the Tabor College
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December 2017
INSIDE: Profile: Derek Hamm & Amber Bonham Doll’s House Tale of Two Coffee Shops Cover Photo By Vance Frick
3 JAYLINES 4 NEW COFFEE SHOP 5 SHARI FLAMING CENTER 6 KNEE POLICY/JAYWASH 7 CHUMS 8-9 THEATER AND MUSIC 10 DEREK HAMM PROFILE 11 STRANGER THINGS 12-13 OPINION 14 AMBER BONHAM PROFILE 15 SPORTS UPDATE
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Kara Schlotthauer, freshman
My family always plays card games late into the night on Christmas day, and I love that tradition because we all choose to lose precious sleep to spend more time with the people who are precious to us.
Wyatt Dickinson, sophomore
My favorite holiday tradition is to eat our curry and rice dinner for Christmas every year. We do this because my grandpa was born in India to his missionary family, and now that he is not with us anymore, it serves as a great reminder of his life and how much of an impact he made on all of our lives.
Anna Freuchting, sophomore
Every year on Christmas morning, before we exchange presents, everyone in my family gets their Bibles out, and we all take turns reading a few verses out of the Christmas story in Luke 2. This is my favorite Christmas tradition because it gives us a chance to remember why we celebrate, instead of just focusing on all the things we will be getting.
Jordan Horstick, senior
My favorite holiday tradition is continuing to be the annoying little brother and waking everyone up (before they’d like to) on Christmas morning for breakfast and presents!
Alyssa Abbott, senior
My favorite tradition is my parents letting my brothers and I open one gift on Christmas Eve. It is always pajamas, because my mom hates having mismatched pajamas in pictures from Christmas morning. We always get so excited to get new pajamas every year!
Johnny Loera, senior
My favorite holiday tradition is when me and my family all meet at my great grandma’s and make tamales (Mexican dish) and pan dulce (Mexican bread) while playing lotería (Mexican game). We also play white elephant with the gifts we bring. It’s a great time because me and my family are all together at a place we all can call home and the food is amazing and the arguments over who won in lotería or had the best gift from white elephant are always exciting. 3
A Tale of Two Coffee Shops By Bailey Kaufman
The new Shari Flaming Center for the Arts, which features a coffee shop that serves Starbucks coffee and products, has created a flurry of activity on the Tabor College campus and in the larger Hillsboro community. Among this activity, there have been many conversations, questions and rumors about the fate of Tabor’s student-run coffee shop, Java Jays. In short, Java Jays will still be open for business once the new shop opens in the Center for the Arts. However, the presence of another coffee option on campus will have an effect on Tabor’s current coffee hub. Namely, Tabor administration has requested that Java Jays comanagers discontinue their morning hours, which will conflict with the hours of the new Starbucks. Java Jays is currently managed by three students: Molly Wiebe Faber, Austin Calam and Michael Prichard. Both Wiebe Faber and Calam said the timing of the new building is unfortunate since the morning hours had become quite successful for Java Jays. “We had really been starting to do well and find our stride, and now we are stopping that,” Wiebe Faber said. “It’s just kind of been unfortunate timing with the new building coming along. Things are just meeting up now in this weird space.” Tabor College President Jules Glanzer said the inclusion of a coffee shop in the plans for the new building stemmed from the former inconsistency of the student-led nature of Java Jays and from the desire to make the new building a place that brings the Hillsboro community onto the Tabor campus. But he also echoed the unfortunate timing of Java Jay’s recent success. “We started raising money for (Starbucks) and put it into the plans when Java Jays was very inconsistent, and all of a sudden, Java Jays started being managed well and being consistent,” Glanzer said. “The sad thing is that now there will be two viable (coffee shops) and it’s going to be tricky to see how we work together, and we haven’t figured that out yet.” Still, Glanzer believes the new Starbucks will offer consistency, status and atmosphere that Java Jays lacks. “Starbucks will be consistent, and it hasn’t been that for Java Jays in the past, until recently,” he said. “Secondly, (Starbucks) has a brand name that everybody recognizes, and Java Jays doesn’t. Java Jays appeals to a different kind of coffee connoisseur. And third, it’s going to be a different style of place to hang out, a completely different atmosphere.” Calam said he understands the concern about consistency, but
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he believes Java Jays does offer consistency and a comfortable atmosphere. “I don’t blame President Glanzer for wanting a space that’s consistent and the he feels comfortable bringing people to,” Calam said, “but I think we have that space now, in all honesty, and I think if we got support to build that up, it could continue to be that way.” Wiebe Faber said the current managers have focused a lot of their energy on making the physical space of Java Jays a place for students and the community. “When I think about all of the thoughts that have gone into this space and wanting a place for community members, all of that planning happened years ago,” she said. “Now, that’s been something we’ve really been working on—making a nice place for community members in the morning. It’s a time when students are generally studying in here, so I think it really is a relaxing place in the morning and afternoon.” Despite this, Glanzer, Calam and Wiebe Faber all said they believe that the Tabor campus will be able to support both coffee shops. “Java Jays has been, for many, many years, an evening only shop, and it’s still here,” Calam said. In addition, Wiebe Faber said the student ownership of Java Jays will continue to be an asset. “I think it’s nice since students are running the coffee shop, and students talk to other students, then you hear if a drink is bad or if they want something different or if they want a new flavor,” she said. “Students who come to Java Jays have a good chance of getting their voice heard in a way that you don’t always have at other places on campus.” The new Starbucks will be called “Adrienne’s” after the donor’s late wife. The hours are still being finalized, but Glanzer said he anticipates the store will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Former Tabor student Emma Roberts has been hired to manage the new shop. Roberts said she will serve packaged foods and coffee from Starbucks, including Starbucks menu staples such as Frappuccino and Tazo Tea. In addition, Roberts said students will be able to use their Jay cards to purchase food and beverages, just as they are able to at Java Jays. As Java Jays transitions to its new normal, Calam and Wiebe Faber said they hope students will continue to support the shop during its evening hours. “It’s been a privilege to work at Java Jays as manager,” Calam said. “I’m hoping Java Jays can stay at a good spot.”
