Update of the Week page 3
New locked door policy put in place for residence halls
The Southern Accent
Pressing Issue page 2
Southern loses DHSI grant amid national shift
The Student Voice Since 1926
Inside the Vault: Southern's collection of historical documents
Maddie Schmidt Contributor
In the basement of McKee Library, tucked away from the view of most visitors, worn books and faded paper line the shelves, preserving works from the late 18th to early 20th centuries
Commonly referred to as “The Vault,” the area is more accurately an archive spread across a few rooms that holds many important historical documents, posters, books, postcards and other written materials from Southern’s history. Bethany Howard, public services librarian at McKee Library, explained that one of the goals of the Vault is to preserve the historical books and documents that are relevant to the history of Southern and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These documents include archived issues of the Southern Accent, Columns and Legacy publications with the latest document going back to 1902. Much of the collection in the Vault
focuses on the 19th century, during the period when the Adventist church came to be. There are many historical documents and books from the early Adventist church that give context to its emergence in relation to society and other historical events occurring at the time, such as the Civil War.
“It’s important to remember our past, whether it was good or bad, so that we don’t repeat our mistakes in the future,” said Howard.
Howard shared that one of her favorite items from the Vault is a check signed by Abraham Lincoln, which is displayed alongside other memorabilia related to Lincoln in an exhibit on the main floor of the library.
Several exhibits in various parts of the library showcase items from the archives. Some are on permanent display, while others are rotated in and out regularly.
Many of the items are accessible on
“We now are the most documented era, but in the future, we could be the least documented era ever.” - Steven Cottrell
Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. September 18, 2025 (Photo by Christian Bass)
Inside the many shelves of the McKee Library Vault. September 18, 2025. (Photo by Christian Bass)
Books inside the Vault. September 18, 2025 (Photo by Christian Bass)
Southern loses DHSI grant amid national shift
Hayden Kobza Editor-in-Chief
Southern Adventist University lost its $3 million Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution (DHSI) grant, following a Sept. 10 decision by the U.S. Department of Education to end discretionary funding for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs.
The federal government’s decision to end the grant— the largest in the university’s history—comes after months of debate over programs that allocate funds based on ethnicity.
In July, the U.S. Solicitor General argued that programs like DHSI “violate the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause” and stated the Department of Justice would not defend the grant in court. Following his determination, the Department of Education announced it would halt more than $350 million in MSI discretionary funding beginning in 2025.
“Discrimination based upon race or ethnicity has no place in the United States,” said U.S. Education Secretary
The Vault continued from page 1 the third floor of the library in the Center for the Study of 19th Century America. These resources are useful for students conducting research, especially history majors who use the center to research their individual projects.
Aly Lopez, senior history major, said that all senior history majors were recently given a tour of the Vault by Howard, who encouraged them to use the vault resources for their capstone projects.
“Having these materials provides a direct link to the past, Adventist and otherwise, for students, faculty, and the university itself,” Lopes stated.
“There's an extremely old, massive Bible in there [and a newspaper] from the Civil War written on flower wallpaper due to the lack of regular paper,” stated Lopes in an email to the Accent. “There's some fascinating stuff, even for those who are just curious.”
According to Howard, these historical documents and items are acquired in one of two ways. Sometimes, university donors will bring in collections that they would like to be added to the Vault. Other times, the library will purchase items from well-established organizations to add to the collection.
Many collections that are
Linda McMahon. “To further our commitment to ending discrimination in all forms across federally supported programs, the Department will no longer award Minority-Serving Institution grants that discriminate by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas.”
Southern was the only university in Tennessee to qualify for the DHSI grant, having met the requirement that at least 25% of its student body be Hispanic. According to a previous Accent article, 28% of
the student body is Hispanic for the 2025-2026 school year.
The university first received the grant in 2023, which was intended to strengthen academic programs and expand resources for underserved populations, according to the same article.
Departmental updates Departments across campus had begun plans supported by DHSI funds. Due to the loss of funding, projects may be delayed or cancelled.
Brent Hamstra, chair of the Chemistry Department, stated
stored in the archives have also been digitized, so students and researchers have easier access to them. According to Howard, the library is working to digitize more of their collection to keep their fragile items in the best condition possible. Items that are not accessible on Southern’s website, however, are still available to be used for research purposes. Those who are interested can fill out an online form to request access to these items.
According to Stan Cottrell, technical services librarian for McKee Library, it is important to have access to these materials and to prioritize growing the physical collection that makes up the vault. Cottrell said that in a world where technology is evolving at a rapid pace, it is easy to lose these historical items. He believes that if societies rely on technology to preserve history, it could all be lost eventually.
“We now are the most documented era,” said Cottrell, “but in the future, we could be the least documented era ever.”
Lopes stated that not only is it crucial to keep track of these historical documents, but it is also important to recognize the value of them. Having these resources at disposal gives the opportunity for students to connect with the history of Southern and Adventism as a whole.
“Having these materials provides a direct link to the past, Adventist and otherwise, for students, faculty, and the university itself,” Lopes stated. “It is necessary to understand our roots before moving forward successfully, and our archives hold pieces of those roots right here on campus.”
