Knight Times (December 2015)

K

night Times

December 10, 2015 • Volume 7 • Issue 2 • Warner Pacific College

Un/Churched: Finding a spiritual community

Political Impact:

Campus clubs partner with nonprofits to support local and global initiatives

The Big Break:

WPC Student Breaks into Portland’s TV industry on the set of NBC’s Grimm

The Great Debate:

A real tree, or a fake tree?

That is the question.

The outlook for actors in Portland is

by Matt Dotson

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BC’s Grimm has been haunting Portland for the past four years and is now currently in production filming season five. Local aspiring actors who always dreamed of getting a shot to perform on screen are now living Grimm nightmares in reality and loving it. The pay isn’t bad either. Dreams really do come true. It’s not just NBC that is giving our locals their chance, but numerous other networks such as TNT’s Librarians, the CW’s Significant Mother, and IFC’s Portlandia. Every year there are a number of feature films that shoot in Oregon and tap the local talent pool as well. The truth is that in the last few years, there has been more opportunity for local actors interested in trying out their hand at TV and film than ever before.

My first experience with the entertainment industry was during high school in 1990 when I signed up with an extras casting company from an ad I saw in the paper. Extras are the background players in a production who create the feeling that real life is happening in a scene. They’re the moving colors of people in the background of a scene behind the main actors. From the first few jobs I received, I found that extras work was a good way to learn the basics of set etiquette and that working on a set is a lot of “hurry up and wait.” The waiting consisted of eating great food, meeting new creative friends, and watching some great acting. I found that I really enjoyed the process of film making. It was always different, exciting and new. At the time I was scrambling for money to pay for my car insurance so background/extra work sufficed nicely.

Everything was going pretty well until I suddenly got really sick, missed a few months of school, and lost all possibility of the basketball scholarships I had my sights on. During my recovery, a friend of mine saw an ad in the paper about a three month long stunt work seminar that was being taught by some stunt men from Hollywood.

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Since I had always been an extreme sports junkie and played around with video cameras, my friend encouraged me to take the course.

“Naw,” I said, “I shouldn’t; it’s too expensive.” At that time, expensive was $1500, for which I would have to tap into some of my college fund. My friend just stared at me with a smile on his face and said, “I double dog dare you…” “No way, dude!” I shot back. “Totally irresponsible, I can’t, plus my mom won’t go for it.” I always had a dream of performing acting and stunt work, ever since I saw Indiana Jones in the fifth grade. My mother was always worried I would hurt myself beyond repair; she had caught my brother and me jumping big wheels and bikes off ramps over fire while we filmed it. “I double dog dare you,” my friend sneered. In the three months before graduation from high school in1991, I attended stunt training on the weekends with Bob Parr and Ed Hellier, learning the basics of stunts for camera.

Shortly after graduating, I acquired an agent to find work in the entertainment industry here in Portland. While attending my first round of community college, I worked on sets as my schedule allowed. My first commercial gig returned double what I had spent on the stunt training, so my worry about money spent was put to rest. At that time in my life I didn’t know what I wanted to do with school, so I decided to go work professionally in Los Angeles and did so for a number of years. While I was there I was fortunate to find an amazing small theater to train in acting for film with Joe Palese. Joe was and is a great coach who provides a safe place for actors to really dive in and work on their craft. It was during that time I fell in love with the real art of believable acting through immersive character development.

Currently, I am a senior at Warner Pacific in pursuit of my Bachelor’s degree in Film and Communications, after transferring from Mount Hood Community College where I acquired my Associate of Vol. 7, Issue 2

Applied Science degree in Integrated Media and Digital Video. I have literally come full circle in this part of my life’s journey, again supplementing my income while attending school with acting, stunt work, and some of my own production work along the way.

A lot of people ask me what they need to do to get started in the acting field. The first thing one needs to understand is there are some misconceptions that only certain types or people with particular looks can get involved in the acting industry. Not true. One can turn on the TV or watch a film for a few minutes and see a diverse array of all kinds of people performing on screen.

Sportswear, all of the big athletic manufacturers, and a ton of projects from all over the country, because we have a strong advertising and production base here in Portland.

MD: What are some of the things an aspiring actor can do to get their feet wet in the Portland film market?

JH: Train. Period. That’s the biggest, most important thing because I think that with the advent of so many productions moving to town, everybody wants to be an actor all of a sudden. If you don’t have the training and you don’t do the work, it’s going to be really difficult.

of a lot of theaters nowadays, that style is becoming more popular, more real, like we’re talking right now. And some of the smaller venues in Portland have been wonderful to let actors, even in a theatrical setting, act in a manner that is not as theatrical.

MD: Right on. What do you think about people doing extra work? Is it helpful?

JH: It depends on the motivation I think. If they want to see what happens on a set and be a part of it, I think it’s absolutely a great experience. For an actor that wants to make a living as an actor, I don’t think it’s necessarily going to do something for their career. I encourage my actors for the most part not to do extra work unless they just want to experience what it is like on a big NBC production, for example on Grimm. I’ve had actors of mine who have been discounted for big roles on television productions because they were associated in the minds of production people as extras.

People of all ethnicities, shapes, and sizes MD: When you talk about training, what from all walks of life and demographics are are you talking about? Are you talking about portrayed. The entertainment industry is training in the theatre or are you talking about people and for people. Another mis- about training privately? conception is that work in the industry just happens to people and is handed out like a JH: Any of it’s good, but I think that if you’re free gift. As with anything in life, there is a a theatre based actor, you need to have some bit of proactivity and work that takes place film and television training to learn how to in order for things to happen. To see what bring it down from the theater realm into MD: What are things that you look for in is on the other side of a door, one has to a smaller space, which is where the TV and new talent for your agency? complete the action of opening it. Every job film actors tend to reside. I think that theater has a training process to go through. The last actors are amazing because they do it for the JH: Well, with the profusion of television misconception is that one would need to be love of acting, not for the money. I tend to shows in Portland right now we have to look in Hollywood to give it a try. I can attest to represent a ton of theatre actors, but some at resumes pretty heavily. Certain network the fact that there is more work shows are not going to book for actors now in Portland than as certain actors unless they have little as five years ago. prior television experience. To “You have to be willing to be honest with you, I am really take rejection. You have to open to taking on people who The best person to address questions about the industry is Justin don’t have a ton of training but be willing to put yourself Habel, owner of Q6 Model and people who have the right salArtist Management. Habel has able quality. They can go into out there and not attach been an agent and owner of Q6 a room and people want to anything to the outcome.” for 27 years, making it the longest work with them. But they have running agency for modeling and to have some training. They talent in Portland to date. I have have to have a desire to do it known Justin since 1996, and recently took of them have to really learn how to dial it and a realistic expectation. And also, a little the opportunity to sit down with him at his down a notch when they’re auditioning for dose of reality that you will audition a lot, office in the east side industrial district for a film and TV projects. but not necessarily book a lot of the jobs you brief conversation. audition for. You have to be willing to take MD: I agree... In terms of dial it down, can the rejection. You have to be willing to put MD: What are some companies or projects you explain a little bit more about that? yourself out there and not attach anything to that your talent has worked on over the years? the outcome. Just enjoy the process of acting JH: Yes, I think it’s the difference between and of auditioning without the expectations JH: Oh boy… Well, Grimm, the Librarians, trying to communicate a thought or an ac- and the consequent disappointment.

