The Southern Accent
Pressing Issue, page 8
Opinion: Body positivity is fighting itself Update of the Week, page 2
Following the story of the 29th SonRise pageant
blacked-out sanctuary, with scenes of contemporary issues unfolding on stage to the song “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle.
Editor’s Note: This article describes a dramatized Easter pageant. References to Jesus refer to an actor portraying Christ during the production.
The crowd walked along the road amid the shouts of angry Roman soldiers on all sides – while following Jesus to Calvary, or rather, the track behind Hulsey Wellness Center.
Such was the scene at the 29th annual SonRise Resurrection Pageant, held Saturday, April 4, on the campus of Southern Adventist University.
According to the event page on TicketSource, “SonRise is an interactive, put-you-there-at-the-scene trip through Christ’s final days leading to His death and resurrection. The cast is made up of over 500 Southern Adventist University students and church members.”
The pageant, organized by the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, included showings from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Each tour began inside the
The scenarios depicted people who looked distressed until Jesus and an angel appeared to comfort them. Children dressed as angels filled the aisles, waving candles in unison. When the music stopped, a student portraying Mary Magdalene stood on a pew and invited the crowd to follow her to the rest of the tour.
The group slowly moved outside, where lepers greeted them, waiting with baskets to collect donations. As visitors continued on the tour, they entered an area full of live animals—cows, goats, chickens, rabbits, ponies and more in pens lining both sides of the pathway.
Michael Looby has been bringing his Anatolian Shepherd puppies to participate for the past few years. He said he tries to raise his dogs as shepherds did in biblical times, letting them guard sheep and goats during the spring grazing season.
“We know it helps the story come alive for those who are visiting,” he said,
explaining why he brings the animals to SonRise every year.
Next, the crowd walked through the Jerusalem Marketplace. Vendors pressed in from all sides, holding up their products: colorful cloths, perfumes, raisins and more. Some booths offered samples of bread and olive oil. Southern’s Blacksmithing Club did live forging at their booth and distributed handcrafted miniature swords made from nails.
Although stationed at the blacksmithing booth in previous years, Eliana Oberlander, a SonRise actress, opted this year to walk through the pageant in costume alongside the audience to create a more immersive experience.
“I decided to participate because it’s always been such a blessing to walk through and interact with the participants,” she said. “I really love handing out nail swords; I get to interact with the children.”
After passing through the booths, the crowd gathered on the promenade to view the Last Supper on a stage near upper Wright Hall. There, the actor
portraying Jesus knelt to meet some of the children before gathering with his disciples at the table.
During the meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and revealed that Judas would betray him. Judas rushed off, and the crowd walked to the next scene, the Garden of Gethsemane, where they saw Satan for the first time, tempting Jesus.
Jesus’ trial took place in front of Wright Hall, Southern’s administrative building. Actors were dispersed among the crowd, yelling for Jesus’ crucifixion. After Barabbas was released, Jesus was given a large wooden cross to carry.
The group made its way from Wright Hall to the track, where “Via Dolorosa” played from the speakers. Two men were already on crosses, planted on both sides of an empty space reserved for Jesus. After he was crucified, a woman began to sing the African-American spiritual “Were You There.”
The final scene, the resurrection, took place inside Iles P.E. Center. Jesus emerged from the tomb to the song
“I decided to participate because it’s always been such a blessing to walk through and interact with the participants.” - Eliana Oberlander
See SonRise on page 3
Julian Suarez, acting as Jesus, hanging on the cross at the SonRise pageant. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Eliana Morales Managing Editor
Principles of Marketing class raises over $3,000 for Child Impact International
Kyla Wetmore Reporter
Asher LeVos Reporter
Last Thursday, 65 students enrolled in Principles of Marketing raised over $3,000 for Child Impact International by hosting six events as part of a class project. Events included game nights, basketball and pickleball tournaments, a music competition and an outdoor market.
John Felicano, a junior biology major, attended the pickleball tournament. He found out about the event through a friend who was organizing it.
“There were a lot of vendors giving out drinks and some food,” Felicano said. “I thought it was a pretty good event.”
Another student, freshman nursing major Mia Valdivieso Hernandez, shared comments about the 3v3 basketball tournament she attended to support her friend, who helped organize the event.
“They had a couple of games going on at once, so if you got bored, you could walk around, rotate [and] see something that piqued your interest,” Valdivieso Hernandez said. “It was a nice de-stressor in the middle of the week.”
School of Business Professor Ben Schnell said he added the project to his class a few years ago.
