Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Volume 41 Issue 6
Other students see a lack of knowledge about the issues. I myself am not a voter, said PLNU sophomore Tyler Boer. I think people who vote should have an idea on what theyre voting formost people today dont really know what theyre actually voting on. According to Lindsey Lupo, PLNU professor of political science, although the youth vote increased in 2008, voter turnout among college-age students has consistently been low.
Since 1972 and the passage of the 26th Amendment, there has been an average 17-point gap between 18 to 24-year-olds and those 25 years and older, Lupo said. But, Lupo added, voter turnout is not the only criterion by which to measure political participation. Youth are highly engaged in direct action, protests and volunteerism, for example, she said. To measure political participation by voting alone is not a full picture [Cont. Student Voters, p.2]
Public safety officer Daniel King with the recovered Lady Nease statue
parker bunch staff writer A statue was taken from Nease Hall and placed atop Brown Chapel on Wednesday evening, according to Public Safety Supervisor Kaz Trypuc. Our officers removed [the statue] and returned it to Nease Hall on Thursday morning, Trypuc said. The statue was identified as Lady Nease, a sculpture usually found in the Nease Hall fifth-floor lounge. The statue was immediately spotted by Public Safety officer Daniel King while on his morning campus patrol. When I arrived at work at 7, I noticed the statue on the roof of Brown Chapel, King said. I quickly grew to enjoy the sight of this beautiful woman as I [patrolled] around campus. King said Public Safety soon received a call requesting the removal of the statue, and Lady Nease was removed from her perch. [After] carefully climbing down with her, we moved her back to her resting place in Nease Hall, he said. King suspects the statue was placed atop Brown Chapel as a type of prank. She [appears to have been] abducted in the night by a group of young ruffians, he said. He was unable to disclose the names of the suspects but said video evidence of the abduction exists. Unfortunately, the folks responsible for the prank neglected the Nease Hall cameras, King said. Thats all I can say about that.
2 | NEWS
October 15, 2012 the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012
Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, over one quarter of college students reported in 2010 that they didnt register because they didnt know where or how to do so. Registration is also key to voter turnout. In 2008, 87 percent of college students who registered to vote actually ended up voting, according to CIRCLE. Recent efforts have cropped
up to help increase the ease of access to voting registration. PLNUs College Democrats and Republicans have voting registration forms available for anyone who asks, and the Office of Student Development has been promoting an online registration program called Turbo Vote. The program promises to make the voting process as awesome as renting a DVD from Netflix by keeping track of deadlines,
sending text reminders of upcoming elections and sending all of the registration forms to the voter. Students from California can take advantage of the motor voter law, which allows residents to register to vote when visiting any DMV office. Out-of-state students who want to vote in California simply need to establish residency, which they can do even with an on-campus address. On Election
Day, the First Church of the Nazarene on campus is a polling place, but absentee ballots, which voters receive in the mail and then mail back, are also available. The deadline to register to vote varies by state. In California, its 15 days before the election. This year, its next Monday, October 22. The California Secretary of States website contains detailed information on registering to vote at sos.ca.gov.
Nazarenes seem like good people who are willing to discuss important issues intelligently and openly...
