Public Safetys annual Safety and Security Report found that liquor law and drug violations have increased, but that other forms of crime have leveled off. This information was sent via email to all students, staff and faculty. In compliance with the Clery Act, Public Safety is required to record and provide all criminal activity on campus for every calendar year by the first of October. Kaz Trypuc, Public Safety supervisor, said that of the crimes that are reported, most of them are fairly tame.
Oftentimes, the crimes that we deal with on campus are fairly minor. Here at Point Loma, the thing thats not in the report is simple petty theft. We dont have to report on that because its not a major crime but that is the most common thing that we experience here on campus, said Trypuc. The PLNU report highlighted five areas of activity: forcible sex offenses, burglary, motor vehicle theft, liquor law violations and drug law violations. More serious crimes such as murder and arson are required by law to be reported but there hasnt been any activity in those categories for three years, the time frame for this report.
This year was the first year that the Liberty Station campus received a safety report because some of the requirements for a separate campus report that applied. According to the Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting, in order for a site to be considered a separate campus, your institution owns or controls the site, it is not reasonably geographically contiguous with the main campus, it has an organized program of study and there is at least one person on site acting in an administrative capacity. All highlighted PLNU offenses in the report increased from 2011 to 2012 except for burglary and motor vehicle
theft. Comparatively, both USD and SDSU liquor law violations have decreased in the same time span, though the numbers for their report are much larger due to the size of the campus, with about 8,321 and 31,000 students on campus respectively. For PLNU, burglaries and thefts have decreased from 19 to 6 and 12 to 5. Trypuc said that these instances of burglary and theft are a result of outside influences on PLNU and special cases. A lot of those really are just people going into residence halls and a number of those had to do with thefts perpetrated by off campus individu-
als, said Trypuc. A couple of those were the surfboard incident, some teenagers, there are just a few things. Most crimes reported were not committed by any PLNU student, staff or faculty. Two outside citizens were involved in the one sex offense and Public Safety learned of this from the San Diego Police Department. Because it was on the PLNU campus, they had to report it. Considering the size of the campus, the crime rate is fairly low, but, according to Trypuc, petty thefts can be prevented. Theft is the most common for
SEE SAFETY PAGE 2
PHOTO BY CASSLYN FISER More than one hundred students came to Worship Under The Stars on the soccer field Thursday night. After guided prayer as a large group, students were free to explore the stations set up in the each corner of the field. There were stations for quiet prayer and reflection, singing with the student worship band leaders and creative worship. Each station represented a piece of the Lords Prayer, tying in the renewal week theme of daily bread.
On its seventh day, the government shutdown continues to affect many local communities around the United States, including San Diego and PLNU. The government shutdown, however has had no effects on student financial aid, according to Vice President of Finance George Latter. Funding for federal student aid will not be impacted by the shutdown, and most staff and contractors associated with these programs will continue to work, Latter said via e-mail. However, Latter said that ROTC students tuition assistance may be
SEE GOVT PAGE 2
PHOTO BY JORDAN CRAMPTON Local effects of the shutdown include Cabrillo National Monument being closed.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM RIDDLE Kim Riddle poses with her husband, Steve Riddle.
