November 2012

the PULSE

A SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY PUBLICATION

Issue 29

staff

the PULSE
November 2012
cover photo by

Issue 29

Sydney WilliamS

THE PULSE is a professional team of journalists providing the community of Spring Arbor with immediate, accurate and relevant information that concerns the University and surrounding community.
All editorial pieces published in The Pulse reflect the opinion of the writers and not The Pulse or Spring Arbor University.
Editor-in-chief Megan Filipowski Lead Copy Editor Laura Guiikema Copy Editors Bethany Hart Sydney Williams Lead Designer Tyler Thorne Business Manager Matt DeMeritt Lead Writers Brittany Bellamy Bekka Bossenberger Alexandra Harper Kerry Wade Staff Writer Sarah Beardslee Guest Writer Kayla Finkbeiner Photographers Kat Caldwell Cam Davis Web Manager Zachariah Deitrich Foreign Correspondent David Shinabarger Staff Adviser Terri Reynolds

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contents
letter calendar news Letter from the editor SchooL/SportS eventS taLent, coLor and photography Jordan ccS canceLed hanging of the greenS a homey concert i am Second putS chriSt firSt guatS up? thankSgiving edition Snapchat revoLutionizeS SociaL media Who iS doctor Who? arSenic and oLd rice november event pictoriaL trikeS for india a deconStruction of onLine Learning hoW not to Study your Life aWay rather obScure but SurpriSingLy effective Study methodS...for proS office Space: the nauticaL nook of dr. WaLLy mettS a pun of a concert and a LittLe drama not JuSt a pLay about death throWing doWn the daWn-tLet LiSten up! creativity, poetry and StorieS, oh my! prevention of heLmet-to-heLmet hitS Spring arbor athLetic updateS pg. 4 pg. 5 pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. 6 7 8 8 9 10 10 11 11 12-13 14

opinion feature

pg. 15 pg. 16 pg. 16 pg. 17 pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. 18 19 20 21 21

a&e

sports

pg. 22 pg. 23

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letter
Readers of The Pulse,
Thank you so much for picking up the first two issues. It means more to me than you know. I have a few things I want to share with you. First, I would like to apologize to Professor Dorie Shelby and the students involved in the East Lansing Film Festival for the misprint of their article title in the last issue. The title has been corrected at www.saupulse.com. Once a month on Wednesday nights, The Pulse staff gathers in the COM Suite in Sayre Decan Hall where we put the entire paper together. Stories are on their last drafts. Pictures are edited and placed. Each page is designed with you in mind. With that being said, our nights are long (its been 4:30 a.m. before Ive gone to bed) and some errors, like that of the wrong headline above, manage to fall through the cracks. I hope that you can be understanding and not too critical of these mistakes. Were just trying to get the news to you as best as we can, and we learn more about how to do so with every issue we print. Second, at the beginning of November, I was given the opportunity to attend a college media conference in Chicago with a few staff members of The Pulse. At the conference, we learned a lot about how to be an effective paper. We spent three days with students and advisers from other collegiate newspapers as well as top media professionals from around the country. There is nothing like knowing that our staff of about 12 members is competing against schools like Penn State University with a staff of 175 members and a semester-long training program. A few more changes are likely to occur over the course of the year. You may have noticed that weve changed the font we use for the title. The style is still the same, but we wanted something new. Also, were adding a social media manager position. This staff member will be dedicated to interacting with you online through our Facebook page, Twitter feed and website. We also are implementing new story and series ideas. For example, the first in our series of articles about professors offices is included in this issue. I would love it if you, dear readers, were active with The Pulse. Send story ideas, feedback or pieces youve written to me at megan@saupulse.com. These pieces cannot be submitted or printed anonymously. I cannot guarantee that everything submitted will be published, but we will look at each piece and, if we publish yours, credit you as a guest writer. The Pulse is the student publication of Spring Arbor University, and you make up that community. I encourage you to be active in what we print and how were doing with getting the news to you. Thank you,

Megan Filipowski Editor-in-chief

Like what you see? Hate what you see? Join our staff!
Email megan@saupulse.com for details or to set up a meeting.

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Must be available Fridays around noon. Delivery is only once per month.

Interested? Email megan@saupulse.com.

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calendar
december
Saturday, Dec. 1 Saturday morning cartoons, 10 a.m. in the Cougar Den Womens basketball home, 1 p.m. at the fieldhouse Sunday, Dec. 2 Post Villages University Connect, 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Village A lobby Ogle Villages University Connect, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Village F lobby Quirk 2 hosted by Dr. Patton and Taylor Keating, 7 p.m. in the Prop Shop K-houses and Apartments University Connect, 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Apartment A lobby Monday, Dec. 3 Talents for Christ chapel, 10:05 a.m. at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church (SAFMC) Intramural dodgeball - check with your floors representative for a schedule Commuters University Connect, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cougar Den Silent study nights - freshmen event - 8 to 10 p.m. in the Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) Tuesday, Dec. 4 Mens basketball home, 7 p.m. at the fieldhouse Silent study nights - freshmen event - 8 to 10 p.m. in the RCF Salsa dancing with Katie, 9 p.m. in Physical Education Center (PEC) 216 Wednesday, Dec. 5 Talents for Christ chapel, 10:05 a.m. at SAFMC Resumania (five minute resume reviews), 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. outside of the Dining Commons (DC) Thursday, Dec. 6 Ugly sweater open mic night, 8 p.m. in the Cougar Den Production of W;t, 8 p.m. in the Prop Shop Silent study nights - freshmen event - 8 to 10 p.m. in the RCF Strength training with Morris, 9 p.m. in PEC 216 Friday, Dec. 7 Hanging of the Greens: concert at SAFMC at 7 p.m., activities after the concert in the Student Center Saturday, Dec. 8 Christmas @ HOME.fm concert, 7:30 p.m. in White Auditorium Production of W;t, 8 p.m. in the Prop Shop Sunday, Dec. 9 Production of W;t, 3 p.m. in the Prop Shop The Nativity Story movie viewing, 8 p.m. in the Cougar Den Monday, Dec. 10 Christmas chapel, 10:05 a.m. at SAFMC Reading of The Santa Papers by Dr. Wally Metts, 7 p.m. in the Prop Shop Band Christmas concert, 7:30 p.m. in White Auditorium Tuesday, Dec. 11 Nursing home Christmas caroling, 3 p.m. (contact your Spiritual Life Advisor for more details) Midnight breakfast, 10:30 p.m. in the DC Wednesday, Dec. 12 to Friday, Dec. 14 Finals

