The Shield | Fall 2012 | Volume 13 Issue 2

HOLIDAY 2012 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2

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HLC, GEO & Hanukkah Election Recap What’s New on Facebook?

Big Bright Light Show & Something More Than Christmas Holiday Gift Guide Where is Christ in Christmas Music?

Funny Christmas Stories Living, Loving, Serving “Sawat dee ka” From Thailand Allyson at the Library & End of the World Rachel Mainero’s Senior Farewell Who’s the Hottest President?

Dress Up & NAMMT Best and Worst of 2012 Morsels True Warrior: Ka’imana Ka’aikala Men’s Basketball & Men’s Soccer Recap Homecoming Seussical & Comic Strip Semester Recap

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from theshield!

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meetus. www.rcshield.com

Holiday 2012 • Volume 13 • Issue 2

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF ROCHESTER COLLEGE

Cash Mon-ay!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kayce McClure

DESIGN MANAGER

Nick Simonis

NEWS EDITOR

Kaylee Anderson

FEATURES EDITOR

Chelsea Hackel

OPINIONS EDITOR

Holly Hemmings

SPORTS EDITOR

Brooke Watts

ACTIVITIES EDITOR

Rachel Grant

PHOTO EDITOR

Eric Vanlerberghe

COPY EDITOR

Rebekah Haigh

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR Victoria LaFramboise WRITERS

Lindsay Baslock, Sarah Roper, Shannon Snyder, Katie Martelle, Natalie Redmond, Mackenzie Rellinger

DESIGNERS

Beth Hagerman, Don Williams

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brittany Burke, Jessica Chrisholm, Phil Perry, Kristen Rudd

ONLINE EDITORS BROADCAST PRODUCERS

Andrew Warnke Porschia Williams Katie Martelle Dan Lujan Rebekah Haigh

ADVISER BROADCAST ADVISER Lora Hutson Darren McCullough DESIGN ADVISER ONLINE ADVISER Liz Fulton Carol Cooper

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Kayce’s Holiday Favorites MUSIC

“Marshmallow World”

by Dean Martin

FILM “Elf”

Editor’s Note My dog, Claude, hated Christmas. He wasn’t a Grinch nor did he bark at the sound of holiday cheer; he was simply afraid.

My sister and mom found Claude on the side of the road after a night of storms. He was just a pup and after looking at his sad puppy eyes, my dad had no choice but to let him stay with us. Unfortunately, those storms gave him a very intense fear of flashing lights. Christmas is a time for taking photographs of everything, thus the flashing of the camera scared him straight.

Therefore, I had to force Pumpkin, the cat pictured above, into taking photos with me.

Christmas is also a time for getting together with family and friends in small spaces. It is amazing how many people can fit into a living room to open gifts. Claude was claustrophobic

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(pardon the possible pun), so he would hide away in a bedroom until our guests were gone.

One of the best parts of Christmas is opening presents. I am not afraid to admit that. It is fun to rip apart, or for some, nicely fold the wrapping paper, open a box and get a new sweater. But not for Claude. The sounds of wrapping paper being ripped and boxes being tossed aside, mixed with excited, loud voices startled Claude enough into, once again, retreating into an empty bedroom.

He was a silly dog, but a good one. This will be my family’s first Christmas without Claude running away from the festivities. He passed away in May after 18 years of good life. I’ll miss checking the bedrooms to see if he is OK. Although it won’t be the same, I still love Christmas. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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TALK TO US

We want to hear what concerns you, tickles you or ticks you off about theshield!

Email us at theshield@rc.edu with your comments and suggestions.

BOOK

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

CAT “Elf and Santa Cat”

Study In Europe With GEO

by Shannon Snyder

by Katie Martelle

Are you getting tired of the same scene here are Rochester College? Do you have a desire to travel and share God with others? Do you still have general education courses to fulfill?

If so, RC has the perfect adventure for you!

Every fall semester, the college offers a semester abroad in Europe as part of the Global Educational Opportunities program. Steven Turner, sophomore, spent this semester in Vienna and said, “I highly recommend the trip to students here. I made a ton of new friends along the way.”

He was unable to pick a favorite part of the experience, but he said that when he traveled through Rome, he really enjoyed seeing all the history around him. Throughout the trip, he visited more than 13 countries in Europe.

Dr. Keith Huey, director of the GEO program and associate professor of religion, had a few important facts that are important for those interested in GEO. Students can raise all of the money required, but only $3,500 is allowed to be raised under the title of missions work.

Those who donate for the missions aspect can use what they donated as a tax write-off.

There are also scholarships available through online sources. Therefore, do not let money hold you back from experiencing this trip! It is not too late to sign up. The GEO Vienna trip is still looking for students for next year. If you are interested, email Huey at khuey@rc.edu.

RC Looks To Renew Accreditation

PAGE DESIGNED BY: KAYCE McCLURE

by Brooke Watts

In 2002, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved Rochester College for a 10-year term of accreditation. On March 11–13, 2013, the HLC will be sending a team to Rochester College to assess the college’s eligibility for accreditation.

Dr. John Barton, provost, said, “Every reputable college and university in the country desires regional accreditation. For RC, HLC accreditation ensures standards of quality and credentialing, as well as the transferability of credit.”