After the previous director of Auxiliary Services was fired for mishandling funds, current resident director of Klassen Hall, Kim Riddle, stepped in, putting her in charge of these departments: PLNU and Mission Valley Conference Services, Mail Services and Reprographics. For the month of October, Riddle will be fulfilling both the roles of Director of Auxiliary Services and Resident Director of Klassen Hall. Working with her old supervisor, Jeff Bolster, dean of students, and her new supervisor, Cynthia Chappell, AVP for financial and auxiliary services, Riddle says an agreement has been reached so that she can do both jobs. When I went through the process
to get hired, [they] both agreed upon how they could figure out this transition knowing that it was not easy to transition out of being a RD or to transition into this job, said Riddle. They worked really, really well together to make it so that they knew how much they needed me over here, to start right away, even though Im not sure what Im doing. When October ends, Riddle will officially transition out of her RD position and take on the full-time responsibilities of being Director of Auxiliary Services. Residential Life has already begun the process of applications to fill the position. A posting went onto PLNUs online job board advertising the position on Sept.18. Though new to the position as director, Riddle has worked closely with one of the branches of Auxiliary Ser-
vices, Conference Services, during the summer time for the past four years, said Riddle. Andrew Yates, Conference Services Coordinator, said that Riddles previous experience with Conference Services will only benefit her in the future. I think its really good that Kim already has a relationship already formed with our outside groups during the summer, said Yates. I have emailed for the past week or so with the head guy from the Hume camps, his name is Jeff Brannon, and hes really excited that Kims taking over and that he already knows her. According to Yates, Riddle is welcoming and familiar to summer camp staff. Im sure a lot of groups will feel the same way [about her working in this position], said Yates. They like working with Kim and theyre glad itll be a
familiar face and somebody that they know they can work well with. The position for a new Director of Auxiliary Services opened up after the previous Director, Julie Alexander, was terminated for mismanagement of University funds. All staff and faculty were informed of this via email over the summer. I remember very clearly, it was August 1, the first of the month. I had replied, it was about 8:45 in the morning, I replied to an email that Julie had sent me, and I got an automatic reply back stating that she no longer worked here and that if they had any issues regarding Conference Services, to contact me, said Yates. Yates said that he remembers what happened clearly because the email was so direct and because response was so
SEE RIDDLE PAGE 2
2 | NEWS
Riddle
FROM PAGE 1
quick from others in the office. The rest of the staff and faculty at PLNU were informed about Alexanders termination and the reasons behind the action later on in the day when Administration sent out an email. Suspicions arose when all of the departments at PLNU were audited
this past summer and numbers were failing to add up in the Auxiliary Services department. According to Yates, the audit revealed that tampering with University funds had been happening over the course of four years. Details regarding Alexanders mismanagement of University funds were kept confidential, leaving many to speculate over what had happened. I dont know what those questions
are or anything like that, but I could sense that Julie was really stressed and that made it a little more difficult on me, but at the same time, I didnt know what was going on, said Yates. Lisa Morehead, Coordinator of Auxiliary Services, did not wish to comment. Kim Riddle commented that she was not allowed to tell any details she might know.
Safety
FROM PAGE 1
campus crime and most of the time, it can be prevented if students locked their doors and secured their valuables, said Trypuc. If you leave your laptop in the library, cash on your dresser or a PlayStation with the door open when they go off to class, someone is going to come along and possibly take it...the fact of the matter is that these things do happen and there
are some pretty simple steps that we can take to prevent them. Along with preventing thefts, Public Safety has also made an effort to prepare students in case of an active shooter on campus. On Sept. 27, Mark Galbraith, director of Public Safety, sent out a campus-wide email regarding a video that shows how to react in that situation. While the question of how to prevent these tragedies is asked by politi-
cians, law enforcement, and experts; ordinary people like you and me should ask what we can do to prepare ourselves if it ever happens to us...here...now, said Galbraith in the email. Public Safety will continue to keep track of crimes happening on campus. They also keep track of crimes that happen in neighborhoods around campus which can be seen on the Public Safety page on the PLNU website.
19 6 12 5 0 1 12 26 10 14
45 55 41 11 12 21 289 173 58 91
GOVT
FROM PAGE 1
delayed until a new budget is determined. Although unclear, there is also a possibility that students and parents might have difficulty requesting tax transcripts from the IRS which is needed in connection with financial aid verifications. Latter believes short-term implications will be minimum. Even though the functions of the U.S. Department of Education directly related to student financial aid are considered essential and should not be impacted it is unclear how overall operations would be affected if the shutdown continues. The government shutdown occurred due to a disagreement between Republican-led Congress
she said via e-mail. This called for a re-arrangement of the assignment by Wing-Peterson. She extended the assignment deadline but when she realized the website was still down after a couple of days she told the class to just leave that part out of the assignment, Kloppenburg said. Kloppenburg was shocked that the website was shut down. I dont think its necessary that they close down this website, or other community/national resources such as museums or national parks, she said. Its sad that our government cant get along and agree on a solution. Associate Professor of Political Science, Roscoe Williamson says that the shutdown may be resolved by Oct, 17, the date when the government needs to raise the debt ceiling. If the debt ceiling is not raised by
this time, government will go into default which will increase interest rates for the U.S. government and the rest of the country. Thats probably big enough stakes that theyll figure out a way to fix it, Williamson said. The stakes [for the shutdown] arent really that high unless youre a government worker or somebody [who] wants to go see the Statue of Liberty. Theyre not that high for a little while but they will be if this goes on and on. Following the shutdown, Williamson said, cuts may be made to the national budget. One of the funds that is typically affected is federal aid. If that gets hit, college students will notice it very quickly, Williamson said.
