Volume 23 Issue 7: Spectrum

VOLUME 23 ISSUE 7

SPECTRUM

ACTS

RATANAKʼS BATTLE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

JANUARY 30, 2019

17: 19 - 2 0

[DIS]INTEGRATION

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: THE DOLPHINS

A conversation with Brian McConaughy.

Seeking identity in its flux.

Never forget.

PG. 4

PG. 11-12

PG. 13

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Our Our Team Team

Sabine Henderson Managing Editor

Janae Gartly Visual Editor

Kelsey Morris Academy Editor

Kennedy Dragt Arts + Culture Editor

FROM THE EDITOR “We’re all fools,” said Clemens, “all the time. It’s just we’re a different kind each day.

We think, ‘I’m not a fool today. I’ve learned my lesson. I was a fool yesterday but not this morning.’ Then tomorrow we find out that, yes, we were a fool today too.”

- Ray Bradbury

Spectrum: “used to classify something, or suggest that it can be classified, in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme or opposite points.”

Maxwell Stow Web Editor

Ishita Wilson News Editor

Manfred Dewsbury Layout Editor

Bailey Broadbent Sports Editor

As far back as I can remember, my world was very black and white.

Right from early childhood, my oldest-child self was bombarded with expectations and bold statements of “there is only ever one right way to do something.” It is either a yes or a no, a right or a wrong, an “accomplishment” or a “disgrace.” And, honestly, despite the unhealthy relationship I had with reality, I was completely satisfied with it. I had learned to walk the tightrope between the worst and the best version of reality, knowing full well that I could never experience it, and doing whatever it took to not fall into the abyss of the worst. The constant tension of weighted expectations had become more than just a part of my life I learned to live with—they had become an addiction. I got into a dangerous game with myself to see what the possible smallest amount of effort was that I could exert in order to reap the greatest possible results. Sometimes, I did the opposite—I would work until I felt numb and receive nothing in return, just to have the chance to take pity on myself.

After years of pushing myself to the limit, seeing how close I could get to the edge without falling off, I started losing strength. The emotions I had suppressed for years for fear that they would be classified as

Nyssa Morgan Humour Editor

Hannah DeVries Photo Editor

Richard Enns Advertising + Finance Manager

Sierra Ellis Illustrator

Emma Dykstra Staff Writer

Hazal Senkoyuncu Social Media Manager

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.

“wrong” started traveling from my short-term memory to my long-term memory, eventually becoming an intrinsic part of me. I could no longer pretend that living in an emotional limbo was good for me. So, I started to burn out. As soon as I started university, all those tightrope skills faded, as I became a human with only one emotion—nothingness.

It took a while before I discovered, through trial and error, that none of the negative emotions I had experienced as a child and adolescent were evil or wrong. The anger I had toward those I loved was sometimes justified, and the painful sadness that bound my hands and heart was completely acceptable. It was not a curse, not “teenage rebellion”; it was not hatred toward those who cared for me. It was a yearning to experience all the emotions I had within me, and a desperate attempt to express the negative ones so that they would no longer haunt me.

We were meant to walk along the whole spectrum of human emotion, not fall to one extreme and stay there, because in doing so we would not have the true human experience. An experience where grief begets peace, boredom begets joy, and depression begets insight.

Let’s challenge ourselves to fight the fear of experiencing the full spectrum—it exists because of the Light.

Mission to Mars 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.

Editorial Policy Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and letters to the Editor. Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity, and compatibility with the Mission, Statement of Faith, the Community 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.

Contributors: Chrisaleen Ciro Janae Gartly Riley Voth Tabitha Wellsandt Amy Saya Monique Bouchard Mikah Feunekes Maryo Matias The Dolphins Anna Zhu Kirsten McAllister Tyler Jones Derek Kirchner Kyle Baker Jaron Jeske Micah Morgan

This Issue Brought to You By: Cinnamon Daisy’s Music Video 1 trillion seconds is 31 thousand years pizza in the oven Sierra is a snake Fireboy and Watergirl Andrew Richmond Assume Form by James Blake

Media Advisor: Loranne Brown 7600 Glover Road Langley, British Columbia, Canada v2y1y1 marshill@gmail.com marshill.news

What song should the bell tower play?

-Niki Mara

Senior Editors:

Niki Mara

Editor-in-Chief

Sabine Henderson Managing Editor

Hannah Fletcher

Chief Copy Editor

Janae Gartly

Visual Editor

DE-CLASSIFIEDS To the people who honk their horns between skidmore and fraser: could you please save your weird mating calls for daylight hours and not after midnight?

Be Happy Daniel Flowers!

Cinnamon Daisy > DartyPan hi mom Will the declassifieds that I post now still be eligible for the next issue in January?

Ring by Spring is out. Bride by Yuletide is in. get you a guy that knows the difference between your and you’re NORMALIZE CASUAL DATES Can someone please tell me what breed my favorite little FAT birds on campus are?

They are: -grey -with a little white -and black heads -and super fat I really want to know and will check the next declassified for the answer.

Thanks

egg To all the couples out there, there are TVs for a reason take your laptops elsewhere maybe a study room.

Lounged are for community not for romantic relationships PSA if @Nyssa_morgan gets 50 likes on a tweet, she’ll write a paper on the hot moms of Greek theatre and I rly need it to happen thanks.

Sometimes I wonder if I should tweet something or put it in the declassifieds Since I made a declassified about it, there has been significantly less screaming at 1am coming from the Douglas boys. So thank you.

hey sabine u look cute today

no u

bluetoothspeakerfrisbee? ?

Who dat new security guard walking around?? I might get locked out of my room more often :)

“hey alexa r u from the amazon cuz ur hot”

WHERE MY FELLOW SUBTLE ASIANS AT? I’ve never known joy like Chris Morrissey when he talks about horses in heaven

one million seconds is 11 days, but one billion seconds is 31 years. take a second. thank you, kanye very cool @ Jon Buchner please wear a backwards hat more, ya look like a snack

Word of advice: don’t let your goat give birth in the middle of winter

Who is the guy who walks around whistling 24/7? You are a human flute

*5:55pm* bell tower: ding ding b—ch it’s 6pm

abolish TWUSA

I heard the issue was spectrum.. someone best be writing an article on mantis shrimp and their color spectrum

Why isn’t melancholy pronounced “mellonk-allee”

Does anybody actually buy TWUSA merch? Asking for a friend

Or mellonchally

To whoever went to the trouble of cutting through my bike lock without stealing my bike after: why?

A message to my future children: Meow. Meowmeowmeow. Mew mew.

Purr. Meow.

I love all 27 of you with all of my heart, Your momma.

To the girl in my photography class, I can’t stop thinking about your mellow eyes.

“You guys wanna hear SICKO mode, or MO bamba?” - Rhys Fowler

I don’t care that it hasn’t been a month yet into the semester. All I want is to be far away, on a sunny beach, with lots of cocktails.

It offensive to only give one tree a sweater for the winter

I want to send in a declassified, but I’m not funny or witty and I just don’t care.

Don’t worry, most people aren’t. –Sabine Stressed? Listen to margaritaville in the shower.

Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let’s do it, go hurtling straight into a sliding glass door and die.

She ran a hater blog, he said he was pepe frog Schrodingers Flirt: where I am both Totally Kidding and Actually Flirting depending on whether or not you’re into it

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I know buzzfeed doesn’t really mean anything, but you best believe I’m a f—ing blender.

Compost!!!

That sounds like an issYOU not an issME. -Emma Dykstra

never forget Cinnamon Daisy

For bear hugs and lullabies please see Ralph in the Riemer Annex.

whoever kept submitting egg in the declassified must be feeling pretty good right now

If a bald man washes his face, how does he know when to stop?

HEY MUSIC DEPARTMENT!! HI FROM OTTAWA!! Say hi to Gus and Sug for me!

Submit your declassifieds at: www.marshill.news/ declassifieds

Nothing makes my heart sparkle more than Coleton Krause. His yelling at 1am is to die for <3

Max Stow, web editor, 2k19 #averygooddudeforwebeditting I was hoping that during the Watoto choir, Moses would bust out a red knuckles hat and yell into the mic: DO YOU KNOW DA WAE?!

Holy cow there actually is a Trinity subreddit! r/TWU

Kent Clarke got a vest

Wow and there is a r/TWUSA Aswell!

Ralph Alvaro is that perfect blend of child-like faith and daddy-like alumn.

He’s single, ladies.

MANNY IS ENGAGED!!!

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.

CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE

What is your name?

Tyler Jones What is your major?

I’m a History major with a minor in HKIN Where are you from?

Ladner, British Columbia What is something you believe in, something you’re passionate about and want to share with the world?

I’m very passionate about brotherhood and the wonderful things it produces in a young Christian man’s life. I’m inclined towards getting guys together to engage in conversation about anything ranging from sports to deeper topics revolving around faith and our daily walk with God. If you had to stand on one surface for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Anything that won’t tear my ACL.

“thank u, next” –Micheyla Mayne

What is your favourite article you’ve written for Mars’ Hill and why is it important?

The first article I wrote this year was on Carmelo Anthony. I called him the most overrated basketball player throughout the past decade, and I don’t take it back. Many people disagreed with me and I loved it.

Why do you write for Mars’ Hill?

I write for Mars Hill because I love sports. I grew up playing and watching sports, and continue to do so. I’ve found sports to be a temporary release to many things throughout life. I’m often known to have opinions which many disagree with when it comes to sports, and I love that many people don’t like my “hot takes.” It sparks entertaining conversations with many different fans.

What is your favourite body part?

My eyebrows ‘cause they’re thicc.

This could be you! Each issue, we will feature a contributor here that has submitted consistent, relevant, and thoughtful content. Send your submissions to marshill@gmail.com!

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news

Ratanakʼs Battle Against Human Trafficking

Ishita Wilson

A conversation with Brian McConaghy

Emma Dykstra

On January 14, TWU had the pleasure of hosting former RCMP officer Brian McConaghy, who spoke about his work with Ratanak International, a Vancouver based organization dedicated to bringing relief and development to Cambodia. The charity focuses on rescuing those who have been sold into human trafficking, and aims to rebuild their lives, offering them dignity and hope.

