MARCH 3, 2020
VOLUME 35 · ISSUE 6
THESYRINX.COM
News · Spring convocation p. 4
Opinions · What happened to WWIII memes? p. 9
A&E
· “P.S I Still Love You” bingeworthy movie review p.11
Features
· The history behind mock rock p. 15
· Community announcements p.19
Mock Rock(s) your socks off Lip-synching brings the community together for a night of fun Dani Mercado | A&E Editor
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ock Rock is an annual Fresno Pacific University lip -synch battle and this year is the tenth anniversary. Once seated with glow sticks provided by staff, attendees were greeted with a video showing clips from previous years’ performances. When the video finished the master of ceremonies, Mark Tyler Miller, approached the stage.
Miller opened the evening by welcoming the audience and asking how they were feeling. Miller’s eager eyes were met with cheers and hollers. Miller proceeded to introduce the first group of performers for the evening, Yas Kween. Continued on page 14
Editorial 2
Syrinx Staff Editor-in-Chief Abigail Brown editor@thesyrinx.com Production Manager Shelbi Hayzlett manager@thesyrinx.com News Editor Nikki Campos Associate News Editor Janelle Fontaine news@thesyrinx.com Opinions Editor Luke Fredette opinions@thesyrinx.com A&E Editor Dani Mercado arts@thesyrinx.com Features Co-Editors Timothy Myracle Austin Noronha features@thesyrinx.com Visual Editor Brittney Banta Social Media Editor Samantha Rhoden Chief Copy Editor Shelbi Hayzlett Copy Co-Editors Nate Van Dyke Francesco Parisi Staff Writers Shyanne Mortimer John Hipskind Madison Alley Faculty Adviser
Building a community of individuals
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n our past few issues, we at the limited by what we can actually expeSyrinx have focused on the indirience, and what we can experience is vidual. Much attention has been controlled largely by our environment. placed on how we perceive and react However, we do not lack the abilto our own surroundings, whether it ity to act freely; we all react to these be the people around us, or the situathings differently, leave our stamp tions we encounter (regular or otherof individuality upon others and wise). Less ado has been made about ourselves in unique and varied how that environment, in turn, ways—what food we affects us. As individuals, like is as much with our own likes, influenced by the loves, challenges of our We are, it seems, whims and victories, we taste buds as are not beings the quality limited by what we that exist within of the food can actually experia vacuum, and itself, and cannot react to opinions ence, and what we things as such. can only be can experience is From the formed by very first breath controlled largely by our engaging we draw, our enviactively with our environment. ronment begins to those of others. work on us. What we It is widely like is decided mostly acknowledged by what sports, toys, TV that we become shows or books that we encounour best selves through the greatest ter; what we dislike is decided in the variety of experiences. While some same way. Our favorite foods are only responsibility falls on our shoulout of those we have had the chance ders to expose ourselves to as much to eat, and so on. Nor is this limited as possible, there is only so much to objects; our social mannerisms, that can be asked of a person—and our very language and what we think especially college students. Some about, is decided and influenced by of that responsibility must then fall the people we meet and the situations upon the environment itself, which, or conflicts they bring with them. too, is often managed by people. Most of our opinions are based on There is thus some social (or, ideas we have been introduced to by perhaps, even moral) responsibilan outside source. We are, it seems, ity on the part of the people who
help build that environment to help it to offer as many varied experiences and ideas as possible. As the Voice of the Sunbirds, The Syrinx strives to do this each issue—this one, for example, includes a variety of events, opinions and features from all aspects of campus life that you may not have encountered before (or at least enough for your taste). These run the gamut, from the untold history of Mock Rock, the recruitment process of possible new faculty members, the Theatre Department’s new play and even to an examination of the recent World War III meme trend. But we cannot do it alone. The very environment that we give voice to is made by you, the reader. You contribute to, just as much as you absorb from, the Fresno Pacific community; to participate in it is both to enjoy it and to add to it. As you read through this issue, then, we ask you to consider the role you play in the environment, and the role that environment plays in you; how you may help to create a more varied and enjoyable community for everyone else, and what you can get out of what is already here.
Leann Lo
WHAT IS “THE SYRINX”?
The Syrinx student newspaper is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.
“The Syrinx” (pronounced sear - inks) is a monthly student newspaper at Fresno Pacific University. The Syrinx name refers to the vocal organ of a bird. Our mission is to foster dialogue about issues, events and ideas within our immediate FPU community and the world at large. We strive to be the voice of the Sunbirds.
LETTERS POLICY
The Syrinx encourages readers to write Letters to the Editor. We welcome comments and critcism. Letters should be 400 words or fewer. The Syrinx reserves the right to edit letters and decide whether a letter is appropriate for publication. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Send letters to letters@thesyrinx.com.
