Swinging Bridge Magazine: December 2015

Messiah Senior Bucket List

Sexual Assault: Defining, Preventing, and Treating It

Day in the Life of a Swimmer

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Volume 96 // Edition 3 // December 2015

STUDENT LIFE

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LetterfromtheEditor Volume 96 // Edition 3 // Dec 2015

Swinging Bridge Magazine Staff Student Director Assistant Student Director Editor-in-Chief Online Editor Student Life Editor Culture Editor Sports & Rec Editor Design Managers Design Assistants

Audio/Visual Manager Audio/Visual Assistants Business Manager Social Media Manager Web Manager

Alexandra Coonradt David Broomell Maddie Crocenzi Bree Whitelock Rose Talbot Mimi Pedercini Ashlyn Miller Megan Dobinson James Gibbons April Nguyen Chalmers Port Noah Sneddon Lindsay Corriveau Becca Simon Ryan Emerick Josh Husmann Jessalyn Megerle Erin Zakin

Monday – Friday | 1pm – 5pm (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, The Swinging Bridge Magazine and social media to keep you informed. The Swinging Bridge staff strives to publish quality student writing, photography, and design. To learn about job and volunteer opportunities, email thepulse@ messiah.edu.

Sometimes life can feel like one of those “traumarama” sections featured in teen magazines. You know the stories about falling down a flight of stairs in front of your crush or ripping a pair of pants trying to do a cartwheel.

Those are all over-the-top embarrassing moments that can certainly be traumatic for some people. But, what about stories of real trauma and distress? What if our “traumarama” sections featured serious life topics like intense finals anxiety, feelings of helplessness, and even incidents of sexual assault? I think it would significantly change our outlook on what constitutes true trauma.

At the beginning of the semester, the four other editors and myself sat down to outline some of our goals for this magazine. One of our overarching aims was to tackle controversial and often upsetting topics head on. Sexual assault, the feature story of this final issue of the semester, is one of those topics. It’s difficult to talk about, it can bring deep emotions to the surface, and yes, it causes trauma.

That’s exactly why we wanted to write about it. We wanted to write about sexual assault because it’s prevalent. It’s important for your sister, brother, cousin, friend, girlfriend, and boyfriend to hear about. It’s important for the Messiah community to understand what sexual assault is and what our rights are. Finally, it’s important to hear that you’re not alone.

It’s okay to talk about sexual assault and other difficult topics. In fact, it’s necessary to read about them, learn about them, and have meaningful conversations about them. I think this is even more critical for us as

Christians. We’re called to be a light in the world and bring hope to the hopeless. How can we do that effectively if we shy away from anything slightly controversial?

We want to look at sexual assault from a faith perspective. There are hope and reconciliation to be found in the wake of tragedy – even something as traumatic as sexual assault. We want to show students that there are resources available, people to talk to, and a loving community standing behind them.

One thing I’d like to change (out of many) in this world is overwhelming negativity. Just like teen magazines that always feature embarrassing stories, but fail to portray the good that can come out of them. So maybe you did fall down in front of your crush, but it could become the first of many inside jokes between the two of you. Trauma doesn’t end with more destruction and pain. If it did, I’m pretty sure the Christian faith would be nonexistent.

To quote a pretty awesome wizard, “happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light.” I think that sums up this issue pretty well. Even if it’s just one person who can benefit from reading about sexual assault, I hope it enables them to turn on the light.

Maddie Crocenzi Editor in Chief

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STUDENT LIFE

Activity Calendar DECEMBER SUNDAY

M ONDAY

T UE S DAY

WED N ESD AY

TH U R SD AY

FR I D AY

S ATU R D AY

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Celebration of the Light // 4:45pm - 5:00pm // Eisenhower Campus Circle

Ephemeral Film Festival // 7pm - 9pm // Parmer Cinema

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B-Sides: John Givez // 9pm // Larsen Student Union

SAB Family Christmas // 2pm - 8 pm // Larsen Student Union

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Lost Films: Mr. Holmes*

Lost Films: Ant Man*

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Lost Films: Mr. Holmes*

Lost Films: Ant Man* Christmas Tradition Dance

Christmas Coffeehouse // 8pm // Larsen Student Union

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 *Lost Films times are as followed: 6 and 9 pm on Fridays and 3, 6, and 9 pm on Saturdays If you have an event that is coming up and you would like to see it featured in the Swinging Bridge Magazine Activity Calendar please e-mail thepulse@messiah.edu with your event details!

Contents

4 Student Life Senior Year Bucket List

11 Student Life Centers of Campus

6 Student Life Finals Chill Spots

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18 Student Life Devotional 16 Culture Holiday Traditions

7 Student Life 10 Most Recognizable Faces of Finals Week

FEATURE 12-15 Student Life Sexual Assault

20 Culture Refugee Resettlement

24 Sports Students Involved in Unusual Sports

26 Sports A Day in the Life of a Swimmer at Messiah

28 Sports Student Athlete Feature: Carissa Gehman

HUMANS OF MESSIAH COLLEGE Nora Nworu From: Hatboro, Pennsylvania Year: First-Year Major: Social Work My mom is such a strong woman. I have no idea how she raised four kids on her own, and she never showed us her struggles. She’s the reason why I want to be a social worker and do well in school. I want to make her proud

because she didn’t have a chance to do this. I wish I could have helped her stress less and make it a little easier. My family is so close, but there are others in situations that they can’t control and don’t have the support system I was blessed with.

Dr. John Harles From: Chicago, Illinois Title: Professor of Politics and International Relations Don’t be afraid to take risks; professionally and personally. Good things always happened when I went out of my comfort zone. I went to Oxford for grad school, and it was a risk. It was a different country and far from home.

We didn’t have internet back then, so I couldn’t just look it up. I just went. I was a visiting professor in Canada and that was a risk, but it ended up being influential in my professional career.

John Romero From: New Castle, Delaware Year: Sophomore Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science My dad has been influential in my life. Ever since I can remember, he always told me to never give up. When I played soccer, there was a time I wanted to quit. He always helped me practice and get better. He told me to never quit and work as hard as I can.

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STUDENT LIFE

By Elizabeth Gutman

Raise a Glass For this third edition of Lottie Life Hacks, I wanted to provide you with a few drink ideas that you can make to accompany any of your meals. Each of these drink ideas includes a combination of two different drinks that can be found at either of the drink sections in Lottie and are sure to spark your interest.

1.

For my first drink combination, I have created a refreshing drink that in my opinion is “berry” good.

berry good

How to make: Take a glass and combine ½ Nestle Vitality Strawberry Kiwi Enhanced Water with ½ Gold Peak Sweetened Green Tea and stir.

2.

For my second drink idea, I have come up with a breakfast cooler, which is a tropical drink that would be the perfect addition to your breakfast.

tropical breakfast cooler

How to make: Take a glass and combine ½ Nestle Vitality 100% Orange Juice with ½ Minute Maid Lemonade and stir.

3.

For the third drink creation, I decided to combine two sweet and fun drinks that I find very refreshing.

How to make: Take a glass and combine ½ Hi-C Poppin’ Pink Lemonade with ½ Nestea Raspberry Iced Tea and stir.

Based on your own preferences, you can also add Sprite to any of these drinks for a little extra fizzy flavor.

pink raspberry

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I hope that you enjoy these three drink ideas! Feel free to combine other drinks that are provided in Lottie to create your own drink combinations.

Addie Gingell:

“Go to the very last Lost Films of the year”

Susanna Goodman:

“Go on a road trip with friends”

Brooke Dorwat:

“Get featured in the Swinging Bridge Magazine” (CHECK!)

Maegan Keperling:

“Start a community project with an at-risk population in Harrisburg”

senior year

BUCKET LIST

By Jen Morgan

For

Messiah College seniors, the pressure’s officially on.

Between figuring out spring class schedules for the last time, trying to manage all “the feels,” and spending as much quality time with friends as possible, there’s no room for boredom.

While seniors are busy planning their next steps, they’re also making sure they leave their mark at Messiah with exciting bucket lists. To get an idea of what Messiah seniors are hoping to check off before heading out into the “real world,” we asked a few: Do you have a senior year bucket list? What are a few things you want to do before graduation?

The results were a beautiful mix of silly: “I want to steal a tub of ice cream out of Lottie” – Julia Fitting, and heartwarming: “I actually do not have a bucket list. However, I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving time and all that I’ve been blessed with during my time at Messiah, and I want to write a hand-written letter to the people on campus who have made an impact on me during my time here – professors, administrators, and students” – Elizabeth Gallo.

What’s on your senior year bucket list?

Interact with The Pulse on social media @MessiahPulse and let us know!