Significant Mother, Portlandia are the four tion to somebody in the 40th row as opposed TV shows shooting currently in Portland. to acting in front of a camera where the cam- MD: Yep. That is a constant battle.

Over the years, anything from Northern Ex- era can be 40 feet away from you but close posure, X­Files, and Twin Peaks to movies like up on your face, and it doesn’t take much JH: In all reality, we really, really, really, need Kindergarten Cop, The Hunted, and movies to express how you’re feeling and what your diversity in our acting pool in Portland. We of the week galore. Nike, Adidas, Columbia character is feeling. With the intimate setting have a real lack of diversity, and if there is Knight Times

Warner Pacific College

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Previous page: Matt Dotson as Officer #2 in Season 1, Episode 6 of Grimm, “The Three Bad Wolves.” Image courtesy of NBC 2011. Above: Kayla Wells helps Andre Jackson prepare a portfolio for Q6 Model and Artist Management. Photo by Matt Dotson. an actor that is of a minority group, we are very interested. We are not going to take someone on just because of that, but if they’re an actor, and they have a desire and a skill set, they have a great chance of working in this town.

MD: Do you think also with the amount of work that has come to Portland that there is more of an opportunity than there was maybe five years ago?

JH: Absolutely. No question. The thing that I think that people need to realize is that not every actor desires to be on a TV show, to be in a film. Sometimes what they desire is to make money, so they can do commercials, and they can do industrials, and they can do new media projects, and they don’t have to delve into the acting world as a profession and as the only thing they’ve ever wanted to do. They may have another job. They may have a family. They may have kids. They may have a career. There’s a ton of work out there outside of the TV and film world. The other thing we have to look at when we’re taking on new talent is what’s their desire? Where do they want to take it? If they don’t have a desire to be a hardcore actor, that’s okay, because there really is a place in the commercial world for a lot of these people as well.

MD: Do you think students are able to do this while going to school?

JH: Absolutely. As long as they are able to make it to auditions and have a schedule that is flexible enough to work a day they are booked. If somebody has a nine to five job and has no flexibility, they shouldn’t even try to do this.

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MD: Communication is key in relationship to that. If someone is wanting to do this, what are the tools they’re going need? Aside from classes.

JH: They should have a resume put together.

I would recommend that they not go out and spend a ton of money getting head shots yet.

It’s fine to do something with a friend, or with somebody who can do it for a minimal amount of money, because,if we’re going to take them on we’re going to want them to shoot with somebody who is a proven professional head shot photographer so that their money is well spent and we have something we know is saleable.

MD: Any last final tips or advice for prospective actors and models?

JH: I think that models in Portland need to be fit because our base of clients here is heavily in the outdoor and athletic apparel realm. This is not a high fashion market, it never will be, so athletic, fit, outdoor types of models are the ones that work here. As far as actors go, get training, and find out if it’s something you really want to do, because it’s a hard living. Be immersed in that as well as projects you think you can get in on. It might be an extra part at first, it might be an independent film, but you have to start somewhere and you have to actually act.

You can do it in class or in an independent film, but you just need to do it.

When I walked into Justin’s office, I recognized a familiar face. Warner Pacific’s own Andre Jackson was in the office getting things set up in terms of having Q6 representing him in the modeling department. We had a few laughs and the “what are you doing here?” conversation, and a few days later, I had a chance to

catch up with Andre in the college bookstore.

He is a sophomore pursuing his degree in Health and Human Kinetics and a member of the track team. I asked Andre how he came across Q6 and what his thoughts were so far.

“A friend of mine with Q6 referred me,” he said. “I think they’re great, they’re very reliable, and I’m very comfortable in the whole process with them. They asked me to get some professional quality photos for my portfolio and that was about it.” I then asked what he hoped to achieve with the agency. “Money, simply put, I need money,” Andre said. “I’m a broke college student, and money always helps.” I laughed in agreement. It was really great to see another student heading into the entertainment field and know he is in the hands of a great group of people at Q6. I personally have had a great experience with them as my agency for the past 18 years. The jobs that I have gotten through Q6 have been an absolute blessing in my life, especially during my time back in college, and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work.

I’ve had some of my best experiences on set due to Q6. I’ve been able to share time on screen with actors I never thought I would be face to face with, like Ed Asner, Mary Tyler Moore, and Robert DeNiro. I’ve gotten to live my dream of acting and doing my own stunts from time to time, and would have never had gotten the opportunity without Justin and his crew.

Even though there are challenging things about the entertainment industry, like not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from, I love what I do. I love being on a set watching all of the different people working at the craft they love. They are living their creative dreams, facing the challenges, and enjoying the process.

The most amazing thing to see is how the work always comes right in perfect time for fulfilling my needs as I perform the act of balancing life’s schedules. I thank God for that.

Some of you know exactly what career path you’re on. Some of you are just trying to find what direction you’re going, and along the way you’ll figure out what you want to do.

No matter where you are at in the process, there is an opportunity in Portland for anyone with a little dream, determination, hard work ethic, and creativity to see what the entertainment community has to offer. If you like rubbing elbows with all kinds of people, having some extra spending money on the side, or if you’re going to be a hardcore actor for the love of the craft, give it a shot. You might find yourself haunting out with the Grimm crew this season. You’ll never know unless you try.