The HLC accreditation is extremely important to RC; employees have been preparing for the March visit for over a year. The college has sent

in an application and is working on putting together a comprehensive report of a “selfstudy,” an assessment of the college’s activities and operations, to be reviewed by the HLC. The work going into this report has been extensive; there are six different committees working on different parts of the Self-Study Report, one for each major office on campus and one to oversee the entire process and make sure the final report is ready for submission.

This report will be due to the HLC in January in preparation for the visit in March. Barton said the college is confident in its accreditation application, and, once the HLC team visits in March, the college will hopefully be granted another 10-year term of regional accreditation.

While many families around the world are picking out their Christmas trees and decking their halls in December, there’s another holiday being celebrated: Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the second dedication of the Temple. It’s observed on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which is Dec. 8-16 this year.

Hanukkah originally started after the reign of Antiochus IV. Antiochus conquered Jerusalem and insisted the Jews give up their way of life and worship the Greek god Zeus. He sacked the temple, destroying precious, holy artifacts and sacrificing pigs to other gods.

A Jewish priest named Mattathias and his son Judah led a revolt against the Greeks. This band of rebel Jews (called the Maccabees) refused to stop worshiping God and escaped to the hills.

They began a war against the most powerful army in the world and miraculously defeated Antiochus’ army, reclaiming the temple in 164 B.C. They began to purify the desecrated temple but discovered they only had enough oil to burn for one day. Incredibly, the oil burned for eight days, which is how long it took them to re-purify more oil.

Hanukkah is a holiday about letting your light shine. As Jesus said, we shouldn’t put our lights under a basket but let them shine so people can see them.

The holiday commemorates God’s faithfulness and protection. In fact Jesus went into Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday according to John 10, so it’s pretty cool to be celebrating a centuries-old holiday our Savior observed.

To remember the miracle of the oil, fried foods are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah, especially doughnuts called sufganiyot and potato pancakes called latkes. Everyone exchanges presents, and a game is played with a spinning top, or dreidel, to win chocolate coins. The rest of the holiday is a weeklong party, usually filled with family and friends from out of town.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my latkes are burning!

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revised tax measures are all issues affected by the defeated proposals.

This election has left Republicans wondering what went wrong, and Democrats flying high with triumph. The media is examining every possible reason for Mitt Romney’s defeat and Obama’s win, but Americans just want to move on and re-build this nation. We face a struggling economy, foreign hostility and deep division within our country. Repairing this mess and building bridges between the parties will not be easy, and as Christians we need to pray for the leaders of our country. Whether we agree with their policies and values or not, we need to pray that God will give our leaders wisdom and courage to do the right thing, whatever that may be.

By the time the next presidential election rolls around, most of us will have graduated. Hopefully, we will have jobs and maybe we’ll have families of our own. Just as we made choices on Election Day 2012, we will have to make those choices again. We must make them wisely.

PAGES DESIGNED BY: NICK SIMONIS

After months of campaign ads and bitter censure from both sides of the political spectrum, Election Day has come and gone. America has chosen who Staff Writer will lead it for the next four years, as President Barack Obama has been re-elected for a second term. He will make decisions that will impact this nation for generations to come. Now we turn to the future, many of us with bitter disappointment and many of us with bright hope.

In Michigan, Obama carried the state with 54 percent of the popular vote, although it was surprisingly close for a state that has been solidly Democratic for decades. Overall, Obama garnered 303 Electoral College votes, and Romney received 206, with approximately 47.9 percent of the national popular vote, while Obama obtained about 50.5 percent.

Democrat Debbie Stabenow retained her Senate seat representing Michigan, and all six of the proposals on Michigan’s ballot were defeated. Collective bargaining, a new Canadian-American bridge and

SARAH ROPER

I’m a saint :)

Allyson Huey Found out the other day that I have the same personality type as Mother Theresa...which basically means

Adam Hill Just drove away with a sackful of bad decisions from TBell.

15 hours ago · Comment · Like

10 hours ago · Comment · Like

Natalie Redmond I live in fear of our toilet.

Wednesday at 10:35 via mobile · Comment · Like

Elliott Kern

18 hours ago · Comment · You Like This

Katelyn Brackney

things I’d rather do than be in

While playing Barbies with

an alligator blindfolded. Race

Sophie: “Lava-Girl and Elasti-Girl.”

this class right now: Wrestle

a cheetah. Swim with sharks. Kickbox with a

kangaroo. Spend an evening with the family of Honey Boo Boo.

Wednesday · Comment · Like PLEASE NOTE

Kelcie Martin I feel that everyone who participates in RC theatre deserves a better theatre because of how beautifully talented they all are.

Seussical is wonderful :)

Me: “What are their names?”

Me: “Those are some interesting names.”

Sophie: “Don’t thank me, thank God.”

October 3 via mobile · Comment · Like

Compiled by Kayce McClure. The Shield prints Facebook statuses as they appear when posted. To see yourself in the ”What’s New on Facebook?” recap next issue, become a fan of The Shield Online. rcshield.com |

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WANTED:

Something More This Christmas Have you ever thought about how often you say the words “I want”?