____ Spend more time in Harrisburg (Hannah Miller, Catheryn Hayes & Courtney McKay) ____ Win one of the $25 gift cards from an online survey (Hannah Miller & Courtney McKay) ____ Go to more soccer games and show more school spirit (Catheryn Hayes) ____ Get #1 at the Falcon (Catheryn Hayes, Courtney McKay, & Erica Souter) ____ Take a picture with President Phipps (Erica Souter) ____ Start a food fight in Lottie (Erica Souter) ____ Perform at Senior Coffeehouse (Susannah Goodman & Addie Gingell) ____ Canoe or kayak down the Yellow Breeches (Susannah Goodman & Brooke Dorwart) ____ Take a road trip with friends (Susannah Goodman) ____ Drive to D.C. for a concert (Susannah Goodman) ____ Invest in friendships (Susannah Goodman & Brooke Dorwart) ____ Get featured in the Swinging Bridge Magazine (Brooke Dorwart – check!) ____ Finish my resume (Addie Gingell) ____ Go to the very last Lost Films of the year (Addie Gingell) ____ Sled down Cemetery Hill (Ashley Tilton, Patty Angeles & Brooke Dorwart) ____ Read the book of Proverbs in a month (Sara Vossler) ____ Go to Winter Jam to see “For King and Country” (Sara Vossler) ____ Get a full-time, “real world” job (Sara Vossler & Maegan Keperling) ____ Get 8 hours of sleep on a school night (Sara Vossler) ____ Start a community project with an at-risk population in Harrisburg (Maegan Keperling) ____ Go to Sky Zone with a ton of friends for an all-night event (Maegan Keperling) ____ Have coffee with friends I haven’t talked to since my first year (Maegan Keperling) ____ Become a part-time barista because of my love for coffee (Sarah Ooi) ____ Pull my first all-nighter (Jen Isaacs) ____ Go to the abandoned amusement park near Williams Grove (Jen Isaacs) ____ Explore the greater Harrisburg area (Jen Isaacs) ____ Have dinner at Kim Phipps’ house (Jen Isaacs) ____ Get on the roof of North Complex (Patty Angeles) ____ Have chicken cordon bleu at least once this year (Patty Angeles) ____ Pull several all-nighters one weekend with my cluster (Patty Angeles) ____ Go to Powerhouse (Courtney McKay) ____ Take a spontaneous day trip (Courtney McKay) ____ Go one day without coffee (Courtney McKay) ____ Run a 5K (Steve Earp)

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STUDENT LIFE

YOU’RE IN MY SPOT. Sharlene Oong STUDENT WRITER

By Sharlene Oong

With finals coming up, searching for that perfect spot

that spells out “chill” without having too many students crowding your space can be tough. It’s every college student’s struggle: finding a place that somehow minimizes potential distractions and unlocks a level of productivity we didn’t even know we possessed.

Many students mention that they turn to the Library to find their focus. “I like the cubicles that they have – it’s like your own personal space, where you can work at it,” says Rukshani Perera, a senior Marketing major. She explains that she enjoys the cubicles downstairs because of their distraction-free environment, while still providing open space for interaction with friends.

The Library, however, is not the only option on campus.

“More recently, I’ve studied in my floor lounge because there are big comfy chairs,” says Elizabeth Ivey, a sophomore English major. She adds that hibernating in one of the study rooms on her hall is another good idea – “it’s right across from my room, and I can just close myself in there with no distractions from my roommates – though Facebook and Netflix are another story.” Floor lounges not only provide space for students to study, but also to take some time to de-stress and chill, especially if you’re studying with a group of friends (although this isn’t always a recommended study habit).

Coffee shops are unarguably the hot place to go around finals time. They’re your best friend if you need that caffeine buzz mixed with a good amount of concentrated study time. Starbucks is always a college staple, but the local area has plenty of other fantastic places to chill, like Little Amps Coffee Roasters in Harrisburg. Andrea

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Faus, a senior Studio Art major, enjoys going to Midtown Scholar, a combined bookstore and coffee shop in Harrisburg. “It’s nice to feel productive but still be off campus,” she says. Perera also mentions Starbucks as a quieter environment to do homework while getting her caffeine and chill fix.

While some need to go off-campus to unwind, other students prefer to stay focused on campus. “When people get off campus, they do not want to think about homework,” according to Sarah Beairsto, a sophomore Public Relations major. She chooses to study in her room when she has a big exam, so she can look over material without distractions.

Another factor Messiah students are used to dealing with is the bitter cold that hits around December’s finals time. Snowy days should mean hot chocolate and Netflix, not frantic running between your dorm room and the Library – right?

When it’s cold outside, Seth Daisey, a sophomore Christian Ministries major, suggests studying in the main sitting area on the third floor of Frey. He says it’s a nice place to study because you can be there all year-round, come rain or shine. “I would tell students that if you want to be by yourself, it’s a great place to go – whether you’re doing homework, reading your Bible, or just getting away for a few minutes. It’s definitely a good spot to relax,” he says.

“For me, it’s nice having multiple spots to go, because sometimes they’re full, or I just want to change up the scenery a bit,” says Ivey. Whether you are still looking for a spot or have a secret hideaway you’ve claimed since freshman year, there are many spots on campus and beyond, just waiting for you to discover them.

PulseFeed The 10 Most Recognizable Faces During Finals Week By Andrew Weir Finals week: AKA a time of stress, worry, fear, doubt and finally, relief. We all know the sinking feeling in our guts at the thought of study guides and papers. It’s a week that feels like it can determine your future, one that brings you to tears or brings you to…well, tears. This article should help everyone on campus have an idea what level of sanity – or insanity – they have currently reached.

1.The “realizing finals

2.The “coffee is my only

4. The “my backpack weighs more than I do” face

5. The “I got on YouTube and haven’t gotten off in three hours” face

When textbooks turn to pillows, you’ll never get work done if you’re within 50 feet of a mattress. Murray Library is your new dorm room, and osmosis your best chance to learn anything.

Kind of like the Hulk, you gain incredible strength to allow you to haul your books around, and you always look angry enough that people are afraid to confront you. If only Messiah had a football team, you’d make a great lineman.

You knew going on YouTube would be a bad idea, but you told yourself you wouldn’t stay on for more than five minutes – a “study break,” you called it. Thinking of all the work you could have done makes you surf the web for the rest of the night.

8. The “I can’t believe I really thought I had this under control” face

9. The “I despise every-

10. The “finals are final-

I’ve got this” face

one” face

ly over” face

This is the stage at which confidence takes over. You start to study harder and more diligently as everything seems easier to grasp – with the help of coffee, of course.

The tears have finally made their way through your wall of confidence. You feel defeated as the day of your first final barrels towards you.

When everything everyone says to you annoys you to the point of hatred. Brain function, patience, and hours of sleep are at an all-time low.

You’re asleep. Not much else matters to you besides sleep.

Coffee is now your enemy.

start in a week” face

friend” face

When fear and anxiety start to settle in and you begin to panic as you realize you shouldn’t have slept in through so many lectures.

This is when your friends start to realize that your only sustenance has been caffeine and they start to feel a little concerned for your wellbeing. “Coffee helps me learn, coffee is my friend.”

6. The “Did I miss the end of the world?” face

7. The “you know what,

You stumble around campus blinded by the natural light, confused as to where everyone went.

3. The “I barely see my bed” face

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STUDENT LIFE

Finding Our Place, Understanding Our Past:

Multicultural Programs Embracing Conversation About Culture

By Ashlyn Miller

Engage. Create safe spaces. Encourage conversation. All of these phrases come up in discussions with representatives from Messiah’s Multicultural Programs, both past, and present.

With a well-defined role and action-oriented mission, the desire to work with students is palpable—a goal that the program has recently made great strides to expand on.

The role of the Multicultural Programs at Messiah has come to the forefront this semester following the creation of a White Student Union (WSU) Twitter account on Oct. 7, where the creator tweeted in reply to another student, “Why can’t a group of students that are white assemble for equality as well?”

“It’s certainly okay to wonder, there is nothing wrong with that, but if you are wondering, you should seek to engage. When you are in the majority culture, everything that you do is part of that culture,” says Kevin Villegas, Director of SILP and SAB Advisor.

Villegas formerly worked in the Intercultural Office and has collaborated with students from all over the world. He urges students to understand the specific contexts of minority groups on campus. “As an example, with international students who are often thousands of miles away from family, it is important to have a (specific) cohort of [people with] shared experiences to be able to identify with one another.”

Currently, the Multicultural Programs office is home to five organizations: African Student Union, Asian Student Association, Black Student Union, International Student Association/ MuKappa, and La Alianza Latina. All of these student organizations gather together to form the Multicultural Council,

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which works not only within the Multicultural Programs but also with the Student Government Association.

“These groups give opportunities for the larger student body to engage in different cultures, heritages, and ethnicities while at the same time giving an outlet for our underrepresented students to talk about their experiences…but overall the purpose is to bring people together, no matter what race or ethnicity,” says Director of Multicultural Programs, Scott Hwang.

The latter part of Hwang’s comment is what makes these organizations unique—all are open to, and encourage participation from, individuals who are not necessarily a part of the culture associated with each organization.

“We are enthusiastic about providing a safe space to talk about relations between cultures. These are larger platforms that are open to everyone,” says Senior Susannah Goodman, Chair of the Multicultural Council.

Following the creation of the WSU account, Multicultural Programs wanted to dig into this part of their mission in a new and exciting way. But to begin, there needed to be a conversation.

Starting the Conversation Villegas, Goodman, and Hwang all note the positive effects of “intentional collaboration” with other groups on campus.

“We move forward with forums where we can understand the other perspective, particularly by listening closely,” says Villegas. “18 to 22 is an important time for identity development, and racial identity is a big part of that.”

One of the first steps towards this was a Town Hall-style event held in response to student input on the WSU Twitter account. At the event, after presentations by panel members, students were asked to anonymously write down any questions they had for the panel on note cards, which were passed to the front for the panel to address. Goodman says there was not nearly enough time to answer all of the questions, but the amount of cards submitted, student attendance, and the mere fact that the meeting ran overtime, indicated that students wanted to talk.

“I was impressed with the general interest and curiosity that the student body showed. The fact that people stayed and continued to talk was definitely an indicator of that,” says Goodman.

