying to hide that, or you can use it in a fun way and just run with it. It can be a way of saying that you don’t really care what everybody else is doing; it’s a form of breaking away from societiey’s norms.

What does your clothing say about you and your identity?

JM: I’m reserved, yet confident. I’m a rather quiet and introverted person, but I feel like how I dress strikes up conversation. For example, I tend to wear earrings that don’t match and I’ve come to realize that it provokes conversation with people. Little things like that open up conversation. For me, it’s reserved yet welcoming.

Somehow, I felt safe enough at TWU that I didn’t even realize most of the risks I was taking.

I hope that will be your experience too. I hope you are amazed when you look back and see all the things you were capable of because no one told you that you weren’t. Because you knew you didn’t need to fight anyone but you.

Don’t be afraid of yourself and what you can be. You are excellent. And I’m on your side.

Love, Tia P.S. You can read an unabridged (read: more great and graphic tips!) and slightly-lesscensored version of this letter at www.tiagc.com

Tia originally hails from Northern Ontario where she lived with her big, hilarious family. She studied Christianity & Culture at TWU and is proud to be both Christian AND cultured. She now works full-time as a writer/editor at Power to Change and daydreams about doing comedy full time. She loves to get creative in the kitchen, play guitar, recover from various weird surgeries, and make people laugh.

What flavour ice cream would you like to drown in? “Most definitely chocolate peanut butter. Death by chocolate.” —MacKenzie Cameron

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

A conversation on art and faith with Angela Konrad

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mackenzie CAMERON

What is your involvement with the arts?

AK: I am a theatre professor also operating as the chair of the theatre program, where I primarily teach acting and directing classes. I direct here at Trinity regularly and, on occasion, professionally.

So why do you do what you do?

AK: I am incredibly passionate about theatre training, specifically actor training. If I had my way, an acting class would be a part of the core. I think it’s pivotal because in order to be an actor, you have to figure out who you are, and that’s a very big part of university. The core of an acting class is the study of the human being and, more specifically, it’s the study of being human.

What an actor must do is literally step into the shoes of another human being, looking at the world from that person’s perspective. In order to play a character well and effectively and believably and truly, you can’t have judgment on that character. Actors have to figure out why that person made the choices that they did, understanding all of their circumstances, personal history, and all of their emotional, physical, and psychological baggage. That process can engender compassion with revolutionary potential.

How has being an artist impacted your faith?

AK: It’s hard for me to talk about my faith without talking about my art, and it’s hard for me to talk about my art without talking about my faith. It’s reminiscent of the C.S. Lewis quote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not

only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” For me, that’s instructive in terms of the relationship between my art and my faith; my art makes me see God more clearly and God makes me see my art more clearly.

When I think about the plays that I want to do, I’m always looking at them through a faith lens.

I choose a play because I believe it has something of value to say that is consistent with my Christian worldview. As I work on that play, I find that God is forever revealing new truths about himself, the world, and relationships in the process. It’s an incredible privilege to work at Trinity where you have all these beautiful young people, most of whom are believers, sitting around the table working together to uncover the truths in this beautiful piece of art.

What has art taught you about God? AK: This is an enormous question – not in a bad way, but you just don’t have enough room in this article. I guess if I were going to try and summarize it, I would say that one of the biggest things I’ve learned and continue to learn is that God is here. God is present.

Every time I start out working on a play, I’m terrified. There are lots of things that it seems are not going to work or are not the way I wanted them to be, and sometimes it’s even the play itself; I question, “Why am I even doing this play?”

And through the rehearsal process, things become increasingly clear.

It’s impossible for me to talk about that experience without feeling that it’s providen-

tial, without seeing the hand of God in how those things unfold.

And I’m not very comfortable with most religious language, period; ascribing anything to the Almighty is kind of against my religion. Most of the time I feel like I don’t have a clue what God’s up to, so voicing that, it’s just not something that I am able to wrap my tongue around. Nonetheless, I have found myself time and time again coming to the point where I can’t explain the sorts of things that happen any other way. So, what that teaches me about God is the degree to which He is present, She is present. I believe in a creative God who cares about creative processes and who is pleased by the creativity of His children.

In the theatre department, we have core values and ethical guidelines. Our positioning statement, which forefronts the values and guidelines, is this: “We believe that those who are called to create theatre transform culture by expressing Truth and Beauty through art.”