The Accent encourages readers to write articles and voice their opinions. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Accent, the Southern Adventist University or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
For any questions, comments and article submission information, email the editor at haydenjkobza@southern.edu.
For all advertising inquiries, email alvajohnson@southern.edu.
See Loss of DHSI Grant on page 4
Latin American Heritage Night at Southern Adventist University. (Photo courtesy of Memories).
Chloe Smith News Editor
Allison Grundy Copy Editor
Zenaida Dove by John James Audubon, oil painting print. (Photo by Christian Bass).
Students reflect on Mountain Cottages living
Jaeda Goode Contributor
Nearly a year has passed since Southern students officially moved into the Mountain Cottages, a new system of small houses on campus. Students have reflected on their experience living in the cottages so far, with some expressing concerns.
According to a previous Accent article, the Mountain Cottages were built to accommodate the rapidly growing student population. The structures each house four students and include a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms and a bathroom. In the previous article, Dennis
Negrón, vice president for Student Development, explained that the university was in need of a quick housing solution.
“These cottages can be built quicker and thus meet our deadline of having extra housing for students at the beginning of next academic year,”
Negrón stated.
The main concern voiced by students residing in the cottages is regarding parking.
Bryanna Lopez, a junior nursing major and resident assistant for the cottages, expressed her opinions on the parking arrangements.
“I feel like it’d be nice if they could’ve given us a little bit more parking space,” she said,
“but I understand that it’s kind of hard depending on the location because it is uphill.”
Lopez also pointed out that certain parking spots are not paved and can cause damage to students' cars.
“If we could just have normal pavement [that is] flat, instead of that bump, that would be nice,” she said.
Zen Gonzaga, a junior psychology major and cottage resident voiced similar sentiments on the parking.
“Parking is a real big issue over there,” he said.
Gonzaga spoke about the difficulties in finding a parking spot during the afternoon and evenings.
“[You] definitely won’t find a spot,” he said.
In a past Accent article, Marty Hamilton, former associate vice president for Financial Administration, explained that there is not enough parking for all residents to park near their unit, encouraging students to walk or bike to class.
“So, the idea is we will either have parking available for them by Campus Safety, or if you go over by WSMC and Brock Hall, we’ve got expanded parking,” Hamilton said.
Though parking was the main complaint, students also described the fresh feeling of living in the new cottages.
Ruth Contreras, senior fine arts major, spoke about her experience living in the cottages, comparing it to her previous experiences living in Thatcher Hall and Village Proper.
“When you room with people you like, you don’t mind how small the space is,” she said. Contreras appreciated the new condition of the cottages in comparison to the Village Proper apartments, claiming that the apartments need extra care due to their longevity on campus. She also shared her frustra-
tion of the cottages’ distance from the rest of campus.
“If I don’t have a ride, it is annoying,” Contreras said, “because we’re so on the corner away from everything.”
Along with the completion of the Mountain Cottages, there has also been the addition of mailboxes for residents, which are not available, yet, for use.
“For the most part, any form of envelope letters would be sent there,” said Lopez, adding that the system would be up and running for students to use in October.
Despite some complaints, students praised the cottages for their sense of community.
“It’s definitely more fun, and it feels much more like the college experience when you’re inviting people over,” Gonzaga said.
Regardless of frustrations, the freedom and community the cottages provide outweigh the downsides for some students, according to Gonzaga.
“Honestly,” said Gonzaga, “it does feel more like a home than a really small cottage.” The Accent reached out to Student Development for a response to student complaints but received no response.
New locked door policy put in place for residence halls
Ken Kelly Contributor
On Sept. 9, Lisa Hall, dean of students and director of Residence Life, issued a new policy regarding residence hall doors, with the goal of making Southern’s campus safer.
Residents of Talge and Thatcher Hall received an email detailing the changes.
“All exterior doors and hallway doors in the residence halls, including the main front doors, will remain locked at all times,” Hall stated in the email.
The decision was made by Administration, Campus Safety and Student Development, following a safety assessment
conducted several months ago, according to university officials.
“A safety consultant was brought in to evaluate our campus for areas we might want to address to enhance campus security, and locking our residence halls was one of the recommendations,” Hall stated.
She said the decision to move forward with the new policy was not the result of any specific incident on campus.
“We have been discussing this possibility for a very long time,” she stated. “Most of our sister schools have had their doors locked for the residence halls for years with students having to use their ID cards to enter.” When asked about the
possible impact the change may have on first responders responding to calls at the residence halls, Shawn Haas, associate director of Campus Safety, said there are plans in place for that possibility.
“There are no issues with first responders gaining access to the building,” said Haas. “Each building is equipped with [a] KnoxBox that they have access to; in addition, we also have the ability to issue them emergency access cards during an emergency.”
Following the news of the lock policy, students residing in the dorms have expressed mixed opinions.
Isabella Lagos, a sophomore
journalism major and Thatcher Hall resident, thinks the new policy causes inconvenience to students.
"As someone who’s had problems with their key card, I didn't quite like it,” she said.
“I had trouble accessing the building in certain areas... and sometimes there weren't people around me to help open the doors.”
