Dear Reader, Back in 2018, in a time of transition in my life, I wrote the following journal entry to myself: “I believe in the romance of the past. In reminiscing on feelings you no longer hold or places you can not currently be. In pondering a time where you were sitting next to a friend you no longer get to see everyday, or remembering hours spent with a family member who is no longer here. I believe it is okay to recognize that you like where you were better than where you are. It can help show you where you truly want to be.” During times of both change and normalcy, grief and joy, we often find ourselves reminiscing on the past. “Nostalgia,” this issue’s theme, describes this sentimentality we feel when looking back on memories, good, bad, and in-between.
A contributor, Elaine Res, takes a dive into pop culture, and the bringing together of the old and new in “Spider-Man: No Way Home: The Movie We Didn’t Know We Needed.” And in “Nostalgizing The Grand Pronoun Debate of 2019,” our Managing Editor, Carter Sawatzky, explains the past TWU discourse on the titular topic, sharing how “musing on the Divine can be healing.” While we may look to our past through rose-coloured glasses, we know that both the good memories and the trials that lie beneath the surface shape and form us into the people we are today, and who we will be in the future. Cheers,
In this issue, we have taken the time to reflect. In our feature article, “Underground and Beyond,” we recount the history of Mars’ Hill as it has shifted and changed over the years, and spend time talking with three former members of the team: Karen Elgersma, Lauren Bently, and Aline Bouwman.
Statement of Correction Fact-checking is a part of journalism, and Mars’ Hill believes it is absolutely necessary to update stories.
the closure of OneWheaton. Those two timelines are NOT related. We have updated this in the marshill.com version of the article.
One detail from last week’s article “The Board of Governors, Dr. Husbands, and A Series of Unfortunate Events” that emerged after it was published was the relationship between Dr. Husbands’ leadership at Wheaton College and
The author does not believe this takes away from the other facts of the article, but readers should rest assured that we will always welcome any corrections to any of our stories.
MARS’ HILL
Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Stó:lō 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.
MEDIA ADVISOR: Loranne Brown
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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
Berk Berkeliev Syd Dvorak Anna Marie Ellena Jolene Vlieg Lauren Bently Trevor McMahan Sabine Henderson Connor Thiessen
Elaine Ries Emma Giesbrecht Tyler Jones Karen Elgersma Aline Bouwman Annie Zander Nyssa Morgan Emmett Hanly
DECLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR OWN AT MARSHILLNEWSPAPER.COM/DECLASSIFIEDS
Dorm cabinets ruin my Zoom A ESTHETICS The lady named Bing who works at the DeVries cafe is the nicest lady ever and she deserves the world shevangelist and hymnal are the horny underbelly of mars’ hill history himbos for jesus! himbos for gay rights! Yall with the beefy white truck behind jacobson always seem to be having fun. Invite me next time you go skiing at 2am. Yeah i’m the lead writer of Mars Hill I just write hella declassifieds School being back means declassified therapy is back Can’t tell if it is cool to watch anime now or if I’m too far gone. Don’t make me turn on my camera B!7€# To the girl in my Math 190 zoom class. You look like the heroine of a renaissance painting. You’re radiant and your lighting is wonderful. I’ve had COVID and quite frankly I don’t get what all the fuss is about. Sarah Klassen is the bomb. Just pure sunshine with a beautiful laugh and golden hair. Someday I hope to love someone as much as Vic Cavalli loves Flannery O’Connor
Calling every Asian Chinese is like all white people look American. Please ask where we’re from instead of assuming. Or it’s better to not ask and accept us as part of your people I couldn’t imagine a bigger waste of $35 million dollars than the Robert Kuhn building I didn’t pay $2500 for a class to just give us weekly videos and quizzes. BUSI 176 is a joke. Conclusions are my least favourite flavour of paragraph Stop making us take notes for homework. It’s traditional and not effective. Active recall studying is better. 1107 would love to go on a dorm date with you, hmu A huge thank you to Cami, Dr. Marten, and the rest of the fantastic Wellness Center staff who helped me get the therapy and medication I needed for anxiety and depression. If you need mental health services, TWU’s is fast and impactful- I feel like I can live again. To the American asking about Canadian Tire, hmu I got you! Sincerely, someone who has worked there for 8 years. thank you profs using dark mode for slides Hot take: The atrium should have the exact number of seats as their max. capacity so people don’t get confused. REMY THE RATATOUILLE THE RAT OF ALL MY DREAMS
Someday I hope to love someone as much as Monika Hilder loves CS Lewis
I’ve decided to say “no hetero” every time I hug one of my opposite-sex friends
“I appreciate junk as much as the next fellow.” - Neil Postman
“Go make yourselves an anti-stress sandwich” ~ Monika Hilder
I have spent the appropriate amount of time on geoguessr i am now going to solo travel the world I’m in Greek class to learn about COVID variants i wish i could analyze someone’s personality to their face What’s with Mars’ Hill and green covers this year? Do you guys have something against colours?
Can Mars’ Hill please write an article explaining GenZ’s weird obsession with “Shrek”? - Sincerely a confused and concerned prof. Shoutout to the Douglas dudes attempting to sing “Death of a Bachelor” by Panic! At The Disco. That made my day. Shout out to Johnny for being the best Dungeon Master a gal could ask for!
you could stand alone in an empty field right now and someone would make it their business to tell you to put your mask on. Be kind to yourself. You got this! To the girl who was playing football with 5 guys between skid and Fraser…are you really there to play football or are you there for some other action? You can get away with anything if you’re sexy I don’t have the power of the vibe-check Chapel is not what it used to be What is the opposite of calling something gucci? - A confused 4th year To the person who wrote about barbie movie villains; we are destined to be best friends Dr. Provost’s classes are still just advertisements for his Italy travel study, despite the fact that there is no possibility of there being a travel study anytime soon In person classes back means I get to do that awkward half smile at people while walking to class again. Jericho Cui? More like Cherubco Cui <3 True supremacy is decided by who has had custom slack reactions made of their face. as a libra I have a strong personal aesthetic but as a libra i am indecisive so as a libra I cannot decide on my personal aesthetic and it is very important to me, a libra I simultaneously wanted to throw up and pee my pants while listening to 30/90 for the first time.
Why does every Trinity guy be like “Hello I am [Basic Biblical Name]. My favourite colour is blue. I play the [guitar and/or piano and/or drums] and I love to hike. Nicodemus was a real one. What a day one homie against all odds. I would sage my dorm if the Fraser fire alarms weren’t so sensitive Jag is king of the caf Saw a squirrel carry half a loaf of bread through the snow and then leave it in a bush by my window. Ever since every squirrel I see on campus has a piece of bread with them. Am I cursed? I only go on Facebook on my birthday or if my mom tells me someone died Hey you! Post photos of the issue and of your favourite articles & tag @marshillnewspaper to be featured in our copy shot posts! Impressed by the level of student engagement asking difficult questions directed to TWU Administration in response to program closure, the lack of transparency and communication. Students’ voices matter!
literally why did campus open at the PEAK of omicron. i wanna see minutes of meetings where these decisions were made. Is it just me or do profs look taller on zoom? I KISSED A GIRL AND I LIKED IT / THE TASTE OF HER CHERRY CHAPSTICK yeah living on campus is cool but have you ever tried driving home at 20kph cause you can’t see thru the fog? babies eat ice cream mars hill team submitting to the declassifieds is like politicians replying to their own tweets on burner accounts hi coorder :-) why is no one here comfortable with silence in a conversation? are we incapable of breathing the same air for a minute and thinking deeply in the safety of each other’s presence without having to excuse ourselves from the “awkwardness” that is rather peaceful quietness? I can’t remember the declassified I thought of but I swear it was funny currently doing nostalgia for my first year dorm.
Sadly, Administration is not interested in sitting down to listen to student’s concerns, they are interested in your tuition. Students, continue to speak up, ask where your tuition dollars go, call out injustice, and hold TWU Administration accountable to their actions. Your voice matters!
the audacity yall have to refer to other humans as broken
Why does the light in the girl’s bathroom by the lower caf stay on for like, 8 seconds??
Homies I am not doing ok
Men are not animals and humans are not broken. Stop making excuses and just let people be people pasty white boy drinks milk in class
egg
I’m not like other girls. They’re vanilla and I’m toffee-nut.
I haven’t been outside in 3 days because of COVID. What does the sun look like? I don’t know.
There is a QR code located on campus that can win you something yummy. Go find it!
Did anyone else find “Light Switch” underwhelming after all of the Tik Tok build up? Hot take: The Office isn’t that good
“You believe in purgatory? That’s so theologically diverse!” - overheard in the atrium. The idea that considering catholicism here makes you theologically diverse *facepalm*
When is Robbie Down’s next concert?
Mark Hamill would probably ratio Mark Husbands
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.
ELAINE RIES
CONTRIBUTOR OF THE ISSUE What is your major? English Honours, with a minor in Film Studies!
Where are you from? The good ol’ Pacific Northwest, with a dose of Winnipeg splashed in for good measure. What is something you’re passionate about and want to share with the world? If I had to pick just one thing to share with the world (which was really not easy to do), it would be the spiritual beauty of nature. From the oceans to the mountains to the grasslands to the stars, there’s sublimity in everything—beauty is all around, if we take the time to look for it! What is your favourite article that you’ve written for Mars’ Hill and why is it important? The only one there is, which lives in this very issue! I think it’s important not only because Spider-Man: No Way Home was such a significant cinematic event, but also because the movie offers a shelter of peace and camaraderie for anyone who wants a break from this divisive world.
Who is your favourite (fictional) character and why? Lizzy Bennet from Pride and Prejudice—I think she speaks for herself.
Why do you write for Mars’ Hill? I’d been interested in submitting to Mars’ Hill for awhile, so I was delighted when Arts & Culture Editor, Sophie Holland, reached out to me! I appreciate that Mars’ Hill acts as a space for the Trinity community to enter into discussions about relevant issues, and I also love that the paper has remained dedicated to print. There’s something familial about opening a newspaper and sharing the pages with your friends—I’m honoured that my work is joining that experience! What is your favourite article of clothing? My straight-leg jeans. (P.S. To the skinny-jean lovers: can we still be friends?) What is your ideal late night snack? Piping hot McDonald’s.
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VIP
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
MARITHA LOUW
This month will mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascendancy to the throne as Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. She became queen at 25 years of age, after the death of her father in February 1952. Not only is she the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, but she is also the longest-serving female head of state in history and the oldest living current monarch (at 95 years of age). Throughout such a long reign, public support for the monarchy and her personal popularity have remained higher than expected, according to BBC News, considering the major political changes that have come about in the 20th and 21st centuries. Perhaps the most significant change in her reign has come from the process of decolonization. After Her Majesty’s husband, Prince Philip, passed away in April 2021, many people around the world remarked that the pair have been reigning for longer than any of the former British colonies have been independent. One tweet by user @itboypercy said: “prince Philip is older than India’s independence and it just struck me that these aren’t even colonizer descendants they’re the og colonizers.” The number of territories under British rule have varied over time as they have gained independence, and as many of the realms became republics, casting off the British monarch as Head of State. Additionally, while the Queen and Prince Philip themselves had a marriage lasting over 70 years, other members of the Royal Family have not been as fortunate in their relationships. The three eldest of Queen Elizabeth’s four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, have each divorced from their first spouses, and Prince Charles, heir to the throne, remarried as well. Growing support for republicanism during the 1990s coincided with the rise of the separations and divorces. Critics, however, focused their attention more on the institution of the monarchy itself rather than the Queen’s own behaviour and actions. Part of the Queen’s role as monarch is to refrain from expressing her personal or political opinions in a public setting in order to remain above the fray of everyday politics. She has followed this protocol throughout her reign, but has sometimes faced criticism for her perceived ignorance or dismissal of different events and crises happening under her watch, such as Irish separatism, Apartheid in South Africa, or the after-effects of British colonization as a whole. According to Ipsos, a survey and analysis think tank, the majority of public opinion agrees that Queen Elizabeth is an extraordinary Head of State, even if it is only because she has managed to survive scrutiny and scandal for such a long time. Recent scandals, such as the lawsuits filed against her son Prince Andrew for sexual abuse and the separation of her grandson, Prince Harry, from the Royal Family, have renewed criticism of the British monarchy’s place in the 21st century. The Queen is a remarkable symbol of how a constitutional monarchy can operate; however, one must also ask whether the Queen has outlived the institution’s usefulness.