Vol. 7, Issue 2

Art& Literature

Journal Now Accepting Submissions for Publication Through February 18

by Allison Beisley and Hannah Mierow

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very spring, the student journal Rocinante publishes a curated collection of art and literature submitted by students, faculty, and alumni of the college. Originally conceived as a student project in Pam Plimpton’s Creative Writing class, Rocinante is now produced by an Art and Literary Journal Production class.

Through a blind review process, students in the class select the best poetry, fiction, essays, photography, paintings, and drawings to be included in the book. At the end of the semester, the class hosts a release party where authors and artists read and display their work.

Rocinante is a free publication for the Warner Pacific community.

WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

Rocinante is the name of the horse in the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

This hefty novel is the tale of a Spanish man who takes it upon himself to help and defend the weak and vanquish the wicked. Rocinante is with him through the whole journey, even though he is not the youngest, fastest, or strongest horse around. The students who chose the name Rocinante were alluding to the fact that Don Quixote, supported by his faithful horse, recreates his humble self into a knight. Through his imagination, he inhabits a world of his own that is often more true than reality. Rocinante the journal aims to support our community of Knights.

our community to freely express themselves and have the chance to share their work through publication. Send your pieces to wprocinante@gmail.com by February 18, 2016 at 9 p.m. Include your name and titles for each piece. If you aren’t sure if something is acceptable to submit, contact Hannah Mierow (hmierow@warnerpacific.edu).

based on biases, there is a process called recusing. If staff members know who wrote or submitted a piece, they are required to recuse their vote, or in other words, they aren’t allowed to vote for that piece. They can still talk about it objectively if they want the reviewers to notice certain aspects of the piece; however when it comes to voting, they must refrain.

WHAT ARE THE SUBMISSION LIMITS?

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

Each person may submit the following to the journal: Ten pages of double spaced prose, Five poems, and/or Ten pieces of photography or visual art. Ensure that your piece is “publish ready” and is not in need of major editing. Artwork and photography files must be at least 300 DPI in order to be accepted into the journal. If you need help ensuring your images meet this standard, contact Allison Beisley (abeisley@warnerpacific.edu).

Dr. Pamela Plimpton, Professor of English and Literature has been the faculty advisor for Rocinante for all of the journal’s fourteen years of publication. The class takes the book from submissions to publication within the 15 week spring semester. The senior staff for the 2016 issue of Rocinante are: Hannah Mierow (Editor-in-Chief ), Allison Beisley (Design Editor), Deborah Landers (Copy Editor), and Naomi Fox (Media Coordinator).

WHAT IS THE REVIEW PROCESS?

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

After the submission deadline has passed, the editor gathers all of the pieces emailed to him/her, removes the names, and distributes the material to the rest of the staff for reading and reviewing. The staff then goes through a rigorous process of analyzing the submissions and voting on which pieces will be published in the journal. The reviewers discuss the pieces and then vote to select which ones will be published.

Each year we are able to create a new and unique journal. We never know what kind of submissions we are going to get, and there is something different and special about each journal. I have been a part of Rocinante since I was a freshman in Spring of 2013, and I am so happy to be the Editor-in-Chief this year.

I look forward to receiving your submissions, and taking them through the process of becoming a journal that is beautiful, memorable, and expressive of our community. Please submit your pieces and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

WHAT CAN I SUBMIT TO THE JOURNAL? HOW IS VOTING KEPT UNBIASED?

Rocinante accepts anything from screen play excerpts to sharpie drawings to poetry. The desire is that this publication is a place for Knight Times

Because sometimes pieces are recognizable to the editorial staff, in order to avoid any voting

— Hannah Mierow, Editor-in-Chief Warner Pacific College

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Places of Worship

by Adrienne Alexandre

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hen I first arrived at Warner Pacific College, I had a bursting desire to become involved in a church community.

However, I was unsure of where to go, how to look for a church or who to turn to for help. I had moved from Prescott, Arizona to Portland, one of the most unchurched cities in America, according to a Barna poll. “Unchurched” refers to adults who have “not attended a church service, except for a holiday or special occasion, at any time within the past six months” (barna.org). I did not have a vehicle, and this made exploration difficult in a city where I was a stranger. Although I got a few rides to church gatherings, I couldn’t really find what I was looking for.

I eventually gave up the search and learned to enjoy sleeping in. As someone who was new to the area, it was difficult to find a church or community with ministries that were relevant and close to my heart. Coming from a history of being heavily involved with church, including youth and worship ministries, I found it challenging to assimilate into a new church body. As a student seeking to be a part of a ministry, how was I supposed to find a church?

One possible answer comes from asking students, alumni, faculty or staff who have had the opportunity to explore the surrounding spiritual communities. Jess Bielman, ordained Church of God minister and Director of Campus Ministries advises students to “go find someone who loves their church.” Many WPC students and faculty have made their

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December 10, 2015

Finding a Church Home in the City

roots at Lynchwood Church of God and Mt. Scott Church of God. In my experience growing up in the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), these communities are very family oriented and put value on worship, prayer, and faithfulness. Warner Pacific is a college associated with the Church of God, and many of these churches are familiar with the college and its mission. Lynchwood Church of God services are held at 3818 SE 174th Ave, Portland, OR. & Mt. Scott Church of God at SE Henderson St, Portland, OR.

many small groups that include both learning communities and recreational communities.

According to their homepage, Imago Dei (Latin for “image of God”) invites attendees to explore truth and meaning. The church leaders desire to create worship and beauty as well as authentic relationships for their congregation. According to senior Jordan Olson, Imago Dei is a bigger church with “lots of serving opportunities.” Imago Dei Services are held at 1302 SE Ankeny St. or 12230 SE Harold St.

Another great way to find a church is to look in your own back yard! One community that meets in the McGuire Theater on campus Sunday mornings is the Bread and Wine Church. According to their website, this group celebrates a close and inclusive unity, with a mission to “introduce the city of Portland, Oregon to the person of Jesus Christ.” Bread and Wine is a non-denominational church that warmly welcomes the curiosity of those questioning God or Christianity. Churchgoer and WPC senior Taylor Clark said that “this church has an open-minded atmosphere with an urban appeal.” This missional community has a deep passion for communion; the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine, in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross.

Bread and Wine Church Services are held in McGuire Theatre, Room 161.

A popular church that gathers at its Bridgetown location in downtown Portland is A Jesus Church. When I attended their Sunday evening service, I found what seemed like a concert-like worship atmosphere with many welcoming faces. The congregation is full of young (mostly college-age) people full of vibrancy who enjoy exploring The Holy Bible together and praying over one another. Small groups meet throughout the week, gathering followers in similar stages of life and ages to fellowship and grow in their discipleship. A Jesus Church Services are held at 1306 SE Hoyt St. #412.