They’re two very Features Editor small words, but they pack a powerful punch. Just thinking about those two words has changed my perspective about Christmas, in particular.

I’ve been compiling a certain list since the end of summer. This list holds important items; I’ve written them down and thought about them in the context of “I wonder if I’ll receive this” or “maybe someone will get me that.” The list contains things such as clothing, accessories, a CD or two, maybe a book or a new cell phone…I could go on, or you could add your own items. We’ve all made a “Christmas List” at least once in our lives: a list of things that are important to us. It’s natural, isn’t it?

Sure, it’s natural…in the comfortable, well-fed, warm and satisfied lives most of us live. Who wouldn’t be planning a list of clothes or accessories they want to receive?

What about the homeless woman on the corner who doesn’t even have a closet, much less items to put in it?

What about the man who hasn’t had work in months and his family is barely scraping up enough money for something to eat? I’m pretty sure no one in that household is worried about getting that new CD. What about children in third world countries who often go without the things we take for granted?

Have you considered the fact that you are privileged to be able to go to school at Rochester College, or that the phone you’ve been sending and receiving texts with all day is not something to which you’re entitled?

There’s more to life than lists of wanted items, and I’m intending to rewrite my list.

Maybe it’ll say something like “salvation for a dear relative,” “comfort for a hurting friend” or “a job for the man down the street.” These are the things that really matter in life, and that’s where I “want” my focus to be this Christmas.

Lighten up your dreary cold weekends with the Big Bright

KAYLEE ANDERSON News Editor

Light Show in downtown Rochester this winter!

The Big Bright Light Show began on Nov. 26 and will shine brightly until Jan. 6, 2013. More than 1.5 million lights will be lit every night at 6 p.m. until midnight.

The strings of lights are placed vertically and hang 4 inches apart on every building, creating a blanket of different

colors and a truly unique seasonal event you must experience.

The Big Bright Light Show was created in order to boost Rochester’s economy and make it a holiday destination. The light show was launched in 2006 with only 500,000 LED lights covering a four-block stretch of Main Street. While only 30,000 visitors showed up the first night, word traveled rapidly as over one million people visited the light show throughout the next month.

The next year the Big Bright Light Show doubled in size when one million lights were strung over an eight-block stretch and even down some side streets.

The light crew began stringing the lights on the buildings mid-October with the goal of having all the lights strung by Thanksgiving. Downtown Rochester will be glowing beginning at the South Bridge extending all the way to Romeo Road. You can also experience a large, lit Christmas tree on Water Street, which

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also includes a light show.

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PAGES DESIGNED BY: VICTORIA LaFRAMBOISE

CHELSEA HACKEL

• South Street Skate Shop • Jos. A. Bank • Bass Pro Shops

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WHERE IS

CHRIST in CHRISTMAS MUSIC? 10

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You might know that Christmas is Dec. 25, but did you know the Christmas music season started on Nov. 1? Maybe some of you are horrified at that newsflash. I hope the rest of you are cheering, because I’m of the opinion that it’s fantastically exciting.

Now consider this: Have you ever thought about the music you are listening to when you sing along with the top 100 Christmas songs? Lately I’ve been formulating a strong opinion about Christmas music. Aside from the fact that you should start listening to it weeks before Thanksgiving, I think the type of Christmas music we listen to is also important.

What is the real meaning of the Christmas celebration? Though Christ’s actual birthday is unknown, the celebration still centers on the miracle of His life, and it means so much more than just singing “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” Personally, I love “Jingle Bells”, but I think the fact that these types of songs are so prevalent says something crucially important about the direction our culture is headed.

Maybe it started with “Happy Holidays” or the “Take Christ out of Christmas” movement. Maybe they’re all interconnected somehow. Whatever the cause-and-effect cycle is, there’s a serious deterioration of the meaning of Christmas in America. The slogan may seem overused to you, but Jesus really is the reason for the season, and we can’t forget that.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying there is anything wrong with holiday songs. However, maybe we could all use the reminder from the great classic “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.”

“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is really about?”

“Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is about: ‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field…Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’ ”

CHELSEA HACKEL Features Editor

Me and my family got a new snowmobile for Christmas and decided to take it out for an afternoon joy ride. All was going well until we drove it into a trench, got soaking wet in the cold and were stuck there.

— Hannah Schmidt

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CO M P I L E D B Y S H A N N O N S N Y D E R

of cooking the turkey for the 50 people in my family for Christmas dinner.

Unfortunately, she burnt it. family ended

CHRISTMAS

STORIES

was in charge

up having pizza for our lovely Holiday meal.

-CHRISTINA

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WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD, MY GRANDFATHER WAS FILMING MY BROTHER AND ME OPENING PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. MY GRANDFATHER STARTED FILMING ONLY MY BROTHER AND I GOT JEALOUS. I BEGAN TO DANCE AROUND IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA TO REGAIN ATTENTION, BUT WHEN IT WAS NOT ENOUGH, I DECIDED TO MOON THE CAMERA. OUR CHRISTMAS WAS A LOT MORE THAN IT WAS CRACKED UP TO BE! —AN RC STUDENT WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS

SORNIG

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funny

My grandmother

That year our

My nieces got two new puppies as presents one year. As we were praying for the meal, one of the puppies pooped on the floor. We smelled something nasty, but were unsure of what it was or where it was coming from. When my dad got up to carve the turkey, he stepped in the dog poop.— NIKI McKERRACHER

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I was on my way to my girlfriend’s house for Christmas, but when I got to Avon Road, I could not continue because there were turkeys blocking it.