When creating that positioning statement, we talked about the fact that as far as we are concerned, people who are called to be artists are called to be artists whether or not they recognize the Voice that is calling them. I have found that there is art out there created by people who don’t know God, or who are even perhaps hostile towards Him, but that has spoken to me - art that has moved me. In my opinion, if it is art, if it actually has Truth and Beauty, God is pleased.

Conversely, there is a lot of socalled Christian art that is actually blasphemy. I imagine God saying, “Don’t attach my name to that. It’s crap.” I think it’s because Christian artists are sometimes afraid to trust – to trust the art or to trust that God will speak through it. I agree with Madeleine L’Engle that the artist needs to get out of the way and let the work take over. And that can be a scary process.

When do you feel closest to God? AK: The answer to that question is very often in the theatre, sometimes as a spectator and sometimes in the creative process. I have had the incredible pleasure – actually, it is too intense a feeling to be called pleasure; I guess it is joy. It’s been the experience of being in the rehearsal hall during a professional directing process and being overwhelmed with the sense that I was absolutely in the centre of what I was created to do. That is certainly an experience of feeling very close to God. The reason

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GREGORY REESE

that I got into theatre is that I love story. In theatre, we get to quite literally bring stories to life.

When I’ve been through the rehearsal process and I’m able to see something unfold that is so true that I can feel everyone listening and being connected and affected by it, it’s again an experience of this “God with us” moment.

What kind of a role do you think the arts can play, or are currently playing, in our culture?

AK: I think because our culture has become so economically driven and so practically minded that we’re at risk of losing our humanity as a people. The arts are not practical, and yet are the most practical thing in the world.

When it was propositioned to Winston Churchill that he cut funding for the arts in order to pay for the war, he said, “Then what would we be fighting for?” It has little to do with our desire for pretty things or entertainment, it’s because all of the arts are about asking difficult questions; just as an acting class is about finding out who you are, the arts in a larger, more collaborative and communal sense are about figuring out who we are.

There’s an increasing need for the arts because we’re becoming so disconnected as a culture.

There are fewer and fewer places and instances where people gather together to have some form of communal experience. The arts have the ability to help us understand and communicate who we are, who we can be, where we’re going, and where we’ve been.

I think part of the reason that the arts are as powerful and valuable as they are is that they cut through a lot of the murkiness that we get caught up in and get right to the core of who you are and the heart of what matters most. And God is in that.

What flavour ice cream would you like to drown in? “Honey vanilla frozen yogurt with probiotics, so I wouldn’t die alone.” —Trevor McMahan

16

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

SPORTS

CONOR EWERT

connor.ewert@mytwu.ca

Alumni Interview with Clint Wikham

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great time and did lots of winning together.

connor EWERT

What is your fondest memory of being a Spartan?

CW: My fondest memory was the entirety of my final year as Spartan where we made nationals, knocked out UBC in the semis, and then finished second in Canada. I will always remember the camaraderie of our team that year, with the focus not being on ourselves, but on our team and helping each other reach our highest potential.

If you could have played another sport as a Spartan, what would it be (other than the team you played for)?

CW: If I could have played for another Spartan team it would have been volleyball, for two reasons: first, you don’t have to run up and down a court/field; and second, the 2011 men’s volleyball team was an especially tight group of individuals that had a

Do you keep in contact with any of your teammates, and if so, which one(s)? Are there any other people you still keep in contact with at TWU (coaches, roommates, friends)?

CW: I currently keep in touch with most of the teammates that I graduated with, including Lance Verhoeff, Tyrell Mara, and Jacob Doerksen. I also regularly see Curtis Osborne in local men’s leagues, and talk with Calvin Westbrook on occasion. Aaron VandenBrink (men’s volleyball) and his wife, also a TWU alum, are others I see on a regular basis, along with his cousins Dan and Micah JVD. Where do you live now and what are you up to these days?

CW: Currently I live in Richmond and work downtown at a large accounting firm, which I have been doing since graduation.

I am specializing in tax and am in the process of obtaining a Chartered Accountant designation.

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connor EWERT

Name: Danae Derksen Birthday: April 3, 1996 Place of Birth/Where are you from?

Delta, BC Year of Schooling: First year Major/Program: General Studies Sport/Club/Team: Women’s Soccer Position/Role: Forward

Why did you choose to come to TWU and become a Spartan?