Imago Dei is a church that is committed to fellowship through compassion and service.

This non-denominational church offers

For a more informal and close-knit space than a local church, there are spiritual communities on campus, also known as “small groups.”

Student Chaplain Mollie Meyer said that “the small groups on campus provide an intimate space to get to know people on a really small scale level that is different from a church.”

According to Meyer, small groups “provide Vol. 7, Issue 2

something that a lot of churches don’t. They are trying to promote religious diversity, so if you are someone who doesn’t identify specifically as Christian, there are small groups that will fit your needs. We are wanting you to find your spiritual foundation, not just a foundation in what religion you see.” There are eight small groups that currently meet on campus. Meyer leads a women’s small group that is committed to empowering women in roles that they might find in their neighborhoods.

mosphere, mission, and services you might be interested in. You can even read Yelp! reviews of religious organizations. For information on the small groups on campus, contact Mollie Meyer at mmeyer@warnerpacific.edu.

Through my years at WPC, I have discovered that ministry is all around me. I have opportunities to serve outside of the church and still show the face of Christ through service. Jess Bielman offered an important insight: “I don’t think that a student’s entirety of their spirituality ought to ever be just a church experience, but I think that church can really give them a place to stand as they are continuing to grow, develop, and form.” For those of you who are eager to be a part of a local church family, research what you are looking for, then ask the mentors in your life as well as your peers.

Look on the internet and scour homepages and Facebook pages to find what kind of at-

Looking for LGBT Friendly, Try: First Congregational Church of Christ, Sunday, 10:25 AM on 1126 SW Park Ave.

Church

All LGBT Inclusive Friendly

FOR MORE IDEAS TRY THESE:

Looking for All-Inclusive, Try: Saint David of Wales Episcopal Church, Sunday, 10:00 AM on 2800 SE Harrison St.

Christ Church

X

X

City Sanctuary

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X

Looking for Early Morning Services, Try: Gateway Church, Sunday, 8:30 AM on 13300 NE San Rafael St.

Looking for Spanish Speaking, Try: Saint Andrew Catholic Church, Sunday 12:30 PM on 106 NE Alberta Ave.

Looking for Evening Services, Try: Christ Church, Sunday, 4:30 PM on 1314 SW Park Ave.

Looking for Urban Mission, Try: Pearl Church, Sunday 10:00 AM on 721 NE 9th Ave (2nd Floor).

Morning Service

First Congregational Church of Christ

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Freedom Church

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X

X X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Weekday Events

Ministry Opportunities

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X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Gateway Church

X X

X

X

Lynchwood Church of God

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X

Mt. Scott Church of God X

Portland Foursquare Church

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Saint Andrew Catholic Church

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X

X

X

X

X

X

Saint David of Wales Episcopal Church

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X

X

X

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Theophilus Church

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X

Knight Times

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X

Imago Dei

Pearl Church

Evening Dinner Urban Casual Service Served Mission Atmosphere

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Door of Hope

Looking for Saturday Service, Try: City Sanctuary, Saturday, 10:00 AM on 1640 NW Irving St.

Looking for Casual Atmosphere, Try: Freedom Church, Sunday, 10:00 AM on 7733 SE Raymond St.

X X

Looking for Midweek Service, Try: Portland Foursquare, Wednesday 10:00 AM on 2830 NE Flanders St. (Also meets Sunday @ 10:00 AM)

Looking for Ministry Opportunities, Try: Door of Hope, Sunday, 8 AM, 9:45 AM & 11:30 AM on 831 NE Fremont St. (This church also has early Morning Service).

A Jesus Church Bread and Wine Church

Looking for Dinner, Try: Theophilus Church, Sunday, 5:00 PM (Gathering) 6 PM (Dinner). Meets at Trinity Fellowship on 2700 SE 67th Ave.

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Warner Pacific College

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F

ach year, when the temperature drops and the leaves have all fallen from the trees, multicolored lights go up, and windows are filled with Christmas trees. Most people wait until after Thanksgiving, yet some trees appear as soon as Halloween is over. In some households, the Christmas tree never came down from the year before. In my family, the tree went up on the first Saturday of December. My mother ran the house, and early in the morning began the process of unpacking 20-plus years of Christmas decorations from the storage space in the basement. Little things came first: a plethora of nativity sets, candle holders, wreaths, and other various wall decorations. Then came five little trees, one for each bedroom of the house. Lastly, the refrigerator-sized box containing the tree was lugged up the stairs and into the living room.

Once there, the year-old packing tape was torn from the box’s seams, and our longest lasting Christmas tradition was revealed.

This Wal-Mart gem from 1991 consisted of plastic tubing approximately six feet long (after assembly) which was inserted into a base in the shape of an “X” to stand upright.

From there, the branches (which were actually thousands of plastic “pine needles” secured to pieces of metal wire) were sorted into piles based on the color of electric tape we had secured around their hooks. Next, each of the 30-or-so branches was fluffed up so it no longer looked like it spent a year in a box, then inserted into the hole in the plastic piping as designated by the electrical tape color-coding system. Once all the branches were in place, the final step was filling all the empty holes with fake pine-cones (completed with pine-cone-scented spray) and planning where to hang the largest ornaments in order to best keep our secret.

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December 10, 2015

FIRS

by Kyler Vogt

Every year, families like mine flock to stores all over the country to buy these artificial Christmas trees. To be fair, these modern “faux firs” have come a long way since 1991. Today, artificial trees look very real. These trees come in many different shapes and sizes, and in many different customizable fashions. Some have lights already installed, with tiny bulbs at the end of the branches and the wiring runs inside the “trunk” and into a single plug for the wall. Other trees like this have artificial frost, so there is no need for the stress and mess of flocking the tree. Long story short, artificial Christmas trees can be a sound investment that will last for many years without putting a huge dent in your wallet.

However, on the other side of the fence are families who devotedly use all-natural, fresh Christmas trees. These genuine trees are most commonly various types of fir, pine, and spruce, either chopped down manually or purchased from a Christmas tree farm. These trees often require much more setup work than artificial trees, including packaging and transporting. Natural trees also require lots of maintenance such as watering and cleaning fallen needles. However, for many, the fresh scent of a genuine Christmas tree filling the home makes it all worthwhile, and fills them with a sense of pride.