“My philosophy as a professor is [that] I try, whenever possible, to make something really applicable,” he said.
Schnell added that the event combined key marketing concepts while also raising funds for Child Impact International, a nonprofit organization based in Collegedale, Tennessee. Its
mission, according to its website, is to “empower vulnerable children through education and fight to eradicate exploitation.”
Since Schnell introduced the project to the class curriculum, students have raised over $14,000 for Child Impact.
“It’s a really amazing nonprofit that helps the most vulnerable, and that’s the best possible thing,” Schnell said.
Students said that fundraising for the organization was a huge motivator as they worked on the project. Liz Struntz, a sophomore business-strategic communication major, said she loved that her project helped kids around the world.
“As Christians and as business students, we need to be mission focused, so doing something for such a good cause was really applicable to me as someone who wants to [work for] a nonprofit organization,” Struntz said.
Students faced many challenges while planning and executing their projects.
When Struntz’s group, which hosted an outdoor market, saw that it was supposed to rain the day of their event, they worried that the weather would change their plans.
“We all were praying,” Struntz said. “Our families were praying that the weather would be really good. We had a couple of raindrops, [but] besides that, the weather evened out and was really perfect.”
Another group planned on including Southern’s mascot in its pickleball tournament, but Forrest the Bear fell ill right before the event, according to Diego Luna, a senior accounting major.
Malia Knowlton, a junior business administration major,
led the group that hosted a 3v3 basketball tournament and ultimately earned $705, the most money of all the events. Even with successfully hosting 38 teams in the tournament, the group faced some challenges.
When the students got to the gym, they realized that they had no sound system to communicate with their teams, because the group thought only a few people would participate. Fortunately, one of the team members borrowed a friend’s karaoke sound monitor and microphone a few minutes before the tournament began. Knowlton said that even though there were hiccups, her group was able to solve problems well.
“Because my team had a lot of intentionality in preparation and frontloading, it allowed us to have—I don’t want to say minimal stress, because the event was stressful —but it allowed things to run smoother,” Knowlton said.
Other students mentioned the difficult timeframe, as they had about two weeks to plan
and prepare for the events.
Isabella Fernandes-Hidalgo, a sophomore accounting major, reflected on her experience and gave advice to future students.
“The timeframe for the project [made it] really hard to get everything done, but just try to stay positive about it,” she said.
Fernandes-Hidalgo also urged future students to pray before every meeting.
“There were points when we were meeting, and we didn’t pray right before, and it felt like nothing was going right,” she said. “And then one meeting I said, ‘Guys, let’s just pray,’ and everything started to turn [around] when we did.”
Students also appreciated the lessons they learned from the project, especially those in leadership roles within their groups.
Luna said that working with his group taught him leadership lessons, including the importance of taking initiative and working past fear of failure or rejection. Knowlton said she learned a lot about team
communication and delegation for efficiency and effectiveness. Struntz said the project taught her how to work together in teams with different personalities.
Eve Blanchard, a sophomore marketing major, expressed her appreciation for the support from university students who weren’t taking the class, since students had to raise $450 in profit to get an A on the project.
“Our grades are determined on how much money we make, so it means a lot for people to come,” Blanchard stated.
Earl Velasquez, a junior business administration major, agreed that Southern students should continue to support the fundraisers each year, if they are able.
“[Southern students’] participation helps make events more successful and increases the money that Child Impact receives,” Velasquez stated. “A lot of time and effort goes into organizing these events, and students always have a great time when they attend.”
Question of the Week: Easter edition What did you do for Easter weekend?
“Since I’m an RA, I was on duty, so I slept late on Friday night and slept in Sabbath, then got up and went to SonRise. After that, I was able to go to a Filipino friend’s house, and they made really good Filipino food.”
- Danerose Sanford, junior nursing major
The Accent encourages readers to write articles and voice their opinions. However, not all topics and views are endorsed by 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 Question on page 3
Left to right: Nathanael Andrianarijaona, Jadon Douglas, Zabdi De La Cruz, Emily Hill, Malia Knowlton. Their group hosted the 3v3 Basketball Competition. (Photo by Maddie Hrovat).
SonRise continued from page 1
“Arise My Love” by NewSong and reunited with his disciples, Mary Magdalene, his mother and others. After the final scene, Jesus was lifted toward the sky and stage lights projected a cross on the closed curtains.
Outside, volunteers served refreshments, and a booth offered visitors a chance to learn more about the resurrection and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Desiree Bach, assistant professor at the School of Visual Arts and Design, walked through SonRise for the first time this year and said she enjoyed it.