To address these 70 unanswered questions, the Multicultural Programs team is preparing to pilot a blog that will answer each one in an honest and vulnerable manner. Knowing that commenting on online articles is an increasingly popular format for discussion, Goodman and the other members of her team are hoping that the blog will simply add to their platforms of communication with the student body as a whole.

“Dialogue is healthy, and more of it needs to happen,” says Goodman.

Looking to the Future Moving forward, Multicultural Programs is interested in finding ways to make majority students feel more comfortable taking part in multicultural events.

“I think for the people asking ‘Could a white student union actually be founded?’…those students really do want a safe space to talk about what it means to be white or things related to race relations,” says Goodman.

This issue is not foreign to Villegas, either, as he says his time as a student at Messiah helped him wrestle with his own racial identity, and “come to terms with [his] bi-racialness.”

Growing up, he never felt as if he fully fit in with his part-Filipino heritage, because he identified more with white culture. He sometimes became confused in his interactions with others because even though he was engaged with white culture, others thought he appeared more Filipino and expected him to identify as such.

After reflecting on this in his college years and in practice, Villegas now offers the image of a playground to students trying to understand racial privilege.

“A majority individual who wants to go play on the playground— they can go over and play and then leave whenever they want.

For a non-majority individual, that’s not the case. They can come play, but when it’s time to go, they are stuck on the playground.”

Villegas says the image helps illustrate the fact that a majority culture person can interact in the world mostly free of negative stereotypes and institutional barriers. However, certain aspects of a person from a minority culture constantly stay with him or her.

Multicultural Programs are hoping to create a better understanding of concepts such as privilege, and foster a similar learning experience to Villegas’ for all students at Messiah.

“Ask questions. It’s okay to be curious. Don’t let your fear keep you from learning more about other [groups],” says Goodman.

For students interested in learning more about the Multicultural Programs at Messiah, Hwang recommends visiting the Intercultural Office in Larsen.

“Ask questions. It’s okay to be curious. Don’t let your fear keep you from learning more about other [groups].”

“18 to 22 is an important time for identity development, and racial identity is a big part of that.”

“Dialogue is healthy, and more of it needs to happen.”

“I can understand not knowing how to approach those topics if [the student] is the only white student at a BSU meeting, and it’s something [he or she] does not have a lot of experience in. I think a group that would provide space for white students to process their own racial identity, even if they’ve never considered it, and how that affects other cultures and their reactions, would be great.”

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STUDENT LIFE

the

Center(s) of campus

By Erin Zakin

Messiah’s campus is home to various Centers filled with resources available to students.

These services include the Writing Center, Agape Center, Learning Center, and Career & Professional Development Center, among others. Read on below to learn more about some of the services you might be missing out on.

Career and Professional Development Center

Agapé Center

Stemming from a Greek word meaning ‘God’s love,’ the Agapé Center aims to prepare students for lifelong service.

Services include outreach programs, where students are sent off-campus to work with local community partners, service trips, which occur throughout the semester to various locations, and awareness groups, such as the Human Rights Awareness team and the World Christian Fellowship.

“The Agape Center provides a variety of opportunities that students are encouraged to take advantage of,” says office assistant, Andrea Yong. “We welcome anyone and everyone who would like to learn more to just stop by anytime during our office hours.”

Writing Center

Located in Murray Library, students can sign up for 30-60-minute peer review sessions that cover anything in the writing process, from thesis development to grammar to brainstorming.

“Students can come in with a whole draft of a blank page, brainstorming or finessing,” says Abigail McBride, associate head tutor.

“We believe in this process because writing is a social act; it’s about communicating and dialoguing.”

The Writing Center also has an online service for graduate and commuter students.

These students simply email a 7-or-more page paper to writingcenter@messiah.edu to have their paper reviewed. The Writing Center also hosts various writing workshops for students, such as the Creative Writing Halloween Workshop.

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Learning Center

Students come to the Learning Center, located within Murray Library, to get individual tutoring free of charge. The Center has 22 trained tutors providing assistance in 18 different subjects. In addition to their subject areas, all tutors can also help with academic skills such as time-management, test-taking, and note-taking.

“The Learning Center is not just for students who are struggling, but can be beneficial to students at all levels of competence,” says Joan Sotherden, Director of the Learning Center.

The Learning Center is open Monday through Thursday, from 3-10 p.m. Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance through MC Square > Quicklinks > Learning Center.

The Career and Professional Development Center is your one-stop-shop for anything internship or job related. “Our goal is to serve all students from all majors with all stages of career planning,” says Abby Book, one of the Center’s career coaches and a specialist for student-alumni engagement.

Some of the services this Center provides include one-on-one coaching appointments, mock interviews, and resume and cover letter drop-in hours (2-4 p.m.

Monday-Thursday). They also have an on-call career coach, who is available in various academic buildings to answer on-the-spot questions. The Career Center may be best known for their various programs, some of which are outlined below.

Into the City and Into the City Mini – Overnight career immersion programs to a major city.

Career and Grad Expo – The annual job/grad fair on campus.

Rezumania - Two days every semester where the Center offers on-the-spot resume critiques in the Eisenhower common area.

Mock Interview Day - Alumni come to campus every semester to conduct practice interviews with students.

Mocktails (held in conjunction with Eyas) – An annual networking event with alumni, which is designed to provide students with a safe space to practice their networking skills.

Whether you’re a first-year who has never stepped into one or more of these Centers, or a senior who’s walked by them every day without stopping to check them out, there’s still time to make the most of these services. Whether you’re looking for free tutoring, professional career advice, detailed paper editing, or community engagement, Messiah is dedicated to providing services for each student’s holistic needs.

By Bree Whitelock

Campus Closet 2

winter fashion Weather plays such a pivotal role in the outfits we choose to wear on a daily basis – as it should. But what we wear should only be dictated to a point until what we want to wear steps in. By this I mean: if you want to dress weather-appropriate but remain chic, there are ways around the system.

Messiah students know well how cold the winter months can be. This means we have to bundle up and forgo fashion guidelines, right?

Absolutely not.

A few Messiah students demonstrate how easily you can become an expert in winter fashion.

“Sweater weather” has recently been coined a favorite saying during the colder months. Junior Hadlee Coker shows how to layer a sweater with a collared shirt to add a fashionable touch.

Showing a different take on layering, sophomore Kurtis Eby pairs a crisp collared shirt with a seasonally colored cardigan. Not forgetting the shoe choice, Eby works in a neutral pair of leather footwear.

Kicking things up a notch, first-year Alyssa Nagel demonstrates a dressier look, perfect for any holiday party. Dark colors are in season and showing a little skin should never go out of style.

Hats, jackets, and fashion, oh my. Sophomore Julien Belmear cheers on winter fashion with a pom-pom hat to complete his look.

Practical, yet fashionable, is always the way to go.

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photos by junior Bree Whitelock

When bundling is your best bet, work to incorporate your jacket into the look. Junior Molly Scott effortlessly aims for a winter-ready outfit as she works the color of her jacket amongst the tones of her ensemble.

Fashion never rests – see what new trends are out there and rock them this winter season.

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STUDENT LIFE

Defining, Preventing, & Treating

Sexual Assault

By Maddie Crocenzi

ollege students are used to a national problem being statistics, whether A recent survey done at 27 prominent universities by the Association of American Universities that’s part of larger highlights these startling statistics. Over oneenrollment, financial aid, fourth of undergraduate women at these unior athletics. However, versities had been sexually assaulted by force or undergraduate students while they were incapacitated during four years of 8.6% of male seniors and 27.2% of female constitute other significant college. seniors said they had experienced a type of unstatistics that deal with wanted sexual contact since beginning college. a prevalent issue on statistics are a result of the Clery Act, which campuses nationwide: These requires all colleges and universities who resexual assault. ceive federal funding to disseminate information about crime and safety information. In compliance with the Clery Act, Messiah reported 1 rape in 2014, compared to 4 in 2013 and 3 in 2012.

Director of Safety and Dispatch Services, Cindy Burger, says Messiah follows the Title IX protocols: protects individuals from discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and sexual harass1 2

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one in four women in college have been victims of sexual assault

ment, including any type of violence or sexual misconduct in educational access, programs, and activities.

The Violence Against Women’s Reauthorization Act (VAWA) also mandated changes and additions to definitions regarding sexual assault. These changes have shaped colleges’ and universities’ policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

“Basically what happened through that act is legislatures realized after implementing all these requirements that colleges and universities were struggling because we didn’t have definitions to work from. The Act gave guidance to us, to every college, and said here’s what you want to be using for certain definitions when you’re dealing with these instances on your campuses,” says Burger.

Colleges and universities must follow federal and state definitions but can institute their own definitions when no state definition has been provided. Burger says VAWA gave guidance to every college but allows each college or university to tailor it to their specific campus as long as they operate under the mandated requirements.

to stop. The Obama Administration has guided the Department of Education to leverage the Title IX anti-discrimintation statute to include sexual assault and hold colleges and universities accountable to educate and prevent this from occurring.”

For example, Messiah uses a broader term of sexual misconduct and interpersonal violence in the Student Handbook. Sexual misconduct includes sexual contact without consent, stalking, coercion for sexual contact, sexual contact while a person is incapacitated, and more.

Part of what colleges and universities are federally mandated to do is to provide students and faculty with adequate training toward preventing and addressing sexual assault. Wood says there’s a core group of Title IX coordinators at Messiah that receive specialized training on Title IX and VAWA policies. Training includes topics such as investigation, the impact of trauma on investigations, consent, and working with victims of sexual assault.

