Features – Page 10

Is Michigan Losing Its Spotlight?

Michigan is known for its Great Lakes, unpredictable weather, and, to the film community, its film incentives.

Since 2008, the film incentives have been helping production companies get tax breaks. These tax breaks encourage filmmakers to produce their entertainment in Michigan. This also applies to television and digital media (video games).

In order to get these tax breaks, the productions must spend a set amount of money in Michigan. They are then reward with a certain percentage of the spent money back.

A recent bill is hoping to cut these incentives altogether, in order to save money. However, $50 million is only a 1/10 of 1% of Michigan’s budget. In return, many job opportunities have been created.

What you should know:

In December 2014 the Michigan legislature voted to extend film incentives to 2021.
However, on October 21, 2015 a bill passed in the House, 58-51, to cut these incentives.
Now the Senate must vote to kill or keep these incentives.

The incentives have caused movies like 30 Minutes or Less (Jesse Eisenberg), Oz: The Great and Powerful (James Franco), and the upcoming Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice to be filmed in our state.

“As a young filmmaker and someone who has grown up in Michigan, I have always been a big supporter of the state. However without film incentives, once I graduate I will most likely be forced to go elsewhere to look for jobs. With so many colleges and universities in Michigan offering majors in film, the state’s choice makes me wonder how many taxpayers and citizens it may lose in the coming years because of a few politicians choices to damage an industry that is viable for many young professionals.” said film major Jacob Fisher.

Associate professor Dorie Shelby said

“Without film incentives, films won’t be made in Michigan. That’s just reality. All but a dozen or so states offer varying degrees of tax breaks to filmmakers. What I fear people lose sight of, is the fact that Michigan’s incentive package was never designed solely to attract Hollywood Fat Cat. It was designed, and is still intended, to make production a viable industry in this state by giving tax breaks to local industry professionals who work in production that’s outside of the blockbuster feature film. The incentives were meant to kickstart the industry that also produces local programming, television commercials, content for the web, video games, and a host of other production related businesses. In my view, cutting the incentives is short sighted and a blow to what could be a thriving and prosperous industry in Michigan.”

No dates have been released for the Senate’s opportunity to weigh in on the matter.

“Ever since the end of Jennifer Granholm’s term as governor, the film incentives have become an arguing point between republicans and democrats, with few exceptions. Hopefully in the weeks to come Michigan taxpayers will be able to see their politicians put aside party differences in order to come to an honest and viable decision regarding the future of Michigan’s film incentives and ultimately the film industry that currently exists in Michigan.” Fisher said.

By Courtney Applebee

Forget Me Never

Join Spring Arbor University’s Department of Communication and Media for the fifth annual film showcase of “Forget Me Never,” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 at the Michigan Theatre, 124 N. Mechanic St., Jackson.

“Forget Me Never” is a red carpet premiere, filmed and organized by SAU students, honoring the lives of local senior citizen residents of Arbor North, a semi-assisted living center in Jackson.

The event captures and preserves the residents’ lives and stories in video and book forms, hence the title, “Forget Me Never.” Students interview each resident, creating hours of raw footage, which is then edited down to approximately four minutes on each senior and combined for the final film. The audio file is edited to create the stories found in the pages of the accompanying book.

This experience not only gives residents the opportunity to share their stories with a younger generation, but it gives students the chance to learn something about the past.

Becky Veydt, administrator of Agency, the capstone experience for selected Comm. Department students, describes “Forget Me Never” as a “rich, creative, hands-on experience on a multigenerational level. It places students at the feet of senior citizens with opportunity to learn their stories and life perspectives. These students then have opportunity to turn around and share their experiences via film, writing and event planning, all while keeping the residents’ narratives alive.”

The event is free and open to the public. Semi-formal attire is encouraged.

By Jennifer Kilbourn

Have You Heard About SAU’s German Club?

Wir laden Sie ein, Deutsch zu entdecken! (We invite you to discover German!)

A recent addition to Spring Arbor University’s World Languages Department is Deutsch club (or German club) led by Prof. Kim Bowen, which was officially recognized last semester. Students can look for the German flag outside Ada’s Kitchen (in Poling Lobby) on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. to practice their conversational German and discover more about the culture.