McConaghy began his talk by sharing some of Cambodia’s brutal history.

In 1975, the communist group Khmer Rouge took over the country and desired to establish a pure, classless society. Cambodia underwent a brutal and excruciating “cleanse”; starvation and torture were used as methods of control, and people were forced into labour camps. They also killed people who had any education, including teachers, doctors, and other medical professionals.

In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and instituted its own communist government. By that time, 3.2 million Cambodians had died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. The new government sealed off borders and Cambodia remained isolated for nearly 14 years, unable to receive the international aid it desperately needed due to the lack of medical professionals.

Brian McConaghy also talked about his own life and the crimes he had witnessed as a forensics expert. He had worked heavily on the investigation into Canadian serial killer William Pickton (one of the most complex crime scenes in the world). When McConaghy heard about the devastation in Cambodia, he made plans to smuggle two suitcases of much-needed medicine into the country. Once people heard about his efforts, he ended up with an entire shipping container that made it to Cambodia safely. McConaghy emphasized that this had not been a smart move for an RCMP officer; however, in due time he was praised by the RCMP as he went from a pariah to a hero. In return, he asked for three weeks in Cambodia, where he opened clinics in an effort to help the devastated country.

Seven years later, back in Canada, McConaghy was asked to look at and investigate videos found in the backpack of a Canadian international pedophile (rapists who travel abroad to commit crimes in countries where they will not be arrested) known as Donald Baker. This footage included 67 videos of him brutally torturing women—and seven of them were little girls from Asia. McConaghy explained that Cambodia especially was a

hot spot for people like Baker to commit their horrific crimes.

This raw, dark footage inspired McConaghy to start a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program in a mafia-controlled brothel in Cambodia. Of the children attending, 60% were involved with the brothel. These children were “shells of human beings,” McConaghy said. But over time, they learned to laugh and to know joy. McConaghy emphasized that God can rebuild the lives that we might consider to be destroyed. As the program continued, their team was given a building that was once used as a child sex hotel, which they turned into a trauma centre. Their VBS programs had put the hotel out of business. The girls who came to the centre were ashamed and unable to describe the pain and assault they had experienced. McConaghy explained that the fact that these girls feel ashamed proves that they know they are worth more. They know they should be treated better. That is the message Ratanak provides for all the victims of human trafficking.

There are many ways in which TWU students can help Ratanak as well. The first thing we can do is pray, McConaghy requested. By talking to parents and pastors, students can also raise awareness through their large church communities. “[Ratanak] is front line; it’s cutting edge; it’s a marriage of missions and government diplomacy and policing skills. It’s an unusual mix, but one that absolutely works,” McConaghy says. It is an exciting and dangerous ministry, one that not only ministers to the people of Cambodia, but also to people living in North America.

In the new year, Ratanak will continue to work on bringing women who have been sold into the sex trade across Asia back to their homes in Cambodia. They have already brought home 400 women. Recently, Ratanak has also started to work with men. “No one wants to work with human trafficked men,” McConaghy stated. “Everybody loves to donate money and pray for the vulnerable looking child or the vulnerable young woman.

What about the big muscular tattooed guy who was trafficked and sexually assaulted for years?” These men are just as vulnerable, shattered, confused, and just as hungry for love as the women and young girls, McConaghy explained. The program now hosts 22 men.

Ratanak International is avidly working to make the world a better place, and McConaghy is proud of his work with the charity.

fill a gap in your program

Athabasca University has over 850 courses to choose from to meet your needs and courses start every month. AU has over 6,600 transfer agreements around the world (including with this institution).

“The Imperial March” –Levi Blois

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Trudeau Treading in Hot Water Some successes and failures of the Liberal Party

Ishita Wilson

Canada’s next federal election is on October 21, 2019, which means that Canadians have nine months to brush up on politics and decide which party they want to support. Canada’s current government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has achieved quite a lot, but he has experienced an equal amount of backlash from the public.

The Liberal Party reintroduced the Navigable Waters Protection Act, now called the Navigation Protection Act, which was abandoned under former PM Stephen Harper’s leadership. Although this was a step in the right direction, it still faced heavy criticism for only protecting 1% of all the rivers and lakes in Canada.

“The Liberals need to stop using numbers of refugees, amount of money spent, feel-good tweets, and photo ops for metrics of success in Canada’s immigration system.”

On the other hand, Trudeau did not deliver on many of the environmental promises he made during his campaign. Buying the Trans Mountain pipeline was not part of the Liberal platform; PM Trudeau acknowledged this but argued, “It was in my platform that I was going to grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time and do it in thoughtful and responsible ways.” Currently, 99% of Canadian oil goes to the United States, according to the Government of Canada website, which is why Trudeau believes it necessary to diversify Canada’s oil exports using this pipeline’s expansion.

Many stand boldly in protest against this years-old debate. The pipeline might offer potential economic growth, but at what cost? Indigenous people in Alberta and Saskatchewan “have had their air, water, and land polluted and their way of life threatened,” according to Lynne Quarmby, former Green Party candidate in Burnaby North and professor in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department at Simon Fraser University.

Quarmby points out that one-third of the pipeline crosses the territory of the Secwepemc Nation, while other territories will be negatively affected by tankers and tanker ports. The pipeline also threatens wildlife, especially a population of orcas who reside in the Salish Sea. This is one issue that will have a heavy sway over the 2019 elections.

Canada has also welcomed many immigrants in the past several years, and it aims to welcome another million in the next three years. Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) believes that this influx of immigrants will help balance the country’s aging population and declining birth rate. “Five million Canadians are set to retire by 2035, and we have fewer people working to support seniors and retirees,” he explained.

However, conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel said, “The Liberals need to stop using numbers of refugees, amount of money spent, feel-good tweets, and photo ops for metrics of success in Canada’s immigration system.” Rempel went on to state that the Liberals need to bring the immigration system back into order by “closing the loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement that has seen migrants cross into Canada at unofficial border crossings only to claim refugee status,” reports Kathleen Harris from CBC News.

The Liberal government has introduced its fair share of successes and failures during its time in office, and people’s opinions about the problems outlined above are going to contribute greatly towards their vote in October.

An Update from TWUSA Monique Bouchard

On behalf of the TWUSA team, welcome to the spring semester! We had a blast starting 2019 with a giant New Year’s Party, and we greatly appreciate the campus involvement in our events. Whether this is your first semester or your tenth, we are excited to journey these next few months with you.

Last semester, over 100 pounds of coffee were served and thousands of pages were printed in the TWUSA Lounge. Late night study hours attracted many students seeking an evening haven to write their papers. Annual events like Late Night with TWUSA were a space for people to meet new friends, and what better place to do so than atop a ferris wheel? Also, adding to the current founding documents, TWUSA constructed and passed a Hospitality Policy centered upon the values of hospitality, respect, training, advocacy, and encouragement of dialogue as it pertains to the whole student body, with a focus on underrepresented students.

For the remainder of the current council’s term, we are continuing with our vision of “seeking growth through connecting.” As a team we have created strategic task forces to advocate for students in areas we think the school has potential to grow including, but not limited to, accessibility, late night study spaces, security, and Atrium usage. We are thankful for this school and the community, and it is exciting to advocate for ways in which it can be improved.

Some highlights to look forward to this semester include Hootenanny, CanAm Hockey, and the last few open mics of the year. Late night study hours will continue in the TWUSA Lounge on Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m.12:00 a.m. and Thursday nights at 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. Also, keep your eyes open for new Single Origin coffee beans which will be sold in the TWUSA Lounge over the course of the semester, as well as surprise pop-up shops on your way to class. Lastly, in addition to lights, games, and sound equipment, did you know that TWUSA has two bikes you can rent?

If all these opportunities get you fired up, consider joining TWUSA next year! Applications for all positions are now open. Some important changes to be aware of when applying for TWUSA positions for next year include the following: 1) the addition of a Director of Media who will work within TWUSA’s communications department and handle social media, photography, and video related content; 2) the abolition of the Director of Operations and Services role; 3) the Director of Internal Relations role has become an Executive role and has been renamed the Executive Director of Operations and Services, and 4) only two General Events Assistants will be hired. Applications are required for both elected and appointed positions and can be found at twusa.ca/ apply.

We look forward to a great semester with you!

“The Office theme song” –Juliana Chalifour

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A Suffering Yemen

The largest humanitarian crisis in the world

Kelsey Morris In a Middle Eastern nation only slightly larger than the state of California, over 14 million people are on the brink of starvation. Compounded by disease and lack of access to clean drinking water, pre-famine conditions threaten nearly half of the nation’s population, making the Republic of Yemen the setting for the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.

According to the United Nations, the crisis is entirely man-made. For three years, Yemen has been locked in a brutal civil war that has claimed somewhere between 70,000 and 80,000 civilian and combatant lives, according to Andrea Carboni, the Middle East Research Manager of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).

UN that 50% of this year’s crops may not be viable.

Airstrikes and trench-digging associated with the Al Hudaydah battle are threatening sanitation, water, and health facilities in the area, compounding the effects of a cholera outbreak that already totals 1.2 million cases and over 2,400 related deaths since 2016.

The World Health Organization reports that deaths related to diphtheria and other preventable diseases are on the rise as well, likely as a result of decreased access to vaccination for citizens, and Yemen is in desperate need of humanitarian aid to improve the health of the nation.

The conflict finds its origin in a failed transition of power during the Arab Spring of 2011, as leader Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to hand over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Loyalties to the ousted leader were not easily forgotten, and the Houthi Shia Muslim rebel movement was born. In 2014, the rebels seized the capital, forcing Hadi into exile and setting the stage for a massive multi-nation conflict.

While the fighting in Al Hudaydah has displaced more than 132,000 households, 123,000 have received rapid response assistance. Relief efforts focusing on water, sanitation, food supply, and healthcare are funded by the 2018 humanitarian appeal—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Kuwait are some of the most notable donors, with a record $2.1 billion raised this year.