Associate Dean of Students, Doug Wood, says sexual misconduct violations are a growing problem on college campuses in the United States. “Our campuses have been a breeding ground for a lot of this to go unaddressed, and that has

making safe spaces

Title IX Coordinator, Amanda Coffey, also presents training and informaSBM

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STUDENT LIFE tion to employees who are considered mandatory reporters. These employees include athletic coaches, faculty, head custodians, resident assistants, and most everyone on campus besides the Engle Center and College Ministries.

chapels open orums and di erent events related to se ual misconduct on campus ood and Burger say the change had to do with new re uired itle mandates in the wa e o growing se ual assault incidents at larger colleges and universities

“That was a very broad scope of the implications of Title IX on your campus that was provided to employees who would have more direct interactions with students. There’s a review board as well that we work with who are trained. They were a part of that as well,” says Wood.

Both ood and Burger say they would li e to do more in the coming years or all students on campus rather than ust first year students

Burger confirms that everyone on campus, with the exception of the Engle Center and College Ministries (who are confidential reporting locations), are mandatory reporters.

“With additional law changes and heavier focus on sexual assaults on college campuses, this mandatory reporter label is a new guideline requiring everybody on campus to report anything that is suspicious or is a crime. We still have Campus Security Authorities on our campus as well,” she says.

Recently, the training students have received has been more ambitious. Last year, all classes of undergraduate students had to complete a program called, “Not Anymore.” They were required to watch videos and complete a pre and post-test in order to register for classes.

Because returning students have already completed the program, it is now required of incoming new students. Completing the program successfully is tied to housing sign ups or first year resident students and parking registration for commuters.

Before “Not Anymore” there was no mandated training program.

There were

“I don’t want

anybody,

male or female,

who has experienced this to feel in any way

that it’s

their fault” 1 4

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e meet the minimum re uirement ut we want to do more li e providing more education on ystander intervention e also are planning on rolling some orm o education out to employees as well says Burger ight now there are many sa e places or students to spea a out se ual assault Both ollege inistries and the ngle enter are confidential resources or the campus community

The Center also provides full family practice level medical care for students. While Addleman advises sexual assault victims should visit an emergency room immediately after an assault, the Engle Center can provide more long-term care and counseling.

“Our main concern is that students get immediate assistance, help, and support, whether that’s on-campus or o campus ddleman says Help and support are critical in the aftermath of a sexual assault. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network say sexual assault includes “psychological, emotional and physical e ects hese can include posttraumatic stress disorder ( sel harm ash ac s sexually transmitted infections (STIs), depression, and substance abuse.

a long recovery

he ngle enter is one o the confidential places on campus where a student can report and not have to e identified in a campus complaint or an o cam pus legal complaint,” says the Engle Center’s Director Ellie, Addleman.

Dr. Valerie Lemmon is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Messiah with a background in clinical psychology. She says there are three common psychological effects victims of sexual assaults experience; PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.

Addleman says the Engle Center’s prima ry concern is the wellbeing of the stu dent who expresses concerns. The Engle Center provides support and assistance throughout the process of reporting a sexual assault. Counselors may accom pany students to the emergency room or meetings with Wood and Burger.

She says sexual assault is a traumatic experience that can contribute to recurrent intrusive thoughts, memories, dreams, nightmares, and more.

She describes the symptoms of PTSD as frequent and intrusive. “Imagine you’re sitting in Lottie eating and all of a sudden this memory of the sexual assault comes in your head. That’s part of what makes this a disorder for people, it gets in the way of their functioning. Instead of being able to pay attention to academics, social, extracurriculars, service, od and all these other things you find yourself having these frequent intrusive reminders, thoughts, and memories.”

Lemmon says intrusive thoughts can contribute to a distressing cycle. While plagued with intrusive, recurrent, and distressing thoughts, a sexual assault victim is likely to become distressed and attempt to push the thoughts away.

“People have talked to me about how there was a song that was playing during the assault, and whenever they hear it they become activated, they become distressed. It’s like a sense of it’s happening all over again,” Lemmon says.

Another critical aspect of sexual assault is blame. Lemmon says people tend to blame victims as a way to explain why the assault occurred.

“People can’t stand ambiguity. When something is ambiguous like acquaintance rape or date rape we need to understand ‘how could this happen?’” Lemmon says.

She asserts individuals also blame sexual assault victims to affirm their own sense of safety. By telling yourself you wouldn’t drink and be alone with someone, or get in a car with someone you barely know, you are effectively telling yourself you’re safe from sexual assault.

blame & shame

Blame can often worsen the effects of a sexual assault on a victim. Lemmon describes the difference between appropriate and inappropriate guilt as it applies to sexual assault.

For example, if you pass someone in the hall without recognizing him or her, and they confront you later, they can cause you to feel inappropriate guilt. However, if you recognized your friend and blatantly avoided them, your friend’s chastisement would produce appropriate guilt.

“Inappropriate guilt is actually one of the symptoms of depression. The victim blames himself or herself for what happened instead of holding the person who really is responsible,” Lemmon says.

Blame was a large part of one female Messiah student’s story. After allegedly being se ually assaulted off cam us, she says she experienced a sense of blame and shame from certain individuals on campus.

“I think what disappointed me the most was the shaming. I think the way they handled it very much re-traumatized me and I think that’s a common thing when you’re faced with people who shame you in a situation like this,” she says.

Photos from student fim Like Rain

Campus Resources:

General Questions, and Concerns: Dean of Students – Kristin ansen ieffer, Campus Safety and Security: Department of Safety – x6005 (24 Hr Dispatch); Emergencies, x6565 Safety & Police Reporting Info: Cindy Burger, Director of Safety & Dispatch Services, x7272

Where do we go from here? How do colleges and universities provide sexual assault victims the care they need? And how do we as Christians, respond with love and compassion when it’s not just a stranger in a news story, but our friend, signi cant other, coworker, or family member who has been sexually assaulted? tatistics will say four or ve out of ten women have been the victim of a sexual assault. You’re sitting in a classroom with 30 people and about 20 of them are females depending on your major. That means a quarter of the people have had this experience. That’s why think this is such an im ortant conversation to have,” says Lemmon.

From an administrative standpoint, Wood and Burger hope to continue to provide care, new forms of training, and overall support to sexual assault victims.

“Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed to report something. Don’t be afraid to come forward and talk to someone if something has happened. There are many options and avenues students have available to them. We want to help and are here to assist the student through the process they want to take,” Burger says.

Wood wants students to know Messiah does not take sexual assaults lightly. There are harsh consequences for sexual assaults on-campus. “Perpetrators can get suspended and/or expelled. We have done both.”

If a victim does not receive his or her desired outcome, there is also an appeals process. In those instances, Wood says it’s important to note the outcome does not minimize harm. “It doesn’t mean that their trauma isn’t real and there aren’t real needs. We’re seeking to address those needs from the day they come forward.”

Wood also says Messiah’s policies regarding alcohol consumption and sexual behavior should never discourage a student from seeking amends.

Counseling and Emotional Support Services: Engle Center – Philip Lawlis, Director of Counseling & Health Services, x5357 Health Services: Engle Center – Michelle Lucas, Coordinator of Health Services & Nurse, x6035 College Ministries: 717-691-6017

“Even if you’ve done certain behaviors that don’t align with our ideal for our sexual ethic or you violate the College’s alcohol policy, we’re not going to hold that against you in bringing this forward.”

Lemmon says the Messiah community needs to be more conscientious about our own actions and the way we react to victims. “We all need to make very, very careful decisions, and I think maybe part of it is we’re in the Christian bubble or the ‘Messiah bubble.’”

She says we need to examine our values of purity and holiness and make sure they are not inadvertently causing us to blame the victim. “We all need to have a better understanding about this so we can respond to people with more compassion instead of judgment.”

As the female student mentioned above bravely shares her sexual assault experience, she says she wants students, faculty, and administrators to look carefully at how they are handling sexual assault cases.

“I’m hoping that in the end there can be a lot of education on how to improve on how they deal with these things so that this doesn’t happen in future,” she says.

When asked what she would tell other sexual assault victims, she had a very telling answer: “I don’t want anybody, male or female, who has experienced this to feel in any way that it’s their fault. Even though Messiah may tell them otherwise or society may tell them otherwise, I want everyone to know that there should be no shame associated with it. You haven’t failed as a Christian woman or man because this has happened.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please look below for a list of both on and off campus organizations that are available to help.

Off-Campus Resources:

Police Information: Upper Allen Township Police (Cumberland County): 911 Carroll Twp. Police (York County): 717-766-0249 Medical Treatment: Harrisburg Hospital: 717-2216250 Carlisle Regional Medical Center: 717-249-1212 Holy Spirit Hospital: 717-763-2100

Sexual Assault: Cumberland County Advocacy & Rape Crisis Services: ffice Hotline: 717-258-4324 OR 717258-1143 YWCA Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Services in Harrisburg: 1-800-654-1211 or 717-238-7273

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Christmas Abroad

By Jeremy Jensen

November here in the United States brings with it many different traditions and holidays. The fall season is winding down, the weather is getting colder, Halloween is over, and people are starting to talk about Christmas before Thanksgiving has even happened. The excitement surrounding the different holidays tends to reach a critical mass by the end of the month, and the fever peaks by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. However, for students on campus who hail from a country other than the U.S., the next holiday on the horizon is Christmas.

