Volume 34|Issue 6

from Volume 34|Issue 6

by The Syrinx

Volume 34 | Issue 6

Loren Friesen | News Co-Editor

Editorial“The Voice of the Sunbirds”

Syrinx Staff

Editor-in-ChiefAbigail Browneditor@thesyrinx.comManaging EditorRachel Kaneverskymanager@thesyrinx.comNews Co-EditorsLoren FriesenShelbi Hayzlettnews@thesyrinx.comOpinions EditorKyland Hallopinions@thesyrinx.comA&E EditorHannah Hammarts@thesyrinx.comAthletics EditorPablo Villagranaathletics@thesyrinx.comGraphics EditorsHailey CablaoMadi McGinnisSocial Media EditorHannah MillerChief Copy EditorLuke FredetteCopy EditorNate Van DykePhoto EditorOdalis Sanchez

Staff WritersMarisol GodinezAzucena Manzo-RuelasFaculty AdviserAdam Schrag

The Syrinx student newspaper is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

We are constantly seeking opportunities to grow and learn as we continually define what it means to be The Voice of the Sunbirds

WHAT IS “THE SYRINX”? “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.

In our newsroom, we try to live by our

slogan, “The Voice of the Sunbirds.”

The slogan fits our name, The Syrinx, which refers to the organ that produces sound for birds. We are meant to be an organ for your voice, the voice of Sunbirds. We act as a megaphone for you.

In this issue, we are trying something new with our cover in the hopes of making our stories more accessible to readers. We are constantly seeking opportunities

to grow and learn as we continually define what it means to be The Voice of the Sunbirds. For this issue, we chose to put our lead story on the cover in order to invite our readers in and make our stories more accessible. We also wanted to make our other stories more noticeable on the cover in order to invite people into them.

Some of the stories that we chose to highlight in this issue include: how distribution of funds shifted from the hands of student representatives to the administration

(pg 4-5), how singleness can not only make you a better person, but also prepare you for healthy relationships (pg 7), the upcoming plays performed by our very own student theater (pg 11), how sneaker culture changes the dynamic of athletics (pg 16)..

Our goal as your newspaper is to provide opportunities for you to speak directly to the community about what matters to you, and to connect you to stories and events that might otherwise go unnoticed. We don’t handle student funds and we don’t have official representatives of the student body; we are an open platform for you, the students of FPU.

The difficulty with being this outlet for others to speak is that we have to walk the line between encouraging healthy discussion and creating division. It is very easy for people to divide and become angry with topics like immigration, racism, politics and religion.

It is all too easy to stoke anger and hatred among people. We see separation and opposition on campus as these topics are raised, but these should by no means be used as reasons to not engage with each other. We choose to take on these topics by providing different perspectives and encouraging people to write about the things that they are passionate about.

Hosting different perspectives about topics has the powerful potential to create change and progress.

If we are to succeed in our goal, we have to talk about what the students we represent care about. As The Voice

of the Sunbirds, we devote our time and energy to representing a range of student voices and perspectives. One of the ways

Our goal as your newspaper is to provide opportunities for you to speak directly to the community about what matters to you

we do this is by encouraging all students to write for our newspaper, and by talking with students about their opinions.

We want to remind and encourage all of you to share your thoughts and opinions with fellow students. It is through dialogue that we become stronger, through conversation that we create positive change, and through discussion that we become better as a people. We as a staff would love nothing more than amplify your voice, and help you create conversation on this campus.

If you want to add your own voice to the mix, come to our open meetings every Monday (held at 10am in Stras Basement) or send story ideas and feedback to us at editors@ thesyrinx.com. Your voice is valuable, and we are honored to be a platform where you have the chance to express that voice.

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.

Student conference highlights need for racial reconciliation

FPU students attend event that focuses on diversity

Shelbi Hayzlett | News Co-Editor

The Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation

(SCORR) brings student leaders together from diverse campuses in order to address problems that happen daily among their communities.

SCORR is a conference, in seminar style, which addresses hard-to-talk-about problems such as racial reconciliation. The students attend the conference while staying in the Biola dorms and interacting with the students there. This makes the experience very unique for them.

In 1995, Glen Kinoshita, director of multi-ethnic programs and development at Biola, saw a deficiency in diversity programs among Christian campuses. That next year, in 1996, Kinoshita held the first SCORR conference, originally called the Western Regional Multicultural Leadership Conference. FPU has attended this conference for over 20 years.

“Addressing these issues has the students think about what their role is, what the other components that go along with becoming a reconciled community are and how it all happens on campus,” director of diversity and inclusion Cindy Jurado Hernandez said.

One of the main aspects of this conference is being part of a Christian campus and seeing racial reconciliation through a Christian lense.

“It’s part of who we are as believers to be one body, to be one with the Lord. This means we have reconcile all parts of us if we want to be a part of this improving community,” Hernandez said. If people don’t want to be a part of the change, it could come off as a sort of color-blindness or being dismissive.

“This year [OSFD] has been prioritizing having

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Lucina Jarquin (left), Brianna Martinez (center) and Raul Jazo (right) watch a performance during SCORR’s poetry lounge, an event that allows students to creatively share their stories and reflect on issues of race, power and oppression.

student leaders attend the conference to have our campus become a more inclusive community,” Hernandez said. Some students here on campus don’t feel particularly welcome or included in the FPU community. Part of going to SCORR is figuring out how to work towards coming together as a campus so that nobody is excluded.

According to Jessica Villalobos, a sophomore and chemistry major, conversation about diversity is encouraged when more people have access to these resources and experiences. Villalobos thinks that it’s hard for what happens at SCORR to be implemented, or even seriously discussed, at FPU because, despite being open for anyone, only student leaders tend to attend the conference. “If only leaders are going, how will we have conversations with the broader community? If it’s only with the leaders, it will only stay with a certain group of people,” Villalobos said.

Each year, keynote speakers address the students, faculty and staff who attend the conference. This year the speakers are John M. Perkins, founder of an organization called Christian Community Development Association, and Bryan Loritts, a pastor at a multi-ethnic church.

There are breakouts outside of the keynote speakers, including a variety of topics that students get

PHOTO BY LOREN FRIESEN

to choose from, from identity development and processing experiences of third-culture students to white privilege and the history of racism.

“Topics throughout SCORR are always uncomfortable, because it’s a sensitive subject. However, you always walk away with learning something from this event that you didn’t have prior to attending,” director of student programs Lynn Reinhold said. Regarding the conference, Reinhold takes responsibility for recruiting and registering student leaders to attend.

The topics brought up are difficult. It’s a hard conversation, regardless of where it is being had, but the experience of going to SCORR with fellow FPU students and interacting with others from around the country gives people valuable new perspectives.

“We all have our own personal biases that we may or may not be aware of, which gets you to stop and think about other people and their culture,” Reinhold said. The more people that go to this conference, the more likely that campuses will communicate about these issues that should be addressed.

News Co-Editor Loren Friesen contributed reporting to this story

The Beginning

This loss of power began in 2008. Randy Worden, the dean of Student Life from 2008-2018, took control of allocating student body fees when he arrived as a move to implement administrative oversight. In addition, any money that was approved to be spent would require his signature.