Before coming to Portland I lived in Florida, Kansas, and Eastern Oregon—all places where a genuine Douglas Fir or Scottish Pine is quite difficult (not to mention expensive) to come by. Because of this, I have never had a natural Christmas tree. I decided this would be the year when I would finally get to experience

what it was like to chop down a tree and haul it back to my dorm room. Along with many others, I have always seen purchasing natural Christmas trees as a threat to the environment, but I found this is rarely the case. In fact, Christmas tree farms do a lot of good for our environment. I decided to visit those acres that produced lots of oxygen and removed tons of carbon dioxide from the air. Thus, three friends and I piled into the car and headed south towards Oregon City, where Google had informed us there were multiple Christmas tree farms.

When my friends and I got to Oregon City, we began hunting down the tree farms. The first two were not open, but the third was a lovely family owned business which was very ready to sell us some trees.

I wondered through the artificial forest among trees of various heights, pondering each one I passed by and commenting on it as if I were a judge on America’s Got Talent.

With so many different options to choose from, I soon realized picking out a tree was no easy task. Then the thought occurred to me that I do have a roommate, and I should probably make sure he isn’t allergic to Christmas trees or something like that.

As it turns out, that was exactly the case.

After a brief text message conversation, I left the tree farm empty handed. I ended up buying a small artificial tree from Goodwill for my room instead.

For me, I’ll be sticking to artificial trees for the near future. However, in a place such as Portland, where beautiful trees are abundant and cheap, natural trees seem to have an edge. Maybe I’ll rethink my choice again next year.

Vol. 7, Issue 2

Creative Spirit

From Object Lessons to Opera with Jennifer Cameron

by Brandon Bush

T

he WPC Music Department is a small yet mighty crew. Once you decide to be a music student at Warner Pacific, you are in for a crazy and enlightening journey. As a freshman, I was a music major, and I first met Jennifer Cameron in Music Theory class. I sat in a semicircle with twelve other students as Professor Cameron walked into the room.

“Well, good morning!” she said, as if she had been up for hours. “My name is Jennifer Cameron, and this is Music Theory I.” Just by her attitude, I knew this was going to be a good class. She had so much energy at 8:00 a.m., it was unbelievable. Although I am no longer a music major, I have fond memories of the time I spent in music classes and the community they created.

theory, aural skills and functional keyboarding is prepare the students with a tool box of things that they can pull from in upper division classes and later in life,” Cameron said.

Although it is a rigorous program, the music department faculty and students have a blast learning and growing together. Gwen Hamilton, a junior and music education major, explained the process: “Being a music major may sound really difficult, but it doesn’t feel like you’re working hard because the professors make it so much fun.” I remember when I was in music theory, Jennifer Cameron (or JCam as the music students call her) had a board made of fabric that had a music staff on it. We would throw a Velcro ball at the music staff, and wherever it landed, we would have to name the note it was. Another time she had us pass a stuffed animal around, and when the music stopped, whoever had the stuffed animal had to name the key signature that was assigned.

Music students don’t spend In a recent interview, I asked all of their time in the classJennifer Cameron, Chair of room though; they go out the Music Department, what in the city together to see the journey to a music degree operas, symphonies, and looks like at Warner Pacific. occasionally take a trip to “The first word I think of Jennifer Cameron is the Chair of the Music Department. Photo by Cody Harrod. the Pied Cow for fondue. is practice. You do a lot of “It’s vital to tear down the practicing. A lot of majors walls of the classroom, take on campus don’t start freshadvantage of the urban setman year, so it’s unique that ting, and go to these concerts music students begin with a that are fabulous in the city yearlong sequence in music of Portland.” Cameron said. theory, aural skills, ensembles Many of the Music Departand applied music,” she said. ment outings are academiFrom the very beginning, mucally driven, but many are sic students are learning how community driven as well. to sight-read music, identify rhythm patterns As music majors continue their schooling Jennifer Cameron has been known to invite by ear, and recognize scale degrees. Beyond into the junior and senior year, they stay up all her students over for dinner just to talk that, they are strengthening their melodic late at night finishing music arrangements of and get to know one another. “If a student dictation, learning how to notate, and creat- their own creation, and use what they have makes a suggestion like ‘We should go to ing music arrangements in groups. “What we learned previously as tools to better their un- the pumpkin patch!’ I just capitalize on really do in those first couple years of music derstanding of more difficult music concepts. it,” Cameron said. Continued on page 15.

“If a student makes a suggestion like ‘we should go to the pumpkin patch,’ I just capitalize on it.”

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on the town:

Photo: A scene from In the Forest She Grew Fangs, courtesy of Defunkt Theatre.

Theatre in the Heart of Portland

by Deborah Landers

I

n Introduction to Drama, the first thing that Professor Robin Gordon asked us to do was to introduce ourselves and describe our relationship with theatre. The answers given in response ranged from the normal (“I have no relationship with theatre”) to the delightfully bizarre (“Theatre and I have a friends-with-benefits relationship”). When I gave my answer, I told them about my personal involvement with theatre, describing a year and a half of full immersion in the dramatic life. But it goes further than that.

Four years ago, I was plunged head first into Portland’s vibrant theatre scene.

During my freshman year, a club on campus (that unfortunately no longer exists) planned a trip to a local production of Shakespeare’s

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Henry IV Part I. So a group of roughly fifteen people piled into one of the school vans and several cars and found their way to Milepost 5, a community of artists. Through an art gallery and back outside to a central courtyard, we were greeted by a theatre troupe consisting mainly of a bunch of people not much older than I was. Our group sprawled out on the dry, late-summer grass. I was unprepared for the passionate performance that swallowed up the next two and a half hours.

I walked out of that show with two things on my mind. The first: a burning need to experience the whole thing again. No one can simply watch a play. Well, maybe someone can, but to truly make the most of a play, it must be lived through. Second, I couldn’t

believe that they were only asking for donations at the end of the show. There was no price of admission and the concessions were a reasonable price, though few in selection.

Most of what we need to know about a theatre group can be found in their mission statement. At that show, the troupe’s leader, Ty Boice, said that their mission was to make Shakespeare free and accessible to all.

Four years later, Post5 has moved to a different location, and has a few different people, but they have retained their passion to bring Shakespeare to the people of Portland, Oregon. They have updated their mission statement in the transition into a full time theatre group.

