Get to Know: The Worship Community
Throwing it Back, and Looking Forward
PAGE 8
PAGE 16
Athletes Coming Together PAGE 26
Volume 97 // Edition 4 // Feb 2017
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volume 97 // edition 4 // feb 2017 Swinging Bridge Magazine Staff
Student Director Assistant Student Director Editor-in-Chief Online Editor Student Life Editor Culture Editor Sports & Rec Editor Design Manager, SBM Design Manager, Clarion Design Assistants
Audio/Visual Manager Audio/Visual Assistants Business Manager Social Media Manager Web Manager
Bree Whitelock Gabby Kurtz Maddie Crocenzi Alyssa Burd Stephanie Bricker Mimi Pedercini Willie Hope Jimmy Gibbons Kerri Denton Chalmers Port Grace Demmer Jacque Sauder Austen Bower Ryan Emerick Paul Smith Dan Husmann Kaitlyn Wolf Katie Piette
Monday - 1pm - 5pm Tuesday - 11 am - 3pm Wednesday - 1pm - 5pm Friday - 10am - 3pm (717) 766-2511 ext. 6081 1 College Avenue Suite 3058 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (Downstairs South Wing of the Larsen Student Union) The Swinging Bridge Magazine is published through The Pulse: Messiah College Media Hub, run by students. The Pulse consists of Pulse FM, The Clarion yearbook, and The Swinging Bridge Magazine. The Swinging Bridge staff strives to publish quality student writing, photography, and design. To learn about job and volunteer opportunities, email thepulse@messiah.edu.
Letter from the Editor For those of you who made New Year’s resolutions, how are those coming along? Maybe you resolved to hit the gym every day or perhaps you vowed to make the Dean’s List for the first time in your college career. For those of you who are still steadfast in your resolutions, I applaud you. However, I’m willing to bet that most of you are like me and gave up on your resolutions during the first week of 2017. Oh well, there’s always hope for next year, right? However, the problem is that I don’t want to wait for next year because I’m hopeful for 2017— and I’m not really sure why. There are plenty of reasons why people should have hope for the future, but either I’m just too tired to think of any of them or I really don’t have a specific reason. Maybe I’m just tired of worrying about the things I can’t change. Or, maybe it’s just easier to choose hope over negativity, and I don’t mean just in terms of sticking to a silly resolution like losing ten extra pounds. (Although that would be nice, who am I kidding?) The
point is that even when there seems to be no reason to do so, choosing hope in every aspect is much more rewarding and a lot less worrisome than choosing to see life for its doom and gloom. That’s what this issue of The Swinging Bridge is about: hope in spite of gloom. 2016 may not have been the best year for everyone, but the talented writers, editors and designers who are responsible for this awesome magazine have given us the opportunity to search for the goodness of what lies ahead. Whether it’s taking a look at life through a transfer student’s eyes, opening a conversation about nationwide fear or helping a stranger during a time of need, every story gives us a reason to choose hope for a better future. 2016 is behind us, but we have the rest of 2017 to look forward to. So, cheers to the rest of this year and may we all remain hopeful for the days ahead.
Alyssa Burd, Online Editor
SBM // 1
table of contents: Student Life
Culture
Sports and Rec
4. How to Adult: Scheduling 5. Lottie Life Hacks 6. Life of a Transfer Student 8. Worship Community 10. Love from a Distance
12. WYMHMLM 13. Must-See Movies: 2017 14. Gentrification 16. Throwing it Back and 18. Looking Forward 20. Year of Fear? 22. Trump, Turmoil and Triumph
24. Through her Eyes only 26. Athletes Coming Together 28. Track and Field, Messiah’s Hidden Sport
in this issue
on the web
Giving Day
#WeMatter: Black History Month
Lead Week
Green Allies Conference
Valentine’s Day
Starting the Semester
visit us online at pulse.messiah.edu to read more 2 // FEB 2017
Campus Closet:
Student Life
what fashion means to me By Bree Whitelock
What does fashion mean to me? Good question. Maybe it’s one thing, but then maybe it’s another. Ask any one person, and you’re almost guaranteed a varying degree of answers each time. Here’s a stab at what I think it might mean: fashion represents the means by which we indirectly communicate with each other. Our fashion demonstrates our mood, passions, interests, our niche, and wholly represents how we fall within society. In essence, fashion is a causal expression of the inner self. To some, fashion signifies a subjective custom—it’s what I put on in the morning to fulfill the context of that particular day. Applied circumstantially, you wear a raincoat on a rainy day and a scarf when the weather alludes to a windy, freezing day. This line of logic is sufficient and effective for some, but others see fashion as an expression of themselves and how they represent themselves to the world around them. Everyone has a story and applies fashion within a context specific to their life. Senior communication major Shannon Nace grew up in an athletic family wearing gym shorts and t-shirts most days. Nace shares, “When I got to college I saw the emergence of fashion and I saw that I could use it as a way to express myself.” Although she still chooses to go comfortable-chic some days, on other days she uses “fashion as a way to remind [herself] that [she] can be anyone [she] chooses to be.”
“When I dress nicely and wear clothes that I feel great in, I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to,” Nace says. Looking at a different perspective, junior engineering major Danny Barrett views fashion as a way to present himself. “It gives me the chance to showcase who I am. They say people make a judgment of you in the first few seconds of meeting you. I want those few seconds to be impactful in a positive way.” And then there are my real thoughts on fashion. I wonder some days why I put more than five minutes into my supposedly “casual” outfit. And, why other mornings I have a pile of clothes
laying on the floor proclaiming “I’ve run out of options.” I can’t help but wonder if fashion is the understanding of whether or not clothes matter. So if you ask me what fashion really means to me – who am I seeing that day, who am I trying to impress, what’s the latest trend – the answer might not be about me after all. What does fashion mean to you? Let us know via Facebook, Twitter (@messiahpulse) or by email.
SBM // 3
Student Life
How to Adult: Organizing Your Schedule 1) Evaluate When organizing a more efficient schedule, first things first: Evaluate your commitments and work schedule. Figure out how many hours you work at your job (or jobs, #thestruggleisreal) and how many classes and extracurriculars you have. Messiah’s MCSquare provides schedules that you can print to organize your classes. Otherwise, you can even make your own!
2) Prioritize Although its hard to give your full attention to your studies, it will help you be more efficient and confident with your school work. Set aside time each day to study whether it’s in your room, the library or the computer lab. Then you can begin to organize the rest of your life — extracurriculars, work and other commitments.