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PROTEST AND POWER STRUGGLE: THE CASE OF KAZAKHSTAN BERK BERKELIEV
On January 1, 2022, the Kazakh people awoke to the price for the cheapest gas practically doubling overnight, going from 60 Tenge (0.17 CAD) to 120 Tenge (0.35 CAD). Considering that the minimum monthly wage in Kazakhstan is roughly 60,000 Tenge (175 CAD), the sudden price hike would have a significant impact on the wallets of citizens. Kazakhstan is a nation rich in oil, uranium, copper and other resources; however, the majority of profits gained from these resources hardly trickle down to benefit most Kazakh citizens. Instead, profits stay among the richest elites, especially those in government and business. The first to express their protest were citizens of the western city Zhanaozen, who took to the streets for the second time in the last fifteen years. On December 16, 2011, during a peaceful protest in Zhanaozen over low wages and unfair working conditions, special forces sent by the government to minimize the unrest opened fire on the protestors. According to the Kazakh government, only 17 protestors died and tens were injured. But human rights activists and journalists estimate that over 60 protesters were killed, hundreds wounded, and 37 jailed. In the years following the Zhanaozen Massacre, over 12.3 billion USD of direct foreign investment have continued to pour into the economy annually. President Nazarbayev, who had been in power since 1991, was the guarantor of these investments, and his fellow government officials have amassed incredible wealth from oil production. However, when faced with protest from citizens who are unhappy with the impoverished and oppressed lives they live, Nazarbayev and his successor President Tokayev choose to quash dissent by any means possible. Foreign organizations, journals, newspapers, and governments may acknowledge the human rights abuses happening in Kazakhstan, but for a variety of reasons, including foreign investment, they are limited in their ability to hold Nazarbayev and Tokayev accountable. In 2019, Nazarbayev appointed Tokayev as his successor, and stepped down from the role of president in order to step into the role of Head of the Security Council. This placed Nazarbayev in power over Kazakhstan’s police, special forces, defence programs, and armed forces. However, when the protests over gas prices in Zhanaozen
spread to other cities in Kazakhstan, Tokayev removed Nazarbayev from his position, arrested Karim Massimov, the former head of intelligence, on suspicion of treason, and invited armed forces from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance, into Kazakhstan in order to help stabilize the protests.
“Foreign organizations and governments may acknowledge the human rights abuses happening in Kazakhstan, but for a variety of reasons, they are limited in their ability to hold Nazarbayev and Tokayev accountable.” Some news outlets have claimed that the 2022 protests are only a reflection of the old-fashioned power struggle within the government, and specifically between Tokayev and other government officials who may be more loyal to Nazarbayev. The New York Times reported: “That a possible power struggle could have morphed so quickly into mayhem on the streets is a measure of how brittle Kazakhstan is beneath the shiny surface of wealthy, cosmopolitan cities.” The current death toll of the protests reported by the Kazakh government stands at 225, however the number is likely to be higher. The Zhanaozen Massacre was only one tragic incident in which the authoritarian government suppressed the voices of workers fighting for a better quality of life. Kazakhstan is still fraught with corruption, Russian meddling, income inequality, and factionalism. And because there is little opportunity for other actors––such as the United Nations––to intervene, it is likely that reports of these types of protests will continue until authoritarianism is eliminated for good.
FEMINIST NEWS REST IN POWER: THE LEGACY OF BELL HOOKS SYD DVORAK
A COPYCAT COLD WAR: DISTILLING THE UKRAINE-RUSSIAN CRISIS MARITHA LOUW
The Cold War was defined by the United States and the Soviet Union fighting each other not on battlefields directly, but through other means, such as putting men on the moon, building nuclear weapons, and playing chess. Today, space expeditions are the norm, nuclear weapons run rampant, and chess is for after-school clubs and math majors. The U.S. and Russia are still at odds with each other, and years of surging nationalism and isolationism have reshaped the political landscape from a unipolar, American-led world into one characterized by multiple regional powers with growing ambitions over territorial control and influence. The latest developments are unfolding in Ukraine, a nation which shares a 1,200-mile border with Russia. In 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his troops to invade the Crimean Peninsula, annexing it within three weeks. This move was met by the Obama administration imposing weak sanctions on Russia. Late in 2021, Russian troops began building its presence along the border with Ukraine, reigniting fears around the world that Putin plans a full-scale invasion over a country that he believes should be subservient to Russia. Since its separation from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has shifted towards closer relations with the West, including signaling that it would be willing to join the U.S.-led military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO has supported Ukraine prior to 2014, including sending military and financial support in order to consolidate the country as a democratic state and to protect it from Russian expansionism. Michael Crowley, a NY Times reporter, stated that “Putin sees Ukraine developing into a de facto U.S. and NATO military outpost.” It is becoming clearer each day that Putin will consider a full-scale invasion of Ukraine unless the nation backs away from its ties with the West. Putin is notoriously opaque in his motivation behind his actions, although we can speculate that his goals are both immediate and long-term. The immediate goal of Putin would be to return Ukraine to Russia’s umbrella of influence. The Russian President has often said that the loss of the Soviet Union in 1991 was the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century,” and therefore
it naturally follows that he would like to see former Soviet states, such as Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, as returned under his leadership. However, Putin’s long-term goal is more of an educated guess: it is likely that he wishes to reassert Russia as a superpower nation alongside the U.S. The post-Cold War settlement of the world order left Russia smaller and weaker than before, and so Putin may want to return his motherland to its former glamour and glory. This is not an outlandish assumption to make. Putin has borne witness to the declining prestige of the U.S., as it has been stuck in a growing rivalry with China, has significant domestic problems, and is increasingly hesitant to engage in military action abroad.
“The post-Cold War settlement of the world order left Russia smaller and weaker than before, and so Putin may want to return his motherland to its former glamour.” We could also likely assume that because confrontation is only an immediate goal of Putin’s, it is likely that he also wishes to establish peace on his own terms. Putin has made several demands of the West since the end of 2021, including that NATO will pledge to never allow Ukraine to become an alliance member, and will remove all its military resources from Eastern Europe. The first of these is more realistic, but the latter is highly unlikely to be fulfilled. Regardless of whether direct military conflict occurs, we are now living in an era reminiscent of the Cold War days. Both sides are intensely suspicious of the others’ intentions and it seems as if they are playing a highstakes game of chicken, in which nuclear war can easily follow failed diplomacy.
On December 15, 2021, Gloria Jean Watkins passed away at the age of 69. An author, professor, and activist, she was better known by her pen name, bell hooks. Hooks’ writing discussed intersectionality, race, capitalism, and feminism. She was a prolific writer, publishing more than 30 books over a 40-year span. hooks was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1952 to working-class parents. Growing up in the Jim Crow-era American South, her early education took place in racially segregated public schools. When the education system in Kentucky integrated in the late 1960s, she moved to a white-majority school. This experience of navigating racial hierarchies during her education would become a major theme in her 1996 memoir, Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood. hooks’ tight-knit Black community encouraged her to resist white hegemony and bring marginalized people to the centre of public discourse. She strove to integrate working-class Black women in discussions of feminism in a time when feminism was largely dominated by the voices of white, middle-class women. Spirituality was also an important influence on hooks, who described herself as a “Buddhist Christian,” and claimed that love was essential in overcoming what hooks called the “imperialist white supremacy capitalist patriarchy.” In one New York Times interview hooks stated “I would have to say my Buddhist Christian practice challenges me, as does feminism. Feminism does not ground me. It is the discipline that comes from spiritual practice that is the foundation of my life.” hooks attended Stanford University on scholarship, and worked to pay her way through the rest of school, graduating with a BA in English in 1973. She also went on to receive a master’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin in 1976. In 1981, hooks published her first book, Ain’t I a Woman?, borrowing her pen name from her great-grandmother but keeping it lower-case to differentiate herself. hooks began writing Ain’t I a Woman? at the age of 19, and when it was published nearly a decade later, it quickly gained the reputation as an essential feminist text. In 1983, hooks earned a doctorate in literature from the University of California. One year later, she published her work Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, which brings together theories of feminism, race, love, and gender. Beginning in 2004, she taught Appalachian Studies at Berea College, which offers free tuition. In 2018, hooks was inducted into the Kentucky Writers’ Hall of Fame. It was then that she remarked: “I want my work to be about healing. I am a fortunate writer because every day of my life practically I get a letter, a phone call from someone who tells me how my work has transformed their life.” hooks’ life and writing has been immeasurably impactful on the feminist and anti-racist movements, and she leaves behind a powerful legacy as a Black feminist scholar who can validate both the feelings and perspectives of a consistently marginalized community. “Hers was a language that radically changed how Black women process their lives,” said Saida Grundy, an author and assistant professor of race and feminist sociology at Boston University. She went on to explain that hooks demonstrated that “[t]here is nothing that should be inaccessible about marginalized people being able to make thought of their own lives. That’s powerful.” May the world continue to honour hooks’ legacy and learn from her potent lessons about bringing marginalized peoples to the centre of feminism and progress. May we all work toward decolonizing our minds, something bell hooks fought for ferociously. Rest in power, bell hooks.
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How would you rate your sense of belongingness at TWU?
I am a...
I feel at home at TWU 13%
Resident 53%
I feel obligated to be here 3%
I am disconnected 16% Commuter 47%
I feel fairly connected 42%
1st year 27%
Undecided/ General Studies 3% Human Kinetics 8%
American 10%
Canadian 71%
International 19% Business 17%
Natural & Applied Sciences 12% Nursing 15%
No 75%
Which category describes you best?
Humanities & Social Sciences 18%
Arts, Media & Culture 11%
Education 16%
Which of the following TWUSA services have you used this year?
On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with TWUSA services?
VP Student Relations
58% 57% 38% 37% 36% 18% 16% 10%
1%
7%
2%
1
On a scale of 1-5, how satisfied are you with the level of communication with students regarding COVID-19 guidelines and information so far this semester? 30%
19%
Rentals
Faculty Rep Events
Clubs
None
TWUSA Lounge
Events
Coffee
Mars’ Hill Newspaper
26%
Printing
This survey was meant to help the Trinity Western University Student Association (TWUSA), and the university at large, determine how to serve you best this semester. There were 625 respondents.
3rd year 23%
What faculty do you belong to?
Yes 25%
4th/5th year 30%
2nd year 20%
I belong 26%
Have you used the TWUSA Calendar this year?
6
What year are you in?