Nathan Profir, a freshman strategic communications major and Talge Hall resident, felt the policy was a necessary addition.
“I definitely do think, for extra security, it is safer to have the front doors of the dorms locked at all times,” said Profir.
According to Haas, Southern received two reports of trespassing in 2024. As of Sept. 24, no trespass reports have been made for the year 2025.
As the school year continues, Haas urged the Southern community to take precautions to be proactive about crime on campus.
“Report suspicious activity of something that seems out of place,” he said, “keep vehicles locked and belongings secured and out of sight, lock items when using lockers at the Hulsey Wellness Center and do not leave valuables lying around.”
Newly Built Southern Cottages, Sep 29, 2025 (Photo by Katie McConnell)
Workers building the new student housing, the Southern Mountain Cottages. Sep 3, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Zhao)
Loss of DHSI Grant
continued from page 2
in an email to the Accent that his department planned to utilize some of the funds this school year.
“The university has authorized us to spend up to $120,000 from the remaining DHSI grant budget for the current year to purchase a benchtop NMR spectrometer, for which we are very grateful,” he stated. “We believe we've found an instrument that will significantly improve our ability to provide handson experience to our Organic Chemistry students and help our undergraduate research program.”
The Chemistry Department will not receive $275,000 of the grant planned for the department, which was intended to be used for lab equipment and an outreach program for local high school students to promote stem education.
“With the strength of our department in preparing students for careers in science and medical fields, we have a lot to offer the Chattanooga region, and the loss of this grant will make it more difficult for us to serve our community,” Hamstra stated.
According to Southern Adventist University President Ken Shaw, the university is not dependent on the grant money.
“The overall operations of the institution are not jeopardized when the grant funds end,” Shaw stated in an email to the Accent. “In our case, the promised funds that we were to receive over five years were cut short, so the impact is that we now cannot accomplish all that the grant desired us to do.”
DHSI employees at Southern
According to Robert Young, senior vice president for Academic Administration in an
email to the Accent, the loss of the DHSI grant also affects two Southern employees: Kimberly Crider, DHSI project manager, and Maryoum Sandoval, DHSI Retention & Resilience coordinator, both of whom have been working fulltime on the grant.
Crider is working with the grant oversight committee to develop recommendations for how the university can continue grant goals that will benefit all students, according to Marketing and University Relations Editorial Manager Becky Brooks.
“Both DHSI employees, including Kimberly Crider, will be employed at the university through the end of December 2025,” Stated Robert Young, senior vice president for Academic Administration.
According to Brooks, South-
ern has recently been awarded the TRIO Student Support Services grant, which the university applied for over a year ago. The TRIO grant is intended to support low-income, first-generation and disabled students.
According to Young, the DHSI employees may have an opportunity to work on this new project.
“We are working with both DHSI grant employees to see if they are willing to transfer to a new 1.36 million TRIO grant, which needs two full-time positions – a project director and an academic advisor,” Young stated.
Lawsuit
According to a previous Accent article, the State of Tennessee, along with Students for Fair Admissions
(SFFA), filed a complaint in federal court in June, suing the U.S. Department of Education for its DHSI grant program.
The U.S. Justice Department declined to defend the federal program, calling it unconstitutional.
According to the plaintiffs, The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965—a federal law that governs student financial aid, institutional support and education policy—was using discriminatory practices to allocate funds for colleges and universities that have an ethnic threshold of 25% Hispanic.
“The State of Tennessee operates many colleges and universities,” the complaint states. “Every one of them serves Hispanic students. Every one of them serves low-income students. But not one of them qualifies to
receive grants under the DHSI program. Why? Because they don’t have the right mix of ethnicities on campus.”
Critics of the lawsuit argued that DHSI programs do not favor certain racial or ethnic preferences when admitting students, but instead, allocate funds to schools with large numbers of underserved students.
At Southern, Shaw offered words of encouragement to those disappointed by the loss of the DHSI grant, which amounted to $3 million over a five-year period.
“The university remains committed to every student at Southern, regardless of their background,” he stated. “Our goal is to provide a quality Christian education for each student.”
Corrections
In a Sept. 24 Accent article about the Student Association budget, the SA Administration revenue was listed as $398,700 for the 2025-2026 school year. This has been corrected by Jaziel Soto, SA VP of finance, as being $379,440 for the 2025-2026 school year. In addition, when initially asked about the budget reduction in an interview with the Accent, SA president John Hargy listed the reduction as being $3,000. He later clarified to the newspaper that he was referencing his presidential budget rather than the overall SA finances.
In a Sept. 24 Accent article, titled “Ruth McKee School of Business Nears Opening,” the newspaper mistakenly referred to the School of Business as a department and reported that it was the second-largest major on campus. The School of Business is the second-largest program at the university
Axel Orellana carrying a flag during LAC night.(Photo courtsey of Memories)
COLLEGEDALE NEWS
Editor 's Note: The Southern Accent has produced a Collegedale News section this issue as part of a national initiative to enhance community news coverage. The local effort, led by Southern's School of Journalism and Communication in conjunction with the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont, places student journalists at the forefront of addressing the news desert crisis, a phenomenon caused by the decline of newspapers in local communities. The Accent believes local news is vital to a thriving democracy, and we remain committed to reporting about important issues, novel occurrences and interesting people in the greater Collegedale area. We will publish this special section in five issues of the newspaper this semester To submit tips or press releases, go to https://southern-accent.org.