Flexible format
Choose from online courses and one-week summer intensives, or a traditional classroom setting.
Hands-on experience
Intentional integration of academic and experiential components enhances learning and advances your career.
Doug Fields, M.Div.
Author / Youth Leader
For more information on the MAYM program, contact the Graduate Center at (626) 815-4564 or graduatecenter@apu.edu, or visit apu.edu/maym/.
Other degree programs offered: D.Min. | M.Div. Pastoral Studies, M.A. | (Theological Studies), M.A.
14924
FEATURES | 3
features
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi. As we worship, so we believe, so we live. -Tim and Shawna Gaines, last weeks Renewal Week speakers
PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MILLER At Coffee and Tea Collective in North Park, coffee is freshly brewed using the pour-over style, and wide counters provide for excellent study spots.
They call themselves gypsy roasters, creatives and expressionists. They are a small group of PLNU graduates who found something they are passionate about and decided to turn it into a business Coffee and Tea Collective. Daniel Holcomb, who graduated in 2008 with a degree in international development studies, remembers sitting in his apartment in Colony brewing coffee, dreaming up what it could look like to own a business. Holcomb and friends, including Michael Spear, a 2011 graduate in media communications film studies, started sharing their craft with the San Diego community through pop-up
events and house parties. In December 2010 at the Roots of Giving Fair on PLNUs campus, they officially opened for business. Then in May of 2012, the group found a home in North Park where they have been brewing, teaching and creating ever since. Coffee and Tea Collectives shop is clean and nearly bare, with white walls, concrete floors and long wooden tables. Natural light pours in through floorto-ceiling windows. The atmosphere is calming and quiet, as if beckoning visitors to simply breathe and rest. Our philosophy is to strip things down to the essential, says Spear, regarding everything from the shops aesthetics to the companys branding and espe-
cially the coffee itself. Beans are roasted in-house and coffee is served pour-over style, ensuring that each cup is prepared individually and in the moment. Coffee and Tea Collective differs from many other shops, especially chains like Starbucks, in that they seek to educate and inspire each customer. We view coffee as a craft, not a commodity, says Holcomb, who hopes that Coffee and Tea Collective will continue to escape from the mold of corporate coffee-house franchises. Instead of you coming to us and telling us what you know that you like, we want to say Hey, come along this journey with us and well help you discover something new, he says. Helping the San Diego commu-
nity come to an appreciation of great coffee is a daunting task, yet Holcomb and Spear know they are making headway with each conversation they have with customers. Education and appreciation comes through face-to-face conversations, says Spear. Whether its just me being friendly or answering questions about our roaster, I know that I am helping set Coffee and Tea Collective apart from other places. Just as individuality and uniqueness mark the business, so too does collaboration and teamwork. Coffee and Tea Collective often hosts fundraisers for local charities, allows artists to display and sell their work within the shop and works to build relation-
Website:
coffeeandteacollective.com
Taking on Asia
I am loving the experience in Korea mainly because people here are so friendly. The night life is great. Seoul is such an interesting place to learn about and explore, especially the museums and palaces. Jane Yi
Compiled by Samantha Watkins
PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE YI Sophomore Jane Yi, an international studies major, is studying in Seoul, South Korea through GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Korea University.
4 | FEATURES
GREY AREA
the black the white and the in between
A campus-wide email was sent last week by Caye Smith, vice president of student development, highlighting the Personal Appearance policies of the PLNU Student Handbook. The policy says that students appearance should be consistent with an environment of vital Christianity and names simplicity and modesty as key values of campus life. Students share their views of what to wear and how to wear it.
