PARRASIA News Editor About a year ago I was reading Peter Travers' movie reviews for Rolling Stone magazine when I came across one of his brilliant descriptions—hype lemmings. In Peter's context the term refers to the masses who faithfully seek out the movies with the biggest stars and most hype. I like that term and saw it as indicative of a larger societal reality. What is a hype lemming? It's anyone who rushes headlong (lemming like) towards anything hyped. What follows in this article is the hype; how we react is yet to be seen. Our two closest sister colleges, Southwestern Adventist College and Southern Adventist College, are now styling themselves as universities. With this, Southern and Southwestern stirred the uneasy equilibrium among Adventist colleges. The most immediate effect was to suddenly confuse the familiar system of acronyms we understood so well; both universities will now go by the acronym SAU. More importantly, though, their change to universities puts pressure, even if only perceived, on Union to respond. Already Walla Walla College is discussing chang- ing their name to reflect university status. WWC and Pacific Union College are already marketing themselves as universities in other countries. "University status does help overseas recruitment," says Tim Simon, Director of Enrollment Services. Southern only recently decided to attempt qualifi- cation for "Level III" university status. Southwestern has been rated a Level III institution since 1989. Both Quote da Jour 44 Copy from one, it's plagiarism; copy from two, it's research. ) J Wilson Mizner (1876-1933) Innocents Abroad Bruce Chan announced their decisions to become universities abruptly. "I heard about it a very short time before it became a real- ity," said Union's president, Dr. John Kerbs. Luke Miller, a freshman at Southern, remarked that "there was not much advance warning. They [Southern] did surveys of what the name should be changed to, but it was rumored that the name had already been decided before the surveys." According to Academic Vice President Dr. Larry Ray, institutions of higher learning are rated according to a five level rating system. Level III institutions offer masters degrees. Level IV and V institutions offer doctoral degrees and conduct research respectively. Both Southern and Southwestern claim the title university on the grounds that they are Level III institu- tions. To achieve Level III status Southern College created a science in education masters program. According to their on-line press release, 52 students enrolled in their master's program last summer. Southwestern offers one master's degree, a Master of Education in elementary education (M.Ed.). They are quick, though, to tell you about their Master in Business Administration program slated for the fall of 1997 and a possible School of Allied Health starting as soon as 1998. Originally Southern was scheduled to meet in October of this year to discuss the possibility of changing their name. Southwestern was to meet on September 25 to discuss the same thing. In what seems like a preemptive move, Southern changed the date of its meeting and on September 9 officially voted to change its name to Southern Adventist University. The front page article in the See Hype on page 2 Reporter The response was astounding. Over 1,000 prospective ESL (English as a Second Language) students throughout the continent of Asia shook hands and talked to Tim Simon and Gary Wisbey about being a student at Union College. Simon, Director of Enrollment Services, and Wisbey, who's in charge of public school recruitment, embarked on a whirlwind tour of eleven cities in eight countries. Their itinerary from Nov. 5 to 26 included visiting English schools and Adventist academies in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chiba, Tokyo, Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and Surabaya. The demand to master the English language has never been greater because of the ever-expanding world market. Staying competi- tive in a global economy often requires profi- ciency in English and knowledge of American culture. "In Asia, the torsi oollege denoted Junior oollege or secondary sohool level, while the term university meant an elite four-year post-secondary education," said Simon. Realizing the fact, Simon and Wisbey promoted Union College as one of the best places to receive an ESL education. "We went overseas to open new markets in China and Thailand. Many people in China are looking for a place to learn English. The global competition is getting stiffer and stiffer," said Simon. They also went to recruit students in countries that many students traditionally come from such as Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Union College's small size was a main point of interest to the students. With ESL classes that range from 6 to 12 (as opposed to 400-500 students at the average ESL programs in large universities), the individualized attention Union has to offer attracted many. But Union's small size also proved to be a potential deterrent. "In Asia, the term college denoted junior college or secondary school level, while the term university meant an elite four-year post-secondary education," said Simon. "We had to explain that See Innocents on page 3 Photo Credit: Evan Moravetz Brent Ingold hoists his bike skyward above the camera of Evan Moravetz. Parrasia is a Greek word meaning confidence and pride. This was one of scores of photos take by the 13 students in photography class recently for an assignment featuring people in action. Look for other photos in this issue by class members Joa Johnson, Jennifer Hall, Amanda Krehbiel, & Patrick Wongjanarat The SDA College Name Game Malachi McNeilus NEWS Hype Continued from page 1 September 23 issue of Southwestern's student newspa- per hinted at frustration on the part of some at Southwestern to Southern's early move. Never-the- less Southwestern went ahead and changed its own name, using the same acronym as Southern, on September 25. So what does this mean? Most people I've spoken with see this as the trend all Adventist colleges will eventually follow. "I would guess that most SDA colleges will be headed this way in the near future," says Dr. Ray. "None of them will want to appear infe- rior to the others." Dr. Kerbs agrees with this analysis, adding, "I know Walla Walla and Oakwood College have talked about [changing to university]." Can the Adventist iparket support this many universities? "If they can support 12 colleges, they could support 12 universities," responds Dr. Kerbs. But why are the colleges changing now? What has initiated this attempt for the appearance of pres- tige? By far the biggest reason, claimed by all the colleges, is the ability to attract foreign students. "In many countries the word 'college' suggests high school or middle school," says Southern's on-line press release. "[This] poses an obstacle for international students who are a...growing percentage of Southern's student body." The same concern was expressed by Southwestern's president. Even at Union more and more attention is focusing on recruiting students from other countries. "They [foreign students] are cash paying customers, and Adventist universities are look- ing for them to survive." says Tim Simon. Currently at Union, foreign students make up 8-10% of our student body. Both Tim Simon and Buell Fogg agree there is a huge market of students overseas—especially in Asia. Union itself is reviving its foreign recruitment program. I asked Dr. Kerbs if Adventist colleges were also trying harder to attract students from outside the Adventist church. "Yes, to some degree they are," agrees Dr. Kerbs, "but many SDA's also like the sound of 'university'." Both Kerbs and Dr. Ray agree that the name change gives the two schools a marketing edge. "Any time the word 'university' is mentioned," says Director Tim Simon, "most students automatically think of a bigger school, better academics, and more resources." Though Southwestern has been a Level III institution since 1989, they rushed to change their name almost the same time Southern decided to change their own name. Southwestern maintains the delay was simply intended to ensure the masters program was perma- nently in place. When asked how Union would counter this latest development, Dr. Kerbs replied, "[We] just have to continue to set forth who we are and the good success of our programs." According to one Southern student, the general opinion among students there is that the change of name 'was done as a way to get more prestige for the school, but...there hasn't really been anything given to the students in return." Has university status changed anything for undergraduates in Southern or Southwestern? "Absolutely nothing!" says Luke Miller. Luke says he and many other students at Southern fear that, despite promises to the contrary, their tuition will increase "because, hey, they're a big university now!" Luke "I would guess that most SDA colleges will be headed this way in tne near future," says Dr. Ray. "None of them will want to appear inferior to the others." also says many students feel Southern should provide more and have freer speech if they are going to flatter themselves with the title of "university." Things are not much different at Southwestern. An editorial in the October 