The Katie Lamb Public Library reopens
Eliana Morales Managing Editor
Collegedale s public library
the Katie Lamb Public Library held a Grand Reopening Celebration on Sept. 18, after months of closure for renovations. The event featured a ribbon cutting, silent auction fundraiser, scavenger hunt and a bookmark craft station.
We saw lots of regulars that we hadn't seen in several months,” said Sarah Richardson, director of operations and engagement. “It was really fun to see all the kids explore the bigger children's area, and then to see new families that were new to the area. It was just really nice to catch up with a lot of the community.”
Renovations
According to the City of Collegedale, renovations were needed due to a significant increase in community usage
database, the renovation was estimated at $419,814, to be funded by the city. On Aug. 22, the Chattanoogan reported that Collegedale Commissioner Laura Howse, who also sits on the city ’s library board, facilitated a grant of up to $200,000 from the State of Tennessee for the renovation.
Katie Lamb Former mayor and Collegedale Commissioner Katie Lamb, after whom the library is named, cut the ribbon at the Grand Reopening Celebration. Lamb was elected as a city commissioner in 2009 and later became Collegedale s first female mayor in 2014. Lamb voluntarily stepped down in 2021 and resumed her role as commissioner until Nov. 2024.
City officials signed a resolution on Oct. 7, 2024, to rename the Collegedale Public Library after Lamb.
The document states: The
program participation. Librarians said that the changes were the first major renovations since breaking ground in 1993.
Updates include a new layout, fresh carpet and paint, an expanded meeting room, three private study rooms, an expanded children’s area, a new circulation desk, a lounge area under the sunroof and a business center
They did a marvelous job,” said Stanley Cottrell, technical services librarian at Southern s McKee Library and board member of the Katie Lamb Public Library
"[Study rooms] were a huge request from the community for a long time,” Richardson said. “It was amazing to be able to make this happen. We’ve seen people already using this space just right and left.”
Other librarians have noticed how the new study rooms solve past noise issues.
“Our quiet area wasn’t the best before,” said Bailey Thrasher, so this affords them more privacy.”
After work began in May of this year, a temporary pop-up library was set up in the East Room of City Hall.
While renovations were underway, the McKee Library partnered with the public library to provide study space, work areas, tutoring support and access to computers and Wi-Fi.
According to ConstructConnect, a construction project
Collegedale City Commission desires to recognize the extraordinary contributions that Katie Lamb has made to the Collegedale Community at large as an outstanding citizen, as a member of the faculty of Southern Adventist University, and as Mayor and as City Commissioner for the City of Collegedale. ...Katie is loved and appreciated by an overwhelming majority of Collegedale citizens and is always there to assist in any way Katie’s love of her community and for learning makes renaming the public library a fitting tribute to all the contributions she has made.”
In City of Collegedale’s press release regarding the renovations, Lamb stated: "Saving the library was one of the best investments the Collegedale Commissioners have made."
Programs
The library s website shows a variety of activities for the community, from a Dungeons and Dragons club to Kitten Storytime. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programs are also offered for all ages. Past events for adults include Cupcake Wars, Mahjong, crafts and game nights. According to its website, the library also encourages children to read and tailors its programs to different developmental stages. The literacy
initiative, “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten,” encourages parents to expose their children to reading early on. The library offers year-round scavenger hunts, educational computer games and coloring books.
Community members can join Friends of the Katie Lamb Public Library, a nonprofit part of the national Friends of the Library network. The local group s objectives, as stated on its website, include creating public interest in the library fostering community relations, providing knowledge of services, offering programs and fundraising.
Membership cost is $10 for students and seniors and $20 for all others. Both rates are tax-deductible and fund programs not in the regular
budget, such as a subscription to the statewide eBook system, Tennessee READS.
The importance of libraries
“[Having a library] is very important,” Cottrell said. A literate, well-informed community is a better one.”
Thrasher said: “It's a place for people to come where they re always accepted no matter what, and they don't have to spend money. Third spaces are very rare these days, and we are one. You can come however you are, and we accept you here.”
Thrasher also expressed a personal connection to libraries
“I have loved reading since I was little, and I would not be able to afford to read as much as I do without a library,” she
said. “Seeing the kids, having adults come in here, and we get to chat about books we love; it brings me so much joy to work here.”
Richardson expressed a similar sentiment.
“I think libraries have really evolved into community centers,” she said. “They 're not quiet places anymore. They re hustling and bustling with projects, programming, meetings, and patrons and kids having fun. We see the same faces a lot of times, week after week, and we get to know people by name. It s really rewarding to watch kids grow and to watch people meet each other and develop relationships.
The newly reopened Katie Lamb Public Library in Collegedale. Friday, September 26, 2025.
