Editorial – Page 3

Spring Is Here, Spring Arbor

Well, sort of. Even though the great state of Michigan can’t make up its mind about which season it should participate in, spring is still in action. Besides the fact that it’s 60 degrees one day and 32 degrees the next, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll be participating in when the warm weather starts kicking in. In a town like Spring Arbor, where it’s winter for 80% of the time you attend school, it may become a bit overwhelming when the sun starts bringing the heat because you don’t really know what to do now that it’s nice outside. Don’t you fret, because Spring Arbor and it’s friendly neighbor Jackson have a lot to offer when the weather heats up. Some cost money, and some don’t, but here are a couple of things to look forward to before this semester comes to an end.

Volley that ball.

For all of you sporty students who love the beach but can’t afford to drive to one, Spring Arbor has got you covered. Grab a couple of water bottles and head out to the volleyball court and it will start to feel like you’re actually hanging out on Lake Michigan. Grab a couple of your greatest pals, prepare a couple of sandwiches, and throw some sand in each other’s faces for the full effect of a day at the beach. It’s some great competition and a great way for you to have fun in the sun before you throw your deuces up at Spring Arbor.

Mini Golf Rocks.

Not to far from Spring Arbor is Ella Sharp Park which includes a wickedly sweet 18-hole mini golf course. The drive only takes about 15 minutes tops and the price is unbeatable. You can play a full game for $5 dollars, or bring a whole bunch of friends and you only have to spend $4 dollars! Keep wearing that same t-shirt and “forget” to change your pants so you can use all of your laundry money on a sweet game of mini golf. It’s a great spot for some sweet Instagram shots and you can update your Twitter when you score a hole-in-one!

Pizza in the Plaza.

za baby Pizza! Isn’t it nice to attend a school that is surrounded by God’s gift to mankind? Spring Arbor has not only Marino’s, which is right across the street, but Amy’s Pizza and Slice of Spice all within walking distance. Grab some super gnarly friends, grab a slice, and chill out in the SAU plaza before the school year comes to an end! You can fly a couple of kites, play an intense game of Battleship, set up your Wii U on the concept, and enjoy some pizza with your friends. It’s a cheap, sharable meal that will fill you with memories for years to come.

Spring Arbor is meant to have community, and it’s nice to see everyone hanging out and enjoying the great weather this state can sometimes have. Go out and enjoy spring, Spring Arbor.

By Ryne Larsh

McHealth?

Our choice of dining areas here at SAU are pretty limited. There’s the DC, Ada’s Kitchen, and the Cougar Den on campus, along with Marino’s Pizza nearby. If people are willing to make a bit of a drive and spend some money, then there are restaurants in Jackson but that’s an entire trip. So where do people go if they want a quick, relatively cheap bite to eat? McDonalds.

The golden arches can be hard to resist when you’ve got a case of the late night munchies, but it’s not up for debate that a lot of the options aren’t particularly healthy. So what would you do if you wanted to get a snack, but not clog up your arteries with a Big Mac meal? Here are a few suggestions.

Order grilled

Most of the chicken-based items on the menu have two options. You can get the chicken “crispy,” which is easily translated to breaded and fried, or you could get it grilled. The default for most people is the crispy version, although if you’re trying to watch what you eat it’s not a good default. The breading adds unnecessary carbs and fat, when you could just as easily enjoy the same meal without it.

Get Protein

It’s no secret that protein is something that helps keep us full. If you’re grabbing a snack, or even a full meal at McDonalds, make sure to get some protein in you. It’ll make you stay full longer, saving you another trip to the golden arches. Both your stomach and your wallet will be thanking you.

Fruits and Veggies

It should come as no surprise that ordering a salad will be healthier for you than a deep fried meal deluxe. Making sure that what you’re ordering includes some fruits and vegetables is a definite way to have a healthier meal. You’ll feel better having eaten it too. And who knows, you might end up with strawberry-based super powers!

Soda So-don’t

Unless you’re dying of thirst in the Sahara Desert, you will never actually need a large soda. The extra sugar and caffeine isn’t a nice combo for your body, and as tempting as it is it’s not the best option. Ask for a water, or if you want some flavor get an iced tea.