Thailand, a mainly Buddhist country, does not celebrate Christmas, but junior Ben Talbot, originally from England living in Bangkok as an MK, and his family keep their tradition. “We all sleepover downstairs Christmas Eve by the Christmas tree.

The first one to wake up wakes everyone else up and we all open stockings as my Dad makes a cup of tea, so we open our stockings as we drink tea. After, we have breakfast, and then we all sit around and open presents one by one.”

Junior Ben Talbot, originally from England, enjoys drinking tea during his Christmas celebration.

Andrea Yong, President of the Asian Student Association, talks about how the celebration starts in her home country of Malaysia.

“They start…[Christmas] super early and there are decorations that go up. We don’t have snow or fall, so it’s hot all the time, but you can tell it’s Christmastime because you see the ribbons and the Christmas trees and the Christmas wreath. It will be October or November and Christmas decorations will be up.”

Here in the United States, many people balk at the idea of early Christmas decorations. Culturally, the marker is that the minute Thanksgiving ends, Christmas music can officially begin. In Malaysia, Yong says there is also some sort of marker, but it occurs much earlier. She also mentioned that Singapore celebrates similarly. The traditions mirror much of the traditions of the Western world.

When it comes to our celebration surrounding the actual day of Christmas, even that does not completely match up. Lydia Ernvik, an international student from Sweden, talks about how the actual Christmas celebration happens in her country. “We celebrate Christmas on the 24th. The 25th is just another day. Christ wasn’t even born on the 25th, so it shouldn’t even matter if you think about it.”

Malaysian student and President of the Asian Student Association, Andrea Yong, appreciates the joy and fun of the Christmas season.

She’s correct in bringing up the irrelevancy of the date. Her point begs the question of why we celebrate the Christmas tradition with such a relentless fervor and why dates and timeframes surrounding the season are so important. For example, after Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving where people go out for massive sales) the clock starts ticking for when Christmas shopping ends. Those who complete it earlier seem to be “doing the season right.”

Yong mentions that Malaysia celebrates Christmas because “it’s a Western tradition, and it’s cool, plus you get presents.” There is a real joy to the season there, and the focus is less on consumerism and more on the fun of the holiday. As December begins, we should keep in mind the mindset that other nations have and possibly model our Christmas traditions after theirs: by soaking in the season and being thankful for the gifts that each year brings.

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Lydia Ernvik, an international student from Sweden, celebrates Christmas on the 24th at home.

5 Best Must-Watch Movies this Christmas Season

By Ashlee Miller As the days go by, we get closer and closer to the holiday season the majority of us look forward to the most, Christmas time. One of the most popular traditions during Christmas time is watching Christmas themed movies. Whether it’s the classic favorite White Christmas or the modern day tale of The Santa Clause, we all seem to have that one movie that we love to watch.

Here’s my list of five of my favorite Christmas movies to watch this Christmas season:

2. Dr.Grinch Seuss’ How the Stole Christmas

Cindy Lou Who is troubled by the idea that the Grinch is the only person in Whoville who does not celebrate Christmas. The Grinch is a hard-hearted creature who loves all things rotten and despises anything that reminds him of Christmas.

Cindy Lou sets out to soften his heart. This holiday favorite is enjoyed by many due to how it brings out the Christmas spirit in all of us.

3. National Lampoon’s

Christmas Vacation

1. Elf

A hilarious, Christmas-loving human, Buddy, who was raised by elves, goes to the Big Apple to meet his biological father. The viewers’ hearts warm as Christmas cheer illuminates off the people of New York City. This movie is ranked number one due to the laughter and joy it brings in the name of Christmas cheer!

1.

2.

This hilarious Christmas classic is sure to bring out the goofy side in all of us! As Clark Griswold prepares to welcome his extended family into his home for Christmas, he faces several obstacles that set him back in his annual Christmas tradition agenda. Griswold and his family spend Christmas time together trying to focus on having an all-around fun time

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while remembering what Christmas truly means to them.

4. Home Alone

When Kevin McAllister’s family leaves their home to spend Christmas in France, they forget to bring one thing—Kevin. As Kevin is left to protect his family’s home from burglars filled with anything but holiday cheer, his family struggles to get back to him. This movie is an adventure that is sure to fill you with holiday glee!

5. A Christmas Story

This fun-filled holiday tale celebrates all sorts of Christmas traditions while allowing us to enter into the life of Ralphie Parker. Ralphie must convince his parents to get him the Christmas toy of his dreams.

Fun Fact - The house from A Christmas Story was restored to its original model from the movie and is now used as a museum in Cleveland, Ohio that accepts visitors year-round.

4.

5.

ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Highlight

For more great Christmas movies check out these movies featured on ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas programming.

Movie covers provided by impawards.com

Dec 1 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 9:00 p.m.

Dec 2 The Santa Clause 8:45 p.m.

Dec 3 Fred Claus 8:15 p.m.

Dec 4 Elf 9:30 p.m.

Dec 5 The Polar Express 5:00 p.m.

Dec 6 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 6:30 p.m.

Dec 7 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 6:30 p.m.

Dec 8 Frosty’s Winter Wonderland 6:00 p.m.

Dec 9 Elf 8:45 p.m.

Dec 10 The Year without Santa Claus 5:30 p.m.

Dec 11 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 6:45 p.m.

Dec 12 Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July 4:00 p.m.

Dec 13 Disney-Pixar Toy Story Marathon 4:30 p.m.

Dec 14 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 8:45 p.m.

Dec 15 Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town 5:00 p.m.

Dec 16 Elf 6:00 p.m.

Dec 17 Disney’s A Christmas Carol 8:45 p.m.

Dec 18 The Santa Clause Marathon and Disney’s Prep & Landing 6:30 p.m.

Dec 19 Jack Frost 10:30 a.m.

Dec 20 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Mickey’s Christmas Carol 7:00 p.m.

Dec 21 Tim Burton’s The Nightmare before Christmas, Elf, Mickey’s Christmas Carol 11:15 a.m.

Dec 22 The Year without Santa Claus, The Santa Clause Marathon 4:30 p.m.

Dec 23 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Frosty’s Wonderland 6:30 p.m.

Dec 24 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, The Santa Clause 3 6:30 p.m.

Dec 25 Elf, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town 5:00 p.m.

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Devotional: Be Still & Give Thanks

Murray Library Reading List

By Jeremy Jensen

By Lindsey Longoria Mashing potatoes, roasting turkey, hugging family, watching football, and washing tons of dishes. For some, these activities bring back amazing memories of spending time with family, forging bonds around the “kid’s table,” and eating way too much pie. For others, these are painful memories, filled with broken relationships, dry turkey, and losing football teams. For others still, they may not exist. The holidays represent many things, ranging from a good meal’s warmth to consumeristic coldness. The fuzziness of family meets the frustration of busyness.

We are consistently called to thankfulness.

Paul charges us in Colossians 3:15 to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

And be thankful.” How can we be consistently grateful in a world constantly telling us we need more? In the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we see frazzled Martha running around preparing a meal for Jesus. I imagine her roast isn’t cooking quickly enough, and her casserole is burnt, and she’s at her wits’ end because her sister Mary is doing nothing to help.

So Martha comes to Jesus, thinking she’s not enough, believing all He wants from her are the (literal) fruits of her labor, which she cannot provide. In typical Jesus fashion, He turns her expectations upside down. He calls her to contentment. He says, “Mary has chosen the better part.”

Martha is concerned and distracted, while Mary is still. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and admired His countenance in the chaos.

Mary’s life wasn’t perfect, but she paused long enough to admire what was; Christ was present, as was she. In this season, as we run around like Martha, let us remember to be thankful and still. Let’s lay aside distractions and admire how Christ is beautifully working in and around us.

Who cares if dinner isn’t perfect?

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By: Maya Angelou Suggested by: Beth Transue Maya Angelou died a year ago in May, but her memory still lives on. In this piece of autobiographical fiction, Angelou writes about many of the issues she faced growing up, and in doing so reveals to the reader the struggles and hardships of a disenfranchised class while also reinventing the American memoir.

A Town in Between By: Judith Ridner Suggested by: Keith Jones For those interested in local history, Mississippi State University professor, Judith Ridner, wrote about the development and history of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The book won the Philip S. Klein book prize from the Pennsylvania Historical Association.

Blankets By: Craig Thompson Suggested by: Spencer Kondak This graphic novel chronicles the early childhood and adolescence of Craig Thompson and his struggle with Christianity and the role it plays in his life. The book is emotionally gripping and heart-wrenching until the final page. It explores the struggle that comes with religion and is highly recommended by all who have read it.

Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher Suggested by: Spencer Kondak This book is about a young girl named Hannah Baker who explains thirteen reasons why she committed suicide by sending cassette tapes to the people that contributed to her death. The book becomes a poignant thought piece on the consequences of many individuals’ actions, the silence of emotional trauma, and the power of random kindness.

not beneficial, and can start to hurt your relationships if its foundations are on watching other peoples’ lives.

Sophomore Sharlene Oong believes Netflix separates us because of the individualized choices it creates. It’s now easier to watch whatever we want instead of making compromises with others.

& CHILL

By Sarah Beairsto Since its inception in 1997, Netflix has become a huge part of our lives. So many college students today, including many at Messiah, have Netflix accounts that they use on a fairly regular basis. Netflix allows a viewer to choose from hundreds of films and television shows available in an instant.