Vol. 7, Issue 2

On their website, Post5Theatre.org, it now reads: “Post5 Theatre endeavors to hold ‘the mirror up to nature’ for our community by engaging in inventive, effervescent and affordable storytelling inspired by the works of William Shakespeare and contemporary playwrights, to continually renew the magic that is live theatre for new and veteran theatre audiences”. I recently returned to that community over the summer for the show Much Ado About Nothing, which came recommended by the Oregonian newspaper. I paid the $20 for a ticket, but Post5 still has pay-what-you-can days on Sunday, when they ask for donations rather than asking full price for the tickets.

My encounters with Post5 have led me to wonder about the other kinds of theatre available in Portland. We only have one production per semester, and it may not always be something that the students want to engage with. The Fall 2014 showcase, Violence in American Drama, for example, offered a list of trigger warnings, encouraging potential audience members to exercise self-care first and decide if they can view the one-acts and excerpts without damaging their own mental health. Out in the community, there is a wider selection, but getting into some can be on the expensive side. Are there other theatres that offer pay-what-you-can days like Post5? Put “theatre in Portland Oregon” into Google, and more than a dozen locations show up on a map. It can be hard to sift through all that information to find a theatre you’d like and is more affordable.

At Keller Auditorium downtown, the ticket prices are more or less locked in because it is where the Broadway shows play when they come to town and where many of the bigger spectacles like the ballet find space. In fact, the upcoming schedule of Broadway musicals include Beauty and the Beast, The Book of Mormon, The Wizard of Oz, and Annie. Much to the envy my roommate, I managed to see Wicked while it was in town this summer. But it required a couple months of prior planning in order to get the tickets before they sold out and nearly $200—not something I would make a habit of purchasing especially while dealing with college expenses. Discounts do exist for groups and on some of the other, less high-profile shows.

Another more traditional option is Portland Center Stage, also in downtown Portland.

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Their shows are made to appeal to an older audience, as children age six and under are not allowed to attend. The Introduction to Drama class mentioned earlier recently attended their production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. This slice-of-life drama had minimalistic staging: only a bunch of chairs and a couple of ladders. Portland Center Stage strives to make their shows available to as many people as possible, offering group discounts and military discounts. There is also a youth and student discount that most of the traditional students can take advantage of because their definition of “youth” is under thirty years old. Their upcoming shows also seem to be a slice-of-life which examines what it means to live and to love.

There are theatre options for different ethnic communities. The Milagro Theater offers Latino theatre. The theater is also a community center that can connect the Latino community back to their roots. Partnering with many organizations and businesses in the Portland area, Milagro Theater provides a network of resources for the Latino and Chicano community and the Theater has become successful through them. Milagro Theater has an upcoming show called Broken Promises that focuses on the stories of young immigrant girls trapped in the world of sex trafficking.

While tickets for most shows will be around $20, there are options out there that offer the chance to experience live theatre for almost nothing. Another theatre company like Post5 exists: Defunkt Theatre. But instead of focusing on Shakespeare, they put forward plays that challenge the audience to think about difficult issues. Their mission statement: “Defunkt Theatre is a nationally recognized, non-profit ensemble theatre company dedicated to creating innovative productions that challenge conventional ideals of society and theatre at a reasonable price. We offer fresh and relevant perspectives on issues of race, gender, class. We strive to stretch the minds and comfort zones of our audience”. They offer pay-what-youcan days as well, on Thursday and Sunday to open their theatre to more people who would not otherwise be able to go—like poor starving college students. Their theater space is even fairly close to campus in the stage behind the Common Grounds Coffee shop on Hawthorne Boulevard, which itself is a place for artist of all kinds to mingle.

I attended their production of In the Forest She Grew Fangs with the other student directors from last fall’s Drama Showcase to examine how the group addressed violence and conflict on the stage. During the climax, the main character was breaking the fourth wall by addressing the audience as certain people who persecuted her. Out of everyone sitting in my area, she picked me out, identifying me as her English teacher.

In that moment, as she was accusing me of complacency and malicious disregard, I couldn’t look away; I had to give her back the attention that she was giving me. That has stayed in my mind for a long time, the moment when I could see and was seen.

“Theatre has a transforming power,” said Robin Gordon, Assistant Professor of Speech and Drama. “For transforming the individual, for transforming ideas. And that’s something that entertainment alone is not as capable of.” She was shocked when I mentioned this experience, recognizing how heavy a moment that had been at the time, when there hadn’t been a place to unpack what I was feeling. “That actress was really lucky to find you in that audience,” she told me. “To find someone who was willing to engage in that moment.” Actors want people in the audience who will engage in the act of bearing witness to the events unfolding in front of them.

Gordon encourages students to engage with theatre. “Find ways to do it for free.

Do ushering, find an internship, whatever you have to do,” she said “It’s a free seat and you can build a network of people who also value theatre. And as you do, think about the value of theatre.”

Even for those who haven’t been to many plays, there is something fundamentally different about theatre that sets it apart from other art forms—even from cinema. “It’s ephemeral, it’s transient,” said Gordon. “It’s immediate. There is nothing between the actor and the audience but air. They’re sharing the space.” And it’s in that space that magic can happen, where you can fall in love with a moment or feel the weight of a hundred and more years of tragedy. It’s in that space where you can start to question who you really are and what you really believe. But you have to find that space—that stage—before you can understand that for yourself.

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Mantra: O

n November 18, 2015, Mantra, the newest multicultural organization on campus, hosted a screening of the award winning film, Miss Representation. This event was co-hosted with Sister Talks, a women’s issues discussion group supported by the Black Student Organization. A group of mostly female students gathered in Egtvedt 203 to watch a screening of the film as a way to start a conversation regarding the way women have been represented in media and culture. The Representation Project, the nonprofit organization connected with Miss Representation, states on its website that the goal of the organization is to use the film and other resources as a way to “inspire individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, or circumstance, can fulfill their human potential.”

Mantra opted to host the screening because as a student led multicultural organization, club members felt the content of the film would encourage dialogue about how women are represented in the film and in culture. The film points out that while women make up 51% of the population, the United States is only 33rd out of the top 49 countries in the world for women in legislative bodies. In addition, women make up only 17% of all directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, and executive producers in the top 250 grossing domestic films. The stories and experiences shared in the film created a space for discussion that allowed for part of Mantra’s mission statement to be fulfilled: “We believe that everyone regardless of their identified gender deserves respect and not only deserves to have a place in the conversation, but a role in the advocacy for the world.”