(Photo by Jaden Segarra)
Framing for the new business center May 7, 2025. (Photo from Katie Lamb Public Library Facebook)
Photo of Katie Lamb. (Photo courtesy of Katie Lamb)
"FOr Love of the game"
Spectators socialize and cheer for their friends and fellow students from the stands.
Saturday September 27, 2025 (Photo by Ava-Caroline Schmidt)
Kara Janzen (Nursing), from her team: There's No Place Like Home, waits for the next pitch coming her way. Saturday September 27, 2025 (Photo by Ava-Caroline Schmidt)
Jorts Boys come together after a heartbreaking loss which leads to elimination from the tournament.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 (Photo by Jaden Segarra)
Cason Marr, (Business Administration), batting for Let Andrew Hit, waits on the pitch. Saturday September 27, 2025 (Photo by Ava-Caroline Schmidt)
Janelle Koh (School Counseling) puts another home run on the scoreboard for her team, BAT INTENTIONS. Saturday September 27, 2025 (Photo by Ava-Caroline Schmidt)
Jadon Douglas (Religious Education), on Shalom Yahweh, awaits the throw from the pitcher. Saturday September 27, 2025 (Photo by Ava-Caroline Schmidt)
Johanne Mendoza Contributor
Like many other students, I visited a coastal city for spring break. It was mainly to relax and take a break from studying. However, rather than finding peace, my mind was full of regrets and what-ifs.
It happened when we parked at the local university, just in time for everyone to leave their classes. The university looked picturesque—just like the ones I idolized in the movies growing up. There were houses lined with sororities and fraternities, streets with cafes and parks where I could study.
I grew resentful and compared my private, small-town college life to the lives of those who passed by me. I started thinking about what-if scenarios and wanted to start over.
I felt my quiet life didn’t amount to anything great or memorable. While reflecting,
MENTAL HEALTH
I recalled a quote from one of my favorite fictional books, If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura. In the novel, the main character faces difficult choices and regrets his mundane life. However, at the end of the book, he realizes that his life is full of joy.
Kawamura writes, “Sure,
there will always be regrets and broken dreams, but you must go easy on yourself. Over the last few days, I’ve realized those regrets are beautiful. They are proof of having lived.”
The end of the book put things in perspective for me. Kawamura pointed out that there is love all around us, even from people or moments we do not understand. It made me treasure the small things and reflect on my moments of pain.
I am not just my academic achievements. I am more than a student, more than a second daughter, more than someone’s girlfriend and more than what people perceive on social media. I am my own person, created by a God who sees all my flaws and loves me despite them.
After reflecting on the quote and reading some helpful tips from Psych Central, I realized I had to face my negative feelings and not run away. Forgiving myself allowed me to have self-compassion.
The article by Psych Central suggested mental contrasting, which is a way to delve into practical steps of achieving the goals rooted in our regrets. It recommended finding the small joys within our circumstances. Seeing regret as proof of living helped me overcome my negative thoughts and feel more at peace.
After this realization, I was able to embrace my spring break. The air felt warmer, the sunsets seemed brighter and the waves that hugged the sand reassured me that everything would be okay. Finding beauty in every season of life will help carry me through even the mundane moments.
Dealing with regret as a college student SPORTS
From Dusk till Dawn: Let Andrew Hit and Bat Biddies win Softball Tournament
Matthew Taylor Sports Editor
For the past thirty years, the Summit of Softball Complex has been the stage for an exciting annual tradition: Southern’s “For Love of the Game” All-Night Softball Tournament. Saturday night, teams competed from dusk until dawn. Friends, family and community members cheered from the bleachers. The bracket was filled with over forty teams with varying skill levels.
The tournament is normally a hub of energy and creativity, and this year was no different. Teams wore creative uniforms, from brightly colored wigs and tutus to granny pajamas.
All six fields were in constant use as teams rotated through the night. By sunrise, the tournament had come to a dramatic finish. The men’s championship finished by 6:50 a.m. and the women’s at 7:07 a.m. Both games were decided by just a single run. The men’s tournament was a contested match between Let Andrew Hit and Swingerz. Let Andrew Hit ultimately won the championship with a final score of 5-4. Coincidentally, the women’s championship game was a rematch between the same two teams from last year: Bat Biddies and Southern Breeze. Bat Biddies reversed last year’s conclusion and beat Southern Breeze by one point, with a score of 7-6.
Faculty member Patricia Petersen has played on Southern Breeze for the past two seasons.
“[Bat Biddies] are our long-standing rivals,” she said. “We beat them last year, and this year was their turn.”
Julia Muñoz, captain of Bat
Biddies, shared that her team had an “unspoken goal of balancing having fun and doing our best.” Muñoz emphasized the bond of their team.
“Winning the tournament was a huge blessing, but even if things hadn’t worked out in our favor, I think everyone would still have been happy at the times, laughs and memories shared,” she said.
Endurance is a must in this competition.
“All night sounds fun till you’re actually there all night,” said Jack Bell, captain of the winning men’s team. “In all honesty, it was exhausting, but I love my team, and we’ve been planning that win all season.”
This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for students to make lifelong memories and
friendships.
“All-night softball was probably my favorite experience at SAU so far!” said Chloe Armstrong, a freshman kinesiology major.