Shari Fleming Center For The Arts By Megan Voth Just as we know December is always filled with anticipations and festivities, Tabor College will experience an exciting celebration weekend on Dec. 8–9 that the community has been waiting for. On Friday, Dec. 8 there will be a chamber of commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed Shari Fleming Center for the Arts facility that will be finally dedicated on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. “I look forward to seeing the smiles on the faces of more than 2,000 donors who have mad e it possible for this new facility on the Tabor campus to be constructed debt-free,” Ron Braun, vice president of advancement, said. “I know that there are many people who take great satisfaction in knowing that Tabor College is keeping true to its mission and they have helped to provide a facility that will certainly enhance education for all students in the future.” He also said there would be a special VIP dedication program for a select group of people closely associated to the Shari Fleming construction project that will be dignitaries, elected officials, the major donors and people who are closely associated with the project itself. At 2 p.m. is the public dedication program where invitations were sent out far and wide to people who have participated in this project for the last five years
as Tabor has been raising funds for it, Braun added. “The construction company is working fast and furiously with all of their subcontractors to get as much of the work completed as possible by Dec. 9,” he said. “We know that there are few items that will probably still remain to be finished after the dedication program during the Christmas break, but for the most part the facility will be complete.” Putting in flooring, working on stage effects and speaker systems, touching up paint projects inside and outside and managing electrical and concrete work consist of the finishing touches to complete the facility. “I’m excited to see that Tabor College will have a facility that will provide excellent educational classroom space, new choral rehearsal areas, a public art gallery and a large atrium that will or possibly be able to host small events,” Braun said. “The theaters themselves provide many opportunities that we have not had for theater and drama as well as music and other productions.” He added that the campus will appreciate a place that the students, faculty and staff can gather in at one time.
that can host speakers, outside music groups and other types of entertainment possibilities,” Braun said. “Not only will our students be exposed to a great new facility, but I think that the more we can do to excite the local and broader community into appreciation for the arts will be absolutely positive for everybody.” Possibilities of presenting music clinics or even organizing painting classes for the community are in the question for future opportunities, he said. Derek Hamm and Shin-hee Chin, art and design professors at Tabor, have opportunities to open up new relationships with people in the community to increase the interest of possible weekend workshops for the community at the Center for the Arts. “Overall, I hope the new facility builds community,” Braun said. “I hope we can all appreciate the efforts in the accomplishments of not only faculty but certainly all of the students in their pursuit as they as they grow their interests, expand their skills and become the artists, actors and performers of the future no matter what field that’s in.”
“We know that the community at large is looking forward to the kinds of programming that will be made possible because we will have a large venue
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STUDENTS WASHED UP WITH JAYWASH By Guest Writer Kara Schlotthauer Rows of washers and dryers rumble and clang as students file in and out of the Jay Wash to fulfill one of their many adult responsibilities. While the Jay Wash is offered free of charge to Tabor students, many are upset with the conditions that it is often left in. Tabor students in attendance before the early 1970’s had to pay to use a local laundromat, but now there is an added fee in room and board to cover the cost of offering free laundry services. Zach Stutzman, a junior from Wichita, Kan., said that he does his laundry in the Jay Wash at least once a week and is disappointed with how dirty the room can get. “I don’t think the floor’s been mopped in a really long time,” Stutzman said. “There’s dirt all over it. It’s pretty gross.” Not only is the room unappealing, the state of some appliances is problematic. “A couple times the washers wouldn’t work, and it wouldn’t lock so the deter-
gent went all over my clothes,” Stutzman said. “It wouldn’t wash it out because it couldn’t lock the door.” A sophomore from Derby, Kan., Haven Haas said she has also experienced technical problems with the dryers not drying clothes properly. In her time here, Haas has discovered a way to help others know which machines are not in working order. “I mark the ones that don’t work with an Expo marker,” Haas said. “I put a little ‘x’.” Tim Unruh, grounds supervisor and assistant director of operations at Tabor, said the appliances and their maintenance in the Jay Wash are not Tabor’s responsibility. “Tabor started using a company called Coin-Mach based out of Kansas City,” Unruh said. “They supply and maintain all of their equipment.” A contract between Tabor and CoinMach calls for the replacement of wash-
ers and dryers every two years due to heavy use or as soon as one is broken. “I think after this school year, these machines have been here two years, and they will be replaced,” Unruh said. Tabor’s part of the contract does not include cleaning the appliances, though it is an issue with as much use as they get from most of the students living in the quads. “One of the complaints we’ve had is about the cleanliness of the machines,” Unruh said. “It’s really not our obligation to clean them, although we have done some in the past.” Unruh said there are no plans as of now to improve the Jay Wash, though facility operations is open to students’ comments and concerns. “The best way to contact us is to email TCmaintenance@tabor.edu. Those emails get converted into our work order system, and we get those right away.”