Backed by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Operation “Decisive Storm” began in March 2015. Led by Saudi Arabia and eight other Sunni Arab nations, a coalition set out to restore the Hadi government, fearing that Iranian support of the Houthi movement could lead to a Shia influence in Yemen.

“Peace should be given a chance,” she pleads.

“The children of Yemen deserve nothing less.”

Though Saleh was killed by the Houthis in December 2017, following his surprising betrayal of the rebel forces, the nation is still plagued by a stalemate between the Houthis and the anti-Houthis—a group that suffered debilitating infighting as a result of a separatist movement.

In June 2018, against the recommendation of global aid agencies, forces backed by Saudi Arabia began an assault on the port city of Al Hudaydah. The UN feared that a battle in the strategic location would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and endanger the lives of the 300,000 civilians in the city itself.

Today, movement in and out of the port is greatly restricted by the ongoing battle for the city that receives 70–80% of the nation’s imports, the most vital of which is food. Compared with September 2018, imports through the Al Hudaydah and Al Saleef ports fell by more than 50% in October.

Before the war, 90% of the food supply in Yemen was imported—thus, a reduced ability to receive these imports threatened to deplete Yemen’s food supply within months.

What little assistance Yemen’s agriculture has formerly been able to provide, primarily in the form of corn and grain, has been jeopardized by reports of fall armyworm in 13 Yemeni districts. Because pest control is not a primary focus of resources at present, authorities have reported to the

And, with 118 humanitarian partners operating in the 333 districts of Yemen, assistance is provided to approximately 8 million Yemeni people each month. But the UN reports that 22 million people—75% of the Yemeni population—are dependent on some form of humanitarian assistance to survive.

And who are the most vulnerable? Children.

In 2017 alone, approximately 50,000 children died of starvation and disease. Geert Cappelaere of UNICEF says that preventable diseases kill one Yemeni child under the age of five every 10 minutes. At any given time, 400,000 Yemeni children are suffering with a life-threatening form of severe acute malnutrition.

Many nations and aid agencies are desperately calling for a ceasefire—at least for a period of two weeks or so—to allow uninterrupted humanitarian efforts to control the crisis and limit fatalities. Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director, encourages all those involved to consider the wellbeing of children above all else.

“Peace should be given a chance,” she pleads. “The children of Yemen deserve nothing less.”

“Nothing” –Bailey Martens

academy

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Kelsey Morris

Free Child Janae Gartly Installation, 2018.

In the early hours of a December morning, three swings were hung. Out of the silence, out of the stress, there emerged an encounter. Nicolas Bourriaud, author of Relational Aesthetics, writes that “art does not transcend everyday preoccupations, it confronts us with reality by way of the remarkable nature of any relationship to the world, through make-believe.” It is through make-believe that Free Child reaches to confront us with the striking visage of play.

Relational aesthetics is a key component of socially engaged work, and is centered on the encounter. This localizes art outside of the physical form, and instead within the act of encounter of a viewer. Bourriaud writes this of the theory of relational aesthetics: “The space where [the] works are displayed is altogether the space of interaction, the space of openness that ushers in all dialogue…

What [is produced] are space-time elements, inter-human experiences trying to rid themselves of the straightjacket of the ideology of mass communications, in a way, of the places where alternative forms of sociability, critical models, and moments of constructed conviviality are worked out.”

Perhaps more importantly, Bourriaud asks of the reader: “ʻHow can I live in your reality?ʼ or: ʻHow can a meeting between two realities alter them bilaterally?ʼ” Emerging from this practice of art as a state of relational encounter, it is clear what Siri Hustvedt is referring to as she writes that “the experience of art is interpersonal or intersubjective. In art, the relation established is between a person and a part-person-part-thing. It is never between a person and just a thing.” Hustvedt establishes that the efficacy and intrinsic power of art as a practice is found in this “relational aliveness that we give to art that allows us to make powerful emotional attachments to it.” These emotional bonds are what allow artists to be what Suzanne Lacy calls cultural negotiators and community healers.

Free Child is a socially engaged interventive moment, where there is an invitation extended to participate in creating an environment where there is a bilateral meeting of realities, as Bourriaud calls it. It fosters a sense of belongingness, where, if only for a moment, the humanity between individuals is able to come face to face in a simple, playful way. In Free Child, there is a fostering of play and nostalgia as a means of rerouting patterns of loneliness and depressive states into more free, more adjusted psyches. As thinker John Dewey writes, art does not merely represent experience, it constitutes an experience. Free Child constitutes an experience where there is freedom in the act of play to present the candid self to the other.

Counselling psychology holds a practice known as Transactional Analysis—a paradigm of ego states, wherein the self is divided as Parent, Child, and Adult. Each of these carries a healthy and unhealthy script, and the act of accessing healthy ego state scripts has radical rerouting ability of cognitive processes in stressful circumstances. The free child ego state is the healthy emotional state—one of playfulness and joyfulness. Accessing this ego state through simple, playful actions is believed to reroute depressive and anxious adult ego states. Pablo Helguera, author of Education for Socially Engaged Art, writes that “it is only when play upsets, even if temporarily, the existing social values… that room is created for reflection.” The unexpectedness of the encounter of Free Child is striking, and the apparition of locales of play at arguably the most tense period of an academic semester allows for this interjection to be a pair of surprise and liberation. The nearly unanimous experience of the swingset in a North American childhood is both unifying and entirely personal, allowing for a collective experience that is effectively relationally bonding and introspectively impactful. In the work, there are no conversations to be had, no negotiations or conflicts—there is instead a simple, uninhibited joy in the act of play.

As an act of intervention, Free Child is a space where the child in me encounters the child in you, and for a moment we are connected in our uninhibited playfulness. Free Child is an act of aggression in the name of healing—Free Child is therapy.

For an instant, I hold my humanity out to you, and you do the same.

This work would not have been possible without the generous contributions of Kelsey Morris, Rees Morgan, Hannah Stuart, Micah Carey, and Cory McNulty. Many heartfelt thanks are extended to them.

“The Harry Potter theme song” –Queenie Rabanes

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Moral Commodity Chrisaleen Ciro On January 14, 2019, Procter and Gamble released a two-minute advertisement for their brand of shaving equipment, Gillette. The video, which has garnered 19 million views across Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, opens with several depictions of what pundits analyzing the ad called “toxic masculinity.” The film is a montage of familiar scenes: a man displaying patronizing behaviour toward a woman in a boardroom, a group of men sexualizing and harassing women, and eventually the sight of a row of men standing by their barbeques endlessly repeating the mantra “boys will be boys.”

The advertisement concludes by implicitly condemning such behaviour and apologizing for any contribution that Gillette’s recognizable tagline “the best a man can get” may have made to a culture of supposed toxic masculinity. This theme remains particularly resonant, following the American Psychological Association’s recent official recognition of “toxic masculinity” as a threat to men’s health.

The metrics released on January 17 show that there were initially many positive responses to the advertising campaign. According to advertising metrics, 25% of those surveyed found the campaign “attention-grabbing” and 22% believed that the video had a “likable manner.”

However, several key voices objected to the notion that the phrase “boys will be boys” is inherently problematic. Karol Markowicz, a columnist from Fox News, is one such critic. She says, “...what we need is to stop insulting men. We can’t elevate women by knocking men down.” She adds, “Some men will nod along with ads that insult them, but, in general, these companies are offending men and doing damage to their own stated cause.”

In response to Markowicz and other critics, Pankaj Bhalla, the North America brand director for Gillette says, “Our ultimate aim is to groom the next generation of men, and if any of this [advertising campaign] helps even in a little way we’ll consider that a success.”

Why has this advertisement raised so much controversy? Firstly, the advertising industry has a long history of “engineering consent,” a phrase originally coined by Edward Bernays. Known infamously as the nephew of notorious Sigmund Freud, Bernays believed that the advertising industry could learn from psychoanalysis to understand the “hive-mind.” According to Bernays, the secret to commercial success is convincing the “group mind” to purchase a particular product.

One of Mr. Bernays’ clients was George Washington Hill, President of the American Tobacco Company. Bernays understood that he needed to find a way—without completely undermining the product’s inherent culture significance—to make smoking enticing to women. He consulted with Abraham Brill, a prominent psychoanalyst, about how copy editors should go about rewriting the cultural narratives that rendered it taboo for women.

Hill contended that cigarettes represent male power. Therefore, putting them in the hands of women became a symbol of challenging male authority. So, in the 1920s, he hired models to smoke cigarettes at the “Torches of Freedom” parade. Within hours, the sight of beautiful women surrounded by marching feminists garnered worldwide controversy. From the moment that the image of women smoking disseminated around the world, smoking became popular among women seeking to establish their independence in the changing modern world.

Bernays’ seminal work, Propaganda, exposes the theory behind the infrastructure of the advertising agency. He argues, like his uncle, that it is primal emotions that drive an individual’s actions and use of purchasing power, not reason. The Gillette campaign lends support to Bernays’ thesis, as 65% of respondents indicated that they would be more likely to purchase from the brand following the advertisement.

This tendency to be influenced by such ad campaigns qualifies as irrational behaviour. Public support of a social movement causing consumers to be more likely to buy said product is, by definition, irrational. Nothing about feminist messaging improves the function of a razor, except in how a razor informs your interpretation of a masculine identity.

Bernays realized that one of the ways that we “perform” our gender identity, as Judith Butler put, is through our purchases. If cigarettes can be empowering for women and razors can indicate that some men should change their masculine behaviour to acclimate to civil society, then what does it truly mean to be masculine or feminine?

“Our ultimate aim is to groom the next generation of men, and if any of this [advertising campaign] helps even in a little way weʼll consider that a success.”