Last semester, Spring 2015, Kori DeSimone was preparing to enter her final year at Warner Pacific and noticed a lack of space for discussion on gender equality. In an interview

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Student Led Organization Breaks New Ground

DeSimone recalled her reasons for becoming the founder of Mantra. “There was no focus on gender equality on the campus. It was more of when women’s history month rolled around or there was a little space in chapel for women to be mentioned, but there was no direct focus for women or gender inequality in any sphere.” As she began to explore this realization, DeSimone became aware that she

by Naomi Fox

DeSimone during the process of developing an organization centered on gender equity. “We spent three or four months just digging out [the topic of gender equality on campus] and talking about what just makes sense and recognizing that there are students here that their voices aren’t being heard and don’t even have a space to organize, ” DeSimone said.

Jeanie Whitten-Andrews recalled that she and DeSimone spent last semester “working through structures, working through mission, working through values, working through goals, philosophy, how to be intentional about making it equitable for all women on campus [while] recognizing that will look different for different students.” The idea that each student relates differently to feminism and gender equality was key focus of Mantra’s launch at the beginning of the Fall 2015 term.

Mantra’s new leadership includes DeSimone, seniors Rachel Payne, Taylor Clark, and Kayla Wells, and sophomores Haley Harn, Aaleyah Patterson, and Emma Larson. The group’s first project was a photo campaign under the Instagram hashtag #reclaimingsaftey. Students were encouraged to have their picture taken with a whiteboard where they could write a statement of what reclaiming safety means to them and help the campus recognize how safety means different things to various students. The statement “I’m reclaiming...” was completed with phrases such as “my self worth without the validation of the others,” “the word feminist,” “my manhood,” “my ethnicity,” and “respect.”

wasn’t the only one who expressed interest in finding a space where topics of gender equality could be discussed on campus, but that there were other students, professors, and staff members who had similar concerns.

One of those staff members was Multicultural and Service Learning Coordinator Jeanie Whitten-Andrews. She worked with

Being able to recognize the needs of a variety of people on campus was important to the creation of Mantra, because historically the feminist movement has been headed by white women. According to DeSimone, Mantra actively desired to examine how the lack of diversity has been an issue in feminism and learn from historical oversights by “being mindful that it’s a problem.”

Vol. 7, Issue 2

come] together.” More than anything, the screening of the film created a space for conversations where students can engage with one another’s stories.

Handcrafted products by Sseko on display at Mantra’s Stop and Shop event in the Otto F. Linn Library on December 4th, 2015. Sales supported nonprofit organizations. Photo by Kayla Wells.

As Mantra nears the end of its first semester, the organization has been intentional about partnering on campus with organizations such as BSO and Student Diversity Council for various events, and highlighting different women’s experiences within the context of these events. According to Whitten-Andrews, “building partnerships, supporting each other, [are] key ways that Mantra wants to involve itself in the Warner Pacific community… so the community is engaged in analyzing issues about gender through intersectional and diverse lenses. Looking at gender though race, sex, and class. Paying attention, recognizing when equity is not present based on all of these factors and being empowered with practical tools to seek inclusion for all.”

Social work major Linnette Meshack, a member of Sister Talk, a BSO affiliated group centered on women’s issues, attended the screening of Miss Representation. The mission statement explains that the goal of Sister

Talk is “to focus on the experiences of women as they engage young adulthood through restoration, education, affirmation, and celebration in a Christ-centered community.”

Meshack said that while she thought the film was eye opening to her as a woman, it didn’t have the diversity she desired. While the documentary does address disparities among the elite in the entertainment industry, there are many gaps in the film, including representation of women of color, she said.

The screening of Miss Representation was important to the Warner Pacific community because it created opportunity for members of Sister Talk and BSO, Mantra, and other students to engage in a conversation and hear the different experiences students have had that were not represented in the film. “It’s is important for multicultural groups to get together for many reasons such as supporting each other as individuals and their events,” Meshack said. “I also think it is important because it allows for groups on campus [to

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As a way to encourage more conversation on campus, Mantra also hosted a stop and shop event to raise awareness and raise funds for organizations that provide resources for women coming out of the sex industry and sex trafficking. Students, staff, faculty, and community members were encouraged to stop by the Otto F. Linn Library on December 4th, 2015 and shop products from Sseko and Starfish Project. A percentage of all sales was donated to these organizations. Kayla Wells, a senior in social work, organized the event in collaboration with Grace Kim, Events and Conference Services Manager, and explained the reasoning behind the event. “These organizations are all about re-framing how we can support women who have been in exploited locally and internationally. Sseko and Starfish are giving women from Asia and South Africa job opportunities to self-sustain, as well as support their own family.”

Mantra is also planning a screening of The Representation Project’s second film The Mask You Live In during Spring semester 2016. The film follows the struggles that young men experience while living in a culture with strict expectations of masculinity.

DeSimone explained that the events hosted

by Mantra are a space for growth, listening, and learning. “It’s a very safe time to do that so we can learn to talk, learn how to listen, learn how to think big picture, pay attention to those around us, and pay attention to what we’re supporting and who it actually supports.”

If you want to get involved, Manta meets Mondays at 2:30 in the Multicultural Center. For more information,email Jeanie Whitten-Andrews at jwhitten@warnerpacic.edu.

The Knight Times is a publication of The Sword, a student organization supported by ASWPC.

Shawna Downes Julia Toscano Dr. Connie Phillips Adrienne Alexandre, Allison Beisley, Brandon Bush, Matt Dotson, Naomi Fox, Deborah Landers, Hannah Mierow, Julia Toscano, Kyler Vogt Cover Photo: Bill Morrow

Contact Us: knighttimes@warnerpacific.edu Warner Pacific College 2219 S.E. 68th Ave Portland, Oregon 97215

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LOBBYING FOR CHANGE:

by Julia Toscano

Students Campaign to End Profiling

To: Julia Toscano From: Center for Intercultural Organizing We did it!!! After many years of hard work by community members, we have finally banned profiling by law enforcement in Oregon. CIO would like to thank our dedicated community members and coalition partners for all your support.

This legislation is an important step for Oregon and many of the communities that have been impacted by profiling. We recognize our work is just beginning and plan to continue to advocate for reforms by educating our community and ensuring we know our rights.