When taking the whole of the American population into account there is a mere 4 percent gap between the two parties, yet the gap sits at 49 percent when looking at Christian political affiliations. Taylor Rivers, PLNU student and member of the College Democrats,
said that the ties that have been made between the Republican Party and Christianity alienate Christian Democrats, making the latter feel unholy. It is dangerous to tie religion to a political party, she said. Dylan White, a Republican junior, theorized about the causes of the association between the Republican Party and Christianity. As a Christian, God gives us things out of grace, but at the same time there is this sense of we have to do work to get things in life, White said. God wants us to love other people, and one of the best ways we do that is maximizing our strengths and helping other people. Republicans love helping people, but its not giving them a check, its in helping them find a job. Some Democrats on campus shared how their faith influenced their decision to become a Democrat rather than Republican. David Lingner, a professor of Chemistry on campus, said in an email that the principles that influenced his decision to affiliate with the Democratic Party include, social justice,
fairness, strong values, compassion, education, environment, future-oriented, fiscally intelligent, militarily strong but not aggressive. Ron Benefiel, dean of the PLNU school of Theology and Christian Ministry, described in an email that his ministry encounters with the people on the streets of L.A. caused him to switch from being a Republican to a Democrat. I switched my party affiliation to Democrat largely because of my relationship with and concern for those who lived on the margins of society, he said. Every individual has divine value, hence all persons are to be valued equally as children of God, in Gods image, said Michael McKinney, PLNU professor of German and literature. I have deep empathy for the poor, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised, as I think Christ did as well. McKinney also said, however, that equating religion and faith can be troubling. Where the line is crossed is in inputing ones political views to God and
the Christian faith. This is the height of arrogance and expression of power: My ways are Gods ways, for this provides the license to kill or whatever all in the name of God, who stands behind whatever I do; i.e., God is on my side, not yours. PLNU student Gina Doles recently switched her political affiliation when she realized that the Democratic Party upholds more of her own beliefs than the Republican Party, as she said she believes Democrats show more concern for people. David Lingner said he admired the open political nature of the PLNU community. Nazarenes seem like good people who are willing to discuss important issues intelligently and openly, with respect for the opinions of others and without ad hominem attacks, Lingner said. Being here has brought me back to the church and to Christianity. In some ways, Ive never left, but now Im much stronger, thanks to the knowledge that Christians are not necessarily associated with Republicans. Benefiel said he recognizes the tension that exists in our country between the two parties, but said that, as a Christian institution, We should be reconciled to each other knowing that we share a higher commitment and allegiance to Christ and the Kingdom of God.
October 15, 2012 the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012
NEWS
|3
Posters with this logo containing additional information are posted at various locations around campus.
shannon barr news editor As a PLNU sophomore, Rebecca Aguilera knows firsthand how tight the wallets of college students can be. Despite this, PLNU students, faculty, and members of the Point Loma community are being asked to give back. An on-campus food drive, College Rock Hunger, begins today and will run through the 28th of this month.
I think we need to be a spiritual light here on Point Loma, and serve our community the hungry among us.
As college students, we dont really have that much money, but I think its really simple to give back, said Aguilera, who is one of about 10 student volunteers organizing and promoting the food drive. A partnership between the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and Hard Rock Hotel San Diego to fight hunger in San Diego county has resulted in this food drive geared toward getting college students involved. There are four local college participants: University of California San Diego, San Diego State University, California State San Marcos, and PLNU. The colleges are competing to raise the most donations, whether in the form of food or money, and the school with the most donations-per-student ratio will win. According to San Diego Food Banks website, The prize for the winning school is a life-sized guitar trophy with the name of the school engraved on the front, and the name of the winning school will be projected on the side of the Hard Rock Hotel for a week.
This is PLNUs second time participating. Director of Community Life & Co-Curricular Strengths Programs Melissa BurtGracik headed the event last year, and plans to completely change the outcome this year. We had a really poor showing, said Burt-Gracik, describing PLNUs attempts during the previous food drive. We didnt have many donations at all. So after last year, I said to myself, Im not going to let that happen again. Fresh & Easy, Vons and various areas around campus will have food bins for donations. Sodexo is providing packages of food that students can buy and place in the donation bins, as well as offering Sea Lion dollars or PBC credit swipes in two and five dollar increments, allowing easy ways for students to donate. A virtual food drive is available online, where people can donate money toward the drive. In addition, PLNUs annual Fall Festival, which supports a benefit every year, has chosen College Rock Hunger this year. Guests attending the festival on Saturday will be asked to bring canned goods. The food drive has taken place annually since 2008.
tional opportunity because a lot of people, a lot of students, dont realize that hunger and poverty are really very serious in our community. Its kind of hidden, and this really helps to increase the awareness on this as an issue in our community. Those that benefit from the donations of the food bank include the 350,000 people the food bank feeds every month. Among the recipients are senior citizens, single parents, low-income families and, more recently, middle-class families that have suffered job losses in the recession. The food that you distribute to us will make it out to those distributions, and it will go directly to whoever it is standing in line, said Carter. The food provided by the food bank is primarily distributed
Last year we raised around 60,000 pounds worth of food and monetary donations, so its been hugely successful.