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news

Talent, color and photography

Seniors display art show at the Ganton Art Gallery
Spring Arbor University (SAU) seniors Ethan Hatt, Emily Klop, Melodie Kolmodin and Crystal Wood Klop sees art in the world around her and often currently have art shows on display at the Ganton will spend more than 10 hours on a single piece to Art Gallery as part of a graduation requirement for ensure complete adherence to reality. all students in the art department. God was an artist Himself who paid explicit The seniors work spans different types of media. attention to detail creating this world we live in, The Ganton Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 said Klop. p.m. on Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the gallery Klop plans to continue her schooling but refuses to is free. Artworks in the show are available for stifle her artistic talent. purchase. Melodie Kolmodin says her senior show is a Ethan Hatt is full of gratitude because he realizes testament to her journey as an artist. She jumps that his talent is divinely given. from abstract to natural, and as a colorist, she [believes] there is more to something than what we The design I make is an expression of the love God can physically see. has shown to me passed on to the people around me because my art is more than expression, said Kolmodin likes to move past the mundane and Hatt. see the extraordinary in everyday life. She aims to capture the details and the ambiguity by employing He uses his art to express emotions and Christs love subtle (but not always coy) colors. for those around him. He employs many modes of design, from the computer to the paintbrush. My approach is experimental and responsive and is similar to a conversation, said Kolmodin. I take sketches to my computer and arrange layouts, create illustrations or take photographs to be used Kolmodin begins a unique creation by constructing in the design process, said Hatt. a still life, paying special consideration to the surface of the objects and their light reflectiveness. Hatt retains skills learned during his time at SAU including even the most basic sketching techniques. I like to believe the colors I choose reflect the boldness of my personality and the lines and Without my background in art I have no design, shapes express both my spontaneity and orderly and I am not the person I am today, said Hatt. tendencies, said Kolmodin. Growing up in the country has strongly influenced By mixing media and creativity Kolmodin is able to the way Emily Klop sees and interprets works to deliver a distinctive piece of art every time. form art. If I can capture animals in nature on paper, more people will come to appreciate these things, slow down from their daily routines and see the beauty that is everywhere in the world, said Klop. Her favorite subjects are from nature, including scenery in the greenery and wildlife. I try to capture all the details that show the breath of life in nature and animals, from the sparkle in their eyes to every inch of fur that covers their bodies, said Klop.

Written by

Bekka BossenBerger and alexandra Harper photo by alexandra Harper

A recent trip to China and ponderings about the future led Crystal Wood to the theme of solitude in her show. I was in a country surrounded by billions and billions of people, and all my photos seemed to be one person... it was very inspiring because the countryside is so vast and different, said Wood. She said some of her favorite pieces in the show include a photo of recent SAU graduate Pilgrim Metts with his cello in a field and a photo of her adopted Tibetan mother from China. Although Wood admits that the fine arts are close to her heart, in the future she may prefer a different role. Getting a four year art degree has made me realize that my interest doesnt lie so much in doing the fine arts, but Id like to be a creative manager or art director... I find more pleasure in pulling these creative people together to create a bigger project, said Wood. Woods also said in the future she would love to enter the field of fashion. I definitely see my life as having lots of phases... I want to model, but I want to use my connections after that to branch off as a fashion editor or creative director. But for now, Woods is content to show the art shes created over the last four years. These are the photos Ive always wanted to take, said Woods.

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Left to right: koLmodin, hatt, Wood and kLop

news
Jordan CCS canceled
Trip called off one month before departure date
Due to uncertainty regarding safety, Spring Arbor Universitys (SAU) January cross-cultural trip to Jordan is canceled. The group was scheduled to leave Dec. 27 and return Jan. 17. Dr. Tom Holsinger-Friesen, Assistant Professor of Theology at SAU and the co-leader of the Jordan trip, has been down this road before. For the past two years, his scheduled trips to Egypt were canceled due to travel warnings and general unrest in the country. Holsinger-Friesen told his students in an email on Nov. 27, It is impossible to see what the next couple of months will look like in Jordan. Some observers think that the worst is over. Others are much less certain The odds are not high that we would be targeted. But with the run up for elections coinciding with the dates of our visit, there is a greater potential for turmoil than normal. Along with Diane Kurtz, director of Cross-Cultural Studies (CCS) at SAU, Holsinger-Friesen and co-leader Matthew Hill, assistant p rofessor of Philosophy, decided the potential risks exceed what students and their families should expect for a CCS trip. On Nov. 27, Syria fired mortar bombs at the Syrian-Jordanian border to prevent refugees from crossing into Jordan, according to the United Nations humanitarian chief. Since the Syrian civil war started 20 months ago, almost half a million refugees have fled into Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. In mid-October, King Abdullah II of Jordan moved the election for a new prime minister to Jan. 23, 2013, six days after SAU students were scheduled to arrive back in Michigan. The king announced on Nov. 13 that the costs of cooking gas and fuel would be raised to combat a budget deficit. The announcement sparked the current protests, which have been more violent than normal. Junior Faith Gunderson, a global studies major who has spent the entirety of this semester in Amman, the capital of Jordan, provided some insight into the current protests. They raised the price for cooking and heating fuel by over 50 percent, just in time for winter, when people need it most, said Gunderson. She and three other SAU studentsChristian Aown, Chris Conrad and Megan Donahuenow pay 11 dinar (national currency in Jordan) for a tank of cooking fuel, compared to the former price of about 6.5 dinar. I still feel completely safe where I am, she said. There have been more riots and protests lately that have been bigger than normal, but the military is on top of it. Everything that keeps happening here is typical for the Middle East. Joe Faultersack, a junior video/film major, understands why they canceled the trip. The reason the Jordan trip was created in the first place is because the country is known to be peaceful and secure, as far as the Middle East goes. The intense protests are what made them decide to cancel, he said. That, and the conflict in Syria, which wasnt stopping us before. This is the first time that a trip has been canceled this close to the date of departure due to tensions in the area. In 2011, the May trip to Egypt was canceled almost four months prior to departure. Senior social work major Caleb Young tried to go on the Egypt trip in 2012, which was also canceled. He chose to go to Jordan because he wanted direct experience learning about poverty and the Syrian refugees who fled to Jordan. Dr. Tom did a great job letting us know from the start that there was a chance we wouldnt go because of unrest in the Middle East, he said. Knowing that ahead of time eased what anxiety I might have had right now. Kurtz encouraged all affected students to attempt to take their trips in May 2013. Students returning for the 2013-2014 school year were given the option to sign up for Jordan or another trip in 2014. All money paid for Jordan will transfer to cover equally-priced programs the students elect to do in place of the canceled trip. If a student chooses a less expensive program, the difference will be refunded into his or her student account. I have always wanted to be somewhere Jesus was and now my dream may never come true, said senior Bryan Burk. I waited an extra year to take my trip so I could go to Jordan. In Jordan, the students were supposed to spend a night in a Bedouin nomad camp and travel to locations including the capital Amman, the Jordan River site of Jesus baptism, the Dead Sea, and ancient Petra, the city carved from stone. Burk is glad he was added to the Dominican Republic trip for January 2013 and will graduate on time in May. Jason Wensley is a sophomore pre-engineering major. After next fall, he will transfer to an engineering school. I will not be able to travel to Jordan in 2014 because I will no longer be at Spring Arbor at that time, said Wensley. I can understand their concern for our safety, but if it were up to me I would still vote for going. At this time Im just really disappointed. Faultersacks only option is to go on a trip this May, though he would prefer not to. My younger brother is graduating high school, and I was supposed to be there, but now Im taking my CCS trip instead, he said. I feel disappointed, but not cheated.
written by

Sydney WilliamS

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news

Hanging of the Greens

On Friday, Dec. 7, Spring Arbor University (SAU) will host an event for students, faculty, staff and the community. Hanging of the Greens is a free Christmas event that features food, fireworks, music and activities. It is attended each year by approximately 2,000 people.