Her team, Southern Breeze, lost by one point, but she remained positive.
“My favorite memory from the night was just hanging out with my team and getting to
know them better,” Armstrong said.
Each year, the tournament promises and delivers exciting games, an engaging environment, an opportunity to socialize and nail-biting conclusions. The large turnout and full parking lot indicated that it will be an adored Southern tradition for years to come.
Biddies, led by captain Julia Muñoz
“I felt that my quiet life didn’t amount to anything great or memorable.” (Photo sourced from Pexels)
We need more nuclear energy than ever OPINION
Samuel Guerra Opinion Editor
On Sept. 18, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—the largest public power supplier in the United States—released a video on social media showing the controlled implosion of a 540-foot-tall abandoned nuclear cooling tower in Hartsville, Tenn., an hour northeast of Nashville.
In seconds, the structure collapsed into a massive cloud of dust. With it crumbled the hopes of many who envisioned the plant as a safer, cleaner and more reliable source of energy.
Construction of the power plant was halted in the 1980s before it ever generated electricity. The site remained dormant for decades. According to TVA, crews will crush the concrete for use in equipment storage and recycle the tower’s steel for future projects.
“Removing the cooling tower not only eliminates a
safety risk, but it’s also part of our effort to remove obsolete infrastructure and prepare sites for future opportunities,” said Jayme Hobson, TVA’s general manager of demolition.
The Hartsville nuclear plant was part of a bold 1970s vision to deliver clean, reliable, carbon-free electricity across the Tennessee Valley.
But in the wake of the 1979 partial meltdown at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear station, public fear surged, and support collapsed.
UPI reported in August 1984 that TVA made the fateful decision to cancel the project entirely. They accepted a $2.7 billion loss—equivalent to roughly $8.4 billion today—not because the technology failed, but because its costs rose and confidence in it plummeted. For more than four decades, the cooling tower stood as a silent structure frozen in time, neither repurposed nor removed, yet impossible to ignore.
Its controlled implosion serves as a physical reminder of an era when fear defined energy policies. Nuclear energy technology has changed significantly since then, advancing considerably, making it safer, cleaner and more reliable than ever before.
Compared to the millions who die every year from air pollution resulting from fossil fuels, the death toll from nuclear energy is far, far lower.
According to a 2020 Our World in Data analysis, the number of deaths per terawatt-hour of nuclear energy produced is only 0.3, even after catastrophes like Chernobyl. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 32.7 deaths caused by brown coal or the 18.4 deaths caused by oil per terawatt-hour.
Nuclear power is also far cleaner. Coal, for example, produces 160 times more CO₂ than nuclear energy, and oil-based energy emits 120 times more
CO₂ than nuclear. These are staggeringly large differences.
Last but not least, the U.S. Department of Energy reported in 2021 that nuclear energy is by far the most reliable source of energy, meaning it can operate at full capacity for most of the year. To be precise, nuclear power plants produce maximum power more than 92% of the time. By contrast, coal plants operate at maximum capacity only 40% of the year.
The recent cooling tower demolition in Hartsville may have cleared a patch of land, but it also cleared space for a vital conversation: What if the old fears about nuclear energy no longer reflect today’s reality?
We cannot let the shadows of past fears dictate our energy future. The data is unequivocal: Nuclear energy is one of the safest, cleanest and most reliable power sources available today.
Around the world, nations
are acting on that reality. China is building more nuclear reactors than any other country. India and South Korea are also expanding nuclear capacity to meet rising demand. That demand is accelerating at home, too: AI data centers are driving up electricity use across multiple states, pushing energy costs higher for consumers. Rather than dwelling on what Hartsville’s demolished facility could have been, we should be building on the lessons it represents.
As the United States seeks to ensure energy security and keep pace with global energy progress, turning away from nuclear would be repeating the very mistake made four decades ago—not for lack of technology, but for lack of courage. This time, let’s choose facts over fear, and vision over retreat. The future of clean energy depends on it.
RELIGION
10 surprising reasons to join SM
Byard Parks Contributor
Editor’s Note: Parks is a pastor and Southern’s Student Missions Director.
The young senator, John F. Kennedy, was making his last stop of a long campaign day at the University of Michigan.
It was 2 o’clock on a cold October morning, yet 10,000 students had gathered outside in the dark, waiting for this presidential candidate to roll in.
After arriving, Kennedy made a short speech to the students. He didn’t offer them jobs, scholarships or even a handshake. He offered them a challenge to go someplace hard and serve:
“You who are planning on being doctors, how many of you are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians, engineers…to go where the world needs help?”
That speech sparked a movement. Within weeks, the Peace Corps was born—a corps not of soldiers, but of servants. Since then, 261,000 students have been sent around the globe on humanitarian assignments through the Peace Corps.
Uniquely, that idea sparked a purposeful movement of empowerment in our own Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
“Why not send student missionaries?” It was a great idea. So, in 1967, Southern Missionary College sent its first student missionary (SM). And since then, a steady flow has followed to create what is indeed an amazing human gift. Southern Adventist University has sent over 2,700 student missionaries in total, and additionally thousands on shortterm service trips!