One thing that we really want to emphasize is that no donation is too small, Carter said. You know, people think a dollar isnt very much we can do a lot with a dollar. We can provide three meals for every dollar that is donated to the organization. Carter explained that the San Diego food bank, along with others, has relations with wholesale food markets and food growers that discount food products for these organizations. They can buy eight pounds of fresh produce for a dollar, and most of the money donations will go toward providing fresh produce for families, a measure the food bank is taking to increase the nutritional value
As college students, we dont really have that much money, but I think its twitter.com/@PLNUrockshunger really simple to give back. @PLNUrockshunger
Last year we raised around 60,000 pounds worth of food and monetary donations, so its been hugely successful, said Chris Carter, vice president of communications, marketing and public affairs for the food bank. This is going to be the biggest year yet, and were really excited about it, Carter said, adding that this food drive is also an educa-
4 | FEATURES
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK Im so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables *Warning: These quotes may or may not improve your intelligence.*
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...his love of people is evident in the way he talks and especially in the way he teaches.
I dont think our kids get any less of an education here than they would at UCLA . . . I think the teaching that goes on here by my colleagues is off-the-chart good, McKinney said. I couldnt even think of any whose highest priority isnt to give the students maximum education, in whatever field it is. Garret Levsen, PLNU baseball pitcher in his junior year, cited how well McKinney teaches and how personable he is. I took three years of Spanish in high school and I learned more in two semesters of German than I did in three years of Spanish . . . he knew how to relate to the students pretty easily, Levsen said. One thing I like about [McKinney] too is hes involved with the
Got any ideas for Whos Who at PLNU? Email them to cradke692@ pointloma.edu!
The wood was really old when I broke it open, and in the back I saw a newspaper sticking out.
We were supposed to tear down these boxes, she said. The boxes function as shelves to hold paintings in order to dry them. The wood was really old when I broke it open, and in the back I saw a newspaper sticking out, she said. Little did she know that when she broke them open there would
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
FEATURES | 5
Julian
Big Bear
If youre looking for a longer trip, Big Bear is a drive of about two hours and 45 minutes. Make the drive if youre interested in hiking, fall colors, camping, biking, an alpine slide or a variety of other activities. Go to www.bigbear.com to plan your trip.
A drive of less than two hours, Disneyland and California Adventure are classic destination points. Just dont forget your Mickey ears.
Disneyland Resort
Palomar Mountain is a two hour drive from Point Loma and offers picnic spots, camping, hiking and mountaintop views of the surrounding San Diego area. The day use fee is eight dollars. Look for more information at www.parks. ca.gov/?page_id=637.
Palomar Mountain
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the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
Prop. 34:
Death Penalty
-Repeals death penalty as maximum punishment for persons found guilty of murder and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole -Reduces cost of murder cases. -Reduces cost of holding criminals. Housing on death row is more expensive that life imprisonment due to increased security, etc. -Approx. $100 million savings over the first few years.
Prop. 30:
Prop. 35:
Human Trafficking
-Increased penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentence up to 15-to-life and fines up to $1.5 million. Trafficking would now include creating and distributing obscene materials depicting minors -Convicted trafficker must be registered as a sex offender -Some increased costs for human trafficking training for police officers.
Prop. 33:
-Allows insurance companies to offer continuous coverage discounts on auto insurance policies for new customers who switch their coverage from another insurer. It also would provide the discount to workers who have been laid off for 18 months or less and those who have had inactive insurance due to military service.
the point weekly | monday, january 23, 2012 Monday, October 15, 2012
CENTER | 7
Bob Filner
U.S. Representative campaign platforms: -Public safety: top priority: honesty, integrity and respect -Arts and Culture: local and national level. -Jobs: port into a global maritime center, harnessing green energy and creating demand for solar power. -Education: restoring priority of youth services and resources among public and private sectors. -Small business advocacy -Returning power to the neighborhoods -Protecting and promoting San Diegos unique environment. -Chargers stadium: must give something back to the city and its taxpayers.