14 issue of their student newspaper says that since there are only one or two masters offered at each school, the term "university" rings hollow. In fact, Southwestern graduated only one student from its masters program last year. But it looks like Southern and Southwestern have initiated chain reactions which will result in most Adventist colleges eventually trying to adopt the term university in an effort not to appear inferior. "It seems to be a strictly political ploy," says Matthew Cornforth, a freshman at Southern speaking about the school's name change. "The change to university status has done absolutely nothing for me." Will Union rush headlong into some half-baked masters program in order to claim university status for itself? According to Tim Simon and Buell Fogg many small colleges, especially in the West, are styling themselves universities. "I'm worried that some schools are becoming universities for the marketing status," says Tim Simon. "They ought to be marketing the school and not the name." Still, perception is powerful and not all seniors graduating from high school or academy can see through the fancy facade the term "university" affords. When asked if he envi- sioned Union ever becoming a university, President Kerbs replied, "Yes, I do. I expect that it will happen sometime in the next ten years." President Kerbs went on to say he would like to adopt university status as a Level III institution offering a Nursing major, an Education Major, and the Physicians Assistant program. "I think Union could become Mid-America Adventist University," said President Kerbs. "I like the name." So what is a university? I had always believed that to be called a university, a school must offer some sort of master degree program, but this is hardly the case. Union's regional accrediting body is the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). It has absolutely no rules or guidelines regarding the naming of an institution as a college or university. Just up the road from us is Wesleyan University. Wesleyan offers no graduate level courses, yet they style them- selves a university. A familiar basketball rival, Grace University, is nothing more than a Bible college, yei last year they decided to add "university" to theii name. This means that if Union wanted to, it could become a university as soon as the new stationary could be printed. All it would take is a decision froir the board. "[The term college] is becoming an increasing marketing problem," says President Kerbs. Dr. Raj continues, "I am always more concerned about the reality than perception. At the same time, we canno ignore perception, and I see the college/universit) question as a matter of perception primarily." How many students will Union lose because of the change o: name at our sister schools? No one knows for sure Dr. Kerbs says that he has heard of at least one studen choosing an Adventist university over an Adventis college, but no one has any hard numbers or estimate: of how many would actually choose another schoo besides Union based on another school's universitj status. "I think we are just going to have to marke much more," says Tim Simon. "We will have to spenc more time trying to show people that just because ou sister schools are universities, they are not superior." Wing. Dreamed of flying? Consider this your introduction. Private pilot ground school starts January 13. Pass the official FAA exam. Class is only $75 for UC students. Evening classes. For more information or to register, call 468-3832. Or eMail first. flight@juno. com ^ it! NEWS Innocents Continued from page 1 we were not a junior college but rather a four year higher education school." The excellent academic record that Union offers was also a main attraction. The ESL department in the past has graduated many students with top-notch ESL students. The program offers the potential student three tracks of enrollment: natural ESL, the dual ESL program and the full-load option. The natural ESL is designed for the new foreign student. These classes involve English skill building and does not include any other curriculum. The dual ESL program, however, caters to the more expe- rienced foreign student. These students supplement their ESL classes with regular college courses. The college also offers the foreign student with a command of the English language to take a regular class load. The feature that aroused the most response to Union College is the same feature that turns many American students away—the worship credit system. Christianity represents a minority religion in Asia. Many Hindus and Buddhists expressed a curiosity in the worship attendance requirement. The spiritual emphasis distinguishes Union from other universities. Simon said, "Among non-Christians is where most of the questions of our worship-credit system came from. Often we emphasized our academic, class size and financial strengths but didn't stress our spiritual emphasis. But many people asked about our beliefs. This was a main selling point." Conservatively, 6 to 12 students expressed a firm commitment of enrollment. However because of the exploding demand for ESL students, Simon and Wisbey emphasized that their three-week trip merely scratched the surface of potential students. "I'm greatly encouraged from our response," reflected Simon. "We hope to go back in upcoming years." After downing a couple cartons of egg nog from the Chat, Karen Hawkins and Brook Bennett are dizzy with holiday spirit.. Wide World Web Spinnin' Students of Union College are now able to set up their own web pages on the UC WWW server. The process is not yet refined, but any student can give a disk to Information Systems and have them put the page up and provide a link to it from the UC home page. -Josh Eno Hey Teach, Where are those Aerobic Points? Forty-two' faculty/staff have expressed ah interest in a wellness class modeled after the UC Concepts of Wellness classes. The classes will be meeting Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:40 p.m. until April, covering similar topics that are presently covered in Concepts of Wellness. Many people have stated their desire for such a class. Nancy Petta, instructor of the class, says, "I think it's great that they work alk day and yet willing to stay an extra hour two nights per week." -Sara Knoles Incoming second semester Media Services will soon have a new director. Steve Nazario will fill the position which has been vacant since Rob Moore left Union to begin his own advertis- ing agency. Earl Pate, a former hospital administrator for Porter Hospital in Denver and most recently the administrater at Tabitha Health Care Services, will be the Clinical Director for the Physician's Assistant program. He will be coming to Union in January as the Clinical Director of the Physicians Assistant program. Until the program is officially under way he will start setting up clinical sites and help get the program off the ground. -Brian Ruckle Washington Bus Accident Impacts Union A school ous accident in rural southeastern Washington has really hit home here at Union College. The Country Haven Academy school bus was returning from choir trip from Clarkston, Washington, when the bus collided with a tractor-trailor 5-10 min from Walla Walla College. Ray Comforth, the driver of the bus and principal of the school, died of injuries he recieved in the accident. Mr. Comforth was the father of Union College student Jeremy Comforth. Several of the forty-one teenagers needed medical attention, but no one else has died. Malachi McNeilus' two brothers, Meric and Miah, were also on the bus and are well. ESL Director Peggy Wahlen's two chil- dren were also on the bus. Amy Wahlen had a pin put in her femur and Brian Wahlin was released with minor injuries. -Brian Ruckle On the Far Side of Science Dr. Nowack traveled to San Fransico December 6-9 for a meeting with the American Society for Cell Biology. He met about 10,000 other Cell Biologists and Bio Chemisists, learning about the latests trends in the scientific world of Cell Biology and Bio Chemistry. The meeting provided Dr. Nowack with continuing education credit and knowledge into the latest research. -Julie Fisher Allison Lamon Reporter Throughout November, news stories bawled about the plight of Rwandan refugees in Zaire, demanding that the international community take action. Simple. Send in a multinational force and suddenly the racial tension of numerous generations will disappear. Then you stop watching CNN. What we see is the result of several generations of hate. In 1994, Rwanda's Hutu population massacred over 500,000 of their Tutsi neighbors. Over a million Hutu, including many of the militiamen and former soldiers that started the insanity in 1994, fled to Zaire to escape reprisal for the genocide. The militia men and former soldiers then seized control of the refugee camps, turning them into bases from which they could assail Rwanda and rock the Tutsi regime's power. "Taxes" were coerced from the relief workers, food aid was sold for weapons, and civilians were human shields. The "management" refused to let the refugees return to Rwanda and frightened them into believing that the Tutsi would take revenge on them if they went back. Those raids into Rwanda did not succeed in deposing Tutsi power in Rwanda, but they did ignite the