Written by

Bekka BossenBerger photo courteSy saraH Crane

Spring Arbor Universitys gift to the community

Sarah Crane, Special Events Coordinator at SAU, works to make the evening entertaining and exciting. SAUs desire for this evening is to bless the community with Christs love, said Crane. The fireworks, a favorite of attendees, will be returning for the 12th annual Hanging of the Greens celebration after being absent last year. A concert gives SAUs music department an opportunity to perform for the community. The performance will include SAUs choir, string ensemble and jazz band. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on 89.3 the Message and will also be available through a video live stream at www.arbor.edu/livestream. Student workers will run a nursery for children under four years old during the concert.

After the concert, food will be available in the Dining Commons and Cougar Den. Beverages include hot chocolate, coffee and water. The edible fare will include cookie concoctions created by SAUs own Barb Wesseling. Flavor Fruit Farms in Somerset Center will make roasted almonds that, according to Crane, make the entire student center smell like Christmas... [they are] a delicious holiday treat that is quickly gone. Attractions include a professional balloon animal artist, horse drawn carriage rides, pictures with Santa and a candle lighting ceremony. The pictures with Santa will be uploaded to the SAUs Flickr account for attendees to view after the event. An end-of-the-semester student art show will also be open to the public at the Ganton Art Gallery. My goal is to make sure everyone who comes has a great holiday experience, said Crane. For more information, call SAU at 517-750-6348.

A homey concert

Written by

Jetty Rae and Canons part of Christmas @ HOME.fm concert

HOME.fm is a radio station located on the campus of Spring Arbor Unviersity (SAU) and committed to playing music that makes you feel good throughout the year. The Christmas season is no exception. With Thanksgiving over, now comes the influx of Christmas cheer. That includes Christmas music, which is currently played around the clock on HOME.fm. Is there a better way to get in the Christmas spirit than by listening to great Christmas music? One option could be attending a concert showcasing Christmas classics in an intimate setting.

saraH Beardslee photoS courteSy HoMe.fM

We are thrilled to be able to showcase two of our HOME.fm artists in an intimate concert setting that celebrates the best time of the year, said Malachi Crane, executive director of SAU Radio.

Canons

If you already enjoy Jetty Rae and Canons singles from HOME.fm or if you enjoy Christmas classics, For the Christmas music and concert lover, HOME. then this is the concert for you. Canons will fm has teamed up with K&J Tire in Jackson, Mich. present an all-acoustic set. to present Christmas @ HOME.fm, an event that will feature Jetty Rae and Canons. The concert The atmosphere will indeed be homey in the will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m in more intimate setting of White Auditorium. The SAUs White Auditorium. auditorium will be decorated with dcor to capture the mood. Christmas lights will be used to give the Jetty Rae, whose music is played on HOME.fm, is a auditorium a living room feel, creating the feeling singer and songwriter originally from Northern that the audience is actually at home listening to Michigan. Canons consists of five worship music around the fireplace with close friends and leaders who formed a band to make uplifting music. family.

Jetty Rae Tickets for the concert are $8 each for students, staff and community members and can be purchased online at www.home.fm. They also will be available at the door for $10. Please call 517-750-6535 with questions about the concert.

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I Am Second puts Christ first

Focused small groups seek to lift up Jesus
In a first-place culture, a movement that inspires people to put themselves second is conspicuous. And thats exactly what the organization, the multimedia campaign and the small groups are hoping for with I Am Second. I Am Second is a new way to share the gospel and grow in faith. Grounded in personal testimonies, the movement dives deep into authentic stories about everyday struggles with real-world issues like grief, purpose, success, forgiveness, pride, anger and more. The complete list of struggles, related testimonies and how each person overcame that struggle with Gods help can be found at iamsecond.com/struggles. At Spring Arbor University (SAU), a new chapter of I Am Second just began. Nearly 60 students attended the introductory meeting on Monday, Nov. 19 at 9:30 p.m. Members of the baseball and tennis teams led the meeting, which opened and closed with prayer to seek guidance for the formation of this chapter on campus. Junior Nic Johnston had the opportunity to work with the organization over the summer. At the meeting, he shared the change he felt from experiencing I Am Second. I grew in my faith from watching the videos, he said at the meeting. Theyll get your heart. At SAU, I Am Second is a large, focused assembly of small groups. Students are invited to come

news
Sydney WilliamS photos by megan FilipoWSki
written by

to the weekly meeting to listen to a video testimony about a typical struggle, share their own testimonies, build each other up, inspire others, spread the gospel and pray for change. The group is a safe place to share, grow and transform. I Am Seconds goal at SAU is to unite friends and strangers who are on similar spiritual journeys, to keep people coming back with weekly topics and to inspire people to live for Christ and others by putting themselves second. I Am Second meets on Monday nights at 9:30 p.m. in the Ralph Carey Forum.

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news

Guats up? Thanksgiving edition

The study abroad students spent the weekend of Nov. 17 and 18 in Guatemala City. We started the trip by visiting the Forensic Anthropological Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG). This visit was what you might imagine given the name Forensic Anthropological. In 1954 the CIA from the United States intervened in the Guatemalan government. This resulted in a civil war that lasted until the Guatemalan peace accords in 1996. During this time, over 200,000 people either went missing or were killed. Most were Mayan or indigenous people. This was a tragedy, and it was declared a genocide by the United Nations, as most of the people killed were Mayan. The FAFG works directly with people around Guatemala to uncover the remains of those killed in the genocide. They work to recover the story of these people, to bring those who caused the massacres and killings to justice and to offer the people a proper burial. We saw skeletons that the FAFG is working on of those killed in the war. One massacre site currently being worked on is inside a military base; they have found 400 bodies so far. They expect to find up to 1,000 bodies. Immediately after this visit, we went to the city dump in Guatemala. Amidst mounds of garbage and black vultures, people work within the dump to collect bits of plastic, metal or cardboard that they sell outside the dump for $2 to 5. For us students living and studying in Guatemala, it was alarming to see that this is the world we are living in. During the rest of the weekend, we watched movies and heard stories of the poverty here and

written by photo courtesy

david ShinaBarger CriStiana Cavallari

the tragedies that have taken place in this beautiful land. We met with a professor from the University of San Carlos who told us about the inequality and non-development in Guatemala. Apart from this harsh reality and beautiful country, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an American holiday and is not celebrated in Guatemala. We are celebrating Thanksgiving as a group on Sunday; we look forward to having a delicious dinner complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and stuffed squashes for those of us who are vegetarians. For more information on studying abroad or visiting Guatemala, visit the Cross Cultural Studies Office behind the library on Ogle Street or look into the Gilman Scholarship at www.iie. org/GILMAN. You can also read my blog at dshinabarger.wordpress.com.