14% 9%
7% 2%
1%
2
3
3% 4
5
6
7
8
9
10
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your mental health? 34%
31%
36%
10%
16%
19%
15%
18%
4% 5% 1
1 2
3
4
TWU Website TWU Outfitters (the bookstore) Trinity Commons Office of the Registrar Learning Commons & Library services Chapel/Devotion
38% 35% 34% 34% 28% 21%
The Well Recreation Service Hub/Helpdesk Security & Maintenance Resident Programs Collegium Programs
49% 44%
21% 11%
9% 6% 4%
Sodexo Wellness Centre
Discipleship groups Intercultural Programs Centre for Calling and Career Development Local Outreach None
3
4
5
5
Which of the following TWU services have you used/participated in? 76% 72% 58% 58% 56% 51%
2
Which of the following TWU services are you satisfied with/have you benefited from the most? 29% 29% 28%
Wellness Centre Trinity Commons Learning Commons & Library services
20% 15% 13% 13%
Office of the Registrar Recreation Collegium Programs Security & Maintenance
26% 24% 24% 23%
13% 12% 12% 10% 5% 4% 4% 4%
TWU Website The Well Chapel/Devotion TWU Outfitters (the bookstore)
Service Hub/Helpdesk Resident Programs Discipleship groups Sodexo None
Centre for Calling and Career Development Intercultural Programs Local Outreach
WHAT HAPPENED TO DISNEY’S HAND-DRAWN MOVIES? SOPHIE HOLLAND
Encanto, Moana, Frozen, Tangled—these are only a few of the stunning 3-D animated films that Disney has produced in recent decades. Audiences are amazed by the effort that has gone into the computer animation of these features, raving on about the bold colours and dynamics of the ocean in Moana, or the attention to detail in Elsa’s dress in Frozen. And as an avid viewer and hardcore fan of these films, I couldn’t agree more. Disney’s computer animation is beautiful, compelling, and ages shockingly well. Tangled, for instance, was released twelve years ago, and thankfully manages to not look dated, unlike other studios’ computer animated films that, by current standards, look like they have yet to finish rendering. Despite the gorgeous 3-D films that Disney has produced, however, I admit that I greatly miss Disney’s original hand-drawn animation. Perhaps it is because I appreciate the time and effort it takes to draw a single frame, or maybe my Disney-loving heart yearns for a dose of nostalgia. Perhaps it is because I, like many others, straddle the line of millennial and Gen-Z Disney fans, who were raised with the classic 2-D films until 3-D features became more popular when we hit grade school. Those of us who were raised on 2-D Disney movies may remember some films that reflected milestones in Disney animation. For instance, there was the “Golden Age” of Disney, which brought us classics like Disney’s first-ever feature film, Snow White (1937). Some may remember films from the “Dark Age,” or the time just after Walt Disney’s death in 1966. This era brought us films like The Aristocats (1970) and Robin Hood (1973). YouTuber James A. Janisse (known for the “Drunk Disney” web series) dubbed this era “the great eraser shortage of 1970,” due to the scratchy appearance of the characters in these films. It was during this era that the stu-
dio began to fade away, and was almost in danger of going bankrupt for good. Then came the Disney Renaissance, beginning with The Little Mermaid (1989) and ending with Tarzan (1999). This era also included films like Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Mulan (1998). Many remark the Disney Renaissance as the height of Disney animation, or the “rebirth” of the studio itself. These films brought in revenue, as well as much joy from viewers. Many Disney fans today will list their favourite films as being part of the Disney Renaissance collection.
“I miss Disney’s handdrawn films. They were beautiful, comical, and brought back memories of my watching them on the ancient VCR of my childhood.” However, the 1990s were also a crucial time for Disney, as it had a challenge to face: Pixar. Pixar’s earliest films may look terrifying to our modern-day standards, but its use of computer animation would advance the animation industry. Beginning with Toy Story in 1995, Pixar churned out excellent films that we know as classic childhood movies today. In fact, A Bug’s Life (1998), Monster’s Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), and Wall-E (2008) were all brainstormed during a single lunch meeting between four Pixar executives. When Disney bought Pixar in 2006, the former was in its “experimental era.” While it managed to produce excellent films like Lilo and Stitch (2002), Disney’s other turn-of-the-
century films perhaps missed the mark. How many people do you know whose favourite Disney movie is Home on the Range (2004)? Probably not many. Thus, Disney and Pixar merged, and collaborated on many films. Disney’s last notable hand-drawn feature film was The Princess and the Frog (2009), and then in 2010, Tangled was released. Goodbye, 2-D animation department! So, why did Disney stop making 2-D films? While it was trying to catch up with Pixar’s computer animation success, it was not entirely Pixar’s fault. According to Screen Rant, computer animation is generally less time-consuming, easier to maintain quality control, and more financially successful. Regardless of these reasons, I miss Disney’s hand-drawn films. They were beautiful, comical, and brought back memories of my watching them on the ancient VCR of my childhood. I know there are others who feel the same way. In an ideal world, we could wish upon a star to bring hand-drawn animation back in a time-saving and cost-effective way, and 2-D and 3-D animation could coexist in peace. However, this is not the case. All we can do is watch them on Disney+. Whether 2-D or 3-D, both types of Disney films have great merit. They both bring us stories of heroes and villains, and vivid portraits of magical worlds to which we long to escape. They give us tales of magic, princesses, creatures, and other things we cannot experience in our day-to-day lives. Disney songs evoke emotion, causing some of us to grow attached to them and long to belt out every single lyric. Most importantly, these movies all share a common theme of sharing both positive and compelling messages. Whether you prefer hand-drawn or computer-animation, these films are timeless classics, and can bring us memories and stories we enjoy.
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SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME: THE MOVIE WE DIDN’T KNOW WE NEEDED ELAINE RIES
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: Far from Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. After two and a half years of wondering what would become of Peter Parker and his friends, fans finally have their answer: director Jon Watts and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers could not have provided a more satisfying conclusion to the last twenty years of Spider-Man films. Yet the team behind Spider-Man: No Way Home did much more than just create another blockbuster superhero movie. As our world approaches the second anniversary of the day COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic, it becomes more and more certain that Spider-Man: No Way Home—with its themes of reconciliation, redemption, and community—is exactly what our divided world needs. The film begins right where its predecessor Far from Home left off and it is clear from the start that Peter Parker’s newest adventure will ultimately be a quest for redemption. After the late Quentin Beck posthumously reveals Spider-Man’s identity in a video that frames the superhero for Beck’s murder, Peter must face his senior year of high school struggling to prove his innocence. As the story unfolds, a pivotal question is woven through the entire film: how will Peter respond to suffering and injustice? As his values are tested again and again, his actions will determine whether he is as virtuous as his supporters claim, or if he will sink to the evil that Quentin Beck has accused him of. In his first attempt to fix things, Peter accidentally rips a tear in the multiverse, and Spider-Man villains from multiple dimensions start pouring into his world. Soon, he discovers that simply sending the villains back home would result in their deaths. Tired of taking on problems he feels unequipped to face, Peter is quick to overlook the fates of these villains by claiming that saving their lives is not his responsibility. This allusion to Uncle Ben’s iconic maxim, “With great power comes great responsi-
bility,” sets in motion the final chapter of Peter’s journey towards embracing his duty as one of New York City’s superheroes.
movie ready to continue on with their individual stories, forever comforted by the newfound knowledge that they are not alone.
Exhorted by family and friends, Peter comes to understand the weight of his actions and accepts that he must do everything he can to redeem these alternate-dimension villains by curing them of the ailments poisoning their minds. That said, for every iteration of Spider-Man, tragedy has always been the catalyst of the hero’s story. In No Way Home, that tragedy strikes halfway through the film, and Peter’s resolve to save the seemingly irredeemable is shaken. Thankfully, Peter Parker is not alone, and it is in this darkest hour that two important characters arrive to comfort and guide him.
“As cinematic themes go, it certainly may be true that this one is a tired cliché; however, as we move into another phase of the pandemic and the phrase ‘polarized society’ becomes increasingly overused and increasingly true, perhaps a tired cliché is just what we need”
Before the introduction of the multiverse, it would have been infeasible to imagine Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland sharing the screen in a Spider-Man movie, but it seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is committed to surprising its audiences. The arrival of these two alternate versions of Peter, affectionately referred to in the movie as “Peter 2” (Maguire) and “Peter 3” (Garfield), is a major turning point for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. The appearance of his alternate selves comforts Peter (Holland) in his grief; having experienced the same losses, no one else is better able to empathize with him. They also urge Peter to refrain from seeking revenge, as they know all too well the inevitable darkness that accompanies that path. In the film’s final scenes, Peter listens to the wisdom of his other selves, and chooses forgiveness over hate. For the audience, the moving image of these three versions of Peter Parker coming together to support each other serves as a reminder of the importance of community. Profoundly changed by their encounter with their alternate selves, each of the three Peter Parkers end the
As cinematic themes go, it certainly may be true that this one is a tired cliché; however, as we move into another phase of the pandemic and the phrase “polarized society” becomes increasingly overused and increasingly true, perhaps a tired cliché is just what we need. Suffering has a way of making us forget the most fundamental truths. So, trite as it is, Spider-Man: No Way Home tells us exactly what we need to hear: regardless of the many ways in which we might not agree, it is far better to stand together than apart.
DESERT PEOPLE: THE CULTURE OF OFF-ROADING DIEGO BASCUR
Over the Christmas break, I had the pleasure of discovering a very unique pocket of Southern California in the middle of the desert; a place where motors roar, and drinks are shared around a warm fire under the stars. A place where people come together and become family. I was introduced to the off-roading community, and got a first hand view into the ways of the desert people. The culture there fascinated me, though in many ways I felt alien to the crowd. The way I dressed, the way I talked, it all seemed to stand out amongst this community.
“If you haven’t experienced ripping in a side-by-side at 80km/h through the dunes of the desert, I highly recommend it.” Community is an interesting thing; what ties us together can vary in so many ways. Where we find our people, where we call home—this fosters community. It changes our perception, our worldviews; it shapes our identity to some degree.
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Nonetheless, I was accepted and felt the warmth of their hospitality. Although a little rough-talking, they were some of the most kind and genuine people I have met. There was no beating around the bush and no acting––all of these folks spoke simply and bluntly. Family was held at the highest value, and loyalty was a visible characteristic in each person. The beauty of holding pride and love for your family and your truck cannot be understated. I long for that simplicity in my life. Though at times I felt lost in the lingo of truck talk, I felt passion and care in their voices. I know this resembles many off-road communities anywhere you go. However, the demographic of Southern California, especially places like Orange County, areas in Los Angeles, and San Diego seem to be that of a self-conceited, bubble-wrapped atmosphere. They are places where selfishness and individualism are at the forefront. This is what makes the off-roading community of Southern California so interesting: these attributes of a bubble-wrapped utopia could not be farther from the truth when describing this culture. There is something about blue-collar workers which I cannot help but admire. Unfortunately, at times due to the roughness of their stature, they are severely underappreciated. It took me spending a weekend at an off-roading event to realize this. As one man put it, “We just love bein’ in the dirt.” It is as simple as that, and it is one heck of a good time too. If you have not experienced ripping in a side-byside at 80km/h through the dunes of the desert, I highly recommend it.
Another interesting aspect this culture showcases is the diverse pockets of political views the United States has to offer. The political spectrum is so huge, and I was able to see and hear many of these opinions. I think if I could pull one thing from this culture, it would be patriotism, a love for their country. There are many things I have heard, many wild and interesting takes on the state of the U.S.A., but a love for one’s country and a gratefulness to be living in it resonated with me the most. It speaks to the mood of the community––pride and love.
“The beauty of holding pride and love for your family and your truck cannot be understated.” Unity can be hard to come by, and it can also be hard to come by those who have unconditional love for you. Shameless and with heads held high, these desert people hold a special place in my heart. As I sat beside the fire, hearing the tales of long ago trips into the desert, stories of freedom and sheer joy, I looked up to the stars and was grateful. I felt blessed to be a part of this community, however short it was.
ROMANCE DAWN BRAEDON GROVER SUNNES In the winter of 1997, Eiichiro Oda set out on one of the greatest adventures seen in modern storytelling. Publishing his first chapter, “Romance Dawn,” of a manga called One Piece, Oda was ready to set sail and become the king of the mangaka (Japanese comic artists) by telling the story of Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hats, and his quest to find a legendary treasure and become king of the pirates. With a low budget and a big dream, this story was soon adapted into an anime under the same name. Given the great reception and rapidly growing fan base in Japan, English-speaking companies desired to hop onto this train, 4Kids being the first company to do so. Sadly, 4Kids, popular for its adaptation of the show Pokemon, did not do its research on One Piece, and ultimately butchered its adaptation. While the animation and tone of the show is generally childish, it features drinking, smoking, and bloody violence that 4Kids tried to censor and edit out. While the Japanese show kept at a rapid pace, 4Kids made it through only 103 episodes before giving up on a hopeless effort. This squashed One Piece’s chance for popularity like that of Pokemon and Naruto throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. As trouble brewed for the English dubbing of the show, Oda was on his way writing chapter 470, and Japanese television would be on episode 324, both in the midst of one of the story’s most action-packed and popular arcs. But how did they get to this point? How long would One Piece go on? Surely people would not tune in for another 500 episodes. Now the year is 2022, and One Piece will have released 1038 manga chapters and 1008 anime episodes by the time this issue is published, and the ending
is just barely in sight, according to Oda. Boasting that this is either the best-selling manga or most-watched anime of all time is not necessarily surprising, seeing that it has been going on for so long with so many releases, nearly one a week all year round. But to boast that it holds fifth in top airing anime 23 years into the series shows the loyalty of the fanbase and the quality of content.