smoldering tension amidst Burundi's Tutsi and Hutu populations. Fighting broke out Back at camp in Mugunga, Zaire, 500,000 civilian captives are stranded. Militiamen aim semi-automatic weapons at them, food supplies are cut off, bodies of women and children hacked to death by the militia men litter the camp, the only sound at night is the wailing of hungry babies, and home is just a blurry memory. At that dark hour relief came to the refugees, not from the Red Cross, but from more fighting. This time Zairan rebels, supported by Rwanda, advanced against the refugee camp conspirators, ending the border raids on Rwanda. Faced with enemies on the Zaire side of the border, the gun men fled. Captors gone, the refugees looked in the direction of their home- land, packed up, and started walking. Back to CNN. Evidently, world leaders missed that little bit about the refugees going home, probably transfixed by the gut wrenching pictures of the pre-liberation camps. France bellowed that action had to be taken and U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali got cracking. It was decided that Canada would lead the multinational force in its humanitarian mission, provided that the U.S.A. would take part in it (pay for it). Before agreeing, Washington set up the no-no list for the mission. U.S. troops would not disarm the factions. They would not separate the defunct military from the refugees. They would not protect aid convoys. They would not conduct forced entry into the camps. They would not police the camps. They would not help in surveillance. They would not even leave the U.S. without proof that the hostilities would stop. What would they do? According to the plan, 1.000 U.S. troops would repossess the airport in Goma, Zaire, the airport closest to the fighting. Then they would open a three mile corridor between Goma and Rwanda to protect returning refugees, but the border is only 100 yards away. Another two to three thou- sand U.S. troops in Rwanda and Uganda will airlift supplies into Zaire. It makes sense, send the food to the place the people are leaving. This leaves about 10.000 multinational troops to work at other "jobs." You don't have to think too hard to realize that this plan has some rather prominent flaws. Not only that, but some officials and aid workers in Zaire anticipate much more than simple hand- outs, nothing less than a major effort to arbitrate the volatile political and tribal violence. They believe that anything short of taking away everyone's guns and making them sit in a corner until the wise multinational force (most of whom don't even know what they will be doing) settles things to everyone's liking. Fat chance of that happening. The multinational force can't even decide on the focus of its mission let alone how to fix the accu- mulation of racial tension that is keeping central Africa hopping. This situation has all the makings of a Bosnian encore. Nations, uncertain about what to expect, sending troops, uncer- tain about their duties, into a land, uncertain about what it need* and warns. KJI NEWS & VIEWS clocktower. editorial staff EditortnChief Brian Ruckle Assistant Editor/Copy Ediitor Rebecca Cizmar News Editor Malachi McNeilus living Clocktower Staff Spoils Editor Brian Carlson Sports Staff Brad Seltmann Vanessa Bolcjack Religion Editor Joe Rector Arts and Entertainment Editor Tanya Spilovoy Photo Editor Heather Hornbachcr Design/Layout Johanna McClay Ad Manager Kristine Elfiston Staff Reporters Allison La rnon Bruce Chan Lora Hagen Lee Bowes Perry Flerchlnger JoaJohnson Christine Rosette Sara Knoles Josh Eno Julie Fisher Nick Bock Staff Artist Eddie Nle| in Faculty Advisor Greg Rumsey Printer Oakcreek Printing Clocktower is the biweekly publica- tion of Union College's Associated Student Body. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the view of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Union College, ASB, or the editorial staff. The editors reserve the right to determine the content of the Clocktower. Our office is located in the Love Building on the Union College campus. Our address is 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506. We can be reached by phone at (402) 486-2091 or by e- mail at (dtoweiiiucollege.edu). A Surreal Christmas Editorial Brian Ruckle I have spent every Christmas with friends, family, a Christmas tree, and presents with one very memorable exception. I was an Adventist Colleges Abroad student in Spain my freshmen year when I had* the perfect plan for my month-long Christmas vacation. I would travel alone on a Eurorail pass to Florence, where I would stay for a week on the invitation of friends at Villa Aurora, the Adventist school in Italy. I would work for my room and board in the mornings, then sightsee in nearby towns. I would stay for another week at a friend's home in Bologna, spend Christmas in Rome, work my way down the western coast to Sicily, and then advance up the eastern coast to Venice, finally catching Milan and Turin before heading back to Spain. I wanted to travel cheap, so 1 planned get as many addresses as 1 could while at Villa Aurora and abuse people's hospitality around the peninsula. Everything went according to plan until 1 boarded a Rome bound train on December 23, 1991. All the compartments were full, so 1 had to scrunch myself and my black army surplus duffel bag into four square feet in the hallway of the train. 1 sat at the midpoint of a maze of luggage and legs through which a procession of passengers wearing moth eaten wool coats and worn leather shoes continuously skipped. I had a North African couple squeezed into one set of clothes on my right and a snoring Italian on my left. 1 didn't mind the trip so much, because 1 would shortly be in Rome, a city I had wanted to visit for a long time. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a very strange day. Running low on cash, I hiked to the nearest available bank upon my arrival. I had stretched my cash as far as it would go, so I had to cash two checks that my parents had sent. Unfortunately, they weren't trav- Shut Up &? Study! eler's cheques, but U.S. money orders. I'd been able to cash them at my bank in Spain without any problem, so I figured that the any bank would accept them, but the bank turned me down. Being persistant, I tried other places and was laughed out of the Post Office, American Express and even the U.S. Embassy. I had no luck, even on Christmas Eve. And because it was Christmas Eve, all banks and businesses shut down at 11:00 am. I had a credit card, and could have gotten a cash advance, but I didn't know the PIN. 1 was feeling pretty desperate, but 1 was too proud to get a hotel room on my credit card, so I decided to sleep on the street. I had one option left though. I had the address of a girl I met the week before at Villa Aurora. I called on the intercom of her apartment and tried to use my smattering of Italian to ask her mother if I could speak to her daughter. Mama told me that her daugh- ter was sick and that was that. Since 1 considered no other options, I wandered the streets with my map to get some enjoyment from my time in Rome. As I walked past a gypsy woman and her three young children, one still in arms, they began yelling at me and jabbing me with pieces of cardboard. I didn't understand what they were saying, but I did understand the hands yanking on my jacket and at my clothes. I shoved the thieving urchins and hurried off on my way. By midnight I was drained and I just wanted to find a place where I could disap- pear for a few hours and get some sleep. Let's Go Europe (a.k.a. thetraveller's Bible) said that the train stations in Rome were dangerous. 1 remember seeing an elderly woman making herself a bed with a few dirty blankets against the front door of a small church. Too obvious. I found a free- standing wall across the street from the Colosseum, behind which rose a hill shrouded with small trees and underbrush. The wall was a worthless ruin, preserved only because it was a ruin. It was just large enough to hide me from people walking along the sidewalk. I climbed behind it and put on my extra jeans and shirts to keep me warm on the cool 30 degree night. A small backpack served as my pillow and a few sheets of newspaper acted as a mattress. At about 3 am, I'd had enough of shivering and jumping at every noise I heard, so I headed toward the train station. On the way there, a car stopped in front of me and a man yelled at me in Italian. When he saw I didn't understand, he yelled to me So, Lora Hagen Guest Editorial you're walking into the cafe. "Man," you think, "these prices are so high. This is so ridiculous. IT'S OUT OF CONTROL!!!" You get your food, go to register and don't even wait to sit down to start ripping on the quality and prices. "Yack, yack, yack, yack yack. Switch to an all-you-can-eat meal system? Yeah!" Did you know? If we switched to an all- you can eat system, our food prices would jump up to over one thousand dollars? I hear someone say, "Yeah, right. Whatever!" According to recent research done by our very own Senate body, the lowest compara- ble cafe in the surrounding area charges $700/semester for eating ten meals/week— no snacking (prices only go up from there). Not only that, but under this system, no food can be taken out. That's right. No more grab-and-go. No more