But as a wise man once said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” The wide variety of choices and the instant gratification can become very addicting very quickly. It can create isolation between individuals through the addictive need to binge watch. Netflix can even take the place of proper dates in romantic relationships and eliminate the need to get to know one another.

Netflix can also give choices of things to watch with friends when you don’t have the option of going to the movies. Netflix can have both negative and positive connotations. So how do sites like Netflix affect us, and what should we do about it?

According to The Statista Portal, in merely a few years, Netflix subscribers have grown from 20 million in 2011 to over 43 million subscribers today. We have changed from going to a movie theater to watching films from the comforts of our homes.

Chris Boggess, SAB Lost Films Executive, shares his opinion on how sites like Netflix have affected the way we watch films today.

Students also have different opinions on where and how they wish to view movies.

Students such as sophomores Erin Kelley and Sandra Snozzi prefer watching movies together with friends in their dorms or with their families in their homes so they can talk about the film during or after.

This helps their relationships grow and provides an opportunity to hang out and have fun.

However sophomore Owen McCullum disagrees on this matter. He finds it easier to socialize with others in a traditional movie theater setting and says that sites like Netflix give us an excuse to avoid people.

Communications professor, Dr. Ed Arke, says that this new medium has “changed the environment in which we consume media, particularly films because films that are displayed in theaters provide a social experience. People typically go with a group of others for the experience, but Netflix has a more individual setting.”

So does Netflix cause more isolation from the world and our friends, or is it a tool to socialize with friends and family? Junior Rachel Peters believes that it all depends on how you use it. Peters has certain television shows she will only watch with friends; that’s something she enjoys doing together. However she believes that if that’s the only thing you do, it is

Arke believes that sites such as Netflix have done more to isolate us as individuals. “A lot of Netflix appeal is about individual choice and convenience. It means that I can watch what I want to watch when I want to.”

Can this type of technology even negatively affect our romantic relationships? In our society, the term “Netflix and chill” has swept across the globe as a term used for couples who wish to engage in sexual activity while Netflix plays in the background.

Peters thinks this term is simply putting a name on a concept that has existed for a while. Instead of making out at the movies, couples are merely taking it a step further while a film plays in the background.

This concept, however, can have negative effects on relationships if the majority of the relationship is superficial. Have we moved away from talking about our relationships and feelings face-to-face, and now use methods such as Netflix to replace that closeness?

Today, we need to take a serious look at how we use Netflix. Many of us can use Netflix to watch a film with friends, laugh, and have a good time, or we can use it as an excuse to ignore each other. If we wish to continue watching Netflix, we need to realize that binge watching that favorite show cannot replace the wonderful adventures of life going on around you.

Number of Netflix streaming subscribers in the United States from 3rd quarter 2011 to 3rd quarter 2015 (in millions)

Boggess says, “We are more okay with watching movies by ourselves today. We will watch a movie on Netflix when we are not doing anything because it’s ‘free.’

With Netflix and other streaming sites, we’re much more likely to watch films or TV shows by ourselves. In the blockbuster days, we used to choose a film to watch as a group or family. We wanted to share the movie experience and talk about it with friends.”

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WORN FEET AND TATTERED SPIRITS: The Syrian Refugee Crisis

By Myriam Pedercini

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If it’s true, you have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to understand their pain, to know the desperation and anguish belonging to millions of Syrians, add several hundred miles more over land and sea.

Since the beginning of November, this Syrian Crisis is named ‘The Worst Humanitarian Crisis in the World Today,” according to World Vision. Over 12 million people are affected. That’s more than the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami combined. The Wall Street Journal calls it the “worst human catastrophe of the 21st century.”

Every day there seems to be a new video playing on the news; sorrow filled faces numbly wandering over a border lined by police or military personnel, little boats washing ashore Greece filled with desperate people who’s motivation for such a treacherous journey is hope. Hope for a better life, hope for some sort of stability, hope for survival.

The influx of refugees is largely due to the Syrian Civil War that has entered into its fifth year. Terrorist groups such as ISIS and the country’s instability are contributing factors. Many people flee not for their sake, but also for the future of their children. They are at risk of falling behind in school, becoming ill or malnourished, or they may face abuse and other exploitations.

Esther Miller, a senior Peace and Conflict Studies major, is currently studying abroad in Croatia. She has seen thousands of strangers’ faces, weary from their journey, pass before her, faces she’ll never see again.

The initial shock is the sheer numbers of refugees. “We stood there and watched thousands of people walk by us. Carrying everything they owned, police yelling, all these footsteps and people being quiet.

Carrying everything that they possibly can, and you’re left wondering what to do about it,” Miller reflects.

Photo provided by Wikipedia

Although the enormous numbers are intimidating, it should not be an excuse to disengage in a vital time of need. “There are these language barriers, but it starts with making connections with people of different cultures to understand their context. Unless you focus on the individual, you’re not going to understand the broad picture,” continues Miller.

She describes her and some of her classmates’ visit to a refugee camp. Miller witnessed her classmates’ interaction with a three-month-old baby who was laughing and playing along. The child’s parents understood their infant’s laughter and at that moment they found rest.

“Bring a little bit of peace. The idea of basic Christian principles of connecting with ‘the least of these’ and just loving them as Jesus does, sitting, and just being. Try to create a little bit of peace,” Miller says.

This human wave crashing into European borders are not just from Syria. Neighboring countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa are experiencing a mass exodus due to their fragility. Previously prevented from entering, other migrants see this as an opportunity to cross over.

“A lot of them are also coming from Turkey; they’ve already been resettled. They decided to go to Europe for the benefits; a lot of them are social welfare states.

Many, already relocated, are now looking to better their circumstances. There are people coming from all over the Middle East and North Africa,” explains Michael Scinto, a junior Politics major.

With the multitudes of people crossing over European borders, there is a toll on the countries hosting refugee camps.

“They’re overwhelming the infrastructure. These countries can’t handle this many jobless migrants, what are they going to do with them? No country can support that many people living off the system. I know that sounds harsh because they’re people, but it’s true. They’re people, we need to take care of them, but there’s still a drain on the economy, taxing to the people who live there, actually work there,” continues Scinto.

Not all citizens of these European countries have welcomed the refugees across their borders with open arms. “It’s hard to say what a lot of local people are thinking because of the language barrier. The volunteers and NGOs have been supportive in providing the needs of these people,” says Miller. “The only occurrence

I’ve heard involving an issue of intolerance would be the army and the police.

It depends on what soldier or officer is working.”

With something this overwhelming on our global hands, the question “What do we do?” is in a frantic search for a response. So far the United States has been timid in getting involved.

“I think taking in refugees is a short-term fix, it’s very hard to integrate them into society. The answer would be to fix the Middle East, stop the problem at its start.

I know that’s easier said than done but the only way to stop this crisis is to make their homes inhabitable again, make it so that they feel they are safe,” says Scinto.

Junior Jared Armistead, a Biblical and Religious Studies major who lived in Pakistan as an MK and witnessed similar concerns there, shares his opinion on how the United States should become involved.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the U.S. to kind of increase their international credibility. I feel if we’re going to be inclusive of Syrian refugees, inviting them and providing opportunities for them, it can both provide us with people for the workforce and benefit the United States’ international credibility if we’re going to be hospitable,” Armistead says.

As students here at Messiah, there are opportunities to become involved and spread our love to people who have been displaced.

“There are always opportunities for international awareness, but our Christian responsibility moves past awareness to actual action. Good awareness should inspire action. It would be really good if Messiah would seek out people in this area, either connected with Syria, from Syria, connections that are happening,” says Armistead.

Miller, who is working alongside Samaritan’s Purse filling care backpacks, full of hygiene care, feminine care, and basic needs, encourages people to donate to like organizations. Her recommendations are Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) and European Center for the Study of War and Peace (www.

ECSWP.org) who help fund cohorts working with refugees and migrants.

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happen.”

but it’s a daily process it doesn’t just

DEC 2015

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: The story behind the women’s basketball team mantra

By Willie Hope The Messiah women’s basketball team has held a reputation as a perennially successful program ever since Head Coach Mike Miller took over thirty years ago. Since Miller’s arrival, the team has been prominent in the MAC conference. There is more to the team’s on-the-court success than strong skills and technique. A large portion of the Falcons’ success comes as a result of the team’s off-the-court bonds, as well as their dedication to Miller’s philosophy.

offense and defense. In a Nov. 9 interview on Falcon Update Live, Miller talked about how he tries to keep Christ at the center of the team. Rather than just coaching his players, Miller gets to know their families and has team bonding nights to get to know his players.

Another value Miller stresses to his players is a commitment, not just on the court but in everything they do in life. “If you’re committed to certain things, then everything can happen for you,” Miller says, “but it’s a daily process— it doesn’t just happen.”

This season, the Falcons are returning all players with the exception of two graduates and seven new freshmen. They look to build on last year’s performance in which they went 13-13 and had a winning conference record (9-7), which was enough to lift them to the conference playoffs. Miller’s philosophy, as well as the players’ several slogans for the season, should take the team to new heights.

The culture that Miller has tried to implement revolves around the team’s different mantras. The first mantra relates to the movie Woodlawn. In the movie, the entire football team, segregated by race, gives their lives to Christ. The team decides there is only one way to show Christ in competition, and that is competing as hard as they can for each other. Their transformation affects the entire community around them.