“One Piece is about the journey, about the friends you make along the way. I often find myself wishing to set out on my own adventure like the Straw Hats, each with their own dreams seen as unattainable by the world.” The first reaction for a lot of people is that One Piece is not the show for them, because they might not have time to watch 1008 20-minute episodes. Fair enough. What is really intriguing, however, is the shared sentiment I have
with a lot of long-time viewers. I started the show almost two years ago, and I am so afraid for it to end. Letting this show with a loveable crew of characters and wild adventures become my comfort show has been my highlight of the pandemic. I have fallen in love with the family that is the Straw Hat crew, and it breaks my heart to ever think that it might have to end, that this crew may have to one day part ways. At the thought of it all, I am filled with a wistful nostalgia and yearning for friends like these. “Romance Dawn” rings in my ears whenever I think about One Piece and the journey I have got to watch so far. Starting from before Luffy could throw a punch, we see the determination of a child led to the bold claim that would bring most to tears from laughter: “I’m gonna be king of the pirates!” One Piece is about the journey, about the friends you make along the way. I often find myself wishing to set out on my own adventure like the Straw Hats, each with their own dreams seen as unattainable by the world. However, I realize how much that opportunity surrounds us; we are the only ones who can actually stop us from attaining our dreams. Luffy is told constantly that he is in over his head, and that those with dreams won’t make it far on the ocean, but it is the strongest people he meets on the sea who know that dreams are the only way to make it to the top. One Piece will end, because that is the dream of Eiichiro Oda, to tell a sweeping tale of dreams and the joy shared with friends, from its dawn to its dusk.
BARBIE AND THE MAGIC OF CINEMA MACKENNA WILSON
“Though you may not know where your gifts may lead / And it may not show at the start / When you live your dream, you’ll find destiny / Is written in your heart” If these lyrics envelop you in a fuzzy blanket of nostalgia and whisk you away to dreamy worlds of pink and sparkles in an instant, you probably watched Barbie movies growing up. These lyrics are from arguably the most beloved Barbie movie of all time, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (2004), a movie that is still quoted and sung today by those who were fed on the pure delight that is the 2001-2010 Barbie cinematic universe. Growing up, I harboured a deep adoration for these movies, though as I got older, I would wonder if I loved them solely for sentimental reasons. What made them so special to me? I had to revisit them to see if there was anything notable that set them apart from other childhood movies that I revered. Upon my rewatches, I was astounded by the colours, music, messages expressed, and adorable animal sidekicks—I know that many of us may still secretly want a dragon best friend or a barking cat. Ultimately, there are clear reasons why these movies had a lasting impact on many of our childhoods, and why many of us still rewatch and appreciate them as adults. The first Barbie movies—Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001) and Barbie of Swan Lake (2003)—are based on the original ballets and even incorporate Tchaikovsky’s classical music into the stories. This was a unique way for Mattel to introduce children to classical music and culture through a character they already trusted. This was carried out through several other Barbie movies. For example, Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005) utilizes Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, and in Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006), Mendelssohn’s symphonies are used throughout to accompany the glorious dance scenes that en-
hance the magic of the story. I respect how the creators did not operate off of the presupposition that children are too young to appreciate the intelligence and artistry of classical music, as it became ingrained in many of our memories and truly shaped the music of our early childhood. The choice to showcase classical music and ballet is one of the reasons why these movies have stuck with many of us today.
“I am grateful to have accompanied Barbie and her friends throughout fairylands, kingdoms made of clouds, and secret underground dance pavilions that left the deepest impressions on my imagination.” These movies hold many timeless messages and morals for young girls; however, it should be noted that the Barbie movie genre should not be considered remotely feminist. Barbie—in most of her movies—is blonde-haired and blue-eyed, and the rest of the cast heavily lacks diversity. Additionally, in the majority of the movies, Barbie’s character ends up marrying a prince following Disney-esque conventions.
Regardless, the Barbie movies do portray healthy female friendships that other childhood movies typically lack. In several Disney movies that I grew up on, the female protagonist is unable to relate to others due to her unique hobbies, intelligence, or dreams making them “not like other girls.” You might also think of the competitive stepsisters in Cinderella (1950), or Ariel’s older sisters who just do not seem to understand her unorthodox aspirations in The Little Mermaid (1989). What I loved about watching Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper as a child was that it tells a story of two girls who live different lifestyles, yet support each other’s unique dreams and help each other through hardships. I watched it with my sister, and apart from singing all of the duets together ever since, I remember that this movie helped strengthen our long-lasting friendship. We saw ourselves mirrored in Erika and Anneliese, and learned to truly encourage and empower each other from a young age through their lyrics: “You and I will always be / celebrating life together / I know I have found a friend forevermore.” Many of us can thank the early Barbie movies for helping us foster healthy female friendships and find a sense of sisterhood in our real lives. The early Barbie movies have truly touched the hearts and lives of those who grew up watching them. I am grateful to have accompanied Barbie and her friends throughout fairylands, kingdoms made of clouds, and secret underground dance pavilions that left the deepest impressions on my imagination. Many of us will always love the early Barbie universe and its celebration of friendship, love, music, and a whole lot of pink due to the sweet memories that have stayed with us since childhood. For me, however, these movies are not merely sentimental artifacts, but have elements that make them genuinely promising cinema. Now, who’s hosting the marathon?
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MAKENA WARDLE Ever since the inception of Trinity Western University (TWU), the school’s student newspaper has gone through many shifts and changes to become the copy of Mars’ Hill you now hold in your hands (or see on your screens). With a rise in campus conversations around the role of our newspaper in recent years, we wanted to take the opportunity to showcase both the history of Mars’ Hill, and the place of student journalism as a whole. According to TWU Archives, as well as the detailed timeline article, “Hill History,” in Volume 21, Issue 10 of Mars’ Hill, the first documented university newspaper was the T.J.C. Pioneer on October 26th, 1962. This paper ran until 1969, before transitioning into the Salmon River Pioneer, The Echo, and then The Today, which ran from 1980-1995. In 1988, during the time that The Today was in print, students began circulating an underground newspaper called Mars’ Hill. Started by then-student Bruce Beck––who was Editor-in-Chief of The Today the year prior––and a handful of the other students, Mars’ Hill was unofficial and independent of the university. However, this underground newspaper still made waves and caused commotion on campus. According to the previous timeline article in Volume 21, Issue 10, “after the first two issues came out [...] all copies were ordered to be confiscated” and the publication was suspended. One of the founding members of this underground version of Mars’ Hill newspaper was Karen Elgersma (then Karen Jonasson). We recently asked Elgersma, who is now the Editor-in-Chief of Edible Vancouver Island, about her time with Mars’ Hill, and her thoughts on the responsibilities of student journalism. Mars’ Hill: When were you a member of Mars’ Hill Newspaper and what was your role? Karen Elgersma: In my sophomore year at TWU, in the spring of 1988, a fourth year student, Bruce Beck, came up with this idea to do an “underground” newspaper. I was a writer and I helped distribute the magazine–– we would leave it in key locations on campus in the middle of the night. MH: How would you define the role of Mars’ Hill on campus at the time? KE: Mars’ Hill was a place where students could debate controversial issues and feel as if they could speak freely without fear of being censored. It also gave people who had a “different” opinion about common issues that are still debated to this day––issues like homosexuality, euthanasia, sex, drugs, music, and legalism and the Church. MH: What do you think is Mars’ Hill’s duty to the university as a school newspaper? KE: The idea for the name came from this
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idea that Mars’ Hill was a place in Athens where Paul could preach or speak freely. At the time our regular school paper (The Today) was quite tame and we felt it was quietly “censored.” We wanted to create a paper that looked at controversial issues that we were all talking about and debating over at late night coffee runs to Bino’s (an all night coffee shop in Langley we used to hang out at). MH: Any other stories from the earlier days that you’d like to share? KE: I remember sneaking around campus in the dark, placing Mars’ Hill newspapers in dorms, lower café, and other key places with one of my best friends, Anne-Marie Beckham (formerly Heidinga) and we felt so empowered and so proud that we were part of this paper that challenged people. We had something to say and this newspaper gave us a platform to say it. MH: Is there an article that you wrote or contributed to that is particularly memorable? KE: It sounds so silly now, but I wrote an article about library fines. I had a job on campus and they would put my wages directly into my student account, and one day I noticed they had, without my permission, taken $50 (which was a lot for me) to cover a library fine I had (which I was unaware of). When I challenged the admin and library they said they had the right to do this. I was so angry that I wrote an article about it. I never got my money back but I had so many students who had the same experience thank me for that article––it was empowering.
“Mars’ Hill can continue to ask those hard questions that help students discover how to be a Christian in the “modern world.” Just like it did for me.” MH: What did you learn from your time with Mars’ Hill, and where has it led you? KE: I have made my living as a journalist these past 30 years, and I am now the Publisher and Editor at Large of a magazine, and I can honestly say that my Mars’ Hill experiences contributed to my decision to become a journalist and to my passion for telling stories that will impact and inspire people. The biggest lesson is this––we need places to share the stories of our own community. Most of us get our news feed from our smart phones–– what a paper like Mars’ Hill can do is get TWU students talking about things that matter to them. Issues like the ones we were debating 30 years ago. Mars’ Hill is a place where students can speak freely, challenge authority,
ideas, concepts, and ask questions. Mars’ Hill can continue to ask those hard questions that help students discover how to be a Christian in the “modern world.” Just like it did for me.
After the original, underground Mars’ Hill was shut down, a number of zines (short form of magazines) continued to circle the campus. By 1996, The Today was renamed Mars’ Hill, though Volume 21, Issue 10 of Mars’ Hill claims that the Editor-in-Chief at the time attributed the new name to “the Areopagus in Ancient Greece” and not the 1988 underground newspaper. Since then, Mars’ Hill has gone on to win awards, including ACP Newspaper of the Year, spark discussions, and both challenge and celebrate campus culture. We reached out to another former Editor-in-Chief, Lauren Bently (then Lauren Thompson), and asked her a similar set of questions in order to better understand both the changes Mars’ Hill has undergone, and the values it has kept over the years. Mars’ Hill: When were you a member of Mars’ Hill Newspaper and what was your role? Lauren Bently: I worked for Mars’ Hill my entire TWU experience, from 2005-2009. I started as a staff writer, then was assistant news editor, news editor, and finally EIC. MH: How would you define the role of Mars’ Hill on campus at the time? LB: It was an interesting time for the paper. In my freshman year, there had been some controversy surrounding the final year of TWU’s first president, Neil Snyder, and there was a lot of antagonism between the paper and the administration because of it. As I became more involved in leadership at the paper, some of those scandals calmed down, which meant things were a little less tense when I was EIC, though it was still important for us to maintain our independent perspective and be a source of accountability for the school. As EIC, I tried to expand the editorial distance between TWUSA and Mars’ Hill so we could have even more objective coverage, although from a business perspective it turned out to be almost impossible. MH: What did you learn from your time with Mars’ Hill, and where has it led you? LB: Working on Mars’ Hill was the most transformational role I had at TWU. It gave me hands-on communications experience that translated directly into my current career as a writer and editor, and gave me more practical leadership and collaboration experience––skills you don’t necessarily get from a classroom but that are critical when you’re in
the workplace. Mars’ Hill also got me really interested in journalism and storytelling, two things that have been part of my career for over a decade now. MH: Is there an article that you wrote or contributed too that is particularly memorable? LB: This is so silly, but I invented a feature for the comedy page called the “Him-nal,” which were spoof dating profiles. It was always fun to put together, and we snuck in just enough off-colour jokes to feel rebellious. It was a hit.