According to Worden, when he arrived he thought the lack of accountability concerning finances was concerning, especially considering the fact that they were the only group on campus that operated this way. “Unlike the rest of the institution, no staff signature or VP signature was necessary for them to spend money ... they [also] set their own work hours and determined their own salaries. This did not seem to be a wise approach,” he said in an emailed statement.

Worden also said that the FPU president and his cabinet were concerned with how USFPU ran. “Once certain USFPU financial practices were understood, there was a consensus amongst cabinet members that USFPU should operate under the same principles, policies and procedures as the rest of the university,” Worden said.

Students were extremely upset at the sudden grab for control, according to Ben Weemes, the president of USFPU for the 2009/10 school year. Weemes thinks that if Worden had initiated a conversation rather than simply taking the money, the outcome may have been different. Weemes said that first year “was like a stalemate … nothing was ever able to happen because there was no cooperation.” A Brief Armistice

When Weemes became president, he sought to work with rather than fight against Worden in order to get things done. He also agreed with Worden that students needed accountability when they spent money. “I think we needed a bit of oversight, because there was a lot of mismanagement. There always has to be checks and balances; if there are none, you are

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(SGA power struggle continuing from cover)

Weemes thinks that if Worden had initiated a conversation, rather than simply taking the money, the outcome may have been different.

going to abuse your power; it’s just going to happen.”

Weemes wanted to rewrite the bylaws to reflect this view and held numerous town halls to discuss the proposed changes.The student body voted to pass the bylaw changes, but only after there was “large outcry, almost a rally” full of students accusing Weemes of working for Worden. To address this, USFPU postponed the vote and held more forums for students to express their opinions.

During this period, Worden also sought to expand decision-making power within USFPU. Included in the new legislation was an expansion of Senate representation to residents, commuters and clubs, and, in addition, it ensured that the Student Senate approved expenditures of over 300 dollars. “My primary role was in reminding [student executive members] that they were elected to give voice to as many students aspossible. They were not elected to simply do what they wanted, nor to simply maintain the status quo,” Worden said.

This legislation also began the trend of moving programs and events into the hands of Student Life staff members. The main reason for this was the inconsistency in leadership of such programs due to students cycling in and out. “I was trying to give some longevity to someone who was making decisions,” Weemes said. The decrease in student body fee money given to USFPU was largely accounted for by this switch, as the money went to staff offices to fund the programs.

The Height of Tension

“...both structural oversight and individual personalities were possible reasons for such high tension.” - Isaak

After Weemes left the presidency, the pushback

and resentment against Worden and Student Life re-intensified under the leadership of Yun-Kyeong Shin, president of USFPU from Fall 2012 to Spring 2014. According toKincaid, she fiercely pushed back against what had happened and was encouraged by other executive members to do so. She wanted an autonomous student body rather than being “under the hoof of Worden.” Shin was unavailable for comment.

Bradley Isaak, an executive member of USFPU during Shin’s presidency, said in an emailed statement that both structural oversight and individual personalities were possible reasons for such high tension. He said also that “both student representatives and hired administrative staff expressed some difficulty in relating to the concerns and perspectives of the other”.

During this especially taut period, Worden, according to Kincaid, asked about a dozen faculty members to advise (with pay) USFPU; none accepted the offer. “They knew it was a wreck,” Kincaid said. Worden said he spoke with “a handful” of faculty, all of whom were unable to commit due to scheduling issues.

Kincaid decided to advise, but primarily focused on talking to Shin about “how to be better as a president.” According to Kincaid, Shin ran the government well, but her intensity and direct style often encouraged conflict both within USFPU and with Student Life. “I didn’t change much, but I helped, I facilitated. . . later Randy [Worden] was very appreciative of what I did and thanked me,” Kincaid said.

The Struggle Recedes

Taylor Long, who succeeded Shin, wanted to regain respect with administration while still vouching for students’ fair share of power. She said USFPU “wasn’t taken seriously” after Shin’s presidency. Administrators would often skip meetings with Long and she would have to speak up in order to be on interdepartmental committees, such as the committee that determined how study body fees would be allocated.

“We worked hard to prove to administration and

(continuing from page 4)

the board that we’re weren’t just a bunch of misinformed students and that we really cared about this university. We wanted to see it flourish,” Long said.

Under Long’s direction, USFPU used student body fee funds reserved for projects to revamp the forest, which at that time was weathered and unkept. They also debuted a new logo and redesigned their office in an effort to be more welcoming to students.

Nick Valla, president of USFPU from Fall 2015 to Spring 2017, continued the effort to rebuild the reputation of USFPU. He organized a student committee in Spring 2016 to go through each line of the USFPU’s bylaws in order to clean up and revise them, so as to fit the shape of government at the time. The major change of that move was moving Intramurals to Student Life. This followed the pattern of moving student-led activities to staff offices. These laws also changed the name of USFPU to SGA.

Mixed Perceptions

Long thinks that the move in 2008 to seize the power, rather than negotiate with students, revealed to students how their administration perceived them. “How that transition happened really told students ‘We don’t trust you,’” she said.

Tim Haydock, president of USFPU in 2006, said that negotiating a budget of over $300,000 (before the shift happened) with his peers “instilled in us a real sense of responsibility”. He also said that students having complete control of planning events felt “authentic and organic,” and alluded to this as a possible reason why student participation at events was fairly high and consistent. According to Haydock, “hundreds of people”, including community members on occasion, would attend the “Intramural Night of Champions” and the “Battle of the Bands,” in which bands from as far as L.A. would come to perform on campus.

In contrast, Long said that the grab for power really harmed student government’s vitality on campus. “It caused a lot of people to not want to be a part of student government. We really struggled and I think they still struggle to get applicants to run or apply. Students don’t see student government as anything special,” Long said.

Haydock thinks that his experience as “being a part of a leadership team, one that that worked in conjunction with adults and had real responsibility over real dollars” positively influenced how he moved on from FPU and throughout his career. He wants

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other students to experience the benefits of managing such a responsibility. “I think it’s pretty disappointing that we’re not setting up the next generation of leaders from FPU to have that same experience,” he said.

Weemes, Kincaid, and Valla all said adding accountability was a good idea because students, typically being around 18-22 year olds, aren’t always wise with money. Haydock, interestingly, said that in 2005, 2006 and 2007 USFPU ran surpluses on their budget, contrasting with the university’s financial state at the time.

Gary Estes, the advisor of USFPU from 1999- 2008, said that during his time working with student government the executive team was responsible for the large amount of money they controlled. “They really had the energy, and the passion they put behind everything they wanted to do, so they did make sure they spent those funds correctly and in a good way,” he said.

Valla, like Weemes, thinks that the relocation of programs was for the better, because staff-led offices could build up programs and be held accountable by administration. “The university can hold those staff people accountable year-to-year, and they can more easily make the case for improvement... [whereas] with students leading, it can be great one year and worse the following year,” Valla said.

GRAPHIC BY MADI MCGINNIS

Estes said there was rarely conflict between administration and the student governing body during his time as advisor, and that the executive team learned how to collaborate well with other departments on campus.

Moving Forward

Since 2014 the SGA budget has been set at $50,000. Students currently pay a $492 fee according to the FPU website’s “Tuition & Financial Aid” page. With about 1,000 traditional undergraduate students, the total amount of money adds up to about $490,000, although the actual sum is a bit less when one considers that some students only register for one semester.