Carol DeMaio
San Diego City Council Member DeMaios Roadmap to Recovery is a 10-step plan that emphasizes: -Keeping city government accountable and open -Clean and safe neighborhoods -Comprehensive pension reform -Improving city infrastructure -Job-friendly policies targeting: tourism, defense, high tech and clean tech. -Reducing mayoral and council expenses In the primaries, DeMaio received 32% of the vote, and Filner received 30%. -Information from candidates campaign websites, carldemaio.com and bobfilnerformayor.com
8 | SPORTS
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
10/15-16: M. Golf @ CSU San Marcos Fall Invitational, all day. 10/15: M. Soccer @ San Diego State University, 7 p.m. 10/16: Volleyball vs. Biola University, 7 p.m. 10/17: M. Soccer @ CSU San Marcos, 2 p.m. 10/17: W. Soccer @ CSU San Marcos, 4 p.m. 10/20: Volleyball @ Grand Canyon University, 3 p.m.
Mens track and field is one of three PLNU sports teams getting cut after this academic year. Mens golf and mens cross country will also be cut. These teams have been some of the most successful programs at PLNU. Cross country and track have won a combined 10 Golden State Athletic Conference titles. Mens golf has been to 22 NAIA National Championship Tournaments.
cut. This decision resulted in what is now the end of mens cross country, golf and track and field. Losing softball meant we had to cut a pretty significant number of mens sports and add a womens sport, said Blunck, which we did with womens golf. Head cross country and track and field coach Jerry Arvin was informed by the administration in 2010 that his mens programs would be cut after the 2012-2013 school year. He says he is still upset with the decision but has come to terms with the fact
that there is nothing he can do to change it. Personally I wasnt happy with the decision three years ago, said Arvin. It impacted my men greatly and through that has impacted me and has impacted the womens team at the same time, because its never been a mens and womens team we do everything together. Brant Jones, a senior runner for PLNU, says he never would have come to the school had he been told he was not going to get to run all four years. He says he feels that the
decision has had a major impact on the athletes at the school. This decision impacted the lives of so many people, said Jones. Athletes like me who were extremely happy and loving life at Loma all of a sudden had to decide if they wanted to transfer or stay. I made the decision to stay and it was the best decision I could have possibly made. Its extremely sad that there will be no more mens track and cross country after this year, but I am extremely thankful I got to finish my career here.
The PLNU womens soccer team shot to the top of the Pacific West Conference standings this week. Junior Kelly Christerson (pictured above) scored two goals in a 4-0 blowout of Hawaii-Hilo Monday. On Saturday, the Sea Lions followed that with a 6-1 shellacking of Chaminade, led by freshman Natalie Swifts goal and two assists.
WOMENS SOCCER
10/8 W 4-0 vs. Hawaii-Hilo 10/13 W 6-1 vs. Chaminade (Hawaii)
VOLLEYBALL
10/8 W 3-0 @ Hawaii-Hilo 10/12 L 0-3 @ BYU-Hawaii
CROSS COUNTRY
10/13 M. 6th, W. 4th @ Vanguard Invitational M: Russell - 5th, 25:38.99 W: Matranga - 21st, 18.45.81
WOMENS GOLF
10/8-9 9th @ Western Washington Invitational
WWW.PLNUSEALIONS.COM
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
SPORTS | 9
Title IX has inadvertently become the embodiment of the exact thing it seeks to eradicate: gender discrimination.
your dogs. So because softball had no field, someone filed an anonymous grievance to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) on the basis that the softball team was not treated equally which was obviously true. Eventually, the decision was made to cut the softball program because no suitable backup field was found, and the school lacked the necessary funding needed to implement the offered alternatives. By the way, PLNU softball finished second, fourth and seventh in the NAIA National rankings during the final three seasons (2008, 2009 and 2010). With the softball team gone, the school was out of line with Title IX regulations. Title IX, according to www.titleix. info, is a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and
KELLI LECLAIR
LeClair was on fire as the Sea Lions finished 2-2 on their inaugural PacWest Hawaii roadtrip. The freshman outside hitter from Yucaipa, Calif., totaled 59 kills during the trip, including an incredible 20 kills and 21 digs in a five-set loss to Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.