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News
Communication Department hosts candidates applying for Critical Media and Film Studies position Vacant HRSS faculty positions lead to a search in hiring Janelle Fontaine | Associate News Editor
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he Communication Department has recently been interviewing candidates for the faculty position Critical Media and Film Studies. Dr. Carl Laamanen was welcomed to the FPU campus on February 7, 2020 and Dr. Nancy Quinones as well on February 10, 2020. The candidates were asked to give a structured lesson in certain classes. Dr. Laamanen taught Narrative and Dr. Quinones taught Intercultural Communications. Students in both classes filled out evaluation/ performance forms that the committee is able to use to evaluate each candidate. These opinions are important because they are based on the academic performance evaluation of the candidate from the student perspective. Each evening they were invited to join other faculty members as well as students at an informal gathering called a “Meet and Greet” where pizza was offered. Students were encouraged to ask the candidates questions and there was time for open discussion and conversation. Program Director of English, Dr. Eleanor Nickel, has strong feelings about this event. “I wouldn’t have thought that would make or break a candidate. I would have thought that was more like a little break in the schedule, like ‘Okay, let’s have some pizza.’ But I’ve noticed for a number of people that we’ve hired that even clinches it,” Nickel said. Similar to the communication department, other departments use a national cycle to post. They can also use conventions to look for potential applicants. Most importantly FPU has a handbook with policies on how the university must go about the process of looking for new faculty positions. A general outline states there is a posting for positions in the fall and spring is used for interviews, campus visits and then hiring can happen. There can be different circumstances depending on needs, but this is the standard scenario. This process can be labor-intensive for all involved, because the committee is made up entirely of faculty members. Nickel shares something we may take for granted because we don’t
see all this extra work the faculty is doing. “There’s definitely this urgency to hire someone when you’re doing this search and it’s hard because if we don’t happen to have someone in that pool that we think is really going to do a good job. It’s a tough decision; but we’re always thinking about our students and what their experience is going to be and when we hire, we’re thinking about the students, and we’re thinking ‘What do our students need, what are they’re going to be looking for?’” Nickel said. Right now there is a large transition of faculty within the FPU HRSS department. This issue needs to be addressed and we need to know what FPU is doing to manage the situation. Many majors within HRSS find the lack of faculty especially difficult and have seen student enrollment decline as a result. Associate Dean HRSS Dr. Greg Camp has recently changed positions within HRSS. He has a unique perspective concerning the current atmosphere. “Smaller departments [are] a little bit more pronounced where you’ve only got one or two faculty. So I think getting to a point where we can have more faculty that students are exposed to is just helpful,” Camp said. “Possible Happens Here.” This is the FPU educational ideology. According to the FPU website homepage this begins with faculty. Relationships between the faculty and students that are individualized therefore create a better learning environment. This type of faculty/student interaction supports lifelong learning. HRSS will continue to search for candidates to fill the open positions in faculty and the new faculty members will be held to the highest standards. FPU will always keep the students in the forefront and remember that the best success is fostering a positive faculty-student relationship.
Dr. Nancy Quinones
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. NANCY QUINONES
Dr. Carl Laamanen
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. CARL LAAMANEN
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News
FPU welcomes new semester with spring convocation Leach continues convocation tradition at FPU. Nikki Campos | News Editor Madison Alley | Staff Writer
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very semester Fresno Pacfic University has a convocation service. On February 19th, during the normal college hour service at 10 a.m., the spring convocation took place. The idea behind spring convocation is to bring together the student body and faculty to worship for the beginning of the semester. OSFD coordinates this event with the help of Dr. Jones. Depending on administrative decision, convocation can be a formal event or a casual event. The entire campus is asked to close all stores and not have office hours, classes or meetings during this time. This is done so that every student and faculty member is able to attend spring convocation. Interim Campus Pastor Brian Davis explained what convocation is to FPU and how it’s part of higher education to have a convocation.
The idea behind spring convocation is to bring together the student body and faculty to worship for the beginning of the semester. “It’s bringing people together. It’s kicking off the new academic year or new academic semester,” said Davis. Davis went on to say the deeper meaning of convocation.
Speaker Tara Beth Leach engages with audience at spring convocation.
“It’s grounding us together in who we are as a university. We ground that in Scripture and in worship together,” said Davis. The speaker for spring convocation this year was Tara Beth Leach. She is senior pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena. Dean of Seminary Valerie Rempel explained the process of picking Leach to come and speak for spring convocation. Rempel described how they are often given a list of potential people to choose from and from there they pick a person. “Her theological perspective aligns nicely with
PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYNE STEFFEN
ours,” said Rempel. Rempel also explained that Leach is someone who is becoming more well known. “She’s a young emerging thinker, writer, blogger, pastor, author and writer,” said Rempel. In Leach’s sermon, she focused on Jesus’ most famous sermon, The Sermon on the Mount. Leach used the idea of the “American Dream” in relation to what Jesus says in The Bible. “Jesus calls us to live in an alternate reality, and
continued on page 5
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News
(continued from page 4) in many ways when you put it up next to this American vision for the American dream it seems so upside down,” Leach said. Leach’s sermon related well to the ideals and beliefs of FPU and helped shaped spring convocation this semester. According to Rempel, chapel is something that runs all year long. However, convocation is just given a specific name. Rempel explained how convocation, like chapel or college hour, is meant to bring the community together. “The intent is to bring the entire community, faculty, staff, students, admin. It’s not targeted towards one group,” said Rempel.
“Jesus calls us to live in an alternate reality, and in many ways when you put it up next to this American vision for the American dream it seems so upside down,” -Leach Convocation is a tradition at FPU and is something that FPU values. Davis made a valid point about why convocation is so important. “There’s very few times where the entire FPU community is gathered,” said Davis. Convocation is the one time each semester where the entire FPU campus can come together and simply worship together. Convocation will continue to occur every semester at FPU as a tradition.
FPU staff members play for worship during Spring Convoaction.
Dean of Seminary Valerie Rempel speaking to the community of FPU.
PHOTO BY MADISON ALLEY
PHOTO BY JANELLE FONTAINE
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News
FPU celebrates book publication for Dr. Ken Martens Friesen A closer look into Friesen’s new book Nikki Campos | News Editor
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n February 6th at 3:30 p.m. in the Hiebert Library, FPU Associate Professor for history and political science Dr. Ken Martens Friesen celebrated the release of his new book, titled Energy, Economics, and Ethics. The Hiebert Library set up a book publication event for Friesen to discuss his new book. After the discussion, books were sold along with an opportunity for Friesen to sign the copy. Friesen’s book is divided into two sections. The first half talks about four countries: Germany, the United States, China and India. “There are four countries that represent the vast majority of carbon emissions in the world today. And so I wanted to focus on them to show how the world has got into our energy and environmental issues,” Friesen said. Friesen was actually able to travel to these countries and stay with families and talk about their everyday use of energy. It was here where Friesen was able to learn from these experiences and incorporate them in his book. The second half focuses on solar wind, geothermal energy, technology and possible solutions for these environmental issues, as well as carbon dioxide emissions in American society. Friesen, during the publication discussion, stated how the book was a ten-year process in the making. It wasn’t until recently that he began to write. “I actually didn’t start writing until about two years ago. And so from then on I wrote several chapters before a sabbatical,” Friesen said. Friesen was then able to take a sabbatical to finish writing his book. During his writing process, Acquisitions Librarian Hope Nisly was the editor for Friesen’s book. “It was a lot of fun. I really actually enjoyed it partly because it’s not a topic that I necessarily know lots about, and I liked his approach and I liked his style,” said Nisly.