The fun part is that these rules work for any kind of eating place. Even in the DC, if you want to try turning over a new leaf for spring or already try to eat healthy, these rules can help keep you on track. Eating filling, balanced meals is a key part of staying healthy, and your body will definitely appreciate the good nutrients you’re giving it.

Of course, if you’re really trying to be healthy it’s probably best to avoid fast food altogether. But the location is very prime, especially for Ormston guys and Muffit girls. But if you really need something to eat and there’s no other place open, keep these rules in mind.

By Evan Roberts

Tis the Season of Lent

During the months of March and April, many Christian denominations have entered this time called Lent. The word Lent means “springtide” and also “March,” the month which the majority of Lent falls in. Lent is where we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Starting on Ash Wednesday, this time of remembrance last about six weeks, ending on Easter Sunday. Christians who practice Lent go through the process of prayer, penance, and repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement, and self-denial. In order to do this, believers commit to fasting or giving up certain luxuries as a form of penitence. Now this article is not about what luxuries people are giving up, but on what Lent means to them.

Lindsey, a Catholic, gave me her view on what Lent means to her. “Lent is a time of sacrifice that represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, so we give up something important to us to draw closer to him. It’s important to my faith because it makes it stronger and we can do something for 40 days to honor what Jesus did for our life.”

Sophomore David, a Free Methodist, gave his opinion on Lent. “Lent means giving up something that causes distractions in your life. We live with these distractions every day of our lives when we should be focusing on God. So this period where we give up something that takes up a huge portion of our life, we can then focus on what is really important in our life, God.”

Lent has been around for a long time, but back in the early years no one really had the actual practices and duration of Lent set in stone. Church authorities worked together and concluded around the 4th century that there was going to be a 40-day period of Easter preparation known as Lent and its main spiritual exercises would include prayer and fasting. This 40-day practice is meant to be fasting for six days a week over the course of six weeks. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council II stated, “The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent – the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance – should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. It is by means of the celebration of Easter, while they hear God’s word more frequently and devote more time to prayer.”

By Jennifer Kilbourn

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2 Ways to Make SAU Safer (and help disabled students)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been disabled. My leg was partially paralyzed by a virus when I was nine months old. As a student at Spring Arbor University (SAU) for the past three and a half years, I’ve had the chance to experience some amazing things. For the most part, my disability hasn’t held me back while I’ve been a student here. However, there are still a few things that SAU could change to make their campus not only more accessible but also safer for all students.

1. Sidewalk on the east side of Cottage Street

I know there’s a sidewalk on the west side of Cottage Street, but students coming from Gainey Hall or Andrews Hall will agree, walking down Cottage Street itself is easier than crossing the street, then crossing back over because your class is in Smith Music Center or Sayre-Decan Hall. This puts students in danger of vehicles. Additionally, in the winter months, treatment of Cottage Street is neither as rapid nor as complete as the snow removal and deicing of sidewalks on campus. Additionally, there is no crossing area marked on the road for people to cross near Gainey Hall or Deitzman Hall’s ground floor access.

2. Card access to the South Wing end door of Gainey Hall

SAU’s ground maintenance crews do an excellent job of trying to clear student parking lots over the winter with student cooperation. However, parking lots cover a lot of ground and they don’t need the same sort of salting that sidewalks do. They can remain icy when there are melting-refreezing periods in the winter. While I’m not arguing for the treatment of all student lots, Gainey Hall is especially difficult to enter from the parking lot in the winter. To enter via the back door, one can go up the sidewalk that leads to the south wing, then through the snow to the circle drive at the back of the building. The circle is typically maintained, though not as well as streets or sidewalks. Following the circle to the back door, one can walk up the short sidewalk and then swipe in. To enter via the front door, one must follow the sidewalk that leads to the Resident Director’s apartment. It has a semi-permanent ice patch, crossing the entirety of the path, next to the parking lot due to the slant of the sidewalk. Additionally, one must step through the rock garden across the paving stones, attempting not to catch anything on the bushes or trip over bikes remaining on the bike rack. This paving stone area is difficult to maintain in the winter because it isn’t sidewalk. Snow sometimes freezes into the shape of bootprints that you have to fit your foot in in order to get through. If the snow does melt down to the point of the stones, it can freeze and leave the paving stones icy. Try to get into Gainey Hall from the parking lot with your arms full of groceries in winter could easily lead to slip-and-falls. The sidewalk leading to the door of the South Wing of Gainey Hall is always maintained in the winter, making it the best door to get in.