W. VOLLEYBALL
10 | OPINION
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012 Kyle Lundberg Shannon Barr Callie Radke Jacob Roth Kathleen Rhine Hana Eades Megan Pittam Janelle Hiroshige Kendra Pittam Rachel Barr Keio Lewis Editor-in-chief News editor Features editor Sports editor A&E editor Opinion editor Layout editor Assistant Layout Copy editor Web Editor Ads manager
The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the authors name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to hanaeades2009@pointloma.edu
www.pointweekly.com
Before I came to Washington, D.C., I thought I had a pretty good picture in my head of what it would look like. I dreamed of seeing the Lincoln Memorial, spending hours in the Smithsonian and walking where George Washington walked. Washington seemed so powerful and impressive, and I couldnt wait to drink it in. But the reality of the city is a little bit different than the postcard version. Federal Washington is a lot like what youd think. You get to certain areas and see the department of this and the so-and-so agency, one after another, until that tiny part of your brain holding what little you learned about the government in your high school social studies classes wants to explode. And, being here during election season, you can seriously feel it.
The debates are treated more like Superbowls, with people hosting huge parties at bars or in living rooms all over Washington. Every bus stop greets you with another political discussion. The newspapers and Tweets coming out of D.C. make sure you know whats going on in national politics. But that part of the city is just a portion of whats really going on in the District of Columbia. Did you know that D.C.s infant mortality rate is almost double the national average? Or that more than half of family households in D.C. are run by single parents? D.C.s high school students have a graduation rate of just 62 percent. D.C. has the widest income gap between the rich and poor of any city in the U.S. 3.2 percent of Washingtonians over the age of 12 are living with HIV or AIDS, which is an infection rate higher than that of many developing nations. I could go on all day, and Im talking about The District. People live here. Although they
are not represented in Congress (taxation without representation), theyre here. Washington is about as urban as it gets, and there are a ton of issues to be overcome here. The poverty rate is high and gentrification has the city fighting against itself. The state of public schools here is about as bad as it gets in America. And this is where the President of the United States lives!
Living here and walking among the citizens of D.C. has shattered my perception of politics holy city.
I was excited to come to Washington and become wrapped up in politics and the high energy of election season. I did find that here, but thats not all I found. Living here
and walking among the citizens of D.C. has shattered my perception of politics holy city. Im not as impressed by the huge buildings and all the power anymore because I walk right by them with single moms, unemployed dads, and homeless street performers. The power of Washington is in its people. The buildings, leaders, money and fancy suits are nothing without the people for whom they exist. The biggest thing on my to-do list coming here was to see the White House, the Executive Mansion. The amazing things that happen there have always fascinated me. Before I came here, I wondered, How close can I actually get to the place where wars are considered and treaties are signed? When I finally made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., I found that I could get just about as close as anybody else. Standing at the fence out front with hundreds of other Americans, I realized that I care less about
the building and more about the nation it represents. Although there are gates around it, people still come from hundreds of miles away to stand in awe of Americas power and might. But those people standing side by side along the fence are who really matter. I might have access to a few more places here in D.C., but Im no more important than I was when I lived in a one-stoplight town in Kansas. So this election season, know that even though youre miles and miles away from the power and the home of the man well decide to elect, youre just as important. Just because you arent near the buildings that house the issues and the men and women who make the decisions doesnt give you an excuse to be uninformed and inactive. You do matter, and every vote counts, from the District to San Diego.
amy cruse
Heres a little self-disclosure: I have never voted before. I am not even registered to vote. I used to tell myself I had two perfectly legitimate reasons for abstaining. To begin with, I didnt know anything about politics other than what Id heard from my parents, and I felt it was irresponsible to cast a vote for something I neither knew nor cared about. When I went to college I told myself it didnt even matter if I knew all the facts.