4 // FeB 2017
by Leah Robinson
4) Make Time for Personal Goals 3) Say “No” As illogical as it sounds, life gets much easier when we make time for ourselves. You need time to relax, eat, hang out with friends or just have some Netflix time. Taking this time for yourself gives us the energy to do everything we do! Remember, you don’t have to be in every club and activity that’s offered each semester. Just pick one or two that mean the most to you, and prioritize those instead of multitasking through five activities!
We all know that New Year’s resolutions have a reputation of caving after about a month. Instead of dreaming up huge goals that are destined for disappointment, set
smaller goals or projects that you would like to achieve (with your more organized, manageable schedule), and work on that. Also, working out, playing an instrument or volunteering with the Agape Center are great examples of new projects you could pick up as well. Try something new and adventurous to change up your monotonous school schedule and motivate you to reach those personal goals.
Student Life
by Elizabeth Gutman We all know the month of February always seems centered around one thing: Valentine’s Day. During this season of love, there’s no better way to celebrate than with chocolate covered strawberries that will satisfy your sweet tooth during this sweet month.
5) Set Times for Necessary Evils We all hate doing chores, especially in apartments, but it’s better to set aside time for them each week. For example, maybe you need to set a day each week to vacuum your room or to get groceries! This will help you establish a routine for cleanliness around your space and keep the chores from piling up.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Step 1: Head over to the salad bar and put three or four strawberries on a plate.
Step 2: Next, go to the ice cream bar and fill an ice cream bowl to the top with hot fudge.
Step 3: Dip each strawberry into the hot fudge until each one is completely coated up to the stem.
Step 4: Lay each strawberry back on the plate and enjoy!
Finally, and most importantly,
don’t get overwhelmed. College doesn’t have to be as overwhelming if you evaluate commitments you have and organize your time. It’s okay to take a break. In fact, taking breaks will help you succeed and feel more refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the next thing on your plate.
photo by eric rothermel
SBM // 5
Student Life
Your Messiah
Discount Guide By Leah Robinson Discounts for Messiah students are offered at a number of locations in our area, and not just at familiar places like Baker’s and the Frosty Llama! Here is a list of places that offer student discounts so you can reap the benefits of being a student while you still can!
Messiah discounts: • Baker’s Diner • The Frosty Llama • Sky Zone Trampoline Park • AT&T • Range End Golf Club • Carlisle Sports Emporium • Rita’s Italian Ice
• Sweet Frog • T.J. Rockwell’s • For a full list of Messiah discounts, please visit www. messiah.edu/community_discount_program
Student discounts: • J.Crew • Banana Republic • Subway • Chipotle • Amtrak • Burger King • Buffalo Wild Wings
• Digiplex (Discounts may be offered only on certain days) • Always ask before presuming that you will receive a discount. Some locations may not participate, and others may require a membership before offering student discounts.
Eating Out on a Budget: If you are a Starbucks lover like me, you may struggle to afford eating out more often because you’re constantly paying to support your coffee habit. However, there are many places where you can enjoy coffee or a good meal for a lower price. McDonald’s has coffee of any size for $1 (without tax) and if you can’t resist the urge to go to Chipotle, try getting a bowl without the guacamole. You can ask for a wrap with your bowl to make your own burrito for a bit cheaper than the burrito itself! There are also some great local places like Cornerstone Coffeehouse, Juice & Java and Eckels Ice Cream that have unique menus and reasonable prices.
The Life of a
Transfer Student
By Hannah Beairsto
“My favorite thing about it is how welcoming everyone has been so far. From the counselors to the students, there have been welcoming faces every day!” No matter what class level, Messiah students can probably all remember, at least in part, move-in day and Welcome Week. It’s generally a time filled with anxiety and anticipation, which is eventually curbed by the welcoming staff and students at Messiah. But what about the students who have a different experience when showing up on our campus-- the people who aren’t firstyears when they take on Messiah for the first time? What about transfer students, who already began their journey at a totally different college, then uprooted themselves to Messiah’s pastures? Kim Schultz is one of those students. She is a first-year who arrived at the beginning of J-term from the University of Alabama. Before coming to Messiah, she recalls at UA, “Not many people focused on academics, which made it harder for me to focus due to all the distractions there. I also felt I was straying away from my faith.” This forced her to rethink her college options so she could seriously pursue her business major.
Having Fun on a Budget: Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! If you love animals and are looking for a free stress reliever, Molly’s Rescue Place allows you to pet dogs and cats for free most weekdays from noon until 4 p.m. If you’re a bargain shopper, some great places to shop for deals include Ross, Plato’s Closet, Community Aid, Payless, Dollar General, Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. Also, here are a few of my favorite hiking areas and natural parks near Messiah (which are also free!): • The Susquehanna River in • Gifford Pinchot State Harrisburg--the long sidewalk Park--this park has a beauthere is a great place to cytiful lake and hiking trail! cle, take a long walk or run. • Italian Lake Park in Harris• White Rocks Hike in burg--perfect for a short stroll. Boiling Springs
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Schultz was introduced to Messiah via high school friends who now go here. Upon pursuing the school, she was greeted with open arms by the Messiah administration, who welcomed her decision to transfer. Now, she is thrilled to be among such a nice crowd of people who are truly focused on their relationship with God and their academics. Some bonuses? She loves the food here and is now much closer to home! Dan Sztobryn is another transfer student and junior psychology major who transferred from Harrisburg Area Community College. He attended HACC for a year and a half before deciding to transfer to a traditional four-year college. “I have always wanted to go
Student Life
to Messiah, but I couldn’t afford it after graduating high school. I wanted to attend a Christian college and grow in my faith.” Now that Sztobryn is here, he loves everything about Messiah, from the students to the professors to the campus itself. He says he wouldn’t trade it for anything. “Everyone is so friendly and accepting. I feel very welcome at Messiah. My transition has gone really well.” Anna Evanek, a junior public relations major, transferred from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. “After spending one year at a more secular school, I felt in my heart that it was time for me to pursue a Christian school with a mission statements similar to Messiah’s,” Evanek says, “A college that allows and encourages its students to pursue a life on fire for Christ.” As expected, the transfer process wasn’t always easy, but Evanek was able to go through it knowing that, in the end, she’d be a member of the Christian community she has always wanted. “I am so grateful for Messiah’s incredible staff, especially
the admissions staff and academic advisors, who have helped me every step of the way,” Evanek says. The transfer community on campus has been very supportive to her, she notes, and the other transfer girls on her floor have also been a blessing. Now that she is immersed in Messiah, Evanek is a huge fan of the campus and is constantly trying to persuade her friends to visit and check out the school. For Evanek, it’s the little things that make a difference, “like Res Hall games, the marshmallow soccer game, the midnight scream, pancake dinners and the overwhelming amount of hammockers that pop up on a sunny day. Hammock on, people.”