“I was a little skeptical about this,” she said, “but it was really emotional.”
José Leon, a community member from Cleveland, said he also liked the pageant and had two favorite scenes: the resurrection and the Garden of Gethsemane.
David and April Miles are members of St. Stephen’s
Catholic Church and came to SonRise at the recommendation of a friend. They described the pageant as excellent.
Tracy Baker, a visitor from Georgia, said she travels to Southern just for SonRise. It was her eighth year attending, and she brought 20 visitors. When asked what keeps her coming back, Baker said
SonRise is a humbling experience that shows what Christ did for us. She was especially touched by His intense emotional struggle at the Garden of Gethsemane.
“I didn’t really understand the agony,” she said, “until I came here.”
Southern presents at Sigma Tau Delta 2026
Two current Southern students and one alum presented original academic works in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the “Second Lines & New Beginnings” 2026 convention of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English society founded in 1924.
On its official website, the mission statement includes encouraging “excellence, among undergraduate and graduate students, in all aspects of English language, literature, and the many closely-related fields.”
This year’s convention took place from Sunday, March 29, to Wednesday, April 1.
Samantha Fullmer, a senior English education major, presented her thesis titled “C. S. Lewis and the Process of Sanctification: Literary Analysis of ‘Till We Have Faces.’”
In an email to the Accent, Fullmer said that her paper documented “how C.S. Lewis showed the process of sanctification through his rewriting of the Myth of Cupid and Psyche” and shared that she enjoyed the camaraderie of the convention and the thought-provoking questions her peers asked.
“I think the convention was an absolute delight, and I loved every minute of it,” Fullmer stated. “I especially enjoyed hearing everyone’s insights and studies and being surrounded by people who love literature just as much as I do. I enjoyed answering questions about my paper; a few helped bring out information I had missed or had to omit from my original research. I have been truly inspired and hope to attend another convention like it in the future.”
Chehalis Eno, a senior English education major, presented her thesis titled “The Consequences of Technology in Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Player Piano.’” In an email to the Accent, Eno
wrote that her paper “analyzed the impacts of technology on society ... and how that technology removed individuals’ agency and sense of purpose.”
Eno said she found the convention rejuvenating after student-teaching at the 6thgrade level.
“Cutting the work down to the required length for the convention forced me to think much more critically about what was truly necessary information,” Eno stated. “I loved the questioning at the end of the presentation. It was so nice to get to talk about my research with individuals who were genuinely curious about my conclusions and understanding of Vonnegut’s society. I loved the questions I got, but they focused largely on the Marxist half of my analysis, which in some ways sidestepped the impact of technology on individuals altogether.”
Eno said she would be happy to present again at the next convention.
“I absolutely would present again if I had the chance, and I would encourage any Sigma Tau Delta member (or potential member) to consider attempting to present, as well,” she said. “There’s no cost to submit a paper, which means there’s no reason not to attempt to present as often as possible. It’s a super unique experience with a good mix of interesting academics and fun travel.”
Katelynn Webster, ’23, an office manager in the Social Work Department, presented original poetry twice and later participated in a roundtable event.
“My first poetry piece was inspired by the Common Reader for this year’s convention: ‘Salvage the Bones’ by Jesmyn Ward,” Webster stated. “My second poetry presentation was a collection of some of my poems inspired by my upbringing and my love for the South. The roundtable was something new
“I baked cookies for 423 Night as a trial run.”
- Madisen Beltran, sophomore mathematics major
I did this year, and I partnered with three faculty from schools across the country to talk about professional development for Sigma Tau Delta members and what we can do to support that.”
Webster said she was happy for the opportunity to attend her second Sigma Tau Delta convention. Her favorite part of presenting was the discussion period after each session.
“Getting to answer questions about my work is always really fulfilling to me,” Webster stated, “but getting to hear other people’s work is always really interesting. There are times I wish I could get a copy of some of their works.”
Webster also enjoyed the process of writing and looks forward to next year’s convention.
“I think being able to continuously work on and create my pieces is really fulfilling—sitting down and thinking about ideas that I have and how to make them come to life. I would love to keep submitting [pieces].”
Jodi Ruf, an associate professor in the English Department, attended the convention under the role of advisor. She promoted the event to Southern students and potential presenters and arranged financing, reservations and transportation.
Besides sightseeing in Jackson Square and the French Quarter, Ruf most enjoyed listening
to the student presentations.
“Perhaps the most fun parts this year were feeling proud of Samantha Fullmer’s presentation...and Chehalis Eno’s presentation,” Ruf stated.
