UNION COLLEGE ISSUE 91.1 | 09/06/2016 B eing back on campus after spending a year in Spain as part of the Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA) program, I couldn’t help but notice a few changes took place whilst away. Rees lobby no longer looks like the living room of a 1980s sitcom. Engle Hall now displays an outdoor fireplace. Girls habitate Culver, though you probably already knew that. But the changes you might not be aware of are the removal of cable TV from the dorms, and the opening of ports for Xbox an other gaming consoles. What do open ports mean? Computer science major James Clague explains, “A network port is basically a doorway for Internet connections. Your web browser loads pages using a connection through a particular doorway (port) while different programs like Google Drive go through other doorways (ports) to get to your device. Basically, if a program tries to connect through one of those doorways and it’s closed, nothing happens.” How does that apply to students? Essentially, Clague believes in a free and open internet, which is why he, with the aid of Student Services vice president Kim Canine, proposed to open the ports. Before, students were prohibited from playing Xbox due to closed ports, but now students can game freely into the wee hours of the night (not on school nights, of course). So, why remove cable? Who doesn’t like flipping on the television and watching the Adventist Broadcasting Network (ABN) on a Friday night with the homies? Okay, that might just be me, but still. Who wouldn’t want to watch the NBA finals with the new and improved New York Knicks playing against Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors? OUT WITH CABLE, IN WITH OPEN PORTS FOR XBOX Ju n i o r Roy Ob re go n p l ay i n g X b ox i n h i s d o r m ro o m . | P C : Z a c h Mo r r i s o n [WHAT'S INSIDE] [ continued on page 3 ] P OW E R I N P R I N T | p a ge 0 2 | S U IC I DE S QUA D | p a ge 0 7 | P OK É MON G O | p a ge 0 9 | 02 MEET THE STAFF POWER IN PRINT I f yo u’ re re a d i n g t h i s , congratulations, you’re one of the dwindling percentage of college students who actually read their school newspaper. I get it. Sometimes finding time for breathing is difficult. Snapchat and Buzzfeed fit our instant needs and short attention spans. But even with all these circumstances fighting against, hope you’ll see the importance of a school paper this year, too. You, even as a reader, can have a voice. Write letters to the editor, call us out on mistakes or ask to write an article on something you’re passionate about. Email and tell me what news, columns or conversations you want to see in print. Or, just read. Read online (clocktower.ucollege.edu), Facebook (clocktowerasb) or look out for the print edition on campus. However you prefer, thank you for reading The Clocktower . I can’t wait to hear what articles you enjoy most this year. I believe in the power behind print. I wouldn’t have my job if I didn’t. You too should care about your school newspaper. Why? Because as a Union student, what’s put between these pages is relevant—to you. All our articles are written by students for students (with the rare exception). We deliver articles that deal with campus, community and world conversations. I’ve delayed publishing this first issue because of the quality I want to see as we begin. Here’s to the 91st edition; by God’s grace I want to see this paper do good things for the its staff and readers. Whether you’re a freshman finding their footing, a sophomore/junior settling into the swing of things, or a senior ready to get out into the real world—The Clocktower is for you. I Pop Culture Sara Roberts Community/World News Caroline Guchu Layout Editor Hannah Gregg Photographer Kimberly Ortiz Photographer Zach Morrison Opinion Editor Gabriel Flechas HOUC/Events Autumn Mott Layout Editor Selina Jeong Humor Opinion Kevin Niederman Special Interest Amanda McCarter News Editor Stefani Leeper Culture/Relationships Katie Morrison Social Media Editor Maylina Graham Alumni News Graci Escobar Religious Opinion Ginger Hany Assistant Editor James Clague Campus News Sean Hendrix Political Opinion Jonathan Deemer Lifestyle Editor Ria Carriger The Clocktower 2016-2017 Emily, ‘Emy’, W�od [ MEET THE STAFF ] A mong the several changes that occurred on Union’s campus over the summer was the resignation of Jeff Leeper, vice president of financial administration. After serving Union in this position for the past two and a half years, Leeper felt God calling him toward a new path. In early June he resigned, and the search for a new VP began. The search process is not an easy one, and our new VP likely won’t be chosen until this December. However, the position is much too critical to be left unfilled—and, fortunately, Richard Reiner has stepped in to serve Union until then. Though many students