TABOR COLLEGE KNEE POLICY: STANDING UP (OR KNEELING) FOR JUSTICE By Ben Wieler On 3 October 2017 Tabor College President Jules Glanzer and VP of athletics Rusty Allen put an athletic rule in place that requires all athletes must stand while the anthem is playing or else they will be denied the opportunity to participate in the athletic event that follows. Over the following 50 days, I had the opportunity to speak with Glanzer, Allen, many faculty members and even more students about the rule. Furthermore, what began as investigation into the policy soon encompassed the entire school. Here are my findings. This rule raises questions about the power structure that the school uses. The current set up is hierarchical. A rough outline sees the board being the highest power, then the president, the V.P.s, and finally the faculty and the students. In such a set up the students and faculty, who are the entire point of operating 6
a school, are pushed to the back seat. Hence, when issues like the anthem arise the president and V.P.s have the ability to make whichever decision they want and not be held accountable. Traditionally, Tabor College has used an equal level power structure that has been utilized by Mennonite churches, organizations and schools for centuries. This rule also shines a light on the process used by school leadership. The president expressed to me that this rule was in line with his personal opinion on the topic and that no student or faculty input was needed in this case as, “no data is needed to create team rules.” Both of the leaders who implemented the rule claimed they personally believed this was the right thing to do. When asked about the fact that implementing a rule based on personal beliefs forces your beliefs on others with different beliefs, the president responded, “If an ath-
lete can’t be in line with the rule [stand for the anthem] they should not play for Tabor.” The V.P. of athletics encouraged athletes who had personal convictions about the rule to meet with him in order to work out a solution. It would take far more words than available here to evaluate this rule. The rule touches on issues of theology, politics, culture, society, athletics and many more systems. What can be said is that this rule conflicts with the following sections of the Policy Manual: Tabor College Goals Statement, Tabor’s Theological Emphasis, Tabor’s Commitments, and Tabor’s Operating Objectives. There is also tension between The Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith and this rule. These conflicts could be worked through in a community that includes students, faculty, donors, school leadership, alumni and others
Chillin’ With Chums: The Inside Story By Guest Writer Chloe Willems
While many students are in afternoon sports practices with teammates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m., some have had the opportunity to build relationships with younger students. CHUMS, which stands for Challenging, Helping, Understanding and Mentoring Students, is a program in which kids from grades first through fifth at Hillsboro Elementary School are matched with Tabor students with whom to build relationships. The kids and their mentors meet twice a week to do homework, study and play. “It gives the kids a positive role model and influence and maybe the support that they don’t normally get,” said freshman Anna Carpenter, one mentor. Valerie Schroeder, who has been in CHUMS for three years and its director for 1 1/2 years, meets with the school’s counselor at the beginning of each school year to match up kids with the right mentors. According to Schroeder, a lot of thought and stress goes into pairing successful matches between the 25 mentors and nearly 30 kids. Freshman Maddie Gallagher joined CHUMS because it aligned with her interests. “I was available, Valerie needed help, and I’m interested in teaching and I love kids,” Gallagher said. Gallagher says the best part is helping her third grade CHUM learn spelling
words by drawing them out. She said she believes that the most important aspects are the one-on-one learning and friendships. Carpenter is paired with two first graders. Each week she works with the kids on homework, which consists of reading stories, writing sentences and practicing spelling. In addition to building relationships, mentors hope to build their kids’ strengths. “It’s kind of the idea of taking your weakest players on your team and making them into your best players, and so hopefully that’s what could happen for these kids,” Schroeder said. Schroeder said that one story, about a girl from last semester, sticks out in her mind. “Her mom came up to me and said that she used to be so shy, and she just didn’t like talking to anyone, and then by the end of the semester she was initiating games at recess,” Schroeder said. “That made my day--that made my semester--just the knowledge that we’re actually making a difference.” This semester mentors have already witnessed the progress and accomplishments of their CHUMS, like when Carpenter’s kids finished writing out their spelling words in 30 seconds. “I was so proud of them,” Carpenter said. “That was like the best moment and I was like, ‘Yes, I might actually be doing something.’” As a third grader, freshman Haylee Herman was in a CHUMS program at Soderstrom Elementary in Lindsborg, Kansas. Although it was close to 10 years ago, Herman recalls small details about her mentor, like how she had a car and named it Jelly Bean, and also remembers experiences she had in CHUMS. “I remember we went to Sunnyside Pumpkin Patch,” Herman said. “We got