“Working on Mars’ Hill was the most transformational role I had at TWU. It gave me hands-on communications experience that translated directly into my current career as a writer and editor, and gave me more practical leadership and collaboration experience”
Another former Editor-in-Chief who made plenty of waves during her time in leadership is Aline Bouwman. We also reached out to Bouwman to discuss her time with the newspaper, and ask her opinion on its role. Mars’ Hill: When were you a member of Mars’ Hill Newspaper and what was your role? Aline Bouwman: I served as Editor-in-Chief of Mars’ Hill Newspaper Volume 21 in the 2016-2017 school year. MH: What do you think is Mars’ Hill’s duty to the university as a school newspaper? AB: The purpose of Mars’ Hill has always been to speak truth to power. Mars’ Hill always exists in light of [its] history and purpose of platforming the student voice—even when powerful parties would rather not hear it, let alone listen. Although it has perhaps failed to live up to its historical purpose in some years, the pendulum always swings back. MH: How would you define the role of Mars’ Hill on campus at the time? AB: In my role I tried to provide as much of a platform for queer voices as I could without getting fired or expelled. This was during the year that it was announced the Law School case would be going to the Supreme Court of Canada. It was a rather contentious time to
be the student voice on campus at the time, as the university was operating under the auspices of the hilariously redundant yet dystopian year theme “Committed to Unity, Called to Community.” In other words, there existed a predominant narrative that all students ought to be in support of TWU’s legal plight and all of its concomitant values, which, as we know, revolved around anti-LGBTQ+ agenda that was ultimately refuted by the Supreme Court. As I saw it, the role of Mars’ Hill on campus at the time did not lie in reporting two opposing views equally, since one side represented the majority voice and its opponent was merely a voice in the wilderness. We already knew and spoke the vocabulary of the hegemonic narrative. It was the voice in the wilderness that needed to be broadcasted. MH: Is there an article that you wrote or contributed to that is particularly memorable? AB: We published a centerfold article that for the very first time featured queer alumni sharing their story of being queer on campus. It had to be alumni, of course, because at the time the Community Covenant was still in effect, making it punishable to be openly queer on campus. The article was called “Breaking the Silence Together: TWU Alumni on the LGBTQI Experience.” It was written in part to counter the narrative that TWU had been putting out for a while in light of the upcoming court case—that TWU was “a great place for LGBTQ+ students, actually.” The night before the publication of this issue, a media representative of TWU, posting from the TWU official Facebook account, began a comment war with a number of One TWU members about this. Having just read all of those alumni stories, I commented that many queer students were significantly traumatized by their time on campus. In what we can now only recognize as an incredible moment of dramatic irony, the TWU media representative commented that “that’s not what we hear from our students.” So the next day, Mars’ Hill came out with 14 stories from actual queer alumni that proved TWU could hear very clearly—if it chose to listen.
Mars’ Hill has been the most profound experience of my life, and I don’t regret a single bold decision I ever made. I wish I had been bolder, perhaps. But then again, I might have been fired. Ultimately, what I learned was that student journalism can affect real change. That change is made by being bold. Change is made by being uncompromising. Change does not settle for the validation of being someone who “finds the middle ground” between oppressor and oppressed. I have since completed two fully-funded Master’s Degrees at the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia, and now work full-time as a Copy Editor.
Throughout Mars Hill’s history, our paper has seen its position on campus shift with each new set of writers, students, university administration, and readership. From underground to above ground, one thing that has remained consistent is its aim to contribute to positive change in our community. As its Mission Statement reads, Mars’ Hill’s goal is to “entertain its readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the TWU community, and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members.” As we continue to write, we hope to spark dialogue amongst our students, alumni, and wider community that will only better the university which we have each found a place within.
SCAN TO READ THE “HILL HISTORY” TIMELINE IN MARS’ HILL VOLUME 21, ISSUE 10
“Ultimately, what I learned was that student journalism can affect real change. That change is made by being bold. Change is made by being uncompromising.” MH: What did you learn from your time with Mars’ Hill, and where has it led you? AB: I can say five years down the line that
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THE CULTURE OF BEING RIGHT LEX DIERSCH
As a society, we spend a lot of our day arguing. These arguments can appear anywhere: in the dorm over whose turn it is to do the dishes, in an assignment for English class, or online in a heated debate about the validity of a YouTuber’s apology video. It is a never-ending struggle to make your point heard and convince others that your opinion is the correct one. But when it comes to learning, we either stay silent for fear of being wrong, or try to shout louder than everyone in order to be right. In an article adapted from his 2017 book, The Possibility Principle, Psychotherapist Mel Schwartz states that “[b]eing right affirms and inflates our sense of self-worth. As students, we learn to avoid as best we can the embarrassment of being wrong.” Most, if not all of us, have been there: you put your hand up in class to answer a question, only to be told that your answer is wrong. You immediately feel embarrassed for giving a wrong answer and as you sink into your seat, cheeks reddening, you think: “I’m never doing that again.”
On the other side of the coin, we learn that being right means being louder than everyone––making sure that everyone can hear our point of view. We spend most of our time scrambling to the top of the metaphorical Mountain of Rightness, pushing our peers down in the process. “It quickens our pulse, causes us to shout, and can sever relationships,” states Schwartz. “It is the raison d’etre for most acts of hatred, violence, and warfare.”
“We spend most of our time scrambling to the top of the metaphorical Mountain of Rightness, pushing our peers down in the process.” However, neither of these tactics involves growth for anyone. Growth requires discovering what is outside of the box. And in order to make connections with others, we must be open to their ways
of thinking. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. The only way we can learn is if we open our minds up to the possibility of being wrong. Actors understand the threat of failure better than most disciplines, because there is no “right answer.” In live theatre and improv, anything can happen at any time, which makes the risk of failure even more prominent. If no actor ever took any risks, either in the rehearsal process or on stage, the art they would produce would be very bland and one-dimensional. Actors train to be able to let go of hesitation and run with their instincts. Understanding and overcoming the fear of failure–– of being wrong––is a skill that is often overlooked, when in fact it is vital to the learning process of any discipline. In order to learn, we must give up our innate desire to be right. We must open our minds up to the possibility of being wrong, and be comfortable in that potential outcome. You must prepare to fall, in order to fly.
NOSTALGIA WISTFUL NOSTALGIA: HOMESICKNESS OR MALADY KYLE PENNER
“In the first two years of the war there were reported 2588 cases of nostalgia and 13 deaths from this cause.” Homesickness. It can be fatal, to be away from home, to feel out of place. Not the wistful longing for spring as the winter breeze chills you as you move between classes, nor that pang in your gut when that song comes on the radio (does anybody even listen to the radio?). A malady with quantifiable casualties; a sickness. A depression that seeps into you as you long for greener pastures, or maybe just that same old roof over your head and the sound of familiar coughs and grunts from the other room. A longing for home so intense that it presents a danger to one’s well-being. Nostalgia, not so long ago, was considered to be a serious ailment. “These numbers scarcely express the real extent to which nostalgia influenced the sickness and mortality of the army,” according to the U.S. Sanitary commission in 1867. Feeling out of place––roughly synonymous with the feeling of not-being-at-home––reduces one’s power to withstand the hurdles of life. Nostalgia is an illness to whose “depressing influence…must be attributed the fatal result in many cases which might otherwise have terminated favourably.” When we feel as though we do not belong, we are sapped of endurance and succumb to otherwise manageable challenges. The effects of homesickness, or nostalgia, are thus difficult to quantify; this condition is more pervasive than original analyses might indicate because of its capacity to exacerbate the effects of other conditions. It is pernicious in this way, lurking in the background as a contributing factor to numerous other ailments.
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“It is a mental disorder, and belongs to the class melancholia.” We are more aware than ever before of mental illness, because we must be. “Depression and Anxiety Double in Youth Compared to Pre-Pandemic” (Forbes); “Major Depression on the Rise Among Everyone, New Data Shows” (NBC news); “Depression and Anxiety Are on the Rise Globally” (Psychology Today): three headlines chosen at random. It seems that we are becoming a melancholic people. What is causing the increase in mental health issues is assuredly not one-sided; its causes are undoubtedly myriad. And yet, to me, anyway, it seems that there is a certain nostalgic underpinning to it all. A homesickness, or a displacement. That is to say, that we are sick because we do not fit in. Society is leaving many of us behind. Some of us do not fit into the neat little boxes that have been laid out while others of us wish that there was a box into which we could curl up in and take refuge. The same problem from different sides—difficult positions to reconcile. Unable to see things from the other side drives wedges between us and fractures us into tribes. Along with the increasing tribalism is an increase in in-group/out-group thinking and dogmatism. This is a reaction, an effort to convert conflict and discord into cohesion. An attempt to create a home on the battlefield perhaps. This is not a real solution and this kind of recursive bifurcation is, on the whole, characterized by disunity. I do not think that I am alone in feeling trapped in my inability to “choose a side” on any given topic; it is this sentiment that I am diagnosing nostalgia. Nostalgia today is a much softer word with connotations of wistful longing. Though I have dwelt in the more dour historical significations of the term. In our day-to-day, however, perhaps the contemporary sense is more accurate. We are, most of us
anyway, not living in the late-stage fatal sense of displacement that I have thus far been describing. The process of living has a tendency to smooth out the edges, but the sense of longing remains, as does the sense that something is not as (or where) it should be. We long, I think, to find our place in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to do so. Our cultural nostalgia subtly infects our ability to proceed with human life in a meaningful way; it seeps like black bile into the cracks of our lives and taints our vision, obscuring any deep sense of belonging. We are a homesick people. “The foregoing figures would very inadequately represent the importance of nostalgia as influencing the stamina of the soldier” all of us.
“I do not think that I am alone in feeling trapped in my inability to ‘choose a side’ on any given topic; it is this sentiment that I am diagnosing nostalgia.” Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are from: Sanitary memoirs of the war of the rebellion v. 1, 1867. U.S. Sanitary Commission. P.21
PURITY CULTURE AND MY “OTHERED” BODY ANNA MARIE ELLENA
Let’s talk about sex, shall we? Such a perennial topic of discussion for a Christian community that’s about as sex-aware as my threeyear-old niece. I’ll save the lit review and skip to the SparkNotes: Christianity teaches that unmarried individuals should practice abstinence and that only once two heterosexual cisgender individuals are married, they may pursue sexual intimacy however they see fit. This simplistic and exclusive standard sparked a widespread cultural movement of purity to save a “morally depraved” culture and return it to a (Christian) moral standard. This movement has since been titled “Purity Culture” and was most prevalent in the 1990s-2000s with the impossible standards for sex and dating shouted at youth rallies, prayed over at youth groups, and internalized through books. The influence continues, although much more insidiously, and haunts many of us unlucky enough to count “Purity Culture” among our religious traumas.
campus geared exclusively to men (yikes)–– “That’s What HE Said: Living as Christian Men in a Sexualized World.” While both attempt to approach the topics of sex and sexuality in an honest and helpful way, both continue to neglect the goodness and reality of the body, focus almost solely on the spirit, and speak in a simplistic and dualistic manner.
A common tactic of Purity Culture messaging is the use of dualities and dichotomies communicated through black-and-white language that oversimplify the experience of sex and sexuality. For example, the emphasis on one’s need to suppress bodily urges and temptations in order to have spiritual victory. Such messages can be seen in recent examples, like last issue’s “The Shamed Majority: The Prison of Porn for Young Christian Men” or a recent panel Q&A event on the TWU
I have come to think of the duality between the body and spirit in line with Lajos Bron’s explanation of “othering”: as the body is “othered” it becomes an out-group, alienated and inferior, and one’s spirit becomes an “ingroup,” exalted and praised. Unsurprisingly, this body alienation that is so praised as a means for overcoming sexual temptation actually fractures our ability to experience genuine sexual pleasure and wholistic intimacy within ourselves, with God, and with others.
