Author: saupulse01

SAU Thrift Is Still Boomin’

Most students at Spring Arbor University are aware of the booming Facebook group called “SAU Thrift,” which allows students to post their random items for someone else to purchase or bargain for. Created by Marcella Lampe, this Facebook group started off with only a few handfuls of people but has now expanded to over 900 students and continues to grow. But because of the large amounts of members, the thrift page has almost become overwhelming and can become a bit difficult to navigate through at times. Even though many students have had great success and made some major “moolah” on the thrift page, some other students see little action on their thrifty posts because their post gets knocked down to the bottom of the page within minutes.

So you may be thinking: “What can be done about this?” Or, “Are my items ever going to sell?” And maybe even, “I’m never going to afford laundry without selling my scented candles on SAU Thrift!” Well, don’t you fret because here are a few tips that could potentially make SAU Thrift a bit easier to navigate through and a bit more successful when selling your junk.

1. Make your own album.

The thrift page offers an option to make your own albums and even give them some witty name that may attract customers to view your products! If you’re trying to get rid of your entire collection of 8th grade flared jeans, then make an album instead of individually posting each and every pair of flared pants. When doing this, it will cause much less chaos and people will be able to choose their favorite flared beauty out of your selection in a much orderly fashion. Not only that, but it will prevent you from taking over the entire page with your denim so that other’s that post will actually get a chance to show off their flare as well. Be considerate when posting multiple items because other college students are trying to save up for their weekly Ramen Noodles as well.

2. You can sell junk, but not actual junk.

Let’s be real for a second. Don’t try selling half of a bottle of hand lotion for a quarter on the thrift page. If anything, give that lotion to someone to the person on your floor who envies your scent every time you walk by. You have to actually think about whether or not the junk you have in your room is actually going to sell and if it’s even worth the time for you to walk to the Cougar Den and exchange it for a shiny quarter. This type of junk should either be thrown away or donated to someone on your floor rather than posted on a page filled with 900 other students. So if you have any unwanted hair ties, used deodorant, half-eaten granola bars, or super stinky shoes, decide what else to do with them because some people on the thrift page might just not want them.

3. If it’s a dud, take it off the page!

If you have an item that hasn’t sold and it’s been floating around the thrift page for over 2 months, it may be time to move on. It doesn’t mean that your item isn’t wonderful, it just means that it is probably never going to be bought. This mostly only applies to those who might try to sell used hair ties on the thrift page, but for the most part it’s a rare occasion. Be concentious about whether or not your item is ever going to be bought. If it never gets sold there may be a Goodwill in the area that may have better luck than you.

4. Lastly, if it’s sold, let the people know!

Keep up to date with your items when you post them on the site. If your Gilmore Girls DVD collection finally sold, let your customers know and delete your post. When sold items are kept on the thrift page, it’s pointless to keep hogging up the thrifty space. If every sold item was eventually deleted then the page could be much more clean and organized. So when your lovely Avril Lavigne CD sells, don’t keep all of your eager customers wondering whether or not they still have a change at snagging that gem.

These are only a few suggestions on how to keep this page going so that new members can use it’s wonderful perks. The thrift page has had much success and many students have happily paid for their half-off Applebee’s appetizers thanks to selling their items on SAU Thrift. This page is only going to continue to grow in size, and there will be Frank Sinatra records for every thrifty student to grab, so let’s keep it going by helping the page become more functional. It’s an awesome way to make some money, get rid of unwanted items, meet new people, and help that struggling hipster to become even more hip than they could have ever imagined.

SAU Thrift shall live on.

By Ryne Larsh

5 Things to Restore Your Faith in SAU’s Humanity

 

Photo by Nate Bortz
Photo by Nate Bortz

It was Monday, and we all know what happened on Monday. I was in the library being a good little barista and caffeinating the campus when I heard about the bomb threat. Being in the library I, of course, overheard the news and I overheard it from one guy leaning over a computer console and saying “Yeah man, when I heard that, I lost all faith in humanity.”

I thought that statement was sad, whatever they were talking about. It wouldn’t be for a few minutes until I heard about the threat. And it wouldn’t be for a few days until I learned the threat had taken the childish form of a handwritten sticky note taped to the church front door.