Snapchat revolutionizes social media

A girl stands in front of a mirror, iPhone in hand. It is the scene of many infamous Myspace and Facebook profiles: head tilted, leaned forward, duck face at the ready. However, this girl isnt looking to take the newest hot picture for everyone to admire. She snaps a ridiculous shot and shoots it off to a couple of friends with the caption, myspacing it, lol. Her friends receive it and laugh. 10 seconds later, the picture is gone, irretrievable. With apps and services such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and even picture messaging, such a feat is impossible. A picture, even if deleted, remains relatively retrievable and permanent. However, a new service called Snapchat is aiming to change that. Were making social media fun again, said Snapchats website. Snapchat, an app developed for iOS and Android, aims to provide the service of picture mortality to its users. The app allows users to take and send pictures to friends, along with the ability to add captions with one key feature: the pictures disappear after a time allotted by the sender. With its smiling ghost icon Ghostface Chillah, Snapchat provides pictures that are just that: here one second and gone the next. According to Snapchats website, the sender of the picture has the option to save the photo, but the receiver does not. If a screenshot is attempted, the sender will be notified immediately. Since the app launched in September 2011, users have sent over 20 million pictures per day, accounting for a total of 1.2 billion pictures, according to a statistic from allthingsd.com.

written by

Brittany Bellamy

Reviews of the service by SAU students are mixed. I have fun with Snapchat, like with being able to draw on people, said sophomore Jennie Humbach. Its like having a real conversation, but not quite. I find it confusing to navigate, and the drawing tools cant be fully utilized on a touchscreen, said sophomore Justin Lundy. When it first launched, Snapchat came under fire because critics thought it increased sexting, or the sending of sexual picture text messages, among teens. However, a study by New York Magazine showed that most users use Snapchat for self portraits or to show where they are at any given time without it being permanent. Snapchat is currently a free app for iPhone and is also available as a free download in Google Play for Android.

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Who is Doctor Who?

The smell of buttered popcorn wafts in the air as a glowing screen provides light to the devoted students around the television. What draws these individuals to the plush couches in the Gainey lounge on Saturday evenings? Who other than Doctor Who? About a dozen students watch the science fiction show Doctor Who on Saturday nights at 9 p.m. The campus Facebook group consists of 33 Doctor Who fans and can be found by searching for Whovians of SAU. Whovian Sadie Tubbs said, The show is really interesting and pulls you in, especially if you like sci-fi. It can be really corny sometimes, but it also has a good plot line. Doctor Who debuted on Nov. 23, 1963 in the United Kingdom. It was introduced to the United States on Sept. 29, 1975. The main premise of the series surrounds a doctor from a different planet who survived a war or time lock and now travels around in a blue British Police Box. This is the seventh series of this show showcasing its eleventh doctor. Whenever the Doctor is about to die, his body changes into another being. This allows the show to keep producing more episodes. His alias is a code name because no one knows this Time Lords real name. Doctor Who unites random people just by knowing about the show, said Tubbs. It brings people together. Fellow Whovian Heather Lamb said there is a strong following of the show from English majors at SAU, but it is not necessarily tailored to one specific group of people. The beauty of Doctor Who is that it has a little something for everyone, she said.

news
kayla finkBeiner photo courtSey WHovians of saU
Written by

The season has taken a brief break, but there will be a Christmas special. Full episodes will resume sometime next spring.

Arsenic and old rice

Rice, cancer and arsenic are not normally terms associated with one another. However, a recent Consumer Reports study has found abnormally large amounts of arsenic in domestically grown products containing rice. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid regarded as a class A carcinogen. There are two types of arsenic: organic (less toxic) and inorganic (more toxic). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) links arsenic to at least seven known types of cancer. By taking a snapshot of the market and examining more than 200 different products, Consumer Reports uncovered serious issues with rice production in the United States. The surveyed foods included rice, infant cereal, hot cereal, rice cakes, rice pasta, rice flour and rice drinks. There has not been a conclusive study showing the link between the rice containing arsenic and cancer yet, but inorganic arsenic is considered a class A carcinogen. The EPA believes no amount of inorganic arsenic exposure can be coined safe. Ground rice syrup, which is quickly replacing high fructose corn syrup in many foods including energy bars, has very high levels of arsenic. It is particularly important that infants and young children do not consume this amount of arsenic because they are in a crucial stage of development. If this development is disrupted, consequences can be irreversible. The Consumer Reports investigation prompted the FDA to prioritize the testing of the thousand rice samples they currently have. Hopefully they will give a concrete recommendation by the end of the calendar year. Consumers are increasingly wary about the food imported to the United States, but the scientists Consumer Reports believe imported rice almost always has safe levels of arsenic. Consumer Reports also said the rice with the highest levels of arsenic is from the Mississippi River valley and surrounding areas. The Mississippi River valley area was the main area for the cash crop of cotton. The southern states built their livelihood on the cotton crop, so it is understandable that they used the most potent pesticide available to protect it, which was made of arsenic and lead. Years upon years of spreading this dangerous substance over crops took a toll; the soil is still enriched with generous amounts of arsenic.

Written by

Bekka BossenBerger

Rice absorbs arsenic from water much more than other grains because it is primarily grown in water. This increases the amount of arsenic concentrated in the plants system. Since brown rice still has the outer shelling intact, it has higher amounts of arsenic than white rice, which is polished with the outer casing removed. Another contributor to the influx in arsenic amounts is the fertilizer used. Rice crops are primarily fertilized with chicken manure. The birds are fed antibiotics containing arsenic to prevent common diseases. This arsenic is deposited in the poultrys waste and then transferred to the plant that is fertilized with the waste. Michael Hanson, senior staff scientist for Consumer Reports, recommended using six parts water to one part rice for cooking and draining the excess water. This can reduce arsenic levels by up to 60 percent. Be sure to rinse rice thoroughly until the water is completely clear. This is not something to be hysteric about, but citizens should be cautious and knowledgeable. Limit your rice meals and be conscious of consumption, especially with young children.

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cover story
November events
photoS By

kat CaldWell and Cam daviS

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cover story

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news
Trikes for India
The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team has identified a problem and stepped in to help.
written by

Sarah BeardSlee photo courtesy SiFe

goal, the SIFE team needs the help of SAU students The SIFE team would appreciate cash donations of and staff by donating, buying candy or attending any amount or giving toward the purchase of a trike the events planned for this project. part or multiple parts.