“Are you ready for some good news? Your body is not wrong, it is not a monster to be tamed, instead, it is an essential component of your total self and a vital avenue of connection.”
When we fixate on our body as the enemy and on sexual sin as the ultimate evil, we miss out on the opportunity to become whole and embodied human beings, designed to emulate God’s goodness in the world. An “either/or” response is a very natural human reaction to ambiguity. It is uncomfortable to be in the grey middle, to hold two (or three, or four) things as true and possible at the same time. However, if we cannot begin to reconcile our view of the body as a “thing,” or a nemesis that seeks revenge, as James B. Nelson astutely observes, we will continue to have a disembodied experience of ourselves, others, and God. Purity culture gets many things wrong––pretty much everything wrong––but it especially misses the mark here. Are you ready for some good news? Your body is not wrong or a monster to be tamed, instead, it is an essential component of your total self and a vital avenue of connection, whether you’re single, dating, or married. Sexuality and spirituality are beautifully and deeply entwined, mutually informing and growing the other toward a complete and total view of self, God, and others. Now go pray or dance naked in the safety of the shower or your room and redeem your glorious physical body.
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NOSTALGIZING THE GRAND PRONOUN DEBATE OF 2019: A CASE FOR CREATIVE THEOLOGIZING CARTER SAWATZKY
It was an average week of online classes when I stumbled across a buzzy Christianity Today article entitled “‘They’ Is Not a Pronoun for God” by Christy Thornton published January 20, 2022. The article’s provocative visual features a name tag in front of some Psalms saying: “Hello my name is: They”––ripped down the middle. It’s almost like it was made to grab my attention! On a slow January weekday, the article seemed to already have a chokehold on the Christian twittersphere as conversation on God’s gender and identity was thrown back into the wringer (it’s never far off from the discussion anyways). You might ask me, “Carter, why are you reading Christianity Today in the first place? Don’t you have classes to do?” and you would be right! But I also happen to love an intellectually stimulating debate. And drama.
“It was this dueling trio of articles [on God’s] gender which held my attention and prompted me towards a thoughtful exploration of who God is and who God can be for different people.” So, as a they/them pronoun user, gender studies minor, and self-identified creative theologizer, I was intrigued by “‘They’ Is Not a Pronoun for God” to say the least. With lines like “God doesn’t have a gender, but his pronouns do” and “[t]here is no such thing as a nongendered human and therefore no need to use a nongendered pronoun in reference to a person” how could I not dig in? This article––fortunately––will not be an in-depth examination of “‘They’ Is Not a Pronoun for God,” but rather, in the spirit of this issue’s “Nostalgia” theme, it will be a “Best Of” compilation of some recent student musings on who God is––and can be––to us. Cringe-reading “‘They’ Is Not a Pronoun for God” was less of an annoyance and, surprisingly, more like a warm cup of nostalgia on a chilly day. It teleported me back to the glory days of late 2019 to early 2020 Mars’ Hill where nearly every issue held a new addition to the Trinity Western University (TWU) discourse on God’s gender. Perhaps I was one
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of the few invested in the back-and-forth. During my four years at TWU I have absorbed and wrestled with a diversity of takes regarding God’s gender (or non-gender). In particular, though, I fondly remember these glorious tit-for-tat skirmishes of late 2019 Mars’ Hill discourse. I remember it like it was yesterday. The theological brawl first hit off with Liv Walton’s “Language That Limits” (Oct. 25, 2019) which opens with arguably the most gender-ambiguous Bible verse––Genesis 1:26: “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (ESV; her emphasis added). In the article, Walton makes a case for the multiplicity of God’s gender and advises a posture of linguistic openness for fellow Christians: “Being open to using they/them or she/her pronouns when referencing God is not done with the intention of undermining the Biblical texts. Rather, it sets the stage for inclusivity within the Church.” A counter-argument to Walton’s article swiftly appeared in newspaper stands two weeks later for the next issue from Rees Morgan: it was titled “The Beauty of God as ‘Father.’” In defense of the Christian He-God, Morgan cites the precedence and prevalence of he/ him pronouns for God in Scripture. He acknowledges the occasional feminine deviations (including God the comforting mother in Isaiah 66:13) as helpful details that soften the divine “Father” metaphor. Because Morgan sees God as male-identifying for the most part––(“we cannot as finite humans define God as we would like to see Him—instead of what He has said that He is”) he zones in on the positive potential of the divine paternal and husbandly metaphors as healing balm for “this broken world.” This divine pronoun discourse was not finished yet as Kieran Wear came in for a swing the following issue with their piece “Merry (Phallogocentric) Christmas” (Nov. 27). Wear’s article takes a narrative form as they describe their dissatisfying experience of embracing a fatherly God, and the disappointment of “empty language” when attempting to describe a deity who surpasses language. Wear warns against the dangers of asserting that “the hegemonic God is––and is only––a father” as it “prioritizes male (phallic) experience above any other.” To Wear, God is neither father nor mother. To them, “God is silent.” In a departure from “wordy patriarchal holdovers,” Wear favours the possibility of a God of silence who occupies the “quiet, still space, right at the edge of my overwhelming disbelief in their existence.”
It was this dueling trio of articles which held my attention and prompted me towards a thoughtful exploration of who God is and who God can be for different people. I could mention many more Mars’ Hill articles that have enriched my spiritual thought life and challenged my limited preconceptions of God. Some honourable mentions from the recent past include Chrisaleen Ciro’s “Interview with Dr. Hillary McBride, RCC: Part 2” from Feb. 3, 2020 which produced brilliant pull quotes from McBride: “Sometimes we can get caught up in our ideas, and defending our ideas, in such a way that closes us off to who God is, and how God wants to come to us.” I would be remiss to exclude Hannah Ahrendt’s “The Feminine Aspects of the Judeo-Christian God” from Feb. 3, 2021: “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.” Sam Rosenau’s “Not God, But Life” from Oct. 20, 2021 which provides a wonderful existentialist perspective: “[This article] is an attempt at a balanced phenomenology, a dive into qualia, an embrace of mystery, and what happens when Life reveals itself to you… When music pulses through your blood, when art grips you by the jaw, when trees console you. That is Life revealing itself to you.”
“Debate––even on God’s gender––is healthy. Musing on the Divine can be healing. Creative theologizing can be helpful for exploring one’s faith in new ways.” Going back through this dialogue in old issues of Mars’ Hill was a surprisingly edifying experience, highlighting that debate––even on God’s gender––is healthy. Musing on the Divine can be healing. Creative theologizing can be helpful for exploring one’s faith in new ways. Discourse on God’s pronouns is not without material impact, however, and articles like “‘They’ Is Not a Pronoun for God” exemplify what it can look like to engage uncharitably. May we continue to debate, muse, and theologize charitably.
What is your major, year, and hometown? I’m in my fourth year, I am an education major with minors in English and theatre, and I’m from Vanderhoof, BC.
love with while writing, seeing them put to stage is just a very exciting experience. People here put their heart into it, too, so that’s just so gratifying.
How did you first get involved in theatre and playwriting? I think it was first through classes. I really enjoyed theatre, and then was encouraged in a playwriting class to submit to New Generations [a TWU student play]. I like to think my own work is funny, and so my only hesitation in submitting it was worry that other people might not have the same sense of humour. Otherwise, I was really excited to share my characters and the ideas I’d come up with.
What are your inspirations with your work? I like to write about things that make me excited or interested across the board (I don’t tend to write papers about anything that doesn’t make me interested or excited). It’s usually based on an idea that I want to know more about, or a thought that I want to see where it goes, and I just kind of follow along as I write.
You have one of your plays being performed at TWU’s upcoming show, New Words New Works. Can you tell us about it? My play is specifically about the idea that there are wishing stars granting our wishes in the sky, and what that job is like for them–– specifically what can go wrong. How did you come up with this idea? I randomly get ideas, especially just when I’m walking around or doing something else, and my brain will wander, and I’ll get a singular line. My line was, simply, “what if wishing stars were real?” And I just went with that idea. The star named Steve, who’s in the title, has a big role in it. How does it feel to see your work brought to life onstage? I got to be right there right from auditions, and I have to say I am so excited with the directing, the cast––everything is just so wonderful. The characters that I originally fell in
Is this something you want to pursue professionally? How do you plan to use your talents after you graduate? As I’m in education, I want to be a highschool teacher, and I think theatre can play a major role in students’ self-expression. My plan is to keep practising writing plays and seeing how I can incorporate them as far as tailoring it to my students and their journey, and ensuring that they are able to have avenues that fit their acting styles as they grow. You can come see Emma’s play, Wishing on a Steve, as well as four other brilliant student-written plays at the upcoming show, New Words New Works, running from February 1-5 at the SAMC Theatre. Tickets available through the TWU Website at: “Current Show.” Proof of vaccination and government-issued ID are required for entrance to the theatre. All audience members must wear masks.
How did you first get involved with basketball? I have three older siblings, and they all played so I basically grew up in the bleachers watching them play. My first organized experience playing basketball was in grade 4 with my elementary school team. From there I started to play club basketball in grade 6, and always kept playing all the way through my schooling years from there. I came from a smaller Christian school, so I also did things like volleyball and track growing up, but I chose to stick with basketball around grade seven when my club basketball schedules were going to conflict with the other sports I was involved in. With my older siblings being involved with basketball so much already, that’s probably what drew me towards it, but I’ve also been so lucky that I didn’t really have any pressure to choose, my parents and family were always there to cheer me on in whatever I wanted to do. How did you decide on coming to TWU? When I was in grade 10, I tried out for and eventually made the Alberta Junior Pandas academy. That was my first real exposure to basketball outside of just my school and local club, so it was obviously a step up. However, it was really good for my exposure and I probably wouldn’t have gotten to this level without it. When I was looking into what post-secondary options I had, there were a couple coaches
interested back home in Edmonton, but I was always really interested in TWU. I have family who live out here, and had a couple cousins who went to school here, and then the school being a smaller Christian community and having sports at the U-Sports level, TWU really checked all the boxes for me. From there I got in contact with Cheryl (Jean-Paul), and everything just seemed to fit really well and it all fell into place. Tell us about your favourite basketball moment. I remember one tournament with my high school team really well. We made it all the way to the final, and the game ended up going all the way to triple over-time. I ended up scoring the game-winning basket, and I have this vivid picture of the gym erupting in my head. In that game we were seen as the underdogs, but we were able to keep it close the whole way through and force another overtime each time we had to, until we were able to finally win it. That game was so memorable obviously because of how it finished, but also how long it went, as after playing three overtimes we were getting close to playing another full game. What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the season? With how well we’ve started the season this year, and even last year all the time we spent practicing and training without being able to play, it’s really nice to look forward to the playoffs to see what we will be able to accomplish. There have been a lot of ups and downs over the last couple years, so it will be great to have all that hard work finally come to life.
SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT
JOLENE VLIEG What is your year, team, position, and major? I am in my 4th year, I play on the women’s basketball team as a forward, and I am majoring in business with a specialization in marketing and finance.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
EMMA GIESBRECHT
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THE GOLDEN AGE OF CANADIAN SOCCER SCOTT BOWERS
It has been over 35 years since the last and only time the Canada men’s national soccer team played at the FIFA World Cup. At Mexico ‘86, a tournament that saw them as major underdogs in a group with tournament favourites, including France along with two more strong European nations in Hungary and the Soviet Union. Canada was seen as such underdogs that there was very good betting odds that Canada would not even score a goal. The bookies were right and many people won some good money, but Canada did not get blown out of the water like many expected. Over their three group stage matches, they only lost by a combined score of 5-0; this was seen as a win, and a great place to build on for the future. Canada would be able to go places.