Dale Scully, who replaced Randy Worden as Vice President of Student Life, repeated this same cycle of money distribution in the 2018/19 school year. However, going forward Scully said he “might devise a new strategy to get a few more voices into the process” after he dives deeper into seeing how the money is spent. “We want all the money collected to be directed back towards the students and to be used in the best way possible,” Scully said.

6 New hands-on software will help students compete in business world

Loren Friesen | News Co-Editor

Business students may soon

receive software technology that will offer hands-on preparation for the business world outside of campus. Professors are excited for the possibility to purchase this technology, thanks to a recently approved $30,000 grant. According to Dr. Ranjan George, professor of business and program director, the school of business is in the process of deciding on how to use the grant money effectively.

Teaching students to interpret

Seniors compete in national business competition finals

Hannah Hamm | A&E Editor

Three seniors qualified as finalists

in a nationwide Christian business competition, with the chance to land a top prize of $3,000 for each.

The trio Austin Hussain, Freddie Lopez and Miguel Bermudez completed three qualifying rounds in the 2019 GoLiveServe Business Case Competition, and headed for New York City on February 22 and 23 to give their final presentations. They are in the undergraduate division, competing against student teams from Texas’ Baylor University and Tennessee’s Lipscomb University.

“Miguel and I had worked on something similar to this our sophomore year, so we knew that we would want to do this,” Hussain said. He explained that they had imagined Lopez would be interested in the project as well and so reached out to him.

Hussain and Lopez are both finance majors, with Bermudez being a business administration major. The three have been working on their project since last October, under the guidance

data is a priority for Catherine Peck, assistant professor of business. Technology is changing the business world by automating its manual labor. Students need to be prepared to interpret, rather than record, data.

“We want our business students to be current with the world. We’re trying to keep up with where the rest of the world is going … the people we need to grow now in business are the ones who can take and process information and make data-driven decisions. That’s who we want; critical thinkers,

of business instructor Andrew Shinn.

Each year, entrants in the GoLive- Serve competition are provided a case study for an actual (but unidentified) business client. According to the organization’s website, the client is selected from Christian companies operating in “unreached nations” with “a calling to mentor the next generation of missional business professionals”.

Lopez said their project is a hospitality-marketing plan, structured around finding new locations for hotels to be built. People from around the world can stay at these hotels and become familiar with the local culture. The money they pay for their stay is distributed to different charities in the area.

Since the competition is faithbased, the client company “isn’t so predicated on trying to make as much profit as possible, because they are just trying to help people out,” Lopez said. “Our marketing plan is centered around that.”

“This is a great test of how relevant a business degree at Fresno Pacific University is for real-world application,” Shinn said in an emailed statement.

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not number crunchers,” Peck said.

The professors are considering business analytics softwares, such as data analytics (the most cross-disciplinary), as well as blockchain technology, finance modeling and artificial intelligence. Peck wants students to be able to practice with big name softwares, such as Alteryx, that are used by business giants like Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Irene Manzo, a junior accounting major, secured an internship on the spot during her interview, because of her background knowledge in block chain functions. “They were so amazed,” she said. Manzo thinks that investing in the software will open up many doors. “All the technology that’s coming up is the future. It would be really, really helpful for students,” Manzo said. Instructor of business, Benjamin

Shinn has mainly offered insight in times of need and reviewed the students’ work. He explained that he learned about the competition through a network of colleagues at other universities around the world. “This is one of the many benefits of having faculty who are engaged in a wider scholarly community,” Shinn said, “you’re more likely to hear about opportunities like this.”

Regardless of their placement, the

(From left to right) Austin Hussain, Professor Andrew Shinn, Miguel Bermudez, and Freddie Lopez prepare for their trip to NY where they competed in a business competition with the chance to each win $3000.

Smith, thinks that part of the money should be spent on software used for quantitative data analysis. These programs, though used for faculty research purposes, would eventually be introduced to students for research or preparation for graduate school. Investing in software for quantitative data analysis would help facilitate the emerging relationship between business and IT. Smith said that the school of business could also use the funds to develop a class teaching students how to use currently-accessible software programs.

Peck and Smith hope that the decision the spending of the money will be made by the end of the semester, so that professors can start learning the software and perhaps incorporate some lessons on it into the fall semester classes.

trio is guaranteed to win at least $1,500 for making it to the finals.

Shinn left some food for thought about the importance of the experience, stating that “the conference was a chance to connect with other Christians who are trying to be faithful to their callings to take the Gospel into the marketplace. It’s also a chance to show off the quality of their work and position Fresno Pacific as a high-caliber business school.”

PHOTO BY ODALIS SANCHEZ

Opinions 7

Stayingsingle will helpyou attract the

GRAPHIC BY HAILEY CABLAO

best romanticpartner

Kyland Hall | Opinions Editor

If you’re currently single, don’t be

anxious; you might benefit from staying that way. I’m not trying to downplay romantic relationships; I just think they already have their fair share of hype.

What do movies, music and television shows all have in common (besides Donald Glover)? They all assume that being in relationship is the ideal way to live an exciting, fulfilling life.

Of course dating and marriage can be exciting, but it seems that the single life is rarely represented as a means of attaining both satisfaction and adventure.

How we represent these ways of living matters, because they are both choices we can make. However, we rarely consider singleness to be a choice. We don’t announce that we’ve recently entered into a relationship with solitude; that would be weird, right?

All too often, we think of singleness as a waiting line, not an event in itself.

Singleness is not only a matter of saying “no” to romantic commitment;

it’s saying “yes” to the things that help you find joy in life as an individual. Being on your own allows you to think about where you want to travel, what kind of venues and events you want to take part in while a lone explorer.

The real advantage to being on your own is that you don’t have to take the needs and wants of a significant other into consideration when planning for adventures or opportunities.

You are choosing to learn about yourself, and a part of that includes leaving yourself open to the kind of spontaneous changes that you would be likely to ignore in order to avoid disruption in a romantic relationship.

Singleness is a chance to invest in yourself. You can travel, start a job that demands most of your time (but brings joy), or live on a small income so you can devote yourself to a deep vocational passion.

Relationships often require some level of time, money and commitment, especially to a specific place. Setting aside time to be single eliminates the need to be secure in these ways, so you can take risks that will develop your character and teach you that your individual self is sufficient for a fulfilling life.

Of course, as humans, we need to connect with others, but there is

value in affirming our individuality.

Choosing singleness can be a lifelong commitment, but it can also be something that lasts for a set period of time. Limiting yourself to a year or two of singleness can lead to a new sense of independence.

Whether or not you choose to be in a romantic relationship, being single can help you develop the

All too often, we think of singleness as a waiting line, not an event in itself

kind of self-res p e c t and satisfaction that is necessary

for any lifestyle. If you know t hat you want to be in a healthy romantic relationship, my encouragement remains. Taking a year or more to be alone can give you space to understand your insecurities. I do not mean to say that you need to have every issue resolved before coupling up, but if you engage with these parts of your life you will develop the self-awareness that makes a relationship more life-giving and mature.

It is also important to give yourself the chance to focus on what you are passionate about before entering a relationship, since those require compromise. When you care for someone,

it is natural to want to make those compromises in order to share time and space with your significant other.

This is why a period of singleness is important: It’s the chance to invest in your skills and passions without wondering where they will take you.

Giving your best effort without needing an excess amount of time and money that a relationship tends to require, will help you secure a sense of fulfillment that might otherwise become regret.