Professor Friesen poses with his newly published book Energy, Economics, and Ethics.
During Friesen’s discussion, several faculty members asked questions. One FPU faculty staff asked if Friesen had any possible motivation to write another book or continue research on this project. Friesen responded with a simple “no” but made mention that the solution to problems in this society are always changing. Friesen had a few motivations when it came to writing this book. “The classes that I was teaching on economics, on history, international relations on Asia, Middle East ...in terms of energy,” said Friesen. While editing Friesen’s book, Nisly particularly enjoyed this part. “I like the stories he was telling of people from a family from India, China, Germany and the US, his
PHOTO BY NIKKI CAMPOS
own family in the US. And so it was actually kind of enjoyable in that sense,” said Nisly. Another motivation for Friesen was based on an experiment he conducted called “Friesen Fritter Fire Fossil Fuel Free,” where he drove a car across America on vegetable oil. Sophomore communication major Jacklyn Avila explained her reaction to discovering that an FPU faculty member had published his very own book. “It’s very exciting to see a professor achieve such great things and it gives me hope in that if I pursue a career in that field or a different one, there are experienced and talented professors that can mentor me right here at FPU,” Avila said. Friesen’s book is available on Amazon and at the FPU Bookstore.
Opinions
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The truth behind movie leaks How leaks satiate the desires of both filmmakers and moviegoers
Luke Fredette | Opinions Editor
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’ve noticed that movie leaks and spoilers seem to be everywhere nowadays. The most recent example would be "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"—an entire subreddit seems to have exploded in popularity as details from test-screeners and supposed Lucasfilm interns began to hit the Internet. People flocked at the opportunity to see what was going to happen ahead of its release. Something similar happened with "Avengers: Endgame" last summer, but the attitude was completely different: it was a common threat to spoil major character moments (or, what was worse, deaths) from the film. Why such a difference? Let’s take a look at the atmosphere surrounding both films in the months leading up to their release.
"Endgame," was a film that had most fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe excited; "Infinity War" had been a smash hit, and moviegoers were excited to see how the storyline they had followed for the past ten years would end. "The Rise of Skywalker", on the other hand, was the followup to "The Last Jedi", a movie that was... controversial to say the very least. Around the former was an atmosphere of excitement; the latter, however, was surrounded by worry and anger. One thing unites both films, though: they were regarded as being incredibly important by their audiences. Fans placed a good deal of stock in these movies’ quality and success, but as the release dates came ever nearer, there was no evidence they would be as good as was hoped. "There's a certain power The only people who could know were those responsible for in that. People are making the films themselves: the studios. attracted to doing that, Dr. Billie Jean Wiebe, assobecause information is ciate professor for Communication and program director of the power, and even false Communication program, spoke information is power, on the appeal (and vice versa) of leaking information on a prodif there is that much uct. “There’s a certain power in generated enthusiasm that. People are attracted to and anticipation for that doing that, because information kind of a big event." - Dr. is power, and even false information is power, if there is that Billie Jean Wiebe much generated enthusiasm and anticipation for that kind of a big event,” Dr. Wiebe said.
At the end of the day, for better or worse, movie leaks are a win-win scenario.
Before leaks, that power was firmly in the hands of the producers; with that information spread around, however false it may be, we can all have a bit of that power. You can, as a result, see leaks as almost democratic. The power that studios and producers hold over us, derived knowing the real content of products that we see as being very important, is in some way given back to us. “The term ‘leak’ is a politics word. If you leak information, it’s a transgression. It’s considered a breach,” Dr. Wiebe said. The support that Edward Snowden and other leakers of government secrets have received implies that this desire for knowledge can be found in every part of life. Isn’t our government, after all, important to us too? But don’t think that this loss of power is necessarily a bad thing for the producers.
“Don’t forget that advertisers and marketers might be doing this intentionally. There’s that notion in advertising and publicity: that there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” Dr. Wiebe said. The leaks surrounding "The Rise of Skywalker" did not prevent it from making money hand-over-fist; nor, I’d bet, would learning plot details of "Endgame" have kept people from making it a box office record-breaker. The interest in seeing the films were, if anything, increased by spoilers, especially when we didn't know for sure if they were real. “I saw the leaks, I know what’s going on, but at the same time I don’t know what’s going on, so I kind of want to go watch [a film] just to piece it together. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, you know?” said Edwardo Cazares, sophomore English major. “[Leaking] creates all sorts of outrage among a whole group of people; that buzz, that outrage, itself promotes the movie. So don’t assume these leaks are just coming from individuals,” Dr. Wiebe said. At the end of the day, for better or worse, movie leaks are a win-win scenario. On one hand, the anxiety (or excitement) that comes from not knowing how a film will turn out is reduced for the viewer. While on the other hand, studios do not lose out on any filmgoer’s cash.
Opinions 8
The dangers of a stagnant schedule And the benefits of mixing up your routine Luke Fredette | Opinions Editor
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e all know how hectic the first month of a new semester is. The second, by contrast, often seems easier. The reason for this is, I think, simple: we are getting used to not only our class schedule, but also our work schedule. We are deciding how (and when) we will deal or not with our work, and developing habits that will hopefully carry us successfully through the whole semester. This is far from a bad thing, and can even offer something of a spiritual break for those tired out by the whirlwind of their first classes. But there is danger in it as well. As human beings we love patterns; they make things seem predictable and safe. But this can be taken too far and result in something far worse: stagnation. If we become too set in our ways, we respond much worse to sudden changes in our environment. We can become so used to things being a certain way that what we don’t see coming—like forgotten assignments, unexpected family events or even the transition from schoolwork to our summer job—can provoke a wholly negative reaction.