“The work John Herdman has done from 20112018 with the women, and now 2018 onward with the men has been nothing short of a miracle.” Instead, the history of men’s soccer in this country can be described as sporadic at best. The only shining moment since their lone World Cup appearance, is the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Canada squeaked all the way to its only regional title. In what may be the most Canadian soccer thing ever to happen, Canada only managed to qualify for the knockout rounds of that tournament through a flip of a coin. They then rode the brilliant performances of all-time Canadian goalkeeper Craig Forrest to wins over Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Columbia in the final. In that same year of 1986 that saw Canada’s men play in their first World Cup, a women’s national soccer program was born. Unlike their male counterparts, the progress of Canada’s women’s team has been much more linear, and in recent years even more successful. Despite currently being ranked 6th in FIFA’s international rankings, many involved in the development of the program do not forget the earliest days where the funding-strapped squad would wear hand-me-down kits from the men’s program. As BC Sports hall of famer Geri Donnelly put it, “They [the jerseys] were huge on us. It’s like you had a parachute on while you were running.” Fast forward 20 years and you will find what many consider to be the very earliest beginnings of a new age of Canadian soccer. At one of the most fitting venues for one of the most dramatic games of soccer ever played, Canada took on the United States at Manchester United’s famous ground Old Trafford (affectionately known as the “Theatre of Dreams”) in an Olympic semi-final. The match ended 4-3 after extra time to the United States, but despite the defeat, this game inspired a nation of Canadian soccer fans, both men and women alike. In a game that saw a few of the most bizarre ref-
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ereeing decisions you may ever see, the Canadian team felt robbed despite this being one of the best performances in the program’s history. They finished off their Olympic campaign strong, with a 1-0 win over France, to not only claim bronze but also back up their semi-final performance. Four years later, Canada was back for more at the Rio Olympics, still with the sour taste in their mouth of what had happened in London, Canada was ready for another crack. The squad was once again led by one of the world’s best strikers in Christine Sinclair and charismatic head coach John Herdman, but eventually fell short in the semi-finals again, this time to eventual champions Germany. Once again the team finished strong, defeating hosts Brazil in a hostile environment to claim bronze, yet that semi-final stage seemed to be that hurdle the Canadian women could just not pass. In a shock move no one saw coming in 2018, Canada Soccer announced John Herdman would make the switch to coach the national men’s team. Sitting at 94th in the world rankings when he took over, the men’s program was struggling for real direction, and Herdman was going to be Canada’s innovative solution. Still many fans and pundits questioned whether he would have the pedigree to handle the men’s head coaching role as a coach of primarily female teams at the highest level. This move understandably left the woman’s program in a difficult position as well. After a short stint with Kenneth Heiner-Møller in charge, the national women’s program headed into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Herdman’s former understudy and fellow English native Bev Priestman at the helm. Her only goal heading into that tournament was “to change the colour of the medal,” and did she ever deliver on that promise. Blending the skills of ageing greats like Sinclair with young stars like Jessie Fleming and wily veterans like Stephanie Labbé, Canada’s women were finally able to beat those demons of years gone by. After a very tough group stage that saw them finish second, the Canadians squeezed their way through the tough Brazilians on penalties. Then came arguably the biggest hurdle of them all, a semi-final match up with the rivals from south of the border. A 75 minute penalty from Fleming gave the Canadians a 1-0 win, and avenged that London loss from nine years earlier. In a gold-medal match up with Sweden, it only seemed destined that Canadians would find a way to win, which they accomplished again in dramatic penalty shoot-out fashion, riding the outstanding goalkeeping of Labbé. Just as 2021 was a year of history-making for the women’s program with their Olympic gold, their male counterparts were in the midst of finding historic success themselves. The men’s team, who started the calendar year ranked 72nd in the world, dominated their first round of World Cup Qualifying in convincing fashion, going 4-0, and conceding just one goal while scoring 27. Following that they continued their dominant form with a 4-0 aggregate win over Haiti, booking themselves a ticket to the final round of
CONCACAF qualifying for the first time since the 1998 qualifiers. The Canadians finished their 2021 campaign ranked 40th in the world, the highest they’ve been since 1996. Along with their meteoric rise, they finished the calendar year with the most goals scored of any other national team in the world with 55. That’s more than powerhouses like Germany, England, and the Netherlands to name a few. Now heading into 2022, Canada’s men find themselves with just six games left in the 14-game final qualifying stage, while sitting at the very top of the CONCACAF table. With some of the toughest games on the schedule including away draws to the USA and Mexico, and the famous 2-1 home win against Mexico in snowy Edmonton behind them, Canada’s world cup fate really does rest in their own hands. They may be without talismanic star Alphonso Davies for at least the next set of fixtures, but this team has proven it has strength in depth. The squad is bolstered by the likes of Jonathan David, who is currently second in scoring in the French top division this season, Kyle Larin, who is tied for first all time in goals for the national team, and the country’s all-time leading appearance maker, Atiba Hutchinson. It is the performances of those outside the star players of the Canadian men’s team that should have fans optimistic that 2022 will be the year Canada’s men finally make their second World Cup appearance.
“Both programs are littered with bags of not only young talent, but young stars.” Even with all the recent top-level success of both the men and women’s programs, there are many reasons to believe that these levels are here to stay long term. First, both programs are littered with bags of not only young talent, but young stars. Players who will not only become the best in the world soon but are already on that level. Second, this success attracts more success. For many years Canadian soccer had the hardest time getting its best players to actually want to play for their country. Now we are seeing the opposite as many young talented players who could represent multiple countries are choosing to represent Canada as they see the path our teams are on. Finally, the quality of coaching and structure at the top level of our game. For the longest time, especially on the men’s side, Canadian soccer looked to be a mess, void of real vision and leadership. The work John Herdman has done from 2011-2018 with the women, and now 2018 onward with the men has been nothing short of a miracle. Bev Priestman picking up where Herdman left off and immediately taking the women’s program one step further could not have been written any better in a fairy tale. Canadian soccer is in the strongest position it has ever been, and it is only going to get stronger.
HOCKEY: THE GAME WE LOVE? DIEGO BASCUR
Hockey has always been a cornerstone in Canadian culture; it seems anywhere I go outside of Canada people ask, “Do you live in an igloo?” and “Do you play hockey?” To one of those, the answer is yes (no, I have never lived in an igloo before). Some of my first memories have been in my backyard, playing hockey on the rink my dad made for us. My childhood was filled with cold walks to the outdoor rink near my house. Hockey has given me joy, a sense of community, and the appreciation for hard work. Through wins, and losses, 6 a.m. practices, and everything else in the beautiful game, hockey has truly played a role in shaping who I am today.
“The niche atmosphere hockey creates is less appealing.” So why does it feel like that is slipping away? Why does it feel like the sport I hold so dear to my heart is on a decline? In the past 15 years, the number of youth in Canada playing soccer and basketball has almost doubled, whereas hockey, though not significantly, has seen a steady decrease in popularity. Perhaps the culture of youth sports in Canada is changing. Accessibility and practicality seems to be at the forefront when comparing hockey to other sports like basketball and soccer. Obviously, in sports such as soccer, the requirements to play do not even
come close to those of hockey. All you need is a ball, your feet, and you are good to go. The cost of hockey must factor in ice (which is not cheap to maintain), the variety of equipment needed (stick, helmet, skates, etc.) and the ability to skate. With these factors it can be easy to see that the sport of hockey is an exclusive club. However, the nature of this has not changed, and these things have been a factor in hockey, so why now are numbers decreasing? It seems that as soccer and basketball become more popularized, the choice for parents is becoming easier. The niche atmosphere hockey creates is less appealing. This eventually becomes a cycle as youth grow up without hockey—why would they put their kids in a sport that means nothing to them? On average the cost for registration for house league players is anywhere between $300 to $700, which does not include equipment or travel costs. For competitive players this number skyrockets, as high level youth players playing AA or AAA pay up to $5,000 in registration fees. Including all other fees, families might end up spending up to $15,000 for their child’s hockey season. These prices, rightfully, add to the exclusivity of the sport amongst youth. The changing demographic of Canada cannot be overlooked either. Sean Fitz-Gerald, a senior national writer for The Athletic said this when asked about this demographic: “the only thing more Canadian than hockey is mutli-culturalism and a growingly diverse population of immi-
grants. It’s a group the sport just hasn’t made feel welcome.” Gerlad also brings up a true icon of hockey, Don Cherry, who was fired from a popular segment called Hockey Night in Canada, after making comments about immigrants not wearing poppies. Cherry unfortunately represents a demographic of Canada that alienates those relatively new to Canada. In turn, this alienation further adds to an already exclusive club.
“The sad reality is hockey numbers are declining in Canada, the sport is seeing a shift, it cannot be ignored.” Hockey is a captivating sport, it will always be a part of Canada and a part of me. However, things change, whether we want them to or not. The world pushes forward, and those unwilling to accept this or change themselves unfortunately get left behind. The sad reality is that hockey numbers are declining in Canada, and the sport is seeing a shift; it cannot be ignored. Perhaps though, through all this, change happens, and acceptance and diversity will become a bigger part of this sport I love so much.
YOU’RE A SUPERSTAR, NOT A SUPER-DUPER-STAR TYLER JONES
I am no Green Bay Packers fan. As a dedicated fan of the Seattle Seahawks, I often find myself on the wrong end of classic NFC tilts between the two teams. Aaron Rodgers out-muscles Russell Wilson in what usually ends up as a high-scoring, enthralling game. Still, Rodgers seems to come out on top.
gers is far more talented than Wilson ever was, but they both find their way as secondary quarterbacks to Tom Brady. They exist in his world.
Is this a problem with Wilson? In some avenues, yes. Don’t get me wrong, he is an incredible quarterback. He has won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, taking Seattle to another one only one year later (we don’t need to talk about that one, though). The bottom line is this: Russell Wilson gets the job done. He won’t blow you away, nor will he win the league’s MVP award; he exists in the playoffs, then gets killed off in the first or second round. He’s just… there, but he plays his part well.
Seven rings. You get the point.
Aaron Rodgers exists on a similar plane as Wilson, except for the MVP awards. Of course, Rod-
To put it simply, Tom Brady flies his own plane. He is the captain, and he is completely inevitable (snaps fingers).
Still, Rodgers finds a way to squeak his way into the Brady vs. Rodgers discussion. Everyone knows that it doesn’t really exist, since Brady is a completely different class of athlete that we may never see again, but this ridiculous conversation exists! With that being said, why do we act like Aaron Rodgers is going to win the Super Bowl every year? Time and time again sports fans are caught picking the Packers to win it all, myself included. We act like Rodgers is going to overthrow
Brady’s legacy for brief periods of times by bossing the regular season. Still, he just cannot get the job done. Aaron Rodgers is simply limited in the playoffs. Blame it on coaching, his defence, or his offensive weapons—we are still given the same product on a yearly basis: playoff shortcomings. Does this mean Rodgers is just a guy who can’t get it done when the lights shine brightest? Will people remember him in 30 years? Are we, dare I say, overrating what he can do? Who knows? Maybe Rodgers leaves Green Bay and gets the job done somewhere else. But, for now, we need to chill out. He is an all-time great, but the clock is ticking on the resumé he will present when the time comes.