buying some- thing to take back to the room. You can only take what you can eat in the dining area. Plus, the quality of our food is better than colleges around here, from Doane to Wesleyan. Our food looks more appetizing and is healthier than most cafeterias in town—though the individual food prices are slightly above average. There are a few different options at other colleges, For instance, at Doane, vending machines are scattered around campus. Not only that, but the ones in the dorms are user-ID-friendly. Maybe we could do that here? Who knows? Who would be willing to find out? In the meantime, your hard-working Senators are doing other things to better the food life on campus. Thanks to Rachel Oliver, we have blueberry muffins offered on a regular basis. The possibilities of a in English: "I am a gay man..." I didn't stick around to hear what else he had to say. At the station, a group of Arabs, Gypsies and homeless Italians lingered in front waiting for the door to be opened. I found the loneliest spot and stood guard against possible thieves and the unlikely return of "1 am a gay man." 1 didn't go unnoticed and a man approached me, gesturing with a finger on his nostril as if he was snorting LA smog. "You like this?" 1 avoided eye contact and snapped a quick "No." An hour later the door opened, and 1 found a bench and laid down to try to get some sleep. If getting attacked by thieving children, sleeping on the street, getting hit on by a man, and being approached by a drug pusher waren't stimulating enough, the next two hours I spent in the train station were absolutely surreal. Two middle eastern men raced each other with the luggage carts around the terminal. Then, an Asian female ran through the station screaming and crying. A couple benches down from me, a dirty, rough-looking man wearing a trench coat was lying on th£ bench with and pants down to his ankles. A half hour after he lay down, he stood up and started shuffling around the station talking to himself with a silly grin on his face. At daybreak, 1 walked to St. Peter's Cathedral and picked up a free ticket for Mass that Christmas morning. The pope strolled in, waved his censor around the altar, and led the throng in prayer. 1 ducked out early and gave myself the best Christmas present 1 could've given myself at that moment, a warm train ride back to Spain. HELP WANTED Men/Women earn $480 weekly assembling circuit boards/electronic components at home. Experience unnecessary, will train. Immediate openings your local area. Call 1 - 520 - 680 - 7891 ext. c 200 sandwich bar in the Chat are being explored by Jill Searles. So, if you have a complaint about cafe food, ask your Senator. What they have to say may enlighten you. Better yet, talk to or e-mail Pat Parmele. She's willing to explain things. But what would make my heart glad would be to see this issue closed. There are other things that we can spend energy on and do something about. For instance, park- ing. Should we move the faculty behind the Atrium? Should we make all parking space a free-for-all? If students get fined for parking in the staff parking lot, should staff get fined for parking in the student parking area? Ah, shut up and study. OPINION s a v e Bret Schlisnera Columnist In third grade, my afternoon motivation to get home was He-man. That was my favorite cartoon, because I looked and talked just like Orko. I also knew the secret of Greyskull. So, 9 years old, I walked home from school every day. It was either that or miss He- man, my protege'. I had a stupid little red back- pack with rainbow colored straps that always fell open and spilled ray books onto the road. Though this summery Thursday, I was lucky. The sun was shining, and I didn't have to carry my trombone. Anyway, I was headed home one U My horror nearly soiled my Underoos." day when I started up the quarter-mile hill which led to my house. On this hill, I always crept along in fright. Hie reason was the rednecks had all moved there with their 147 pound dogs with jaws that made me feel like a chewed-up kitten. The most vicious of the monster dogs was Otis. Three weeks before, he had chomped a slab of steak from my mom's leg. My mom screamed for help, and the owner rushed out calling for Otis, reassuririghirn that she hadn't harmed him because he had his shots. But I felt a little more peaceful on this day because the sunshine felt really magical. In Tennessee, a sunny day is a special occurrence; everyone rises into a good mood and feels at peace with others. My right shoe had a hole and my baby toe was peaking out under my loose sock that was brown from dragging on the ground underneath a 9-year-old all day. My squeaky voice was sopranoing imaginary melodies with words that I had made up after,listening to a long distance dedication on Casey's Top 40. I listened to it because it was illegal in my house, NOT because I was a pop fan. My hums floated around in my head as I gazed at my Pro Keds velcros rolling one by one over the blacktop. I always seemed to hypnotize myself like that, and my time on the way home would be my own pretend Top 40 of dirty socks and broken backpack straps. The only other noise that Thursday was the faint wind stirring the leaves whose reflections danced on the road. I was rolling up on my little fat feet. I was a chubby litttekid lost in my own universe,.. RAUFF! RAUFFHHHH! f RAURH! RAURH! RAURH! RAURH! RAUFFF! A half German shepherd/half wooly mammoth exploded out of the bushes and toothed me over with his slobbery yellow jutting out from his gums. My horror'neaify soiled my Underoos. I got a pretty good look at him as his Chuck Wagon Gravy breath wafted around my nose hairs. It was Otis. ^RAURH! RAURH! RAURH! RAURH! RAUFFF!, said Otis to my now slightly skidded shorts. His bark was one that would have blown my toupee and clothes off and frozen a Spies Like Us G-force look on my face if I were a cartoon character. But 1 stood at attention, motionless and eyes front. Hushing my quivering chin, 1 acted as a potato bug play- ing dead at the feet of an angry bear. Otis lapped up some head foam from his jowles and rebore his jaws. He must have smelled the 4/7 of a Fruit Roll-Up that I had saved from lunch as his low grumbles faded around to my backpack. The monster whiffed my peculiarly protruding piece of sock and left a blob of spit there. Maybe he isn't gonna rip my elbow off, I thought. Otis put his teeth away and turned his head toward his hick master's pad for an unsplit second. Looking back toward his new property, he made that emotional squeaky noise from deep in his throat that had no meaning until this day. He then lifted his leg and peed on my holey jeans. Ahhghghhl, I booted his tummy with my toe, and he casually scampered off looking for another bathroom to continue his job. Sure, when you read about that gutteral squeak you knew that it meant "I'm going to gush urine on you now," but I wasn't smart enough to know. I was only nine. It's not my fault. I walked the rest of the way home with my left foot sloshing and my right foot dragging my mangled sock. I thought he was gonna chew my legs into stumps, but he gave me some other punishment that I did not expect. How often does that happen to you? Like, let's say in a dating situation? All your fears and anxieties about whether you will be accepted, and then she does it. She pees on you. It wasn't so bad, 1 guess. I don't know, maybe it was. I'd like to say that "you don't always get what you expect" or "it could always be worse" or "you may think something is bad until a dog pees on you," but those are trite and boring. Other than overcoming my fear of dog teeth, I now know that situations are never as simple as a dog searing my achilles tendon and running with it. I must be adaptable enough to pee on Otis if I have to. Bret Schlisner visited the high altar of Enn Aul Sivad in Corrientes, Argentina. Letters to the editor Dear Editor, I applaud Tim Winkelmann's report on dancing (Nov. 15). As he stated, this is a "quiet but present topic in the church." I have been saddened as I have seen it accepted on campus in various entertainment. I hope that his report will stimulate Christ-centered study and discussion on this issue. I would especially encourage those young people who were inter- viewed by Jeremy Comforth as well as others with like struggles to search for and study the guidance God lovingly provided His people and any who choose to follow Him on this and other lifestyle issues or topics through the inspired writing of Ellen White. Look in the index of Ellen White's writing's under "dancing" (or other areas such as music, sports, enter- tainment, dress, and diet) and read the guidance the Lord inspired her to write. I think that those who do so will discover that the "rules" that so often feel like legalistic restrictions are rather, as Tim stated, our "cloud by day and fire by night." This is such an excellent correlation, Tim. What a wonderful and caring God. Do wer love Him enough to accept his guidance "by faith?" Thanks, Tim, and I also share your concerns as stated in your letter to the editor. Thanks to the young people who were willing to be interviewed in Jeremy's article regarding where they are at in their spiritual growth. Don't wander too far; time is short and your lives are too precious to "sow wild oats," as the