It is in moving outside of our comfort zone that human beings can truly grow.
Not that there are only bad surprises, of course; there are just as many good ones, such as the well-hidden birthday party, or the joy of an unexpectedly-cancelled assignment. But, at best, these two kinds of surprises occur in equal amounts—and, as a glance at international news often shows, we tend to notice (and remember) the bad things more than the good ones.
There's nothing wrong with doing something you've always wanted to do; in fact, wanting to do things can make planning them much easier.
For all our love of schedules, it’s in moving outside of our comfort zone that human beings can truly grow; the most important and memorable experiences only happen if one goes out of their way to try something new, or when their schedules are the least consistent. In order to avoid falling into the trap of the familiar schedule, then, I propose that we break from it whenever we can. The form that such breaks will take can (and most likely will) vary depending on the person; one can try out extracurricular activities, for example, especially regularly-occurring ones. Check out those that have appealed to you in the past, like one-night sporting events or visiting artists and writers. There’s nothing wrong with doing something you’ve always wanted to do; in fact, wanting to do those things can make planning them much easier. What is import-
ant is that they are not what one usually does. I am not saying that someone should abandon any sort of schedule whatsoever, or make theirs too loose. Doing that invites unproductivity, increases one’s chances of falling behind in schoolwork and can often prove damaging to our health and relationships in the long run. However, doing the opposite presents the same danger: someone’s schedule should not be so rigid that they ignore opportunities to relax with friends, or to suddenly join a game in progress. It’s healthy to be flexible, but sadly, the rigors of school life often discourage it. This sort of situation seems to call for a middle path, a happy medium. In order to prevent us from becoming stuck in our ways and to develop a habit of careful flexibility, then, I suggest that one try to add novel experiences or uncommon events into their schedule. These should be carefully planned, so someone doesn’t disrupt their schedule in a bad way, but should not be all at the same time, or even the same week, if possible. By doing so, one can learn to roll with life’s punches and take surprises, unpleasant or otherwise, with more grace, and even enthusiasm.
I am not saying that someone should abandon any sort of schedule whatsoever ... Someone's schedule should not be so rigid that they ignore opportunities to relax with friends.
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Opinions
The rise and fall of World War III memes Analyzing our generation's response to a crisis Luke Fredette | Opinions Editor
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he first year of the new decade started off with a bang—literally. January 3, 2020 saw the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, supposedly due to the active threat he and his plans posed to American citizens in Iran. A controversial figure, General Soleimani was mourned publically by his country. Americans responded much differently. Memes about a possible third world war quickly flooded the internet; according to the website Know Your Meme, “on Twitter #WWIII reached number one trending position worldwide” that very day. They ranged drastically in format, from the reappropriation of oldies but goldies like the “Crying Michael Jordan” to newcomers to the meme scene, such as “Gamers in WWIII”, which pictured video game players attempting to apply the rules of popular video games to real-world combat. Things have settled down with remarkable speed, however: a mere month later, according to Google Trends, searches for the likes of “world war 3 meme,” have fallen from 28-100 percent relative popularity, to less than 1 percent. Despite the fact that tensions with Iran have far from calmed down, the fad seems to have run its course.
So what happened? It might be too obvious, but a world war is a scary thing. The past two have left behind them drastically-altered worlds and ideas about reality. The pain and suffering of those who took part can still be felt today. The past few generations, ours included, have been lucky and avoided such a devastating conflict, but events such as these remind us that that luck may not last. In hindsight, it is easy to say that it should have been obvious that a global conflict was not going to emerge from the General’s assassination. But a threat, and the fear that follows it, doesn’t have to be realistic, and each reminder of the tensions—which were everywhere to be found, from national news networks and Iranian retaliatory strikes—brought those fears back to the forefront of our minds. Here memes take the stage. In general, none of them denied the horrors a world war would bring, or presented it as close to a good thing. Most, in fact, comically exaggerated the horror we felt in the hopes of getting a laugh. The gamer memes are a good example: through the comedy that would result from people attempting to apply video game logic to real-world violence, they cast World War III in an entirely ridiculous light.
PHOTOS BY KNOWYOURMEME.COM
This air of lightheartedness reveals a tension between what we feared and what we knew to be true. That the memes died down around the time most news agencies let the issue drop—refocusing on the drama of the impeachment trial, and the looming presidential election—is especially telling. Our generation’s response to a sudden atmosphere of fear, and the possibility of war and death, was to laugh at it, to make fun of it. And when that danger was revealed to be a fake, the need for memeing it disappeared. What could this mean for our generation as a whole? On the one hand, it could show a heartening refusal to play along with the narrative that most media tries to sell us. Instead, it suggests, we prefer to lampoon their message, or make it ridiculous. On the other, it could show a disregard of war, a hidden and deep fear that we can only escape through humor. How we will respond when war truly does come is unknown; with any luck, that day will never come. But speculation is what people trying to make you afraid often do; for now, let’s let memes remain dreams.
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Opinions
The importance of introvert voice Those with little-heard voices should choose when to use them Luke Fredette | Opinions Editor
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new addition was recently proposed to The Syrinx’s Opinions section: a regular column that would allow the more introverted or anti-socially inclined students to weigh in on a number of issues. Of particular interest were what those with a natural inclination towards the niche (and otherwise non-mainstream) thought about events that are often talked about in popular circles. Ideally, such a column would feature a new writer every month, but in lieu of that, I had to find myself a suitably introverted person to handle the job. But, I thought, perhaps this concept requires a wee bit more reflection.
...those who do not express their opinions openly do so for a reason.