Although this is not a requirement, our university has made
special provision for students to be able to leave campus and get credit while serving abroad. Many returned student missionaries say, “I got more out of my SM year than the rest of my education.”
When we think of the purpose of education—namely, to prepare us for a productive life—it is no wonder a year of student mission service accomplishes so much. Take, for example, an SM who serves as a teacher and is given a classroom full of 25 children! Suddenly, the university student must do what a 40-yearold adult struggles to achieve: gaining respect, getting kids to focus, preparing interesting lessons for six hours each day and then, on the weekend, preaching and running a branch Sabbath School.
In addition, one learns to survive in a new language, navigate new foods and relate to new people, all the while dealing with new bugs! That kind of responsibility builds character and spiritual muscle. Jesus becomes a closest friend, confidant, and ally. Every SM grows immensely.
Of course, not everyone teaches—some are builders, some are media specialists, some run soccer clubs, some are nurses—but they share at least one similarity. They all do work beyond what they thought they could do, and as a result, they become heroes in some local child’s eyes.
To help you make your decision, take a look at these 10 surprising reasons why you should consider student missions as part of your university education plan:
1. Frankly, life goes by too fast. Slow down and grow up. Going as a student missionary gives you a chance to grow
talents, stamina and your spirituality.
2. Others need you. Good kids won’t have a teacher if no one shows up.
3. Your “future” needs you to go and serve. The gauntlet of troubles that student missionaries face in their SM year gives them superpowers for the rest of their lives. You are more likely to be a leader, stay spiritually active in the church and have a stronger home after serving as an SM.
4. You will become wiser. Yes, Student Missions will give you new eyes. You will be surprised at the things you do not yet know when you dive deeply into another culture and way of life.
5. Short-term trips are not the same. Relationships take time to build. Ten days can show you a different world, but true mission is a matter of heart. To enter the heart of someone and to let someone get into your heart takes time—and it is worth it.
6. Your life purpose may show up. Frankly, discovering the meaning of life is something that you can’t seek but you can find. Eight times out of ten, student missionaries come back saying their service year connected a lot of missing dots.
7. Hurrying through college brings you closer to the end of youth. You have the license now to do stuff you won’t have the freedom to do once you are in “adulthood.” Taking a year out to serve makes more sense now than it ever will in the future.
8. You will gain important life skills. Sure, here in class
you can gain a lot of head knowledge on a subject, but in the field, you can gain true experience that will take you through life.
9. You could be the answer to someone’s prayer. You know what it is like to have your deepest prayers and desires answered. Imagine being on the other side of that and getting to answer someone else’s deepest prayer and desire.
10. You will expand your reality. Serving as a student missionary will likely be the most rewarding thing you will ever do, because it is a journey that makes your Christianity 100% real. Jesus will show up,
as you go. Don’t just wish for the rest of your life that you had done it. Decide and go! JC (Jesus Christ) and JFK say to you: The energy, faith and devotion that you bring to your Student Missions endeavor will light your life and all who you serve—and the glow from that fire will truly light the world. Matthew 28:18-20 NIV says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Mosaic panel ‘Blacksmiths of Modernity’ (1974) by Halyna Zubchenko and Gregory Pryshedko.
“Why not send Student Missionaries?”
Chattanooga coffee shops: A guide to my top 7 favorite local third spaces
Emily White Contributor
Though the topic of caffeinated beverages is hotly debated among Adventists, there is still a contingent on campus who enjoys coffee, tea and energy drinks. I enjoy the occasional beverage (whether caffeinated or not) at coffee shops, and I prefer to study at these convenient and inexpensive third spaces.
My apartment isn’t conducive to studying since I constantly feel the beck and call of unfinished household tasks like laundry and room-tidying. I find it hard to focus when I study in campus buildings unless I’m crammed in a library cubicle, which makes me feel sad and cooped up.
Coffee shops solve these problems for me. I can study at a nice, open table with a drink to sip and a pastry to munch on. I can temporarily escape the burden of the saucepot I forgot to wash, all while being surrounded by people who are as locked in as I aspire to be (which is a great example of good peer pressure). There are still many spots around Chattanooga that I need to visit, but here are a select few that I tend to frequent.
Oaks Located about 15 minutes away from Southern, Oaks Coffee House has a larger interior than most shops, but with more expensive drinks. I prefer studying upstairs, especially when it’s crowded, but
every time I’ve gone lately, the upstairs has been closed to the public because of events. Oaks is also not open on Sundays, so I need to find an alternate place to go when I want to put in some weekend study time.
Mean Mug Of the four Mean Mug Coffeehouse locations in this area, the one behind the Hamilton Place Mall is the closest to campus. Their drinks are cheaper than some of the other places on this list, and they have a great Nutella-strawberry muffin. The unfortunate thing about the Hamilton Place location is that it’s a little small. That’s why I prefer driving to the NorthShore location, which can accommodate more people.
Yellow Deli
When I need to have a latenight study session, I appreciate places that are open 24/7 (or, rather, 24/5 in this case).