saying goes. Charlene Binder ITh" is an open forum for issues you t •want to talk about. You can e-mail the I editor at cltower(@ucollege.edu); write via snail-mail to Clocktower, 3800 |S. 48th Street, Lincoln, Ne, 68506; or |drop a note in the editor's mailbox. | No anonymous letters are accepted, i ; i Photo Credit: Amanda Krehbiel Scott Atwater puts away his medieval Legos long enough to do a few sets in the Larson Lifestyle Center. your LTVTNG that I don't know: After my parents and I first arrived at Union, finally found a park- ing place and got out of the car, we stood for a while—trying to connect with our surroundings. When the connection didn't work, we spotted a direc- tory map to guide us throughout the campus. While we were studying the map, we must have had blank looks on our faces because soon someone came to offer his assistance. It was then we realized where this young man had come from. He had been on a riding mower when he spotted us. Deciding we didn't know what we were Most people just expect their dorms to be clean, but don't pay attention to how they get that way. Probably the majority of women in Rees Hall feel that way, too. However, there does have to be someone in charge of all that beautification. The Rees Hall occupants are fortunate to have Josie Escamilla in that position. She does a tremendous job organizing the clean- ing responsibilities so the dorm looks spic- and-span at all moments. But not only does Josie do exception- ally well on her job, she is also a. true friend to many of the students here. For as long as Joa Johnson Reporter Without fail, there can always be found individuals who help others without broad- casting their good deeds. We have several people who fit into that category here at Union. With little to zero encouragement or praise from others, they live their fives with the love of Christ shining through them. Though it's impossible to mention each person like this, we thought it would be fun to highlight a s few. •§ a £ * First and Lasting I Impressions ® •C Not everyone remembers how nervous they were, when they first came here for college. By now, new friends have oeen made, classes are nearing their end, and the campus layout is finally under- stood. Most fears have been conquered! But at the beginning of this adventure, things weren't quite so in-control. Most students probably felt nervous about embarking into the unknown. Some may have even rejected . the idea at first because they were scared of what they might or might not find here. This is where our first "unsung heroes" come into play. Several people, young and not so young, made their best efforts to welcome each new student to Union. However, as a new student this year, I understand the diffi- culties of remembering who all of those wonderful greeters were.. Here is an example of someone nice doing (he was right), he stopped his lawn job, hopped down, and quickly came to help us out with directions. That was our first taste of Union and what a sweet taste it was! Though we have no idea who that guy was, we tell that story to everybody who asks us, "How do you like Union? What's it like?" We were so she has been here and there have been lonely hearts, Josie has been a blessing to the dorm residents. Dacyl Galicia remembers the first time she met Josie. While Dacyl and her friends were having a chat in Rees lobby, Josie came up to them and introduced herself, which made them feel special. After various different occasions of gradual getting-to-know-each- other, Dacyl suddenly realized that Josie had become a very important friend to her. She explained, "Josie is not fake. She's very sincere and friendly." She said she can tell that Josie is very close to God. Josie shows that closeness by befriending many different ladies in Rees. "She is friendly to every- body," Dacyl said. "She is there for us when we need to talk, and she gives us a different and new perspec- tive that we can't get from talking to friends our own age." To me, Josie is definitely an "unsung hero." She simply fives her fife the best way she can for God, and tries to share it with everyone else. Lights, Camera, Electricity ' One of our favorite friends, Josie Escamilla, poses with one of her favorite friends, Karla Aguilar. Roger Binder, one of several unsung heroes in Plant Services, fights evil heater gremlins. impressed that someone who didn't have to be nelpful and wasn't paid to be nice gave us (me in particular since I was the new student) such a great welcome to the school. Throughout those first few days of registration and introduction to Union, friendly people seemed to be strategically placed everywhere I went. And then there were the pod leaders. I certainly do think the pod groups were a good idea. It was wonderful to have a knowledgeable peer to answer my questions and get me through little confusions. Though I was having a great time and being treated like a special and wanted person, I wondered what all the friendly people really thought. Well, of course I round out they were being nice because they actually wanted to be. Jennifer Flanagan, one of the pod lead- ers, explained why she agreed to that extra responsibility. "I like meeting new people," she said. Having already been here a year, she thought it might have been harder to meet the freshmen [and other new students] if she didn't become involved in the pod groups. "There were only five or six people in my pod, so I did have a good opportunity to get to know them," Jennifer told me. "I still keep in touch with them, too." In retrospect, I remember many "unsung heroes" who were there for me. They encouraged me to enjoy this new part of my fife, instead of being nesitant about what was unfamiliar. I seriously believe I owe them a great amount of my happiness now because of their actions then. It Doesn't Happen By Magic How many people, when their alarm clocks wake them up in the morning, rejoice because they realize the electricity still works? And who thinks about the people who keep us supplied with warm water, even when it s freezing outside? The up-keep of the UC campus and other Union-owned buildings are a constant responsibility. There are five main sections that keep us functioning and looking good: electricity, grounds, heating, maintenance, and plumbing. I talked with Archie Hilliard, the head electrician, about everything his department has to take care of. He told me that in a normal day, the electricity section alone gets ten work orders, not to mention all the jobs for the other departments. And then there are all those late or middle-of-the-night calls in which someone has to go fix something. There might be smoke in a room, a light switch that quit working, or maybe a lightning bolt struck something it shouldn't nave. These workers need to be prepared and ready for any type of emergency that may arise. Sometimes there are several different kinds of jobs in one building. "A lot of times we work together — all the departments," said Archie. Together as a team, these "unsung heroes" are always willing and very active in keeping the school running successfully. Without these people, don't you think are fives would be less delightful? Maybe we should each try to be "unsung heroes" in our own ways, ana give away some of what we receive with sucn great enthusiasm. The Unsung Heroes Among Us A Non-Christmas Christmas Story Joe Rector Religion Editor Had it not been for Billy Hessler's gift, I might never have entered college. I might never have graduated from high school and might never have had a chance at a good career. I could be collecting garbage, flipping burgers, or performing one of a gazillion monotonous tasks which promote little more than physical survival. Without realizing it, Billy Hessler gave me one of the most important gifts I've ever received. I was one of the unfortunate kids whose first year of enrollment in school was dictated by age rather than by develop- mental readiness. My first grade teacher was a very competent gentleman who collected bells and wore homemade smiley-face ties which matched his wife's dresses. I learned a lot in first grade. I learned that marching in alpha- betical order was the only way to get to recess. I discovered that girls possessed the dreaded "cootie" disease, for which total avoidance was the only defense. I observed that cool people had Evel Knievel lunch boxes rather than Spirit of '76 pails. It was the age of rockets, real moon-walking, and space travel, so I learned to sing the "Countdown Song" with great enthusiasm. I loved to sing, but some other lessons were definitely unpleasant. I discovered that my family was weird because we didn't have a TV. As a result, I didn't know anything important. I learned that you had to be good at kickball if you wanted to avoid getting picked after most of the girls. I learned that I didn't like school, except when Officer Friendly came to show us his squad car and pass out police coloring books, which I preferred over math and reading. In fact, modem science has determined that four out of five first graders really do prefer coloring over readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic. I learned a lot in first grade, but I didn't learn to read. In second grade, I was promptly placed with the "five stooges" in front of the classroom, where we were drilled