DD: I decided to come to TWU because I knew a small university close to home was the right fit for me. The class sizes and close relationships with professors will be very beneficial to me. Being invited to a very warm family environment on the women’s soccer team ensured my signing at TWU. I knew I would be playing along side incredible players that I look up to and being lead by amazing coaches

Figure That 152 $588,650,000 23 5

Is there any aspect of TWU that you miss most?

CW: Seeing so many friends on a regular basis.

What advice would you give freshmen coming into their first year of university and their first year of collegiate athletics as a Spartan?

CW: It takes much work and dedication to be a Spartan and, at times, can be overwhelming when exams are in progress and the demands of being on a team remain persistent. Stay strong in these times as I can honestly say, looking back, that every hard time encountered by being a student athlete was worth it. It is in these times that you learn things about yourselves such as how to persevere, and these lessons will be taken with you for the rest of your lives.

What things did you learn when you were a Spartan that you utilize today in your daily life away from university athletics?

CW: Time management skills, perseverance, how to manage relationships in the workplace, and

how to go above and beyond what is minimally required.

Is there any moment that you had as a Spartan that you wish you could relive?

CW: Going back to Nationals.

Name: Clint Wickham

Birthday: February 25, 1987

Major/Program: BBA (Accounting)

Sport/Club/Team: Men’s Basketball

Year of Graduation/ Last year as a Spartan Athlete: 2011

How did you hear about TWU and the Spartans?

DD: As a kid I attended an Athletes in Action camp at TWU where Graham coached and the women’s team were leaders/coaches. My experience was amazing and I have remembered it ever since.

and I really enjoy it!

What are some accomplishments you had in high school or prior to becoming a Spartan?

DD: I received the female athlete of the year award in grade 12.

I also advanced to Fraser Valleys on the track team.

What excites you about becoming a Spartan?

DD: I am excited for call of the amazing opportunities that come with being a Spartan. Things like missions trips, hopefully Nationals, and to be playing at the top level of university soccer in Canada.

If you could play any other sport other than your Spartan sport, what would it be? Why? DD: I would probably run track because I have in the past

What scares you about becoming a Spartan? What are you nervous about?

DD: I am nervous about being a student athlete and having to juggle studying, training and still possibly having a social life.

Who is one person in your life that has been a mentor to you?

DD: My dad has been an

amazing mentor for me. He has taught me to shoot for the stars.

Not only is he my biggest fan but has as well coached me in the past. Soccer became our thing. If we weren’t talking about it over dinner we were on the field kicking the ball around. My dad has also led me spiritually. He has made sure I grew up in a good Christian environment Where do you see yourself when you are done the next four years?

DD: In the next four/five years I hope to see myself with at least one national title. As well I hope to see myself with a well-earned degree and on my way into the work force that I end up choosing. Physically, I hope to see myself fitter and stronger then I have ever been

Interesting Facts about the world of Sports over this past summer

Number of games won in a row by the De La Salle High School Spartans football Amount of money spent by the 30 NHL franchises on free agents over the course of the summer.

Number of perfect games in MLB history.

Number of channels and feeds that TSN (The Sports Network) has expanded to, stretching from the previous two: TSN and TSN2.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “I’m lactose intolerant.” - Connor Ewert

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

17

Meet RecServices

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connor EWERT

A new year means new things for Rec Services! Not only are they coming back with all the clubs and intramurals from past years including Volleyball, and Basketball but they are now offering clubs like Running, Cycling, Golf, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Maybe you’re a semiprofessional

athlete? Or maybe you’ve never tried anything active in your life?

Either way, there are spots for all levels of fitness and curiosity!

Rec Services will also be hosting campus wide events including a beach volleyball tournament in mid September-cold drinks and rocking music included.

Check out time and dates for all of our clubs and teams on our website (http://recservices.twu. ca/) or find us on Facebook (facebook.com/TWUrecservices) and Instagram (@twurecservices).