are probably unfamiliar with Reiner, his background proves he’s a more than worthy interim. Reiner graduated from our own Union College and lived in Lincoln while working for the state government for several years after graduating. He then moved on to serve as vice president of finance for Southern University, CEO of Florida hospitals East Orlando and Altamonte, and executive vice president of Adventist Health Systems, among other significant positions. Even though Reiner recently retired, he was willing to come back to work to serve Union until December. Reiner has been a member of Union’s board of trustees since 2003. As graduates of Union, both he and his wife are committed to Union, making various donations and even creating a scholarship fund. For Reiner, filling in for Leeper is just another way for him to show his love for Union. “My wife and I have been blessed and are glad that we can give back to such a great institution,” he says. The change has not been easy for him and his family—especially since Nebraska won’t allow him to do one of his favorite things: skiing—but nonetheless he is giving this job all that he has for these next few months. “He notices things that need to be done, and we need someone like that,” explains President Vinita Sauder. While staff changes can be mean a stressful time, Dr. Sauder knows God calls people to come and go, and she believes Union is in good hands with Reiner. REINER STEPS IN AS INTERIM FINANCIAL VP [ continued from page 1] IS Director Richard Henriques explains it simply. He says the school was paying somewhere around $50,000 annually for cable service. That, coupled with my observation that I usually watch TV by myself in the dorm, supports my conclusion that only a small minority of the student population used said service. Henriques also explains most all programs on cable can be streamed via the Internet, thanks to online streaming platforms like Hulu, Roku, Chromecast or Apple TV. So, before you race off to hook-up your Xbox (or whichever console), listen to these words of wisdom from the IS Director: “Remember to wire these devices directly to the network— which will give better performance— instead of using wireless,which will take valuable bandwidth from portable devices that need it.” With that being said, play responsibly. XBOX Devotional Thoughts by. Emily Wood I love sunrises. No two are the same. This summer, I experienced a sunrise in Sabah, Borneo unlike any other. Climbing up the watchtower at 5:30 a.m., I could easily see the rainforest stretching across the horizon. Fog hugged the trees. We sat, waiting for the sun to rise. I must have taken over 200 photos of that sunrise alone. If you sat still long enough you could see the differences in the skyline as the sun’s rays began to shine more above the horizon. But how many of us sit still as we wait, looking for the change in our lives? Sunrises often remind me of my spiritual life. I love watching them, but grow impatient as I wait for the beautiful and picture- worthy moment. I love saying God knows what He’s doing, but I grow weary, constantly looking for the sign of “completion.” What does one do to be reassured? For me, I look to the Bible. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” Psalm 37:7 Just like I am to be still in the crisp morning as I wait for the sunrise, so I must still in His presence as He acts. As this year moves forward, remember He is always at work. Sometimes we just have to be still enough to see the differences. If you’re interested in writing a devotional for this section, email cl towe r @ g m a i l . com . N E WS 03 Sara Kemp is a freshman guest writer studying biomedical science. Sean Hendrix is a senior studying biomedical science. O n Aug. 28, I had the chance to experience a movie shot and produced here in Nebraska by Union’s own alumnus, AJ Oetman. Both a tale and a fable of con men and religion, “The Wolf’s Robe” definitely took me by surprise. Set in a dusty, small town of rural Nebraska, full of people looking for religious guidance, we are introduced to Victor Hunt. On the run from the law and desperate for an escape he enters the town under the guise of a reverend, and is immediately roped into a wedding and becomes the new church leader. Hunt is adopted by the Engel family and, desperate to find his way out of the country, creates schemes to collect as much money and resources as possible using his new identity. Ruling his new domain with an iron Bible and a doomsday message, Hunt soon finds himself in a tight spot as he grows more attached to the community and people who have adopted him as their own. Interspersed with memories of his childhood at the hands of a Bible-wielding foster mother that ties in beautifully with the film’s message, we see the struggle he faces as he tries to decide what’s most important. This film