Volume 25 Issue 7: Cyborg by Mars Hill Newspaper

Cyborg

Chrystia Freeland PG. 5

Fashion & Fascism PG. 8

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 07

TWUSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Innovative Leadership PG. 10-11

02 03 21

MEET THE

TEAM

LETTER FROM THE (NEWS)

EDITOR

Wah gwaan Trinity Western University (TWU)? I am Eddison Bryan, your new News Editor for Mars’ Hill! Currently, I am an international student from Jamaica in my second year, majoring in Biology and minoring in Political Studies––yes, I know it’s a weird combo! When I am not busy with the academic rigors of university, you can typically catch me watching YouTube videos, FaceTiming friends, listening to pop and R&B music, and educating myself through Twitter.

Writing is something that has never escaped my interests since it was something I was always good at. Throughout high school, I was very involved in debate and public speaking, so communication––both spoken and written form––was routinely a part of my life. Additionally, taking Caribbean English Literature forced me to express the creative and critical sides of my writing, which pushed me to further appreciate great literature. Some of my favourite pieces are Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and George Orwell’s 1984.

Stepping into this new role as News Editor was initially daunting since producing unbiased expositions can be challenging. I am excited, however, to be exploring this side of my writing while implementing my love for research and politics. Finally, I am excited to be included in this amazing team of writers who are all passionate about different issues. They are hard workers who commit to producing excellent content, all while being a fun-loving team of which, I am grateful to be a part.

INT

MARS’ HILL

MEDIA ADVISOR: Loranne Brown 22500 University Drive, Langley Twp, British Columbia, Canada V2Y 1Y1 marshill@gmail.com marshillnewspaper.com IG @marshillnewspaper Twitter @marshillnews facebook.com/marshillnewspaper

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Sto:lo people. Floated with funds raised by the Student Association, Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, reflecting and challenging the TWU community, while intentionally addressing local, national, and international issues.

MISSION TO MARS

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, the Statement of Faith, the Student Handbook, 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

Kennedy Dragt Jillian Urbach Sydney Dvorak Sefa Tese Shaila Weflen Dany Lombardo

Alice Jun Hannah Ahrendt Natalie Bruner Alex Walker Braedon Grover Sunnes

DECLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR OWN AT MARSHILLNEWSPAPER.COM/DECLASSIFIEDS

WHO is that pretty girl who makes pancakes in the collegium on Wednesdays?

When they finally paint the invisible triangular speed bumps yellow so I don’t destroy my car

RAs should have to know CPR

If he can’t cook, controls what you eat, and takes your money, that’s not your man, that’s Sodexo.

How does one find a boyfriend? Asking for a friend I can’t stop knitting, like I CANNOT STOP Ok but whoever said that Anna and Kristoff from Frozen were a great couple, I so agree. But like, HAVE YOU MET RAPUNZEL AND FLYNN RYDER? thank you nyssa morgan for talking about kpop any bts fans out there? hi I just wanted to say that I miss rat-boy. and yes he knows who he is #fantasia It’s amazing to me that I can pee and be in class at the same time. Craig Broyles looks way too much like Albert Einstein

If your girl is pushy, has good taste in music, and keeps begging you to come back to her, that’s not your girl - that’s Spotify premium. someone needs to stop Microsoft teams To the person that asked me about dark chocolate vs milk chocolate, I have a more specific answer; I would say probably a 65% dark chocolate It was night time so thats my final answer People think that Jim and Pam from the Office are the best slow burn couple of TV, but I disagree. It’s Tina and Artie from Glee and nobody can convince me otherwise. Everybody in McMillan is a loving dork

Mars Hill really stepped up their game this year good job guys.

( T_T)\(^-^ ) it will b ok, fren. all will b well. u r still loved

Petition to power wash the TWU entrance sign. Like... the first impression of our university is algae

Even as a white dude I couldn’t agree more with Alisha Pinto and her article “The Myth of Diversity...” Thankfully my master’s program is set to be at UBC

“All of the wealthy are gay”

Thank-you Emmett for your openness in talking about your tattoos. I had never thought about them in that way. I see mine as ‘markers’ of my spiritual growth.

A book that everyone should read: Everybody Always by Bob Goff

I remember being in Dr. Chamberlain’s class and calling him “Almost Dr. Chamberlain” before he got his PhD, while also convincing the class I was a communist... oh good times indeed.

I swear I’m gonna jump out the window if my Prof tries to make everyone on Zoom read at the same.

ENGL 103 is not representative of the English department, and this really disappoints me.

I was a hardcore West coaster but the Marlie collegium has now converted me :)

in 2021 we’re not gonna say any bad words

Despite constant messaging from TWU faculty and administration saying that they “care about students mental health,” in practice they do not give a rip about mental health.

How did Amy and Jake from Brooklyn 99, and Anna and Kristoff from Frozen set your relationship standards too high? Just wanna hear your thoughts #curious What program is Trinity Western best known for across Canada? ... The twu law school Why do places have to already have Valentines Day things on display, like I get it, I’m single and the only person getting me chocolate is myself Fun Fact: There are more trees on earth than there are stars in the milky way “I was 89% sure that this was 100% false but look it up, it’s true” -Emma

You’ve heard of ring by spring, now get ready for Divorce by December

Craig Broyles: Then David went into Bathsheba... quite literally.

Can somebody please abolish family vlogging culture? It is disappointing, unethical, and deserves to be disbanded. o man sorry i didn’t recognize there bro i was momentarily crippled by my fear of the possibility of you actually hating me and i didn’t want to make you regret the day you were born by me bothering you, anyway sup man how are ya ! my fiance left me for jesus

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.

CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE: ALEX WALKER WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR? Theatre and Religious Studies (double major).

spiritual level. He had divorced parents, loved to eat, loved jokes, and was loyal to his friends.

WHY DO YOU WRITE FOR MARS’ HILL? It’s an excuse to do creative writing, because I love to do creative writing but I don’t always have time. So when Nyssa is like “I need jokes!”, turns the brim of her ball cap to the back of her head, and yells “I choose you!”, I am happy to oblige.

WHAT IS YOUR ON-BRAND ZOOM BACKGROUND? Pepperoni Pizza

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER AND WHY? Buster Baxter. As a kid, I related to him on a

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WANT TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD? God’s love fills the holes that human love cannot. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t search for love from humans and that you aren’t allowed to relish the love you get from them, but

if you look for your fulfillment in human love, you will inevitably become hopeless and depressed. Nevertheless, love yourself and others unabashedly and let the fuel for this love come from the contentment and fulfilment found in trusting in God’s love for you. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTICLE YOU’VE WRITTEN FOR MARS’ HILL AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? This issue’s article, because I love potatoes and if I could marry a potato I would.

NEWS WHEN WILL YOU GET VACCINATED? EDDISON BRYAN

It has now been a full year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in British Columbia on January 28, 2020. Ten months later, news of two vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were authorized by Health Canada for mass immunisation across the nation. Sadly, these efforts by the Federal and Provincial Governments have been stalled due to shortages in vaccines by the manufacturers to Canada. Thus, many residents in B.C., and across Canada, are left wondering when they will get their shots so things can return to “normal.”

the other members of the “high-risk” community and is set to take place from February to March. Seniors aged 80 and over, hospital staff and medical specialists, vulnerable populations, and community home support staff are all included in this. Starting April 2021, B.C. residents considered a part of the “general population” can begin getting vaccinated. Phase three, from April to June, seeks to immunize people aged 79 to 60, in respective five year grouped increments. This means that the remainder of our grandparents who fall in this age bracket can now go and receive the vaccine. The majority of the “working population,” however, will have to wait until the summer to get their dose. The final phase, phase four, allows people aged 18 to 59 to receive the vaccine between July and September 2021. Phase four will prioritize immunization by age, so university-aged students will be vaccinated in September. While the majority of British Columbians wait eagerly for their time to come, many questions and concerns have arisen to the Provincial Government about their immunization plans. Global News hosted a COVID-19 Town Hall on January 28 addressing many of them with Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and the B.C. minister of health, Adrian Dix. Here are some key questions and takeaways:

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), both vaccines were found to be about 95 percent effective in preventing one from contracting COVID-19. These vaccines contain the messenger RNA (mRNA) nucleotide derived from copying the direct genetic information from the virus’s RNA. The vaccines themselves do not contain the actual SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Once the vaccine enters your body, it triggers an immune response for your body to acknowledge it as a foreign entity, in turn creating antibodies to kill the foreign particle, and lastly storing the information on how to eliminate that particle if it returns. The BCCDC advises that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines be given in two parts: the first being a normal shot of the vaccine and the second a “booster shot” to increase the body’s efforts in fighting the virus after the first shot potentially wears off. The Government of B.C. has rolled out its full immunization plan in four phases to circumvent the spread of the virus, starting with the high-risk population. Phase one (December 2020 to February 2021) is aimed at immunizing residents and staff of long-term care and assisted living facilities, hospital health care workers, and remote First Nations communities. Phase two covers

What is the wait time between the first and second doses? The general timeline is 19 to 42 days, but as the manufacturers recommend, we should wait 21 days for Pfizer and 28 days for the Moderna vaccine. Can people of different age groups be vaccinated together? Yes, only if the older person waits until the younger’s eligibility period opens. There is no “deadline” to get the vaccine by; once your period opens you can get it at any time after that. Can we stop wearing masks and start travelling after getting both shots? “Right now, no. We will get there, though,” responded Dr. Bonnie. We still have to wait until the majority of the population is vaccinated for us to truly be protected from the virus. After that, we are free to travel and hug our loved ones again. While we wait for our turn to get vaccinated and be fully immunized against the COVID-19 disease, Dr. Bonnie Henry urges British Columbians to “be kind, be calm and be safe.”

STONKS: THE TALE OF GAMESTOP, A SUBREDDIT, AND THE DOGS OF WALL STREET TYLER JONES

Remember GameStop? Yes, the outdated video-game retailer that was decimated by the age of digital game downloads due to its reliance on selling hard copies of games. As it turns out, GameStop has recently received a significant increase in its stock price in a movement led by a large reddit page titled Wall Street Bets (WSB). Outdated business models are often in play for a “short” scenario. Essentially, a short is betting against the company. Rather than supporting a company by purchasing a share of its stock, shorting is a matter of profiting off of the cost of a share going down. Although there are many methods to do this, the most common way to short a stock is to borrow shares from a broker, then sell those shares immediately. Short sellers find themselves in a position of being in a debt to the broker, which is offset by the money they just received for the stock. Once the price of the shorted stock goes to the level desired by the short sellers, they then buy back the stock and give it back to the broker. Piece of cake. GameStop was the poster-child for shorted stock. By typically preying on outdated business models, those who short stocks are able to make significant money as they lobby against a company. Since 2011–– when downloading video games directly onto a user’s console started becoming the norm–– GameStop’s stock price went from $20 per share, gradually falling to $4 per share by 2020. This led to easy money for anyone who was shorting this stock. Yet WSB had something else in mind. Often targeting stocks that are being heavily shorted, WSB swooped in with its army of nearly six million self-titled “degenerates” to artificially raise these stocks back to life. However, the

GameStop instance seems to stand alone as a masterpiece by the degenerates. Slowly gaining traction throughout the fall and eventually booming in the month of January, a single share of GameStop’s stock rose from $4 to nearly $500, showing signs that it could continue climbing. As a result of this massive base of investors in GameStop, those who shorted the company have lost a significant amount of money due to the drastic fashion in which these events transpired. For those who have shorted the GameStop stock, there is a lot of frustration towards the artificial money that the company has at its disposal. Now valued at approximately $20 billion, GameStop has few options to succeed with its newfound money due to the brick and mortar nature of the company itself. Yet, this heist pulled off by the ordinary North Americans of WSB has caused a feud of drastic proportions, possibly pointing to bigger issues within the supposedly free market of Canada and the United States. Popular stock trading services for the common North American investor such as Robinhood and TD stand at the forefront by grounding the GameStop stock. Robinhood, the recipient of more hate than any other platform, decided to halt all incoming purchases of GameStop shares, only allowing sale of the stock that was rapidly sold after. Multiple lawsuits are expected to come down on trading platforms that have halted GameStop’s meteoric rise. As miraculous as this strategy is, WSB has truly taken the nature of ordinary investments to the next level. Manipulating a market has never looked so easy. For once, it seems as if the little guys may have won this one.

COLUMN: WHAT THE HONK?

CHRYSTIA FREELAND: CANADA’S FORGOTTEN POWER WOMAN EMMA DYKSTRA

The day of the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Canadians all over social media were quick to celebrate the United States’ first female Vice President, Kamala Harris. Harris’s election was exciting and worth celebrating; however, most Canadians are unaware that they have their own Canadian version of Kamala Harris who has been serving as Canada’s deputy prime minister since the last election in 2019. Chrystia Freeland has played a major role in getting Canada through the pandemic and held five prominent cabinet positions during her time in Canadian government. Chrystia Freeland was born in Peace River, Alberta in 1968. She attended Harvard University where she obtained a degree in Russian history and literature and went on to pursue a masters in Slavonic studies. She began a journalism career working as a freelance journalist for the Financial Post, Washington Post, and the Economist while working in the Ukraine. From 1999-2001, she served as the deputy editor of the Globe and Mail. She was the managing editor at the Financial Times for a brief period and became managing director and editor of consumer news at Reuters before leaving to pursue a career in politics in 2013. Freeland was first elected as the Liberal member of parliament for the riding of Toronto Centre with 49 percent of the vote. She rose in popularity during her role as the Liberal trade critic. In the 2015 election, she opted to run in the riding of University-Rosedale with 50 percent of the vote. Under the Liberal’s majority win in 2015, she was appointed as the minister of international trade. During her time in the role, she was heavily involved with the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union, Canada’s biggest trade deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Freeland cited the deal as an important part of “building bridges, not building walls” when it came to Canada’s cooperation abroad. In a cabinet shuffle during 2017, Freeland became the minister of foreign affairs. While serving, she spoke for Canada on the international level by calling out and condemning various human rights abuses, such as the issue of Xinjiang re-education camps and human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China. She was the first Western leader to condemn the camps during her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Freeland’s job went to the next level in the 2019 election. Voted in for the third time, Freeland became Canada’s deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs. As deputy prime minister, she was assigned multiple cabinet portfolios such as Canada-US relations, introducing firearms regulations, developing a pan-Canadian childcare system, facilitating interprovincial free trade, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. After the 2019 election, Freeland was tasked with attempting to heal the separation felt between the federal government and the western provinces, where the Liberal’s failed to win a single seat. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada, she was appointed as the chair of the brand new committee on the federal government’s response to COVID-19. Following the resignation of Bill Morneau in August 2020, Freeland also assumed the role of minister of finance, being the first woman to ever hold the position. Freeland’s humble disposition and gentle nature have left her relatively unknown by most Canadians; especially younger ones. She does not often get heated in the House of Commons and provides little to no drama when faced with an attacker. Freeland is well respected by politicians and political thinkers all over the spectrum. She does her job calmly and cooly without seeking fame or recognition, making her perfect for the positions she’s taken on. As Canadians celebrate our southern neighbour’s exciting accomplishment of electing a female vice president, they should also not forget the second-in-command power woman of their own nation: Chrystia Freeland.