This makes the Yellow Deli a great spot to hit up. The restaurant, with its hobbit-looking interior, is located on the campus of UTC and run by members of the Sabbath-keeping Twelve Tribes. (You can do your own research about them and come to your own conclusions). My favorite drink to get there is their iced “Dandy Blend,” which I find reminiscent of a dirty chai (chai with espresso) but decaf!
Rembrandt’s Also located downtown, Rembrandt’s Coffee House is nestled in the Bluff View Art
District that overlooks the Tennessee River. The interior doesn’t appeal to me because it’s white and minimalistic, but I approve of their outdoor seating—a large patio with a lovely pergola. Their drinks are on the more expensive side, but they have a fantastic selection of tasty pastries. Weather-permitting, this is a nice spot to which I like to bring friends or a date!
Velo
This is the place that I bring anyone to who’s a coffee nerd! Velo Coffee Roasters, which used to be an espresso bar, has now expanded into a nice little cafe in the Southside district. They have an amazing pourover (but theirs is also the only pour-over I’ve tasted, so I’m not the best source of information in this regard), and with each pour-over they include a little brochure that details the origin and flavor notes of the coffee blend you choose. Besides smaller tables, they also have a large communal table in the middle, which I would study at if I weren’t afraid of meeting new people.
Niedlov’s
In my opinion, Niedlov’s Bakery & Cafe has the most inviting interior. The brick walls and wooden tables and chairs make the place feel cozy yet airy, and the space is laden with plants and flowers.
Besides fresh bread, they are also known for their cruffins (a mix between a croissant and a muffin) that rotate in flavor every week. The shop is in
Southside on the same road as Velo. If I want a guaranteed table, I make sure to arrive early in the morning, as it gets crowded past midmorning.
Stone Cup Besides offering inexpensive drinks, Stone Cup Cafe has a fantastic view of the (currently defunct) Walnut Street Bridge and Coolidge Park, which is perfect for my easily distracted self. In addition, it’s within
walking distance of Winder Binder (a cute bookstore) and I Go Tokyo (where I am tempted to spend my entire biweekly paycheck on stationery).
Of course, there are more local coffee shops and third spaces left for me to explore, and I hope that I will be able to try some new ones in my final semester here. I encourage everyone to find a third space to go to when they need a break from campus.
Coffee shops can be a great place to study and hang out with friends.
(Photo sourced from Pexels)
• Payday: Hourly/Students
• Board of Trustees Fall Retreat
• 6:30 pm Joseph Khabbaz @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
7:21 pm Sunset
7:30 pm AfterGlow @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
8:30 pm Vespers: Joseph Khabbaz @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
• 7:30 pm Concert: Southern Symphony Orchestra @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
Intramural Schedule:
Wed
11:00 am Convocation: Departments/ Schools 3:30 pm Academic Administration Council @ Wright Hall Robert Merchant Room
• 6:00 pm Downtown Gala: A Taste of Southern @ The Chattanooga Hotel (Tickets on Southern’s website)
DEEP Sabbath: Oakwood Hosts Southern
• 10:00 am - 11:15 am French Sabbath School @ Lynn Wood Hall Room 3050
• 10:00 am SOAP: Caving, Outdoor Church, Howard’s Waterfall Cave @ Wright Hall • 11:45 am Merge Worship @ Collegedale Academy Elementary Gym
• 11:45 am Renewal @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists 7:00 pm Evensong: Vocal Students @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
9:00 pm Tournament: Evangelistic Resource Center @ Iles P.E. Center
• Last Day for 60% Refund
• 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Pop with the Prez @ Promenade
• 3:30 pm Undergraduate Curriculum Committee @ Wright Hall Robert Merchant Room 7:00 pm Archaeology Museum Lecture: Michael G. Hasel @ Lynn Wood Hall Chapel
Futsal
6:00 pm
- Beans and Rice vs Mo Salah (Men’s B)
- All Stars vs PRN FC (Men’s B)
7:00 pm
- Team 3 vs Team (Men’s A)
- Chopped FC vs Inter FC (Men’s B)
8:00 pm
- Kim Jung Un Children vs Chicken Tikka Mo Salah (Men’s B)
- Christian Pulisic FC vs Asado FC (Men’s B)
9:00 pm
- Shalom Yahweh FC vs No Harm, No Foul (Men’s B)
- No Manches United vs Sal Survivors (Co-Ed) Flag Football
6:00 pm
- Bring Your Own Blitz vs Hot Chubb Time Machine (Men’s B)
- Touchdown vs Broncas (Ladies’ B)
- blitz & sacks vs flagmingos (Ladies’ B)
7:00 pm
- Tranquility vs One and Done (Men’s A)
- 2 hand touchers vs Grandma’s Boys (Men’s B)
- Sarang Stealer vs LPC (Ladies’ B)
8:00 pm
- Team Rex vs Chain Movers (Men’s A)
- First Downers vs Young Bold Gifted (Men’s B)
- 99problemsbutablitzaint1 vs touchdown divas (Ladies’ B)
9:00 pm
- Tuddie Buddies vs Fast Guys (Men’s B)
- Chino Hills vs Fertbal (Men’s B)
- always open vs Manny loves Zaxbys (Men’s B)
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