on the basics ("Joey, what sounds does the 'E' make?") while the regular kids did their workbooks. Behind grounding and spanking, reading struck me as the third-most-cruel child torture device ever invented. It was all right for big people (I liked being read to), but little folks needed to play, color, sing, and smear icing on Christmas cookies. Life was not entirely bleak, for I had a BIG friend: Billy Hessler, my hero. Billy was a fifth grader who knew everything, and he said Indians were really cool. In fact, they were so cool that you could entertain yourself for hours just by pretending to be one. I found a piece of shale that was about the size of an arrowhead, and Billy said it might be a real one. He glued it to a stick and glued feather pieces on the other end. Then he made a bow from a willow branch, tied a bathrobe belt around my head, and inserted the obligatory feather. I could almost pass for a real Indian. The best part was when we massacred some "cowboys" who were other- wise recognizable as our little brothers. Indians rocked. I wanted to be just like Billy, so I decided to learn everything possible about Indians. Being a non-reader, I kept Mom busy reading me Indian stories. One fateful day, however, she was too tired. I had just checked out a book about Black Hawk and was dying to hear it, but her answer was final: no story. I moped around for a while looking mournfully at the book. Suddenly, an inspiration simultane- ously twitched a million neurons in my cranial cavity. Why don't I see if I can read any words? To my amazement, most of the words could be sounded out using the phonetic rules we studied in the stooge class, and many others could be guessed from the context. I could read, and life would never be the same. Billy hadn't actually taught me to read, he hadn't converted me into a star kickballer, and he hadn't bought me an Evel Knievel pail. Instead, he had given me a much more impor- tant gift. He had shared himself with a little kid who could give nothing back, and he had inspired me to be like him. It was this gift of inspiration that made all the difference. Had I never known Billy, would I have loved . Indians? If I hadn't loved Indians, would I have had the motivation to read? How much time as a stooge would have left me with a permanent— but inaccurate— belief in my own stupidity? Only two of the five stooges completed high school. By the time I finished second grade, I had nearly exhausted the Indian section of our media center. In Christ, God gave a gift similar to Billy's. He gave us the gift of Himself, and in so doing, He gave us the inspi- ration that we could become like Him. And that makes all the difference. "Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift Is a portion of thyself." —Ralph Waldo Emerson Witnessing Miracles lzing that tne greatest test was yet decided to join the literature evangelist team in Wyoming for the summer, I called my dad to share the good news. He was totally opposed to my plans, warning me that door-to-door book sales might leave me unable to pay my school bill. To top it off, he had planned a once-in-a-lifetime summer vacation to Disney World! I was shocked, but I chose to seek God's kingdom first. I stuck with my commitment, and immediately after arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I met Chrystal Jones, the woman I plan to marry. God always gives us something better when we choose Him first. prayer with you?" She opened the door a second time, and we knelt and prayed in the middle of her living room. After prayer, she gave me twenty dollars to help with my scholarship and accepted a copy of Happiness Digest (Steps to Christ). From this experience, I learned the lesson of Matthew 6.33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall Jjejiddedjintc^oiK" Through this experience, God showed me the importance of using prayer to keep my connection with Him open at all times. After leaving that house, I prayed with every person I visited and felt God moving people's hearts. As the school year rapidly drew to a close, I reflected on the idea that I should always put God first, little real- izing that the greatest test was yet to come. Having " To top it off, he had planned a once-in-a-lifetime summer vacation to Disney World! I was shocked, hut I chose to seek God's kingdom fire* » Perry Flerchinger Reporter First semester was moving fast. Mid-terms had come and gone, and Christmas lay around the corner. I had rather enjoyed college life so far, as my grades were okay and I held a decent job in the cafeteria. I was making good friends who loved the Lord, but something was missing. I knew God had some- thing special for me, but I didn't know what direction I should go to find it. I prayed many times for God to show me His will and give me peace in follow- ing it. I opened His word and read, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me" (Matt. 11.29). I was also impressed by Matthew 24.14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." After some time, I felt God was leading me to join the literature evangelism team at Union. I could not begin to imagine the blessings God had in store. One blessing concerned a man who repeatedly declared he wasn't interested in spiritual things. When I finished my canvass, he offered me a gift of five dollars, still assert- ing his disinterest in religion. When I gave him a Great Controversy, he said, ''I will read it. I'm not a Christian, but this may be the book I need. Maybe it will change my life." Another blessing came in the form of a lesson. I went to a house and knocked on the door. An older lady opened it just enough to see me and quickly began to shut it. "My son has died," she cried. "Leave me alone!" Before the door slammed in my face, I squeaked back, "May I have As the Ball Bounces... Vanessa Bolejack To a> Reporter ^ A new season of Warrior basketball is under way with the men's team showing real promise for some exciting moments in the games to come. As of now, the men are 2-5 and hoping to pull that record up over the remaining games. They can do this by creating exciting plays with a few of the players that have proven themselves to be the weapons of the Warriors. Todd Essex is consistently pulling the high scores for the Warriors with his powerful inside moves and "fall-down, fade-away, foul-drawing" shot. Another force that strikes fear into Bible colleges across the Midwest is Aaron Fritz, a nightmare for all of us who don't enjoy being dunked on. His dunks in the first two games of the season whipped the Thunderdome into an uncontrol- lable frenzy. Next semester should bring more exciting moments into the Thunderdome. The Warriors will be hoppin' to show off their flashes of teamwork and stifling defense to shut down their oppo- nents. SPORTS Todd Essex heads down the court in skiing form. GOOD WEEKLY INCOME processing mail for national company! Free supplies, postagel No selling! Bonuses! Start immediately! Genuine opportunity! RushSAS.E: V M C# SUITE 174 1861 M.FEDERAL HWY HOLLYWOOD,FL 33020 Nick Bock Reporter While the Union College football intramurals were just coming into full swing, if you wandered down to 49er field during Sunday afternoon you would have seen another brand of flag football. City League Flag Football this year again included students from Union. Different from last year, however, was the number of teams from Union. Several of Union's best flag football players gathered together on two different teams. Shawn Sorter's Larson Lifestyle and Nick Bock's Team Renniks. .Both teams were trying to bring back visions of past Union teams led by guys such as Michael Miller. The year started out great for both teams. Renniks started out against a confident Steamrollers team. The Steamrollers certainly lived up to their name, going over, around and through Renniks' offensive and defensive players. But the team hung in there and pulled out a stunning upset. So went the rest of the season. Always playing bigger teams, many times coming away with a victory. When it came time for the playoffs, Renniks entered as the #6 seed in the "A" league. In their first game, it looked as if Renniks would go to defeat early. With time quickly running out on the clock, Union's opponent, the Warthogs, ran an ill-fated pitch play. On the pitch, the man fumbled the ball right into the waiting arms of Buck Athey, a College View Academy senior. He rumbled 20 yards down the field and set up Union for the touchdown that would tie the game. Union went on to win the game in overtime. Their next opponent however was the returning city-league champion, WC's South. Although Renniks played valiantly, their effort fell short. Despite a tough defense, and an offense that moved the ball fairly effectively, they couldn't put any points up on the score- board. So the season was finally over. For a first year team, Renniks had performed way above their initial expectations. ITiey played tough yet still were good sports throughout their games. As a matter of fact, in the post-season meeting, Renniks was awarded a 3rd place trophy for Sportsmanship! So until next season, football fans...keep dreamin' of that pigskin paradise we all call football. Unfortunately, there was incomplete info on Larson Lifestyle, but I understand that they also had a very successful season. ig-Le a gue Pigskin! B Men's Stats: Name Rebounds Assists Steals Points Avg. Lee Anderson 2 1 0 4 1.3 Doug Briggman 13 9 4 17 2.8 Paul Britain 21 8 4 36 5.1 Dan Carlson 2 0 0 0 . 