Dr. Myron T weed, PLNU professor of music emeritus, passed away Sept. 28, after a lengthy battle and complications of brain cancer. He was 83. A faculty member from 1973 to 2000, Tweed directed and founded the choral group, Point Loma Singers and established many of the choral traditions still in use today on PLNUs campus. PLNU President Bob Brower sent an email to faculty on Sept. 30 detailing Dr. Tweeds contributions to PLNU, but also expressing the value and legacy he left to his students. Dr. Tweed has been a valuable member of the PLNU community and invested his gifts and talents in the lives of his students. His professional and personal interests were exhibited through his faithful commitment to Christ and to his work at PLNU and the church, said Brower in the email. Robin Tweed, his daughter, remembers her fathers fervor for teaching music. His calling was church music, and his passion was developing choral tone and blend in youth to adult singers within the collegiate and church environment, said Robin Tweed via email. His goal was always to assist people to witness the presence of God in their lives. Tweed completed his doctoral work in Church Music at the University of Southern California, built a music program at Bethel College in Indiana, served as PLNU faculty and worked for 27 years as minister of music at First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego. He expressed his love for music through it all. Gayle Yelvington, who was a music major in vocal performance at PLNU when Tweed was teaching and is now an office assistant for Marketing and Creative Services, remembers how Tweed taught hymns differently.
I didnt know we had a dress code. Im not offended one way or the other. But we have an image that our school needs to maintain. - Stephen Buescher, Senior Students dress just fine. There are a few students that are a little over-the-top, but other than that I dont really see a problem. Carter Hornsby, Junior Students should dress appropriately for class and definitely keep in mind that this is a Christian campus. But we are also really close to the ocean, and it is easy to just wear what you would to the beach. Kirstie Hibbard, Junior Modest is hottest. Its also starting to get cold, so these problems might just go away on their own. - Clayton Hamill, Junior Girls can make their own decisions as to how they dress. However, this is a Christian environment, and these are our brothers in Christ. It shouldnt be about trying to look sexy but about respecting our brothers in Christ. Natalie Swift, Junior The idea of dressing modestly is a good idea because we are to be men and women of God and we shouldnt be putting ourselves out there. - Kelsey Dean, Freshman I am fully behind the policies established for the school. Although, sometimes you just have to have a pants-off dance-off, but thats why we have dorm rooms. - AJ Wolf, Senior I do believe in modesty and the universitys right to enforce it, because this is a private school and we are choosing to come under their regulations. - Adam Donason, Junior
@StudyAbroadUSAC
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN TWEED Former professor of music, Dr. Myron Tweed behind the piano in his office at PLNU. He directed Point Loma Singers for 27 years.
While praising God is really great, a lot of these songs are really centered toward what God has done for me or for the person, so it tends to be a little more me, me, me; and the one thing Dr. Tweed always tried to help us focus on was Gods attributes, she said. So a lot of the songs and pieces that he would choose were really centered toward God and not about the person. Yelvingtons relationship with Tweed went beyond the classroom. Her husband, Jim Yelvington, also an alum, was in Point Loma Singers and used to go to Padres games with Tweed. Sometimes with professors you dont get to see the person inside of them, and we were able to do that, said Yelvington. I can remember Dr. Tweed calling our house when my husband was a student and asking my husband if he wanted to go to a Padres game with him.
I couldnt believe that a professor would ask a student to go and do something just completely unrelated to school and classes and anything like that. Thats the kind of relationship they had. Apart from being a great friend, Tweed was a spiritual mentor to many. Paul Kenyon, a colleague of Tweeds for 10 years and a current PLNU professor of music, said that he remembered Tweeds voice as a voice from God and one that called people to attention. The one thing, if you talk to anybody who knew him, he had this voice, a speaking voice that we would joke sounded like the voice of God, said Kenyon. Using his voice, Tweed put great focus on his students, thus fueling the passions of many whom he encountered. Professor of music Keith Pedersen worked with Tweed and says he admired Tweeds interaction with students.