When I got to my girlfriend’s house, I had to explain to her parents that I was late due to the excessive amount of wild turkeys blocking the road. —DREW STANCZAK

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“

I don’t like Taylor Swift nor does anyone in my family. One year everyone thought it would be funny to get me a huge Taylor Swift poster for Christmas. Now the poster has become a type of white elephant gift that gets passed around my family each Christmas. — KAYLEE HIGLE

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We all know that Jesus teaches us to love one another. We know that we should go into the world like He went into Staff Writer the world. Two particular ministries in the Detroit

and Pontiac areas have taken this teaching to heart: They literally found an area in need and moved in.

The Micah 6 Community consists of a group of people who moved to Pontiac in August 2012 to learn, serve and grow spiritually with the residents in that area. According to the director of Micah 6, Cole Yoakum, they saw a need in Pontiac and decided to buy a house in order to “live side-by-side with the folks we are serving day in and day out.” Instead of following the models of traditional church planters, Cole and his housemates have taken an innovative approach to finding out the needs of the Pontiac community.

“We really spend a lot of time hanging out, meeting kids, sitting on porches with old

MACKENZIE RELLINGER

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people and chumming it up with drug dealers,” Cole said.

By developing relationships, direct insight has been given into what these people really need. Some identified needs include childcare, low-cost professional clothing to wear to job interviews and cheap transportation. When the lack of access to fresh produce was identified, members of Micah 6 purchased vacant lots and planted community gardens so that local residents in Pontiac will now be able to receive free fruits and vegetables.

Similar to Micah 6 is the work being done in Detroit with Hope House, a ministry developed three years ago by Gary and Becky Gentry that focuses on the needs of children in the community. The Gentrys have been willing to address whatever needs may arise with the sole mission of loving their neighbors as themselves. Hope House offers a variety of after-school programs, including their middle school “Girls Club,” which is held on Tuesdays and seeks to share life and Jesus

RC Students at Micah 6 Garden Beds at Micah 6

with young girls. They also provide “Story Time” on Thursdays with one-on-one reading to elementary school children. Story Time seeks to address Detroit’s literacy rate, which is one of the lowest in the nation.

As the holidays approach, the need for volunteers always increases. By looking at the Micah 6 Community Facebook page or website, www.micah6community.com, students can access a list of upcoming opportunities and find out ways to get involved. Also, visit Hope House’s website, www.eotr-international.org, for the Gentry’s email addresses.

As Christians, one of the most important tasks we have been given is helping others. As a Christian giving her life to service, Becky Gentry knows firsthand the impacts of being in the world.

“Once you’ve been exposed to missional living, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s all about Jesus. If you have a desire to know and to seek Him, one place you’ll find Him is in mission work.”

PAGES DESIGNED BY: CHELSEA HACKEL & KAYCE McCLURE

LIVING LOVING SERVING

Hope House, Detroit

What would you do if you discovered you were sharing a kayak with a giant tarantula or unknowingly eating blood soup for dinner? How would you react if you were able to pet a baby elephant?

If you had the opportunity, would you eat fried crickets? For Leneigh Brackney, a Rochester College alumnus, these are only a few of the crazy situations she’s experienced as she serves for a year in Thailand. Her official duties at the Chiang Rai International School include assisting with a second grade class, teaching music and tutoring ESL. “It is challenging but SO rewarding!” Leneigh said of her tutoring position. “Children learn SO quickly! If I could learn Thai as fast as they learn English I would be doing well!”

Though her time in Thailand has been marked thus far by some amazing growing experiences, and though she has always loved the idea of traveling internationally, Asia never made Leneigh’s top 10 list. Now that she is actually there, Leneigh finds it funny that God often takes the last place we would think of and places us there to serve Him. “God sparked my desire to do missions…

Seriously, this kind of thing is SO not of me! I am more of the “home-body” type. … I have always had a heart for service but…I had no idea ‘service’ would be a crazy adventure to Asia!”

In addition to the work Leneigh does at Chiang Rai, which helps provide education for missionary children as well as Thai, Korean and Akha (an Asian hill-tribe) children, she also recently began working at a home for girls who were rescued from prostitution or abusive homes. House of Refuge currently houses at-risk girls ages 5-20 and provides them with a safe place and education. Leneigh is excited to spend more time with the 60 girls she works with. “They are such a joy,” she said.

God has also used Leneigh’s time in Thailand to teach her lessons about living in the present, finding joy in Him alone and surrendering all control to God. Some mornings she wakes up defeated, homesick and exhausted, but, according to Leneigh, God is the only true source of joy and fulfillment. “…Blessings from worldly things… are NEVER going to fully satisfy. But seeking joy and blessings from the Lord will ALWAYS satisfy.

Each day is new! There is joy in the morning! I pray for joy each night and God consistently supplies it. Even when all odds are against me!