0.0 Brian Carlson 26 8 7 89 12.7 Todd Essex 63 6 7 147 24.5 Aaron Fritz 33 10 4 68 9.7 Brian Gibson 14 3 0 22 3.1 Brandon Pardeiro 8 5 1 13 3.3 RyanReinke 24 11 2 66 11.0 Bret Schlisner 1 0 0 0 0.0 Tony Scott 6 0 . 1 5 1.0 Brad Seltmann 9 2 1 18 2.6 Godwin Semakula 6 6 8 12 1.7 | Sports Picks Brad Seltmann Sports Editor Sportsman of the Week: Casey Bock for leading both his six-man and four-person volley- ball teams to a #1 seed in the post season tournaments. Sportswoman of the Week: Dolly Dinning, the captain of the winning six-woman volleyball team. Wear that T-shirt with pride Dolly! Thumbs-Up To: Elisha Bonilla, Julienne Braucr, Emma Cherisma, Michelle Alvarez, Lee Anderson, Tony Scott, and Dan Carlson. Despite a lack of playing time, they still keep up their hard work for Union College basketball. Way to go! Thumbs-Down To: Anybody who claims that intramural referees don't do a good job. They're the ones who keep us going. Quote of the Week: "I told die rookies, 'You guys will make mistakes, because you're dumb. We (the veterans) also make mistakes, but it's not because we're dumb.'" Charles Barkley, Houston Rockets Forward Brian Carlson Sports Editor The Lady Warriors were sixty seconds away from an unde- feated start to their season. With one minute to play, the women had chalked up an 7 point lead over the ladies team from Manhattan Christian College. Victory was theirs! Then the roof caved in. Manhattan suddenly was affected by the shooting guru and all of their shots somehow found the bottom of the net. They ran off eight consecu- tive points, including the winning shot with just seconds remaining to defeat our ladies in a heartbreaking game. Since that opening game loss, the women have rebounded and fought bravely in each of their following games. Although they haven't been able to scrape out a victory quite yet, there is a lot to be excited about. Rhonda Purkeypile and Heidi Widicker are shooting the ball with confidence and tickling the twine to raise the Lady Warriors score. Mario Miller and Amy Dick apply stifling defense to opposing point guards as they pressure the ball all the way up the court. Vanessa Bolejack and Jessica Larson are the towers of power who rebound the ball with authority and Heidi Widicker sinks another one for the Warriors. also intimidate opponents on defense. Tristan Pollard hustles from tip off to final buzzer...I think she might hit the floor more times than the ball. Also, we can't forget about the strength of the Lady Warrior's bench. With Becky Voss, Emma Cherisma, Michelle Alvarez, Wendy Mejia, and Elisha Bonilla, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately there's also a sad note to pass along to fans of Lady Warrior basketball. Michelle Miller experienced yet another knee injury in a recent game. Hopefully we'll see her out on the court again after rehabilitation. I'm excited to see the many close games so far this year, and I just know that we'll see the ladies in the winner's circle before long. Fans: keep your cheering at maximum levels! Jennifer Hall Bi? City Hospital Bif City Opportunities SmalLTouin Lifestyles The Healthcare Provider - Ulith A Vision for The future Be an important part of our vision for the future by joining Hartford Community Medical Center. If you're looking for a life style change, challenge, flexibility, career options and the opportunity of working with a well respected leader, our medical center has the opportunity you've been looking for. Currently we're seeking the following position: nCTUIORK SUPPORT (MAIM Provide technical expertise on PC hardware and software selection, installation, troubleshooting, systems development, networks and associated functions. Requires 5+ years current experience with IBM/ compatible PC's, Novell Netware and wiring topologies in addition to a degree in computer science. Working knowledge of WordPerfect 5.1, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft (MS) Word for Windows, MS Excel, MS Access, and MS DOS. Novell 4.1 CNE preferred. IBM AS/400 experi- ence a plus. Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills a must. As part of the Adventist Health System West, we offer an excellent benefit and compensation package. To request an application, please call 209/585-5464. Please send or fax your resume and completed application toHanford Community Medical Center, Human Resources, 450 Greenfield Avenue, Hanford, CA 93230. Fax: 209/585-5J54. EOE. M • HANFORD ( | H COMMUNITY T r l MEDICAL CENTER Photo Credit: Patrick Wongjanarat Jody Lastine sweats a couple miles around Holmes Lake. Hardcourt Heroics ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Dalsxatlons In Danger ————— / K • " WWKSBBUK^H^ ^ w ® Score^Ca Lora Hagen Reporter 101 Dalmations Photo credit: Clive Coote Cruella DeVll (Glenn Close) unleashes her fury (and. her checkbook) as she tries to buy a litter of Dalmatian puppies, in Walt Disney Pictures' new live-action comedy/fnatasy/adventure, *101 Dalmatians." It's Saturday night and there is nothing to do. You've seen everything at the $1.50, there's no place you can watch a video «and no amount of caffeine or chocolate will do any good. What's a person supposed to do? Last Saturday night, a couple of my friends and I solved that dilemma. We went to 101 Dalmatians, the new live-action film by Disney. It's cute, a touch romantic, funny and a little corny. All of that, and you get to see the preview for Disney's upcoming movie Hercules also! After talking to some of you Union College students, it seems that a lot of you haven't watched Disney's cartoon version of 101 Dalmatians. So, I must explain some of the plot. A woman with a Dalmatian assaults, err, meets a man with a Dalmatian. It's true love at the first sight, at least for the dogs. The owners eventually get married. Perdy (the female Dalmatian) gets pregnant, and has puppies. But, Cruela De Vil (Glenn Close) has other plans for the dogs. She wants to use puppy fur to make an outfit for herself out of 99 Dalmatian puppies. Two of her henchmen do the dirty work. The pups are taken. OH NO!!! What will they do next? The whole animal kingdom pitches in to fight for the puppies' lives. The Airedale/Irish wolfhound doggy-type stars as the hero. He's great! The raven helps. Bunnies chip in. Some raccoons and a skunk put in brief but funny and memorable appearances, . Well, this is a Disney movie where thfe animals' don't talk humanspeak, but that's okay. It's not really necessary. In fact, we thought it would have taken away from the whole thing if the critters had been able to "talk." Which reminds me, the henchmen are pretty funny. They're polite, yet bumbling idiots. It only costs five whole dollars with your student ED. I'd even go so far as to say that it's a good (dare I say it?) date movie. Oh, and when we went on Saturday night—prime family time— there were only 20 kids. So go. Or not. It's your Saturday night after all, and who am I to dictate what you do with your so- called life? Photo credit: Clive Coote Christine Rosette Reporter My freshman year at Union, I was not referred to as rich. My parents were amazed that my wardrobe continued to grow on my meager cafe- teria-worker,minimum-wage, fifteen-hours-a-week, 10%-of-my-earnings-per-month, Union College salary. One way that I did it was by thrift shop- ping, and guys, there are so many more places than the Goodwill store. So, after a long and fruitful year of practice, the Clocktower editors decided that I was ready to flaunt the stores I know so well. The fun began. Jason Hoewing and Eddie Mejia-accompa- nied me on this expedition since Jason loves to be in pictures and Eddie loves to take them. First, we stormed The Retro and dug through racks of old clothing. Eddie, being our appointed clothing coor- dinator, fondled his chin and either nodded or cringed at our choices. We scrambled to the dress- ing rooms to try the clothes on and posed gracefully on the furniture. (The Retro not only sports cloth- ing from the dawn of time to now, it also has a great collection of house decor for sale.) If Levis, cords, and bell-bottoms are what you're looking for, I would recommend The Retro's extensive supply. They also have racks of dresses and coats for the ladies, but the men's selections, unless you want old high school jackets, are sparse. After a thorough examination of the first store, we packed into my leprosy-ridden Corsica and traversed across the street to Second Wind. It was pretty much the same story...clothes and more clothes, pictures and more pictures. All of Second Wind's clothing is marked with the date of its approximate origin, the 20's, the 70's, etc. Jason found a three-piece suit from the 50's that fit perfectly and looked like...well, it was Jason- ish. (He cried when we left without it.) The only thing that a Second Wind store employee needed to do to make the store complete was to water the plants. Ten dead plants don't promote a lively shopping environment. Second Wind has the accessories you need for out-dated outfits. Besides a wall plastered with hats, they also have jewelry, shoes, a cabinet full of gloves and scarves. The employess will help you find anything they don't have. If you want costumes, they have some particularity strange ones. Although fun, our modeling careers were rather short-lived. Within hours, we squished into the car again and headed for UC. Jason and I didn't feel much like smiling anymore. We had caught a glimpse of our dream wardrobe, and had to face the reality of our pocket-books. I don't feel like trying to persuade anyone to visit the retro stores because if you need to be persuaded, well, you're obviously not cool enough to like them. But just in case you want to check them out, you can find both of these stores on the intersection of "O" and 16th streets. They are on opposite corners and are nestled comfortably with other thrift stores such as Goodwill and Rialto. If you are searching for something that looks seventy-ish and new at the same time, check out these stores. You'll feel like you've stepped into an episode of the Brady Bunch. Even if you don't have lots of money to shop with, you'll find the trip entertaining...just don't forget your camera. Baalism A+ Profanity A Violence A Moral Value B+ Beauty B Inspiring B+ Depth B Overall A- The P o w e r of Funk A Mind Full of Muse Malachi McNeilus •• ^ . y . . .