WHAT THE HONK IS THE GOVERNOR GENERAL? EMMA DYKSTRA

The Governor General of Canada Julie Payette resigned from her post on January 21, 2021. Resignations are not all that uncommon in a typical workplace, but it is a big deal for a Governor General to resign. Only one Governor General has ever stepped down in Canadian history, and that was for health reasons in 1999. But of course, this headline mostly prompted the question: “what even is the Governor General?” Because Canada is a constitutional monarchy, we have a head of state (the Queen) and a head of government (the Prime Minister). The Governor General of Canada is the British monarch’s representative on Canadian soil. This means they take on constitutional responsibilities such as swearing the government into office, summoning parliament, delivering the Speech from the Throne (see “What the Honk” from Issue 2: Neutrality), appointing members of the privy council, and signing info effect official documents. The Governor General can be found at a lot of events of significance domestically and internationally. It is their job to welcome and host new ambassadors to Canada. They also travel abroad to strengthen Canada’s relationships around the globe, usually accompanied by prominent Canadian figures who represent different areas of expertise. The Governor General is also responsible for presenting awards to Canadians who have demonstrated extraordinary service in areas ranging from scientific research to education. Most famously, they are responsible for presenting the Order of Canada, the second highest honour in all the land. The title of Governor General is usually granted to a Canadian who has historically served Canada in unique and extraordinary ways during their lifetime. But a vetting process is extremely important. Payette had to resign after a scandalous toxic workplace report came to light in 2020; she had not been vetted, which resulted in her obtaining a job she was not suited for due to her offensive manners in the workplace. Hopefully the next Governor General will not only be vetted properly, but also maintain a healthy workplace environment for their staff.

ARTS & CULTURE

REDRESSING THE CYBORG KENNEDY DRAGT

When Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto was first published in 1985, her ideas emerged into a world of Cold War tensions and rapidly-progressing technology. Thirty-five years later and Haraway’s work still adequately critiques and explores what it means to be human while breaking down the barriers between polarities.

society likely because of its roots in the Aristotelian view of technology as a detached, malleable tool. However, when we see technology as only tools, and as the only tools we have, we easily adopt the technofix mentality wherein all problems are essentially solvable through our technology. When technological advances such as bio-engineering and renewable energy become flags of resolution, social-collective responsibility is neglected. Think of issues such as food scarcity and climate change; while technology can help us combat disaster, technology without systemic change and social championing is meaningless. Perhaps now more than ever, a resituating of the cyborg is important. As has been repeatedly uttered to the point of inanity, we live in “unprecedented times;” the whole globe is experiencing a phenomenon of disaster(s), and more “unprecedented-ness” seems to pile on every day. While this should be a unifying factor, due to all of the physical and social-distancing requirements no one needs reminding of, we are experiencing heightened individuality. Our shared experiences of suffering separate us rather than unite us. Thus, Haraway’s idea of the cyborg, a collective of uniqueness and agent of “pleasure in the confusion of boundaries and for responsibility in their construction” could provide solace by repositioning our individual identities within a limbo of undefinition, a space of unbeing and being together.

Her original manifesto purports the cyborg as “our ontology,” the thesis of our being in the inbetween of mechanism and organism. However, while perhaps the most predominant name associated with the cyborg in academic circles, Haraway did not coin the term, nor is she the primary supplier of our cultural understanding of the cyborg. Cyborgs filled the artistic imagination long before Haraway created her icon of unifying cultural reconstruction. At the time of her writing, cyborgs became popular figures in film and literature, and in many instances, these popular images are the opposite of Haraway’s use of the cyborg metaphor. The cyborg in media is intentionally divisive, a mascot for philosophical arguments between those who believe humanity is simply an organic based machine, and those who believe it is more. Film, art, and games are filled with tropes of both the good cyborg leading humanity into the future and the evil one, who eventually (like all illusions of evil) becomes humanity’s undoing. Thus, the cyborg has become—like so many literary figures—a meta-metaphor taking up a role in society as an image of both our fears and our dreams. However, the main problem with the cyborg––which Haraway addresses in her 2016 book Staying With the Trouble by reframing her argument with a new lexicon based on “the critter”––is its tendency to be appropriated in support of what has come to be known as the “technofix.” Because the cyborg is seen as a machine (despite Haraway’s protests), her concept of the cyborg, and the technology it represents, is viewed as a symbol of redemption. This idea of technology as the solution is dangerous, yet it remains prominent in western

Still, we cannot deny our technology—and by this I mean all cultural philosophy and frameworks which structure our digital age as much of the physical products that uphold them—because the denial of culture is a denial of ourselves. We (in true cyborg fashion) have become a product of our own creation––an assemblage of individuality. This means, for humanity to be fully human or to achieve cyborg elevation, we must accept our multiplicity.

FINDING SIGNS OF LIFE AT CYBER-SEA MONICA RAWLEK

In a way, this past year has left many of us feeling lost at sea. We are venturing off into new and uncharted waters, looking for land, or something solid to hold on to, but finding more sea instead. Fortunately, we are not alone in this journey as we have key touchpoints linking us back to the lives we once knew. For some, this touchpoint may be the opportunity to continue living with friends, family, or others. However, the greatest connection we have to the land we once knew is through our cell phones. The importance of our social media profiles has become increasingly more evident due to the reality that our social media “self” is the only “self” that anyone will be able to interact with until the pandemic concludes. The ever-changing and adapting technology has remained more consistent than the realities of our lived experience––even though it has been portrayed as the enemy for years now. It is the addiction we cannot quit: an alternate reality we lose ourselves in, distracting ourselves from what is truly important in life. Our physical and lived experiences are not always synonymous with one another. Merleau-Ponty, a French phenomenological philosopher, found that our bodies are not merely objects in the world but the very means by which our world comes into being. We are not merely objects, we are active participants in a shared reality, no matter how different or turbulent this reality may be. Now, in the midst of lockdown and isolation, our interactions with one another through the use of technology is our only connection to life back on land. My interactions with the world, although different, have carried on in deep and meaningful ways. Through the use of various

media platforms, I have been able to stay connected with friends and loved ones. Although not present physically, I still know about the events, joys, and challenges that have unfolded in their lives. I used to view the media and technology as an evil that had to be overcome. This rejection was both instinctively and philosophically motivated. There was something that felt artificial about interacting with the world around me through a screen: I rejected it almost completely as a false, cheapened reality that I wanted no part in. However, I realize now, the Lord has made us creative, thinking beings with the power to make art, music, and shape culture. Even in the midst of a global pandemic people are still being creative and discovering new things about our world. With every new technology, we must ask ourselves: what problem is this trying to solve? Being lost in the cyber-sea can feel scary and isolating; however, we must not treat the things that remind us of land as the land itself. Our interactions with the world around us through the use of our phones is neither the answer nor the problem in and of itself. As an extrovert living alone, I am appreciative of the way I am able to connect with people in a way that resembles the life I once knew. Although I once rejected this cyber-reality, it is one of the few things that have helped me maintain my bearings while lost at sea. At one point in my life, this would have frightened me. However, I have grown thankful to have this touchpoint back to the land I once knew. In the uncharted waters of this sea of cyber-sea, this is my journey.

RETURNING TO THE WOODS: TWEC’S APPEAL FOR ECO-ACTION AMID LOCKDOWN JILLIAN URBACH

I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent in front of a screen this week. Unless I am sleeping or actively engaged in another activity such as cooking or taking a shower, I nearly always have my phone or computer in front of me. Chances are you are in a similar situation.

be there for it as well. My hope is that we might all gain a greater appreciation for the natural world through this time of reliance upon it and feel encouraged to become more focused on doing what we can to protect it.