An extremely successful head coach with 552 career wins and two NCAA national championship appearances, Miller implements more than just an

From Woodlawn, the team took the saying “one way” as their mentality this year. Just as the football team competed their hardest for each other and

illustration by Noah Sneddon

PRESS ON

then everything can happen for you,

“If you’re committed to certain things,

SPORTS & REC

Christ, the women’s basketball team does the same “We do this by going as hard as we can on the court and leaving our best out there,” junior Gillian Glackin says.

In addition to these verses, the team also uses the saying “press on,” which comes from Philippians 3:13-15: “Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus. Let us, then, who are ‘perfectly mature’ adopt this attitude. And if you have a different attitude, this too God will reveal to you.”

The team recites and reflects on these verses in the locker room before games. “It’s a big part of our

”

culture, and it ties in with our ‘one way’ mentality as well in going all out for Christ and for our teammates,” says Glackin.

Miller and the team would like to build on the already strong culture within the program. Slogans such as “press on” and “one way” help keep the team on the right track. Their dedication to living out these standards will help this year’s team, and the program as a whole succeed beyond what Miller or any of the players can see.

“We do this by going as hard as we can on the

“It’s something we say before we leave the locker room. It reminds us that we’re better working together than as individuals,” says Glackin, a First Team All-Conference player during the 2014-15 season.

court and leaving our best out there.”

Another part of the mantra for the women’s team is the Bible verses Romans 12:4-5. These verses state, “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.”

part of our culture, and it ties in with our ‘one way’ mentality as well in going all out for Christ and for our teammates

ONE WAY

“It’s a big

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SPORTS & REC

Taking Fun to the Next Level

By Ashlyn Miller

The schedules of Paul Smith and Ryan Fitzgerald are filled with tournaments, training, races, and practice time, but their names can’t be found on any Messiah athletic roster. Their sport of choice? For Fitzgerald, it’s Spikeball, a unique game that combines principles of handball and volleyball. Smith pursues paddleboarding, a water sport that’s currently in a period of intense public interest and growth. The Swinging Bridge Magazine talked to both students to discover how they pursue their passion.

Unusual Game, Once-in-a-lifetime Experiences Fitzgerald, a senior Business Administration major, says he’s always been into “odd and new, creative games.” A former high school soccer player, he discovered the game via social media and began to play with his teammates after practice.

Almost immediately, he was hooked. “I looked it up on YouTube, and after hours of looking at video, I immediately bought a set and I was addicted from there on.”

Soon, he decided to take his interest in the sport to the next level. Fitzgerald and one of his high school friends, Tyler Cisek, formed a team, which they soon dubbed, “The Rookies.”As natives of New York, The Rookies entered a tournament on Coney Island in June of 2013.

Despite it being their first competitive appearance, Fitzgerald and Cisek made it to the quarterfinals where the played California-based Chico Spikeball, the long-standing number one team and “royalty” of competitive Spikeball.

After getting involved and experiencing success so quickly, Fitzgerald became an ambassador for Spikeball, a system that the company promotes among college students to spread knowledge of the sport on their respective campuses. In his role, Fitzgerald can purchase Spikeball sets at a discounted price and sell them to interested customers.

“I had sets with me when I came to Messiah as a freshman (in 2013), and within two months, ten people had bought a set,” says Fitzgerald. Since then, Fitzgerald has taken Spikeball at Messiah a step further by developing a Facebook group, Messiah College Spikeball, that can play weekly games or facilitate pick-up matches. The group has grown enough that it sent three Messiah teams to a Lancaster tournament in October.

Some of The Rookies’ most recent appearances include a second place finish at the East Coast Regionals in September and a fifth-place berth at Nationals in Nashville the weekend of Oct. 17th. In the past, tournaments have taken The Rookies as far as Chicago, New Hampshire, and the first Nationals tournament held last year in Santa Monica, CA where The Rookies grabbed second place. Fitzgerald even went to a tournament directly after he touched ground in the United States after a semester of studying abroad in Thailand. “I will always say that the best cure for jet lag is Spikeball,” says Fitzgerald.

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Like any serious competitive sport, Spikeball has developed a governing body, USA Spikeball. They organize the major tournaments and recently have done more to promote the sport. “They have started a program where the top eight teams in the country are given sponsored gear to encourage teams to get better and to gain public recognition of the best players,” says Fitzgerald.

One of Fitzgerald’s favorite aspects of competitive Spikeball is the community he develops at the tournaments. He and Cisek have made friends from all over the country and have discovered how dedicated the Spikeball community is to the sport.

As proof, Fitzgerald cites a story of how he was visiting family in Florida and was curious to see if there were Spikeballers in the area. He put a message out on a Facebook group and was surprised when he got an enthusiastic response. “This (group of) guys were willing to drive three hours to play pickup…that just shows you the dedication. People take this like a primary sport,” says Fitzgerald.

No matter how far The Rookies go competitively, Fitzgerald says he will always maintain his love for the game. With a major in business, he hopes to potentially secure an internship with Spikeball or maybe develop his own original game.

“I love the challenge of mental strategy. The physical deception you use to score is pure fun to me.”

Putting a Hobby to Work- Stand Up Paddle Boarding Smith, on the other hand, takes his sport from dry land out onto the water. He started surfing his freshman year of high school and decided soon after to try something new with paddle boarding.

As a sophomore Adventure Education major, he has come in contact with many resources that have helped him pursue his sport. While the bulk of his paddling is done in the summer when he is away from Messiah, he spent some time in the late summer and early fall working with the inflatable paddle boards at The Loft.

“The (inflatable boards) can be blown up pretty rigid, to the point you almost can’t notice the difference,” says Smith.

The sophomore has explored the breeches and other local paddling areas to work on some whitewater paddling—a new area of the sport that Smith hopes to help pioneer.

Over the summer, Smith was trying to break into racing, something that can be difficult for a college student since “the industry of race paddling is extremely expensive.” Luckily, Smith, was training with a business run by professionally sponsored paddle boarders that allowed him to paddle for free.

On the day of his race, however, Smith was taken to Annapolis Sailing School in Annapolis, MD, where he was offered an employment opportunity, which led to him delaying his plans to race until next summer. “(The sailing school) had ten paddle boards, and they basically gave me their credit card and said, ‘Can you start a business?’” Smith says.

“It got me fully immersed in the industry, and it was also a start-up experience.”

Smith helped start a rental service through the school, and took customers out on the Chesapeake Bay. With paddle boarding growing in popularity among the public and tourists—it is considered the fastest-growing sport in the past two years—it has been a great opportunity for Smith.

“I think people like it because it’s surprisingly easy to learn, and it’s a good workout and balance trainer. It’s versatile, and people love the purity of being out on the water—I’ve even seen some people fish while they’re on a board,” says Smith.

After his experience teaching others this summer, Smith has confirmed his passion for water sports and hopes to keep it as part of his goals for the future.

“I aim to start my own outdoor experience ministry, and I think paddle boarding could definitely be a part of that.”

Beating the Winter Workout Blues

By Ashlyn Miller As the temperatures drop, Messiah students might notice their motivation to work out dropping as well. Take heart—here are some easy ways to make a cold weather workout work for you!

1. Set big goals to work towards for the spring.

Goals are a part of fitness any time of the year, but in the winter, sometimes they are what get you started— and keep you going! Many spring races and competitions start posting dates now, so do a quick internet search and see if there’s one in the area that interests you. You’ll be surprised how quickly the chilly weather fades away as you draw closer to your event.

2. Switch up your routine, and embrace something new!

If you prefer to do your workouts outside, it might get difficult to push yourself to run in an environment that seems like an icy tundra. Take this time to focus on a different area of your well-being, or improve on something that you struggle with. Another positive: many winter activities are super active and fun! Take some time to go ice skating with friends at Twin Ponds in Mechanicsburg or hit the slopes at nearby Roundtop Resort in Lewisberry.

3. Stay focused and relaxed.

Winter is also a great time to focus on practicing stress management and meditation, especially with the busyness that the holidays can bring! There are many apps and online videos which can walk you through a brief routine to get you in the right frame of mind to make the most of your day, even if the weather isn’t the most energizing.

4. Take advantage of resources on campus.

Most students are aware of the obvious fitness resources on campus: the gym, the pool, and the fitness center—but it doesn’t end there. Messiah has hosted a variety of student wellness workshops this semester, including topics such as sleep, stress, and portion size.

A number of the sessions are available on demand—just visit the Engle Center page on messiah.edu, and click on the “Messiah Wellness Workshop Videos” link under the Wellness tab.

Keeping a winter workout routine may not be easy, but take confidence in the fact that you are putting a priority on wellness. Consider a quote from notable Messiah alumni (and namesake of one of our buildings), educator Ernest Boyer: “Wellness must be a prerequisite to all else. Students cannot be intellectually proficient if they are physically and psychologically unwell.”

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SPORTS & REC

JUST KEEP SWIMMING: A Day in the Life of a Messiah Swimmer

By Aimee Stehman Tuesday, November 10 (Midseason) 5:45 a.m. – Alarm goes off, throw on sweats and sneakers, grab a granola bar.

6:00 a.m. – 80s rock playlist blasting at the pool (thanks to Nate Brown and Malcolm McDermond), head to the weight room.

6:45 a.m. – Land workout. I only enjoy these Jack Knives because they remind me of Coach Dylan Holford.

7:30 a.m. – While everyone is rushing to their 8 a.m., I’ll go bike for the last half hour.

8:00 a.m. – Go back to bed until chapel.

9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Chapel, class, lunch, class, rush to practice.

4:00 p.m. – Team devo. I hope Big Luke relates swimming & Jesus to Finding Nemo again.