So yes, the silverware was stolen. White auditorium has been vandalized. A threatening sticky note appeared in the early morning. These things get at us, they seep into our consciousness and solidify into little wedges of doubt. I want to fight that, we need to fight that or else these self-absorbed pranks stay focused upon the doers. So I give you five things to restore your faith in SAU’s Humanity.

1)     That Art Show, Though.

SAU just hosted a Small College Invitational Art Show and SAU students took all but one category prize! You can read about this art show here on the Pulse page.

2)     Chapel still happened.

Yes, the bomb threat shook everyone up. Yes the speaker wasn’t there and it was hosted in the RCF, which holding-wise, was like hosting the Republican Convention in an anthill, but the show went on. Some people have said this only happened because it was Arbor Days, which could have been true, but students didn’t show up because it was Arbor Days. It still happened and that anthill was packed!

3)     SAU Handing Out Checks
In order to help students who want to go back to school (and er, incentivize them to go to SAU) the campus is handing out $250 checks to adult students newly attending satellite schools this semester. Way to lend to a hand!

4)     Students Are Giving Back Too

A group of students recently sent out an e-mail in an attempt to found a new scholarship in coalition with the alumni foundation. Some of the plans are still under wraps, but these people are typing their fingers off in e-mails to make sure future students have a little extra help to make college happen.

5)     Spring is Coming/ Spring is here

What does this have to do with humanity, well Spring Break may leave the campus vacant, but that week is also forecasted to be the weather shift of the season, warming up out of winter. And do you know what that means? SAU will soon shine in all i’s community glory on the plaza with students reading outside, playing plaza ball, and doing what we do best: not freezing.

By Alexandra Harper

Three Tips For A Great Spring Break

Spring break season is officially upon us! We rejoice for the time off, without having to stress about assignments or deadlines. Some people have big plans, while others want to just go home and relax. In either case we can be thankful for the days off. Here are a few tips to help you make spring break great!

1) Put down the controllersed-to-Video-Games-517x268-2013-01-15[1]

A huge temptation for us in America is to fill our free time with screen distraction. “Don’t have to do anything tonight? Let’s watch 4 hours of Netflix! Let’s play Xbox One forever!” When we find ourselves with a lot of time off we tend to turn to our screens to fill the void.

This spring break I encourage you to avoid filling your time with endless television or video games. Instead why not try something new? You could read a good book, learn a new instrument, paint a picture, or even talk to people!

By putting down the controller, you are freeing yourself up to do something meaningful. Do something that matters. Video games are fun, and TV is entertaining, but it doesn’t lead to anything that lasts beyond the immediate. Not letting yourself binge-watch a show or play hours of games will help show you how much life there is to live! The screens will be waiting for you when you get back.

2) Spend time with people 

Investing in relationships and making memories with other people is one of the most meaningful activities anyone can engage in, ever. Catching up with old friends, spending quality time with your family, or maybe even going on a date or two are great ways to make the most of your time during spring break. Don’t get me wrong, having alone time is important too, but don’t let your time slip away from you.

I encourage you to let loose, get wild and make memories! But don’t shy away from those deep, vulnerable conversations either. Whoever you choose to spend time with, try to open yourself up. You might get hurt, but you might also make a friend you wouldn’t have otherwise.

People matter. Relationships matter. Make time for them during your break.

3) Do nothing to-do-list-nothing[1]

Don’t forget that spring break is just that, a break! It’s time off! Take time to do absolutely nothing during your break. Maybe grab a cup of joe and head out to your porch and just think. In order to rest effectively, it’s essential to have periods of time with no distractions or activities.

Rest is a crucial element in leading a healthy life. Burning the candle from both ends leads to a mushy pile of wax on the floor. You don’t want to be a mushy pile of wax. Rest helps us to do the things we do with excellence, which leads to us being satisfied with our work.

So enjoy the view that’s outside your window, pray, meditate, sleep in, really do whatever it takes for you to recharge your batteries. You need to be able to come back rested up and ready to finish the semester strong!

Give these three tips a try this spring break! Mediocrity is overrated. Make something special happen with your time off this year.

By Zack Martin

Star Trek Tech

Star-Trek-tech[1]Many people could recognize the voice of Leonard Nimoy, the logical Spock from the Star Trek series. If not from there then from his numerous other acting roles, such as King Kashekim Nedakh from the Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire or even the narrator for the video game Civilization IV. This talented man passed away on February 27, much to the chagrin of many fans.