It is not entirely our fault––COVID-19 has made us all involuntary homebodies. The pandemic has pushed a society that already functions heavily online even further into tech dependency. Even events as significant as Christmas with family and a presidential inauguration have had to be moved online. You should consider yourself lucky if you have never known the agony of watching a three-hour dissections lab over Zoom. With an ever-increasing amount of time spent in front of a screen, getting outside is more important than ever. Nature has become my greatest ally during this time. I am currently finishing up my second 14-day quarantine this school year after returning to Canada from winter break. Even when I am not required to be online, I spend my free time there as well, either to wind down by watching Netflix or to distract myself from being alone by mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. The only time when I feel like I can totally unplug and escape for a while is when I go for my daily walk. A breath of fresh air and a glimpse of sunshine peeking through the clouds have been invaluable to my mental health; merely being able to get out and walk more than the 20 steps it takes to get from my room to the kitchen makes me feel better almost instantly. Even when we are not in a government-ordered quarantine, the pandemic limits our options when it comes to in-person socializing. Often, doing something outdoors and physically-distanced is the only safe way to get together with friends and family outside our bubble and this reality has created a growing trend of returning to nature as a break from our solitary, online lives. Getting outside for a walk, hike, or picnic with friends allows us to still get that human connection we so crave without endangering ourselves or those around us. Just as the outdoors has been there for us––to give us peace of mind and a break from the current circumstances, and as a way to maintain our relationships with loved ones outside our household––we should

Ironically enough, many of the actions which we can take to stand up for our environment happen in the same online space which we seek to escape. Social media activism is by no means the only way to accomplish political objectives, but it provides an increasingly efficient platform upon which grassroots movements can gain momentum. Through coordinated online action, the demands of the people can catch the attention of our representatives in government. Starting conversations around environmental issues and spreading awareness of possible solutions is easier than ever due to today’s technology––it is an accessible way for anyone to get involved in making change happen in their community. Furthermore, there are countless other resources available, from books and documentaries to community environmental organizations like our very own Trinity Western Environmental Club (@twec.twu on Instagram). TWEC believes that we are called to take care of God’s creation and encourage others to do the same through social media engagement and events such as local trash clean-ups and open meetings with guest speakers from environmental fields. This pandemic has presented many tragedies and challenges which have forced us to adapt our lives in so many ways. However, if anything good can come from this kind of global catastrophe, perhaps it is the way it is leading us back to nature. Now we have the opportunity to return the favor and be there for nature as it has been there for us.

FASHION AND FASCISM: THE AESTHETICS OF POLITICS SYDNEY DVORAK

Join me in focusing our attention on our neighbours to the south as they encounter a new era in politics. On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, and Kamala Harris as the first ever woman Vice President. However, this is not just a new era of politics, but a new era of aesthetics. Every political regime in history has used art as propaganda as a means to define its institutions, or as a tool to shape the ideologies of those they lead. The phrase “aestheticization of politics” was coined by Marxist philosopher Walter Benjamin. He argued that there is a distinctly manipulative link between art and politics. Often we associate this practice with writing, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Communist Manifesto, or Mein Kampf. Images, style, texts, art, architecture, and fashion all work together to form an aesthetic system. An aesthetic system defines a regime. Aesthetics are as much about personal expression as they are about the construction of power.

Photo by Kevin Lamarque for Reuters

Fashion is not the only form of aesthetics used to send public messages. In his last months in office, Trump issued a presidential order that all government buildings must be “beautiful.” This translates to them being built in the classical styles of the Greeks or Romans. The order states that “New federal building designs should, like America’s beloved landmark buildings, uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire human spirit, ennoble the United States, and command respect from the general public.”

Today, the aestheticization of politics is made simpler and more effortless by way of social media. Social media makes things bite-sized, eye-catching, quick yet endless, and––most importantly––not always subject to the truth. When you think of aesthetics, Donald Trump likely is not the first person to come to mind. However the social media environment has allowed his regime to create and circulate its aesthetic masterfully, and it harkens back to the facist undertones Walter Benjamin wrote about.

The message this is meant to send became clear to Phineas Harper, the former deputy director of the Architecture Association: “Regardless of history, classical aesthetics have become a dog whistle for a certain pocket of nationalists––a code for whiteness.” Many have felt it is suggesting that characteristics of “white culture” are superior. As Walter Benjamin described, “the introduction of aesthetics into political life” is the backbone of fascism.

The Trump aesthetic was gaudy, showy, and nationalistic. His slogan, “Make America Great Again,” summarizes the aesthetic system with which he was hoping to define the nation: one that idealized raw power, allowed for the celebration of violence, and fed the myth of the empire. Trump has been known to wear the bright red hats sporting his slogan, as well as his signature oversized suits and slightly too-long ties. Some reflect on his style as embodying a larger-than-life personality, while others thought his appearance to be kitschy and silly. The nation looked on with either disappointment or excitement, but regardless of which emotions they felt toward the president, the impact of his aesthetic will be long-lasting. As The New York Times photographer for every president since Ronald Reagan noted, Trump’s look was “iconic.” Trump sought to create a mythical persona, and for better or worse, this was achieved.

Photo by David Mark from Pixabay

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

On the other side of the coin, the left has often tried to politicize art. The most recent and striking example of this is Kamala Harris. At her inauguration, vice president Harris awed in a purple suit made by a Black, queer designer. CNN journalist Abby Phillip remarked that the purple suit represented Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first Black woman to run for president as a major-party candidate, who inspired Madam Vice President’s political career. Purple is the symbolic colour of the women’s suffrage movement. Purple is also a mixture of red and blue, which could symbolize the unity of the two political parties. Harris appeared powerful and graceful as the nation’s first woman, Black, and South Asian Vice President.

As of January 20, the aesthetics of the Trump administration no longer shape the narrative, but the pull of the aestheticization of politics always lurks. Benjamin wrote of the possibility of an aesthetic system that is “useless for the purposes of fascism.” What could that be? As German actor and writer Bertolt Brecht said, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.” Though it often seems art is reactionary, or even irrelevant to the political narrative, art and politics are always shaping each other. So the question remains, which hammer will we use? How do we go about reshaping our collective future?

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: SEFA TESE gram post—I do a lot of research to see what’s been done before and see where I can make things a little different in my own work. I also take note of what my favorite artists, designers, and filmmakers like to include in their artwork and projects—little things like texture, composition, and perspective can make a big difference.

WHAT IS YOUR YEAR AND MAJOR? Just began my fourth year in Media and Communications. WHAT IS YOUR ART FORM? I’ve always been fascinated with photography, and have recently been getting into digital design. I feel a bit weak with my hands so I’ve shied away from some studio art such as drawing and painting. I also thought I could never get into film and video editing and really tried my best to avoid it until I had no choice but to take a filmmaking class for my core. Now I can’t get over what an intriguing and powerful storytelling tool it is. I’m hoping to continue exploring other art forms and discover how they can be used to enhance the ways we tell stories. WHAT DRIVES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND DESIGN? Getting involved in student leadership, Pillar, and the Afro-Caribbean Club has been helping me overcome my struggle to go beyond class projects and expand on what I’ve learned. Once I’m ready to get down to work on a certain project—like a poster or an Insta-

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON? The courage to be bold about my work-inprogress. I get as much encouragement to put my work out there as I do questions as to why I still haven’t done so. When it comes to anything art, learning what works for you and what doesn’t is messy and confusing, discovering your style is anything but straightforward, and finding your niche is an even longer process. So I’m really just working on coming to terms with all that. Most of my projects are done for class and have been a great opportunity to explore and practice the various types of graphic design. In other words, I’m learning to put into action what it means to not have to have it all figured out. WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE ART WORLD? There are many artists, photographers, designers, and filmmakers I follow on social media that fuel my affinity for art and design. My recent favorites are the creatives behind ZeroResistance Studios and Temi Coker. There are some who attend or have attended TWU that I admire as well—Bethany Haynes, Olivia Francis-Akolo, Rachel Wegner, Josh Onwugbonu, Kristen Chan, just to name a few! It’s always so cool to see their work and know that they really love and enjoy what they do to do what they do, and do it so well. WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO? I think it was back in 10th grade when I decided to use Colossians 3:23 and Ecclesiastes 9:10 as my motto. Growing up, my parents would always tell my siblings and me to make sure that we do our very best with whatever work we’re doing, be it sweeping floors,

studying for a test, or peeling potatoes. As I became more and more involved in church, I often helped out with designing posters, event schedules, and name tags for the women’s ministry. I was also part of the worship team and got to design the tickets used for the worship conference, as well as shoot and co-direct the promo video. At the time it was just stuff I could do outside of studying, yet I was really glad that I could use my design skills to help where I could. That meant a lot to me. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH PILLAR? It’s been really laid back as a photographer, even more so now that there are very few events to work with on campus. But the various obstacles and challenges due to the COVID-19 restrictions do call for creative ways to overcome them, and that’s what’s been interesting and exciting to be part of in the team. It’s also been good exposure to the fun and not-so-fun parts about covering an event. I quickly learned that photos are not always half the job. Sometimes it’s setting up for a shoot, handling heavy cameras for a long period of time, or having the battery die early on you. But none of that compares to finding one or more perfectly timed shots while editing. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IN YOUR CREATIVE CAREER? Ultimately, I look forward to being part of a creative community and collaborating with other creatives. I’m always in awe of the many creative projects I come across either online or in person and think about the great teamwork it took to pull it all off. On my part it does require getting out of my comfort zone and reaching out though, but at least that’s a little easier to do over social media. WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR ART? @twuacc and @fafa.bee. There’s not much yet, but we’re getting there.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: SHAILA WEFLEN cer team) at a showcase tournament and he invited me for an on campus tour and I loved it. It was such a different atmosphere and the girls on the team were so kind. He took me to the Neufeld nursing wing and I was able to talk with a few of the professors there. I just had a really good feeling about coming here. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH SOCCER? I grew up in a pretty athletic family and always played a lot of sports, so I ended up liking soccer the most because of the team aspect and being outside.

HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY (TWU)? WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY TO COMING HERE? I first heard of TWU through an advisor who came to my school and was telling me that its soccer program was really good and that it was a Christian university which appealed to me. I met Graham (coach of the women’s soc-

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENT? In my first year, I tore my ACL and I think it was a test to see how much I really loved the sport and having the time to come back and play. I think it was a real accomplishment, being to go through something like that in rebuilding my knee to coming back and being able to play. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A SPARTAN? One thing that it means is that it comes with things like the respect you can get. It’s more than your sport; you’re held to a higher stan-

dard as a Christian in society. We have a saying on our team, “leave the place that you went to better than you found it.” A lot of it has to do with being held to a different standard. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS AS A STUDENT AND ATHLETE THIS YEAR? It’s definitely a different year with soccer and with COVID and so focusing on the basics of the sport. We’re socially-distant training right now and so we have to find little things that we love about the sport. We really have bought into what we love about the sport even though we would rather be playing a game and having that mindset. For school, nursing is pretty intense this semester, and so being able to juggle everything and using soccer as an outlet and going through clinical can help me calm down for school. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GATORADE FLAVOUR AND WHY? I don’t actually know the Gatorade flavours, but the blue one because it’s crisp. I grew up always drinking blue.

A YEAR INTERRUP

Mars’ Hill (MH): Going back to March, when COVID-19 derailed the in-person nature of our campus, did you expect to be back in full function for the 2020-2021 school year? Dany Lombardo (DL): In March, I wanted to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. We were in the middle of hiring and making up the TWUSA (Trinity Western University Student Association) team, so I really didn’t take the time to think farther ahead than that. It wasn’t really until May when I knew things would not be back to normal anytime soon. Knowing this beforehand helped me make the decision to stay at Trinity Western University (TWU) for the summer and not go back home. Having a job with TWU’s marketing and being invited to meetings as TWUSA President throughout the summer gave me an insider perspective that allowed me to foresee some challenges and opportunities for the school and TWUSA.

MH: As hope for our student body to be attending in-person classes dwindled throughout the summer break, how was your mindset altered in the midst of the silent chaos we all found ourselves in? DL: I think knowing first-hand the upcoming changes for the fall helped me process the loss and grief sooner than everyone else. At first I was resistant and sad, but I came at a crossroads of knowing I had the choice to let this situation take away our chance to make a change, or pivot and find new ways to meet the challenges ahead. I had to let go of some of my proposals momentarily and focus on what the new needs of the student body were because of COVID.

MH: In wake of the outbreak that occurred within certain residence buildings, leading to tightened restrictions in the fall, how is TWUSA planning to continue providing a strong sense of community without the human connection that is usually accessible? DL: Our theme verse for the year is Ephesians 4:1-6 —I encourage you to read it! One of the reasons we liked this verse was because of the historical setting, when Paul wrote this letter while being imprisoned. However, distance did not inhibit God’s plans and Paul’s love for the church in Ephesus. Yet, as verse 6 indicates: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Indeed, unity takes effort, but we believe that with God’s blessing we can build community and unity. In fact, our team decided to change our traditional pillar of “events” to “community” in order to make it clear that our priority is community. Our goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for community involvement, and through that, build unity. That looks like expanding our services by managing the TWUSA Lounge and TWU House, creating online resources like the TWU Life App, hosting in-person (as much as possible) and online events, increasing communication across our channels—especially in regards to COVID-19, pursuing partnerships with ICP, the Wellness Centre, and the Learning Commons to support student services, fund clubs, and increase our advocacy services which involves meeting with students and connecting them to the right resources to help them find solutions. We are also working on updating our Constitution (which has not been modified in over 10 years) and restructuring our team in order to be as effective as possible. In a nutshell, our team is working extremely hard at serving students and creating opportunities for involvement that can build community and unity in such a complex era.

PTED

INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP WITH TWUSA PRESIDENT DANY LOMBARDO TYLER JONES

As TWUSA (Trinity Western University Student Association) began campaigning for its current roles last winter, no one could have foreseen the inevitable changes that COVID-19 would soon bring to our campus. We e-sat down with the current TWUSA President, Dany Lombardo, and listened as she recounted how the pandemic has impacted both the TWUSA team and our student body as a whole.

MH: Individually, how has your vision been altered over the course of the last calendar year? The role you campaigned for, and currently occupy, has certainly seen a massive overhaul due to the current climate the world finds itself in. DL: I think the overall vision that I had for TWUSA is still here. My vision coming into this role was to make TWUSA more than just coffee and events through improving accessibility, communication and stewardship. However, the specific goals and initiatives of my campaign have changed. Instead of having regular town halls, we have Tuesdays with Taryne Lepp where we go over COVID-19 questions. Instead of extending TWUSA Lounge hours, we are able to operate the TWU House in order to service more commuters who have limited spaces to study. Although we could not implement all the environmental stewardship proposals because of COVID-19 restrictions—mainly the reusable mug idea—we have used TWUSA’s funds for initiatives that benefit all students, such as the TWU Life App. We have been able to do our monthly updates and leverage our social media by providing constant and accurate communication. I realize we still have a ways to go and we certainly learned lots through this process. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons in these uncertain times, is that we do not need to hold on too tightly to our expectations and plans. If we preserve our why—our purpose and why we do what we do—we can constantly create new goals and plans to move forward. What we have strived to do as TWUSA is to pivot and address the concerns of students to the best of our abilities. When we met for the first time as a team, we had to rethink what TWUSA was and what TWUSA would be in a COVID reality. Our conclusion is that we exist to glorify God and enhance the student experience, regardless of the specific hows or routes we choose in order to accomplish this.

MH: What are some positive outcomes of the online school year that you have seen thus far? DL: I see students’ gratefulness, compassion, and hope. In my four years at TWU, I have never heard so many “thank you” phrases as I have in our events and shifts this year. It’s incredible the number of people who have encouraged me and our team. Instead of complaints, we hear more and more positive feedback with our plans and projects. Our team, and I believe the school, has been more compassionate with us and each other. Because we know suffering is widespread, I see students acting in more compassionate and sensitive ways. Many of us know school is harder for most and that so many are going through economic, relational, emotional, and mental distress. As a response to this, I have witnessed more acts of kindness, creative ways people show love and support for one another. Hope is also tangible in our community. Despite the hard circumstances, there are still people showing up for classes, meetings and duties with love and dedication. And this hope I see is not a foolish hope that ignores suffering, but rather a raw faith rooted in the belief that God is here with us in the midst of our suffering. Through loneliness, distress, and anxiety, I see students proclaiming safety, dependency, persistence, firmness, and love in God. I believe God is raising giants of hope in this season and that is a privilege for me to witness. I see students rising to the occasion and being examples of hope and resilience in this season. We might not see all the fruits of what this harsh winter holds right now, but I do not doubt that the fruits exist and that they will be used in the future for the good of the world and the glory of God. Photos by Joshua Onwugbonu