Having the freedom to vote means we also have the freedom to abstain from voting.
In most cases the vote comes down to which of the two choices is the lesser evil. Why vote if either outcome is unfavorable? Perhaps voting is similar to getting an education. It seems a ploy to make us
into checklist drones by following some primitive rite of passage. Graduate from high school? Check. Go to college? Check. Vote for the party my parents do? Check. Those who dont vote may think, rebel against the machine! I dont need an education to feel smart, and I dont need a vote to feel free. After studying the data from the 2010 census, I noticed two things. First, without exception, registration and voting percentages increased the older the age group. For example, of citizens 65 and older, 75 percent registered to vote, and of that figure, 68 percent voted in 2008. Second, the more educated citizens are, the more likely they are to vote. 65 percent of citizens with some college or an associates degree voted in 2008; 73.3 percent of those with a bachelors degree or higher voted that same year. Now that I reevaluate myself, I realize I was just being lazy and ignorant. If I dont know anything about politics, I must research it. If I dont like my choices, I must become active and change them. Older women in my life are constantly reminding me of the long and difficult road my ancestors traveled
for womens suffrage, how many sacrifices were made so that I could stand where I stand today. My high school English teacher once told me, The day you can no longer vote is the day you no longer
have freedom. Having the freedom to vote means we also have the freedom to abstain from voting. But If we didnt have the choice, it wouldnt be freedom.
Thus, I will proudly vote in this coming election and take part in the most pure symbol of our freedom.
the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
10/16 Allegiance- A New American Musical @ Old Globe Theater, 7 p.m. 10/16 Paul Kenyon piano recital @ Crill Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m. 10/18 Brad Paisley with The Band Perry @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater, 7:30 p.m. 10/19 The Script @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 7 p.m. 10/20 Fall Festival @ PLNU campus, 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. 10/20 Booker T. Jones @ Anthology, 7 p.m. 10/21 Old Masters of Music & Art @ SD Museum of Art, 2-3 p.m.
The kitchen on the third floor of Nicholson Commons is the Wednesday night meeting place of an unlikely crowd. Drinking herbal tea and sitting around the large table in the middle of the room are members of the unofficial Poetry and Spoken Word club. Started five years ago by Nicholson Commons Director and club advisor Milton Karahadian, the club has competed at poetry slam invitationals put on by the Association of College Unions International. PLNU is part of Region 15 of ACUI and competes in teams of five against universities in Nevada,
Hawaii and California. Spoken word people on campus are underrepresented, Karahadian said. At this event, they have a place to express themselves. I try to develop the group to go to these events. The only problem is acquiring enough people to compete. Many of last years members graduated in May, leaving the leadership of the club to underclassmen. Sophomore Keana McGrath decided to grab the reins. I just started last year, and Im stoked about it, McGrath said. I didnt realize I could write, but they welcomed me to the team. Im scared to be leading because I dont want people to think
there has to be a certain style. Karahadian shares McGraths outlook on the group. He gives students the freedom to govern themselves, only stepping in when necessary. Im an advisor, like for a club, but its really student-led, Karahadian said. I dont want people to be scared to be a part of this. I want a good environment where they are appreciated and affirmed. Skill level doesnt have to be high. You can learn and develop. Though the club has a goal of traveling to and competing in the annual ACUI poetry slam, their mission delves deeper into the meaning of oral expression.
Its transparent because youre explaining yourself and proclaiming your story. Thats important to me, Karahadian said. Were probably the only Evangelical school in the whole association. Why shouldnt Christians be part of it? We can further the gospel. For incoming students to the group, allowing innermost thoughts and views that may be suppressed at a private Christian university is attractive. Whether we want to talk about small issues in our lives or how our views on right and wrong may differ from the norm, the group seems to be founded on the intent to put away judgement and strive, rather, for understanding,
sophomore Joelle Soch said. And the Nicholson Commons kitchen just may be the perfect place for those discussions. Sharing original poetry, laughter and conversation with supportive peers around a welcoming table is the premise of each meeting. I want an intimate conversation with someone and want it to be a vulnerable space, McGrath said. A lot of people dont know about the club, but there is an underlying culture of poetry writers at our school that needs an outlet.