Through arresting statements about gender, the video succeeds in eliciting powerful emotions from viewers. If advertising firms, utilizing the wisdom of Bernays, can connect powerful emotions to various purchasing decisions, then they will have a tremendous impact on the “hive-mind.” The “Best a Man Can Be” campaign either confronts or invalidates the inherent bias of the viewer. Progressives feel a sense of solidarity with their razor brand and can be assured that the brand is committed to aligning their messaging with the progressive vision of gender theory. In contrast, those with a traditional view of masculinity may believe that the goal of the messaging is to erase inherent aspects of masculine identity. This inspires fear at the cost of marginalizing an entire population. Therefore, the controversy surrounding the advertisement begins to make sense.

What are the consequences of allowing the emotionality, that thanks to men like Bernays has come to define consumerism, to intrude on our political discourse? Many conservatives feel that significant aspects of their cultural values have become casualties of the “liberal media’s agenda.”

Many on the left who are committed to negotiating the complex norms associated with identity politics, object to the commodification of these arguments. They realize that the instinct to sensationalise and oversimplify aspects of the progressive agenda render them inaccessible to the average viewer. Therefore, the main cost of the emotionalization of political issues for commercial gain is a mutual lack of understanding. The two-minute video that attempts to galvanize an intergenerational response to both a cultural interpretation of masculinity and a systemic lack of accountability for an entire gender reinforces our existing assumptions.

In fact, this commodifican of ideology has been one of the primary engines that drives the average North American citizen to take shelter on further and further ends of the political spectrum.

Traditionalists continue to feel misunderstood by progressives, and progressives continue to be convinced of their position on the moral high ground.

Where among the legions of people who have shared the video is there any evidence of hearts or minds changed?

We retreated this week, my fellow activists. We laughed, we dismissed, and we retreated. Tomorrow, may we understand.

We need to reclaim our platforms for political discourse. We need to challenge the constraints of a two-minute video clip. Next time, may we surrender the need to be “right” in favour of the need to be understood.

“Rees Morgan’s mustache (remix)” –Janae Gartly

9

Spectrum of Sexuality Anonymous

Compiled in my head was a list of all the boys I liked, from best to worst. As we move through life, many of us gather a sort of mental inventory of all those who have caught our eye—from the very first crush in kindergarten to the person we may be in a relationship with today.

Until I was 15, my list was compiled of the names of boys. Naturally, my attraction to boys felt normal and right, and it also complemented the sexuality encouraged by my parents and the church. But then all of it changed.

I met a girl.

We were counsellors together at a Christian summer camp, and by the end of the week her name was added to my list. A girl, who I would never see again, made me question my sexual orientation for the very first time. In the years since, many other women have come into my life, walked across my list, and confused me about what I thought was my heterosexual identity.

Last year, with the help of a friend, I began to form a clearer understanding of my own sexuality. This friend explained that I could stop wondering whether I identified as either bisexual or heterosexual, and instead explore my sexuality on a spectrum.

While sexuality as a spectrum was a new concept to me at the time, it originated in the 1940s when Alfred Kinsey, a professor at Indiana University, came up with the idea of measuring sexuality on a scale from zero, as exclusively heterosexual, to six, as exclusively homosexual. The numbers in between included those, who, like me, have stronger heterosexual feelings, but have also homosexual attractions, and vice versa.

In the 21st century, this idea of a changing sexual orientation is known as sexual fluidity. A person’s sexual response or attraction may morph throughout the course of their life, and these changes may affect a person’s sexual orientation. People who identify as sexually fluid see it as a distinct sexual orientation.

Some people respond to this idea by maintaining that if sexuality can change, people can be taught, educated, or made to practice a different sexuality. However, this idea disregards each individual’s inherent right to understand and interpret their own feelings.

While I am not here to argue the biblical perspective of homosexuality, I place a great deal of emphasis on recognizing that each individual was created differently.

How, then, should we view sexual orientation in light of such God-given diversity? There is great freedom in viewing my own sexuality as a spectrum that does not reside within a black and white box.

A Wee Little Man Riley Voth

Zacchaeus was a wee little man.

Being a wee little man in first-century Palestine was not an easy thing. In agrarian cultures like first-century Palestine, the ideal man was one who was sturdy and strong, who was capable of tending fields, managing animals, and fighting battles. Agrarian cultures were generally not in need of wee little men.

So in Jericho, in first-century Palestine, Zacchaeus was a beta male.

Idolization begets demonization. When something is glorified, something else must pay the price. When something is loved, something must be hated. When we glorify strength, we demonize weakness. And in the glorification of strength, Zacchaeus’ countrymen demonized him.

Zacchaeus climbed into a Sycamore tree to see Love made flesh. Imagine the reaction of the crowd when Love walked up to their wee little traitor sitting in a tree and said, “I’m coming over for dinner.”

There is a threshold of knowledge that requires action.

I have a friend who really likes steak. He also really hates vegetables.

So when he moved out of his parent’s home and began university, he ate nothing but meat and carbs. He knew he should eat a balanced diet, but he just liked steak so much. My friend was living his dream, until he got scurvy. He learned quickly that fresh fruits and vegetables are important. He always knew this, but now he understands this. My friend eats vegetables now. His knowledge passed a threshold—it required action.

Jesus ate dinner with a wee little man. Zacchaeus had his first friend. He saw love for the first time, not love taken, and not love reciprocated, but love freely given with no expectation of return. Zacchaeus saw what love really was, not what he had been told that it was.

Imagine the embarrassment and disappointment of his family. Another mouth to feed. Dead weight. Imagine the belittlement of his manhood. The deep-seated shame awaiting him every morning when he awoke. The helplessness he must have felt. The feeling that, somehow, he must have done something wrong.

He understood; he passed the threshold. He then piped up, unprompted by Jesus, and said that he would give half of his wealth to the poor and pay back all his offences fourfold.

This was his devoted action.

That he was something wrong.

His people cast him to the side; they passed over him.

And in desperation, Zacchaeus turned away from his people, seeking a way to compensate for his wounded pride.

He turned instead to the Romans, who promised him power and status. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus had the power to set taxes high and keep a little something for himself.

All this was at the cost of his countrymen. Zacchaeus was hated. He became public enemy number one, a turncoat, a traitor to the Jews, a tax collector, and a thief.

Let’s say Zacchaeus was a millionaire by today’s standards.

He gives $500,000 to the poor right off the bat. Now he has to repay his debts. Fourfold. If his wealth of $1,000,000 was largely made up of stolen money, then he must give back close to $4,000,000. He’s $3,500,000 short.

That’s a lifelong debt. Zacchaeus was not pledging his wealth to the Kingdom, he was pledging his life.

Zacchaeus had power. He had wealth. He had everything and nothing.

Who are our wee little men? Who do we marginalize, reject, and deprive of love? Do we hide behind our moral convictions and use them as an excuse to avoid people? To not love them? Do we avoid people because they are just too different from us?

And then Jesus came to Jericho.

Or do we run to the hated to love them?

“God’s Plan” –Kelvin Gartly

[dis]integration Seeking identity in its flux

Kelsey Morris Sitting in my first-year dorm room, I stared at a computer screen full of words that were supposed to constitute a summation of who I was—at least, according to Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers.

My university orientation class, MYTW101 (since replaced by Foundations 101), required me to complete a personality test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MTBI, for short), which was originally theorized around a kitchen table by a mother and daughter who admired the work of Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung.

After computing my answers to less than 100 multiple choice questions, the MBTI claimed to grasp who I was. So there I sat, reading about extraversion, intuition, feeling, and perceiving, the four factors that apparently made up my whole personality.

The truth is, weʼre desperate for some semblance of certainty.

We are missing an authoritative sense of direction—and more importantly, a sense of self. Itʼs not surprising, then, that weʼre begging personality tests to put us in a box that fits who we are.

But the chief complaint with these kinds of tests is that the boxes seem too narrow, too specific, and too mutually exclusive. We find that the test kind of gets it right, but not quite right enough. A reality with which my first year self was rather disillusioned.

Myers-Briggs. Strengths Finder. Gary Smalley Personality Test.

True Colours.

I took them all, and found myself sorely disappointed with my apparent inability to relate to my own personality as the professionals described it. So last year, when a dear friend of mine convinced me to take something called the Enneagram, I was justifiably skeptical.

And I ate every bit of it right up.

Imagine my surprise when the results made me feel like so many other things had tried to, but few other things ever had:

Two years later, Iʼm wondering exactly why.

Free.

Like me, most undergraduate students today are members of Generation Z. Commonly understood as those born in the mid-90s and later, Gen Zs differ from generations prior in several important ways, the largest of which, I believe, centres around the issue of identity.

Thought to be traceable to Jewish neo-Platonist philosophy and even esoteric Christianity, the Enneagram has been used for millennia to understand the complex nature of the human psyche. Visually demonstrated by a circle with nine points, each corresponding to a distinct personality type, the Enneagram focuses on how the core fears and desires of each type impact psychological well-being and subsequently, shape human behaviour.

We are emerging adults in a time where personal identity is viewed as both fluid and self-determined. As a result, our generation is known for the stubborn refusal to be limited by prophecies and predictions of who we are, what we will accomplish, and how we will behave along the way.

In an effort to be the authors of our identities, our generation has shifted away from the idea of personality as static and genetically predetermined, voting instead in favour of the freedom to be dynamic agents of self-creation.

Dichotomies requiring us to choose either “this” or “that” have contributed to Generation Zʼs trademark skepticism of all that claims to be certain, unchangeable, or mutually exclusive, creating a generational attitude of openness and exploration.

So why is it that when a computerized test told me hard and fast “truths” about my 18-year-old self, I clung to it with an almost desperate grasp? In resisting extremes, I think I had found myself in the gray area of identity.

And it completely paralyzed me.

10

The rhetoric of postmodern society has excitedly told us that we have the freedom to become whatever we want to be, encouraging us with the narrative of self as god. Somewhere along the way, though, many of us found that the agency intended to free us actually formed a sort of psychological prison. Terrified that we might choose our identities incorrectly or embark on the wrong journey in the face of endless possibilities, we land indefinitely in identity limbo.

Unlike the MBTI, the Enneagram allows for the evolution of an individualʼs personality over time, throughout changing circumstances and environments. In doing so, it offers an explanation for why two individuals of the same type may appear to be character opposites. While they are motivated by the same inner fear and pursue the same core value, their behaviour is shaped by multiple facets of personality.