You see, an important part of free speech is that one is given equal freedom to not say anything— silence can, in many ways, be golden. This element of choice is what differentiates free speech from its more evil twin, repression. I am not suggesting that such a column would deprive an introverted person of that choice (it would remain voluntary, after all), but it nearly excludes the idea that those who do not express their opinions openly do so for a reason. I’m tempted to argue that there could be an almost-infinite amount of reasons. Some examples would include: a lack of confidence in their ability
to defend such opinions, the belief that they will be condemned or rejected on their account (with the increased social consequences such things bring), or a lack of self-confidence in making their views public. What caught my attention the most, though, was the idea that they would have no interest in what was to be talked about. I’m not trying to insult the introverted—it would be hypocritical, being one of them myself. I too find it easy to ignore the events of pop culture and politics, usually in exchange for further immersion in what I would consider more interesting matters. What counts as “more interesting” varies: it can range from purely academic work (such as the study of ancient languages and texts) to more “modern” projects, like making short films or art pieces. Heck, some could simply prefer reading a metric ton-worth of books, or getting in plenty of video game hours, to debating modern U.S. politics. And can one blame them? I certainly can’t. Some do enjoy the current hot topic, and the more power to them—but we should not needlessly force either knowledge, or need, for an opinion on those who have no interest in forming one. These people have their own separate ways to contribute without debating the most popular topics. The greatest artistic and scholarly works, for example, are often made in isolation— yet despite this solitude, they have done us much good. Of course, if any introverts out there do, in fact, engage in their own way with popular trends and events, by all means, write in; I can’t deny that the outsider looking in has a unique, and often especially helpful, perspective. But for those of you who don’t: I do not want to shame you or make you feel inferior, because you’re not. Far from it, in fact.
...there could be an almost infinite amount of reasons.
The belief that they will be condemned or rejected.
Lack of selfconfidence.
...what I would consider more interesting matters.
A&E
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"P.S. I Still Love You" was everything we hoped it would be and more Film explores the struggles of growing up and coping with scary Abigail Brown | Editor-in-Chief new experiences Shyanne Mortimer | Staff Writer
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ebruary 12, 2020 marked an exciting day for fans of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series. The second film adapted from the New York Times bestseller written by Jenny Han, “P.S I Still Love You,” came to Netflix in the early morning, already viewed as a force to be reckoned with prior to its release. The movie came as the second film in the series, following the developing love story of Lara Jean Covey (the shy introvert) and Peter Kavinksy (the popular jock). This time with a twist, John Ambrose McClaren, one of the 5 receivers of Lara Jean’s previously released love letters, has now come back into the scene, causing drama and mixed emotions on behalf of all of the characters. The day of release, Lana Condor (Lara Jean) and Noah Centineo (Peter Kavinsky) took over the Netflix Twitter account to make a special announcement: the movie will be free to anyone, even those who don’t have a Netflix account, until March 9th. This was a well-received announcement, and the film quickly moved into the Netflix trending bracket. Although the directors did take quite a few liberties in straying from the contents of the original book series, it was so well done that even avid fans of the book were pleased. Some areas of the first book that were omitted in the previous film, “To All the Boys I Loved Before,” made their appearance in this film. Namely, Lara Jean’s volunteering at the Belleview retirement home and relationship with a fan favorite, Stormy, a sassy elderly woman. As was evidenced in the first film, the amazing on-screen connection between the two leads, Condor and Centineo, was as strong as ever. Jordan Fisher (John Ambrose), a new addition to the cast, also exemplified great chemistry with his on-screen peers. It is important to note that in the first movie, John Ambrose was portrayed by someone else entirely, as seen at the end of the movie. The TATBILB producers recast the role shortly before production but have yet to address why the change in actors occurred. Since this movie came out quite some time ago it is understandable how one could forget, but for those of us who have seen TATBILB countless amounts of times, we of course noticed right away. The supporting cast which included Ross Butler (Trevor), Emilijia Baranac (Gen), Anna Cathcart (Kitty), John Corbett (Dr. Covey), Holland Taylor (Stormy) and many others showed significant growth in their sequel
performances. Any sign of previous awkwardness that appeared in the first film had completely dissipated. Arguably, one of the best parts of this entire film was the magnificently chosen soundtrack. Featuring artists like MARINA, Oceans Ahead, San Holo and Sofie Winterson, the soundtrack added an equally light-hearted, yet emotional and captivating element to the film that played at just the right moments. The TATBILB series comes with a certain level of nostalgia, reminding those of us who were fans of movies like “Legally Blonde,” “Bring It On,” “Sixteen Candles” and many others, of a simpler era of romantic comedies. Although some might argue that the TATBILB series is “cheesy,” we argue that this is one of the reasons it's as wonderful and popular as it is. At the very least, the love story between Peter and Lara Jean reminds us of daydreams we once had as young girls. But on a deeper level, Lara Jean represents the struggles of growing up, dealing with new emotions and coping with scary new experiences. During the movie we are following Lara Jean through her own personal journey of navigating the anxieties and worries of her first real relationship, something most of us have experienced at one point or another. From the struggles of being raised by a single parent, to relationships with siblings, to finding ways to communicate with friends and lovers, the TATBILB series represents a coming of age tale that many of us relate to. While the arrival of John Ambrose was extremely exciting for most fans, as we got to meet a receiver of one of Lara Jean’s letters, it also left fans torn between Team Peter or Team John. Eventually we see these relationships turn into an on-screen love triangle that at times makes you feel more towards one than the other. But by the end, true love perseveres and we can all look forward to the Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky heartstoppers that no doubt will leave us hanging once again for two more years. Although movie sequels are often up for debate in terms of not being as good as the first, the same cannot be said about “P.S. I Still Love You.” With an opening that felt as if you had just picked up where you left off, a soundtrack that fit every moment and a plot full of so many twists and turns it left you feeling every type of emotion, it is safe to say fans are once again waiting for the final movie in this three-part series. While some of us have already binged this movie more times than we can count this first month alone, there is good
news. Shortly after Netflix announced the release date for “P.S I Still Love You,” they also announced that they were already in production for the third film of the trilogy, titled, “To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean.” Although the third film has no official release date yet, Noah Centineo tweeted two days after the announcement on August 13, 2019 that he had finished his final scene as Peter Kavinsky. We can only hope that the third film isn’t too far away! As for Lara Jean’s scrunchie, we still have received no closure, something that many fans are still bitter about. This movie is truly bingeworthy, leaving every other romantic comedy with some serious catching up to do this year.