Those with disabilities in India need a way to become more physically and financially mobile and SIFE is teaming with Carla Koontz and Sharon The following table shows roughly how much each independent. To help solve this problem, the SIFE Frantz from the Center for Global Studies and part costs: team has started a project called Trikes for India. Initiatives. They are working with Trikes for India Part Cost to spread the good word about this bicycle, said Nuts and bolts $5 This project is sponsored by SIFE, a business Frantz. Foot rest plywood $10 group on campus that uses free enterprise to make Chain wheels $10 a difference in peoples lives. SIFE is changing its The trikes will be for lepers and paraplegics in India, Seat bottom plywood $10 name to Enactus, which means Entrepreneurs but it is SIFEs goal is to have them produced in Seat back plywood $15 Brake mechanism $15 Action Us. Although the group has already India to give the people mobility and another source Rear wheels, tires plus bearing (x2) $40 officially changed their name to Enactus, they will of transportation. Miscellaneous parts $20 not advertise as Enactus until next Fall. Front wheel bearing + gear $25 The project still needs funding for the raw materials Trike fabrication materials $40 Spring Arbor University (SAU) sophomore and to produce 10 trikes. SIFE students have been selling Pre-bent tubing materials $75 SIFE member Kelly Maxwell said the trikes are candy bars on campus to raise money, but the team tricycles a person would use his hands to pedal. is working on other fundraiser ideas, including trike races and trike-gram services that will deliver In September, Bishop Joab Lohara of the India Free written messages from students and staff to others Methodist Church visited SAU. Lohara was shown on campus for a small fee. a trike displayed in the Cross Cultural Studies office and although he had seen similar trikes before, Chan said, If the weather is nice, we can show he said he had never seen trikes that were so well the trikes around campus. Students can also designed. take rides from the Student Life Center to the academic buildings. We will also take advertisement Dr. Caleb Chan, adviser to SIFE, said, Lohara sponsorships from individuals, departments or local immediately thought of how the disabled people businesses. Logos/ads can be placed on the back of in India could use these trikes to improve their the trike. living. He told us that the students at the Immanuel Technical School can assemble the trikes with their More details about the upcoming fundraiser and newly learned welding skills and in turn they can information about the project will be rolled out in create a sustainable business when the profits are the next few weeks before Christmas break. reinvested to make more trikes for the disabled. The project took on a life of its own right away as the Students and staff can give donations to any SIFE vision was shared with the SIFE students. members or Chan. Caleb Tomkowiak is the student president of SIFE and Sara Burge is the vice The SIFE team wants to respond to Bishop Joabs president as well as the key person involved with calling and raise $2,500, which would cover the cost the Trikes for India project. of the raw materials for 10 trikes. They would like to meet this goal by Christmas break. To meet their

page 14 | saupulse.com

opinion
A deconstruction of online learning
A student sits at a desk typing away diligently on her computer, surrounded by other students while a teacher drones on in the background. Take away the students, desks and teacher and put that student in her room, lounging on her couch. Sounds like an enjoyable time, right? The learning of a classroom accessible from the comfort of a dorm room. However, in my experience, online classes arent quite the fun and games they appear to be. Most students and professors sing the praises of online classes, citing examples of greater student participation and involvement, personalized instruction and greater convenience. However, the subtle effects of technology on our thought processes can be a far greater cost than these petty bonuses can provide. Marshall McLuhans communication theory of technological determinism states that each advent of a new technology forever alters the way human beings think and interact. The invention of the alphabet and the written word, for example, limited our capacity for extended memory and made our thinking more linear. The invention of a clock gave us a greater concept of the moment, but it took away part of our understanding of the eternal. The invention of the Internet is taking away our ability to process large chunks of information. In his book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, Nicholas Carr discusses several studies revealing that the short, rapidburst information presentation of the Internet has slowly taken away our ability to sit, read and comprehend longer chunks of text. Our brains have been trained to process the newest and brightest things. Facebook gives short status updates. Twitter offers a maximum of 140 characters per tweet. We expect our information to be given to us in as short and concise a manner
written by photo courtesy

Brittany Bellamy getty imageS

as possible. News story lengths have shortened considerably. In fact, many of you were probably tempted to simply flip past this article due to its length. Bravo to you for reading this far. When presented with a several page article during an online class, how many of us simply scroll through to find pertinent information, answer the question and move on? This search and find method of learning is merely turning us into automated robots who process as little as possible without longer consideration of length and content. This means that while we are adept at finding vast amounts of information, we have trouble retaining it. Can you provide a summary of the last thing you searched on Google? Online learning enforces looking at short bursts of information simply to answer questions. While students may appear to have better initial understanding, their long term capacity to understand, process and retain larger amounts

of information is slowly being reduced. We sacrifice our ability to think long and critically on the altar of being technologically hip and having convenience at our fingertips. What then is the solution? I am not decrying the use of online learning as a whole, as I believe that being able to adapt and navigate through the online world is a crucial skill to success. And I know that some students need to take programs that are completely online because of different circumstances. But for classes that matter, I think we should take them face-to-face. Sit down and read a textbook. Write that hard paper. Although it may not seem enjoyable now, cultivate and practice your ability to think critically over long pieces of text. Be aware of how new technologies affect you. We consume the media; the media should not not consume us.

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feature
How not to study your life away
The closing weeks of the semester can be exhausting, and it may seem hard to maintain motivation to hold out until finals. The Pulse staff compiled our personal study tips, surveyed the student body and brought in professional opinions to ensure that you make it through exam week. All-nighters are so enticing. You stay up all night consuming coffee or energy drinks and memorize every ounce of information needed to ace the test or finish the project. But in reality, you hinder your learning capabilities. Studies highlight the role sleep plays in student memorization ability and neurocognitive performance. Aiming for eight hours each night should be the goal, said Mary Rick, Executive Director of the Holton Health and Wellness Center. Sleep is essential to human function, and we cannot live without it. Take the time to rest for both your body and your mind in preparation for final exams and for daily living. You are what you eat, and your academic performance is mirrored by your diet. Consuming only caffeine, sugar and junk food will result in weak energy and a less than optimal state for test taking. Recommendations include consuming complex carbohydrate options to help maintain energy and promote neurocognitive ability, said Rick. Try fruit, lean protein, low fat dairy and vegetables instead of coffee and doughnuts. Remember to drink lots of water.
written by

Bekka BoSSenBerger

higher a persons study ethic, the more likely they are to exercise. Sometimes a person just needs to walk away from studying for a short period of time, no matter how busy it is, said Rick.

As for ways to study, mix it up! Note cards, group study, outlines and rewriting are just a few options. If you find yourself consistently scoring low on exams for a certain class, rethink your study Snacking throughout the day on healthy options strategy. Depending on which type of learner such as almonds, carrots, hummus, fruit, yogurt you are, you could benefit from a particular study and granola can help maintain the energy necessary method. for studying for finals, said Rick. Personally, I found that utilizing multiple Study preferences vary from student to student, techniques worked best for me. Teaching someone but there are some common recommendations else the material helps and talking about the across the board. Instead of extensive cramming, material out loud works well, too, said Rick. Rick advises shorter sessions to increase information retention. A note to procrastinators: you are not benefiting anyone. No matter how tempting the group outing Studying for many hours in a row can also lead to might seem or the movie night could be, you are fatigue, restlessness and boredom, all of which can only wasting potential study time. Rick advises, make concentrating difficult, said Rick. Pray. Seriously. Getting up and moving is always a great option to improve energy, blood flow and motivation. The New York Times acknowledges the link between exercise and a students grade point average. The Along with a healthy diet and proper study techniques, adequate sleep can surely enhance student academic performance on final exams, said Rick.