The system of the Enneagram recognizes not only a primary personality type, but also the influence of the types adjacent to each identified primary type on the Enneagram circle—these are called “wings,” adding flair to each of the primary types.

The primary types also have corresponding Directions of Integration and Disintegration, which indicate how times of growth and stress bring out different aspects of an individualʼs personality.

Finally, the nine Levels of Development, ranging from extremely healthy to extremely unhealthy, explain how expression of personality changes with personal maturation, meaningful social engagement, and psychological health.

Iʼm a Type Four with a Three Wing, making me what the Enneagram Institute calls ʻThe Aristocratʼ (4w3). This means that my desire to find my own unique significance is influenced by a tendency to make such significance contingent upon achievement.

In times of growth, I begin to look like a healthy One, possessing a strong moral compass. In times of stress, I take the form of an unhealthy Two, desperate to avoid abandonment and prone to creating chaos so that those around me will need me.

While my Level of Development changes based on how intentional I am about my personal growth, Iʼm currently sitting at Level Five. That isnʼt healthy or unhealthy—itʼs just average. It means that Iʼm a little more sensitive and withdrawn than healthier Fours, but much more in tune with my creativity and social sphere than unhealthy fours.

And what the Enneagram shows me about myself doesnʼt limit me to a set of characteristics. The understanding itʼs given me allows me to change, grow, and shift. In fact, it encourages those things, even helping me understand how to pursue them in the healthiest and most meaningful ways.

The goal of the Enneagram is to find harmony with all the types within ourselves, learning to lean away from the disintegrated aspects of each type and into an integrated balance of them all.

So the Enneagram isnʼt a box. Itʼs a starting point.

In teaching me so tangibly of the multi-faceted nature of personality, the Enneagram has led me to resolution and healing in the area of identity. The fear Iʼve felt in the face of our generationʼs abounding openness and self-determination has been shattered by the certainty that my identity exists on a spectrum—and itʼs allowed to change.

It has changed. And it surely will continue to do so. In fact, I think it should.

But Iʼm allowed to understand myself in the process. Iʼm allowed to listen to others when they speak truth into my life about who I am, and Iʼm free to ignore them when they donʼt.

Iʼm not imprisoned by descriptions of my personality, because I know they reveal pieces of the puzzle that are so necessary for healing, growth, and engagement with the world around me.

The curse of paralysis has been broken by radical acceptance of both the certainty and the fluidity of identity. When weʼre willing to come face to face with who we already are, we have the first hope of deciding who it is that we want to be.

11

12

arts + culture Kennedy Dragt

INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Why We Needed a New Spider-Man, Again. For Real This Time.

Kirsten McAllister (Note: The content of this article reveals only information that is made available by the film trailers)

Until recently, I had simply accepted my lot as a superhero movie hater.

Fortunately, amidst deep feelings of apathy towards any more Avengers films and a total ignorance about who Ant-Man even is, I went to see Sony’s new animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and was thereby saved from what I had previously assumed to be my fate. Regardless of coming at a time when the story has been beaten black and blue by different film adaptations, this Spider-Man may actually prove to be the saving grace for this tired out tale. Ironically, the (super) powers behind this film that make it so vibrant and new can be traced back to something that is very old, and where the origins of the Spider-Man tale can be found: the comic book.

This film is animated, and in order to excavate the brilliance of the Spider-Verse, the remainder of this article will be based around this fact. While a decade of superhero films have gone by since Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all of the big plans for this franchise have been for its live-action films. In these live adaptations of superhero comics, the physical limitations of space and time that are inherent to the medium restrict these modern-day myths in ways that their previous print form did not. Comics are not inherently a superhero genre, but they have been given this association in our society. Certainly, telling a story frame-by-frame lends well to god-like heroes rippling in spandex pants at unrealistic angles. However, it is the use of sequential images to tell a story which enables the artist to maintain more creative control of time and space that makes the superhero comic stand out.

In the comic book about comics called Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud explains how the transitional gap in between comic panels called the “gutter,” acts as a stand-in for various amounts of time and space.

While this empty space does not vary in size, the viewer interprets its presence as meaning that either a little time has passed between the panels (these are called movement-to-movement transitions), or a larger gap has occurred in either time or space or perhaps both (these are called scene-toscene transitions). The reliance on the viewer to interpret these transitions is key to the function of sequential art. Because comics are always applying a time dimension to a medium that is not inherently time-based, the reader’s participation becomes vital in telling the story. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse asks something similar of its audience.

Gesturing back to its comic book origins, Spider-Verse appropriates a similar effect to the “gutter” by eliminating the standard animation practice of “motion blur” that erases any gaps between the artist’s created frames.

The result is that the process of animation becomes more visible to the viewer, and the fact that animated films are just comic books shown at hyperspeed is made apparent. Further breaking from conventions, the animators deliberately switched in between using 12 and 24 frames per second in different scenes throughout the film. The purpose of this was to add a variation in the rhythm of the character’s movements (making them either choppy or smooth) to align with the energy that the action or personality calls for. These stylistic choices capitalize on the ability of animation to play with “real” space and time in order to tell an imaginative story. While recent superhero films have used CGI effects to create some spectacular

scenes of battle and apocalypse, ultimately, their allegiance to spatial and temporal realism (because of the laws of physics) eclipses the more dynamic movements that were essential to their original stories.

In a review of Spider-Verse for The Times, O. Scott wrote that “the characters feel liberated by animation, and the audience will, too.” This sense of freedom matches my experience of the film perfectly, which felt as if every frame was absorbing me into it—as if I was also flying above the New York City skyline, or nearly colliding head-on with a subway train. And yet, we have already discussed how the film is subverting realistic depictions of the human experience of space and time. Why then would a non-factual world feel so…real?

Perhaps we can attribute it to the audience’s readiness to suspend their disbelief. We are more familiar with the idea of “suspension of disbelief” in literature, but in the medium of film there are also certain premises that a reader is willing to accept in a fictional story that they would not be likely to accept in real life. The reader or viewer will voluntarily put “reality” on hold if the artist has crafted worlds, characters, or events that they want to accept. According to this concept, we can say that there are factors beyond the familiarity of a piece of art which draw us to it. While some viewers consider this unrealistic factor a flaw, there are others who believe that here the total strength of art lies.

In 1917, Russian literary theorist Victor Shklovsky wrote that “the technique of art is to make objects ‘unfamiliar’” to us. For so many of the normal 9-5 humans out there (of which I am one), the process of growing older and more familiar with our lives can at times seem to dissolve its very substance. There is a certain kind of habituality that “devours works, clothes, furniture, one’s wife, and the fear of war,” and Shklovsky proposes that it is through the process of “defamiliarization” that art is able “to make the stone stony” again. In Spider-Verse, this defamiliarization occurs through the application of an unfamiliar and unrealistic visual language. The defamiliarization in Spider-Verse sets the story in the viewer and the viewer in the story. While some of the more obvious ways that the film does this are by applying comic book styles like speech clouds, shading through halftones (little dots) and cross-hatching, the real strangeness of the film climaxes when the viewer is introduced to three different spider-characters at once. These figures are not only from different universes, but are animated in completely different styles, representing the culture and era from which they come. Between a cartoony Spider Ham, an Anime Peni Parker, and a 1950s American Spider-Man Noir, viewers are asked to totally suspend their disbelief and disregard the impossibilities for the sake of the story.

Rather than breaking the spell of the film, this collaboration of Spider-Men becomes one of the film’s greatest charms.

By asking viewers to give up their realistic reflexes and accept things that they have never seen before, Spider-Verse seeks to expand our mundane and dusty perceptions of the world. While other superhero films are playing it safe, this one is crazy enough to tell us to close our eyes for a moment and jump off a building, believing that we will fly. Not only do we believe it, we love believing it.

“SICKO MODE” –Nyssa Morgan

13

THE THE DOLPHINS DOLPHINS Mars’ Hill: Who are you? Who are the members of the band? Introduce yourselves to us (from left to right).

Darrel: I’m 20. I’m a Kinesiology major, and I’m the drummer.

Chase: I’m Chase Maloney. I’m 21, a General Studies major with a minor in Philosophy and minor in Music. I’m the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player.

Matthew: I’m Matthew Bain. I’m 20 years old, a Biology major, and lead guitarist.

Alex: I am Alex Pernsteiner. I’m 19, and I am the bassist/hype man for the band.

MH: How did the Dolphins come to be? Tell us a bit about your story.

Alex: It was on a bus.

Chase: Yeah yeah yeah, we [Chase and Darrel] talked about it and then coming into Fall 2017, we were like, we should, let’s actually get a band together. We were talking about it on a bus to the Richmond Night Market.

Alex overheard us; we had never met him, and he was like “Hey, I play bass.”

Alex: You had said you needed a bassist.

Chase: Yeah, and we [Darrel and Chase] were like “who is this dude?” and I was like “I dunno he’s just hitting us up out of nowhere, but we need a bassist; maybe he can be cool; let’s do it!” And then he knew this guy who could play guitar too, [Alex and Matthew were suitemates in Douglas] so it was basically a bunch of random connections. I think we didn’t all meet up together until two months after that. But I met with Alex and Matt and was like “okay these guys are pretty cool.” And then Matt and I just did a last minute open mic together acoustically, and then we practiced and did a full on open mic in December 2017. That is when we all came together and started practicing together.

That was when we got our name. Zach Friesen was the MC there and he turns to us and asks, “do you guys have a name?” and we were like, “uhh, no,” so he was like “‘kay you’re The Dolphins,” and just introduced us as that.

Matt: Little did he know that [Chase’s] middle name is actually Dolphin.

Chase: Yeah, I assumed that he said that knowingly, which is why it made sense as a name, but apparently he hadn’t. He told me he almost went with The Whales which would have been unfortunate.

MH: Why do you like this particular artform? What makes it different from other modes of art?

Alex: ‘Cause I can’t do any other art form.

Chase: For me I like the live aspect; you get to create it as it’s happening [and] there is this audience involvement and real time movement.