With this approach, there is no need to compromise with a partner; there is room for chance and the whimsical kind of opportunity that avails itself to those who are available to take the risk.

Think about how a commitment to singleness can free you to make decisions that will challenge you, take you to places you wouldn’t otherwise go, and give you the time you wouldn’t otherwise have to develop your values, principles and dreams.

If you want a relationship, think about the things you could do with a year of singleness before deciding on that kind of commitment.

Where could you go? What could you do? What interests or hobbies could you invest in? If you feel that singleness is an ideal way to live, enjoy it! Your life is full of meaning all on its own.

Kyland Hall is a senior communication major and the Opinions Editor for The Syrinx

Opinions

Domestic violence in the church

Using the Bible to justify abuse is a misuse of the text

This article is part of a series on the dangers of misinterpreting scripture

As a Christian theologian, I take

the Bible very seriously. This means that I follow certain rules for interpreting the text.

One of the most important rules is to look at individual passages within their particular context. This is especially important when considering the Bible’s treatment of interactions between married men and women.

Domestic violence is still shockingly common, and can too often be found among members of the church.

This violence is not always an issue of anger management or marital strife; it is often a matter of misinterpreting the bible’s commentary on power dynamics within the home. Some abusers believe they have authority over their victims and, distressingly, use the Bible as a source of justification for such domination and abuse.

One of the most widely misread verses used to justify abuse is Ephesians 5:22(ESV): “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”

The problem is that this verse, by itself, is seen as a mandate for women to do whatever their husbands demand. As a result, when a wife refuses to “obey” her husband he sees it as his religious duty to puther “ in line.”

This does an injustice to the text and the victims of domestic violence. Ephesians 5:22 is preceded by the verse: “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

The apostle Paul is writing in

regards to God’s transforming work, in which people give of themselves freely and mutually. This is in accord with the opening verses of the chapter , which tell us to “be imitators of God” by “living a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us….”

Some abusers believe they have authority over their victims and, distressingly, use the Bible as a source of justification for such domination and abuse.

He also goes on to instruct husbands to love their wives as they would love their own bodies. Surely an abusive husband would not inflict the same wounds on himself that he would on his spouse?

In fact, the apostle insists that mutual submission between spouses compels the husband to love sacrificially, in the same manner as Christ, who loved the church and died for it.

Regarding the book’s context; readers

must consider the socio-cultural realities of Ephesus, where the Greek Temple of Artemis played a prominent role in social life.

Paul wrote his radical instructions in an ancient, patriarchal world that accepted the sort of abuse we no longer tolerate today.

Some scholars also suggest that the followers of Artemis, being women themselves, were causing problems in the church by suggesting their supremacy over men, as their faith in the “Great Mother Goddess”, Artemis, taught them that they were the source of human life.

It is tragic irony that Ephesians 5:22 is used to justify violence and abuse against women, since Paul potentially intended it to stop women from abusing men. We know Paul was chased from Ephesus for stirring up trouble with the Artemis cult (Acts 19).

In the larger Biblical view, I point to the Bible’s teachings on love (Mark 12:29-31; 1 Cor.13), or to Scripture’s troubling truthfulness about the horrible consequences of domestic violence (Judges 19; 2 Sam. 13 & 14).

However, I would like to appeal to how our actions bear witness to the truth. Jesus told his followers that they would be his “witnesses” to the world (Acts 1).

In the court of public opinion, people understand Jesus based on how his followers act. We testify God’s plan for love, life, hope and reconciliation to the world. However, when our actions fail to match our

Quentin Kinnison | Guest Writer words, our talk is rendered empty.

We cannot claim to be serious about family values and the sanctity of marriage if we allow domestic violence to exist unchallenged in our congregations.

As an institution that uses the Bible in classrooms, we need to read carefully and take matters of context into consideration so that we do not justify unpious actions.

Such negligence would tell the world that we are liars, and gives false testimony the legitimacy of Christ’s claims. Scripture calls these kinds of actions “hypocrisy.”

It is my sincerest hope that Fresno Pacific University will equip students with the tools to confront and educate their christian communities about domestic violence.

I hope that students will read scripture in a way that focuses on Christs appeal to the church.

Jesus focused on love for one another, and having the privilege to study scripture in college is about using exegetical tools to understand how that love should be manifested in our present day.

This article was published on the FPU website in the blogroll on October 2, 2009

Quentin Kinnison is the associate professor of Christian ministry at Fresno Pacific University

Opinions 9

Mini-pinions

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Aaron Taylor| Junior

In my opinion, Black History Month is every month and the history therein isn’t something that can be expressed within the shortest month of the year. Although I have family that have supported the ideology of black history month, I always felt that school did a poor job of educating students about it in a meaningful way. Every year, in the month of February, we would only talk about black history’s basics. I considered this knowledge to be “watered down” and generic. Many people who have contributed to black history are left out in traditional school discourses. To give an

example: let’s say that my parents didn’t teach me about the history of black culture, and ultimately decided to leave it up to the schools or government; I would probably only know of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, given that the history of black culture isn’t well-taught or given a strong amount of interest in most school districts.

Black History Month is a celebration of the progress that the African American community has made throughout history. To ignore it would mean also ignoring this significant portion of history. It helps to show the general public that anything is possible, no matter what obstacles they might face, as long as they have the motivation and support. In February, we celebrate civil rights achievements and black success in the entertainment industry. All

Alyssa Ravelo| Senior

As much as I would love to say that Black History

Month is everything, I would only be lying, because it is not. I love having something to celebrate that involves my history. This is the only time that we have a whole month out of the year to do so, even if it just so happens to be the shortest. However, it is not celebrated enough. It seems as if it is only a Snapchat filter to some people. This should be a month of reflecting on how far black people have come, but where is such celebration? Our celebrations at FPU are only superficial. If we really

of these different communities have helped create change and diversity in our society. By having a whole month dedicated to these accomplishments, we are not only honoring history but also paying tribute to the hard-working men and women that participated in the evolution of American society, and the African American community with it.

Black History Month receives about the same

recognition from our FPU as Veterans Day.

While there is reason for not recognizing Veterans Day-- the school’s Mennonite, pacifist roots- --there is no reason why we don’t have practices that celebrate the significance of Black History Month. One could conclude that it simply isn’t a priority for FPU. Black students made up less than four percent of our student population last spring, and with such low recognition and a tiny population it’s no wonder that these

cared, we would be organizing a town hall meeting every week in February, going in-depth on certain specific figures. We should be reflecting on those who have dedicated their lives to us having a better future. It can be as simple as dedicating each week of the month to certain leaders and their accomplishments. All it takes to make a difference is action.

Elijah Gonzalez-Chandler| First Year

students commonly report feelings of frustration and isolation. I believe that celebratory traditions, as well as an increase in black student recruitment, would benefit the overall experience of black students at FPU. Ultimately, the university has a responsibility to address this issue, but in order to elicit changes it will require major efforts from students, staff, faculty and administrators.

De’Jshon Maxwell-Garcia| Sophomore

Opinions

Five dating app stereotypes you should reconsider

Marisol Godinez| Staff Writer

1Dating apps are just for casual sex

This stereotype is just a stereotype and does not reflect my overall views on people’s intent with dating apps. Among younger audiences, apps like Tinder have a reputation for being used to meet people, typically for a casual hang out and sex. Some apps have taken extra measures so that those who are serious about meeting someone new can do so, without worrying that they will find someone just interested in sex. There are some apps, such as CROSSPATHS or Free Christian Dating, that are geared towards a specific group of people looking out for a relationship. These can be useful for filtering out those who would normally not spark users’ interest.