SBM // 7
Student Life
G E T TO K N OW. . .
the
W o rshCo immu p n i ty By Natalie Vermeulen
GREG SHIRK LINDSEY ARMSTRONG
photo By Kelsi Kramer
8 // FeB 2017
IAN THOMPSON K E L LY SHEA
M AT T FAHNESTOCK VANESSA OBUNDE
ESTEBAN NIEVES
Student Life
“we like to g ive other people the opportunity t o c o me t o g e t h e r a s a p e o p l e o f G od a n d be p r e s e n t t o g e t h e r i n t h o s e t h i n g s . ” - Kelly Shea “L
ove Ran Red,” “10,000 Reasons,” “This I Believe”—we sing these songs, meditate on the words and feel closer to God because of them. It’s not unusual to hear these songs in chapel too, led by our very own peers. But what’s the story behind the worship in each chapel service? Who are the people that make it possible? These would be questions for Messiah’s Worship Community! Worship Community, the group of students who lead the music we hear every week at chapel, is the auditioned ensemble made up of about 40 students who rotate to form different bands each week. To make chapel possible, a lot happens behind the scenes. Worship Pastor Dr. Doug Curry and a small group of students collaborate to pick songs that best fit the theme of the speaker and the Worship Community members that sound best for those songs. The groups always change, but an average set typically contains a drum set, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard and singers. Once the team is assembled, the band rehearses on Monday nights in an acoustic set and again on Tuesday mornings with all the sound technology to smooth out any details before leading the campus in worship.
What does a member of the Worship Community look like? Dr. Curry describes the members as wanting to be excellent in whatever they do and having a heart for the Lord. Esteban Nieves, junior music and worship major, says, “We’re here to worship God, but we also have a musical excellency tied to that.” Nieves joined the Worship Community his freshman year and has been singing and leading worship through guitar since then. He took a few months of guitar lessons in eighth grade and played with both the youth and adult bands in his church and high school. This experience helped him grow in both his musical abilities and his theology, which gave him a solid foundation before coming to Messiah. Kelly Shea, junior music and worship major and Messiah’s Worship Chaplain, began her worship experience in high school by singing at church as well. When she got to Messiah, she joined the Worship Community as a singer during her first semester and then learned to play keys her sophomore year as well. “I was a nursing major for my first year, but because of my involvement [in music], my eyes were opened to the fact that this is definitely something that I feel God strongly calling me to pursue. That’s when I changed my major to music and worship,” Shea says.
Greg Shirk, also a junior, approaches the Worship Community from a different perspective as an engineering major. He began playing drums for his church and school at home before deciding to join Messiah’s worship team during his sophomore year, where he plays drums and helps with slides. As an engineering major, Shirk appreciates the opportunity to meet people from the music community. “Just having that different group of friends, supportive people with a like mindset -- it’s nice to be around.” All three would agree that the relationships are the best part of the Worship Community. As a mix of musicians across the majors, it allows everyone to bond over music and to learn from each other’s different interests. Although the musicians rotate and the setups change, the group is still a community with the purpose of glorifying God through music. At the end of the day, Dr. Curry says the Worship Community’s “Primary reason for existence is to give leadership to worship on campus.” And, of course, worship is something they are passionate about. According to Shea, “We like to give other people the opportunity to come together as a people of God and be present together in those things.”
SBM // 9
Student Life
Lo ve from a distance By Stephanie Bricker
February is famously (or infamously) the month of love, thanks to Valentine’s Day. Just days after New Year’s, stores become covered in red, white and pink decorations, gifts and miscellaneous items to celebrate this loving holiday.
10 // FeB 2017
Student Life
For those in relationships, this can be an exciting time to celebrate the one you have by your side and a great excuse to go out on a special date. For those who are single, perhaps it can be overwhelming, sad or just plain annoying. But perhaps there is somewhat of a third category that have been forced to celebrate Valentine’s Day in an unconventional way: long distance couples. Being in a long distance relationship (LDR) myself to my boyfriend of six years, I, too, have experienced the highs and lows of LDRs. When Valentine’s Day has to be celebrated over a laptop screen with poor wifi connection (thanks, Messiah), you begin to think it can’t get any worse. So how do couples manage these ups and downs and sustain a healthy relationship when they can’t be physically together? Sophomore social work major Mallorie Benesky has been in a LDR with her boyfriend, Aaron for five months. Aaron is from Bronx, New York, which is approximately three hours from Messiah’s campus. However, Aaron is currently in Denmark participating in discipleship training with an organization called The Last Reformation. Benesky says they usually see each other once or twice a month when he is in the Bronx. But when he is on a mission with The Last Reformation, they only see each other once every two months. Benesky says that she has learned that instant communication isn’t always possible, especially with different time zones. “Just
because we don’t talk 24/7, doesn’t mean we care for each other any less,” she says. Caila Prestidge, a sophomore education major, is currently studying abroad in Lithuania while managing a relationship with her boyfriend of four and a half months, Ben. Ben resides in Olathe, Kansas, so even when Prestidge was living on Messiah’s campus, the couple was committing to long distance. In fact, the two have never NOT been in a LDR. Prestidge says they are only able to be together for one or two weeks every three to five months. During that time, they both have learned that when God gives you a good thing, He will be faithful to provide the time and resources to care for it. What a great reminder for anyone in a LDR! But significant others and romantic partners aren’t the only people who experience the challenges of long distance. Many students manage relationships from their not-so-close hometowns, including Miriam Thurber, a sophomore public relations major. Thurber has relationships spread over the U.S. and throughout the world, including her parents in Nebraska, a few friends in New York and some family and friends in Tajikistan. So, how does she keep up with all of these LDRs? Unfortunately, Thurber says, she is only able to see her family in Nebraska a few times a year on major holidays and during the summer. She sees her friends from New York only about once a year, and she hasn’t seen anyone from Tajikistan in the two years since she’s lived there.