MIKE TEETER

DALE BAUMGARTNER

LIAM ABOTT

CAROLYN BAZIN

COLLEEN LITTLE

LINDY PLOCKTIS

SUREYAH TACH

Kelowna, B.C. Fourth Year Nursing Group Fitness

Phnom Penh, Cambodia Fourth Year Nursing Badminton

RALPH ALVARO

JOSEPH BREDA

BEN MAGNUSON

LEXI PUTMAN

MARC VANDERVEER

DAVID ANTONIUK

ABBY GUTHRIE

REESE MARTINn

GRAEME ROSENFELD

Yellowknife, NWT Third Year Ecology Outdoor Club

Campbellville, Ontario Fourth Year Business Golf Club

AMY WOOD

KIRA BANNER

MEG KWIATKOWSKI

CHANTAL NEW

MICHAEL SCHMIDT

Director of Rec Services

Victoria, B.C. Third Year Business Bombers Hockey

White Rock, B.C. Fifth Year Business Ultimate Frisbee/Media Team

Langley, B.C. Fourth Year Music Titans Co-Ed Volleyball

London, Ontario Second Year Biology Group Fitness

Rec Services Staff

Winnipeg, Manitoba Fourth Year Environmental Studies Intramural Volleyball

San Diego, California Fourth Year Humanities Titan’s Men’s Soccer

Tsawwassen, B.C. Second Year Human Kinetics Cycling Club

Portland, Oregon Fourth Year Communications Media and Production Team

Williams Lake, B.C. Third Year Biology Bombers Hockey

Lake Cowichan, B.C. Fourth Year Art Intramural Basketball

Oakville, Ontario Third Year Intercultural Religious Studies Titans Women’s Soccer

Surrey, B.C. Fourth Year Nursing Media and Promotion Team

Calgary, Alberta Fourth Year Environmental Sutdies Outdoor Club

Quesnel, B.C. Third Year Human Kinetics Running Club

Vancouver, B.C. Fourth Year Business Intramural Soccer

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Rolo. Stack the Rolo pieces to keep my head above.” - Erik deLange

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

GYM UPDATE

Construction is scheduled to finish in six weeks

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connor EWERT

For quite some time now, the fitness centre in the David E. Enarson Gym has been under repair and has under gone some improvements. This addition to the pre-existing building will improve the building in both looks and usage. The addition will be two levels. On the first level, we will see the extension come out into the Fraser commuter and visitor parking lot, where approximately 8 parking spaces will be lost. In this extension, there will be enough floor space to have an HKIN class simultaneously with students using the gym, something that the old fitness centre would not allow. The second floor will mainly be used for group fit activities due to the fact that the Robson Hall studio is incapable of holding too many students.

During class hours, it will be used for a meeting place for HKIN activity classes and possibly an-

other classroom. This room will also have accordion style panels for the ability to divide the room into two. In order to access this new fitness centre, there will be a card-scanning machine to monitor students going in and out of the fitness centre. In addition, this will give Rec Services personnel useful information to determine the various times of high usage and to determine the operating hours of the gym. There will be an additional bathroom as well as an elevator that will be added to

the building in the extension.

Over the summer, as with any construction site or project, there have been delays and changes in the completion date for the addition to the gym and fitness centre.

Currently, the project is delayed about 6 weeks. This is because of two reasons, one being the delayed decision making of TWU administration and building committees and two, the township of Langley and the process of obtaining a building permit.

Another reason for the delay of

construction was that the preexisting building, the David E. Enarson Gym, needed to have updated sprinklers, trusses, and an extended electrical corridor that stretches to Fraser. With these improvements done, the existing fitness centre, gym annex classroom and offices hope to be re-opened by mid to late October. The target for completion for the 1,803 square-foot, $2.5 million project is the end of the calendar year and the start of the spring semester in January.

This large project is being funded by three sources: the accumulated Rec Services fees (about $1 million), an internal loan as well as a gift from an estate. Some delays to the construction are also due to the fact that the same company is renovating RNT/SNC and the fitness centre, however, it is saving the school approximately $250,000 because of the shared resources and manpower.

Many rumours have flown around campus about possible alternatives for students who frequently use the fitness centre.

However, after an extensive investigation and questioning, there was inconclusive evidence that there will be a free or discounted alternative for students. With that being said, Rec Services has added a few more clubs and activities that students can get involved in. This includes running, cycling and golf. Rec Services understands the needs of the students and is continuously trying to get students more involved in their clubs and activities, while doing their best to meet the needs of the students during this construction.

Men’s and women’s soccer preview

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connor EWERT

The men and women’s soccer teams are poised to enter another season and they are both motivated more than ever before to return to their winning ways in their respective ways. The men’s team ended a disappointing season last year, finishing with a 6-5-10 record, a year in which they were bombarded with injuries up and down the roster. Taylor Johnson, one of the players injured much of last season, said, “We had a lot of injured guys and it was painful for a lot of us older players to sit in the stands and see a starting 11 of

mostly rookies struggling against teams like UBC and some of the powerhouses in the league.” This year however, they are back with seven fresh rookies ready to make an immediate impact when they are called upon. Kalem Scott, a defender, said, “I feel like we can beat any team on any given day.