Ruf encourages English students to join Sigma Tau Delta, submit essays and attend future conventions, which will feature local and famous prize-winning authors and keynote speakers.
“It is quite amazing to meet and mingle with over a thousand fellow English majors who are excited about all things English,” Ruf stated. “The audiences are very friendly and supportive of each presenter.”
“I went to church at Hamilton [Community Seventh-day Adventist Church], and then I went to SonRise, and I watched a movie afterwards.”
- Brianna Pubien, junior nursing major
"I went to Crosswalk [Chattanooga Church] for Easter,and that evening, I went to this worship event by the Doxa Collective.”
- Sheynireen Tanamal, post bachelor’s degree biology major
“For choir, we sang at a church, and I think they were blessed. After, we all just hung out and spent time together outside.”
- Rachel Charles, junior nursing major
Anaya Miller Reporter
Chehalis Eno speaking at the Sigma Tau Delta. (Photo by Anaya Miller).
COLLEGEDALE NEWS
Editor's Note: The Southern Accent has produced a two page 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.
5th Mondays at 5:00 community event gives city a town hall meeting
Monday, March 30, marked the first gathering of City Commissioner Laura Howse’s new series, 5th Mondays at 5:00: A Community Care Meeting. The event was held in the West Community Room of City Hall, where citizens gathered in a semicircle of chairs to discuss issues with officials in a more open, informal setting.
The meeting began with an overview of community care issues presented by Howse. She described the beginning of City Manager Jon Holmes’ tenure and the appointment of Judge Curtis Bowe III as major developments in the city.
Bowe, who was temporarily appointed to fill the late Judge Kevin Wilson’s seat, will appear unopposed on the ballot during the August election, according to Howse.
Howse also described how the Storm Safety Day held Feb. 26 in The Commons helped community members prepare for weather incidents and acknowledged the efforts of nursing students from Southern Adventist University who distributed flyers to residents in mobile homes.
Looking forward, Howse shared early plans for the Collegedale Freedom Festival. On July 3, the city will host a Faith and Family Night featuring Chattanoogan singer Willie Kitchens and a choir. Attendees can expect patriotic songs, hymns and classics. On July 4, festivities will include a firework display and an array of performers, including American Idol finalist Breanna Nix as well as Dallas Walker with his band Nashville.
Though the inaugural meet-
ing was sparsely attended, Howse did have the opportunity to answer several questions concerning local development.
After community member Judy Terry raised concerns about how new neighborhoods would affect sewage, Howse provided clarification on the city’s waste management system.
After the meeting, Terry commented on the new format for citizen participation.
“I like the idea,” she said. “I’m sure there are other things that the government could help with. We are not always pleased with some of the things that go on, and communication helps. ... We learn what’s going on, and I like that.”
Howse said she heard similar sentiments during her 2024 campaign for city commissioner: residents wanted a channel of communication with the government that was informal, consistent and accessible.
“I wanted to do quarterly town halls,” she said, “but it just kind of got away from me in the beginning. This is me fulfilling that.”
While structuring the series, Howse chose the name “5th Mondays at 5:00” for several reasons. Most importantly, March, June, August and November each have a fifth Monday, allowing the meetings to align with annual quarters.
In addition, hosting the events at 5 p.m. allows elderly citizens to attend without the need to drive during nighttime hours.
Howse said she looks forward to future meetings with more participants, each eager to share ideas, thoughts and feedback.
“I just hope that it will be a way for people to come and not be intimidated by the more for-
mal meetings,” she said. “If we keep them consistent, I think other elected officials will also want to come.”
The next 5th Mondays at 5:00
event, on June 29, will be held in the courtroom. According to Howse, Hamilton County Commissioner Jeff Eversole will attend and address issues that
affect the county as a whole. State representatives Greg Vital and Esther Helton-Haynes are both planning to attend.
Leif Bromme Collegedale Reporter
(Photo courtesy of Howse's Facebook page).
Kobza
COLLEGEDALE NEWS
“Waddle It Be?” in Collegedale
Anaya Miller Reporter
Two rubber ducks sat on the front desk at Collegedale City Hall, alerting the community of the boxes full of ducks for the “Waddle It Be? Best Dressed Duck Contest” organized by Christina Clark, supervisor of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
On the event website, participants were instructed to pick up a rubber duck from City Hall
on Monday, April 6, or Tuesday, April 7, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Participants have up to 10 days to dress up their ducks. The deadline to return them to City Hall is Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Gretchen King picked up her duck on Monday.