«• News Editor * r Filling part of the- crucial creative aspect of college existence is Union's own Rockpile Poets Society. This is a loose knit group of students on campus brought together by their love bf poetic expression. Though the Rockpile Poets meetings have musical overtones, the primary focus is on poetry. Whether original verse or a favorite selection, the Rockpile Society provides a forum where people who enjoy verse can meet, share, express, and inspire. English Professor William Fitts started the Rockpile Society during fall semester, 1995. The group met weekly in the cafeteria where, according to Dr. Fitts, they picked a table as far away as possible from their fellow diners. This was not an exclusive gesture, but a precaution against that the poets wouldn't annoy other diners since the group sometimes bursts into old '60s songs such as The Sounds of Silence. Occasionally a noted poet will stop by a Rockpile Poets meeting. For many years Thelma Norman, a nationally published author of children's and poetry books, lived near Union College. Last year she participated in a Rockpile Society meet- ing and shared some of her own works. Upon entering Dr. Fitts' office to gather information about the Rockpile Poets Society, I noticed numerous dog-eared volumes of poetry lining the walls—reflec- tive of his long love affair with poetic expression. The main purpose behind the Rockpile Society is "to foster the growth and expression of the human spirit," explained Dr. Fitts. When asked if he looked forward to the meetings Dr. Fitts responded, "I do, I really do. I enjoy teach- ing." "It's a nice way to relax," said sophomore art major Alanna Ruppert, "people bring out their feelings, it's a time to talk. It's intellectually stimulating, and I learn a lot from Dr. Fitts." Freshman David Pulley has attended one Rockpile meeting this year. "It was very interesting,''" said David as I talked with him in the Art Department. "Some of the poems were pretty good. But there were a few that I didn't really understand, and I usually get poetry." David writes his own original poetry and shared some of his selections at the last Rockpile meeting. Pain is one of the common themes in the poetry shared at the Rockpile Society meetings according to Dr. Fitts, but he The main purpose behind the Rockpile Society is "to foster the growth and expression of the human spirit," explained Dr. Fitts. quickly added, "Great insights into life come from tragedy." Dr. Fitts said he is glad that there is an opportunity for students to express themselves. He espe- cially appreciates poems dealing with personal convictions. The Rockpile Poets Society is a loose-knit group, and it isn't always clear who the faithful members are. All the indi- viduals interviewed for this article expressed the same dismay over the sched- uling changes of Rockpile meetings. This year the group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 5-6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Last year they met weekly at noon for an hour during lunch. I asked Dr. Fitts if attendance was a factor in hold- , ing fewer gatherings this year. He said that scheduling problems have caused him to reduce the number of meetings held. However, he did indicate that he would like to hold the meetings weekly next semester, provided the college granted him some class scheduling changes. Union College isn't the only place around Lincoln for poets to share their work. One special location is Coffee Culture, a fairly new coffee shop on "O" Street where I recently attended a poetry reading. "We usually have this reading the last Thursday of every month," explained Greg, who was serving coffee that evening. Coffee Culture has a coordinator for the poetry group that organizes the open mike session beginning at 8:00 p.m. People arrive early and crowd into the rear of the coffee shop near a small microphone and speaker. Over the pleasant hiss and growl of espresso machines and coffee grinders, individuals read poetry reflecting themes of anger, frustration, love, and societal criticism. Union student Tanya Spilovoy read a few of her original poetry which was well received. Afterward, Tanya said, "It was exhilarating to share my work with such an attentive, yet critical audience. It makes me strive to improve my writing." Ifyou aren't as outgoing as Tanya, yet have some poetry to share with others, consider yourself welcome at the next meet- ing of the Rockpile Poets Society. Even if you don't have any original poetry or favorite poetry selections to read, come to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and free expression of the gathering. Just don't forget to explore options for poetic expres- sion off-campus. If you take the time to look in some of the eddies and swirls just off the mainstream campus life, you will find Union a little more aware, diverse, and creatively expressive than you think. Lee's Groovy Revoovies Hisssss...buzzzzz...call it what you want, but it's the sound of far too many new bands—Morella's Forest is just the latest off the production line. Perhaps I'm just too old to enjoy "real" music. Maybe I just need a new prescription for my Miracle Ear! What ever happened to the old days when a band had to be talented and unique to get a record deal? Morella's Forest's sound is very bubbly. Every note and lyric floats to the speaker, and bursts into a blurry and meaningless message. The disc was manufactured by "Tooth & Nail" Records, a Christian label, but that is the only hint that this is a Christian band. The band's image is similar to No Doubt (except more bubbly), its music is similar to Julianna Hatfield's (but cleaner), and its message is as clear as mud. I do enjoy the mellow energy of the disc, but it is nothing unique—in fact I think one song is on this disc twice with different lyrics. The perfor- mance is good, but roughly written transitions and out of tune instruments camouflage their good play- ing. The Christian lyrics are colorful, but too vague to impact the searching listener. Artist: Title: Rating: Hot Spot: So What Cut: Morella's Forest Ultraphonic Hiss 2 Bubblicious Bubbles Big Orange Bubble Hula Hoop Tanya Spilovoy A&E Editor 1. Listen to Handel's Messiah. 2. Drive around town and look at Christmas lights. 3. Visit the mall Santa, sit on his lap, and wish for peace on earth, a car straight from the dealership, and straight A's. 4. Go caroling with your friends. 5. Decorate your room with garland and lights. 6. Listen to Nat King Cole sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas." 7. Buy a gift for a. needy child. 8. Rent 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and "It's a WonderfulLife." 9. Have a leaf-ball fight (a sad substitute for snow). 10. Experiment with recipes for figgy pudding. 11. Buy a fruit cake and give it to your favorite teacher. 12. Make sure all your friends and relatives know you love them before getting into your car. around campus December 16,1996 A Page 12 so they say Heather Hornbacher ^ V Photographer If you could go anywhere In the world for Christmas, where would you go and what would you do? Bruce Chan "I would go to ahhh... Bosnia... no, don't put Bosnia. I would go home to Fresno, California and get a suntan. Diana Jones "Well... If I could go anywhere in the world it would be Florence, Italy, and I would meet up with my Italian guy friends and we'd go to Space Electronic and party! Perry Flerchinger "Probably somewhere fun and warm, like Florida. No, then it wouldn't be like Christmas. I would go skiing in Colorado with all my family. Ernie Reynolds "I'd go... hummm... to a Bronco's game and get my finger fitted for the Super Bowl champi- onship ring. Karen Galva "I would go to London, England. I would just visit, I don't know, have fun. I would take my boyfriend with me. Eddie Mejia & Sidekick "Uhhh.. ifd have to be... I would go back to Nam and visit all my old friends from the war. I would take Jason Hoewing for entertain- ment purposes. Amy Johnson "I think I'd go to Switzerland and go skiing with my family. Karissa Chinchuretta "I would go to the Cayman Islands and go scuba diving with Louis."