To honor his passing, a list of technologies that were inspired by the show he is most famous for acting in, Star Trek, was compiled by CNN News. The first is cell phones. On the show, many characters use small, portable communicators in order to talk to each other when on distant planets or even just on other parts of their ship, the Enterprise. The shared appearance between their communicators and the original cell phones is no coincidence, because the original creator of the cell phone Martin Cooper said that he was inspired by Captain Kirk’s golden flip communicator.

Another modern technology owed to the crew of the Enterprise is the automatic door. Their super advanced high-tech ship had doors that opened automatically for people who walked up to them. A mere fantasy at the time, we now have the same kind of technology in most department stores.

The third technology is fairly recent but incredibly handy. On the show, the crew had a universal translator to eliminate the language barrier between any different alien species they ran into in their adventures. We might not use it for space invaders just yet, but Microsoft developed a translating tool on Skype which lets us understand fellow human beings, even if we don’t speak the same language.

In the sixties, the idea of massive television screens was a wonderful work of fantasy, which showed up on Star Trek in their main control room. Their large screens let them see the captains of other ships and communicate with ease, which our modern day huge televisions can do if hooked up to cameras. We can even do it on our computers, phones, and tablets.

Communication wasn’t the only way the crew of the Enterprise was more advanced though. Medical Doctor McCoy could easily see a person’s vitals by moving a sensor over a patient and read it on his “tricorder.” In modern times, our “tricorder” is really called the “Scanadu,” and it is placed on a patient’s forehead. After a few seconds, it measures the person’s blood pressure, oxygen level, heart rate, temperature, and even a complete ECG reading.

Even more strange is the idea of artificial intelligence. On the Enterprise, crew members could talk to the ship’s computer and get a quick response. In modern times we don’t need a massive computer to do that though, our phones work just fine. Siri and Google Now might be a little ways off and slightly buggy, but they’re getting pretty close. They even have a sense of humor, which the Enterprise never really got the hang of.

Leonard Nimoy might be gone, but he is immortalized from his work on Star Trek. The technologies he pretended to work with in the sixties he lived to see in our times today. Star Trek may have been science fiction, but it seems to be more science than fiction now.

By Evan Roberts

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Small College Invitational Art Exhibition

Small-College-Invitatioal-art[1]SPRING ARBOR, Mich.—Spring Arbor university art students have 42 works displayed in the Small College Invitational Art Exhibition that opened February 8 in the Ganton Art Gallery.  The exhibition includes Spring Arbor University, Sienna Heights University, Hillsdale College and Cedarville University.  Spring Arbor University students won the award in the painting, sculpture, graphic design and drawing/printmaking categories.  A Sienna Heights University student won the award for photography.

Out of 207 pieces entered, 77 were accepted into the show.  The juror was a professor of photography from Michigan State University, Peter Glendinning.  An awards reception was held February 8 where Glendinning made comments about the winning pieces.  Kerri Conrad, winner of the graphic design award, said he noted the quality of her work and that it was portfolio-worthy.

Professor of 3D design J.D. Garn said he is biased but SAU’s art program is impressive, especially compared to other schools the same size.  The schools competing in this exhibition are about the same size and focus their art programs on good ideas, good technique and good design.  Together, the schools donated $1000 to the exhibit.  Glendinning decided to divide the money amongst the five categories, with $100 going to each winner and $50 to each honorable mention.  Shannon Bardwell, winner of the painting award, said she spent her cash prize to buy another book about painting.

Kim Bigos won the sculpture award for her life size wheelchair made out of little green army men.  She said she wanted to convey the concept that veterans sacrifice much when they serve and we honor them for their service, but we don’t really think about the effects.  Bigos used more than 1000 army men, spending 60 hours on the sculpture.  Bigos said, “I get asked a lot if I have a family member in the military and I do, but that wasn’t what I was thinking of when I created this piece.”

Amelia Harris won the award in the drawing/printmaking division for her illustration of a fairy escaping from a jar.  She tried different drawing techniques before deciding on stippling, which means it is created with tiny ink dots.  Harris said she was thrilled to be accepted into the show and shocked when Glendinning called her name to receive the award.  She said, “I was just really honored that he chose my piece, because there were so many good pieces.”