“I like the new activities that [Parks and Recreation are] having to get the community involved,” she said.
For the City-Wide Mini Canvas Art Contest held in
February, about 30 community members participated. For the “Waddle It Be?” event, Parks and Rec has prepared for a much larger crowd.
Clark stated in an email to the Accent, “We will provide 80 rubber ducks in two different sizes, for first come, first [served].”
Community members who sign up to participate can take their duck home to decorate it.
The event website gives a few guidelines: “The Mission: using
any craft supplies, dress [the ducks] up, create an environment, give them names and bring them back to join the flock and be judged by the public.”
Clark added that submissions are made on an individual basis; everyone decorates their own duck with limited assistance.
Violet Fawnna, a community member, said she was especially excited to participate.
“I’m entering this contest because it sounded like a fun
activity,” Fawnna said. “When I first heard about it, I already had in mind what I wanted to do. I missed the deadline on the last contest, so [I] jumped at the opportunity when I heard about this one.”
The ducks will be displayed in the lobby of City Hall on Monday, April 20, and Tuesday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. According to Clark, “winners will be selected via an in-person voting poll.”
(Canva calandar created by Nyah Jackson).
Rubber ducks sit up on a counter inside the Collegedale Municipal Building in Collegedale, Tennessee. Tuesday, April 6, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Actors portray Jesus and the twelve disciples in the SonRise pageant. Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Aaron Jorgenson depicts a Roman soldier in the SonRise pageant. Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Skyler Long depicts Satan in the SonRise pageant. Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Actors portray Jesus' trial before He is crucified. Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Actors portraying Jesus bringing a family closer together. Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Photo by Katie McConnell).
Johanne Mendoza Contributor
Being in my senior year of college feels like riding a rollercoaster of emotions.
My final semester consists of stressing over post-graduation plans, figuring out graduation requirements, completing internships, keeping my GPA up, attending social events, figuring out if I want to work or go to grad school, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my emotions and lose motivation to do anything.
It didn’t help that I would feel even more anxious after talking to my recently graduated friends and hearing that they were stressed about their unemployment as they transitioned from a structured student’s life to that of a postgraduate dealing with adulting stress.
I think a lot of this stems from the pressure I put on myself and the expectations from my family.
When I looked at self-help articles that offered insight into dealing with these anxieties, I found that a common theme was to be kind to yourself through this process.
The experts advised potential and new graduates to make sure that their internal voices do not tell lies, such as, “I will never be good enough” or “I will never get this job,” since those thoughts are unproductive and only lead to a rabbit hole of negative thinking.
Seniors who want to land a job post-graduation probably want to work now on networking, since professional
What to do when senioritis hits SPORTS
connections will help achieve that goal.
But mental health experts recommend taking life one day at a time. Giving yourself permission to handle your issues or worries in step-by-step practices may help with short and long-term tangible goals.
Also remember that whenever you feel big emotions, it’s okay to reach out for help. Talking to a counselor would likely benefit your mental health, since a trained professional could help guide you to ease those pressures.
Giving yourself grace is another form of self-care, since it keeps you from constantly blaming yourself.
The key to being kind to ourselves is understanding that we need to make space for the complexities of life. It’s essential to realize that we may not always have the right plan or calculated steps prepared for every possible tribulation. I think that uncertainty is what makes anxiety so real.
Experts say that working on coping skills and anxiety management will help ease uncer-
tainty. A well-balanced lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, consistent exercise and enough sleep is vital to maintaining a healthy mind.
Focusing your time on things you can control will also bring more ease. For example, if you are still deciding on a career path, take the time to research what interests you and to arrange job shadowing. Make an appointment with Career Services to build your résumé and polish your cover letter.
These tips correlate with being intentional about your
choices while learning about your priorities. It’s easy to start comparing yourself to fellow seniors who may look like they have their whole lives planned out and are ready for anything that comes their way, but remember that we all have a path and value.
Finding the balance between those complex emotions and how we choose to react to them will help ease the pressures of senior year.
The Fall of the Umpire Empire
Matthew Taylor Sports Editor
The 2026 MLB Season started on Wednesday, March 25, with a matchup between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants. While the Yankees scored an unanswered seven runs, the true story was found in the details of the new systems set in place for officiating.
Each stadium has now been outfitted with 5G antennas to facilitate the most sophisticated AI tracking in sports history.
The heart of this transformation is the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) system. This revolutionary development utilizes a 12-camera Hawk-Eye system that tracks
the flight of the ball with outstanding precision, maintaining a margin of error of only onesixth of an inch.