But, like anyone else in a LDR, Thurber has learned how to keep up with these sometimes delicate relationships. “There is no standard,” she says. “You can’t go into a long-distance relationship thinking you can treat it like a different one you have. Each person is unique.” Thurber explains that different people desire different levels of communication and involvement. It’s important to be sensitive to each need and continue valuing each person. So what should you do if you find yourself in a LDR? Benesky says, “Pray with your significant other, even if it’s over the phone. Aaron and I have grown so much deeper in our faith together just by simply praying with each other and for each other when we get the chance to speak. It’s important that your significant other is supportive of you emotionally and spiritually, and it’s not impossible to grow in those areas when you’re apart.” Thurber suggests, “Figure out how the two of you work and what you both need. Continue valuing and praying for other people.” Prestidge echoes a similar message: “Be intentional. Have a date set in stone of when you will see each other again to remind you that the distance will end and to make it easier to live in the moment. Do little things to show each other that you are thinking about them and appreciate them. And always pray.”
SBM // 11
Culture
EVERYTHING IN 2017 IS NEW -THE YEAR, THE SEMESTER, T H E P R E S I D E N T. THE PROSPECT OF THINGS Y O U H AV E N E V E R E X P E R I ENCED BEFORE CAN BRING ON
A
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WYMHMLM
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R E A D I N G / WAT C H I N G
/LISTENING TO SOMETHING T H A T I S N ’ T W O R T H I T.
12 // FEB 2017
JANUARY
w Y M H M L M
(what you may have missed last month) By Megan Hess
Bubble Bath, That Poppy With lyrics like, “Baby, you’re the highlight of my lowlife” and “if money can’t buy happiness, then why is it so fabulous?” Bubblebath is an EP for the angsty millennial inside us all—four songs of bratty, sassy, bubblegum pop sung by an enigmatic teen queen known only as “Poppy.” It feels like early Kesha, but a little less racy and raw. With an EP this promising, hopefully, a full album is soon to follow in 2017.
“Finesse,” 24K Magic, Bruno Mars The second-to-last track on Mars’ third studio album, “Finesse” is the brightest of 24K Magic’s hidden gems, its luster overshadowed by the title track/first radio single. Sandwiched in between two of the duller tracks - “Calling All My Lovelies” and “Too Good To Say Goodbye,” it almost feels like a letdown that “Finesse” didn’t get to be the closing track and bookend the album’s retro-party vibe. As “Uptown Funk” proved, Mars’ superior vocal talent is at its best when backed up by a good beat. “Finesse” is happy to deliver that magical combination. 24K Magic has a lot of catchy tracks, but, out of all of them, “Finesse” is most worthy of putting on repeat.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Season 1, Netflix In its theme song, the Netflix adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events advises potential viewers to “look away”— but you won’t want to, and the only thing about it that “will wreck your evening, your whole life and your day” is that there isn’t near enough. (Season 1 only contains books 1 through 4, with each book split into two episodes.) Cast aside all doubts of Neil Patrick Harris as he steps into the role he was born to play and carries it off with glorious aplomb. All of his previous roles— Hedwig (from the Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Dr. Horrible, even Barney Stinson—have prepared him for this moment. The show starts dragging in the last two episodes, but only because Daniel Handler (the man behind Lemony Snicket) didn’t write the teleplay, and also because The Miserable Mill is one of the more forgettable books in the series. If Unfortunate Events persists in its dedication to the source material and attention to detail, the upcoming season will be as successful and enjoyable as its debut.
Culture The Jealous Kind, James Lee Burke With The Jealous Kind, Burke deviates from his usual crime westerns for a novel that crosses The Outsiders with The Godfather and reads stylistically like a lost work of Stephen King. The Jealous Kind is The Fault in Our Stars of the Burke literary canon—that is to say, it’s the best book he’s ever written. While other authors writing about the 50s keep it light and nostalgic, Burke exposes the seedy underbelly of the decade by putting characters you’ll love in situations you’ll hate.
Must-see moviesby Maddie of 2017 Conley
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
This tale as old as time, but beloved as always, is reimagined in Disney’s new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. This time the film features real actors in addition to animated characters! The cast includes Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Ewan McGregor as Lumière and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES
no mo’ #fomo ANTICIPATED SEQUELS This year will bring some exciting sequels to film favorites as well. Star-Lord and the band of misfit heroes are back for adventure and some 80s jams in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 on May 5. Speaking of jams, get ready for some acapella! Pitch Perfect 3 will hit the screens in December and of course, here come more minions: Despicable Me 3 will be crashing into theaters this June.
MARCH 17
MAY 26
Everyone’s favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow, is back on a quest to find the Trident of Poseidon to save himself from his nemesis, Captain Salazar. Salazar has escaped the Devil’s Triangle and is out to kill Jack and every other pirate. Some other favorite characters are back for the movie as well. Orlando Bloom returns as Will Turner who was forced to take on the identity of Davey Jones. Will Turner’s son Henry will also be featured in this highly anticipated film.
JUSTICE LEAGUE
NOVEMBER 17
The DC Comic book heroes will finally assemble this November to form the infamous Justice League. After realizing a new threat is imminent, Batman and Wonder Woman work together to compile a team to rival the enemy. For recruits Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash, this is their first time starring in a movie. Batman and the team will need to work fast to save the planet from annihilation.
STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII
DECEMBER 15
After returning to the screen with Episode VII in 2015 and grossing over $2 billion in revenue, the Star Wars saga will produce Episode VIII this year. There’s no doubt that fans are anticipating the next installment. No trailer has been released yet, but we know that Rey, who first appeared in Episode VII, will return to her adventures. Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker will accompany her as well.
SBM // 13
Culture
Gentrification: Why it Happens and its Effects on By Jessica Henry Urban Areas T
hough Messiah is situated in a suburban environment, it is located not too far from the city of Harrisburg. Though Harrisburg is smaller in geography and population than many major cities, it still experiences the controversial issues that surround urban areas. One of those issues is gentrification. Gentrification occurs when wealthier people move to low socio-economic areas of cities. There is a related increase in rents and property values and changes in the area’s character and culture.
14 // FEB 2017
The desire people have to live in a particular city can be for a number of reasons—new jobs, convenience, diversity and vitality to name a few. In addition, old houses and industrial buildings attract people looking to fix up property as an investment opportunity.
A hallmark of gentrification is the arrival of new businesses—think trendy cafes, gourmet grocery stores and high-end gyms.