Implementing these recommendations could make students, especially those living in Gainey and Andrews Halls safer.

By Bethany Hart

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

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 controllers

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

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

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

YAK ATTACK: Don’t talk back.

We’re all Spring Arbor students and we know that not everything written behind a keyboard about our school is positive. Social commentary thrives around college campuses and SAU is no exception. As people, we enjoy poking fun at our surroundings- it’s just what we do. It’s natural.

Meet Yik Yak. For those of you unfamiliar with the app, it’s an anonymous twitter type model that shows you what those in your geographical area are sharing. It’s localized to a few mile radius and shows you what people are saying in your area. According to the Yik Yak team, they are an “anonymous messaging app that allows users to create and view posts – called Yaks – within a 10 mile radius. Users can also expand the conversation by posting replies to existing Yaks.”

I am sure most of us are familiar with #SAUchapellive, #SAUconfessions and Facebook pages like SAU Crushes and Overheard at SAU. These formats enable students to anonymously share their personal opinions, comments and secrets because free speech is a thing and it is their right to do so.

How is Yik Yak any different? It’s designed for use at colleges. Well, while things shared can be innocent and funny, they’ve been quickly moving toward attacks such as naming floors in dorms with the comments about drinking, or the use of initials of Spring Arbor students with comments attached. USA TODAY shared that through Yik Yak, “Students are tapping, scrolling, reading and sharing any thoughts they’d like — some of them R-rated — with people nearby whom they may or may not know”. Would you feel safe or good to read someone post a yak about you in any context?”

Now to be fair, those in the Spring Arbor community on Yik Yak are quick to rid the site of hurtful or sexual comments by down voting anything that is targeting or inappropriate, but this isn’t just a SAU problem. Colleges and universities are banning the app left and right for the increased threats, racism, and cyberbulling that is publicized through Yik Yak.

“Users crack racist and sexist jokes. Posts about alcohol, drugs and sexual activity flood the feed. While some of the crude posts are slightly funny and entertaining, the majority of them could be filed as offensive or even considered hate crimes. Many students already have suffered the consequences of Yik Yak. An anonymous user will post the address of a party, the name of a drug dealer or a threat toward an individual. The results quickly outshine that user’s five minutes of anonymous fame” (USA TODAY).

Campus buildings across the nation have been shut down from Yaks that are posted threatening the safety of those in a certain building at a certain time. Many colleges are blocking that app it as trouble breaks around their campuses. SAU has not blocked the app, but those in Student Development are aware of it.

We live in an era where we can and are encouraged to make our thoughts public. The downside is that often it’s at the expense of another human being. In continuous self interest and publication of our feelings, we’ve become desensitized to the feelings of others. Another danger is the trend toward anonymity. Senior and finance major Eric Harbin calls Yik Yak the coward’s twitter. When we’re not responsible for our actions, we become much free-er with our opinions. Anonymous forums cultivate cyber bullying and Yik Yak makes it extremely easy. Do you think half of the yaks would still be posted if there was a name attached to them? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not bad ass to complain anonymously, it’s cowardly.

So what’s the point? I know that you’re tired of hearing about this and the point of this article is not to shame you or tell you that Yik Yak is the devil. Sharing our thoughts and comments is great, but what these formats also cultivate are platforms to showcase apathy, negativity, and unChrist-like behavior. As students of Spring Arbor University, we are not called to be perfect, but we are held up to a concept. That’s not saying that we’ll be condemned if we don’t keep both feet on the floor during open hours or take two apples out of the DC, it’s holding us to a higher standard because we represent Christ as well as our school and that’s one of the reasons why we’re here.

That’s the point, really. We need to be mindful of what we’re representing. Maybe that means making a change or deleting the app or maybe that just means being aware of our potential to hurt others. We’re all free to share what we want, but how are we cultivating kindness in our community? How can we set ourselves apart?

By Sarah Beardslee and Tania Parsons