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A&E 12
Taylor Swift documentary delves deeper into personal struggles Sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now Madison Alley | Staff Writer
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n Taylor Swift’s new documentary Miss Americana, she talks about the tough challenges she is forced to overcome and how turning 30 brings more pressure to her singing career. The film starts with Swift sitting down with her cat reading through old journals when she was 13. Progressively the camera cuts to videos of Swift sitting with her collaborator Joel Little coming up with beats and lyrics; this is the behind-the-scenes to some of Swift's famous songs like “Ready for it,” “ME” with Brandon Urie, “Lover,” “Are We Out of the Woods,” “The Man,” and “Only the Young.” The quick shots show each song being written by Swift with the help of Little. “I’ll be going through something, write the album about it, and sometimes it will coincide with what they are going through. Kind of like they are reading my diary,” Swift said.. Flipping through old songs when she was a rising country singer in Tennessee, small flashbacks of Swift singing when she was 15 cross the screen while she narrates her feeling of each moment. She released her first country album at 16 and became the youngest woman who wrote her album. At this time she received various country awards for her work. Swift hit the top of her career at 23 when she won “Album of the Year” again at the Grammys. She relives these feelings of receiving the award as feeling lost. Winning “Album of the Year” is what every artist strives for and Swift did it for two consecutive years. Feeling lost in her career, Swift opens up about her mom being diagnosed with cancer. This spirals into more events that ultimately led up to the Kayne West song “Famous” being released. When Swift spoke up about against a particular line that was not agreed upon within the song, the internet had #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty as #1 trending, because of her negative feedback of Kayne West. “We’re people who got into this line of work because we wanted people to like us, ‘cause we were intrinsically insecure because we liked the sound of people clapping, ‘cause it made us forget how much we are not good enough. And I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and it's just. I’m tired of it,” Swift said.
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When sexual assault charges were filed against her in 2015, Swift talks about her perspective of the courtcase. “This happened to me, we told his boss, they did an investigation, he got fired. Then he sued me for millions of dollars, so I countersued for one dollar,” Swift said. The process was dehumanizing and Swift did not feel any victory when she won the case. “This is with seven witnesses and a photo, what happens when you get raped and it’s your word against his,” Swift said. Swift is an activist that supports the title XI, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that has yet
be reauthorized in the new election of 2020. She produced the song “The Man'' to show her emotions going through this time. She continues to make a point in her world tour Lovers to say a few words for women who are silenced in instances like these. The next part of the documentary follows the steps she took in posting her first political statement for the 2018 midterm elections. Her managers were against her getting involved and warned her to not be like the Dixie Chicks, who made a comment about Donald Trump as president and got major backlash that ended their career. Against her father's and manager's wish, Swift publicly claimed she sided with two democrats, Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. In her post she dissed Marth Balckburn’s candidacy on Instagram in October 2018. “Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry,” Swift said. She argued her thoughts on Blackburn’s ideals of Tennessee Christian values. When Blackburn still won the 2018 midterm elections, Swift produced the song “Only the Young'' as a statement so that in the next elections more young voters would stand up for human rights that should be protected by our government. At the end of the documentary, Swift talks about being 30 and how some female artists die out at 35. She describes how people continually want artists to reinvent themselves and always be new, using an example of the public treating artists like toys for entertainment. This is a constant demand that had brought Swift into her negative headspace of always being perfect. Her image was built on a constant demand from the public to be the perfect Miss Americana. She ends her documentary with a promise to be her organic self and to continue to work hard while society still tolerates her being successful.
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A&E
The Spitfire Grill
A musical coming to life this spring
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Dani Mercado | A&E Editor
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he Fresno Pacific University theatre department puts on a musical every other year. This spring they have chosen The Spitfire Grill. This show is full of punch, perspective and pulling at your heart strings. According to the synopsis found on StageAgent. com The Spitfire Grill is about a woman named Percy Talbot who has recently been released from prison. Talbot moves to Gilead, Wisconsin with the hope of establishing a new life for herself. Talbot enters the dying town and begins working at the Spitfire Grill, owned by a woman named Hannah Ferguson. Ferguson has been struggling with the grill for years and Talbot suggests that she sell it for a profit. Talbot then creates an ad for the Spitfire Grill in the paper, making it seem to possess grandeur. The ad is a hit and letters start pouring in over interest in the grill. Mark Tyler Miller, the director and program director of the production, describes The Spitfire Grill as a story of finding one’s worth. “It's about someone finding their light and their
own ... she realizes that she has value,” Miller said. This musical is an acting-heavy musical. Rather than use the music to tell the story, Miller is focusing on using the music as an aid to storytelling. Another aspect of storytelling is dance. Alexa “Hardy” Heinrich, senior English major, is the choreographer of the show. The dance style of this show is not so much pizzaz as it is authentic. “It’s more about real people. So the movements have to reflect the people. I__t's not going to be a spontaneous dance break, it's going to be more organic and earthy,” Heinrich said. Heinrich is excited for the challenge of choreographing something so raw and real. She has a few ideas up her sleeve that will be saved for the stage. In order for a musical, or any show, to run smoothly, someone must oversee the stage itself. Hence, the stage manager Jordin Fry. Fry, sophomore psychology major, has an array of responsibilities as stage manager, such as keep-
ing in contact with the crew, seeing to costume needs and making sure entrances are clear on performance nights, but all the hard work is worth it. “At the end of it, I love it because I love watching it all come together and being beautiful,” Fry said. The crew of this show are very invested in the proper portrayal of the characters and the themes of this story. This is not a “typical” showman’s show necessarily, but the sentiments of hard work and success drive these characters all the way into people’s hearts. The Spitfire Grill is running April 16-18 and April 23-26. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com simply by typing in Fresno Pacific University or The Spitfire Grill.