is low-budget, meaning the dialogue is occasionally lost in the audio, some of the lines feel a bit forced, and a decent amount of the effects are definitely faked. But all of that fails to take away the message at the heart of the script. While Oetman recognizes the main message of the movie is to be cautious when entering a religious community, he hopes it will open discussions with viewers about what is healthy and what's not when it comes to religion. Overall he just wants his audience to have fun while learning. ALUMNUS AJ OETMAN PRODUCES FILM “Life is supposed to be fun, so I hope that a story can provide a great evening for someone,” he says. Oetman attended Union College from 2007-2011, with one of those years spent in Micronesia. He graduated in December and walked in 2012 to receive his diploma for his English education degree and religion minor. When asked how his Union experience influenced the creation of this project, he mostly cites professors. “My creative writing and editing teacher, Chris Blake, was astounding. Dr. Tanya Cochran and Dr. Bill Fitts were also instrumental in honing my ability [to produce],” he says gratefully. The skills he learned and developed while in school helped him face the many challenges that came his way during filming. The heat, exhaustion and lack of deadlines kept the film from being finished more quickly, but Oetman said the process was nevertheless fairly speedy. “Post production was hard because it's challenging to stay on top of editing when there's no executive producer setting deadlines or breathing down your back; it's all on you,” he comments. “In addition, there was a big learning curve with respect to sound and color correction that took a while simply to learn.” As for his future aspirations, Oetman plans to move and become a full-time director— this movie being his starting point. He shares, “While I love our fair city [of Lincoln], I plan to soon move to London to work as both a theater and film assistant director, while I work on my own directorial projects.” View screening dates and watch the trailer for “The Wolfs Robe” by visiting www.thewolfsrobemovie.com . 04 NEWS PC: www.thewolfsrobemovie.com Graci Escobar is a junior studying English. A sneak peak look at a film scene. | PC: www.thewolfsrobemovie.com At Kalamazoo College in Mich., demonstrations last spring led officials to agree to open an intercultural center where minority students can find everyday support. The responses to these campus protests have ranged from sympathy and solidarity to anger. Some media have portrayed black students as coddled, fragile or entitled, and always with the implication that they're overreacting to trivial issues. The common assumption is black students have nothing to complain about. “With these assumptions, change is clearly not going to happen, and if they do it’s going to be very slow,” says HOW #BLACKLIVESMATTER CAN IMPACT YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE D uring the past academic year, an upsurge of student activism, a movement of millennials, has swept campuses across the country and has attracted the attention of the media. If you use any form of social media, you should be somewhat familiar with #BlackLivesMatter. The movement came into play after grand juries in Ferguson, Miss. and Staten Island, N.Y. indicted the police officers responsible for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. As the streets across America filled with protests—some peaceful, and some violent—students started focusing their energies inward. They sought ways to become beneficial and better understand the lives of the African American students. This summer, a Black Lives Matter group called Students Against Mass Incarceration prompted New York’s Columbia University to drop its investments in private prisons. NEWS 05 To see more of #BlackLivesMatter impact, follow the social media hashtag. PC: Zach Morrison Isabella Bodden, a sophomore theater production major here at Union College. Because social media plays a huge role in political activities and quickly gets the word out to a wide variety of audiences, it can be a major key to positive change. Studies have shown that students who feel safer and more connected to their school do better socially and academically. Martha Biondi, author of “The Black Revolution on Campus,” explains they are then more likely to get involved with campus activities. Vernée Norman, a Union alumn who works closely with local issues about the Black Lives Matter movement, shares the platform the movement works off of has a list of demands it follows. It’s also committed to be inclusive but not limited to those who are women, queer, trans, femmes and gender nonconforming. While progress may be slow on campuses, the fact that many campuses are willing to acknowledge the issues of social and political