Kerri Conrad said, “We have a close-knit community at the SAU art building, and I appreciate the ability to comfortably approach other artists for their opinions.”  She said it is constructive to receive criticism and she values others’ critiques.  Shannon Bardwell said the encouragement of her peers motivated her to keep working even when she felt her painting wasn’t going to turn out or when she thought she ruined the painting with a brushstroke.

By Jenny Croizer

Bomb Threat at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church

photo[1]Around 9:00am on Monday morning, students at Spring Arbor University (SAU) received an email explaining that because of a bomb threat at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church (SAFMC), Chapel had been cancelled.

Early in the morning, SAU students reported seeing caution tape and police vehicles in the SAFMC parking lot.  Damon Seacott, Chief of Staff at SAU, said, “Our campus safety folks saw a sticky note on the door that said there was a bomb at the church.”

Campus Safety Director Scott Krebill said that the threat was likely the work of a student or the relative of one. The note was a threat to the SAFMC rather than the Spring Arbor campus, but the time indicated was that of SAU’s Chapel hour.

Krebill said that this threat could be related to some earlier campus vandalism, including destruction in White Auditorium several days previous and defacing of trash cans the night before the note was found.

“The impact on campus was minimal,” said Krebill. The incident had far more of a repercussion for the church and the preschool meeting there. “I don’t think this person knew what they were doing,” said Krebill. “They probably just wanted to cause some trouble for the university. They didn’t think about how this would affect those kids in the preschool.” Some of the children’s parents still have concerns about whether the church is safe, he added.

According to Seacott, “The local and state police are handling it, if they do find out who did it, it’ll be very serious.  Once they find out who, it’s no longer a school disciplinary issue.”

SAU students were informed of an alternative Chapel service that would take place in the Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) on campus. “We only had an alternative service because it was an Arbor Day,” said Seacott.

The prospective students visiting SAU’s campus and a small gathering of current SAU students gathered in the RCF at 10:00am for worship to hear SAU Chaplain Ron Kopicko speak.

“Still having chapel speaks louder than whatever this person meant to say,” said Krebill. “The bomb threat created an opportunity for the university to overcome adversity. And they succeeded.”

By Amber Cekander and Heather Clark

SAU Entertainment Through the Years

Have you ever wondered what Spring Arbor University (SAU) students back in the “olden days” used to listen to for music or what movies they watched? It wasn’t Taylor Swift and Kanye tunes or Nicholas Sparks movies that many enjoy nowadays, but was instead the type of entertainment that has led us to where the industry has expanded to now.

Matt Gin, the SAU personnel in charge of alumni relations, helped “The Pulse” get in contact with SAU alumni from the past decades, 1960’s and beyond. Below, we’ve listed what they have said were their favorite songs and movie during their time at SAU.

1960’s Favorites (Mel Starr, SAU Alum 1960) “This was the decade we were introduced and fell in love with The Beatles,” said Starr.

1970’s Favorites (Wes Harper, SAU Alum 1979)

1980’s Favorites (Brian Philson, SAU Alum 1985)

1990’s/Early 2000’s Favorites (Shelby Raines, SAU Alum 1996)

By Alexa Matthews

Mind-Body Connections: Understanding Eating Disorders

On Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., there will be a panel discussion about eating disorders in the lobby of the Poling Center for Global Learning and Leadership at Spring Arbor University (SAU). Called “Mind-Body Connections: Understanding Eating Disorders,” the panel will feature four speakers.

Tammy Dindoffer, dean of the School of Human Services, will talk about her experience as a parent of a child with an eating disorder, and her daughter Emily Hervey will speak from personal experience as a sufferer of an eating disorder. Deb Varland, assistant professor of health, human performance and recreation, will explain how an eating disorder affects a person physiologically. Betsy Vickers, a therapist from Jackson, Mich., will speak about how an eating disorder occurs and community resources that are available to sufferers.

Sarah Soltis, academic advisor to the Department of Social Work, said that she has heard that eating disorders are a problem at SAU.

 “It’s definitely something that needs to be addressed,” said Soltis.

Ama Larsen, assistant professor of social work, said that anyone can benefit from attending this panel, including those who have dealt with an eating disorder, those who want to help sufferers and those who just want to raise their level of awareness about eating disorders.

The panel is sponsored by Love, a group for women of minority races at SAU, in partnership with the Social Work Association.

Larsen said that there may be similar panels about other topics, such as premarital sex.