Some may wonder what would cause people with money—and therefore options—to move into undesirable neighborhoods. In an article for The New York Times, Emily Badger says new research “finds that when violent crime falls sharply, wealthier and educated people more likely to move into lower-income and predominantly minority urban neighborhoods.”
A widely known example of this phenomenon is the Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City. The once-industrial area is now home to trendy restaurants, nightlife spots and art galleries. It costs as much to live in that neighborhood as it does in some Manhattan neighborhoods.
While there are clear positive impacts—reduced crime, higher property values and increased economic activity, there are serious negative impacts. The problem is that gentrification forces those in lower income brackets out of their neighborhoods when rent prices increase so much that they can no longer afford to live there.
According to urban theorist Richard Florida, “Gentrification is a symptom of the scarcity of quality urbanism.” When there is not enough housing in a desirable neighborhood and not enough neighborhoods in a city that are desirable, people with money will displace those without.
Gentrification in Harrisburg began slowly in the 1990s but has increased more quickly in the past decade. The crime rates have gone down. More young professionals, couples and families have moved into houses and apartments. The neighborhoods look nicer, and new businesses are popping up.
Culture
Midtown Scholar Bookstore-CafĂŠ opened in the early 2000s. Now, many Messiah students can be found studying there on weekends. Messiah does offer options for students to be aware of issues that surround urban life. The sociology, anthropology, and criminal justice department offers a class called Harrisburg neighborhoods. The department also offers an urban studies minor for students who are interested in more a more in-depth study of urban areas. Students who want to experience living in downtown Harrisburg can apply to live in the S.A.L.T. House.
gentrification is a symptom of the scarcity of quality urbanism. SBM // 15
Culture
Throwing it By Emma Miller
(and looking forward)
When looking back on 2016, many of us are forced to stifle a groan. Whether your favorite celebrity passed away or you were unhappy with the presidential candidates, the past year has been hard for many of us. However, more good happened last year than you might expect, not only here at Messiah, but also in America and around the world. Here are ten positive things that happened in 2016.
Messiah athletes triumphed. 2016 was another great year for Messiah athletics. The wrestling team was the runner-up at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Senior Lucas Malmberg and junior Ben Swarr both won individual national championships. Coach Bryan Brunk was named the NWCA National Coach of the Year and Craig Hogan, NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year. The softball team was also NCAA Division III runner-up and Head Softball Coach Amy Weaver achieved over 500 career wins. Messiah’s women’s soccer team had a great season as well after winning 22 of their 25 games. They made it to the national championship where they held on through two overtimes and eventually fell to Washington University by one penalty kick. The field hockey team also won the national championship for the first time—after playing an entire game and overtime with no score, the team finally beat Tufts University by one penalty shot.
16 // FEB 2017
Culture Our campus is expanding. Back in May, the College opened Martin Commons. Not only did this addition to Lottie Nelson Dining Hall provide some much-needed seating, but it also provided a space for catering events and smaller gatherings. Messiah also began building a new fitness center along with an additional gymnasium and improvements to the pool area.
The Cubs are finally champs again. Even if you are not a Cubs fan, everyone loves an underdog. The last time the Chicago baseball team won the World Series was 1908—your great-grandparents might not have even been alive at the time. That means the Cubs overcame a 108-year losing streak this past November. The team defeated the Cleveland Indians in a nail-biting seven-game series that they started with a 1-3 record.
Other countries achieved Olympic greatness. Usain Bolt won three gold medals, bringing his personal count to nine. The first ever team of refugees competed at the Olympics in Rio as well. Fehaid Al Deehani from Kuwait competed as an independent and won a gold medal in trap shooting making Kuwait one of ten teams to win their first gold medal. The other countries included Bahrain, Fiji, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kosovo, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
More people have jobs. Team USA crushed the Olympics. With an impressive all-time high of 121 medals, the athletes of the United States were the clear frontrunners of the Rio Olympics. 46 of those medals were gold. Americans also set three new world records, two of which were established by nineteen-year-old swimmer Katie Ledecky in the 400 and 800-meter freestyle. Michael Phelps ended his career as the most decorated Olympian of all time—after five Olympic Games, he has won a total of 28 medals, 23 of which were gold. Simone Manuel won gold in the 100-meter freestyle and became the first African-American to win an individual swimming medal. The women’s gymnastics team was also incredible as they earned a personal high of nine medals. The team was helped greatly by Simone Biles, who won four medals herself. Her medals were gold in all-around, floor and vault, and bronze on beam. Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin won gold, silver and bronze in the 100-meter hurdles making it the first sweep of an event by American women.
The unemployment rate in the United States continues to go down. In 2016, only 4.7 percent of adults were looking for work. If you include people who have given up on job searching, this number is still only five percent. At the peak of the recession, about ten percent of adults needed jobs. This decrease is great news, especially for graduating college students that will soon be looking for jobs themselves.
There are more women of color in the government. There are some results from the 2016 election that you may have missed—America helped three women make history in November. Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American lawmaker in the United States when she was elected to the Minnesota legislature. Catherine Cortez Mastro from Nevada became the first Latina U.S. senator. Pramila Jayapal became the first Indian-American congresswoman when the people of Washington elected her to the House of Representatives.
Fewer animals are endangered. In 2016, the previously endangered giant pandas were listed instead as “vulnerable.” Over the past decade or so, there are 268 more pandas in the world. Tigers are also making a comeback. The population is up 22 percent from six years ago—the first rise in 100 years. The status of the manatee population has lowered to “threatened” since the population is up 500 percent since 1991 with over 13,000 manatees living around the world.
More teens graduated. The United States’ high school graduation rate was over 83 percent in 2016, an all-time high. It is quite an improvement from 1999 when high schools had only a 71 percent graduation rate. 2016 was the fifth year in a row that this number improved.
The Americas are free of measles. In September of 2016, the Americas became the first region in the world to be declared completely measles-free. This achievement is the direct result of 22 years of vaccinations across the area.
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Culture (throwing it back and)
Looking Forward
Even if all of these things can’t redeem 2016 for you, we still have plenty to look forward to in 2017 such as…
Delivery drones are coming. Messiah NCAA men’s volleyball is happening. The College announced that men’s volleyball, which was previously only a club sport, will be promoted as an intercollegiate sport. The team will start competing in NCAA Division III in the 2017-2018 school year.
A solar eclipse is happening. A full solar eclipse will happen this summer. The natural phenomenon will darken cities in the southeastern United States for a few minutes. Best visibility will be in states such as Tennessee and South Carolina. Even if you do not live in the South, you will be able to witness the eclipse, but it will be less intense elsewhere.