discrimination and injustice towards colored students and people is heading in a positive direction, and taking the steps to fix them is a pretty good start. “ “ Social media plays a huge role in political activites. Caroline Guchu is a sophomore studying communication. T he start of the school year provides both students and staff with opportunities to start over and make new goals. Many times these goals involve achieving a healthier lifestyle, whether it be going to bed at a reasonable hour, exercising daily, or having devotions each morning before starting the day. NEWSTART is a program that focuses on "preventing and reversing disease through natural methods." The name of the program is an acronym made up of each of their core values: nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, air, rest and trust in divine power. NEWSTART's program believes lasting change doesn’t come from within, but rather, from God. Unlike many other health programs, NEWSTART encourages having complete trust in God as you try to change your lifestyle habits. It's important to keep God in all aspects of your life, for with Him we’re able to succeed and only with Him is change is possible. Sophomore general studies major Tracii Vang says 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 keeps her motivated to stay healthy. This verse states, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (ESV). “This verse is more than me being healthy because I can acknowledge God better by being fully alert. That’s why God commands me to be healthy. Not just for myself, but also for Him, because He wants to be with me,” Vang explains. NEWSTART offers hundreds of simple vegetarian recipes to help set you on the right track if you want to focus on nutrition. Creamy avocado pasta, lemon pineapple cream pie and white bean and roasted garlic brochette are just a few of the recipes that they have to share. There are also recipes for those with food sensitivities, including nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free options. Information on health expos and other community events that will be in your area can be found on START YOUR YEAR WITH NEWSTART NEWSTART’s lifestyle club website, as well as coupons for health products and codes for free online health seminars. Although NEWSTART's offered classes can only be taken in Weimar, Calif., the main aspects of the program can be fulfilled right here in Lincoln, Neb. Online, the NEWSTART Lifestyle Club features videos and articles that go into further detail on how to work each of their core values into your daily life. Signing up for NEWSTART's lifestyle club is free, and membership allows you to specify what health topics you're interested in. Their health calculator can assess your lifestyle and give suggestions on how you can improve. Once a member, you're added to their email list that includes videos, articles and recipes. Change doesn't come quickly or easily, but challenging yourself to slowly integrate each aspect of NEWSTART into your daily routine can help you to improve your lifestyle physically, mentally and spiritually. NEWSTART website: http://newstart.com NEWSTART Lifestyle Club: http://newstartclub.com 06 NEWS Follow Caleb Shetler's example and make sure to fit healthy habbits into your day. | PC: Jorrdan Bissell Amanda McCarter is a sophomore studying biomedical science. SIGNING UP FOR NEWSTART'S LIFESTYLE CLUB IS FREE. S tories of heroes and villains have fascinated from the birth of storytelling. Heroes like Iron Man, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Hulk join the ranks of Hercules, Joan of Arc, Beowulf in the fight against evil and darkness. Throughout history there are darker characters who play the role of both villain and hero. These “antiheroes” don’t always do the right thing. They make mistakes, do right things for the wrong reasons, do wrong things for the right reasons and, occasionally, let emotions outweigh better judgment. The recent surge of Marvel and DC films started with lighthearted humor and witty heroes who vanquished their villains. But, as the story arcs have progressed, darker and darker characters have been introduced. In previous Batman films, Batman would only capture his prey and leave them for the police to arrest and send to prison. Now, as seen in “Batman vs. Superman,” Batman no longer has difficulty killing. The Punisher in the TV reboot of “Daredevil” is another antihero. He comes to Hell’s Kitchen to dole out justice as he sees fit by brutally punishing and killing those he sees as evil. He mocked Daredevil as a half measure saying, “You hit ‘em, and they get back up. I hit ‘em, and they stay down” (“Daredevil” season 2, episode 3). The Punisher believes that his cause is justified, while Daredevil questions whether he’s doing the right thing. The age of antiheroes has arrived. But why are