I

received this email on July 1st 2015, a little over four months after a group of Warner Pacific students drove to the capital building in Salem, Oregon to lobby for the end of profiling by Oregon law enforcement. It was a gray February morning when 14 of us departed from the dining hall at 7:30 in the morning for the ride to the state capital. We were

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members of MEChA, Black Student Organization, EcoJustice, Pacific Islander’s Club, and Student Diversity Council, multi-cultural organizations which have created a space on campus to talk about issues of justice and inclusion. But lobbying was a new adventure for us, and none of us knew what we were going to be up against. We just knew we all had one common goal – to end profiling in Oregon. To end profiling meant to end the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, and sexual orientation.

Once we entered the state capitol building, we found ourselves surrounded by many organizations that were fighting for this same dream. As we sat down at the long tables with everyone, a man wearing a turban and a bright orange shirt with the words “Center for Intercultural Organizing” on it began to talk to us. He read out loud the goals for the house bill, and with his motivating voice, we all became excited to go into the capital and talk to state representa-

tives about why we were so passionate about this bill. The summary for House Bill 2002 states the legislative action under debate: “Requires Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to establish independent procedures for receiving and recording profiling complaints. Authorizes Attorney General to investigate profiling complaints, publish report on findings and take other actions Attorney General deems appropriate.”

The students were broken up and put into different groups with people from other organizations. I was in a group with Mariah Cooper, Lily Chavez, and others, and we had a meeting with Representative Brent Barton, D-Clackamas.

From what I recall, a member of the CIO told the following story. “I have family without proper documentation to legally drive here in Oregon,” he said. “However, she is a mother and still has to drive her kids around to school. She is a safe driver, but should she be pulled over based on her race, she and her family could be in serious trouble.” Stories like these are common, which is why the CIO has been fighting so hard to end profiling here in Vol. 7, Issue 2

Photo courtesy of Julia Toscano: WPC students wait to meet the Speaker of the House Tina Kotek in front of the Oregon State Capitol.

Oregon. Other members of our group mentioned the experiences of Rep. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, who co-sponsored the bill. Frederick is a victim of profiling himself and one of the only two African Americans in the state senate. In “Profiling Bill Creates ‘Accountability’ For Oregon Police,” an article by Alyssa Jeong Perry, Lew Frederick shared his own history of being stopped by police almost every year since he moved to Oregon in 1974. “I have had a number of situations that have taken place in Oregon that have not been pleasant,” Frederick said. “I have been stopped in front of my house three times by a police officer asking if I was lost.”

After hearing our stories, Representative Brett Barton thanked us for coming. “I love when college students come to my office and care about the issues,” he said. I distinctly remember Barton saying, “I am on your side!” However, he followed that by recalling the fight to allow gay marriage in Oregon, his point being that in this fight to end profiling, it was going to take a long time to get what we wanted. After shaking his hand, we walked out of his office in complete disappointment. We felt as if he had just humored us to keep our spirits high. In fact, his words had the opposite effect.

Di’Onica Curry, a senior at Warner Pacific, explained how she had felt disappointed after her meeting. The representative that Curry and her group was supposed to meet was “too busy.” Instead they met with her secretary, once again feeling humored. However, while walking in the office, they met another representative.

“She was really sweet, but she was not from the Portland area,” Curry said. “I remember she was brutally honest with us, and it made us upset but happy at the same time. She pretty much said that nothing was going to change unless we push for change. It’s going to continue to be how it is until we push for change, and it was kind of devastating to hear because we elected this person and it’s their job to make change, and she was telling us ‘No, it’s not going to happen.’”

Student Vice President Cathy Lara also felt that disappointment. “It felt as if the bill was not a priority to these representatives,” she said. By the end of the long day, we all felt defeated. I did not continue working to end profiling, and neither did the other Warner Pacific students. However, the members of CIO did. According to their website, “CIO members come from diverse cultural, ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds. They are immigrants, refugees, U.S.-born citizens, workers, students, asylum seekers, moms, dads, grandparents and, most importantly, allies in the struggle for social justice. Our members share a

common belief in a multi-racial, multicultural democracy inclusive of all—and the passion to put their beliefs into action.”

CIO is “grounded in the belief that organizing people who are suffering oppression has the greatest potential to affect the root causes of economic, political and social injustice.” The members of CIO and some great representatives such as Lew Fredrick continued to fight hard for underrepresented communities who endure profiling

by Oregon law enforcement.

A November 30 email from CIO sent to me after the passage of House Bill 2002 outlined work yet to be done by the organization. Now that the bill is passed, other efforts to end profiling can go forward. “We know that 2016 will be a year of struggle, but we are ready to also make it a year of great opportunity for our movements and our communities. Against a backdrop of rising fear and anti-immigrant rhetoric, in the shadow of the 2016 presidential elections, and in preparation for an Oregon ballot promising both challenges and potential victories for our community, we are ready. Together we will advocate for a living wage, affordable housing, and access to basic education and healthcare that won’t leave our families behind. We will continue to organize immigrants and refugees seeking a life free from violence, intimidation, and hate. And we will not give up the fight to end police profiling.”

Continued: Creativity with Jennifer Cameron “It sounds cliché because you hear it so often, but we are a community,” Cameron said. “We live it. It’s not just something that we say here. There is definitely a relational aspect that is special here.”

When music students have completed this program, they can be prepared and have many pathways cleared for them. Ben Hartle is a music education major finishing up his last year, and he has already started as choir director at Grandview Christian Academy. Hartle teaches 76 students ranging from 7th to 12th grade how to sing together in harmony.

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“Now that I’m teaching a choir, I’m using skills that I’ve learned here every single time I teach. I’m always pulling out leadership skills that I see in my professors,” Hartle said. “The music professors are great mentors, and I keep them informed on everything I do as I’m teaching. They always have great advice.”

Not only has the music program at Warner Pacific provided Ben Hartle with the knowledge to teach music to students, it’s provided him a community where he can flourish. “Close knit groups are my jive. The small environment has been really good for me,” Hartle said.

“To have a group of people that I always know are there when I’m struggling with something has improved what I’m getting out of my education. I feel like I’m going through this journey with a group of people, and it’s not just me on my own.”

As music students get closer to graduating and beginning their careers, whether as a music teacher, composer, or a performer, their professors are with them every step of the way. “Part of our departmental mission is that we exist so that students will go after their calling,” Cameron said. “Community is something we do really well.”

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