OPINIONS

CYBORG: A ROBOTIC BEING CALLING FOR REIGNITION ALICE JUN

From online shopping to video calls, people can save time and effort in completing tasks, and interacting with people on the internet as well. Paradoxically, the internet has the potential to damage one’s physical and psychological state, worsening separation and increasing individualism in society. While the internet is beneficial , are we also becoming a product of technology? The social background of 2021 reflects that of the 1970s. According to the media company History, the 1970s was “an era of economic struggle” and “technological innovation” which mirrors the current social climate. One of the reasons why this particular era is competitive is because the internet seems to be forcing people to develop intellectually. People’s heightened intellectual capability fuels a higher degree of competition in terms of job opportunities and the accumulation of economic assets. This has the power to lead people to hold an individualized and separated outlook on humanity. Social media is another avenue of the internet that seems to have created a divide between people. The systemic structure of social media has objectified everything we encounter: people, ideas, love, emotions, and more. The standards of social media encourage people to measure others in absolute and countable ways. This has further opened up the opportunity for comparison and evaluation. The comparison stemming from the exposure of social media has

separated people and strengthened an idea of competition and individualism. Thus, the internet may have influenced people to become physically and psychologically separated due to magnified individualism. Internet technology has intensified both the positive and negative aspects of our lives. The development of internet technology has reinforced separation amongst people, which has consequently caused a sense of loss of warmth in humanity. As a result of this competitive individualism, it could be said that the technology is becoming a part of the human body through divided ideals. Unintentionally and subliminally, the separated and individualistic mindset may be becoming ingrained in people. People may be becoming human cyborgs—beings who have lost attachment, affection, and warmth by the infection of the internet. We need a spark of warm light: love, attention, and kindness. People are longing to experience the quality of love that may have lost its existence amongst the internet. Kindling the small sparks of warm light may be essential in the midst of the era to turn cyborgs into flesh. The lost light we give to ourselves will eventually illuminate others, giving an opportunity for hardened cyborgs calling for reignition to find their way once again.

THE FEMININE ASPECTS OF THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN GOD HANNAH AHRENDT

Many pre-Christian cultures worshipped a central god and goddess or a pantheon of gods and goddesses; in few cultures across the world do we find an emphasis on solely the masculine aspect of god at the complete exclusion of the feminine. The Holy Spirit is often called “the Mother”––as a contrast to God “the Father”––but it is rare we find an emphasis on either the feminine interpretation of the Holy Spirit or the Holy Spirit themselves in modern day Christianity. Rarely do we open a prayer with “dear Holy Spirit” or “dear Heavenly Mother”––it is far more common to hear someone addressing Jesus or the Father instead. Even in Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, where prayers to Mary are common, Mary herself is not God, she is merely human. There needs to be an emphasis on God’s feminine aspect, not solely on humanity’s. While this is the current state of Judaism and Christianity, it has not always been this way. The Hebrew word shekinah refers to the divine presence of God and is found in Rabbinic literature. In Kabbalism, Jewish mysticism, shekinah is interpreted as being the divine feminine presence of the Lord and is symbolically referred to as the “Sabbath Bride” or “the daughter of God.” This kind of conscious acknowledgement of the feminine aspects of God needs to be brought into mainstream Christianity. While it is certainly important to recognize the masculine qualities that God embodies, it is also vital that we recognize the importance of the feminine aspects as well. This has real consequences in the world today. According to the Washington Post, the gender gap in religious participation is shrinking due to the sheer number of young women who are choosing to walk away from the Church due to sexist attitudes

within it. This is directly tied to how we choose to view divinity as being intimately connected with the masculine, but not with the feminine. As Elaine Graham points out in her book Representations of the Post/ Human: Monsters, Aliens and Others in Popular Culture, the monsters of myth embody some aspect of humanity that is deemed distasteful or dangerous to the culture that originated the myth or monster. Often, women and femininity were embodied by the monsters of myth; womanhood and femininity were then social ills to be remedied. This attitude bleeds into our culture today. Many find the idea of connecting the Judeo-Christian God to femininity distasteful or offensive because femininity is (wrongfully) associated with weakness, sexual appetite, and submission––hardly qualities one would want to ascribe to a wholly good, omnipotent, and omniscient God. In order to heal our detrimental social attitudes towards femininity and encourage women to remain in the Church, it is vital that we begin to view God as not only masculine, but feminine, and to consciously fight against our prejudices that too quickly associate negative qualities and sinfulness with womanhood. If we simply try to tell women to remain in the Church without making changes, our encouragement will be useless and damaging; why would anyone remain in a situation that devalues and dehumanizes them for a quality that is inherent to their person? In Genesis it says “male and female he created them”; perhaps we ought to stop dehumanizing and harming a large portion of the image-bearers of God. Maybe it is a radical notion, but I dream of a world where women (and other non-male genders) are not treated as second-class citizens in God’s Church.

CHINA’S COMMITMENT TO DECARBONIZATION WILL SPUR THE WORLD INTO A RACE TO DECARBONIZE NATALIE BRUNER

China, the world’s largest polluter emitting 28 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, made the most ambitious climate goal in the world at the UN General Assembly September 2020: to become carbon neutral by the year 2060. If China reaches this goal, there will be more economic incentives in the green economy, and the world will be spurred into a global race to decarbonize. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 will not come cheaply to China, but many experts think that it will give China’s economy a long-term edge. The estimated cost is $14.725 trillion over the next 30 years. Despite the costs, He Jiankun, the Chairman of China’s Committee on Climate Change, and his team are optimistic that it will repay itself, pointing out that clean energy jobs produce 1.5 to 3 times that of traditional energy jobs. Additionally, Hector Pollitt, head of modelling at Cambridge Econometrics, shows in his analysis that China’s GDP will go up because of this change. In the past, countries viewed cutting carbon as an “expensive chore,” but with China’s investment in green industry, it is becoming the more economically feasible choice. China has been winning the race in the new “green revolution” by heavily investing in green energy and technology. China is currently the world’s highest spender on clean energy. Chinese companies have built over 70 percent of the world’s solar photovoltaics and a third of the world’s wind turbines. China holds three-fourths of the world’s manufacturing capacity for lithium-ion battery cells and most of the supply chain for electric vehicles. Therefore, China is in a good

position to meet growing global demands for clean energy and technology. This new edge in the green energy sector will cause China to become a world leader economically, forcing other countries to scramble to catch up. China’s decision to commit to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions is coming at a strategic time. Just a week before, the European Union (EU) decided to toughen up on its Paris Agreement goals and committed billions of dollars towards a green stimulus package. Additionally, the EU has plans to tax imports that rely on carbon-heavy emissions. This will give China substantial trade benefits as more of the world begins to set these standards. The demand for clean energy is increasing rapidly. By 2050, it is estimated that half of electricity will be from renewable resources. Large oil corporations such as BP and Shell are working to move away from oil. Renewable resources are cheaper than fossil fuels in many parts of the world. As more renewable energy sources are produced, costs will fall until the point that renewable energy and vehicles will be worth more than non-renewable ones. If China achieves its goal of reaching carbon-neutrality by 2060, this could leave countries like the United States in the dust, since the price of green technologies and energy will decrease below the cost of fossil fuels. Other nations should invest in the direction of green energy and technology to remain competitive in the world economy.

THE MANDALORIAN: STAR WARS’ BEST PRODUCTION YET TYLER JONES SPOILER ALERT I get it, you are probably upset about my title. This incredibly controversial opinion is one I am entitled to hold, but if you are yet to immerse yourself in these two seasons of incredible storytelling, you cannot speak on this matter. Since the premiere of The Mandalorian, I have been ignorant of the cinematic genius that has been at my disposal. If you enjoy any part of the Star Wars world, The Mandalorian is a must watch; you will not be let down. Taking place five years after Luke Skywalker and the Rebellion dismantle the ghastly Empire, The Mandalorian is set in a void of the Star Wars cinematic timeline. The desolate environment that the show is rooted in seems to suggest that all is well for the Star Wars universe at this point in its lore. Taking advantage of the lack of lore in this timeframe, The Mandalorian’s plot bases itself around the seemingly small, yet important happenings of wily bounty hunters, the Rebellion’s authority, Jedi woes, and the underground operations of the weakened Empire. All the while, The Mandalorian’s main character, who is in fact referred to as the Mandalorian throughout the show’s duration, sits among a dying breed of skilled warriors who functioned in their own society. Reuniting with the infamous Boba Fett–– a servant to Jabba the Hutt and his Empirical affiliations in the original Star Wars trilogy––the plot of The Mandalorian does not shy away from cameos of important characters in the Star Wars universe. These cameos do not distract from the Mandalorian’s character development throughout the storyline. Instead, the encounters with the Mandalorian only add to the magnitude of the situations he finds himself in. Destined to protect, and deliver Grogu (more commonly known as “Baby Yoda”) to a Jedi Knight who chooses to take him as an apprentice, the Mandalorian encounters numerous trials and run-ins with various institutions of the galaxy in order to finally deliver him to none other than Luke Skywalker. The Mandalorian, painted as a heartless and unimportant individual within the grand scheme of Star Wars, is thrust into the spotlight to display his impressive array of combat skills combined with his com-

mitment to success. No matter how tall the task may have seemed, the Mandalorian always accomplishes his immediate goal whether he has assistance or not. The concise episodes throughout the series display the human’s need for success, love, and teamwork, making the morals for all individuals incredibly clear.