antiheroes on the rise? Aerlice LeBlanc, a senior graphic design major, explained, “Maybe we’re just more cynical.” She went on to say add, “We look at heroes and say ‘That doesn’t happen anymore.’” No one has solely pure intentions. Why should our heroes reflect values that no longer resonate with our society? Perhaps we are drawn to antiheroes because they're more true to life. SUICIDE SQUAD’S APPEAL TO HUMANITY Suicide Squad answers the question, “What would happen if you took traditional villains and forced them to be heroes?” The result is a team of colorful and quirky antiheroes working against the Enchantress, a primitive deity. In the film, Harley Quinn was once a psychologist who fell in love with her patient, the Joker, despite his psychotic nature. Her relationship with the Joker drives her insane. Harley isn’t inherently bad and only wants a normal life with the Joker. She may be crazy, but her actions are governed by love. Deadshot has his priorities straight. Though he kills men for money, his only concern is for his daughter. He was only captured because his daughter interceded with him and begged for him to turn himself in. In his negotiations with Amanda Waller, Deadshot only made demands for his daughter’s future. Diablo, a reformed gang banger, turns himself into the police after the tragic deaths of his family. He swears never to use his fire power again. Though more powerful than anyone else on the team, he believes he’s too dangerous and refuses to join in the fight. In the end, we're left with a team of strong individuals who are by no means perfect, but who are true to themselves as they attempt to do the right thing. Perhaps we’re intrigued by these flamboyant characters because they speak to us on a deeper level than previous heroes and villains. Like us, these characters have flaws, make mistakes, and do the wrong thing at times. Maybe that’s why they fascinate us. They’re real. LIFESTYLE 07 PC: http://shadowandact.com Sara Roberts is a junior studying business administration. C oming back from Europe can be a shock. There’s nothing quite like the European culture, the European history, the European food and the European fashion. It almost seems like everything is better there…right? Wrong! There are a few things America has to offer you just don’t experience across the Atlantic. So read on and remember these things the next time a snobby Adventist College’s Abroad (ACA) student says, “Well, we did it like this in Italy…” 24-hour stores As a college student, we live lives of constant cravings. We crave Raising Canes, D'Leon's, Village Inn or snacks from your local gas station or Walmart. One of the things America has to offer are places open 24 hours a day. If you run out of toothpaste at 1 a.m. and desperately need more, never fear! If your car suddenly is out of oil in the wee hours of the morning, I’m sure there’s an open convenience store nearby. In Italy, business hours were strict and if you needed something outside those hours, sorry. Many times we walked two miles to the grocery store at what we thought was a reasonable hour (3 p.m.) only to find it unlit and locked. In my mind, this tied into Europe’s lack of emphasis on customer service. America makes it a point to have toll free numbers for almost every product. My experience in Italy regarding customer service was shared by Melissa Ratter, who attended the ACA school in Spain. “America focuses more on customer service and how the customer is feeling rather than just a job,” Ratter said. So count your blessings, American residents. At least you can buy ice cream and chocolate at any time of the day. Large iced coffees This might seem silly because in Europe coffee is on its own level. Italian cappuccini are incredible and quickly became the only thing I spent money on. However the size of Italian coffee leaves something to be desired. There are two sizes: tiny and tinier. In America, you can buy whatever sized coffee you want! Starbucks (which I’m not advocating for, I definitely did not miss Starbucks in Italy) offers the Venti size, with 20 fluid ounces of hot coffee. Also, Italians don’t use ice. Ever. Because they don’t, one could and should assume iced coffee is off the table. This puzzled me because I’m a massive proponent of iced coffee and drink it almost year-round. In America, WHAT AMERICA HAS THAT EUROPE JUST DOESN’T… you can have huge massive cups of iced coffee and people don’t judge you for it! Kudos, America, for your ice and your generous serving sizes. Europe, and Italy especially, is wonderful and has so many things that America doesn’t. But in those moments that kid who just got back from a year abroad won’t stop talking about all his “adventures,” just dump your 24-ounce iced caramel latte on their head and call it a day. L i n d s e y P a r s o n s showing her love for large cof ee. | P C : J o r r d a n B i s s e l l Katie Morrison is a senior studying business administration. 