Rather obscure but surprisingly effective study methods...for pros

written by

alexandra harper photo by alexandra harper

As finals week draws near, followed by the impending apocalypse, the theme of the season is preparation. One of the best ways to prepare for finals is to hone in on the very best study skills. So here is your handy dandy guide to some of the lesser known tips for effective studying, a.k.a. how to cram the most information into your darling noggin in the very shortest amount of time. Utilize technology. There are two creative resources online that will give you a reason to keep writing. Written? Kitten! provides an adorable picture of baby cats for every 100 words you write. Write or Die takes a more negative approach. You can choose the punishment, but anything from annoying notes to blaring sounds to the sudden erasing of all you have previously written is

the punishment if you stall too long in continuing to write your paper. Fake it until you make it with organization. A great way to get ready to study is to lay out all the material you need, even to the point of making a little army of flashcards and highlighters. Knowing where all your materials are will save you time and headaches in the long run. Get out of your natural habitat. Many students have learned the hard way that studying away from the dorm room ensures better studying. You will get more done and you wont end up hating the room you have to sleep in.

Play your favorite song. If you have a great study song that just isnt long enough for your 4 hour cram session put it in the Infinite Jukebox. This online program analyzes musical patterns in the song so that it can beautifully loop throughout individual parts and create a seamless, much lengthened version.

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feature
Office space: the nautical nook of Dr. Wally Metts
books theyd like to have read or would like people to think theyve read. That line of red books on that top shelf ? Theyre a collection of Harvard Classics. I bought them as a decorating piece. T.P.: And what about the Everglades poster or Panama license plate? W.M.: A friend gave the Everglades poster to me. Im from south Florida; I grew up in the Everglades, so its a reminder of where I came from. But the Panama plate? Sometimes people just give you stuff and you dont know what to do with it. I have no connection at all to Panama and dont know what to do with it, so its there. If you have ever stepped inside the office of Dr. Wally Metts, professor of communication at Spring Arbor University (SAU), you may have wondered why he has a wall of wooden boxes, a poster with a sailor on it or a license plate from Panama. In order to answer these mysteries, I interviewed Dr. Metts and learned more about one of SAUs most prolific professional writers. T.P.: Your office is a dark teal color; did you choose that to make the room homier?
written by photos by

alexandra harper alexandra harper

college and a current one on the door. For years I had a picture of my dream car hanging up here, a 1954 Willys Jeep Station Wagon; we had one in my family when I was six or eight. T.P.: If you could change one thing about your office, what would it be? W.M.: Id like to keep the desktop clean. Im not unlike a lot of people who solve organization problems by sticking things in drawers. T.P.: If there was a fire, what things would you grab if you had just a minute to decide and escape? W.M.: My laptop. Well, its hard to say, if I had the time to think about it, Id probably take that chest filled with shells. And a book or two, probably my dads Bible. T.P.: Is there anything particular about your office you enjoy? W.M.: I can work here pretty productively. I find that it almost has to be weekends or in the evening, when its quiet and comfortable. I wrote a childrens book of the Bible in here one summer. I literally just sat in this office and wrote when nobody was coming around. To me, its a nice comfortable place because it touches different pieces of my life.

W.M.: Yes. I wanted something that didnt feel so institutional. I didnt want the beige that the room used to have. I think Southerners in particular have a sense of place thats very rooted-in; we like to mark a place with things that mark milestones or relationships or ideas that are important to [us]. I The Pulse (T.P.): Would you say theres a theme have things from my travels: a padlock from China and a Chinese warrior figure and coins from Israel. to your office? I have a picture of me with my youngest son and Metts (W.M.): I suppose if there was one, itd be one with my daughter. In the corner is a piece of nautical. I have a box of seashells that a lady my abstract art that my oldest son did when he was a mother took care of used to make jewelry out of. student here. Theres a picture of me when I was in The sailor poster above my desk is because one of my nicknames is Sailor. T.P.: Sailor? Where did that come from? W.M.: Well, my mother was on a boat fishing when she went into labor with me. And since I was named after my father, they didnt want to call me the same name, so my mother called me Sailor. Im lucky. She could have called me crab or something. Ive used Sailor as a pseudonym when I was writing for childrenSailor Metts. T.P.: Wally, you have a ton of books, have you read them all? W.M.: Of course not. I like to say a persons library is not filled with books theyve read but is filled with

Do you know a professor on campus who would be great for Januarys Office Space article? Maybe they have a quirky collection or a strange invention in their office. E-mail megan@saupulse.com with your suggestions and input.

saupulse.com | page 17

a&e

A pun of a concert and a little drama

Fun. concert review
On Nov. 14, I unexpectedly got a call from my sister informing me that she had two extra tickets to the Fun. concert in Grand Rapids. Oh, and it was starting in two hours. But what can I say? I couldnt pass up free tickets. Not having a car, I had to convince my friend that this was an event worthy of the phrase YOLO, a phrase I had hoped I would never use in serious conversation. But apparently lowering your I.Q. has its charms, and we were soon on our way to Calvin College, where the concert was taking place. As the lights came on for the first song and the lead singer Nate Ruesss voice sang out in Carry On, I leaned over to my friend and said, Yep, this definitely was worth the ride. The Calvin College arena sold out of over 5,000 tickets, one of the biggest shows Fun. has ever played. The drums were loud, the piano chirped out its bright melodies and Nate Ruesss voice rang out with all the passion and intensity he is known for. All right, lets just get this over with: the Fun. concert was, well, fun. The band strikes an excellent balance between the repetitive beats of dance music and the calm sounds of indie acoustic. Their music is light and joyful, and all in all, their name is appropriate. Not only was the music excellent, but Fun. played an exceptional live show. The entire stadium moved to the drum beats of Some Nights and belted along to We Are Young. During their song Barlights, thousands of phones and lighters were lifted into the air to the words I feel alive. Another highlight of the night was mix of old and new on the set list. They played my personal Fun. favorite The Gambler, but several older tracks were left off to make room for songs from their newest album Some Nights. I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed these songs live because they did not include the auto tune sound that Fun. overdoes on Some Nights. Nate Ruesss voice is more than enough without it. As with most tours, Fun. was raising money for human rights during their show. Before playing their song One Foot, lead guitarist Jack Antonoff said, Some of us here believe in God and some of us dont, but those of us who do know that God loves black people, white people,

written by

kerry Wade photos by kerry Wade

men, women and we also know that God loves gay people. His point is true, but many people felt uneasy that the band said a dollar from their tickets was going to a cause they may not support. An issue arose before the concert if the administration of Calvin College would even allow Fun. to play their concert because of the stance they were taking on this issue. Fun. did not donate one dollar from every actual ticket sold to the Calvin College concert. Instead they donated $5,000 of their own money towards the cause (which was unconfirmed by Calvin Colleges student newspaper), but the donation did not come from the ticket sales. However, regardless of the drama and the cause they were supporting, Fun. played a great show. Not only did the audience have a good time, but also before the last song Ruess held up his fingers and told the audience, Two. Top two show. It is exciting to say that not only did I have a fun time at the concert, but I was also part of a crowd that made it an amazing night for the band as well. If you ever get the chance to see Fun. live, its worth it. Until then, carry on.