On the one hand, there was almost a stern outer persona if you didnt know him well, but the students who knew him well really held a sentiment and sincere affection for him because he had obviously impressed them with his affection for them, his care and concern for them, and his own faith and how he lived that out, said Pedersen. T weeds love for God influenced every part of his life, something Robin T weed will always remember of her father. My dad loves homemade ice cream, blueberries and peanuts in the shell; he is a great musician, choral director and sports fan, but above all he is a man of God, said Robin Tweed. He has used the wisdom of his Father, the gift of musical talent and the creativity of his family to reflect his love for the Lord.
www.healthcaremissions.org Students and Faculty: $10-$20 **conference venue for 2013: San Diego Christian College
A&E | 5
a&e
BY KENDALL BOSHART AND JORDAN LIGONS STAFF WRITERS
10/9: Tony Lucca in concert; The Griffin; 8 p.m. 10/11: Cinema Under the Stars feat. Sunset Boulevard; Mission Hills; 8 p.m. 10/12: A Hot Night of Cool Jazz; Crill Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. 10/13: Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festivities; Bates Nut Farm; 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
PHOTOS BY KENDALL BOSHART (From left) RHCreations features floral resort wear for its collection. Dexter Simmons showcases edgy looks.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOEL P. WEST Joel P. West, a 2006 PLNU alumnus, was the composer for the recent award-winning film Short Term 12.
BY EDDIE MATTHEWS STAFF WRITER
Welcome to Short Term 12 is the first track of the films score, and it starts with three calm notes from Joel P. Wests ukelele. He lets a few seconds pass, then is joined by a piano, two violins, a cello
and double bass, all plucking in unison. About 30 seconds in, an electric guitar echoes Wests acoustic. The innocence conveyed through composer Joel P. Wests simple guitar plucks suggest things are not as scary at Short Term 12 as it may first seem, said Allison Loring of Film School Rejects a movie website that
6 | SPORTS
sports
BY ABBY HAMBLIN STAFF WRITER
UPCOMING EVENTS
10/10: W. Volleyball vs. Academy of Art 10/11: W. Volleyball vs. Dixie State 10/12: W. Soccer @Academy of Art, M. Soccer @ Academy of Art, W. Volleyball vs. Notre Dame de Namur
COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION Coach Phil Wolf stands ready to address the mens soccer team after their 0-2 loss to Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.
dont think about conference championships and winning records, I think about national championships. Thats the goal here, Wolf said. I think Im a pretty demanding coach. I think the guys, at the end of the day, would probably say they like playing
for me but there are times that its very hard for them because I push them very hard. The expectations for this program are really high.
Jose won four straight Pacific Division titles from 2007-2011 and hasnt missed the playoffs since 2003. However, the only things the fans can count on more than regular season success is utter and complete postseason failure; theyve never even played in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Sharks have choked more times than the Boston Strangler.
I was pleasantly surprised when the latest copy of ESPN the Magazine showed up at my off-campus house this past week with The Bay Area Issue printed in big letters on the cover. Its not too often that San Francisco Bay Area sports get a ton of national respect, especially in southern California. Dodger fans loathe the San Francisco Giants. Charger fans hate the Oakland Raiders. Shoot, ask any fervent SoCal high school football fan how they feel about De La Salle High School. Despite hailing from the Bay Area myself, I dont support any of the local sports teams. I was born in Or-
This years train wreck of a season aside, the Giants have been a force in Major League Baseball. From 2010 to 2012, Giants fans have seen two World Series titles, Buster Posey winning the 2012 National League MVP and Matt Cain pitching the 22nd perfect game in MLB history (a game witnessed in person by yours truly), all in the confines of perhaps the nicest stadium in baseball.
Oakland Athletics
Probably the trendiest NBA team this side of LeBrons hairline. The Warriors are led by sharpshooter Stephen Curry, who set the NBA record last season for 3-pointers in a season before leading his team to the Western Conference semifinals. This offseason, Golden State added All-Star and US Olympian Andre Iguodala, so they should only get better. The Dubs boast the leagues most rabid fan base as well as its hottest jerseys (except for those putrid sleeved abominations they trotted out a couple times last season). By the way Steph Curry just made 47 more 3-pointers while you were finishing this paragraph.
Turned into a juggernaut once they hired former Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbaugh in 2011. In Harbaughs first two seasons, the Niners went 24-7-1, winning back-to-back NFC West Division titles and eventually losing Superbowl XLVII by three points to Baltimore. Their defense is perennially among the NFLs elite, and they even have a new stadium in the works just south in Santa Clara.