Darrel: Yeah, you can relive it over and over again; it’s not just one thing like a painting.

MH: What genre of music do you most prefer to play?

Alex: We generally play alternative rock together, sometimes more emphasis on one or the other, but we’re not really stuck within a genre.

Chase: Yeah, rock is good because rock really hits you in your face.

MH: Do you intend to release any of your own music?

Matt: Yes. Chase: We have a lot of half-finished songs, but we don’t have anything done yet. We do hope to perform something original this semester.

and then I play it for Chase, and if it is something he jives with he’ll start walking back and forth like pacing and get all excited, and then Chase will come up with the lyrics.

MH: So it is usually the instrumental track before the lyrics then?

Chase: Yeah, I have started some stuff with voice, but none of that is finished. And it’s not like the other guys aren’t part of it; it’s just that in the summer it was only us [Matt and Chase]. Like Alex was in Idaho and Darrel was gone, but we were still here in Langley.

MH: In what genre would you classify the music you tend to write or compose?

Matt: It’s just whatever feels right.

Alex: I’d say it’s more melodic and intricate than what we would usually perform.

Chase: Yeah, I don’t know if we stick to one genre. I like the idea of whatever direction your song takes you . . . If people want to categorize and figure it out later, that’s cool.

MH: What is the hardest part about being a band?

Matt: It’s difficult to find time and places to practice. We’re always getting kicked out of places that we thought we were allowed to be in. Also we don’t have a drum set.

Alex: So if any Mars’ Hill readers want to donate a drum set...

MH: What part of your band do you most enjoy?

Matt: I love playing live. I always feel so inspired when playing in front of others; you’re really just fueled by adrenaline. The audience, the music, it all just blurs into one beautiful moment that you can reminisce on later.

MH: How often do you practice? What do your practices look like?

Matt: Chase is 30 minutes late.

Darrel: It is always raining.

Chase: Yeah, that’s true like every time, and then you’re carrying all your instruments out through the rain. But once we get started we are surprisingly focused.

MH: How has being part of the TWU community influenced your journey as musicians?

Matt: I wouldn’t have met any of these guys. There is something special at Trinity. The people here seem to be interested. It’s pretty cool that there are people that know us. It’s also a pretty hype place; they like being hyped up.

Chase: People don’t feel too cool to be excited. People feel that they can express themselves. I have been able to take theory and guitar lessons for credits.

MH: Do you have plans for playing outside of the TWU community?

Chase: We have friends that headline in downtown Vancouver, but to get there we need to practice a lot more. But yeah, we want to be playing “real shows” by summer.

MH: What does your music writing process look like?

Alex: It’s Matt. Matt and Chase.

Matt: A lot of the stuff that I’ve written I’ve just been messing around with,

“Mo Bamba” –Manny Dewsbury

14

A D o m i n o : T h e B e a u t y o f t h e S p ect r u m Amy Saya Picture a single domino tile. Smooth. Shiny. Pearl white, with black dots covering its surface. When dominoes are arranged in various patterns, the starkness between their white and black features are clearly defined. Life is not like this domino; it cannot be reduced to black and white. If it were, everything would be drab and dull, significantly less beautiful and exciting (stop lights would be especially tricky). Humanity cannot define itself by only two definite oppositions. We were created to be vibrantly complex, and each individual in this world has an extraordinary value in sharing the colours of their life. This pertains not just to race, but also to the way we view the difficult circumstances of an individual’s life. It is easy to characterize one’s problems by placing them on either one side of a spectrum. Take those living in poverty as an example: it is easy to place the homeless on a darker side of the spectrum because poverty has a negative connotation.

Society has further added to the problem of marginalizing the poor and powerless by defining their lives this way.

When I was young, my concept of the impoverished was always depicted through grim, grey stories. I would picture tainted and dull images of homeless people and refugees; the impoverished world as a whole seemed

to be a place of misery. For me, it took stepping out into the streets of the Downtown East Side of Vancouver to experience the harsh reality of poverty and break the stereotypes I had placed on the homeless, the marginalized, and the displaced people of Vancouver. I began to see that there is space for a variety of colour to fill in the gaps between the white and black ends of a spectrum which I had used to define the problems of the poor. By joining an Urban Plunge trip through Global Projects, the darkness I had always associated with the poor was eventually shattered.

The visual of the domino reminds me to not categorize anyone’s problems as black or white. Every time I see a domino now, I am reminded of the bold, colorful vitality that the marginalized have to offer. If you are willing to try and fight the tendency to shape people’s problems or categorize them as black and white, then I encourage you to reevaluate the way you view these issues. Even if you do not go to the Downtown East Side with Urban Plunge, I hope you try to dive into greater knowledge of the poor and marginalized. You may begin to see and enjoy a mosaic of colours around you.

Fangirl

Mikah Feunekes but in what way they are loved. Loves must be ordered, and one’s first love must always be God. If one loves something created more than the Creator, disappointment always follows; for, as Dr. David Naugle states, “[al]though each object is a legitimate object of love, [one] cannot and must not expect more from it than its unique nature can provide.” Music, books, and movies, though enjoyable and inI resent these classifications because I am a fangirl. There is a Harry spiring, cannot be a source of life and purpose. Media is finite and Potter figurine sitting on my desk. There are multiple Star Wars shirts always changing, while God is infinite and timeless. in my dresser. I love discussing the intricacies of the latest Marvel movies (The Winter Soldier and Thor: Ragnarok are my favourites), Nothing in this world can replace God, but some of our other loves and my bookshelves are lined with various science fiction and fan- can point to Him. Yes, even fictional worlds and people. God gave tasy novels. I am a fangirl, and I am a Christian. For a while now, I writers, musicians, and actors incredible gifts that they use in inhave struggled with how these two labels intersect. How can I justify credible ways. God gave humans the imagination to come up with being “obsessed” with a movie or actor when I am supposed to be unique worlds and characters. God can be revealed in story; why else would C.S. Lewis write The Chronicles of Narnia? One can apfocused on Christ? preciate the talents and imagination God gave humanity by listening to music, watching shows, and discussing books. The love of media Simple answer: I can’t. should only point to, never obscure, one’s love for God. Thus, I have “Obsessed” is the key word here. The characters on a favourite TV decided to keep my fangirl status. When I’m 40 and rereading The show should not be loved the same way one loves God, but they Deathly Hallows for the 20th time, my friends will ask me, “After all can be loved. According to St. Augustine, the human heart has many this time?”, and I will tell them, “Always.” loves. The problem is not the things one loves (for the most part), Fangirls come in a range of colours and styles. Some wear band T-shirts, some have sweaters emblazoned with the Hogwarts logo, some loudly debate the merits of one Doctor over another. However, there is a sort of stigma attached to this label; the Urban Dictionary refers to the typical fangirl as being “rabid” and “obsessed.”

“‘Tower of Pain’ by Fit For a King” –Andrew Kimball

15

5 Writing Tips from The Writing Centre Chances are that you will be writing some papers this semester. Poet Scott Cairns reminds his students that writing is not “primarily a way to express what they think they already know” and instead is “a way of knowing.”

More than a professorial buzz-phrase or Foundations 101 Inquiry, this idea means that we don’t think and, then, write but write to think. No wonder writing is so hard.

We, Writing Centre Coaches, put our heads together to assemble some writing tips and tricks for your edification: 1. Writing is for readers. “You may feel like your writing just disappears into the electronic ether when you upload to Moodle, but your writing assignments are for a purpose: to communicate ideas to others” (Emily). So, consider your audience and purpose. What are you trying to say and to whom? Why? Hint: this might include more than just “to my professor” or “for a solid grade”.

2. Read your writing aloud. “If you read your essay out loud you’re more likely to catch small errors like missing commas or typos. You often hear mistakes that you would miss if you just read the paper” (Leanne and Alex). If you are tired of hearing your own voice, use text to speech functions in Microsoft Word or Google Docs or swap essays with a friend. It is often even more effective to read your essay backwards: Read the last sentence. Stop. Is it clear and correct on its own? Read the second to last sentence. Repeat.

3. Writing is revision. “Although it is frustrating to get rid of a large amount of writing and revise, it makes for a more solid piece of work” (Grace). Revising (re-seeing) your writing is how the writing process works— in fact, continually making changes here and there demonstrates growth in a positive direction. Ernest Hemingway rewrote the last page of Farewell to Arms 39 times, and Vladimir Nabokov explains, “I have rewritten—often several times—every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers.” In millennial-speak, Delete and Backspace are your ride-or-dies.

4. Writing takes time. “Taking a little bit at a time works best for me, so I don’t become overwhelmed or intimidated by the project” (Meribeth).

Writing, like any discipline or art form, shouldn’t be rushed. Writing is like running a marathon, you have to pace yourself from start to finish. Anne Lamott calls this tactic taking things “bird by bird”; perhaps, the TWU equivalent should be going through “goose by goose.”

5. Most of all, don’t give up. Lamott encourages, “I heard a preacher say recently that hope is a revolutionary patience; let me add that so is being a writer. Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” Your writing will pay off!

The Writing Centre is here to help in ALL classes and at ALL stages of your writing process: In-person Sessions: Meet one-on-one with a Writing Coach Monday-Thursday in the Learning Commons and Library 230.

Studio Days: Drop in to work on a paper and ask questions Fridays from 9-4pm—we have free coffee and tea for added inspiration. No appointment needed.

WriteAway.ca: Upload a paper for feedback and writing strategies within 48 hours.

All of these services are free! For more information and to book appointments, visit: create.twu.ca/learningcommons.

JUST BECAUSE THEY SWIPED RIGHT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT. Sexual violence and misconduct can never be part of student life.

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16

sports

How to Keep Up with Your Fitness Goals with Rec Services Rec-Services insider Deryk Kirchner breaks down this semesterʼs options for students to get active with on campus!

Deryk Kirchner TWU boasts an incredible variety of recreation options available to students. Throughout the week, different sports leagues, clubs, and drop-in opportunities are available for students. These activities provide a great way to stay healthy, both mentally and physically, to keep that “freshman 15” at bay, while also providing a much needed break from studies. Here is a quick preview of some of the various Rec Services options available to students this semester!