This article was first published on Counterpoint, the new audio companion of The Pulse. You can listen to it at arborcounterpoint.com. page 18 | saupulse.com

a&e
Not just a play about death
SAU drama program presents W;t
Its not just that play about cancer, said Professor Her mentor was offended when Bearing offered a Jen Letherer, director of Spring Arbor Universitys different option: (SAU) upcoming play W;t (pronounced Wit). And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die! The play tells the experiences of Vivian Bearing, who is a professor of English and a specialist in Letherer said this is important because [in John Donnes poetry, and who is also dying of Ashfords version] death is no longer something ovarian cancer. Bearings life has revolved around you act out on a stage with exclamation points. Its her work. She has no husband or children, and a comma, a pause. What youre watching is a play she has been known for her rigorous approach to about life and death, and it is very witty. study and intellectual accomplishments. However, this play isnt just about Bearings death. As Bearing faces her own mortality and reflects She tells [the audience] at the beginning that she on her life, she gains a new understanding of the dies, said Letherer. Whats interesting is how. importance of human kindness and intellectualism. This kind of play is perfect for college students What we see is someone who is being honest who are having epiphanies all the time, said with other people and opening up with other Letherer. You watch Vivian Bearing fall in love people and telling her story, said Letherer shes with words and explain what they mean for you. saying, cancer [is] not fun. But I have something vital to share. There are a lot who can relate to having a relative struggle with cancer. said Letherer, W;t has John Donnes poem Death Be Not Proud plays room for empathy and understanding that when an intrinsic role in the play. Letherer said in the you have to deal with [cancer], your entire life beginning of the play there is a discussion about stops and you become a specimen in a jar. [Bearing two versions of the poem, each with different realizes] she is something to be studied, like a punctuation. poem. Bearing remembers how her graduate school mentor, E.M. Ashford, displayed the last line as: And death shall be no more, Death thou shalt die. Letherer attributed the quality of the show to her cast. The actors have to work so hard emotionally... I wanted it to be something that is very filled with contradiction and connection because the play is filled with both of those
written by photo courtesy

alexandra harper SaU drama program

things... the nice thing that these folks do is that they serve the story really well. Stage manager Joshua Cloyd said the set supports the plays message. The stage is in the form of a T which has multiple functions, including playing with the concept of crossroads. Letherer said, I want the audience and actors to become engaged in a space. Like a sonnet, the stage has specific boundaries. Lights and audio have also been specially tailored toward the shows message. In the way of a hospital there will be different tests that will be performed, and well be using different sounds to go with that, said Cloyd. Heres the thing, said Letherer, How do you get students to come to play like this? It is a more interesting show than they realize. Its not just that play about cancer. You may not get all of it, but youll see that theres something really fascinating... This is a play about grown-ups for grown-ups, but its really accessible to [any student]. W;t will be presented in the Prop Shop on Dec. 6, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for SAU students and staff and $8 for the general public and can be reserved by calling the box office at 517-750-6500.

saupulse.com | page 19

a&e
Throwing down the Dawn-tlet
ComparingRed Dawn and Breaking Dawn
If youre in the movie theater and say youre seeing Red Dawn, I hope you do not accidentally receive a ticket for Breaking Dawn, the second movie installment of the Twilight sagas final book. They are two very different movies and I can say that because Ive seen them both. Plus, several people have confused the two when I discussed what I did over my Thanksgiving break. I under no circumstances consider myself a movie critic. I like movies a lot and really enjoy watching them, but most of the movies I watch are the ones I buy from the $5 movie bin at Walmart. I dont go to the movie theater very often because most of the time I would rather spend $8 on something that I can use daily (or eat since food is important too). I saw Breaking Dawn first. If you dont know anything about the plot thats okay, because when it boils down to it, Breaking Dawn is about is vampires and wolves. This second installment of the final book gives Team Edward and Team Jacob fans the final conclusion they have been waiting a year to see. The demographics in the theater during opening weekend were mostly women of various ages. Youd be surprised how many students from Spring Arbor were in the theater. Its okay to admit you were there; I just did. There was the occasionally placed man, but my guess was that he was dragged there with the promise of a night of Call of Duty to protect the retraction of his man card. The movie had the action that I expected after reading the book, along with the romantic cheesiness that comes from a chick flick. Like the four previous movies, it follows the book closely, acting mostly as a compliment. The ending was definitely a surprise. Dont worry; there arent any cliffhangers about a possible sixth movie (or what would be a fifth book), but it will more than likely catch you off guard. I walked out of the theater thinking about rereading the books and having to see the movie a second time. Breaking Dawn was extremely successful in its opening weekend, raking in $141,067,634. It continues to top the box office against Skyfall and Lincoln. I most recently saw Red Dawn. This film is very different than that of Breaking Dawn. First, it is a remake of a 1984 version with the same title. The first version stars Patrick Swayze of Dirty Dancing fame. Second, it is about the United States being invaded by the North Koreans and how a group of unexpected heroes create mass chaos in their city. This isnt the typical star-studded cast. Theyre younger men, but theyve already starred in successful films and television shows. Chris Hemsworth from Thor, Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games and Josh Peck from the television show Drake and Josh make up some of the cast of Red Dawn. I have a tendency to choose movies that I know wont freak me out. I dont like guts, gore or scary creatures. With Red Dawn my main concern was that Id see someone get their head blown off. Its an action-packed, adventure movie full of gunfights, car chases and explosions as chaos is created throughout the film. Im not exaggerating when I say that the action starts about five minutes into the movie and doesnt stop until the very end of the film 109 minutes later. Someone is always running from something, hiding from someone, shooting someone or setting something on fire. For most of the movie, I sat on the edge of my seat and tried to keep it together. The theater was chalk full of testosterone; men filled the seats. There were the few women who were there, myself included, who just wanted to see some of those attractive actors. Im not going to apologize for wanting to see Josh Peck; I did get to meet him with three other girls while in Chicago a few weeks ago. Red Dawn didnt make as much as Breaking Dawn did for their opening weekend, but the movie did fairly well, pulling in $14,276,688. I can recommend both movies to you; both had their positives. However, I would not encourage a group of guys to go see Breaking Dawn (unless youre trying to pick up single girls - I might say go for it then). If youve seen one, I suggest you find a friend and take them to see the other. If youve seen neither, pick one, find a friend and spend the $7 for a student ticket at the Jackson 10. Theyre both worth the money and are a perfect way to stop thinking about finals and homework for two hours.
written by photo courtesy

megan FilipoWSki megan FilipoWSki

page 20 | saupulse.com

Left to right: Jordan kennedy, kriSten LarSon, Laura guikema, megan fiLipoWSki and JoSh peck