pumpkins and we carved pumpkins, and that was the first time I’d ever carved a pumpkin--when I was in CHUMS.” She realizes how beneficial the club was for her in both the academic and social aspects of school. “CHUMS helped me do things I didn’t know how to do in my homework, and I was new to the school so I didn’t have very many friends,” Herman said. “It brought my real self out instead of my shy self because I made more friends in CHUMS.” Herman’s personal experience impacted how she now views the kids in the club. “They need someone older than them to be there for them,” Herman said. “They need to be having some fun with older people that they can look up to.” Along with helping them with homework, mentors hope to make these special memories for the kids. Later this semester, the group plans to have a Christmas party with gifts, and next semester they plan to walk in the All School’s Day parade in McPherson. Schroeder said that most Tabor students have probably heard the name CHUMS, but wouldn’t know exactly what it is. She says people should join because it is rewarding in two directions. “The practical side is that you get paid for it and it’s really cool on job applications, but it’s just really good experience in life,” Schroeder said. Ultimately she has one wish for Tabor students. “I like CHUMS a lot,” Schroeder said. “It’s the highlight of my day. I wish that everyone could experience it at least once.”
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Social Justice Club Hosts Open Discussion for New Policy By Maryn Robson
On Thursday, November 16, students gathered in the chapel for an open discussion concerning Tabor’s new policy on standing for the national anthem, also known as the team rule. The event was hosted by the Social Justice Club (SJC), and the room was filled with students and faculty. Since the policy was put into effect, there has been confusion and tension. The open discussion was geared to provide a safe place for people to ask questions and understand the different angles concerning the policy. The panel that answered the questions consisted of faculty, administration, and students. For the first half hour, SJC asked prepared questions. During this time, a basket was passed around the room for students to place
their written questions in, and a select number was then asked to the panel. Molly Wiebe Faber, senior, a member of SJC, mediated the event along with Stacie Bell, junior. Before beginning the event, Wiebe Faber said, “We want to be clear that tonight’s event is not a debate. We want people to be heard and respected, and that is the atmosphere we want to create for tonight.” As is no surprise to anyone, the new policy is wrapped in tension. The purpose of the panel was to explain many of the questions surrounding the sensitive issue as well as to facilitate open discussion. Questions such as “What is the policy?” “How do we as students express or demonstrate opposition in an acceptable fashion?” and “How
does the MB Confession of Faith relate to the national anthem and/or our new policy?” were asked. Jessica Emoto, senior, a member of SJC, said, “I think students, faculty, everyone has a better understanding of what the policy is.” However, as far as open discussion goes, “Within the panel, there were good answers…but we had really hoped for more dialogue,” said Emoto. “It wasn’t as organic as we had hoped.” Although there wasn’t as much discussion as SJC expected, the event was a starting point. As the panel expressed, it is their hope that when issues arise, there will be good conversation as people strive to solve problems such as racism through peaceful and effective methods.
Symphonic Band Performs Kansas-Themed Concert By Maryn Robson
The Tabor Symphonic Band directed by Shawn Knopp performed its fall concert on Sunday, November 12, at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The concert is titled “Prairie Dances” and the band played familiar selections including “Home on the Range” and “Amazing Grace” as well as new selections such as “Rumble on the High Plains” and “Winds of Change.” Knopp, the Director of Instrumental Music, created the Kansas theme when he was driving down D Street. His inspiration came from the Tabor College sign that reads “Founded 1908.” Knopp said, “I would often wonder what life was like in the 1800’s and early 1900’s in Marion County, in Kansas and the Great Plains. I began to search for music that embodied the theme of early life on the prairie and finally settled on a program entitled ‘Prairie Dances.’” The repertoire was dynamic and compelling as it recreated various 8
aspects of Kansas. Rolling thunder sounded in the bass drums and timpani, Indian tribes battled in the toms and the timbales, and the winds of the plains whistled in the wind chimes. Above all, the music was designed to inspire in each audience member what Kansas meant to him or her personally. Although the band is currently in a growing stage, the concert was a success. Knopp received many compliments and congratulations, and he looks forward to how the band will continue to grow. In addition to having many enthusiastic freshmen who are
committed to the program, Knopp looks forward to gaining more members as years go by. The leadership in the band is also exceedingly important. For two seniors—Casey Guthals and Seth Shields— this concert was their last with the Tabor College Band. “I am thankful for the contributions of Seth and Casey,” said Knopp. “They have been integral members of the Tabor College Band for the past four years and their leadership and musicianship will be greatly missed.” The band has many exciting events coming up. It will take a tour to Kansas City, perform a joint concert with the Hillsboro High School band, and will host a Pre-Festival Clinic in March of 2018 for high school bands and orchestras. In addition, the band will perform its first “Pops” concert in April of 2018 in the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.