Dancing students move in a OneT wo-Rock Step motion to the jazzy beats of swing music on the roof of PLNUs athletic training building. They are engaged in the excitement of the moment until the unthinkable happens the music cuts out. Like a needle scraping across a record, the dancers screech to a stuttering halt and are disappointed at the musics sudden disappearance. Senior Christa Davis shouts Sorry! as she runs over to her computer and reloads the music playlist after the Wifi connection has temporarily cut out. After a tense moment, the music is back; with joy, dancers resume their mixture of basic and advanced steps. The atmosphere is vibrant and electric as Davis observes the resurgence of PLNUs unofficial Swing Club with the new school year. The clubs 2011-2012 membership dwindled as communication decreased, leadership spread out and members developed busy schedules that did not leave room for swing dancing every Thursday night. So, Davis promoted the club as much as possible when the 2012-2013 school term began. I didnt want to see swing die, Davis said. She and a few other upperclassmen began reorganizing the club and worked on how to reach out to old members while advertising the club to incoming freshmen. They revamped the Facebook Swing Dancing Group page and spread news of the club by word-of-mouth and passing out slips of paper with club information. For the past few years, the swing dancing club had not become an official club through ASB because of school policy regarding dancing, Davis said. In addition, the revision of policy in the current edition of the PLNU student handbook regarding entertainment leaves an ambiguity that some believe needs further clarification. Consistent with the history of the Church of the Nazarene and the Mission of PLNU, students are expected to practice a high standard of discernment in the use of leisure time and choice of entertainment., the handbook states.
All forms of leisure and entertainment should enhance spiritual and personal growth and should uphold proper moral boundaries and reserve. Jeff Bolster, dean of students and director of residential life, was unable to comment on ASBs club-chartering process. However, he said he commends PLNU students on their intelligence, compassion and discernment, and states that in regards to school policy in certain cases students should not be micromanaged by policy to the point where it dictates their life and choices. I think that the vagueness of the [entertainment] policy can be reinterpreted more positively as to say that we trust our students to the degree where specificity is not always crucial to a policy, Bolster said. Now with some, there are. . . But in areas like this, I think we can trust our students. Mark Wright, professor of theology and philosophy, believes that the club should have the opportunity to be ASBsponsored and that the club can coexist with school policy. The ambiguity can work in the swing dancings favor. . . But theres caution about practices that can lead to certain immoral behavior, Wright said. There is some wiggle room, and not just wiggle room so you can get away with something. Even with these new changes, the future of the club was uncertain; so when an unprecedented number of students showed up for swing dancing the first Thursday of the fall semester, it was a great surprise to Davis. Since then, the club has grown in size with each passing week as new students arrive to try out their dancing shoes. The format of the clubs swing events have changed this year, with basic lessons starting at 8 p.m. and free dance from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. T o change things up, in addition to couple dancing, each swing session also features Samba and Shim Sham line dancing. Freshman Samantha Watson has been a regular to swing dancing since that first Thursday. She calls it a unique club and encourages everyone to come and try it and give it a chance, cause its worth it.
Students practice their swing dancing steps on a Thursday night on top of the athletic training building.
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the point weekly | Monday, monday, january 23, 2012 October 15, 2012
The strong finale piece... left the audience with a positive message
The theme of commitment fears was continued after the intermission with Roths upbeat song, Ive Gotta Run. Doehring took the musical in a more serious direction in Perfect, where she faced the struggle of trying to be perfect for a man.
Brittney Doehring and Jack French perform a number during the Musical Theater Clubs show, Edges. The show ran from Wednesday through Saturday night.
Bell gave a powerful performance in Ready to Be Loved, leading up to the strong finale piece that left the audience with a positive message of letting go of fears and doing things on ones own. While there was a lack of con-
nection between songs, it was easily made up for by the amusing lyrics, applicable themes and believable characters. Ziebarth said it best: Its interesting, its catchy and its directly relatable to every student.