We just have to have the right mindset and execute.” Johnson, recently named an Assistant Captain for the Spartans, said, “We probably have about 15 guys who can start with the rookies coming in…it’s about learning your role and accepting that and pushing the guys to be better.” When asked what will make this season successful, both players said a national championship, however, it’s not only the on-field success that will be taken into account at

STUDS ‘N’ DUDS

the end of the season. “I feel like at the end of the year, I want to know the guys on a deeper level,” Scott says. Johnson added, “I think if I can see even one guy develop a personal relationship with God, the year will be successful whether we are lifting a trophy or not.” The Spartan men’s soccer team is equipped on and off the field and has more passion than ever before, and they are ready to take on another season with the leadership and preparation to take them to the top of the CIS. The women’s soccer team is coming off the second of their two straight national titles and they are ready to begin their defense of the Gladys Bean trophy.

Last year, they came home with a 17-3-3 overall record, tournament MVP honors in Vanessa

Kovacs, 5 of the 11 championship all-star awards, a successful defense of their title and a recordtying fifth national championship banner, all that have been won in the last decade. With all of these accolades and awards now on the shelf, it is back to business for coach Graham Roxburgh and the Spartans. Even with a résumé like last year, it is hard to imagine that this dominating squad could face adversity. Coming into this season, the Spartans sit in 8th place in the CIS top ten rankings, with Cape Breton and Montreal, two teams they faced in the semifinals and finals last year respectively, ranked substantially higher than them in the top 5. Fresh faces are again the norm; much like it is on the men’s side. With 11 new faces, the roster has certainly grown.

STUDS

Mo’ne Davis, the female little leaguer for the Taney Dragons, was the starting pitcher for the Dragons at the Little League World Series. She throws a 70mph fastball, featured on the cover ofSports Illustrated, and is 13 years old.

Rory McIlroy finished off a successful summer with three straight victories: The British Open, WGC-Bridgestone,and the PGA Championship.

He also led the money list with over $7 million in earnings.

Eugenie (“Genie”) Bouchard made the Wimbledon finals and the semis at the French and Australian Open. Milos Raonic made the semis at Wimbledon and the Quarters at the French Open, and also cracked the top ten.

Highly trained defender Amy Gartke comes from Edmonton to bolster the back line, strikers Danae Derksen, Casandra Silveri and mid-fielder Leanne Verhoeff will balance the attack for years to come. Also, goalkeepers Rachel Sydor and Sophia Traxler will be a strong last line of defense. Both the men and women’s teams are ready for the grind of a new season, but both have respective challenges facing them.

However, with the leadership and mindset of Spartan Athletics, from directors to players, success is always imminent. With the next home games slated for September 26 and 27, the Spartans hope to see the best fans in the CIS rally behind them for another winning season.

DUDS

Josh Shaw was suspended indefinitely after lying about how he suffered an ankle injury, with the original story being that he saved his nephew from drowning.

Johnny Manziel went 30 for 59 for 296 yards in four pre-season games, and eventually lost the starting QB job to Brian Hoyer.  Ray Rice was suspended two games for domestic violence, then Josh Gordon was suspended for the season for marijuana. Since then, the NFL has changed their policy on domestic violence, which, with a second offense, will lead to a lifetime ban from the league.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “Anything but rocky road. I don’t want that rough of a journey down.” - Cassie Thorpe

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

HUMOUR

19

TREVOR MCMAHAN

trevor.mcmahan@mytwu.ca trevor.mcmahan@mytwu.ca

Your bi-weekly dose of LOLs and guffaws

11:07 TRIN-TRIN SLANG YOU Coordinators JUST GOTTA KNOW. makin’ stuff up Denny’s — A punishment for procrastinators and busy people with large amounts of homework.But hey, at least there’s coffee and pancake puppies.

Unreal — An adjective for something you simultaneously can’t believe and think is awesome. Everyone who uses this word is temporarily filled with the spirit of a surfer on the open water.

Norma — Your new best friend!

She’s quiet and resourceful, which comes in handy.

Chap chap / chaps / Jesus time — Terms I wish would catch on as alternatives to the word chapel. A great place to fill your metaphorical water bottle with living water.

PTL — An acronym usually found in hashtags which that also occasionally pops up in real life conversations.