18 // FEB 2017
Equal pay is becoming a reality. The gender wage gap continues to narrow and will be close to gone eight years from now. This is due to more women going into science and technology fields that tend to have higher pay. The gap is also being lessened as older employees retire and younger men and women take their place. In 2016, women were paid an average of 79 cents for every dollar men were paid. By 2020, women will receive an estimated 84 cents per dollar. By 2025, the wage gap could be as low as 98 cents to the dollar. Even today in 2017, individual companies are offering the same salaries to men and women with equal amounts of education and experience.
It may soon be possible to have your online order on your doorstep in record time via drone. Amazon continues to expand its drone delivery service in the United Kingdom and hopes to branch out to more countries soon. Google is working on “Project Wing” to deliver food right to your door. In fact, the two companies are in a bit of a race to see who can be the first food delivery service by drone. Walmart is also considering using drones to manage their inventory better.
There will be new images of Saturn. NASA’s space probe Cassini has been sending pictures of Saturn back to Earth for over thirteen years. No one knows what is waiting to be discovered in this area of space since it has never been explored before. However, the craft is expected to get closer to the planet than any space probe ever has before in April of this year. By September, the probe should collide with Saturn’s surface!
Culture
New U.S. currency will feature women. Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the 20 dollar bill. The back of the ten will display prominent women from the suffrage movement like Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul. The money is currently in the works and will not be revealed until at least 2020, but this is definitely something to look forward to. The last time a woman was on American paper currency was over 100 years ago when Martha Washington was on the one dollar bill in the 1880s and 1890s.
Maybe you thought you were not going to make it through 2016, or maybe it was the best year you’ve ever had. However you feel, the past is in the past. 2017 is here, and there’s a lot to look forward to!
SBM // 19
YEAR FEAR? Culture
of
By Hannah Rahut
photo by brigitte thom
20 // FEB 2017
?
Culture Paris. Aleppo. Orlando. San Bernardino. Turkey. Kalamazoo. The Berlin Christmas market attack. The suicide bombings in Kabul, Istanbul and Brussels. Brexit. The Zika virus. Hurricane Matthew. To say that 2016 was a year of turbulence would be an understatement. Not only did we experience countless acts of terrorism and disaster around the world, but we also witnessed new levels of hatred and animosity sweep across the country in the forms of racial violence and civil unrest. It is no surprise, then, that Americans have adopted a culture of fear. We have every reason to be afraid—of attacks, of violence, of brutality and even of the political polarization that has consumed our nation. If these were just some of the events that characterized 2016, what anxieties and fears surround what is to come in 2017? This is the telltale question that Marshall Shelley explores in his article, entitled “The Year of Fear,” featured in Christianity Today. According to Shelley, the three major “fears” that defined 2016 for Christians were “recurring violence,” “shifting assumptions about sexuality” and “fading religious affiliations in America” coupled with a “deteriorating common moral framework.” Messiah students would agree. “I think people were scared of change—obviously political—and also crime and prejudice, as well,” says first-year philosophy major Grant Gombert about 2016. Those fears, he went on to explain, have certainly carried over into 2017 and show no sign of disappearing anytime soon. Today’s society is certainly prone to elevate fear, fostering “a cul-
Will 2017, like 2016, be a “year of fear?” ture that leverages fear and creates fear intentionally,” says Campus Pastor Don Opitz. “One of my fears is we start to treat fear as almost a tool to motivate and get things done,” he explains. This is the complete opposite of how Christians should approach fear. “[Fear] doesn’t drive us well into lasting, loving service. We want the motivation to be a loving response to what God cares about and how God cares about those things,” says Opitz. So how, then, are we as Christians to respond to this culture of escalating fear? “The response of the church and the thoughtful Christian should always be compassion and encouragement,” Opitz explains. “We don’t belittle other people’s fears, we don’t pretend that they’re not fears.” But for the Christian, however, our direct response to fear should counteract that of the culture’s. “Sometimes we almost cherish and nurture our own fears a little too much,” Opitz continues. “I think the Christian needs to be fearless. That’s the message of Jesus—we confront our own fears with trust and courage while we’re compassionate and encouraging. The invitation is to live a fearless life.”
Opitz shared that his views on fear as it relates to being a believer in Christ were largely influenced by the book Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear by Scott Bader-Saye. In it, Bader-Saye explains how “God wants to turn our fear away from worldly objects that only manipulate, control, and coerce us, and to redirect it to the God whose power does not threaten our true good but sustains it.” Rather than have fear of the world, we should maintain fear of the Lord, which “shares more in common with our sense of awe at something wondrously bigger than ourselves than it does to our anxiety in the face of an evil that seeks to harm us.” The solution to turning our fear away from worldly objects? Knowing well “the core message that the Gospel is a Gospel of embodied love in the Lord Jesus, and that, as we’re united in faith in Christ, we begin to take on the things that we care about and the things that Christ cares about,” Opitz says. In order to combat the fears the world tries to plague us with, we must believe and spread the biblical Gospel of the Kingdom Christ. “It is wide and deep, it is about reconciliation, it is about a commitment to justice, and to the work of restoration,” Opitz states. “It is the coming of the Kingdom, that God Himself wins and bestows, and so, there’s hope. Our work is the direction of reconciliation and restoration—all the while knowing that at some point it’s God who delivers the very thing that has been promised. We can live as faithfully and courageously as we’re able, then, knowing that it’s not ultimately up to us.”
To read the original article from Christianity Today head to http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2016/state-of-church-ministry-2017/year-of-fear.html and to read more about the book recommended by Pastor Opitz, check out http://www.lifeway.com/Product/following-jesus-in-a-culture-of-fear-P005083769.
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Culture
President Trump: by Kevin Wilcox
Donald J. Trump is now the 45th President of the United States.
His
inauguration comes after a contentious election and postelection cycle. Protests have occurred at his rallies and have continued through his inauguration. Both sides of the political aisle have levied strong accusations and feelings of animosity towards each other.