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Michael Mason and Roman Endicott participating in Mock Rock.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY REITZ
Dani Mercado | A&E Editor
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as Kween performed a skit and dance based on pageants. Yas Kween graced the stage in evening dress and began to lip sync audio from various pageants. Each member had a solo moment and represented a different country with their audio clips. The skit concluded with a choreographed dance number and cheering from the audience. Judges praised the performers with Clint Harris saying the performance was entertaining and set the bar high. Miller then introduced the next group, ARAJ. ARAJ was filled with choreography. The group danced through an entire song, “Classic” by MKTO. The choreography consisted of two girls and two guys dancing with one another and the lyrics coinciding. The boys were attempting to woo the women with their dance moves and dance with them. However, this performance ended with a twist. The ladies chose one another at the end of the dance rather than the two boys. The crowd approved of the conclusion with a resounding round of applause. The next group that appeared was Math-a Mia. This group of ladies shined in their spark ly costumes and color f u l ma keup. “We just really wanted to represent math,” Michelle Stevens said.
The music consisted of songs of the “Mamma Mia” genre and films. This group focused heavily on choreography and remained in sync with one another throughout the performance. The energy from the group radiated to the audience as they began to clap in unison with the music and cheer. The group ended by striking poses and big smiles. When Math-a Mia walked offstage Miller took to the microphone and applauded the ladies’ performance. Miller then told the audience that he typically doesn’t point people out but the winners of Mock Rock 2019 were present. The winners were brought up to the stage and asked how their lives have changed since they won the competition. The champions joked with Miller as he introduced the next group, Wii Dem Boys. Wii Dem Boys’ performance began with the home display screen of the Wii system. The boys then assumed their positions and began dancing. The songs were a wide array of genres and types. Each dance routine ended with the boys falling over and “rebooting” for another dance. The dances grew in difficulty as the performance went on. The audience cheered on the boys and their contagious energy. The final group was the Bad Beaches. The theme was “Teen Beach Movie.” These ladies brought props to
the stage and began dancing right when the music hit. There was movement throughout the entire performance. The ladies began by having one person lip sync but it gradually grew into the entire group. At one point in the song Melissa Rigby got up on a chair and slid down on beat with the music. The crowd went wild. “We had practiced it so many times … they just told me you need to commit to the chair,” Rigby said. Their performance continued with audience interaction by beach balls being thrown around and t he crowd was loving it. After the final performance and the deliberation of the judges the performers were welcomed back onto the stage and awaited to hear the name of the winner. The judges handed Miller an envelope and announced the winners of Mock Rock and the $400 grand prize, the Bad Beaches. The crowd burst into screams and shouts of joy. The girls took their prize and posed for photos. Throughout the evening people were laughing, singing, and dancing. All in all Mock Rock was a huge success and enjoyable for anyone who was a part of it, audience or performer.
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Getting in sync with the history of Mock Rock The crowd-favorite event surpasses 10 years of school tradition Austin Noronha | Features Co-Editor Timothy Myracle | Features Co-Editor
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very year Fresno Pacific University hosts a lip sync battle in which students can come out and win prizes while showing off their best performances of their favorite songs. Mock Rock has been a tradition for 10 years now, but how did it come about? Assistant Dean for Student Development Lynn Reinhold was present for the first FPU Mock Rock 10 years ago. At the time, Reinhold was the activities director for FPU. Reinhold had discovered a youtube video of a Mock Rock performed by Biola University in which the students performed a lip sync and dance routine. “What I really liked about it, is that it takes team-building and we have to work together and I think we’ll build memories by doing that and they will feel proud of themselves,” Reinhold said. Reinhold wanted to bring an event like this to campus to create a memorable team-building experience and soon decided to bring it
“What I really liked about it, is that it takes team-building and we have to work together and I think we’ll build memories by doing that and they will feel proud of themselves,” Reinhold said. to FPU. Reinhold went on to discuss the first Mock Rock event performed by FPU Sunbirds. “It went really well, for the first time doing an event ... People didn’t really know what it was,” Reinhold said.
PHOTO BY STUDENT LIFE
Fresno Pacific’s mascot, Sunny the Sunbird, even participated in the 2008 Mock Rock with dance moves for a medley of popular songs. Various performances have been posted to Youtube over the years by students and faculty including Reinhold, ranging from Sunny cranking that Soulja Boy, to the winners of Mock Rock 2010 with a guys-and-girls performance of music from Grease. However, Reinhold noted that as the years went on, Mock Rock and other events have had a lower turnout than before. “For some reason students aren’t as willing to take time as they used to be to participate ... They want to go watch,” Reinhold said. Reinhold also mentioned that it can be difficult for the large population of commuters at FPU to make it to events on campus. Harris, who organized Mock Rock this year, explained how faculty is trying to find new
ways to make sure students can be involved. Mock Rock usually takes place in the fall, but this year saw something different with the event taking place in the spring semester as Student Life is hoping to find the best time of the school year when students are the least busy with assignments and other commitments. Mock Rock has had many participants who have now become staff and faculty at Fresno Pacific. Harris recounted that her first experience of Mock Rock was as a student during her freshman year at FPU alongside Assistant Director of Residence Life Mandie Wall. “My first experience was performing in it and it was super fun … We did a Disney theme; we did the Little Mermaid with my girls on my floor,” Harris said. “There's a lot of staff members who were students at FPU and a lot of them have stories. You know, in the past 10 years you probably have a
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PHOTOS BY STUDENT LIFE
Mock Rock 2009
Mock Rock 2010
Mock Rock 2011
Mock Rock 2014
Mock Rock 2014
Mock Rock 2016
memory of Mock Rock, which is fun,” Harris said. This year the Mock Rock master of ceremonies is Mock Rock has changed locations year to year Assistant Professor and over the duration of its time. Program Director of “There’s been some years where it's in the Theater Mark Tyler amphitheater. There’s some years where it's in the M i l l e r, b e t t e r gym with a stage setup. I know there was a year known as Tyler on "There's a lot of staff where it was even in the Cafe with a stage setup. campus. Miller members who were This year, we’re doing it in Butler Church proceeded to students at FPU and a and we are using the stage,” Harris said. explain his lot of them have stories. Although Mock Rock started many guide to having You know, in the past 10 years ago, the traditions of Mock Rock a successyears you probably have have slowly started to change and tranf ul p er fora memory of Mock Rock, sition along with the students. Mock mance and in which is fun,” Harris Rock currently is still a lip sync battle, but his own words has morphed into an eclectic mixture of describes particidance, choreography, acting and costumes. pants of Mock Rock as “Mock Rockers.”