a&e
Listen up!
Whats new with Counterpoint
On Oct. 24, The Pulse launched its new online audio companion, Counterpoint, found at arborcounterpoint.com. In music, the counterpoint is when two or more melodic lines combine and establish a harmonic relationship while retaining their individuality. As a verb, counterpoint means to show differences when compared. Spring Arbor Universitys (SAU) Counterpoint is a collection of different voices and personalities working together to create a harmonic relationship in audio. Counterpoint hopes to inform its listeners with news, inspire them with art and challenge them with differing perspectives. So feel free to look around, listen and share. Counterpoint has reached its one month anniversary. Published stories include the record breaking sales of Taylor Swifts newest album, updates on the political situation in Burma, the importance of words and their sounds and even capturing Haley Taylors reaction to spilling a glass of water on her MacBook. From entertainment to updates, Counterpoint provides listeners with a new way to be informed. SAU has an artistic student body, and the Counterpoint staff would love to help you share your artistic abilities with anyone who can access the Internet. Stories from the recent Spring Arbor Mini Story Fest and poems from the Oak Tree Review poetry reading will be published so the community can listen to the talented members of SAUs campus. If you would like to hear some of your creative work on Counterpoint (it could be an original poem, short story or even a song), please contact Haley Taylor by emailing haley.taylor@arbor.edu.
written by

kerry Wade

Recent Counterpoint headlines: A Counterpoint Thanksgiving The misadventures of Haley and Mr. Mac A pun of a concert and a little drama Taylor Swift, breaking records and causing confusion 50 years later Bond still delivers with Skyfall Return to a spoken culture Calling Spring Arbor to Action for Jackson

Creativity, poetry and stories, oh my!

It is a lone building in a sea of concrete and cars, small and black, often crowded and filled with the smell of coffee. This is the Prop Shop, home to many creative events, plays, readings and senior recitals. Recently the English and Communication and Media departments hosted two events in the Prop Shop to enrich the mind and inspire creativity. The first event was the Storytelling Night on Nov. 12, hosted by SAU senior Billy Luke. The room was dark, lights trained on the stage as the narratives unfolded. Students presented anecdotal stories from their own lives, read short stories or selections from larger works and presented pieces of their own composition. The night concluded with a presentation by Dr. Paul Patton. The audience laughed, cried and listened with bated breath as the stories were spun, caught up in the excitement of a prank, the lesson of an eye and the heartbreak of a broken life. Students and professors alike left the event and returned to the cold of the outside world warmed and encouraged by the stirring power of narrative.

written by

Brittany Bellamy

down and enjoy the works of the poets. With the warmth of the lights and the words of the poets filling the room, for a moment the Prop Shop was frozen in time, separate and apart from the world. Students presented works of original composition, and the night ended with presentations by Cline, Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro and library director Roy Meador. Attendees not only got a chance to get away from the busyness of life, but also to think about the layered meanings in everyday events.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, the Oak Tree Review, a student program that gathers poetry and prose for a yearly publication, hosted a poetry night with tea and coffee provided. The Prop Shop was full to bursting, chairs pressed back-to-back around the room. Dr. Brent Cline opened the night by challenging audience members to turn off their cell With its unique location and atmosphere, the Prop phones and join the readers in a countercultural Shop is a place set apart from the daily life of act: the reading of poetry. campus. It is a place of laughter and tears, sorrow and joy. Once the doors close and the lights dim And that was precisely what happened. Away you can be sure of one thing: the world you know from the busyness of Thanksgiving preparations is gone, and new world is about to unfold. and the call of technology, the audience of the Poetry Night took a pause, letting themselves slow

saupulse.com | page 21

sports
Prevention of helmet-to-helmet hits
Disrupting the game?
There is a unique aspect to each sport that we enjoy: baseball is about a ball and a bat, basketball is a ball and a basket, hockey is about checking and fighting while on ice skates. For football fans, the hard hitting tackles make games memorable. These tackles often include some form of helmetto-helmet contact. And the National Football League (NFL) has been trying to reduce this type of contact to prevent concussions among players. The NFL has seen an increase in concussions, but by trying to prevent them they are taking away a large part of the game. Within the past two seasons, Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, changed the rule about concussions. The rule now states that players cannot return to a game if they were exhibiting certain concussion symptoms. These include an inability to remember assignments or plays, a gap in memory, persistent dizziness and persistent headaches. The previous rule stated that a player could not return to action if he had lost consciousness. The league has also tried to crack down on helmetto-helmet hits. There is a 15-yard penalty applied to the play for any violations. Plays also can be reviewed for fines and suspension. This is where there is a lot of grey matter. How do you decide who was at fault? How can you punish someone who was unable to stop running and collided with another player? Most recently, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was suspended for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Reed chose to appeal the decision and won. However, his actions warranted some form of punishment, according to the NFLs hearing officer Ted Cottrell, and Reed was fined $50,000. I believe that it is important to look out for the safety of the players. However, the players know what they are getting themselves into. They know that football is a violent sport by nature. We should be thankful that they even have helmets. Yes, I agree if the player is defenseless and just gets hit in the helmet by another player a penalty in the game should be applied. But by fining players and suspending them, a fun aspect of the game is lost: the sounds of helmet clashing and the excitement of a hard hit. At the same time, I think that the NFL is taking the right steps by donating $30 million to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. According to a press release on megan FilipoWSki photos courtesy getty imageS
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NFL.com, Goodell said, We hope this grant will help accelerate the medical communitys pursuit of pioneering research to enhance the health of athletes past, present and future. This research will extend beyond the NFL playing field and benefit athletes at all levels and others, including members of our military. Injuries are part of any sport. I have played hurt before. I understand the desire to keep playing, even more so for professional athletes because they are getting paid to perform on the field every week. I appreciate what the NFL is trying to do here, but they are taking away my favorite part of the game. An amazing throw from Tom Brady is awesome and watching Adrian Peterson run down the field is pretty spectacular, but nothing is cooler than watching the players tackle each other. Plus, the sound of helmets connecting with one another is the equivalent to the sound of a baseball player connecting his bat to the ball - it belongs in the game.

page 22 | saupulse.com

sports
Mens basketball
derek devine megan FilipoWSki photos courtesy SaU athletiCS
compiled by

Womens basketball Womens soccer

Team University of Saint Francis Spring Arbor University

1 31 18 25 26

Total 56 44 Team Spring Arbor University University of Saint Francis 1 15 41 22 31 2 37 72 Total

Next game: Dec. 1 at Marian University at 3 p.m.

Team Spring Arbor University (SAU) Vanguard University (VU)

1 0 0 0 0

1OT 2OT 0 0 0 0

Next game: Dec. 1 vs. Marian University at 1 p.m. Miss Make

Shootout SAU Make Make Make Miss Miss VU Miss Make Make Make Miss

Next game: Nov. 30 vs. Lindsey Wilson at 4:30 p.m.

Congratulations to the womens soccer team on their third straight conference champtionship!

For detailed game summaries, visit saucougars.com. Podcasts about games are coming soon to the athletic site.

photo courtesy

lisa tarantino morgan

saupulse.com | Page 23

The official newspaper of Ron Kopicko

the PULSE

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