In spite of feelings of disunity across the nation, the Republican-led federal government, holding majorities in both the House and the Senate, in addition to the presidency, is ready to get to work during President Trump’s first 100 days. In an interview with CNBC, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) expressed that tax reform, in particular, has been on the Republican agenda for over a year. The plan revolves around a lowering of corporate income taxes to levels that
photo by jerry kiesewetter
22 // FEB 2017
allow American businesses to become more competitive globally, providing greater access to capital, as well as individual tax cuts primarily geared towards middle-class Americans. Assistant Professor of Finance Dwayne Safer shed light on why tax reform is a high priority on the Republican agenda. “Currently, the United States is about 35 percent [corporate tax rate],” says Safer. He reported that after considering both state and federal taxes, corporations pay the highest corporate tax rate globally. Congressional Republicans seek to lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent, while Trump has advocated for 15 percent. Safer reported that a difference between a reduction to 15 and 20 percent is difficult to quantify.
Culture
Turmoil and Triumph Nonetheless, Safer notes the economic potential of any reduction in the corporate tax rate. “The market is very positive on that potential. There have been complaints for many years about how the United States just hasn’t been competitive,” Safer says. In addition to tax reform, Ryan also emphasized that Republicans will push for regulatory reform. Regulatory reform is a Republican priority due to the perception that overregulation has stifled American business. “It’s, I think, pretty universally agreed that it’s too onerous,” notes Safer. Ryan has argued that swift action on regulatory reform might be accomplished through the use of the Congressional Review Act. This act allows regulatory rollback with votes from 51 senators, a number that Republicans reached handily between the 2014 and 2016 elections. Trump, on his first day in office, took action on regulation, particularly as it pertains to the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”), setting the tone for what will probably be a controversial component of his first 100 days. Trump’s executive
action instructs federal agencies to ease the financial burden of the healthcare package enacted by former President Barack Obama for various stakeholders, although the methods by which these agencies could roll back the ACA have not been concretely defined, as reported in The New York Times. The Times suggests that this is a significant first step towards the repeal of the ACA, allowing Trump to claim that he took action as promised. Much like its passing, the Obamacare battle is shaping up to be mostly partisan. Professor of American History and Faculty Advisor of the Messiah College Republicans James LaGrand has been skeptical of Trump’s rise to the presidency. “I would argue that [the ACA] never had, if you sort of analyze the strength of it, it didn’t have some of the strength of traditional pieces of legislation,” LaGrand says. “It makes it tough on Democrats. I think in some ways, they wish they could go back and do it again to work with people across the aisle.” Senior politics major Michael Scinto shed light on possible efforts by Democrats
to resist the ACA repeal: “I think if they really want to stop this, they’ll have to recruit Republicans to their side,” Scinto says. He suggests that Democrats could turn to Republican governors in ACA expansion states where a repeal of the ACA could blow a hole in state budgets. Scinto argues that both sides recognize this as fiscally irresponsible. For a general sense of Trump’s First 100 Days, LaGrand said that he is “cautiously optimistic.” Much of his hope, as is the case for other Republicans, lies with Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Ryan, who are respected among the Republican establishment.
*This article was written before Trump’s executive order on immigration and President Phipps’ letter in response to the order. For more information on that executive order and whether it impacts students, faculty or families at Messiah see pulse.messiah.edu in the coming week.
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Sports & Rec
Through Her Eyes Only by Willie Hope III
Making it to a national championship game in any collegiate sport is a tough task. Players and coaches go through highs and lows during the season, and through hard work and dedication, they end up right on the doorstep, one win away from the ultimate prize. Losing in that game once can be heartbreaking, but just imagine losing it eight times--now you know how the Messiah field hockey program felt. The program made it to their ninth national championship, and this time finally broke through. While the players were in an entirely new situation on the biggest stage, Head Coach Brooke Good had been here before, six times to be exact--twice as a standout center midfielder and center back for the Falcons, and four times as an assistant to former head coaching legend Jan Trapp. Good was a standout as well on the softball field, receiving All-Commonwealth honors three times. “Coming into college, softball
24 // Feb 2017
was number one and field hockey was number two,” Good recalls. “But hockey became my number one over time.” In her junior and senior seasons, Good and the Falcons went to backto-back national championships but came up short both times in 1-0 losses to SUNY Cortland and Rowan. “Obviously losing those games sucked, but it inspired me to be a coach,” Good says. “I felt like there was still work to be done.” After her amazing playing career, Good immediately wanted to get into coaching. And she took it by the horns, just like she did in her playing career. “I walked into [Jan Trapp’s] office and asked if she wanted an assistant,” Good recalls with a laugh. Trapp gave her the job right away.
“I was very much a player-coach, especially in my last two years playing.” As she started in her assistant coaching career, Good continued in her dual sports interest by coaching both softball and field hockey. But after her first year as an assistant, Good felt that God was calling her towards field hockey. She continued to assist Trapp at Messiah while getting her master’s from Millersville University. But after a couple of years, Good felt the itch to become a head coach. “At that point, I thought I was ready to be a head coach,” Good recalls. She interviewed for several head coaching positions, but didn’t receive any job offers. However, Good was not deterred and she learned from her mistakes. “Not getting the jobs helped me focus in on what I really needed to do to become a head coach. I wasn’t ready to be a head coach.” After eight seasons under Trapp and four more finishes as a national runner-
Sports & Rec
“The program made it to their ninth national championship, and this time finally broke through.” “From standout player to National Champion and National Coach of the Year, Good finished the job she started as a freshman athlete.”
up, Good took the reins. “I’m extremely fortunate to play here, assistant coach here, and become a head coach here,” Good says. In her first four years as the head of the program, Good kept Messiah among the national powerhouses. But it wasn’t until this year that she tried something different. “I had been there, as well as many members of my staff. It helped us prepare all season; our mental and physical toughness, endurance, things that we lacked in the past,” Good explains. This year Good focused in on those three areas, all things which she had experienced as a shortcoming in her quest to reach the top as a player. Good also involved the alumni this year, having alums write a letter of encouragement to the players for
every game. “They knew what it was like to be so close to win,” Good says. “And it’s not just my experience, but also my staff’s experience as well. Reliving moments of being there and remembering the close losses.” All of the things that Coach Good and her staff put into place, along with a perfect storm of circumstances led to the program’s first national championship: a 1-0 double-overtime penalty stroke win over #3 ranked Tufts University. In the freezing cold of Massachusetts with snow falling and the game on the line, all the elements of toughness and endurance Good tried to implement paid off. And in the end, Good finally got the work done that she longed for since she was a player herself.
“It seems surreal because it was so elusive for so many years,” Coach Good says of bringing home the program’s first-ever national championship win. “At the banquet, I thanked the student-athletes because they put the blood, sweat and tears into it.” “Sometimes it’s underwhelming because you show up Monday at work like every other day,” Good says. “But it’s a great opportunity to fight for a national championship around people who have done it before, from alums to colleagues.” From standout player to National Champion and National Coach of the Year, Good finished the job she started as a freshman athlete. She just needed to trust the process.