“Your presence is super important and your presence with the song you choose ... the right song for the crowd, that you’re about to be in front of because it’s college students. They’re young ... They want fun, so fun material is really important,” Miller said. Last year Miller was a judge for Mock Rock. He said that if students try to exactly match the words to the songs it provides a great and enjoyable performance. Faculty like Reinhold and Harris will continue to reminisce in the past experiences and memories of Mock Rock by working behind the scenes to help students get out and make new ones. Faculty like Miller will also participate in the new legacy of Mock Rock at FPU as it celebrates being a campus tradition for 10 years.
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Getting into working out Why the fitness center at FPU is the place for you Timothy Myracle | Features Co-Editor Austin Noronha | Features Co-Editor John Hipskind | Staff Writer
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he new and updated Fitness Center at FPU opened in 2013. But how do students use it today and how can students who are new to gym exercise avail themselves of this resource? Students who are looking to better their health and wellness on any level can do so at the Fitness Center located next to Fresno Pacfic’s Special Event Center. Whether they’re looking for a good workout or way to relieve some school stress, the Fitness Center has an answer for them. The Fitness Center has a wide array of different machines and weights, making it great for any sort of work-
“I like that it is on-campus, and people can come and use it and feel safe..." - Melton out. It contains ellipticals, squat racks, medicine balls, cardio machines, pull up bars, pull up resistance bands, two
dumbbell racks and other machines to help with stretching and technique. There are also several television monitors tuned in to news and sports channels such as CNN and ESPN near the cardio machines. Many students use these services on a daily basis, as it helps them stay on top of their normal routine when it comes to fitness. Logan Melton, a senior accounting major who also works at the Fitness Center had some very helpful input about it. “The Fitness Center is a place to give students time to work out whether they seek to build strength or relieve stress as those two things are pretty key in college. I personally like to use it to help stay in shape and also relieve stress as I go to the gym 6 days a week and use the Fitness Center 5 out of those 6 days since I am usually back home on the weekends,” Melton said. Along with relieving stress, Fresno Pacific’s Fitness Center is great for helping students maximize their health and wellness on campus, especially for residents that would not otherwise have access to a gym. The gym is open to all students, both residents and nonresidents, as well as faculty. Melton also talked about its convenience and assortment of equipment. “I like that it is on-campus, and people can come and use it and feel safe. The only downside is that sometimes it can get crowded since space can be limited and with sports teams coming in to practice sometimes that can be intimidating to some who are just getting in to working out,” Melton said. Melton explained that the gym is
Front door of the fitness center adjacent to the special events center.
also free for all students and faculty members. FPU alumns can also use the Fitness Center. “There is an alumni membership special which is $20 a semester or $50 for the entire year. It is kind of
PHOTO BY JOHN HIPSKIND
like a subscription,” Melton said. Two other Fresno Pacific students, a junior psychology major ,Andrea Mendoza, and a junior pre-health major, Lissette Villada, also had posi-
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(continued from page 17) tive thoughts on the Fitness Center. “It’s free and on campus so it’s convenient. All you need is your student ID to get in, and then you’re good to go,” Mendoza said. Danny Baladi, the director of the Fitness Center and a strength coach, welcomed those seeking to know more about the Fitness Center “Stress is one of the main reasons the Fitness Center is used. There is a wide variety of different weights, cardio, there are medicine balls to grab and slam on the ground which are great. Let your workout be a starting gun for the rest of your day,” Baladi said. Baladi explained that there can be
“Stress is one of the main reasons the Fitness Center is used. There is a wide variety of different weights, cardio, there are medicine balls to grab and slam on the ground which are great. Let your workout be a starting gun for the rest of your day,” - Baladi some struggles with wanting to find time to workout and use the facilities that FPU offers. “I understand it can be very discouraging and the hardest part about getting started is getting that foot through the door. However, once you get into starting, it becomes easier to get into that routine. One of the things
Photo of the inside of the FPU fitness center.
I recommend is not put off working out for some other time, you might as well just start and then you get into that natural flow of things,” Baladi said. Baladi mentioned he likes to make himself accessible as well. Baladi encourages students to come and find him if they ever need help with wanting to work out. Baladi also went on to say that he
PHOTO BY TIMOTHY MYRACLE
tries to make an effort to get new equipment into the Fitness Center and can say at least one of the things requested by the student body makes it into the Fitness Center every year. The Fitness Center is a place that is widely used by many students, whether they have worked out many times, only a few times or never have worked out
at all and are looking to get started. Although taking that first step into the Fitness center may seem daunting for students that are new to working out, the gym facility at FPU can be a great resource that students can take advantage of with the help of people like Danny Baladi.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS thesyrinx.com/squares
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Lingo for Life at FPU
Flee-mail
flÄ“-mÄ l noun An email that elicits a fight or flight response. Ex:) I recieved an email this morning that gave me a bad case of flee-mail.
Yay Nay 1. Metal straws Paper straws 2. Spring break Midterm break 3.Spring forward Fall back