8 LIFESTYLE FIND THE CLOCKTOWER ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: /ClocktowerASB Snapchat: @asbunioncollege Read online: clocktower.ucollege.edu Read the print: issuu.com.clocktower/ASB I n the case of Alton Sterling, 37, killed by police on July 5, 2016, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana: To our collective society—I blame you for either using race as a crutch or for refusing to admit the possibility that there was police wrongdoing, both before sufficient evidence was confirmed or denied. Emotional reactions do nothing but worsen the situation for every party involved. I blame you more than anyone else for the violent backlash that likely led to the murders of eight innocent police officers. To some African-American communities across the country—I blame you for fostering an environment that teaches your children to distrust the police and disrespect authority. More importantly, you’re at fault for not ridding your community of such an ideology the moment it became prevalent. To some police forces across the country—I blame you for, even once, giving those African-American communities reason to distrust you and for using ignorance as a guide for police work. As public servants, you are held to a higher standard. If the morals of the communities you police sink low, your job is to do everything in your power to raise them back up, not join them in the muck. To Officers Lake and Salamoni—I blame you for not doing absolutely everything humanly possible to avoid Sterling’s death. I don’t blame you for protecting yourself, but that’s not exactly what evidence shows. Maybe you did everything in your power to subdue Sterling. You tased him. You tackled him. When you thought he produced a gun, you shot him. For that, I don’t blame you. But the question remains: was his death necessary? Did you need to shoot him three times in the chest? In other jobs, not doing your best may result in loss of money, less of rapport or loss of business. In your job, it results in life loss. For that reason, any time you don’t bring your best to the table, you’re unfit to serve. To Alton Sterling—I blame you for not thinking of those who loved you. You had a child, a son. You should have known to stop resisting, inform the officers you had a firearm in your pocket, and not move a muscle. Was it selfish pride? Was it your interpretation of justice? Now, through no fault of his own, your son is destined to continue on through the rest of this world without his father. There’s plenty of blame to go around. But that doesn’t mean the amount of blame is equal. Was Alton Sterling’s crime of resisting arrest worthy of a death sentence? Absolutely not. Could his death have been avoided? Certainly. Yes, multiple parties share fault for the course of events in Baton Rouge. PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND EMOTION IS THE DEATH OF REASON However, none deserve a larger share than Alton Sterling himself. If the officers are correct in their account of Sterling reaching for the gun in his pocket, there’s no one to blame but himself. Trying to pull a gun on police officers, even if you feel you are being mistreated, is indefensible. If the officers are incorrect in their account of Sterling reaching for the gun in his pocket, though the officers would have made a fatal mistake, Sterling undeniably refused to cooperate. In cell phone videos recorded by bystanders, he can be seen reaching his right arm to his pocket that contained a gun. If the officers were unashamed bigots looking for the slightest excuse to murder African-Americans on sight, they deserve all the hate they’ve received, criminal proceedings and appropriate punishment. But after watching the video, reviewing the evidence, and spending much time in thought on the subject, the answer seems clear to me. I find it far more likely that a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal record who threatened a man with a gun just hours before his death became overly aggressive with police when confronted, and that his own actions were the single greatest factor in his untimely death. “ “ Yes, multiple parties share fault for the course of events in Baton Rouge. O PINI O N 9 Jonathan Deemer is a sophomore studying biomedical science. I t was supposed to be a vacation. Five days in Lincoln, a friend’s graduation, and flying home. Then God stepped in and flipped my life upside down. The first inkling came when I stepped on campus after having been graduated for four years. I had been around the world, task forced, and started to settle down in my hometown, but as soon as I set foot on Union soil I felt like I belonged here somehow. Odd. Things got weirder as I spent time on campus. Over the course of several days, I