People who use dating apps cannot meet someone “in real life”

There are many different factors that affect a person’s ability to meet someone in real life. Some people are shy and thus don’t like to initiate conversation. Being shy can rouse anxiety in people who are not as comfortable putting themselves in a position to meet someone new. Not everyone is willing to become vulnerable enough to ask someone out, so an app can make meeting someone more comfortable. There are also people afraid of not meeting the right person the first time around, and would rather read a profile and see pictures of the person before deciding on whether or not they want to initiate a conversation. This isn’t ideal for everyone, but for those who agree to download the app and try it out, it must be.

3It’s a “cop out” when compared to the traditional way of meeting people

This stereotype is not true. An individual’s environment often affects their chances of meeting someone new. Fresno Pacific, for example, has many students that are commuters; they may be going to school full time, while working one, two or even three jobs on the side. If they are unable to establish a social circle on campus or date their co-workers, it’s likely that they won’t be able to find a relationship that has romantic potential.

4People lie about what they look like

The goal of dating apps is to catch someone’s attention, and this is usually achieved by highlighting your best features during the ‘first impressions’ stage. I don’t think it is fair to say that people doing so is a form of lying. It is normal to want to appeal to others, and dating apps have created a structure in which this can be freely done. If someone chooses to lie to those around them, then that is their choice; this is, however, a risk in the dating world as a whole and not just among those users of dating apps. There is always a risk, whether we choose to recognize it or not.

Dating apps can be discouraging

People can get easily discouraged if their picture is not getting many likes or if no one tries to hold a conversation long enough for a potential date to be explored. This can be discouraging, but so can dating in general. This kind of discouragement may not only come from using an app, but may be the underlying root of an insecurity or experience that has led one to feel as if they may never find a partner.

GRAPHIC BY HAILEY CABLAO

Marisol Godinez is a senior English major and is a staff writer for The Syrinx

A&E

Theater program takes the stage with upcoming Hamlet spin off

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” to be performed by students, faculty and staff

Hannah Hamm | A&E Editor Azucena Manzoruelas | Staff Writer

FPU’s theatre and English programs are hard at

work putting together a staged reading featuring

Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” which is a spin off of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This performance is unique compared other performances done this year because it involves not only students but also professors and faculty as performers.

“So FPU English and theatre co-produce something called the staged reading series and that currently is three plays a year that we read in front of an audience,” said Mark Tyler Miller, theater program director, “The audiencecomes, the actors are on book so they have their scripts in front of them, but the actors meet with me ahead of time to rehearse. Basically you’re coming to a play but its on book and you are creating the set and everything in your mind and it is just a neat way to get engaged with a new piece of theatre and a way that we can do more shows instead of just two shows per year. It’s just another way to get people involved in theatre.”

For those who do not know about the context of the production, Miller explains: “This play tells the story of Hamlet from their [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s] perspective where they don’t really know what is going on and they are innocent and don’t understand what’s happening. They’re also speaking in modern text but the people in Prince Hamlet’s court still speak in Shakespearean text. Basically the world of Hamlet swirls around Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and they’re like ‘what is going on’ so it is very funny and brilliantly written.”

Margaret Bowlin, a senior biblical studies major, is going to be playing the part of the Player in this production. Having done staged readings in the past, she is especially excited for this one; so much so that she approached Miller in hopes of receiving a part for this

“People are really amped and excited to do it, especially with having all types of people from different backgrounds.”

role when she heard what was going to be produced.

“I have done staged readings twice before,” said Bowlin, “both of those times I was stage directions, which they tell you is the most important part, but it really is a small part. Now I’m actually a big part and I’m excited.”

Another thing that is unique to this upcoming production is that there are no auditions for any roles; Miller has asked each person performing to play a specific role. He chooses the people based on how he thinks they would perform and how well they would engage with the role they are playing.

“We get the script, give everybody

a copy of the script, and rehearse the week of the performance and then they perform in front of the audience. It is a really fun process because you are seeing people put together a piece of art. You are essentially watching super fast creation. So people are really amped and excited to do it, especially with having all types of people from different backgrounds.” The content of the play itself is very appealing to the actors and actresses performing since it is a staged reading. It is already unique compared to what they do the rest of the school year, but the content of this staged reading is eccentric as well. “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is not like a normal play because during the entire play nothing happens,” said Adam Dueck, a sophomore English major. “There is no plot; so essentially you get a very different sense of the characters.”

The production will take place in the Student Lounge in the Steinert Campus Center on Feb. 28 at 7pm.

COMMENTARY Ariana goes “Grande” with latest album

ALBUM COVER COURTESY OF REPUBLIC RECORDS

Abigail Brown | Editor in Chief

In her new album, Ariana Grande takes on not

only a tone of female empowerment, but also introduces a new, darker side of deeper vocals that differs from her previous albums. Focusing less on her signature whistle tones and higher range, this new album highlights her lower register as it is, supported by beautiful, layered vocals, orchestral instrumentals and strong bass. By mixing so many musical elements, no two songs sound the same or blend together.

Even though I say it every time she drops a new album, I can truly say that the “thank u, next” album is by far my favorite work I’ve heard from her thus far. Some advice for those listening: take in the whole song before making a judgement,; a lot of the songs on this album start one way, but once the beat drops the tone changes completely (i.e “fake smile”).

Although there are some mixed reviews about this album, I think the amount of records it has already broken speak for itself.

Marc Patterson posed by his favorite piece of art at the event, a powerful painting that represents the slums where the homeless population lives in Fresno.

Photos taken at ArtVenture reception covering societal issues such as homelessness, immigration and foster care.

A&E

Groundbreaking high school art program exhibits work at FPU

ArtVenture gives students an outlet to discuss important social issues

Hannah Hamm | A&E Editor

McLane High School. Fresno Pacific University. Fresno Art Museum. The White House.

Students from McLane High School’s ArtVenture program have had the opportunity to showcase their work at each of these places and have returned for a second time to showcase their artwork in the halls of Fresno Pacific during the months of February and March. Created in 2004 by McLane High teacher and alumni Marc Patterson, with the first public showcase of their work being held in 2009, ArtVenture has for over a decade now provided McLane students with a platform to startconversation about various different injustices and societal issues. The theme of this year’s exhibit is Giving a Voice to the Voiceless; it focuses on matters such as foster care, homelessness and immigration, among others.

“That title [Giving a Voice to the Voiceless] is a common thread for all [pieces of artwork displayed]; it is things like immigrants, and people that died in 9/11, that were undocumented, that you didn’t know about, that is the common thread that was really the inspiration to tie it all together,” said Patterson.

Chris Janzen and Rebecca McMillen are part of the backbone that, through their direct correlation with FPU, gave ArtVenture the chance to connect with other platforms, such as the Fresno Art Museum and even, at one point in time, The White House itself.

“It was in the midst of a spike in homelessness that was getting national attention in the city. Marc attempted to have an exhibit through the Fresno Arts Council, but they didn’t want to touch it for a couple of reasons: because politically it scared them, because they are high school students and we think the cliche of high school students is that its primitive and comes from an immature perspective. All of that was piling up against them,” said Janzen, “he approached the Fresno

It is things like immigrants, and people that died in 9/11, that were undocumented, that you didn’t know about, that is the common thread.