On top of it all, The Mandalorian’s theme song may be the greatest piece of music developed for any Star Wars production ever. Providing epic, dynamic, and mysterious elements into three minutes and 18 seconds of music, the theme song of The Mandalorian seems to foreshadow the story to come. The Mandalorian has earned its respect, and will continue to do so for the third season that is expected to come soon. This is the way.

SPORTS IT’S ALIVE: THE MOST COMPLETE ATHLETE EVER CREATED LUKE RATTRAY

Gene modification is scary to think about, but it can be incredibly complex to think about when it comes to crafting the perfect athlete. In the process of this creation, one has to take into consideration numerous factors as to what makes up an athlete: their mentality, physical attributes, skills, tendencies, and general ability at a certain sport. In this case, this super-athlete will be broken down into five different aspects that cover a wide range of athletic ability: athleticism, mentality, speed, vertical, and strength.

Strength: Hafthor Björnsson. One of the strongest people on the planet, Björnsson has won the previous three Arnold Strongman Classics, which is the most prestigious competition in the world of strong athletics. It should also be noted that Björnsson set the world record for heaviest deadlift at 1105 pounds.

Athleticism: LeBron James. He is without a doubt one of the greatest basketball players to ever live, but is also arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time. Listed at a towering 6 ft 8 and 250 pounds, James is undoubtedly built for more sports than just basketball. He has the perfect build to play just about any other position in any other sport. It would be incredible to see a 6 ft8, 250-pound human torching opponents on the ice, field, or volleyball court. Mentality: David Goggins. One of the most interesting people on planet Earth, Goggins is renowned for his work ethic and his insane daily routine where he wakes up at three in the morning and proceeds to go on a twenty-mile run every single day. He is relentless, savage, and is easily one of the toughest individuals in the world. It is also important to note that he is one of the few individuals in history to have gone through the Navy SEAL training program, known as BUD/S, three separate times. Speed: Usain Bolt. Eight-time Olympic gold medal winner, world record holder in the 100m and 200m sprints, and considered one of the greatest Olympians of all time. When looking at this category, it is fairly obvious to go with whoever is the fastest person on the planet, and Bolt has a massive claim to that throne. Vertical: Michael Jordan. One of the most mesmerizing athletes ever, Jordan has forever changed basketball and sports all together. The sheer impact that he had on the court is reflected in just how popular he was off of it. Jordan is known to have had a 48-inch vertical, which makes complete sense knowing that he was able to dunk from the free throw line comfortably, change direction mid-air, and absolutely throw it down on some of the biggest bodies in the NBA at the time.

This super-athlete is frightening to even think of because if you were to combine all of these aspects into one person, the results would be inconceivable. This is more than just creating a 99-overall player in NBA 2K, this athlete pretty much covers all the bases in any sort of physical test. At the end of the day, imagining an individual that encompasses these areas is quite frightening to think about. It also comes with a realization of just how awe-inspiring these athletes are in their own right with world records, gold medals, and countless number of hours that have gone into each to perfect their craft.

THE NBA: NATIONAL BOT ASSOCIATION TYLER JONES & LUKE RATTRAY

The NBA is home to some of sports’ most charismatic personalities, from the likes of Dennis Rodman to Rasheed Wallace to DeMarcus Cousins. However, the league has also been home to some quieter personalities, those who just put their head down, get to work, and aim to be involved in as little drama as possible. If the NBA (that is, the National Bot Association) were to create a team that blended a player’s quiet personality with the sheer durability that they had, this is what the All-Robot team would consist of. Point guard: John Stockton. While regarded as one of the greatest point guards ever, Stockton is one of the more underrated players in history. One thing that goes unnoticed regarding Stockton’s legacy is how durable he was as a guard during one of the most physically demanding times in NBA history. He played in 608 consecutive games between 1990 and 1997, missing only four games in his first 13 years as a professional. Furthermore, he played in every single game for 15 out of his 17 seasons. Shooting guard: Joe Johnson. Recent fans of the NBA probably have no idea who this is, but Joe Johnson certainly earned the prize for the league’s most boring star throughout the mid to late 2000s. Any takers on guessing how many times Johnson was selected as an all-star? Seven times. Yeah, you read that correctly. Consistently floating around 20 to 25 points per game throughout the prime of his career, Johnson went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA while having one of the league’s most memorable laughs since 2000, second to none other than the next player on our team. When Johnson walked away from the league at the end of the 2017-2018 season, he was immediately launched into the abyss of forgettable stars who have come and gone in the dynamic scheme of the NBA. Small forward: Kawhi Leonard. Although not the most durable player, especially considering Kawhi holds the crown of load management, he has one of the most private, reserved, and quite frankly, odd personal lives that an ath-

lete has. Kawhi is awkward in public; from his laugh to the commercials he’s been in, it appears that Kawhi has potential to malfunction at times, especially in a public setting. Nonetheless, it’s why we all love Kawhi, and also due to the fact that he is an incredible basketball player. Power forward: Tim Duncan. When you have a nickname like the “The Big Fundamental”, you are bound to not have the most exciting playstyle ever. However, Duncan remains one of the greatest, and most complete players ever. His playstyle was effective, clutch, and flexible. Duncan is also known as keeping an insanely private quiet life and rarely giving interviews. Duncan provides an incredible balance of being durable throughout his 19-year NBA career and also having a reserved private life. When it comes to superstars retiring, there usually comes a farewell tour for those individuals; we’ve seen it with Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, and Dwyane Wade. For Duncan? He just wanted the Spurs to post a tweet stating his retirement. Pretty fitting for one of the quietest superstars in history. Center: Robert Parish. He is one of the most durable players in history, as reflected in the fact that he holds the NBA record for most games played at 1611. He also remained quite a reserved individual during his time in the NBA; his former teammates would often note how quiet he was. While this article can certainly be seen as a bit of a roast session towards some of these players, their greatness cannot be understated. In their own unique way, our five players selected to the NBA’s unofficial All-Robot team have hoisted championships, MVP’s, and all-star appearances. The NBA, like many other leagues, celebrates the dynamism of its athletes as it should. This article serves to remind you that flashiness is not always rewarded. Instead, taking a page out of The Big Fundamental’s book will work just as well.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD COACH ALICE JUN

Behind every elite player there are prominent coaches who have led those players to success. A coach can have influence on an athlete to perform at their best by setting an example, which will contribute to a winning culture and mentality for the team. That being said, what are the specific qualities that a coach must possess to draw out the best of a player? A coach who draws out the potential from various players has to hold a strong belief in the abilities of their players. Based on that belief, coaches are able to encourage and guide their team throughout their careers. With the right coaching, the potential of each player is reflected in their performances on the court, ice, or field. Furthermore, an established coach may have a foundational belief that everyone can be an elite player, leading them to see potential in each athlete. To be a good coach, discipline is paramount. Obsession over watching countless hours of game film of both their team and their opponents will go a long way. Studying film will help coaches gain insight, as well

as analyze the strategic patterns and tactics of their own game plan and that of the opponent’s coach. In addition, film provides information on the players’ dispositions on both sides of the match, which allows a coach to plan for both the correct training and strategy to prepare for a specific game. Furthermore, coaching is another form of parenting. Depending on the team’s dynamic, the coach may be required to alter the method of discipline that is implemented into the team’s culture. As each player is different, some succeed better when they are nurturedand encouraged while others may succeed when they are put into intensive, army-like training. It is in the hands of the coach to find the balance between nurturing and discipline depending on the team’s dynamic. A good coach is one who firmly believes in the athlete’s success, resulting in the athlete’s growth and performance. Trust, love, and a strong understanding of the game from the coach expressed to the athlete may help the athlete to reach their deepest, fullest potential.