HE is SO much bigger than ‘the odds’!”

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CHELSEA HACKEL Features Editor

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Allyson at the Library

Good romances are hard to come by. Forget about compatible personalities, shared interests and mutual respect ... it’s difficult Staff Writer to even locate a potential mate.

Luckily, for the desperate— um—goal-oriented single ladies out there, junior Allyson Huey has the perfect forum for meeting attractive men: The Pontiac Public Library.

Allyson, who spent two years working as a library page, has many stories about the dashing bachelors she encountered there, including a 65-year-old man.

“He asked me to go out to dinner, and I said, ‘No, I can eat that at home.’ ” The next day, elderly Prince Charming found her again. He asked what Allyson had eaten at home for dinner. At that point, Allyson went to the librarian and placed the library equivalent of a restraining order on him, thus ending their short-lived but torrid affair.

Another incident occurred while she was, quite fittingly, shelving romance novels. This man approached Allyson and gave her a full body scan (because nothing says ‘I appreciate women’s intellect and personality’ like a lecherous assessment of her physical features).

He asked if she was an employee, because he apparently missed the nametag affixed to her shirt.

“I was really angry and just said, ‘Yes.’ ” He then asked her age.

“I said I was 17, and then he asked me when my birthday was. I just replied, ‘Soon-ish,’ ” she said.

Two months later, the man returned.

“He told me, ‘You’re like my sister. But prettier.’

Then he asked if I had a boyfriend. When I said I did, he swore and walked away,” Allyson said.

Attempted pedophilia notwithstanding, it was considerate of him to respect the bounds of Allyson’s pre-existing obligation.

Forget online dating. As Allyson can attest, the most sophisticated men can be found at the Pontiac Public Library.

NATALIE REDMOND

Photo by Kirsten Rudd

| theshield | HOLIDAY 2012

DOOMSDAY

BUST

PAGES DESIGNED BY: BETH HAGERMAN

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calendar on this exact day.

The ancient Mayan civilization is known for their early knowledge and discovery of mathematical and scientific principles. The most well-known of the ancient Mayans’ discoveries is the development of an accurate, complex calendar based on numbers and the rotation of the earth around the sun.

Based off of this complicated system, the calendar “ends” on the date Dec. 21, 2012. What most people don’t realize is that the Mayans’ calendar does not predict the end of the world, but rather the start of a new cycle, much like a “New Year’s Day.” So for those of you who were hoping to accomplish everything on your bucket list before the end of the world, it is my great pleasure to assure you that odds are you will have longer than one month to accomplish all of your life dreams.

OR

Backpack? Check! Matches?

Check!

Water purifying HOLLY tablets? Check! Flashlight?

HEMMINGS Check! Sleeping bag, knife and waterproof containers?

Staff Writer Check, check, check! These are just a few items listed on one of the many survival guides that can be found on the Internet in order to survive the end of the world. But is the world really going to end on Dec. 21, 2012?

Christian radio host Harold Camping predicted the end of the world in both May and October of 2011. Seeing that most of us are still living and the world is still orbiting around the sun, Camping’s predictions were concluded false. However, shortly after the incorrect claims

by Camping, widespread talk about the end of the world in December of 2012 began to circulate due to the ending of an ancient Mayan

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see what’s popular, or post a comment. we’d love to hear from you!

RACHEL MAINERO Activities Editor

MY RC JOURNEY

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| theshield | HOLIDAY 2012

PAGE DESIGNED BY: RACHEL MAINERO

R

ewind to April 2008. “Rachel, where are you going to college? I’ve received offers from three schools, but I haven’t decided where I want to go yet,” Jillian asked.

“I’m going to Rochester College.”

“Oh, that’s not too far,” she replied.

“Well, it’s located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, not Rochester, New York.”

“Jeepers Creepers! Why would you ever want to go so far from home?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face.

“I think this is where I’ve been called to go.”

Fast forward to freshman year. I traveled across the country to play volleyball, learning what it meant to be a true Warrior. Then I turned into a kitty when I pledged Sigma Phi Delta Nu. After that, I met a curly haired, green-eyed boy and quickly fell in love. I transformed into Paula Abdul in the spring for our clubs’ Celebration skit. And that summer I journeyed to Colorado, where I climbed cliffs, arches and mountains and rafted down the Colorado river — all to study earth science. With each new experience, came a better understanding of myself, and I grew in love.

Now onto sophomore year. Alma and I became really close as I took care of her second-floor girls. Additionally, I helped lead the student body as the vice president of public relations. I also worked as the activities editor for The Shield.

In October, in the mud, wind and rain, I became ‘homeless’ as I camped out on the intramural field to raise awareness for those less fortunate. And throughout the fall, every third Sunday of the month, I traveled down to Detroit to fellowship with those in need at Cass Park. At the same time, I cooked meals at the church on Wednesday nights with my fellow Student Government officers. I fed off of any opportunity I could grab a hold of, and I grew in faith.

Next came junior year: the year of traveling. With the campus minister and dean of students, I traveled to Arkansas for the World Missions Workshop, where I chased armadillos, put out a forest fire and met my best friend. In the spring, I ventured down to Oklahoma, where I was submerged in a Native American Reservation, studying cross-culture education. In the summer, I journeyed to Africa, where I lived and worked with orphans from the Rwanda genocide and a street boy’s ministry. Talk about life changing. With each new trip, I grew in understanding.