Art Museum and they gave them a similar response. So he came to us and Rebecca and I looked at the work and there was no thought - we said ‘yeah let’s do this.’”

Around the same time that Patterson approached Janzen and McMillan, the two had been recently hired at Fresno Pacific. Seeing that there was not even an art major at the time, they were looking for new connections from which to build an art program from the ground up.

“There has been an art minor since the 1960s, and there’s actually a long history and a socially conscious

Anabaptist Mennonite viewpoint mixed with art that does have history here on

this campus, it was just dormant for a while, and this [ArtVenture] was awesome,” said Janzen.

No more than 10 years ago, Patterson set up a meeting with the two to discuss the means of showcasing ArtVenture at FPU; at that point, he had already started searching for grant funding. He approached them with a stack of photographs of the works that were in progress and detailed the mission behind them; he explained that the purpose of the artwork was to tell the untold stories of the homeless in Fresno, rather than tackling homelessness from the perspective of everyone else. The result was a much different experience than what was typically found in headlines.

“There is a negative stereotype that is connected with being homeless,” said Janzen, “Marc saw a photograph in the Fresno Bee that caused him to stop and think ‘That’s a beautiful photograph of an unfortunate situation’, and there’s a lot of food for thought here about making art based on this. We are stopping and looking at those who are looked down upon in society. and looking for Christ in that instead of villainizing it. It is so easy to be the people at the top who have the control to look down at those who have no control and say it is their fault. So it was cool.”

(continuing from page 12)

Olga Escoto, a junior at McLane High School, stands by her work titled “Homework: Foster Love, Foster Hope, Foster Home.”

“There are kids at our school that are in foster homes, but nobody really knows that,” said Escoto, “we just want to be able to tell their stories.”

Thanks to this vision, ArtVenture was allowed to display their artwork at FPU. “That was really the launch for us. A project that was pretty big in scale, and really hit a very relevant issue that was turbulent that year with the homeless here in Fresno,” Patterson said.

In 2004, Patterson wrote to the Department of Education, applying for funding for a California Partnership Academy. He received the grant, and ArtVenture started out as 30 sophomores, 30 juniors and 30 seniors

A&E 13

at McLane. Years passed, and the program became fully funded by this perpetual grant, which stressed the cross-curricular interdisciplinary approach that Patterson had previously been implementing into the program, in addition to the knowledge he gained from getting his teacher ed at FPU. As long as the program has quality students (with at least a C average grade and good attendance) this grant will remain perpetual.

One of the requirements for the creation of ArtVenture was to have an advisory board. Dr. Bobbi Mason, a former Fresno Pacific professor, wrote the forward for ArtVenture; it explains a lot of the theoretical framework involved on FPU’s end. Concepts such as understanding by design and the variety of curricular foundations that the students used for their projects came from FPU’s Art Department.

“We would always meet here at Fresno Pacific University, and they were always involved in a lot of the planning that went into our projects; there is always strong participation by Fresno Pacific,” said Patterson.

FPU was a great inspiration when it came to “how to collaborate and really lay hold of big ideas, and how those big ideas can engage students,” said Patterson. Fresno Pacific helps streamline “a lot of the foundational aspects like collaboration, working across disciplines, the literacy component, the literacy framework... really the foundations for what we [ArtVenture] do,” Patterson went on to explain, “so [FPU faculty and staff] are very important, but they don’t get involved in the actual development of themes. We bring the art in to community meetings, and we share what our theme is and ask for input from them. So they participate, but not in terms of the genesis of the themes.”

He went on to explain that “there are really three components [to ArtVenture]: we have an advisory board of community partners [such as FPU faculty and staff], 5 or 6 interdisciplinary teachers and then we have the students.”

ArtVenture returned to its roots this year, showcasing new artwork along with popular artwork from previous seasons.

“Chris [Janzen] approached me, and [he] wanted to do a retrospective, but I really wanted to do as many of the projects that I still had samples of, so I think there’s about 20 here,” said Patterson about this year’s exhibit, “this is our second [time at Fresno Pacific], and it’s very nice and completes the circle - showing 20 projects over the years when it really began here.”

Olga Escoto, a junior at McLane High School, worked on a piece called Homework: Foster Love, Foster Hope, Foster Home with her partner. This piece took around 2 months and was worked on in daily sessions during class. It was inspired by a student at their school who decided to share her story; Patterson connected the two parties.

“There are kids at our school that are in foster homes, but nobody really knows that,” said Escoto, “we just want to be able to tell their stories.”

Patterson said that he “hopes each year we can continue to help tell the story and engage the students with relevant issues and big ideas”. As far as those students that have graduated from the program, and those on their way to graduating from it, he “hopes it is something that they never forget.”

PHOTOS TAKEN BY HANNAH HAMM

Upcoming staging of Emma will break from traditional performances

Theater program seeks innovative production techniques

A&E

Marisol Godinez | Staff Writer

All the hard work actors, actresses, directors and

backstage workers do to help put a show together does not go unnoticed at Fresno Pacific. The performances the theatre department puts on have been in the works for a long time before they are finally deemed ready for performance. Case in point: thisspring, the theater department will be debuting Jane Austen’s “Emma”, adapted by Michael Bloom and directed by Brooke Aiello.

The director of the theater department, Mark Tyler Miller, said the process starts by grabbing the title and getting the rights to a play about four to six months before production begins. Miller makes it clear that the community is very much an important motivator in the choosing of a play.

“You don’t want to just produce safe material that’s very careful, so if you are going to choose something that’s family-friendly, which we usually do, we want to choose something that is going to make them really think, and really go through something, when they watch it from beginning to end,” Miller said.

There are also other influences at work; these include the other theater professors and potential educational benefits for students; if it’s a famous work, students should be associated with it. It will not only train them, but challenge them.

Before going live, the chosen actors go through a lengthy, but rewarding, process. They must also prepare themselves in order to perform their part in front of a large audience.

Miller states that “this time I specifically challenged the actors in our program to be memorized

“This is a welcome challenge, and I’m excited to take the text off the page and onto the stage with my fellow artists.”

[the script] by the first day of rehearsal, because a lot of the time an actor will spend like most of the rehearsal process trying to remember their lines so it cuts off a lot of what they can find out about the character and a lot of the creation. Their creative powers are shut down because they are stuck in their script.”

Robbie Hill, a senior here at FPU, playing Emma’s love interest, Mr. Knightley, states that a challenge he has faced is bringing the script to life; it is something unique to this production.

“Our script is particularly unique because it gives very little direction for the actors. For example, there are many moments where to script will say something like ‘Mr. Knightley appears’. Obviously an actor cannot just “appear” on stage, so a lot is left to the actor’s, or director’s, interpretation. While this gives a lot of freedom for them to make interesting choices, I worry that I may not be doing the script justice at times,” Robbie said.

Allison Calhoun, another senior here at FPU, comments on the difficulty of the part she is playing, being the lead of the entire show. She explains that the most challenging part for her is “considering how important this piece of literature is, and how vital it is to accurately depict this character on stage.”

She is determined to overcome her difficulties, however, stating that “this is a welcome challenge, and I’m excited to take the text off the page and onto the stage with my fellow artists.”