received numerous comments about Guaranteed Education and the Physician Assistant program, neither of which had ever seriously crossed my mind. As the weekend approached, I even found myself somewhat softening to the idea. Wait, what happened to being done with school?!? The fire ramped up at church that weekend. While the sermon was aimed at graduates and their “open doors” for the future, they ironically weren’t even present. All the more emphasis, however, on the “open door” standing right in front of me. It was becoming blatantly clear what God had in mind; too bad it was everything but what I wanted to do. Why does God’s will always have to be 180 degrees different from mine? My friend pounded the last nail into the coffin. “You could stay for a summer class.” I was packing to leave, and the idea seemed crazy. Take off work for an entire month, so I could take (probably fail) the second half of a chemistry class I attended seven years ago. It would never work. Fast-forward a year and a half. It did work. Somehow, I passed the class. Somehow, things at work were spaced just right so I could afford to be gone for an entire month. Somehow all the pieces fit together perfectly. Yet as amazing as it was, it wasn’t a mystery to me. I serve a God who is greater than chance. The calling of God, though often unexpected, isn’t unplanned. Every detail is set in place ahead of time, waiting to be claimed by faith. Through all life’s uncertainness, there is peace if we can learn to trust Him. If we decide to trust Him. Faith is like a muscle. With resistance, it grows strong; without, it wastes away. Daily we're given opportunities to see God work, and, whether we like it or not, what we do with those opportunities will eventually determine how we react in the bigger tests. Heeding the little calls, strange as they may seem sometime form WHAT TO DO WHEN LIFE DOESN’T TURN OUT LIKE YOU EXPECT FOLLOWING THE CALL in us the habit of actually responding when called to action. Submission to the Spirit in the little things also allows us benefits not immediately seen in the larger tests: viewing the results of our faith. Since the small things are so immediate to life in the present, we often see results right away. Thus we are trained to see beyond the present. In the little things and the big, God calls us to trust Him. We have to choose. We have to act. He’s in the business of leading our lives for a reason. The more I see of my path, the more amazed I become. Coming here wasn’t just for vacation. 10 OPINION Ginger Hany is a senior studying biomedical science. “ FAITH IS LIKE A MUSCLE. WITH RESISTANCE, IT GROWS STRONG; WITHOUT, IT WASTES AWAY. “ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it. | Isaiah 30:21 | I really want to like Pokémon Go. But I don’t. I was on the hype train with some of my friends for what seems like years before the game came out. This was going to be amazing: the definitive Pokémon experience. If you’ve ever played a Pokémon game prior to Pokémon Go, or seen the anime, you know what Pokémon is about. Some old scientist guy from your hometown gives you a Pokémon, and then you, a preteen child, leave town on foot to explore the country and “catch ‘em all,” (“‘em all,” referring to every known type of Pokémon). You catch these Pokémon by calling upon your own Pokémon to do battle with, and ultimately wound and catch the desired Pokémon. Herein lies the concept of the game. The entire purpose is to acquire Pokémon, train them, and battle them, with the intent to further the strength of your Pokémon, and the acquisition of more Pokémon. So, imagine my disappointment after I downloaded the game, chose my starter Pokémon, and physically ran out into the world in search of Pokémon, only to be left dumbfounded, unable to throw out my starter Pokémon and engage in battle. Some random Pokémon just stood there, unflinching, waiting for me to capture it with a simple throw of a Pokeball. Not only that, but there’s no way to level up a Pokémon. The entire concept of training a single Pokémon through experience to become stronger and better is replaced with catching several of the same exact Pokémon. How do thirty Pidgeys turn into a single Pidgeot? Think of the logic. It’s like Professor Oak is grinding all those Pidgeys into some super juice that the last remaining Pidgey is waterboarded with until the stress and genetic overload cause it to hideously mutate against its will. That’s not what real Pokémon is about. There has to be more than just acquisition. Pokémon Go may as well be a farming simulator. You can walk around town and find carrots and rutabagas. “Harvest the vegetable!” So you grab it and add it to a list of all the vegetables you’ve picked. “Catch enough potatoes and level them WHY POKÉMON GO IS JUST THE WORST COLUMN LIKE I SEE ‘EM up to a potato salad!” That would be