To perfect the process, the system identifies a 2D plane at the midpoint of the plate for the AI to determine what is considered a strike.
To compensate for the different heights and wingspans of the batters, the Midnight Rule is mathematically tailored to each batter, adjusting the strike zone to be 27–53.5% of each player’s height.
After experimentation in the minor leagues, it was discovered that a fully automated game left audience members considering the match to be
stale and dull. To blend the role of an umpire and the new AI systems, the MLB has introduced the “Hat Tap”, where players can call challenges on their own plays by tapping their hat.
This option is limited to the pitcher, catcher, or batter, and the player cannot get assistance from the dugout, leaving each player to call specifically on their instinct. Once the challenge is signaled, the jumbotron will instantly show a reveal to unveil the truth.
Each team is granted two challenges, and they only lose these if the umpire’s call is upheld. Another challenge is granted during extra innings if both are expended in the
standard time. The opening matchup was a testament to the widening gap between an umpire’s judgment and digital perfection.
A veteran umpire named Bill Miller missed 13 calls, with only a single strike being challenged by the affected player.
Platforms such as UmpScorecards now provide a public percentage. Other umpires, such as C.B. Bucknor, have already gone viral, with Bucknor having multiple calls overturned in a single inning.
There are also elements of gameplay that are being affected by these changes. Catchers like Jose Trevino have built their careers off of perfecting
the skill of framing, or stealing strikes by masking the ball’s true location. The 5G-powered zone has erased the value of this skill overnight.
As automation creeps its way into the MLB season, the question about the value for the man behind the plate has never been more relevant. The statistics of the first week of games have shown that there truly is a massive issue in the consistency of calls.
However, the growing use of AI threatens to sterilize the experience to be overly robotic and strip players like Trevino of their skills—the creative heart of the game.
“Focusing your time on things you can control will also bring more ease.” (Photo sourced from Pexels). “To
Body positivity is fighting itself OPINION
Maddie Schmidt Opinion Editor
Over the last couple weeks, pictures from the Oscars red carpet have been flooding my social media. As I see photo after photo of celebrities walking the carpet, I can’t help but notice a concerning pattern of dramatically thinner bodies being presented as the new ideal.
This got me thinking about the body positivity movement, which began as a push against the use of unrealistic beauty standards that caused shame and discrimination against people who didn’t fit those standards.
Somewhere along the way, however, that message shifted into something else entirely.
Of course, no one should be shamed or dehumanized because of their body. But there is a difference between treating people with respect and dignity and promoting the idea that all body sizes result in positive health outcomes.
Some aspects of the modern body positivity movement blur the lines between reducing shame and simply downplaying legitimate health concerns that result from being either over or underweight.
Once the cultural message becomes “you’re perfect as you are, no matter what,” it leaves little room for important cultural conversations about health, including change, prevention or long-term goals and well-being.
Cutting out shame is both valuable and necessary. But if that is where the movement
stops, we risk replacing one extreme with another, turning from harsh judgment to complete silence about health.
Body positivity is an increasingly confusing matter, however, when we take celebrity examples into account. We often see the opposite end of the spectrum at events such as the Oscars, which often still doesn’t showcase “fit” or “healthy” role models. Instead, we are bombarded with big names showing up increasingly thinner to each event.
We should celebrate people achieving health goals and making lifestyle improvements. But recently, many celebrities
whose weight and health have been under scrutiny already appeared to be at a healthy weight. I see constant chatter online about whether or not these celebrities are overdoing it, as well as endless discussion about the escalating trend of extreme thinness.
There’s a point where the goal of weight loss stops being about health and starts being about chasing an ever-changing aesthetic ideal. Celebrities might operate under extreme scrutiny, but the patterns we see as a society still shape cultural expectations.
For a time, there seemed to be a brief reprieve from the
ultra-thin body expectations, particularly from 2012 to 2019.
However, since 2020, reemerging examples of extreme thinness and rapid weight-loss culture are being pushed by socialites at the top.
And on a broader scale, we are flooded with messaging that discourages acknowledging health risks. So where does that leave us?
The result is a culture that pushes two conflicting signals at once. On one hand, we are experiencing an elite push toward ever-thinner bodies, and, on the other hand, we are hounded by a public message that discourages honest
conversations about health.
The middle ground is what we are missing as a society. We should not remain complacent about health or refuse to acknowledge when it is at risk.
Our goal should be to conduct a healthy lifestyle, not to fit the aesthetic that we think is the trendiest. If we are sacrificing our well-being for the sake of our image, then we are doing it wrong.