While the actors and actresses are putting hard work into the production of this show, it is the

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRESNO PACIFIC THEATER

people backstage who make the real magic happen. Lizzy Tornero, a junior here at FPU, is part of the set crew for the production.

“I’ve been cutting pages out of books for our paper-mâché bushes that we’re making,” said Tornero, explaining her part in running this production, “I think our project is handwriting in calligraphy all the quotes that we’re using to for the set; personally, I think that’s going to be the hardest part.”

She goes on to explain that “we [the set crew] still have a lot more to do, but we’re slowly making our way through our checklist. It’s been fun, though. It’s also eye-opening to see how small theater departments make due with the lack of funding and staff to help out.”

Miller states that there are many innovative ways “Emma” will be performed that will, hopefully, challenge the traditional way productions have been handled previously.

“We are doing something a little bit different with Emma, in terms of how it would be typically seen in, like, a lot of white dresses, or the classic film version, and we are doing a lot more color in our world. So it’s going to be really exciting to see that, as Brooke has to think about all of her designs and start making those things come to life,” Miller said.

With less than a month until “Emma” goes live, those taking part in this production will continue with their hard work so as to provide an experience for the audience that will not disappoint. “Emma” debuts March 21st and will run until the 31st of the month. For new updates on the production, as well as information on other content being produced in the theater department, follow their social media account, @fresnopacifictheater, on Instagram.

GRAPHIC BY MADI MCGINNIS

The barriers in the world of sports have been

broken time and time again. With Black

History Month passing, we celebrate, remember and continue to fight for the progress that many before us fought for. These athletes include people like Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball, and Arthur Ashe, who remains as the only African-American Male to win Wimbledon and was a spokesman during the Civil rights movement for undocumented immigrants and for aids.

On February 6th, we also celebrate the 33rd National Girls & Women in Sports Day which is another barrier that is broken by athletes like Wilma Rudolph, who became an icon when she won three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics, inspiring many young women to take an interest in track and field. Also, Billie Jean King, who went on to win the “Battle of the Sexs” where she fought for gender equality by defeating former number 1, Bobby Riggs in a tennis match.

To this day there are many different barriers that are being broken and it is because of the inspiration that many before us gave us. One athlete that inspired many in Europe is Maria Sharapova, according to international student Pavel Neretin. “When I was growing up in Europe, there weren’t too many girls that were doing sports but when Maria Sharapova was getting popular, many of my friends, especially girls, began to join tennis and other sports … now we see more women in professional sports than ever before.”

Maria Sharapova began a movement in Europe the way that Wilma Rudolph inspired many others. The gender barrier is being broken with athletes like Kaylee

Athletics

Breaking Barriers

The sports world and those who have inspired us

Pablo Villagrana | Athletics Editor

Foster of Mississippi, who won homecoming queen at halftime but then kicked the winning field goal in overtime, or Mo’ne Davis, who is the first girl to win and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series.

Derek Choy believes that another barrier breaker is Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. He believes that Mayfield shows athletes that they don’t have to be a five-star recruit to be a pro. “He was a walk-on two different times and ended up winning the Heisman Trophy and went on the be the No. 1 Overall pick.”

While Baker was breaking the recruit barrier, players like Michael Sam were becoming the first openly gay football player to be drafted by an NFL team. Players like Shaquem Griffin became the first player in the NFL to be drafted with one hand.

Griffin was selected 141st overall in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft while posting the fastest 40-time by a linebacker since 2013. He also benchpressed 225 pounds 20 times with a prosthetic arm. He is a starter for the Seahawks and continues to show that he is able to compete at the highest level no matter the circumstance.

The stories of these athletes prove that the world around them does not define them, but that they define who they are. Athletes will continue to break barriers and push others towards equality for all, with their position, they have platforms to express their opinions and share their stories in a way that reaches millions around the world. Derek Choy is a junior communication major. Pavel Neretin is a junior music major.

15 March Sports Schedule

Track 1 & 2 at Kim Duyst Invitational 9 at Oxy Distance Carnival 15 & 16 at Hornet Invitational 22 & 23 at Cal Poly ShareSLO Invitational 28-30 at SF State Distance Carnival 29 & 30 at Stanford Invitational Women’s Tennis 1 at Concordia 12 p.m. 2 at Biola 2 p.m. 4 at Hope International 11 A.M. 7 vs Holy Names 2 p.m. 9 at Stanislaus State 12 p.m. 16 vs Sonoma State 1 p.m. 23 vs Hawai’i Hilo 9 a.m. 29 at Holy Names 2 p.m. 30 at Dominican 2 p.m. Women’s Water Polo 1 vs La Sierra in Claremont, Calif. 12:30 p.m. 1 vs Siena in Claremont, Calif. 5:30 p.m. 2 vs St. Francis Brooklyn in Claremont, Calif. 10:15 a.m. 2 vs Villanova in Claremont, Calif. 3:15 p.m. 8 at UC San Diego 6 p.m. 9 vs St. Francis Brooklyn in San Diego 11:45 a.m. 9 vs CSU Northridge in San Diego 4:45 p.m. 10 vs Bucknell in San Diego 9 a.m. 10 vs Long Beach State in San Diego 1 p.m. 14 vs George Washington 6 p.m. 16 at Cal State Monterey Bay 1 p.m. 19 vs La Verne 6 p.m. 29 at Cal State East Bay 1 p.m. Women’s basketball 2 vs Holy Names 2:30 p.m. 7-9 vs TBA in San Rafael, Calif. TBA Baseball 2 at Hawai’i Pacific (DH) 4 p.m. PST / 2 p.m. HST 2 at Hawai’i Pacific (DH) 6 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. HST 4 at Hawai’i Pacific (DH) 6 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. HST 4 at Hawai’i Pacific (DH) 9 p.m. PST / 7 p.m. HST 7 at Hawai’i Hilo 8 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. HST 8 at Hawai’i Hilo 8 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. HST 9 at Hawai’i Hilo (DH) 5 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. HST 9 at Hawai’i Hilo (DH) 8 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. HST 22 vs Holy Names (DH) 2 p.m. 22 vs Holy Names (DH) 5 p.m. 23 vs Holy Names (DH) 12 pm 23 vs Holy Names (DH) 3 p.m. 29 vs Concordia (DH) 2 p.m. 29 vs Concordia (DH) 5 p.m. 30 BB vs Concordia (DH) 12 p.m. 30 vs Concordia (DH) 3 p.m. Men’s Basketball 2 vs Holy Names 4:30 p.m. 7-9 vs PacWest Tournament in San Rafael, Calif. TBA 15-18 vs NCAA West Regional in TBA 27-30 vs NCAA Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind.TBA Swim 13-16 vs NCAA Division II Championships in Indianapolis

16 Athletics

Getting to the sole of the matter

Shoes aren’t just for kicks, they are a form of self-expression

Pablo Villagrana | Athletics Editor

Nate Kendricks shoe game is over 9000 with these DBZ Kyrie’s.

In the world of athletics, there has been a subculture that has been growing and expanding outside of the world of sports: sneaker culture. Sneaker culture first started in the ’70s but went into a larger demographic in the year 1985, when the first Air Jordan came out. This changed the sneaker world forever with the biggest sports star being the face of the campaign.

This birthed a generation of sneakerheads that paid $125 for a pair of shoes in the year 1985.