the same game. To the T. But people say, “Hey Kevin, you can throw berries and get like, higher class ultra balls and stuff so it’s totally different.” Well, I say you can throw fertilizer and get like, a shovel or a backhoe. It’s the same thing. Without battle, the game is just “collector of things for no reason: the game.” The game does feature gyms that, at a quick glance, could be mistaken for a battle system. I’ve never progressed to the minimum required level five to participate in one, but they seem like the strategically bankrupt finger tappings of a madman, devoid of both carefully crafted move set and the gratifying execution of the battle plan. Basically, a game without trading, without experience, without strategy, and without battles can’t be classified as a Pokémon game; I refuse to recognize it as such. The only thing I’m willing to classify that game as right now is “How to coax your nerd into actual daylight for dummies,” and until they make the much needed updates to make it anything but, I’ll be wasting my time elsewhere. Probably with infomercials. OPINION 11 Don't forget to look where you're walking. PC: Jorrdan Bissell Kevin Niederman is a junior studying nursing. Open your account at the Center branch at 3643 S 48th or any UBT branch. Visit ubt.com/mystyle for more details. • $50 Bonus1 • ATM Fee Freedom2 • Free Designer Debit Card • $10 Mobile Banking Bonus3 • Free Replacement Card Choose 3 options and go be you: OPEN YOUR MYSTYLE CHECKING ACCOUNT AND RECEIVE A FREE DESIGNER CARD. ubt.com/mystyle Available to persons age 16-25. $50 opening deposit. 1 $50 deposited within 10 days of month- end following: enroll in e-Statements and 10 debit card purchases posted within 60 days of account opening. 2 Usage at ATMs on st transactions per statement cycle. Some ATM owners assess a surcharge which we can’t control or waive 3 $10 deposited within 30 days of month-end following your enrollment in Mobile Banking. Member FDIC. O ne of the services Union offers to all students (at no additional cost) is academic/life coaching. Union is one of the first colleges to ever implement this type of service on a college campus. Coaching is a one-to-one process designed to guide students in exploring ideas, options and creating solutions to enhance their academic, life and career pursuits. Students seek assistance of a coach for a variety of reasons: assistance in organizing responsibilities, creating a timeline for projects and papers, study tips, preparing for standardized tests and more. This section, Coach’s Corner, will provide another way for students to connect with academic coaching. This week I want to introduce the Teaching Learning Center’s (TLC) coaches. Kian Mapp graduated from Union with a degree in IRR and she also has a master’s degree in community and international development from Andrews University. Kian has worked at the TLC as an academic coach since 2014. She loves getting to know students and learning their strengths and interests. In doing so, she’s able to help the student integrate those areas into a creative plan for their futures and prepare for their calling. Jonathan Shields has been an employee of Union College since 2004 as the human resource director. He felt a calling to coaching early on and completed training through his graduate program at Doane College. He transitioned into his new role and calling as an academic coach in 2015 where he enjoys helping students in reaching their academic goals. He understands the importance of listening to assist students explore goals and develop priorities. I, Debbie Forshee-Sweeney, graduated from Union College with a degree in social work. After working in my field I went back to school for my education degree. My favorite part of being the director is getting to coach students. I love assisting them in finding their “aha” moment. I like to help students make new history and find ways to move forward. If interested in meeting with a coach or checking out other services the TLC has to offer, feel free to visit www.ucollege.edu/TLC or stop by the office located in the Student Center. COACH'S CORNER Q HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ACADEMICS OR LIFE? Feel free to ask a coach: tinyurl.com/uc-askacoach All questions are anonymous so you get insight without being in sight. We will publish answered questions here. 12 COACH'S CORNER The Clocktower encourages reader feedback and strives to maintain accuracy. If you have comments, please email us at cltower@gmail.com. The Clocktower, established in 1927 and sponsored by the Associated Student Body of Union College, is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions expressed are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinion of the editors, Associated Student Body, Union College, or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.