Lastly, senior year. Alma and I finally parted ways as I resided in Ferndale for my final year as an RA. I became a queen and president within the first few months of school. During the spring semester, I reflected on my life journey through my senior writing project. Oh, remember that boy I mentioned freshman year?

I married him! And so my journey continued. I found myself as a commuter and a student-teacher at a local middle school. I grew to find my passion for education, and the spark to teach was reignited within me.

Fast forward to December 2012. My journey here has ended, but I’ve found my wings. What started out as a calling to leave my family and life behind in 2008 turned out to lead to the greatest adventures of my life. And for that, Rochester College, I thank you.

Who Is Indeed The President?

CLASS OF 2012

PAGE DESIGNED BY: NICK SIMONIS

XO #1 John F. Kennedy

#2 Ronald Reagan

#3 Abraham Lincoln

#4 Franklin Pierce

#5 Barack Obama

#6 George Washington

#7 James K. Polk

#8 John Adams

#9 William H. Taft

#10 Ulysses S. Grant

This is the top 10 list of the most dashingly handsome gents in our country’s presidential history, appointed by the students and staff of Rochester College. Thank you for your vote, as every one counts.

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As soon as November rolls around, Christmas SARAH displays make their ROPER appearance.

Santa Clauses in all shapes Staff Writer and sizes, Christmas trees, wrapping paper and colorful lights dominate every store.

Nothing annoys me more than the commercialization of Christmas. Even for those who focus on the birth of Christ as the “reason for the season,” finding the perfect gifts, the right decorations and supplies for the holiday meal, are still high on the to-do list. So why is the celebration of the birth of Christ dominated by buying and selling?

I think the problem is more than just greedy consumers begging for the latest and greatest to be under the tree on Christmas morning. Businesses take advantage of the gift-hunting consumers, spinning on the cycle of greed. But what are people looking for when they purchase yet another Santa for their mantles? The symbols of commercialized Christmas don’t mean that much by themselves. Reindeer, stockings and the Christmas tree only mean something when they are surrounded by memories.

Christmas is not about what you can buy to represent it. It is not about receiving gifts, and it shouldn’t always be about gift giving either. We say Christmas is about gifts because God gave the world the greatest gift possible: his Son. That’s true, but do we say that to make ourselves feel better about gifts in general? Gift giving in itself can be dangerous when we become wrapped up in the act, rather than what it means.

The most important part of Christmas is people. No Christmas memory is complete without recognizing the people who are a part of the memory. The more the trappings of Christmas take over, the less important the people become. Even Christians can become so focused on hitting the sales or picking up that last gift that people fall through the cracks. However, all that truly matters is serving others, spending time with family and making lasting memories. The greatest gift we can give is the gift of our presence.

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LET’S PLAY DRESS UP College is a stage where students are understudies for their future careers, yet college should be about Copy Editor more than earning a degree.

It should involve a shift in our focus, our mindset. Dressing professionally, or at least with care, in a college environment is an important part of being geared toward academics and future careers.

I can hear the protests right now. “I dress for comfort!” or “Jeans and a T-shirt are my personal style!” President Rubel Shelly agrees that diversity in style is an expression of personalities and culture. However, he qualified: “When I was a college student I thought that the way I dressed affected the way I functioned as a student. Sloppy tends to be a style that extends beyond clothing and hair that hasn’t been washed in two or three days, to just the way you approach life; and I think books with titles like ‘Dress For Success’ tapped into something about the psychology of the way people dress. It not only reflects something of who you are, it shapes something of the expectations you have of yourself.”

Shelly observed that sloppy dress often seems to correlate to sloppy academic performance. Our attention to detail, organization and structure, often carries over to the way we approach academic work.

For most students, if ‘sloppy’ extends to clothing, it also extends beyond that to their car, room and approach to academics. “It’s not dress to intelligence. It’s dress to culture,” said Shelly.

“I think dressing well shows you’re taking life

REBEKAH HAIGH

Yes, sloppiness may be comfortable, but it is also the hallmark of a culture that celebrates this moment and ‘me-ness.’ seriously, to your peers and your professors,” said William Hindle, current Hillsdale College student.

Cara Goch, current student at Macomb Community College, said, “I appreciate a more professional dress code because it makes me feel better about myself, my fellow students and the entire college. To me, it signifies that you care about your appearance, the impression that you make on others and giving your school a good reputation. It shows that if you take the extra time to dress well, you will also take the extra time to do well in your studies.”

Personally, I like jeans and a sweatshirt; yet, over the last few semesters I have re-evaluated my mindset. College is an opportunity many only dream about. Yes, sloppiness may be comfortable, but it is also the hallmark of a culture that celebrates this moment and “meness.”

Shelly had an interesting proposition for a possible campus-wide experiment. Some students could wear their shabbiest, sloppiest clothing for a semester and see if it affects their academic performance and mindset. Others could do the opposite, making a conscious effort to dress with care. This might mean dressing professionally or simply spending a few extra minutes in front of the mirror each morning.