Photos by Messiah College Athletic Department
SBM // 25
Sports & Rec
ATHLETES COMING TOGETHER by Alyssa Burd
We often hear stories
of the people who defy the odds in the face of tragedy and hardship, but how often are we told what it’s truly like to offer support to these individuals and provide a source of hope when it’s needed most?
When first-year wrestler Hunter Zondory suffered a fractured vertebrae and bruised spinal cord during wrestling preseason, Zondory’s teammates demonstrated the true meaning of the word community that Messiah holds so dear. “Everyone on the team is a family, and situations like [Zondory’s] really show what that means,” says junior wrestler Hunter Harris. “When one of us is hurt, we all hurt. The ‘close-knit’ aspect of the team really shows that we are more than teammates with one another—we are brothers. Throughout Zondory’s initial recovery, all members of the wrestling team took the time to visit their teammate: “We all went out as a team to see him and his family, as well as going out more personally in groups of three or four wrestlers at a time,” Harris says. “We sat around and told
Photos by Messiah College Athletic Department
26 // Feb 2017
stories with them, prayed and just spent quality time while recovery happened.” Zondory’s injury and progressive recovery has certainly forged an even stronger bond between the members of the wrestling team — a bond that exists outside of matches and practices as well. “We really do support each other in all aspects of life,” Harris explains. “There have been times I’ve needed help on schoolwork and I know there is always someone on the team that can lend a hand. Or, if I’m struggling with something spiritually, there is a ton of support from the team and coaching staff as well. Even outside of school, because we are so much like a family, we are there for big moments in each other’s lives.”
Sports & Rec
The wrestling team isn’t the only one to show commitment to their teammates in the athlete community either. Members of Messiah’s baseball team came together last fall, not only to support one of their own, but to aid a family in need as well. “My friend back home, his house burnt down and I asked the team after a fall practice to please pray for them because they lost almost everything and it would take a year to fix the house,” says sophomore baseball player Jake Knox. “The next day, a teammate came up to me in the weight room and informed me that there were teams here that wanted to help out my friend and his family. We decided that I would put together a list of things they might need and everyone came together to get them clothes, nonperishables, toiletries, etc.”
FOR
A
According to junior baseball player Kyle Schoen, the team saw the situation as an opportunity to set themselves apart from other teams in the conference by showing the love of Christ in spite of the hardship. This act of care eventually spread to other Messiah teams as well. “It started with just the baseball team and by the time it was done, we had collected items from softball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and if we would’ve had more time, I’m sure other teams would’ve been happy to pitch in,” says Schoen. “The collection we had was incredible—from clothes, to food, to cash. We raised a lot!” “I am extremely grateful for everything that everyone has done especially because it was for someone that no one has ever met before,” says Knox. “It is just amazing how everyone can come together and really make an impact on one’s life. I was
HIGHER
honestly speechless almost every time I received something for my friend and his family. Thank you to everyone.” Regardless of the situation, whether it’s an eye-opening injury or a family tragedy, Messiah’s sports teams have proven that “community” is what Messiah does best. No matter what team, Messiah athletics have come together to provide our campus with a source of support and hope. “Being a part of a supportive athletic environment is comforting. I know everyone just wants what is best for me and will bend over backwards to help you,” explains Schoen. ”No matter the trial, hardship, or issue, not only is everyone in the athletic community supporting you, everyone on this campus is supporting you. Messiah is an incredible place and I’m blessed to be here.”
PURPOSE.
Photos courtesy of A t h l e t i c C o m m u n i c at i o n s
SBM // 27
Sports & Rec
TRACK FIELD
&
MESSIAH’S HIDDEN SPORT
BY WILLIE HOPE III Their season starts at the beginning of September and doesn’t end until May. They endure practices in the cold, on the Hitchcock floor and they do not have an event at home until April. But the Messiah track and field team deals with their circumstances. In fact, they will just be working hard and going relatively unnoticed. “The simplest thing is that it’s time-consuming,” junior heptathlon and decathlon standout Aaron Gray explains. “But it’s mentally relaxing to have that outlet and breakaway from homework and school. It’s good to have that break every single day, not just for one season.” “It can be frustrating at times, and it physically beats you down, but it makes outdoor more fulfilling when you get there,” junior javelin thrower Christian Pavlovich adds, who trains only in the winter because javelin is in the spring. However, for most track and field athletes, the moment they step on campus, track and field is in season. “This year we had a meeting September 12 to meet everyone on the team,” Gray explains. “From there we alternate between coach’s and captain’s practices. Then once cross-country season is done, distance joins us and we have our first meet in December.”
28 // Feb 2017
With such a long and grueling season, however, the largest team on campus becomes closer as the season goes along. The indoor season comes at the perfect time for team chemistry. “I like the indoor track season because the team is just coming out of preseason and starting to get close and cheer for each other,” senior jumper Marie Johnson says. With a team of 87 members with combined men’s and women’s, the team chemistry is important. “Once we get the people from distance, we really become a big family,” Christian Pavlovich adds. And within the big family, there are smaller families that form between the athletes who compete in the same event. “THE
F A M I LY
ASPECT
GROWS
A S T H E S E A S O N P R O G R E S S E S ,” MARIE
JOHNSON
CONTINUES.
“I LOVE SEEING MY TEAMMATES ACHIEVE GOALS.”
“People who do the same events are really close, and they practice and compete together every day,” Gray explains.
Having a close-knit team and close relationships are important, especially through a grueling season that is almost three times as long as any other team’s season. Part of the difference in the track and field team’s schedule than most other team’s schedules is that they only have one home meet in April. Other than that, the team is on the road all through December into May. But that can be an advantage for the team. “When you’re on the road, your teammates are all you really have. That just makes the relationships even stronger,” Johnson says. The huge family aspect has helped the Falcons in the past seasons especially. Last year, the men’s and women’s teams both finished third at the MAC Indoor Championships and second in outdoor. So while they don’t get a lot of recognition, the track and field team work the longest of the Messiah athletic teams. And they certainly deserve the spotlight. Check Go Messiah to see when their home meet is in April. And if you see them working hard in Hitchcock, be sure to show your appreciation.
Sports & Rec
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Registration for Messiah students opens March 31, 2017. To learn more or to register, visit: messiah.edu/online. SBM // 29
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