A Doll’s House Revisited By Maryn Robson
Last year in the spring semester, the Tabor Theater Department presented A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. Seats filled up each night, and the production was a success. Due to its success, the cast and crew presented the play again on November 26 and 27 in the Lab Theater. The reason for remounting the show was threefold. First, the department entered the play in the American College Theater Festival (ACTF), and the selection team needed to review Tabor’s production in order for the play to be considered. ACTF is an annual event that hosts 20,000 students from across the nation and is an opportunity for actors and directors to perform, receive critiques, and hone their skills. Laurel Koerner, the director of the show, will take several students to the Festival in January, and if the show is selected, the cast will perform the complete show at the Festival. Second, A Doll’s House is a complicated play with many layers to sift through—as is true of many of Ibsen’s plays. The actors worked diligently to uncover the complexities of their characters and the
themes in the play, yet they did not feel that they had enough time with the show to dig as deeply as they wanted. Third, as there are tense themes in the play, the cast lent space for a post-show discussion last year for the audience to ask questions and explore the themes. Koerner said the discussion “illuminated just how much people are thinking about and interested in talking about the themes going on in this play.” In addition, Koerner heard many people remark that “they’d want to see it again, or had heard it was good and wished they’d been able to see it.” However, the cast did not simply repeat the show. With the restaging came an opportunity to bring the play back to life, to lean into the natural shifts and changes that come with any restaging. At the same time, they wanted to recreate some of the moments the previous performance possessed. Although the cast has performed the show before, revisiting the play came with a few obstacles. A former cast member, Ali Ediger, graduated last year, leaving an open role. Megan Scholl, soph-
omore, stepped in to fill the role while Tori Boyd, freshman, was cast in Megan’s previous role. Along with changes in casting, Koerner was wary of overworking the show. “I think the hardest thing about revisiting a previous production for the actors is not allowing themselves to go on autopilot and just recite lines and go through the motions,” said Koerner. This is a common difficulty when actors know material well. Koerner’s goal was to rehearse enough so the actors were comfortable, but not so much that they were exhausted and lacking energy. Both performances were a success. Koerner said, “The actors insisted on continuing to progress in their understanding of the characters, and we really saw that in Monday’s performance especially.” On Sunday night, representatives for ACTF viewed the performance. Although the representatives will make a final decision later, they gave the cast and crew positive feedback, “commenting particularly on the design choices and the strength of the acting,” said Koerner. “Everyone involved can be very proud of their work.”
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Derek Hamm Profile By Bailey Kaufman
Chill, dainty, expressive, relaxed and evaluative. These are just a few words students would use to describe graphic design professor Derek Hamm. At Tabor, Hamm is known for bringing humor and wit to his graphic design and typography classes. In addition, Hamm holds a master’s degree in art and social practice through Portland State University and worked as a designer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. But Hamm’s life didn’t always revolve around art and graphic design or even teaching. A native of Hillsboro, Hamm said he came into graphic design and art in general “by accident.” “I was mostly involved with athletics growing up,” Hamm said. “I just happened to take a class that did primitive design in high school and found out that I really liked it.” For his undergraduate studies, Hamm attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. “I started off in college playing basketball and was a biochemistry major,” he said. “I was sort of in denial about liking art and design stuff.” However, Hamm said he wasn’t passionate about science and math, and finally he decided to switch to graphic design. “I didn’t enjoy the process of getting to the final result in biochemistry, but I enjoyed the process of art,” he said. Hamm became aware of the opportunities at Hallmark Cards through attending portfolios in Kansas City, and he began considering an internship with the company. Hamm received the intern10
ship and ended up staying with Hallmark for about three and half years. During his time at Hallmark, Hamm began teaching an evening design course at the University of Kansas. This spurred some conversation about an open position for a graphic design professor at Tabor. “Around that time, I had read a couple of things that talked about investing yourself in a place, particularly the place you’re from,” he said. “I thought it be interesting to go back and teach and do things in small, rural areas.” To teach at Tabor, Hamm began working on his master’s degree in art and social practice, which is a program that approaches art from a unique perspective. “As opposed to studio art, where you are often making something by yourself that has a very standardized system for how it gets disseminated,” Hamm said, “social practice is more interested in creating art with people, creating it outside of normal art
institutions—the public engagement side of things.” Hamm said this program fit very well with graphic design. “It’s art outside of the high realm of art—art that people are engaging with and that is part of everyday life,” he said. After moving back to Hillsboro, Hamm also began exploring what art and design looks like in a rural area. This interest in rural art led Hamm and his wife to move to Matfield Green, a town of about 45 people located an hour southeast of Hillsboro. “We ended up meeting a few people that lived in Matfield Green and ran a contemporary art space there,” Hamm said. “When a couple of them were moving, they asked if we’d be interested in taking over some of what they were doing there and running that space.” Hamm said that he hopes his work in Matfield Green will feed into his work at Tabor, building a network of artists coming into the area. With this in mind, Hamm said he is excited for the opportunities the new fine arts building will bring. “Art and design has never really had a central home,” he said. “We’re kind of spread out across campus. So there will now be a space for community within art and design, and the arts altogether, like theater and music.” In addition, the new building features a gallery space where the public can view student work. “I’m excited to have the facilities to engage with the public about what we’re doing,” Hamm said.