It stands for “Praise the Lord.”. Not “part-time lover.”.

Sir Douglas — The mascot for Douglas Hall. He appears on sweatshirts and at a party around Christmastime.

The Fire Alarm — Your new alarm clock, if you live in Fraser.

The Nunnery — An unofficial nickname of the Northwest building. Never assume the kind ladies of Northwest won’t punch your lights out if you call it this.

Spartan — An athlete, or a burger.

The edge of the universe — The Strombeck building. Hitchhiking is encouraged.

Sodexo — The scapegoat for everything.

DTR — RUN.

The Back 40 — The 40 acres of forest that Trinity owns. Why do we own a forest?

De-Classifieds — The only part of the Mars’ Hill that many people read. If you’re reading this, you’ve broken the cycle!

Congratulations!

Midterm — What professors call any test that isn’t a final exam.

Nicodemus Jancewicz

|

trevor MCMAHAN

In an extremely informal and brief interview that we were all late to, I posed the hard-hitting questions to this year’s 11:07 coordinators, Jordan Klassen and Dan Squires.

What is 11:07?

DS: It's a comedy improv show that happens on campus every other Friday. But I don't remember what time it starts.

JK: Isn’t that a convenience store?

Like, with Slurpees? Hmm. That sounds good right now.

What outstanding trait do you possess that qualifies you to be an 11:07 coordinator this year?

DS: Biceps.

JK: Yes. It is actually my biceps as well.

DS: My left bicep and her right bicep.

JK: Teamwork.

If you could be a circus performer for a day, what would your role be?

DS: I would be one of the peanuts that the elephants eat.

JK: And I’d probably be the ball that the elephant stands on.

DS: Apart from elephants, I don’t really know of any other animals in circuses.

JK: Ooh! I’d be the thing the lion stands on when the lion tamer puts his head in its mouth.

TM: You want a lion to stand on you? That sounds like a good idea to you?

JK: It’s better than putting my head in its mouth.

Who is the funniest person you know?

DS: Probably Trevor McMahan.

TM: Thank you! I’m honored.

DS: No, a different Trevor McMahan. You don’t know him. We went to high school together.

TM: *dejected silence* If you were trapped in a building and it was on fire, what’s the first thing you would do?

JK: I dunno. Maybe run away.

Probably just get dazed by the flames and just watch them.

DS: I would dress up in a Green Goblin outfit, put a big shawl over my head, scream, and wait for Spiderman to show up.

Who is your comedy inspiration?

JK: Tina Fey. Without a doubt.

DS: Robin Williams. His improv is amazing – he used to do improv in Vancouver. Did you want a funny answer, too? Probably former 11:07 legend Tia GlennCooke. I want to eventually be her one day.

JK: If I could grow up to be Clark Strom… how now, brown cow Come see the first 11:07 show of the year: The Alumni Show!

Friday, September 12 at both 7:11 PM and 9:30 PM in Freedom Hall in RNT. Admission is $3 for students and $11.07 for alumni and adults and stuff.

NICODEMUS JANCEWICZ

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “I don’t want to be on the bottom of Mars’ Hill.” - Danny Grant

20

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

DE-CLASSIFIEDS

marshillonline.com/de-classifieds

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.

Is anyone else devastated that Salad Bar Trish is no longer at the Salad Bar? #bringbacktrish cocaine. turn down for what. satan. meat. #somanydumbwaystodormskit “That is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen since Levi” 4th years with no girlfriend: My best friend started dating his girlfriend on the day of graduation.

There is always hope.

But who was the hottie with the booty in the red backzip pants at dorm skits? #husbandmaterial Dear Freshmen, I would like to formally welcome you to Trinity Western, where you will inevitably meet your future husband/wife and if you don’t, then you will be harassed for the rest of your days here about not finding “the one.”

Good luck..

Rejected theme idea: “Embracing our friends in our lives”

There are only 2 places: on campus and off.

“Hey! Where are you going this weekend?!”

“Off campus.”

“Ouuu where?!”

“Indonesia.”

Shout out to the CAs this year. :) You guys are da bombdiggity.

Welcome back and may the odds be ever in your favor Well, this is interesting. Hmmmm....How on earth do chocolate covered peanuts get coated so evenly and roundly in chocolate? How did the chocolate harden without there being a flat side where it was lying?

This is something I have always wondered...