4:15 p.m. – Split into lanes.

6:00 p.m. – 6,000 yards later we’re done.

6:30 p.m. – Eat dinner at Lottie, then homework.

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A bystander can probably recognize them by spotting their well-loved parkas during the cold months on campus. Or maybe other Messiah students never spot them at all because by the time the rest of the campus is awake and ready for the day at 8 a.m., these chlorine addicts have already had a fix of water and sweat.

And while the schedule above is only one day of a Messiah swimmer’s daily schedule, the craziness doesn’t end with Tuesday. For the swim team, the week has only just begun.

For captain Gaby Brubaker, her schedule hasn’t changed much over the course of 10 years. To say the sport of swimming takes up a lot of time is an understatement.

Anyone who is currently a competitive swimmer or a retired one would probably go as far as to say that swimming is a lifestyle, not just an after-school hobby.

It is not just the commitment to working hard and doing your best—but committing to walking beside your team, even if that means waking up at 5:30 a.m. to make a 6 a.m. practice.

Every practice is as much an individual effort as it is a team effort. It involves pushing one another to work hard and to make progress because at the end of the day the goal is not just to win each meet, but to beat yourself. “I love the team aspect that swimming has. Despite being a very individual sport, there is a very strong sense of team and working together,” says Brubaker.

Not all of swimming is business—there are many events that take place to help with team bonding and make the season fun.

In October, the team organizes a Halloween scavenger hunt where everyone dons a costume. The team also participates in “Falcon Formal,” which is held the weekend after MAC Championships. Everyone dresses up in their Sunday best and goes to dinner together.

As far as volunteer work goes, the swimmers don’t fall short and have helped in past years with an organization called Project Share where they spend a Saturday apple picking or husking corn for a local food bank. The swim team is also in charge of organizing and running the swimming portion of Special Olympics as well.

The schedule of a swimmer here at Messiah comes with its unique challenges.

Every day is different, and no two practices are ever the same. “We normally have practice from 4 to 6 p.m., but there are some days where we have 6 a.m. practices or two practices in one day,” says Brubaker. Certain meet days even require a mini-practice before the meet begins.

The sport of swimming does more than have required practice times; it demands to be sacrificed for—one day that might be a missed day of rest on a Saturday, or another day prioritizing homework over a social activity. “One of the biggest challenges is managing time between practice and school while also trying to make time for friends,” says Brubaker.

Every practice and every race are a step closer to achieving another MAC title for the team. However, the team also realizes that the MAC title is not just a reward for hard work, but a reward for glorifying God in the process.

“We have been working really hard to stay focused and keep working hard in the pool. We also work hard to remember that God has gifted us all in incredible ways, and we strive to glorify Him not only in the pool but also with our lives,” says Brubaker.

Even though the swimmers are already two months into the season, it’s a long road to MAC Championships in February. For now, the swimmers will keep doing what they do best and just keep swimming.

WELCOME TO PRIMETIME: HOSTETTER PRODUCTION STUDIO DEBUTS NEW SHOW

By Lillian Kashishian

A

s the end of the fall semester and ever-so-lovely finals time approach, it can be difficult to keep up with the news— or even to stay true to your Falcon fandom by coming to athletic events. Sometimes a cup of coffee and a brief thirty-minute break from studying can help you refocus.

This break is the perfect opportunity to tune into Messiah’s new live, student-produced show: Falcon Update.

success of the fall Messiah athletic teams, the Falcon Update shows produced during the fall semester will center around Messiah athletics.

Falcon Update, which airs on channel 77 at 7 p.m., is the first show of its kind at Messiah. There were several trial shows produced last spring and in the opening weeks of the current fall semester, but the Nov. 9 edition of the show was the first that aired live.

The show includes highlights and recaps of previous matches and conducts live interviews with notable members of Messiah athletics. Recent guests include Steve King, Messiah’s Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Compliance, and various coaches and student-athletes.

The show is filmed in the production studio located in the basement of Hostetter Chapel, which was finished in the fall 2014 semester. The show is transmitted to a media server located in the communications room connected to the studio.

“From that point, equipment connects to the server via fiber optics from Hostetter to the cable headend in the basement of Fry, and from Fry the show goes on to cable and is aired live on televisions campus-wide,” explains Associate Profesor in Journalism, Dr. Ed Arke, who oversees the production of Falcon Update.

The idea for Falcon Update came from a collaboration of students enrolled in the student media lab practicum and EJ Inscho, the Department of Communication Studio Engineer. Falcon Update is primarily student-run, with students editing and filming highlights as well as producing and directing the show. “Letting students run the Falcon Update gives students real-world experience,” says Inscho.

“It’s a little difficult to do current news stories because of the time factor and due to the fact that stories are constantly changing. Sports matches are more set in stone,” says Inscho.

Messiah students and employees can watch Falcon Update on any television located on campus that is connected to the campus cable. Live shows will air for approximately thirty minutes at 7 p.m. on channel 77.

The show will also run in repeats for a short span after the original showing. Additionally, Falcon Update will be made available “On-demand” via a link to a media server on campus. Although there are no formal social media accounts for Falcon Update as of yet, the Messiah Pulse Twitter and Facebook accounts will provide followers with additional information on the show.

Mark your calendars! The last fall semester Falcon Update show is set to air live on December 7th. Starting in the spring semester, Falcon Update will look to air weekly shows on Thursday nights.

Be sure to “like” “The Pulse: Messiah College Media Hub” on Facebook and follow @MessiahPulse on Twitter to make sure you do not miss any Falcon Updates!

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Student Athlete Feature

Gehman Finds Renewal in Routine

By Brooke Pompeo

Carissa Gehman, a sophomore midfielder for Messiah

field hockey, prefers game days at Messiah to go in a routine manner. Pump-up emails sent out by the sophomore class the night before, pre-game songs with the team, silent walks from the bridge to the field, and grabbing a win to seal the day.

Originally, Gehman chose soccer as her main focus until seventh grade, when she decided to try field hockey.

“I wanted a sport to have to play in the fall to keep me in shape for soccer,” says Gehman. “I just looked at a list of sports that were in the fall and was like, ‘I’ll try this.’”

Gehman’s love for field hockey started to bloom almost immediately.

“There has never been a day that Carissa has dreaded going to a practice, or a time that she hasn’t been motivated to win that next game,” says first-year forward Kaylor Rosenberry. Gehman developed a close relationship with Rosenberry after playing together at their high school, Lancaster Mennonite.

“Knowing that I would get to play along side Carissa again was a major positive when considering Messiah as my future school,” says Rosenberry. As a student-athlete, Gehman finds balancing field hockey practices with labs for her major to be the hardest part of her daily routine. She decided to pursue an Applied Health Science major based on an experience with an injury she received while sledding in fifth grade. Gehman plans to go on towards a position in occupational therapy.

“I broke my kneecap when I was 11, so I had a lot of physical therapy,” says Gehman. “I also like psychology, and occupational therapy is kind of a mix of both.”

While Rosenberry was still a senior at Lancaster Mennonite, Gehman was collecting a list of achievements including 26 goals and 54 points last season as a freshman at Messiah. Her point total was the highest for a Messiah freshman since 2001. Along with her outstanding numbers, Gehman was named NFCHA/ Longstreth Third-Team All-America, NFCHA/Longstreth First Team All-Region, First Team All-Region, First Team AllCommonwealth, and Commonwealth Rookie of the Year.

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“I definitely feel a lot more confident this year, but I also have a lot more pressure,” says Gehman. “Teams are marking me a lot more, but that has me trusting my teammates to get the job done because I’m obviously not the only one that can score.”

It’s Gehman’s reliance and trust in her teammates that sets her apart from others.

“Carissa is such a dynamic player. She has speed, great stick skills, and the ability to finish which makes her very dangerous,” says Coach Brooke Good. “Many other players in our conference are great individual players, but Carissa has a knack for finding others, which makes our team even more effective.”

Her teammates can rely on Gehman to make the outstanding goals she is known for, but also know she sets up the best opportunities for the team as a whole.

“Everyone knows how powerful, intimidating, and strong she is on the field, but I see her as the type of player that would go all out to make a diving pass to set someone else up to get a goal,” says Rosenberry. “She has a way of making everyone else feel like they are the best player on the team, and that all comes from her humility on the field.”

Gehman’s humility is shown through her positivity towards the team’s growth and their future together.

“We have gotten closer and are used to playing with each other, so we were able to get a lot better from last year,” says Gehman. “We have a strong freshman class that came in, and a lot of them are contributors this year.”

Once she leaves the covered bridge, her eyes go to Anderson. All that is heard is the sound of turf shoes on the pavement. Her hair is the same: a sectioned ponytail and a headband.

She’s focused.

It’s game time.

Although Gehman is only a sophomore, her leadership on the team has blossomed during this year’s field hockey season.

With support from her coach and teammates, Gehman is ready for her next challenge.

“Carissa very naturally leads by example. Her on-field performance sets the standard for what is expected from our players,” says Good. “It’s been great to see how this year’s group of freshman have responded to her leadership in this way.”

“She has always been a wonderful role model for me to look up to, and I am blessed to be able to continue being her teammate and friend here at Messiah,” says Rosenberry.

“I always say field hockey is something I find my confidence in,” says Gehman.

It’s Gehman’s reliance and trust in her teammates that sets her apart from others.

Although Gehman is only a sophomore, her leadership on the team has blossomed during this year’s field hockey season.

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