NETFLIX REVIEW:
Stranger Things
By Sierra Sanchez
According to Nielsen’s ratings, the first episode of Stranger Things 2 was watched by an estimated 15.8 million people within the first three days of its release. Of this number, 361,000 viewers binge-watched all nine episodes in one day. But what exactly is it about this show that makes it so popular among its audience? Perhaps it’s the cheeky but lovable characters or the blastfrom-the-past, ‘80s-soaked production and soundtrack. Maybe it’s the unpredictable twists and gripping plotline or the way each episode ends with a cliff-hanger that makes it impossible to stop watching. Regardless, if you are like me and absolutely loved the first season, Stranger Things 2 was well worth the wait and lived up to its expectations. The first aspect of the show that was so great was the return of Eleven. I was nervous about how the writers would work her back into the show. Would it be cheesy? Would it be too over the top? Would she even come back at all? However, all my worries were for naught. Although viewers learn early on that Eleven is still alive, it is only in the last two episodes that she rejoins the rest of the crew. Nonetheless, Eleven’s resurrection was brilliant, an epic reunion that brings viewers through a flurry of suspense, exhilaration, relief, and anger at the same time. In addition to Eleven, and all of the talent that is actress Millie Bobby Brown, the rest of the cast is outstanding in their portrayal of the charmingly quirky characters. In the first season, viewers watched with a wary sense of caution at a show comprised of primarily no-name actors. The second season,
however, firmly establishes the cast as some of Hollywood’s most exciting new actors. It gives viewers a chance to dive deeper into the nuances and personalities of the characters, each uniquely specific. Despite the extremely memorable
and entertaining original characters, the new season introduces several exceptional new characters who seamlessly enter the narrative as if they were there all along. Max, a redhead with a complicated family and tough exterior, becomes the newest member of the crew (sidenote: she is my favorite character). Billy, Max’s testosterone-filled brother, is the antagonist of the show, but viewers remain conflicted over hating him or feeling sorry for him, since
he suffered parental abuse and neglect. And then, there’s Bob, the ultradorky boyfriend of Joyce. Although he is only a peripheral character, he unexpectedly serves as the focal point of one of the arguably most saddest scenes of the show. Another new aspect of the show was the formation of several new romances. In addition to the persisting Mike-Eleven romance, new crewmember Max finds herself in the middle of the cutest love triangle with Dustin and Lucas. Meanwhile, Nancy ditches bad-boy Steve, and pursues the shy but kind-hearted Jonathan, leaving fans to fight over whether they are #TeamStancy or #TeamJancy. Even the villain Billy has an awkward, romantic encounter with Mrs. Wheeler, an out-of-place scene that makes for some uncomfortable laughter. From the iconic characters to the unique storyline, Stranger Things 2 successfully recaptures what made the original show great, while still adding some new elements and taking a few new risks. It is one of the few shows where the sequel successfully matches the creativity, genius, and popularity of the first season. Overall, the second season was an equally, if not more, compelling season that definitely lived up to the hype and high expectations created by the first. And while there is no vomited slug cliffhanger like in the first season, there are enough lingering loose ends that will hopefully make up many future seasons to come.
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TODAY’S TRENDING TOPIC: Gun Control
By Sierra Sanchez
As an American who grew up abroad, there are many things I love about the United States. The people, freedom of thought/ speech, and the ethnic diversity. These things make me proud to be an American. The thing I am most embarrassed about being an American is our culture of gun violence and regular mass shootings. By definition, a mass shooting is any incident in which a gunman shoots or kills four or more people at the same given time and location. According to CNN, so far in the United States, there have been 307 mass shootings in the 2017 calendar year alone. This averages to almost seven mass shootings a week. In addition, in 2015 the number of guns in the United States surpassed its population of 320 million people. With over 357 million guns, there are now more guns than people in the United States. Fellow Americans, this is unacceptable. I am appalled and disappointed by our country’s gun problem and our inability to protect American citizens from guns. As a country, we must do better; we must have better gun control laws. There is a problem when the same people who are on the no-fly list and not allowed to get on a plane can legally and freely get a gun. There is a problem when the system allows loopholes for people to avoid completing background checks when buying a gun privately, online, or at a gun show. There is a problem when the NRA continues to claim that military-style semi-automatic weapons are necessary for “home defense” and “hunting.” Here are three gun control restrictions that should be put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of Americans: (1) conducting better, more thorough background checks completed by everyone before buying a gun, (2) blocking people who are mentally ill and people on federal no-fly lists from buying guns, and (3) completely banning assault rifles, like the AR-15 assault rifle used in the Las Vegas, Orlando, Aurora, San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, and Sutherland Springs shootings. From growing up overseas, in countries where the reality of guns and mass shootings do not exist, I see no other solution than stricter gun control. In a country filled with so many great people, how many shootings must it take us to enact more gun control laws in order to protect American lives?