I am not asking for a campus crusade for ties.

Instead, I am encouraging fellow RC students to think about how the way we dress might be tied to how we approach academics and life beyond the campus.

We should show our appreciation for our education and commitment to our future by dressing the part. Let’s start playing dress up.

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Nothing Annoys Me More Than

The BEST and WORST of 2012 Snow White is EVERYWHERE

Cabrera wins Triple Crown & MVP

I was introduced to Mayor Stubbs, the Alaskan mayor who just happens to be a cat.

True story.

Once Upon a Time, Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror…sure she’s a little over played, but I like fairytales.

Miguel became the first player to win baseball’s Triple Crown since 1967. And oh yeah, let’s not forget he’s also MVP.

Twilight comes to a close

Mumford & Sons

Obama wins re-election

2012 Summer Olympics

BEST

Mayor Stubbs

Kayce McClure Editor-in-Chief

USA brings home 104 Olympic medals as everyone becomes a sports fan for a few weeks.

BEST

WORST

NFL Replacement Refs

My apologies to Twilight fans, but trust me, this is a good thing.

Tigers lose in World Series

Unless you voted for Romney, then it’s the worst.

After the infamous week 3 intertouchdownception, the replacement refs were sent back to the Lingerie League where they could call as many intertouchdownceptions as they want.

NHL Lockout

The New Worst Song Ever is Released

All we want is to watch the Wings win.

The video for Nicole Westbrook’s “It’s Thanksgiving” is one lol after another.

WORST

Whitney Houston passes away

“Babel” debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 selling over 600,000 copies in just the first week restoring hope in America’s taste in music.

Nooooo! I will always love you, Whitney.

Let’s not talk about it.

Gangnam Style

Katrina’s little sister ravages the East Coast.

Upon first hearing this, I gave a long “Psy” and shook my head in disappointment.

Romney lost the Election

Christopher Nolan’s Batman comes to a close

WORST

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Hurricane Sandy

Unless you voted for Obama, then it’s the best.

Great ending to a great trilogy, but it is sad to see it go. rcshield.com |

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M orsels

FLICKS

little nuggets of entertainment goodness

A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic.

watch the trailer check out imdb.com for more movie info

Man of Steel

An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world.

PAG E S Blue Like Jazz

by Donald Miller

In this intimate, soulsearching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

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The Lone Ranger

Native American spirit warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.

OZ: The Great and Powerful

How the Wizard arrived in Oz and became the ruler. A prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Kite Runner The Giver

by Khaled Hosseini

After Amir´s father’s death, he receives a letter from his father´s most trusted business partner, which makes Amir return to Afghanistan in search of the truth about himself and his family, and finally, a sort of redemption

by Lois Lowry

It may be time to revisit this classic novel. When Jonas turns 12, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life.

JAMS

LISTEN Passion Pit “Take a Walk”

Paper Route “You and I”

Of Monsters and Men Of Monsters and Men is a indie folk rock band from Iceland that you oughtta know about.

The band’s debut album My Head Is an Animal (2011), peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 album chart making them the first Icelandic band to do so.

Solange “Losing You” Of Monsters and Men “Little Talks”

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Above the Golden State “Words Don’t Act”

A Fine Frenzy “Now Is the Start”

The Head and the Heart “Rivers and Roads”

Have film, book or music suggestions? Send us a recommendation at theshield@rc.edu

Rebecca Ferguson “Backtrack”

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TRUE WARRIOR

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Photos by Kayce McClure

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Why did you choose RC? I was recruited by RC for women’s basketball.

My original plan was to attend Michigan State University and room with my older sister, but I didn’t want to pass up the chance to play the sport I love at the collegiate level, if the opportunity presented itself. So I signed with RC’s basketball team a week before classes were scheduled to begin.

Where are you from originally? from?

Contrary to popular belief, I am not originally from Hawaii. I am a small town girl from Stanton, MI where the closest shopping mall is an hour away.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

My greatest inspiration hands down is my dad. He grew up in Hawaii and came to the mainland when he was a young adult to make money to send back to his family still living in Hawaii, overcoming adversity. He also coached the AAU team I played on for several years.

He’s taught me so much about the game, and every now and then you will catch me looking at him in the stands during a game for any quick advice he may have.

Tell us a crazy story.

When I was 15, I was due for my tetanus shot.

If you don’t know me very well, I’m not big on needles… I despise them, actually. I remember sitting there with my sister because she had to get hers too. It turned out not to be as bad as I thought it would be, and after the nurse was finished, I got up to stand next to my mom. The next few seconds were a blur, and the next thing I knew, I woke up on the floor. I had gotten my body so worked up from thinking about the shot that I fainted! The plus side to this ordeal is that I got a popsicle out of it. Yup, I’m a kid!

What does a day in the life of Ka’imana Ka’aikala look like?

I usually press the snooze button several times before I drag myself out of bed, get dressed and eat breakfast. Then, I jam out to the radio on the way to work (in the IT department at RC), where I work with RC’s wonderful and up-todate technology. Next, I have classes. At 5 p.m. I have basketball practice, and afterwards, I’ll stop at Lifetime Fitness if I have time. Then, I drive home, shower, eat dinner, finish up any homework assignments and go to bed. The exciting life of a student athlete.