As sneakers have continued to grow in style, color wave and price, we can’t help but wonder what makes people want to buy so many shoes.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the person with the most shoes, weighing in at 2,504 pairs of shoes, is Jordy Geller of Las Vegas. Some people have a tough time believing that one could own so many pairs of shoes and others ask the question, “What pairs does he have?”

We look at students on our campus and think, “Do we have any major sneakerheads on this campus?” The answer is yes, and you may come to realize you are a sneakerhead to a different degree.

The first place we went to look for sneakerheads was on the court and what

we saw were some amazing kicks. Nike dominated the court with these pairs and we wondered what the coaches thought of their students wearing their own kicks on the court.

“It’s a fun way to express yourself and show some individual style” Tim Beauregard, FPU Women’s Basketball Coach, said.

The student athletes have shown their style and it has been noticed on Twitter. The FPU Basketball Teams have a sneaker cam on twitter that is used to show off the pairs that our student athletes are wearing on the court. The #SunbirdSneakerCam is on twitter and was started by our very own Matt Mazzoni, Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations. Mazzoni began the sneaker cam because it is something that was started by the Los Angeles Lakers digital media team that later made its way to the whole NBA.

“Shoes allow them to express their style and promote their personal brand on the court, so I wanted to highlight them for something other than just how many points they scored that night.” said Mazzoni.

This has been reaching not only basketball players but baseball players as well and has made its way to FPU alumni. With so many athletes here on

Luck has nothing to do with it when A.J. scores while wearing the Kyrie 4 ‘Lucky Charms’.

(continuing from page 16)

Athletics

The sunbirds have sneakers all over campus. With the court being a place where athletes show individuality, students walk on campus expressing themselves.

campus having strong shoe game, we can’t help but wonder if it stops there.

We meet Isaiah Vega who is a sneakerhead here at FPU. Vega is a junior, communication major and cannot fit all of his shoes in his closet. Vega lives in an apartment and with 38 pairs of shoes, has three shoe racks in his room. Not all of his shoes are basketball shoes; there are also indoor soccer shoes, Vans and converse.

Vega has multiple ways of describing a sneakerhead, “A sneakerhead is someone who doesn’t care about someone else opinion when they buy shoes, they think about what’s cool to them and what they want on their feet”.

The individuality of the sneakerhead is show through the shoe regardless of what others think about them. People collect a certain type of shoe with every colorway. A colorway is the color, art or style on a specific type of

Vega’s collection contains shoes that were purchesed on his trip to Europe.

shoe.

Vega also talks about the nature of sneakerhead. “The shoe is a statement and when you get to be about 18-19 years old, your foot stops growing and you will be able to have this shoe for years and years and years. You can’t say

Playing a sport or not, there is a confidence that comes from wearing a pair of shoes that you’re comfortable in.”

the same about shirts or pants.” said Vega.

The longevity of a pair of shoes is a part of what makes a sneakerhead a sneakerhead. As many people go through a pair of shoes every six months, sneakerheads like the challenge of making a shoe last a lifetime. “You know you’re a sneakerhead when you get a scuff on your shoe and you instantly get down and try to rub it out.”

said Vega.

Like Vega said before, the shoes make a statement and that is a feeling all sneakerheads can relate with. The shoes make you feel a certain way and Vega said, “When players are on the court, they feel confident with what they have on their feet. They shoot the three and look at their shoes. Its the shoes that make you powerful.”

When talking about his first pair of Jordans, Coach Beauregard said, “ I just remember putting them on my feet and I just became better at basketball. Going into my driveway and shooting and dunking on a low hoop, and feeling like those shoes did it all for me. Playing a sport or not, there is a confidence that comes from wearing a pair of shoes that you’re comfortable in.”

Macklemore has a song called “Wings” that resonates with sneakerheads. “I started out, with what I wear to school. That first day, like these are what make you cool. And this pair, this would be my parachute. So much more than just a pair of shoes”

These shoes do not have to be basketball shoes; they can be boots, flats, heels and sandals. The shoes that make you feel confident is the way a sneakerhead feels.

The sneakerhead goes beyond sneakers. One could own 20 pairs of

The shoes that make you feel confident is what being a sneakerhead is

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AthleticsFaith and Sports

Pablo Villagrana | Athletics Editor

At a Christian university, many athletes are expected to express some kind of faith. Do our athletes have faith? If so, how does it affect their athletic performance? If not, how do the faith of their faith-driven teammates affect them?

Stevie Gaskell | History Junior

Andrew Brown is a member of

the FPU Swim and Dive team.

In his time on the team, Andrew has competed here for the Sunbirds and gone to compete at the Pacific College Swim Conference Championships where he took 4th in both the threemeter dive and the one-meter dive.

With this level of competition, he represents FPU and his faith with his time here as a student-athlete. Andrew describes himself as someone who is strong in his faith and strong in his relationship with God.

He says that when he is com-

Stefani Gaskell, or Stevie, is a member of the cross country and track team here at FPU. She believes that she has a strong faith and that it fits well with what she seeks in her walk with Christ. ”It keeps me going during times when I really just want to step off of the track or even give up on running altogether.”

“I feel like running in Cross Country and Track is my own form of worship, so I try to give everything I have every time I am running.” said Stevie.

Coach Ray Winters is an integral

peting and he begins to doubt his own abilities, he remembers “I’m here for a reason, that I made it this far for something more than myself.”

He has a strong faith and feels that this does not hinder his ability in practice, competition or time commitments.

His faith in Christ leads him to change the way he interacts with his teammates, “I always try to walk on the pool deck with a positive attitude.”

He enjoys that as a team they pray because of the motivation that it gives him, but being at a faith-based

part of why the program thrives in its faith. “Coach Winter will often start the week off with a team meeting and team prayer.”

The team as well is faith-focused which adds to the culture of the team,“ As a team, we work through different books within the Bible, so this season we are working through Proverbs.”

This helps Stevie when she is exhausted and it helps her push through practice.

Prayer tends to be something many athletes do before a race and Stevie

school still has its challenges. When he doesn’t feel as strong in his faith, he focuses on his sport, but he feels that it is pushing him away from what he really loves: God.

He enjoys the school because he doesn’t feel that beliefs are being pressed on him as a student-athlete but claims that that could also be because of his stubbornness.

He believes in his truth. This is what has helped Andrew get to the level that he is at now.

said, “it’s part of the running/ racing culture”.

The FPU racing culture has the tendency to pray together as a team and that is what attracts many of our athletes to FPU across all the sports.

Andrew Brown | Kinesiology

JuniorVicki Arevalo | Teaching

Masters StudentVicki Arevalo is a member of the track team and she sees herself as someone with a strong faith. She believes that her faith is very influential to her sport. During times of injury, Vicki tells herself, “There was a reason for this; this is just a small setback for an even bigger opportunity”. She prays before and after races, not only for herself but also for her competitors as well.

“I pray for strength before a race and always give thanks after because you can’t ask for something and not be

thankful afterward.”

She races because she was given an opportunity. “Jesus died for me and I shouldn’t waste my opportunity.”

She competes with the words from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions,

with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Vicki feels that from this verse, we can all become stronger through our weakness and that is what she works through. She enjoys being around people where she can express her faith and not be prosecuted for her beliefs. Our athletes here at FPU exemplify Christ in their sport and Vicki is a great example of that.

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