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By Ben Wieler
This is a tired debate. The bottom line is that the United States has a significant amount of gun violence and Americans citizens should consider that a serious issue. Instead, they argue about hypothetical situations and would rather point out flaws in the case supported by the other side. The arguments of both sides are right, which is why the arguments of both sides are wrong. Yes, both pro-gun and no-gun have evidence supporting their beliefs that hold water and that doesn’t matter. The answer to gun violence in America is not endless arguing. It is not flags at half-mast and it is most definitely is not peoples thoughts and prayers. If everyone took all their thoughts and prayers and instead donated those thoughts to creating policy, gun violence would already be decreasing. 33,000 Americans are fatally shot every year. About two thirds of those are suicides via gun, roughly 1/3 are homicides inflicted by guns. Police shootings account for approximately 273 deaths each year and mass shootings claim the lives of about 100 people per year. Each of the aforementioned categories of gun deaths will need to be solved with the implementation of different policies. Many of these polices will have noting to do with guns. Ample research shows that the time between the decision to commit suicide and the act of suicide is less than five seconds in length. Therefore, it would be logical to find a way to extend those five seconds. Britain and Australia both had gun violence issues similar to those in the United States until roughly 20 years ago. While the United States has been thinking and praying for the last twenty years, Britain and Australia were crafting policy that successfully reduced gun violence. It is time for the United States to, at least, put some effort into solving this problem; this way people can pray with each other instead of for each other.
Opinion:
Has Tabor College Reached an Inflection Point? By Ben Wieler
Tabor College was founded in 1908 by a group of Mennonites who desired to provide an education centered on Mennonite ideals and values. What began as a grand vision for the flourishing of young Mennonite adults 109 years ago has seemingly become a standard mainstream small American college. The Mennonite people spent nearly 500 years moving from country to country within Europe and eventually to North America to escape persecution, pursue freedom to exercise their beliefs and evade violent conflicts. Central Kansas provided an opportunity for them to do all of the above, and they did, at first. But 125 years after moving to the United States, some Mennonites have gone from being persecuted for their differences to persecuting others for their differences, from having the freedom to exercise their Mennonite faith to trading their beliefs for those of common evangelical American Christianity, from being exempt from violent conflict to actively supporting and honoring military and
others who participate in violent conflicts. After being persecuted for large periods of the previous 500 years and constantly moving in effort to practice their faith, Mennonites finally found a place where they would be able to live as they wished. Two generations later, they promptly gave up the values that lead them to migrate time after time and instead became “Americans”. The timeline of Tabor College follows closely to the events described above. A college designed to enable the Mennonite faith to flourish is now experiencing an identity crisis. Tabor College seems to have lost its convictions and exchanged the Mennonite faith for the destructive entity that is mainstream American Christianity. Using force to uphold policy instead of understanding. Using power to drown out injustice. Using emotion instead of evidence. Ignoring those with less influence. Using hierarchical power structures. Maybe it is business - a wider net equates to more paying students. Maybe
it is safety-it is uncomfortable not to belong to the larger group. Or maybe it is that this school forgot why this school was founded-109 years is a long time. Whatever the reason, the school is where it is. The question now is where does Tabor College go from here? The answer is not easy. The easy decision would be for the school to continue on the course it is currently on. Cycle through athletes one after another and remain mainstream enough that said athletes don’t feel out of place. Or the school could make a different choice. The school could reflect upon its beginnings and start to offer the Mennonite education it was created to. Tabor College is facing a simple question; is it a college that offers an American evangelical education or is it a college that offers a Mennonite education? If the answer is the former the school needs to be honest with students about what is being offered. If the answer is both, the question was misunderstood.
The View STAFF Editors-in-chief: Megan Voth, Ricky Benavides Staff Writers: Bailey Kaufman, Sierra Sanchez, Maryn Robson, Benjamyn Wieler, Micah Richert Page Designer: Laura Pankratz Photographer: Shannon Martens Adviser: Sara Jo Waldron The Tabor View is the official student publication of Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. It is published by Print Source Direct, LLC, 116 S. Main, Hillsboro, Kan., 67063. The opinions expressed in The Tabor View are not necessarily those of TheTabor View staff.