A healthier cultural message would contend with two ideas at once: People deserve respect and dignity at any size, yet health is still worth pursuing, even when that conversation is uncomfortable.
RELIGION
Trusting in God as a graduating senior
Eliana Morales Managing Editor
It’s April and graduation is just around the corner. I was terrified for a long time and almost dreaded that day.
I tend to be an anxious person, and I stressed about post-grad even during my first semester at Southern. I’d sit in Fitness for Collegiate Life class and panic because I didn’t know what to do for my master’s.
But now, as graduation draws nearer, I somehow feel calmer.
I just came back from a spring mission trip to Mexico. I had to trust in God to speak through me when I was not a confident preacher and unforeseen problems arose. On day one, the projector broke, and I had to go up to the pulpit anyway. Other days, we had to prepare two sermons instead of one.
Despite the difficulties we faced, my church enjoyed the evangelistic series, and it was a wonderful experience.
I don’t have employers lining up to hire me or a solid plan to share housing with anyone. I only got paid $7.00 last week, and sometimes, I have to stop myself from rethinking my entire major.
Maybe I look put-together, but in reality, I’m hoping that I’m not alone in my situation.
But why do I feel more at peace? I could joke and say that I’ve given up, but that’s not it. The truth is that when I look back on my life, I see that God always had a plan.
Since I’m a chronic worrier, I have a few verses written in my Notes app as reminders.
One of them is Matthew 6:2527: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life— whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to
wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” God takes care of the birds, so how much more will he care for us? I ask myself, when have I been without? Or
when have things not worked out in the end? Sure, things have gone in unfortunate and unprecedented ways, but I’m here, alive and well.
The last part of the verse is profound: “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
I don’t want to waste time this month by worrying about something God already has handled.
Another verse in my Notes app is Philippians 4:6-7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead,
pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.”
I have a distinct vision for myself post-grad and a job I really want. I do my best in interviews, but I try to not stress too much because the Bible is so clear in telling us that worry
is a waste of time.
Instead, I enjoy each day as it comes, despite my raging senioritis. I have little things that make me look forward to the next day, and I try my best to make my post-grad plan a success.
But if things don’t go exactly how I hoped, I know that there’s something better in store for me.
“We should celebrate people achieving health goals and making lifestyle improvements.” (Photo sourced from Pexels).
“I don’t want to waste time this month by worrying about something God already has handled.” (Photo courtesy of Pexels).
Why we need humor now more than ever
Rhett Seitz Lifestyle Editor
Last Wednesday was April Fool’s Day. Although not an official holiday or even a big commemorative event as Easter was this past Sunday, many people still recognize the day and take the time every year to participate in its “foolishness.”
In fact, one of the things I fell for last week was a message from someone in my LifeGroup. I saw the arrow icon for a video, and naturally, I tapped the play button. Nothing happened. I tapped it again. I spent almost a minute mashing my screen, trying to get that video to load. Finally, reality dawned on me. It wasn’t a video at all. It was just a screenshot of a black screen with a play button centered. April Fools!
Instead of getting annoyed, the entire group chat erupted in digital laughter. That tiny moment of shared foolishness didn’t divide us; it united us. It was a classic, harmless example of the profound power of humor.
April Fool’s Day highlights something vital to human experience. Humor is the social glue that keeps us connected and, frankly, keeps us sane. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can be a massive goofball, sometimes to my own detriment. If you need proof, ask any of my closest friends.
I love humor, but not because I want the spotlight or want people to think I am the smartest guy in the room. I love it for the opposite reason.
I love humor because of how it makes others feel.
When you make someone laugh, you are temporarily lift-
ing the weight of the world off their shoulders. When you use humor, you bring unique joy to other people’s lives and create shared memories for them.
When people think of those like me who constantly use humor, they hope to be reminded of the fond, fun memories shared together. Humor often makes someone more memorable.
Maya Angelou said in her famous quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Humor is one of the fastest ways to make someone feel seen, safe and joyful.
Of course, humor goes far beyond just breaking the ice. It actively improves our quality of life and builds our self-esteem.
We live in a high-stress world driven by deadlines, anxiety, conflict, heartbreak and tragedies. In the middle of all that chaos, humor acts as a biological shock absorber. It lowers our protective walls.
And on the flip side, when you learn to laugh at yourself, your self-esteem skyrockets. Why? Because the moment you stop taking yourself so seriously, you stop being paralyzed by the fear of looking foolish. You own your mistakes instead of hiding from them.