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RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE A BUNCH OF DESPERATE VIRGINS, RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE LIGMA, RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE LOVE YOURSELF INSTEAD, RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE GAY BY MAY, RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE WHY COMMIT TO MARRIAGE WHEN YOU CAN COMMIT MURDER, RING BY SPRING? MORE LIKE TWU NEEDS TO E-TRANSFER ME $200 FOR EMOTIONAL DAMAGES NYSSA MORGAN, HUMOUR EDITOR 18/19, 20/21 Trinity Western University (TWU) has earned a reputation for bringing couples together during their time at school. I used to wonder if I missed the boat by not settling down with that one dude who complimented my sweater in RELS 102. Now, I realize bypassing the “ring by spring” phenomenon is the best thing that ever happened to me. If you are stressed about trying to find your soulmate before your degree is up, here are my reasons for thanking the universe that the only thing I ever got during springtime was allergies. Firstly, I did not get stuck living in Langley. Or Chilliwack. Or Abbotsford. No tea, no shade, but I cannot imagine paying a ridiculous amount of rent for a tiny basement suite with upstairs neighbours who are always thumping around and one of their kids never stops crying. And don’t even get me started on the scent of cow wafting through the air. If you enjoy house arrest in the Lower Mainland, all power to you and your delusional happiness, though I refuse to believe the peaceful sleep I now get when I am not waking up to trains honking at three in the morning can be topped by never leaving Langley. The second reason to leave your ring finger empty is that I guarantee you will find someone who is a better kisser than the person you’re dating now. Secular
schools offer the freedom to make out with anyone and it is part of a normal university experience to casually get to know people, to see what works for you and what doesn’t. Kissing all your homies during dorm meeting is a little frowned upon at TWU, but it’s better than running around like a bunch of Gollums trying to find your own “Precious.” Finally, the biggest reason not getting a ring by spring will be the best thing that ever happened to you: you become more than a tired Christian cliché. Surprisingly, finding a life partner at TWU does not have to be your only personality trait. If you want to get married for the tax benefits, pop off sis, but don’t waste the thousands of dollars you’re spending right now for the sake of a band of metal. If you take anything away from this article, remember that TWU is a teeny-tiny pond with an extremely limited group of fish; you might just miss out on an angelfish if you keep chasing trout. And if you think I’m writing this because I’m bitter that I graduated without dating a single person from TWU, just know that I’m currently writing this from my apartment in Hawaii where I live with my best friend. Bitter? Hardly know ‘er.
HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE REAL WORLD™: FIVE STEPS TO SUCCESS SABINE HENDERSON, HUMOUR EDITOR 17/18
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Yes, you read that correctly—you’re currently living in an alternate universe. The existence you’re experiencing now? Fake. Life at university? A false world of illusions where nothing is what it seems. Here are a few tips to memorize before that blessed day when the Real World™ comes hurtling at you.
even a second too long, and it is guaranteed to bring back visceral memories of love and loss, tears and terror, heartsparkles and heartache, solitary days spent gazing into the depths of your soul or scurrying away from geese. Speaking of which: avoid perceiving geese at all costs.
Step 1: Suppress all emotion. Keeping a straight face will allow you to blend in with the masses. Most importantly, though, it will allow you to accept a desk job at a major corporation without even the slightest twinge of remorse. The downside is that posting about that new job won’t bring the same twinge of happiness it once did but it’ll be worth the tradeoff. Plus, suppressing your emotions from the get-go will let you access the emotional dysregulation you need to make it through the traffic of your very first evening commute.
Step 3: Learn the lingo. Out here in the Real World™ we speak a different language. Catch on as quickly as possible to avoid strange looks. Sick of talking to someone? Tell them to “put a pin in that thought” and let them know that you’ll “circle back later.” Saying goodbye? “Kind regards” will do the trick. Or “best regards” or “kind wishes” or any combination of bests, kinds, wishes, and regards. Throw in a “thanks” or “cheers” for good measure. Start practicing now for best results.
Step 2: Avoid all ponds. I know, I know, this sounds strange. But believe me, a little thing like a pond can quickly become a big hindrance to your attempts to follow Step 1. Glance at a pond for
Step 4: Get your stretching routine down. I’m not kidding you, 99 percent of the people you’ll meet post-fake-world have a stretching routine, which they will not fail to mention (or demonstrate) within 15 minutes of
your first interaction. It sounds like a cult (it’s not), but it’s good for your aging body. Yes, the rumour is true—in the Real World™, people age. Doesn’t matter how old you are, the second you’re catapulted out of the fake world, you’ll feel it. So, you’d better start planning; first select your time of day, the stretches you’ll do, and the length of your routine. To adjust for Real World™ aging, add +27 minutes accordingly. Step 5: Forget everything. I’m sorry to say, nostalgia will do you no good. Forget the laughing fits in your colourless dorm, the wisdom your RA passed down to you, the fire alarm that left you huddled in the parking lot in the middle of the night, the day trips you took all the way to Fort Langley, the Kraft dinner you pulled out on special occasions. Forget the meme pages, the matchmaker accounts, the declassifieds, the inside jokes with your roommates. Let the memories vaporize—they will only cause you pain, longing for a fake world that doesn’t actually exist. Most important of all though: forget the advice your professors gave you about the Real World™. They’ve only ever read about it.
ONE LAST JOB
EMMETT HANLY, HUMOUR EDITOR 19/20 The haze of the room around me thickens as I exhale. I sit here for a moment in my dingy office, remembering days long gone and the person who I used to be. I despondently tilt the photo on my desk towards me with one finger to get a better look at it. Ah, my old partner. No, wait, my ex-wife. No, wait, is that grandma? No, wait…
“It’s me.”
My brooding is harshly interrupted by a knock at the door. It is probably the landlord with his final notice of foreclosure. Well, it would probably be for the best if it were. I ain’t cut out for this line of work no more. Not since…
“This ain’t some kind of trick, is it?” I spy the room for potential improvised weaponry just in case this turns out to be some kind of elaborate setup.
The knocker raps at my door once again, derailing my train of thought. I sigh a sigh I sigh all too often, and my joints punish me for standing up. I’m getting too old for this horse crap. I stagger over as I rub my bestubbled chin and put my hand on the doorknob. I pause before I open it to get a good look at the figure silhouetted behind the tinted glass. That hairstyle… Could it be? No… I haven’t seen him in years. It must be someone else. “If you’re trying to sell me something, I ain’t interested. Now scram!” No response from the figure other than three more knocks. My doubt still gets the better of me.
I freeze. That’s his voice. I’d know it anywhere. It is him. It has to be. Why now? What could he possibly want from me, when he must know that I’m in this state? I’m hard boiled now, I’m washed up. I hung up my typewriter long ago. I got nothin’ to offer no more. But…
Once again, his familiar voice pierces my ear like the memories of time gone by. “No, Zaddy. It’s real. I’m really here.” A tear wells up in my eye. No one else would call me that except for him. I take a deep breath, steel my nerves, and quell my shaking hand. Before I even know it, I’ve opened the door, and there he is. His mustache. His Teddy Fresh sweater. Him. Braedon Grover Sunnes looks down at me, similarly failing to hold back his raw emotion. He’s clutching an old, familiar Mars’ Hill humour section that instantly batters me with a tidal wave of recollection. “It’s you! After all these years… but why now?”
THE CHERRY BLOSSOM: NEW TIKTOK HYPE HOUSE COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF TWU BOARD OF GOVERNORS CONNOR THIESSEN, HUMOUR EDITOR 16/17 In a desperate attempt to connect with the younger generations that populate Trinity Western University’s campus, TWU’s Board of Governors have made the drastic, shocking and self-sacrificial decision to collectively buy a megamansion and make content for TikTok. Board members intend to live together in the manor (a mere 15-minute drive to campus) where they will chronicle the life of 16 grown adults attempting to relate to the young students whose lives are affected by the policies put in place by the Board of Governors. “We noticed that the Board has come under fire for some of the recent decisions we’ve made,” said board member and TWU business alum Cam Pusclosher. “And we thought the best course of action would be, rather than give these students a real voice or sense of influence over how things are run at their school, to move away from our two-million-dollar homes into a 30-million dollar absolute monster of a mansion and floss on camera. We really think this is going to express that we have the
students’ best interests at heart.” This quote was acquired while Pusclosher floated on an inflatable flamingo, sipping a beverage which would not have been allowed on the TWU campus. At time of publication, @BoredHouse has accumulated a total of 23,000 followers, none of whom appear to be current TWU students, or real people, for that matter. Their content so far consists of half-hearted attempts at dances which fell out of popularity early last year, nuance-lacking commentary on Resident Evil villain Lady Dimitrescu’s implications of the fall of morality, and one inexplicably well-done lip sync to Billie Eilish’s “Therefore I Am.” One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, admitted that they had checked out @BoredHouse’s content, hoping “at least some of it might slap,” but tragically found the majority of their videos “insufferably cheugy.” The timeline for this creative marketing campaign has no established end, much to the pleadings of numerous members of the student body.
“Well… I got one last job for ya.”
“Who’s there? Whaddaya want?”
TWU ALUM NOSTALGIC FOR TIME BEFORE REALIZING THEY ARE GAY TREVOR MCMAHAN, HUMOUR EDITOR 14/15 “RNT used to have rotting wood on the outside of it,” Class of 2016 alum Jeanette McDougal tells me, as we stroll through campus on a brisk January morning. “They were renovating it for like three years.” I can’t tell if it’s the mist or if she’s fighting through tears, smiling at the long-since-renovated building. “And they added that staircase in 2014.” She does not explain why she’s telling me this. Jeanette is visiting the campus for the first time since the day she graduated, where she was quickly ushered off stage due to her bedazzling “God Is Dead” on the top of her cap. She sighs as we walk under the bare cherry blossom trees. “Man, I sure had a good first two years here. Before I realized how gay I am.” “Oh, that’s my old dorm! That’s where I first kissed another girl.” She points at a window in 4/5 Low, which currently displays a Make America Great Again sign. “Our RA walked in on us and immediately started praying for clarity and guidance over the situation.” I express my condolences. “That’s not the worst of it. A week later, they pulled a Matthew 18:16 and suspended us from our student leadership positions.” I see a rage build up inside her, but she suppresses it.
Our hands are cold, so we stop by the Bookstore Café for a hot drink. “I miss being angry about trivial things. Like Fort Week. Remember being outraged about how someone gets a concussion every year? Do they still make them wrestle in a mud pit for a pig’s foot?” I ask her why she’d even come back to visit, if she had such a terrible experience. “Oh, I really like most of the professors! Almost every professor here is cool. Except for the ones who go on tirades about how women should serve their husbands even if it doesn’t relate to the course material. Which only rules out like 30 percent.” She takes a sip from her London Fog. “I’m still friends with like 20 profs on Facebook.” I ask if she’s kept in contact with any of her classmates. “Yeah, a few. Whenever I grab coffee with them, we’ll start by reminiscing about the all-nighters, Cavalli’s socks-and-sandals, and then 10 minutes later we’re unpacking our shared religious trauma.” I walk her back to her car (there’s a parking ticket on her windshield) and give her a hug. She tells me a bit about her wife and three cats. They now live outside Portland and are vendors in a local farmer’s market. “Yeah, this place traumatized me.” She flashes a little smile. “But I’m working through it.”
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THE SHEVANGELIST: ANNIE ZANDER Major/Year: Degree in Hypokrites, been here just long enough to hate everything.
How many kids do you want? As many as I can plausibly kidnap before I get caught.
Age: Immortal.
Who will wear the pants? My ideal man is literally a giant floating orb. He’d probably only fit into a diaper or something, no legs.
Height: 44 tuna cans tall. Hometown: Purgatory What do you look for in a partner? Tall, bright eyed, powerful, looming presence. Skill that makes you “the one?” Invisibility, power augmentation, will domination, control over the other rings of power. How do you know it’s love? When he calls you his Precious. Biggest deal breaker? If he’s not Sauron. How should they propose? After a long and grueling war, he is defeated by the king’s son during the Battle of Dagorlad, cutting off his finger with Narsil, the legendary sword. He loses his finger and it falls into my hand—as the flesh crumbles to ashes, the Ring is mine, and we are One. Favorite book series? Psh. I’m not a nerd.
Perfect date? Committing arson bourgeoisie.
against
the
Best way to sweep you off your feet? Probably by kicking my knees in idk. Best place for a first kiss? On the weenus. How would you win their parents over? With a little simony, a little light maiming. Who should make the first move? White should always move first, first rule of chess. Age limit: Time to get a watch Salary range: $69,000-$420,000 What is your love language? Solitude.
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