Soccer Intramurals Coordinator: Mowa Adeleye Date, Time & Place: Mondays from 6–9pm in David Enarson Gymnasium Cost: Free!

Drop-in for indoor soccer intramurals for the Spring 2019 semester are on Mondays in the gym. The format is six vs six (including goalies) where at least two girls need to be on the court at all times (many teams opt for more than two, as the male foot-eye coordination has been lacking). Teams of six are needed to play, although more is recommended so that subs can be made to increase the in-game stamina of the team. All skill levels are welcome. If you are looking for an easy way to get your weekly cardio in, we’ve got you covered!

Volleyball Intramurals Coordinator: Logan Betsworth Date, Time & Place: Thursdays from 7–10pm in David Enarson Gymnasium Cost: Free!

Drop-ins for volleyball intramurals have started! The format is six vs six where at least two girls need to be on the court at all times. Playoffs occur near the end of the semester before exams happen, meaning that individuals have no excuse for not putting their best volley, bump, smash, pancake, alligator, or foot forward. Last semester’s winners, the “Driedger Dreams,” had an unexpected but dominant run to their championship and earned some very “sweet” medals and T-shirts for their efforts.

Drop-In Yoga Coordinator: Amy Joleen Date & Time: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 11:40 am–12:40 pm.

Place: Fitness studio above the weight room.

Cost: $20 for the semester. $3 for a drop-in class. Pay at the front desk.

(All proceeds go directly to Rec Services to help pay for amenities for the student body) “Take a deep breath in. Fill those lungs with a copious amount of air, now hold it, hold it steady, and ever so slowly begin to exhale. Release your lungs, feeling the air rush out swiftly. Gradually begin to raise your arms high above your head….” Yoga has been a traditional practice that, for centuries, humanity has benefited from! Its came to us from the hills of India, some five thousand years ago. Today, yoga is even offered at TWU,

where friends join to improve their health, release stress and have fun! If you’re interested in trying out yoga, even if it’s your first time, then come out to Rec Service’s yoga classes! Rumor has it, TWU Bombers players have even attended to improve their flexibility. Yoga is a great way exercise both your faith and your wellness in the fitness studio.

Drop-In Shinny Coordinator: Kiki Richardson and Mason Chong Date & Time: Tuesday Night at 10pm Place: National Training Rink (Central Langley, 6 minute drive from TWU.) Cost: $10 per ice-time If anyone is interested in getting on the ice to embrace his or her inner Canadian, three vs three shinny will be running for ten sessions throughout the semester. These will run January 15–March 26. This semester there is the added bonus of lendable gear being available, which includes helmets, gloves, and sticks. This means that playing hockey is open to everyone! A prepayment option will also be available which will cost $85 for 10 sessions and includes a TWU Shinny T-shirt!

Badminton Club Coordinator: George Ma Date, Time & Place: Wednesdays from 7-9pm in TWU Gymnasium.

Cost: Free!

In past years, TWU Badminton has been drop-in style with nets, rackets, and shuttles available for those who want to play. This allows people to try the sport at their own leisure, play with friends, and enjoy badminton, which has been a community favorite over the years at TWU. You may ask, “is badminton even a sport?” Well, you don’t have to look far to see the impressive level of competition the Badminton Club is now boasting. This year, George has introduced two new features in the Badminton Club in the form of two types of tournaments: a monthly Mini-Tournament and a Year-End Badminton Grand Prix. A ladder styled Mini-Tournament will be held at the end of each month, preparing people for the year end Grand Prix, which will be elimination style. There will be food and drinks for people who are signed up and competing, as well as a prize for the winner.

There is no cost to be a part of the Badminton club, but there will be a $7 fee to enter the year-end Badminton Grand Prix.

On top of all these awesome options, there are also basketball intramurals and drop-in dodgeball on Tuesday nights. Spin class and bootcamp are also available as convenient drop-in activities for busy students. For any questions about Rec Services about how to sign up, join a team, create a team, or get involved, check out the TWU Rec Services Facebook page or the website: https://www.twu.ca/recreation. All of the coordinators would be happy to answer questions and see you get involved with Rec Services!

“Anything by The Wiggles” –Pearl Earnest

17

NBA Top 5 Basketball fanatic Tyler Jones ranks the top 5 NBA players this 2018/2019 season

Tyler Jones Before I get into my top 5, I must first state that the NBA is a changing game. Onlookers of the world’s fastest-growing sport are gravitating towards a game which promotes high volumes of shooting and an overall focus on the offensive side of the game. Defense is important, but it’s important to remember an offensively gifted player will generally come out on top. Let’s get into this: 1. LeBron James—Los Angeles Lakers If you disagree with this ranking, you should stop watching basketball.

Since 2003, we have been fortunate enough to watch the greatest player of all time dominate on a year-to-year basis. Even at the age of 34, LeBron is showing no signs of slowing down (excluding his recent groin injury).

No one knows when LeBron will lose his spot at number one, but it doesn’t seem to be any time within the next two years.

2. Stephen Curry—Golden State Warriors The Warriors are scary. This team has offensive talent oozing from nearly every position in their starting lineup (sorry Draymond). Many would place Kevin Durant ahead of Curry, however, the argument is rested in the sub-par record the Warriors have when Curry is unable to play. During the Steve Kerr era, the Warriors have owned a win percentage floating around 80% when Curry is in the lineup in opposition to the approximate 50% win percentage when Curry isn’t in the lineup. The numbers don’t lie.

3. Kevin Durant—Golden State Warriors Many kids, including myself, who grew up watching KD’s glory days in Oklahoma City wanted to model their game after him. To my misfortune, I wasn’t a 7-footer who could score at will from the perimeter and by the

basket. Kevin Durant is simply a unique player who cannot be beat. His athleticism isn’t what gets him places, but rather his ability to make shots of many different varieties. He is a threat at any place on the court. Durant scores a sliver below 30 points per game on a team with a surplus of offensive weapons.

4. Anthony Davis—New Orleans Pelicans AD can do a lot of things on the court. His defensive capabilities, boundless athleticism, and incredible potential attracted a lot of hype before his league entrance in 2012. Oh boy, did he live up to the hype. Anthony Davis scores nearly 30 points, blocks three shots, and grabs 13 rebounds on a nightly basis. Davis has also proven that he is a respectable shooter from beyond the arc as he shoots threes at a rate upwards of 30%. Don’t mess with AD. 5. James Harden—Houston Rockets It’s certain that the beard is feared. Well, maybe not on defense, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make. While James Harden’s numbers blow minds, basketball fans are on the edge of their seat whenever they watch Harden dice up defenses singlehandedly. Harden’s numbers are outrageous. He’s averaging a league-leading 35 points per game, as well as creating offense for the players around him.

Honourable mentions include: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Russel Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

Mars ' Hill Sports Weekly Question Weekly hot take, featuring sports fanatics Jaron Jeske, Tyler Jones, and Kyle Baker After a strong start to the NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks find themselves on the fringe of their first playoff berth in four years. Fans, however, remain conflicted: is making the playoffs the best thing for the team this season, as opposed to missing the cut and having a chance at the first overall draft selection? Some TWU students and Canucks fans share their thoughts...

Bailey Broadbent: “There is no doubt that the Canucks are playing better than they should be this season. No one expected this team to be competing for a playoff spot at this point, but they are. The team is working incredibly hard in every game and relying on inexperienced players like rookie sensation Elias Pettersson and sophomore Brock Boeser. After years of rebuilding, the Canucks have finally accumulated enough talent to start dreaming about the Stanley Cup, and it looks like the team has returned to a winning culture. The best thing to happen to this team would be to make the playoffs and give our young players a taste of what’s to come. Tanking for better draft picks solves nothing, see: Oilers.”

Kyle Baker: “I don’t see the Canucks making the playoffs this season, but I don’t think it would be in any way a bad thing if they did. Putting the Canucks’ young players in a playoff atmosphere against an elite team would be a great learning experience for the vast majority of the team that has never played beyond the NHL regular season. The idea of “tanking”

for a better pick is pretty much out of the question with how well the Canucks have performed over the last six weeks, so I don’t see any reason this team shouldn’t try and win every game the rest of the way and push for post-season hockey.”

Tyler Jones: “Making the playoffs this year would simply be a cheap thrill. They don’t need to make the playoffs and their roster isn’t good enough for that. They’re riding some exceptional performances which won’t keep up. I won’t be mad if the Canucks make the playoffs, but I see it as a bit of a missed opportunity to do something with a lottery pick. If they made the playoffs, it would just seem as if they would be rushing into things. The light is at the end of the tunnel, but everyone knows you need to use your mushrooms at the right time (Mario Kart reference).”

Jaron Jeske: “I’ll respond with another question: what were our expectations before the year even started? We wanted to see the young players develop. Travis Green has done a great job developing young players since he came up to the NHL, and part of that is creating a competitive culture, whether that’s letting the young guys get top minutes or sit a game in the press box. Making the playoffs would not hinder the development of Canucks’ young players. If making the playoffs is the result of the development from this year, then so be it, but making the playoffs should not be the organizational goal at the expense of developing young players.

“The Macarena” –Elza Coutinho

18

humour

Student Life Endorses Meme Page Janae Gartly

The elusive Official TWU Meme Page (@officialtwu_memepage) has, since its inception, clearly expressed its independence from the TWU administration as stated in its Instagram bio: “This page is strictly community run and not endorsed

by TWU admin.” In an interesting turn of events, however, one Student Life staff member claims that this is “unnecessary.”

Following up on this comment, Mars’ Hill interviewed Kelvin Gartly, Director of Operations and Planning for Student Life, for a comment on the possibility of an endorsement. Referencing a recent meme regarding the relationship between the meme account, the student body, and Student Life, Gartly claims that Student Life rejects the reflection of the department expressed in the picture. He challenged the position, claiming: “I really don’t feel like Ryan Reynolds in that meme. I don’t want to speak for everyone,

but I think I speak for everyone when I say Student Life is way more Jake Gyllenhaal, at least.”