Events

In April, the club will be putting on a German festival. There will be opportunities to eat German food, study a bit of the language, practice some German dances, and practice Scherenschnitte, an art form similar to making paper snowflakes.

“We are excited to see the campus get involved.” says Bowen.

On April 25, students will be traveling to Ann Arbor based German restaurant Metzgers for lunch. There students will receive an entree and drink, have the opportunity to taste a variety of side dishes and eat dessert for only $13.95, including tax and tip. At 3 p.m. they will be back on campus to watch the award winning Das Wunder von Bern, which tells the story of Germany’s soccer team after World War Two. History professor Dr. Correll will be guest speaking.

Events are open to all students and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Past events included visiting the Christkindlmarket, an outdoor German Christmas market, in Chicago. There students had the opportunity to practice conversational German with the vendors and sight-see in the Windy City.

Additionally, last semester students spent a night taste-testing different German foods, including Spätzle (macaroni and cheese), Bauernbrot (German bread), and Apfelschorle (sparkling apple soda). They then watched Lilo and Stitch in German with English subtitles.

“Generally Germany doesn’t get a lot of attention. This club is just bringing more to the World Languages Program.” says Allie Herkenroder, president of Deutsch club.

Education

Spring Arbor University students have the option to take two years of German classes. During this time students learn about the basics of the language and culture. Prof. Bowen begins every class with a German scripture.

Games are often played to keep the students engaged. “I want my classes to be interactive.” Bowen explained.

A German business class is also available for students who want to be able to use the language in their careers. Half of the class is devoted to German business language, while the other half focuses on the culture. This is beneficial, since there are over 200 German companies in Michigan and over 1000 German companies in the midwest.

Finally, both a study abroad and cross cultural experience is available in Germany. Both of these opportunities are available to students who do not speak the language. The University of Regensburg will be hosting their first Spring Arbor University student next fall, with two more planning to attend in the spring. There the students will have an opportunity to travel throughout Germany and the rest of Europe, including studying art in Rome and politics in London. The program is designed for Christian universities. Students will also have opportunities to do mission work.

“So much of American culture comes from Germany,” says Herkenroder “there is so much going on in the world and it is important to see how other cultures play with each other. Being able to see other country’s perspectives and the relationships between countries can help in a time of crisis.”

By Courtney Applebee

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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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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

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

An Unexpected Calling: John Volez of Westwinds Church

Photo via John Volez's Twitter account. — Photo via John Volez’s Twitter account.

Once a month, the communications department of Spring Arbor University (SAU) hosts a convention for its majors around key communication topics, often referred to as “Com Con.” The keynote speaker for the October Com Con was John Volez, pastor at Westwinds Church. Volez and his wife have been married 27 years and have three kids. He and his family moved here from California. He has always enjoyed public speaking and playing music in front of a crowd, but becoming a pastor was something he had not considered.

“I didn’t really know I was going to lead something until people started asking me ‘Have you considered this? You should pursue this.’ I started listening to them and thought it was something I could do,” said Volez.

Volez has had many musical and speaking engagements in the Jackson area. He is also an author, and has published several books with Abington Press the last couple of years. His most recent book, called “Quirky Leadership: Permission Granted,” was published last year. In his words, it is a “non-leader leadership book.”

“Really, what I want to do is empower people to lead in the place that they’re planted and lead in the way God has made them with their personality and quirks, as opposed to aspiring to be some kind of leader that they’ll never really be,” said Volez.

Volez leads a festival in Jackson called Folklore and an event with public schools called iCreate. iCreate hosts poetry writing contests within local schools. The teachers pick the winning poems, which are then given to Volez and other musicians and songwriters who turn them into songs.

“We get all the schools together and play the songs at the Michigan Theatre. We give away over $10,000 in guitars, guitar lessons, and art scholarships,” said Volez.

His biggest goal for Westwinds for the next ten years is for the church to have a face in the community and, most importantly, for Jesus to have a face in the community.

“I want everybody in the town to know who Westwinds is, what Westwinds is doing, and really by proxy, know what Jesus is doing and how he’s changing lives,” said Volez.