COLUMN: TAKE OF THE ISSUE MIAMI TO WIN DESHAUN WATSON SWEEPSTAKES LUKE RATTRAY

Deshaun Watson is without a doubt a generational talent, and the fact that he wants to leave the Houston Texans means that a lot of teams will be doing almost anything to acquire him. Watson’s time in Houston is coming to a bitter end as a result of how poorly the team is run. Fans from other organizations are equally upset seeing Watson’s career being wasted at an incompetent franchise like the Texans, which is why he should be traded to the Miami Dolphins, which will benefit both Watson and the Texans.

to offer Houston the most appropriate package for Watson. One thing that Watson was looking for in an ideal destination was lower taxes so that he would be able to keep more of his money, as his salary is jumping to $35 million in 2022. In this case, the Dolphins are in luck because Florida has no state income tax, making it one of the lowest tax-burden states in the country. The Dolphins would have to deal away their starting rookie quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who has shown promise in Miami by starting in nine games where he was able to pick up wins in seven of them, throwing for 1814 yards and 11 touchdowns in those games. Tagovailoa did have a poor end to the season, where he threw three interceptions in a must-win game, leading them to be demolished 56-26 by the Buffalo Bills. However, the fact remains that Tagovailoa is only 22 years old and is one of the more promising quarterbacks in the league and would most likely serve to be the focal point of the package that Miami would have to offer Houston. Another big part of the trade would come from the fact that Miami has the third pick in this year’s NFL draft.Ironically enough, this third pick was Houston’s pick that Miami acquired last year in a trade that involved Miami dealing Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil to the Texans. This upcoming draft class looks to be high quality, and with such a high draft pick, the Texans have potential to grab a top receiver like Ja’Marr Chase or Heisman winner Devonta Smith. The Dolphins will also have to give up additional draft picks, including pick 18, which they also occupy this year. Miami does have the cap space. However, it will most likely have to trade away a few players to help make the space for Watson’s salary increase.

Whichever team he lands on, Watson will instantly make its offense better. It is almost unheard of to see a talent of Watson’s stature asking to be traded, and there will be a lot of teams in contention to grab the three-time Pro Bowler. However, out of all the teams vying to trade him, Miami appears to check off the most boxes and is able

Either way you slice it, any team is going to have to offer Houston a lot for Watson, but just seeing how talented Watson is, and if he is able to have the right offensive weapons and a wise front office, who knows how far Watson might be able to take a team. At the end of the day, Miami offers the nicest package while also accommodating for the tax benefit and the fact that Miami would be able to accompany his salary by getting rid of a few player contracts. Watson is an unforgettable player playing for a forgettable franchise, but if the right move comes along, Watson is more than enough to take the Dolphins right to the top.

HUMOUR WHO IS POTATO? ALEX WALKER

French Fry. Hash Brown. Pomme de terre. Potato is an intriguing entity, taking many shapes and forms across time and culture. Some like him baked, sliced open, and stuffed with mouth-watering cheese, delightful bacon bits, crisp green onions, and cool sour cream. Others enjoy him stripped, diced, boiled, covered in butter, salt, and pepper, and served hot on a dinner plate with greens and meat. Others still prefer him beaten and mashed to the point where he is soft and fluffy, like a cloud that you can eat. However, most like to see him sliced and lowered into a vat of boiling fat, until he is crunchy and bronzed. But who is Potato? I sat down with the “apple of the earth” himself and asked him the questions on everyone’s minds. These are my revelations. 1. Potato has no concern for us. He lives for himself. Eating him is a blessing we should cherish.

4. Mr. Potato Head is an apostate. His religion is a lie. He calls himself a potato but participates in tomfoolery such as selling his body to Hasbro and wearing mustaches.

2. He was born in Ireland, but grew up in Prince Edward Island. The Irish love to claim him as their own, but he really prefers orphaned redheads over dwarfish ones.

5. Sweet potato is not our enemy, but should be held at an arm’s length. She is a seductress that, like fire, can be useful if employed appropriately but is dangerous if fully embraced.

3. You can eat him raw. “More people should,” he explained to me, “because, while man cannot live on bread alone, he can live on milk and potatoes.”

6. “French” fry is a misnomer. Potato elaborated: “Do I look like a ****ing baguette to you?”

TWU LIFE CHIP BRAEDON GROVER SUNNES

Tired of online school? Fret no more! With the new TWU Life Chip, you can experience your degree in your own way! While logging into your Zoom lectures is the primary purpose of this new Karen-approved microchip, you can also enjoy many of its other uses. Find that you can’t stay awake during class? Don’t sweat it. You can now log into your Zoom account through your dreams! While you may not be able to take notes during your classes, the fact that most profs post the recorded lecture anyway defeats the purpose of note-taking in the first place! Zoom sessions that seem to last hours will now be mixed with your recurring fever dreams making them succinct and exciting experiences that you won’t forget. Is 50 percent or more of your grade reliant on participation? Luckily, our TWU Life Chip will stimulate parts of your brain to induce sleep talking, walking, and jogging, allowing for full FNDN 102 Lab marks!

Missing life on campus? With the TWU Bell Tower function, you will feel right at home no matter how far you are from campus. A radio channel broadcasting from directly beneath the Bell Tower will allow you to hear every last ring of the very impressive 15 bells for each hour (but two minutes early). Not only will the bell tower be picked up by this radio, but nostalgic sounds like the geese, train, and musty Spike-Ballers will also be brought directly to your ear drums! Is your motivation to be active in your faith dwindling after feeling zero connection to the Holy Spirit through a screen? Well, slack no more! With the mandatory TWU Chapel stream downloaded onto this chip, you will not miss any more 11 o’clock chapels. Think you might be able to sleep through it or just close your eyes? Too bad! This chip will override your eyeballs, preventing you from missing even one moment of Jesus’ presence for the thirty minute stream. Jesus has never been so proud!

YOUR ZOOM AESTHETIC BASED ON YOUR ZODIAC SIGN NYSSA MORGAN

Aries (March 21 - April 19): You always join the Zoom call on your phone while you’re running errands. Thanks for letting everyone know apple sauce is on rollback at WalMart. Taurus (April 20 - May 20): You are so great at multitasking that you can pay attention to your prof, participate during the breakout sessions, and knit scarves for your whole family. Gemini (May 21 - June 20): You try to hide that you are always messaging your friends in the chat, but the whole class knows because you just sent the last three messages to everyone by mistake. Cancer (June 21 - July 22): When the professor asks you a question and you weren’t paying attention, your go-to response is “Sorry my wi-fi keeps cutting out” and then you pretend to freeze. Leo (July 23 - August 22): Does not matter if it is an 8:00 AM or 6:00 PM class, you are primed and ready to go, in full hair and makeup with a cup of coffee and your fairy lights setting the mood. Virgo (August 23 - September 22): You turn down the volume on your Zoom class to hear your latest Netflix binge show better.

Libra (September 23 - October 22): You are too busy staring at your online class crush to even realize you are actually paying money to get a degree. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): No one has ever seen your full face because the angle of your camera is always tilted up so no one can see you eat a four course meal every class. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Get off your phone. You paid to be in this class––stop watching TikToks. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): You are the person who always leaves their mic on and thinks they are muted. Unfortunately, the whole class did just hear you sing “Driver’s License.” Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): There has never been a Zoom call nor will there ever be a Zoom call in which you actually wear pants. Pisces (February 19 - March 20): You really want to pay attention in your class but you wake up two hours later with your face full of indents from your keyboard.