Photos by Vance Frick, unless otherwise noted 13
Amber Bonham Profile By Maryn Robson
Amber Bonham, a senior from Skiatook, OK, began her basketball career on a YMCA team when she was five years old. Since playing for Tabor, she has received the Academic All-American award, an All-Conference title, was named Conference MVP her senior year, and has lettered all four years. Basketball is not merely a pleasurable activity for Bonham—it runs in her blood. Because of her family’s history in basketball, the sport has always been part of Bonham’s life. Additionally, activity is part of the Bonham family’s DNA. “We’re an active family,” said Bonham. This lifestyle has developed within her a love for sports. “That’s why I chose Athletic Training,” she said. “I wanted to stay in sports, but I didn’t want a coaching life.” Her family has been a huge support for her throughout her basketball career. “My mom and dad—they literally don’t miss a game,” Bonham said. Skiatook is four hours from Hillsboro, and yet her family drives to every game to watch her play. “Somebody in the family, whether it’s my older sister, my brother-in-law, my dad, or mom, or nana—someone’s there,” Bonham said. 14
Just as her family has encouraged her, Bonham wants to be an encouragement to her teammates. “I have accepted a big leadership role this year,” she said. Bonham and Mollie Hawkins are the only seniors on the team, and many of the people starting on varsity are either new to the program or have never played varsity before. For Bonham, this is her first year starting, though she has played varsity before. However, as the team was not flowing well in its game, Bonham requested to come off the bench. “I wrestled with that a lot because I hadn’t started all the time I’d been here,” said Bonham. She wants the team to be successful, though, so she moved to reserve on Nov. 10. From that point, the team won the next successive five games. During her four years at Tabor, Bonham has contributed to the basketball team both through her skill and her leadership. Not only is she an excellent shooter from the three-point line and a powerful player on both offense and defense, but she “is a competitor,” said Coach Shawn Reed, “and she wants to win, even if that means her role changes. She wants to win and be a part of a successful program.”
Sports Updates BASKETBALL
The Lady Bluejays began their season on Nov. 1, playing against College of the Ozarks. It was a rough start as the Lady Bluejays lost 53-92. The team continued to struggle on Nov. 4 when they lost 35-72 against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. However, the Lady Bluejays picked their game back up on Nov. 10 at Sterling College’s Warrior Classic, winning 67-49 against Central Methodist College. They won their next five games, and as of Nov. 28, they hold an overall record of 5-2 and are 3-0 in the KCAC. The Lady Bluejays’ next game is at home on Dec. 6 against the University of St. Mary at 6 p.m. The Men’s team began their season with a rough loss to the College of the Ozarks. The Bluejays have bounced back from a couple of unfortunate losses to remain 2-2 in conference play. The Bluejays’ next game is Dec. 6 against the University of Saint Mary at 8 p.m.
SWIM
Nov. 18th, the men’s Bluejay swim team traveled to Kearney, NE. to battle Midland University. The team was defeated by Midland 111-52 with Nicholas Bradley winning two of his events in the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard breastroke. Evan Bell also won the 100-yard freestyle stroke and second in the 50-yard freestyle. Bell and Bradley also competed in the 200-yard medley and the 200-yard freestyle with Jacob Rudolph and Danny Smith. The medley team came up short of qualifying for NAIA nationals by .61 seconds combined between the two races. The men’s team is 1-4 and will be traveling to the Hendrix Invitational in Conway, AR. Dec. 1st-2nd. The women’s swim team also traveled to Kearney, Ne. to take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney Nov. 18. Beating St. Mary’s 64-55, Midland University 64-11 but taking the loss to the hosts, Kearney, 119-64. Michal Parris and Kelley both took individual victories with Parris winning the 1000-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke and Smith winning her events in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Aleya Hill took the win in both the 500-yard freestyle, fifth in the 200-yard freestyle, and second in the 400-yard individual medley. Mariana Nassuno Alves placed third in 100-yard backstroke, second in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle. After the women’s victories in Kearney, the team has improved to 6-1 in the first half of the season. They will be traveling to Conway, AR. Dec. 1-2.
CROSS COUNTRY The men’s cross country team competed in the KCAC Cross Country Championships earlier this month, finishing 10th out of the 12 teams that competed at McPherson. The leader of the team was Collin Bruske who finished 38th with a time of 28 minutes and 22 seconds which was also his personal best in the 8K. Thomas Bacon competed in his first marathon run on Nov. 19th, finishing 13th with a time of one hour and 22 minutes, to qualify for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Three Lady Bluejay runners ended a three-year drought of national qualifiers with Lindsay Crist, Julie Loewen, and Emily Kemling all qualifying for the Women’s NAIA National XC Championships. The three women also set the Tabor record for the most women to qualify and run at the national championship in the same year. The three women will run in the SW College Half Marathon on 1 Dec. to qualify for the Marathon at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this coming May.
VOLLEYBALL The Bluejays finished their regular season with a record of 28-9 after beating Ottawa University to win the KCAC tournament and move on to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Amy Horner was awarded KCAC Player of the Year with 48 kills, 41 digs and three aces. The Bluejay Volleyball team hosted the first round of the National Championship, beating the Christian Trinity Trolls in five games. The team will travel to Iowa to continue their season in Nationals as they compete for a National Title.
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