Gartly continued by saying, “A lot of people seem to think that reporting memes to me will get them taken down, and I won’t deny that bringing the memes to me is beneficial. It really brightens my day, honestly. I love a good laugh on a Tuesday afternoon, doesn’t everyone?”

Other Student Life staff have not come forward with comments regarding the potential endorsement of the popular meme page. When asked point-blank if the meme account is officially endorsed, Gartly simply winked. Fans of both the Official TWU Meme Page and Student Life will have to continue waiting for any official endorsement or collaboration between the two groups, which may become a reality in the future.

New Dress Code to be Implemented Micah Morgan Sources confirm that TWU will be implementing a new dress code, because students only wear basic PNW attire. This includes, but is not limited to, Birkenstocks, flannels, and any Patagonia clothing. New rules include banning said clothing on weekdays and alternating Saturdays. Several students interviewed were extremely happy with the proposition. “I really like the idea of people wearing like, non-plaid items every now and then,” said Emily Remple, a third-year History major. First-year Jedidiah Whitcomb agreed, saying, “when I attended my first class here at Trinity, I thought black ripped jeans and Blundstones were the school uniform or something. It took me until mid-semester to figure out that what was really going on was that literally no one here wears anything else.”

professional attire in our community, and that means not wearing Hunter boots or black puffy vests every single day of the week! GET IT TOGETHER, YOU NORMIES!” TWU Staff dragged the representative away, who had begun foaming at the mouth. Students gathered nearby, however, applauded his words.

Other students remain unconvinced by the new rules.

“I don’t own anything else,” second-year Ella Stanford said. “I’m going to have to go to Value Village now and rethink my whole wardrobe.” Andy Freisen echoed her thoughts saying, “I have a flannel for every day of the month. Now I’ll have to disrupt that beautiful pattern for the required ‘PNW Purge.’” The administration, however, remains adamant. Students will now have to grin and bear it, or, if they can’t find anything else to wear, “bare” it.

One representative from Student Life said in an interview: “we just want to establish a standard of clean,

The Milky-less Way

Nyssa Morgan

In a classic case of You Don’t Know What You Had Until It’s Gone™, lactose intolerance hit me hard in Grade 9. Until that point, I had been living a carefree, dairy-filled lifestyle, unaware that the joy of drinking a refreshing glass of chocolate milk or slurping up a bowl of ice cream was about to ripped away from my small, pasty hands.

By the grace of our Lord and Savior, I managed to get to a bathroom just as a volcano of half-digested Cheerios and 2% percent milk came flying out of my mouth and, my aim being just bad enough to miss the toilet, splattering on the floor of the stall. As I sat there in the aftermath of the explosion, I suddenly realized that breakfast food just tried to kill me.

The day I realized there was something seriously wrong with me is one I will never forget. It began just like any other morning before school where I woke up late with just enough time to throw on some clothes, make a lunch, and knock back a bowl of Cheerios before rushing out the door.

Six years later, that day still haunts me, but gradually I have overcome the fear of consuming dairy products. However, there are many others out there who are just like me. They, too, have experienced the evil intentions of lactose, seeing their lives and stomachs, in the words of Will Smith, “flipped, turned upside down” in a matter of moments. So, to you and your bravery, my lactose-free friends, I raise a glass of unsweetened soy milk.

When the barista makes your frappuccino with regular milk or your mom slathers your birthday cake with cream cheese frosting, just remember that you are not alone, and that, while it may slow you down, dairy will never defeat you.

On route to school, my insides began to feel queasy and flip-floppy, like two kids going full force on a seesaw. Being my naïve 15-year-old self, I attributed this solely to the fact that I had eaten my breakfast in approximately 47 seconds. However, by the time I was dropped off at the doors of the school, I was about ready to call Houston because there was definitely a problem. It felt like someone was stirring my stomach and punching it at the same time. Long story short, I was not doing so hot.

“‘All-Star’ by Smash Mouth” –Official TWU Meme Page

AGAPE DANCE CREW

19

An interview with the team leaders Maryo Matias and Anna Zhu Mars’ Hill: How did you guys come up with the name for your dance crew? What’s the story behind it?

Anna Zhu: Maryo gave me the task of naming the crew. So, I had been praying about it for a few months before we actually had a name, and I came up with a very long list of ideas, about 50 possible names.

Maryo Matias: Agape was the one that just instantly struck a chord with me.

Anna Zhu: The idea for the name Agape came from me thinking: “What is the main idea of Christianity? What is the main thing that God wants us to do?” It’s love, of course. So, Agape ended up sticking.

MH: When and how did your team start?

MM: It was actually never supposed to happen. Just this summer, I was asked by one of the gym supervisors to teach a fitness class here at TWU. I took him up on the offer, and that’s where I met Anna. She and a few other dancers started showing up to my classes, and I was like “where are all these dancers coming from?” I talked with these people in my fitness group, and they said that they would love to be part of an urban dance team, and that if I started one, they would help to make it work. I thought and prayed about it, and two weeks later I called a meeting with Anna and the other dancers. We decided that we were going to make this new dance crew happen. The funny thing is, I had always wanted to start an urban dance team at TWU, but I never thought that it would actually happen.

However, when we had our first practice, over 15 dancers showed up, and I realized that this dream might actually come true.

MH: Where do you get inspiration for your dance routines? What is the process like?

MM: I have been teaching dance for over ten years now, and I get a lot of my inspiration from YouTube and my fellow dancers at work. One of the teams I get the most influence from is The Royal Family. I even had the privilege of training in their home studio, The Palace. One of the TWU individuals who inspires me the most is Scott Forsyth—he has made a career out of his dancing, and I want to do the same. As far as Agape dance routines go, I take on all the routine creation, and Anna is my right hand.

MH: What is your vision for Agape?

MM: The creation of our vision has been a very on-the-go process, since we have just started existing as a team a couple months ago. We have had to create our culture, our procedures, and our goals and visions all from scratch. Of course, I have my own vision for the team, but it is important for everyone on the team to contribute to the vision, because, in order for us to be successful, everyone has to be on the same page. For example, one of my personal goals is to make Agape a well-respected, high level team.

Thankfully, now that we are three months in, I can say that we all have this goal in mind. I feel like many people don’t think urban dance is a serious subculture, but we have the opportunity to change that perception.

MH: Are you guys planning on entering the competitive scene?

MM: Yes! We will be travelling to Ontario in March because that’s where all the collegiate dance competitions happen. The urban dance culture in BC is not as big.

MH: How did you guys come to dance?

AZ: I was a K-Pop trainee in Korea for six years. I really wanted to be a famous K-Pop singer, but God had a different plan for me. I followed my own heart instead of His calling for six years, but he kept nudging me, and finally I listened to Him and came here, to TWU. Now I am in the department of Worship Arts, where I get to praise Him in song. I was dedicated to worship, until one day I met Maryo, and suddenly I rediscovered my love for dance. Although I thought I would never be involved in dance again, it looks like I was in fact called to do both.

MM: I started dancing toward the end of high school, which is pretty late for a dancer. I wanted something to do after I had given up track and

field. Slowly, I started taking dance more and more seriously. Eventually, I was able to combine my love for dance with my real passion—teaching. I started coaching my high school team. After high school, life got busy, and I thought that would be the end of my dancing career. However, God had a different plan for me, and every time I tried to put dancing on the back burner, I felt God forcing me to keep on pursuing that passion. Over the years, I went from dancing as a hobby to realizing that this is my calling.

MH: How do you guys connect your faith with your passion for dance?

MM: Especially in a Christian environment, people tend to have negative associations with urban dance and hip-hop. So, sometimes I have felt the pressure to dance to certain music that is “acceptable” in Christian circles.

However, I realize now that when you put your all into your passion and when you inspire others to love what you love, that in itself is showing God’s love. I have seen how dance has changed people’s lives for the better, and that has always inspired me.

AZ: I want our dance to be a conversation starter. It’s always amazing when people ask us about the meaning behind our dances, and from there we can build relationships with these people and show them God in ways that we know Him. Our ability to dance is a gift from God, and I want to use it in the way He intended.

MH: How can a TWU student get involved in Agape?

MM: We actually just had our last auditions for this school year. We have some big performances coming up, which means that we have to start training them as soon as possible. For anyone who still wants to be involved in urban dance, they can join my Wednesday night open classes.

I have had a lot of people start from square one in September who have improved tremendously since then.

AZ: The plan is to have only two auditions each academic year, one in each semester. This is because we take our team development very seriously. Apart from just dancing during practice, we work on our core; we work on fitness, and we do each new dance move for 30 minutes. There is a lot of tedious work involved in perfecting a dance, and we want people who are interested in Agape to realize that. Of course, the work matches the reward, and our hard work pays off every time.

“Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” –MacKenna Wilson

THE

SHEVANGELIST

Tabitha Wellsandt

Major: Art + Design Height: 5ʼ 10” Hometown: Richland, WA

Favourite Christian (non-worship) song?

Cocaine Jesus Favourite preacher?

Cal Townsend Idea of a perfect date? https://youtu.be/ pFRZowfARsw How long before you propose?

The algorithm is quite complex, see me after class Best pick-up line? *drops lime with number written on it*

Age limit (max/min) Military aged male What theme do you envision for the wedding?

Marriage What is your signature dish?

Bundt pan How do you plan to take family photos?

Matching shirts, tallest to shortest How would you make up after your first fight?

Dance battle

Year: 4 Age: I donʼt know about you...

What is your love language?

Chocolate, el chocolate, chocolat, chocolade (Iʼm committed) How many kids do you want?

An even number or divisible by 5 Apple or Android?

Neither, thank you

What do you put in your coffee?

Love… and a shack ton of hot chocolate mix

Be inspired, think critically, and build your career

PASSION PREPARATION JOIN US AT THE INFORMATION SESSION “Baby Shark” –Nate Froëhlich

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31ST TWUSA LOUNGE 5 TO 6 PM