I had a dream last night that I was eating a giant marshmallow, and when I woke up my pillow was gone. the fresh men are so fresh they still haven’t left the produce section aka. went through puberty

Ikea is like the best, worst, most amazing, most stressful place on earth

are children small or just far away?

Freshman boys... Girls can tell when you are scouting. Try to make it less obvious. You may be cute, but it does tend to get creepy from time to time.

Mason Jars are finally becoming popular around here!!!

C Newfield Hey TWU, Took last year off to travel, but I’m back for another great year!

Look forward to seeing all of you.

Your boy, Tyson Lamar

SHOUT OUT TO JENNA K HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY GURL Shoutout to J Dohms for being the raddest RAD You make short girls everywhere proud.

#weareTysonLamar

#bestTWUSA.... #untilnextyear

those dorm skits were ON FIRE

Trinity Western Boys - they’ll commit to marriage before they commit to actually stretching their ears instead of wearing the fake plug earrings.

Growing up I learned that dancing leads to sex... so why does TWUSA dance so much?

K-Swiss is so fly. Going to miss her so much!

Congratulations to Paul Gotaas!

Conservative Mennonite

I could sit and listen to Bob Kuhn talk all day

I’m so glad that all this construction is going to be done by the time I graduate.

I love living off campus. I can get drunk.

Parking Wars. Featuring the RNT lot at noon everyday. #batwomansgottogettoclass

Anyone else feeling the 4thyear-push to get a girlfriend? #bachelortilltherapture

twusa’s decision to have an intermission during dorm skits #no

I can see your hungry eyes first years. #nothinggetsbybatwoman

Shout out to TWUSA - You guys rock my socks #weareTWU

Is it just me or do all the new first years have baby faces!?

4th year, the time in your TWU experience that you realize that you want to be that alumni guy who’s on campus all the time - whether or not you get a job here.

First years walking into Sodexo during O-Week “Wow, there are so many options! And look, they have trays to help us carry it all!”

You’ll find my pet Unicorn at: 34, 59, 20. Please return him to the Trinity Western Lost and Found. I miss him so much and I’m sure he is quite hungry there aren’t a whole lot of Jelly Bellies out there in the wilderness. Your help is much appreciated.

Hey Freshmen, Dorm Skits isn’t always like that. Sometimes they’re funny, and sometimes they actually make sense. Most of the time, you shouldn’t have nightmares afterwards. Sorry you had to see that... then again, ya’ll kinda brought it upon yourself. #WeAreTWU #WeAreBetterThanThat #How’dYaSleep #BringBackEnchanted

Jen Newman is the most beautiful girl! Go out with me!!! <3 I was peacefully walking through the back forty, scouting the ecological purity of the reserved land, until I saw a boys dorm doing a naked photo shoot.

Wanna see my impression of a ceiling fan?

Yay ceilings!!! sexy ajay pics ...oh wait this isn’t google

Hills yeah, we know what you read first.

Mars’ Hill is first and foremost, a newspaper created by students, for students. We know that you usually pick up this paper, flip to the back page, laugh, and then use it to start your next bonfire, but in reality, there are fourteen students who work tirelessly to put this paper together - for you. This year we strongly believe that the community of TWU, now more than ever, needs to be armoured with information. We are only fourteen students with fourteen perspectives, but there are thousands of voices at this school that deserve to be heard. Therefore, our team will do our best start the dicussion, but we need your help. Speak up, put a pen to paper, and help us create something spectacular. email marshill@gmail.com with your ideas

THE HIMNAL

Mitch

HEMERLING

age: 18

year: 1

height: 5’ 5”

major:

BIBLICAL STUDIES ADRIEL CAREY

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 Best pick-up line?

How would you make up after your first Hometown: Toronto, Ontario.

8 years.

Are you wearing space pants? Because your butt fight?

Denomination: Non-demoninational

is out of this world.

Play her a song on the guitar.

Fave Bible verse? Romans 12:2

How would you win her parents over?

By caring about her.

Domestic talent?

Age limit (max/min)? Alive.

Idea of a perfect date?

How do you know if it’s love?

Picnic on the beach.

If you can’t live with out her - but I’ve never been in love, so how would I know,

Best place for a first kiss?

Top quality in a future mate?

Somewhere wirh a view

Laughter.

Making a bed...warm.

How many kids do you want?

Four.

Love language?

Acts of service.

What flavour of ice cream would you like to drown in? “I’ve always hoped Heavenly Hash would help escort me to the afterlife.” —Peter Woekel