“My vision is for it to be like a talk host show where people can really come out and discuss and make it something that’s not necessarily fun, but something that’s light, and just [something] that they can be a part of,” said Larsen.

If you have an idea for a panel topic, please email Soltis at Sarah.Soltis@arbor.edu or Larsen at Ama.Larsen@arbor.edu.

By Dana Van Doren

Date Auction

Around this time of year, the entire campus hears a silent call. This call is urgent, as the students know that soon spring will come, which means rings will follow. If you don’t have someone picked out yet, here’s an event for you.

The Puerto Rico mission trip team wants nothing more than to raise the money for their trip to serve God and His people, while also ending your quest for the one. This is exactly why they host the Date Auction every year. The event will take place in the Cougar Den on Wednesday, February 25th at 9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. There you will be able to bid on friends or potential soul mates.

The event will bring a mood of merriment with the MC/DJ styling of both Camille Hunter and Matt Burger. There will be banter, there wlll be bidding, and there will be dates set. Members of SAU faculty like our Chaplin Ron Kopicko will take a group to the Wooden Spoon for breakfast to no doubt start pre-martial counseling. You and your group or one-on-one date could travel to the neighboring town of Jackson to embark on a night out at a local business or kick it with Steve and Heather Castle for a game night. We will provide the date options and dates all we ask is that you bring your A game. But in all seriousness, this is a night of pure fun. The music is set, the dates are excited, and you will feel good about helping promote missions.

By Sarah Beardslee

The Sun Also Rises: Pulse Sparknotes Edition

9-bullfight-corrida-toro-2010[1]This classic Hemingway story is set in the post-World War I and Prohibition era. It is the age of cynics and booze. The men and women not involved in the war have a romanticized view of life while the war vets are much more cynical. The characters encountered can be found in small clubs and bars drowning themselves in booze and hooking up with various men and women. They have a dependence upon the physical elements of life in order to escape the effects of the war.

The novel follows the story of Robert Cohn, Lady Brett Ashley, Bill Gorton and Mike Campbell, and is told from the perspective of Jake Barnes. Jake is an American World War I vet who, during the war, had a terrible accident where his genitals were removed. Jake struggles throughout the book with his loss of masculinity and his love for Lady Brett Ashley, but at least he has room in his jockey shorts. When we meet Jake he is working as a journalist in Paris where he and his friends drink heavily together and attend parties.

Lady Brett Ashley is married to Lord Ashley mainly for the title and his money. As the novel opens, Brett is separated from her husband and awaiting a divorce. She loves Jake, but doesn’t commit to a relationship with him because of his accident. She has a long strand of lovers whom she never fully commits to but has affairs with. The pleasure she attempts to find in men leaves her unhappy, but even in her independence she finds herself alone and unfulfilled.

Robert Cohn is a writer in Paris and a quasi friend of Jake’s. Because Cohn had no direct experience of the war and he is Jewish, he is often ostracized and mocked by the other characters in the book, especially by Jake. They find his values on the romanticism of life before the war absurd. His girlfriend, Frances Clyne, is manipulative and domineering; in their relationship, she wears the pants. She is frequently possessive of Cohn and jealous of any other female interests he may have.

Bill Gorton is one of Jake’s war veteran pals who is a heavy drinker like Jake. His humor is a coping mechanism to deal with the emotional and psychological ramifications of the war. Bill and Jake’s friendship is one of the only genuine examples of an emotional bond in the novel.

Mike Campbell is a Scottish war veteran with a terrible temper manifesting during his frequent bouts of drunkenness. Mike becomes Brett’s fiancé for a while, until she decides she doesn’t want to commit to him. He is frequently insecure about Brett’s infidelity and his lack of finances.

In the second half of the book Jake, Cohn, Brett, Bill and Mike take a trip to Spain to see the bullfights. They are all quite taken with the beautiful performance of nineteen-year-old bullfighter, Pedro Romero. He serves as a foil for Jake and his friends because of his dignity and confidence. Romero’s purity and strength is in direct contrast to Jake’s corrupted masculinity as well as the immoral actions of the group.
Brett ends up hooking up with Romero and then leaving him for fear that she’ll ruin his career and because she wants to return to Mike. Jake picks her up in a taxi and he and Brett share their feelings that they could have had such a great time together but it could never have happened between them referenced in Jake’s last line, “Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?

By Carly Thompson

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