Whenever I meet someone who is wonderfully eccentric, unapologetically themselves and unafraid to be a little weird, I always make a point of telling them how much I appreciate their energy. Almost every time, they respond with some variation of the same wisdom: “Life is too short, man. You can’t take it too seriously.”
Of course, like any powerful tool, using humor requires wisdom and discretion. I have had to learn the hard way several times that humor can be a detriment when taken too far.
Sarcasm and jokes made at the expense of someone else’s insecurities aren’t true humor; they are just cruelty with a laugh track. True humor uplifts; it never tears down.
Scripture prescribes laughter as a medical necessity. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” I genuinely believe there will be humor in heaven. It won’t be the cynical, mean-spirited comedy that we sometimes rely on here on Earth. It will be the kind of pure, lighthearted joy that makes your stomach hurt
and brings tears to your eyes. It will be the kind of laughter that perfectly unites us. So, even though April Fool’s Day has passed, keep making those jokes. Keep finding the absurdity in stressful moments. Give yourself permission to be a little foolish, because a good laugh might just be the most productive thing you do all day.
Jesus Has Risen! Happy Easter!
Created by Nyah Jackson
“Humor often makes someone more memorable.” (Photo courtesy of Pexels).
• Giving Day • Student Missions Exit Retreat (April 9-12)
@
Church of Seventh-day Adventists
• 7:30 pm AfterGlow @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists South Atrium
8:09 pm Sunset
8:30 pm Vespers: Anna Bennett @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
• 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Free Vehicle Inspections
3:00 pm Recital: Alison Menzmer, Viola @ Ackerman Auditorium
7:30 pm Concert: Southern Wind Symphony @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
9:30 pm SOAP: Ocoee Rafting ($10) @ Wright Hall
Innovation Day 6:30 pm “Get the Scoop on Choosing a Major” Workshop @ Bietz, The GRID
• 11:00 am Convocation: Giving Day @ Iles P.E. Center
• 3:30 pm Graduate Curriculum Committee @ Wright Hall Robert Merchant Room • 6:30 pm Bring It Challenge @ Ackerman Auditorium • 9:00 pm Juniors Pre-Registration (55 Earned Hours)
• 7:30 pm Evensong: Southern Ringtones @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists
• 9:30 pm 423 Night Market @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists Parking Lot
Wednesday Intramurals
Soccer
6:00 pm
- Dribble or drown vs shin destroyers (Women’s)
- wiz khafifa vs sarang stealers (Women’s)
- Suiiii vs Slightly illegal (Men’s B)
7:00 pm
- Yawa FC vs Zero Ball Knowledge (Men’s B)
- Monarcas FC vs KOALA FC (Men’s B)
- Cleats & beats vs Barely Atletico FC (Men’s)
8:00 pm
- Lionel Ronaldo vs clankers fc (Men’s B)
- Bardrid vs Memo Horchata FC (Men’s B)
- The Oceans Eleven vs The Grass stains (Men’s B)
9:00 pm
- Always Offside vs The Dribbling Idiots (Men’s B)
- Bodo/Glimt vs Perfectly Aged (Men’s B)
Pickleball (Mixed Doubles B)
5:00 pm
- A Asok vs S Tanamal
- K Alvarez vs K Castro
- E Kang vs O Kim
- H Ko vs N Saesim
6:00 pm
- C emde vs S Lee
- J Oleaurre vs M Dixon
- C Esveld vs S Korac
- J Lee vs M Higginbotham
7:00 pm
- A Kim vs S Pasaribu
- J rivera vs k reich
Student Employee Appreciation Week May Senior Deadline For Correspondence/Transients/Incompletes
Last Day To Order Regalia For May Graduation 9:00 pm Sophomores Pre-Registration (24 Earned Hours)
- D Illangovan vs R Blake
- I Scanlon vs M Savino
8:00 pm
- A Murphy vs Z kwon
- J richards vs Keyla Castro
- C Suyatno vs R Wood
- J Bingham vs M Munive
Become an advanced practice nurse and earn a doctor of nursing practice at the same time.
The BSN to DNP program mentors bachelor’s degree-level graduates as they gain necessary RN experience through an advanced nursing practice emphasis of their choice.
Options include: • DNP/MBA • Lifestyle Medicine • Nurse Educator
• Nurse Practitioner (emphases include Acute Care–Adult/Gerontology, Primary Care–Adult/Gerontology, Family, and Psychiatric Mental Health)
BSN DEGREE TO DNP