What are your career aspirations?

Right now, I am eyeing a career in television or film, not onscreen, but more behind-the-scenes.

Once I start doing the hands-on program at Specs Howard, I will be able to narrow down my options to the ideal job for me after graduation.

When and why did you start playing basketball?

I started playing basketball when I was 10 years old. When I was younger, I would wake up at 5:30 a.m. three days a week and go with my dad as he played pick up games at our local school.

And ever since then, I have loved the game of basketball.

FAVORITES

MOVIE Coach Carter BAND Coldplay PLACE SHE’S VISITED Without a doubt, Hawaii! I have only been there once, and it is honestly the closest place to paradise. It is beautiful, relaxing and the people there are so laid back. I also have family living there that I rarely get to see.

Get the

Facts

1

2 3 4 5

I am probably the slowest eater you will ever meet… seriously. By the time you are done eating a Subway footlong, I am halfway through the first half of the sub.

The NBA player I admire the most is Steve Nash.

I took five years of dance when I was in grade school.

You should see my moves.

I grew up in a full house with 3 brothers and 4 sisters… and all of our names start with the letter K. I have never had braces.

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MEN’S SOCCER HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION The men’s soccer team finished its fall season with a 8-7-2 record in the USCAA, upset quite a few top teams and left LINDSAY them just short of making it to nationals.

BASLOCK While many critics picked the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, a Division II team, to outscore the Warriors, Staff Writer our Warriors managed to prove them wrong. Tying the Cardinals 1-1, Rochester ended up playing one of their best games of the season.

“I thought our team had great chemistry. It’s what makes us gel as a team and outplay some pretty good teams,’’ said freshman goalkeeper Ryan St. John.

In a more individual effort, St. John was named the fourth top goalkeeper in the nation for the USCAA. The rankings are based upon the save percentage, amount of saves, goals against and the goals against average. “Being ranked that high really motivates me to improve even more and become an AllAmerican next year,” he said.

As for the future, making it to nationals is in the team’s sight for next season.

A team like this with so much talent and potential has all the necessities of a championship team. Playing teams like Madonna University, Purdue University or Calumet and Concordia University (all of which are NAIA Division II schools) has ultimately made them better and play more as a team.

The spring season is quickly approaching, but it will be designed to condition the technical side of the team. They will begin again in January and do more agility work and small-sided games as well as enter in a few tournaments to keep their competitive edge.

When the Warriors return to the field, they will continue to strengthen the bond among the team. This will be essential as they work toward nationals and the successful fall season they’re hoping for next year.

Seniors Dramell Hogan, Sean Mattia, Brad Norman and Drew Maynard have put a great amount into the program; and as one Sports Editor of the tallest basketball teams Rochester College has ever had, coach Klint Pleasant has high hopes for his team.

BROOKE WATTS

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Like always, Pleasant’s goals for the team are to realize this team’s full potential, to win as many games as possible and to win a national championship. During preseason, the Warriors prepare with an intense lifting and conditioning program and try to improve individual skill work. Eventually, they prepare with full team practices.

The more important goals in Pleasant’s mind, however, have nothing to do with winning. “Things like our attitude, effort and mental approach to the game are what matters,” said Pleasant.

He feels that as long as these things — the things the team can control — are going well, it is an indication of a successful season.

The coach would like to see the Warriors play together as a team and consistently

improve as the year goes on. Hard work and heart goes a long way in Pleasant’s mind, and he believes that with these things, wins will come naturally.

The Warriors have to train for these things as well. For team building, the team goes on a retreat before the season. “The things that happened on the retreat are very special and really set the tone for the season,” said Pleasant.

Along with this, the team does many other things to help build and strengthen the team.

As for this season so far, the Warriors have had a good start. RC’s men’s basketball team starts their season earlier than many schools to get a good idea of where they are at and where they need to go. Out of their first seven games, the Warriors won six of them, only losing to Division I school Kent State University.

Against Kent State, the Warriors were ahead by seven points with only three minutes left in the game but were outscored in the last minute of the game. When you measure Kent State’s resources, our team “should not even be within 40 points of them,” said Pleasant; our team, however, played very strong to keep up with and almost defeat Kent State. This game alone shows the potential of the Warriors and was a great start to the season.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL OFF TO Men’s Basketball Off To Strong StartA STRONG START

Student Government Invites You to

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Wi nt er Banq ue t 2012 december 8 • 8 p.m. • rc theatre tickets are $10 individually or $15 per couple

Available in the Business Office Nov. 12-Dec. 7

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by Katie Martelle Over a period of two weekends in November, Rochester College’s theatre program produced seven performances of “Seussical the Musical,” described as a “fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza.” Directed by Gregory Wiklanski, the musical featured favorite Dr. Seuss characters, such as Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz and Lazy Mayzie. The show took audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGircus to the invisible world of the Whos. A lot of time, effort and talent went into the play and, as always, Rochester’s Theatre program did a spectacular job.

A Day in the Life of a RC Student

What you want to be doing...

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What you’re really doing...

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Illustration by Holly Hemmings

SEMESTER RECAP what life looks like at rochester college