Ok, so not every Bay Area team is looking so hot right now. At least the Raiders have Sebastian Janikowski kicking 60-yard field goals all day to keep the fans minds off the fact that they havent had a winning season since before Arnold Schwarznegger became governor. Thats a pretty outstanding list and thats before factoring Saint Marys University basketball or even the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. Unfortunately for me, I hate nearly every one of these teams. I just happen to proudly call the Bay Area home. Like me, you may not like the results, but its becoming increasingly impossible to deny that for sports in 2013, the Bay Area is the place to be.
Oakland Raiders
I know most of you dont care about hockey, but dont overlook how productive the Sharks have been. San
SPORTS | 7
MENS SOCCER
Mens Soccer
10/1: Tie 0-0 vs. BYU Hawaii 10/3: Win 4-1 vs. Chaminade
PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATON Senior, Griffin Fuller scores the second goal of the game in their 4-1 win over Chaminade on Thursday.
WOMENS VOLLEYBALL
Womens Soccer
10/1: Win 2-1 vs. BYU Hawaii 10/3: Win 4-0 vs. Chaminade 10/5: Loss 0-1 vs. Hawaii Pacific
PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION Junior, Ayssa Dwyer adds another kill to her record in the 3-0 sweep against Azusa Pacific on Thursday.
We know that an incoming student is more than just a set of test scores. We admit those who demonstrate an unyielding passion for becoming outstanding lawyers.
8 | OPINION
opinion
BY TAYLOR VON STRIVER SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
Abby Hamblin /// Editor-In-Chief Kathleen Callahan ///News Editor Kimberly Miller /// Features Editor Tavis Robertson /// Sports Editor Kathleen Rhine /// A&E Editor
Guimel Sibingo /// Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart /// Copy Editor Rachel Harrell /// Design Editor Matthew Linman ///AssistantDesignEditor Rachel Barr /// Web Editor
The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the authors name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to gsibingo1992@pointloma.edu.
#LomaChatter
EDITORS NOTE: Once again we apologize for those who tried to text the number last week and didnt workthis time it will. I promise.
Have something to say? Submit your random thoughts, funny comments, or opinions! Text your #LomaChatter to 619-630-0728
That one time youre talking about someone in the caf and they look directly at you.
Worship under the stars was actually worship under the fog.
Pope Francis I has been creating a stir in the Catholic community since his papacy started eight months ago. He has called for a shift in the churchs attitude toward groups that have been historically marginalized, particularly homosexuals. Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person? We must always consider the person, he said in a recent interview. As a person who is gay and Catholic, Pope Francis words are warm and welcoming, unlike his predecessors. I can remember my early years in the Catholic Church were marked by ill talk towards groups that werent right with the church. The priest preached at the altar about Gods love and his son who died for us, but somehow, His love was not for everyone. How could this be? I learned that if I wanted acceptance from my church, my friends, my family, then I could not be gay.
I came out my freshman year at PLNU. As freeing as the experience was, it also ate away at me. I was consumed by a subculture that I let define who I was. Every night was a different damaging experience. As my behavior spun out of control, my relationships with friends were severed. When I thought I would find acceptance from my parents, I was proven wrong, and lost my last beam of support. A depression manifested itself in me that threw me into isolation. Prayer and God faded from me, and I felt my soul disintegrating. I didnt want this life. I questioned my position in the church and the Christian community as a whole and I made plans to leave this school. I was convinced that there was no longer a place for me at this school or in church. Misery overwhelmed me and I all I wanted was to crawl out of my skin. In my last effort to find absolution from a life that had broken me, I prayed to God who I had selfishly shunned from my life. It would be nice to say that I found revelation and
spiritual enlightenment that radically changed my life, but that didnt happen. What I did come across was a new form of prayer. A new prayer that engaged in active conversation with God, a prayer that became honest and humble. Convictions arose in my life, and a new journey began. I decided to wrestle with Scripture. I sought guidance from friends, from professors, and from strangers and received nothing but love and affirmation that my sexuality did not define me. These were fruitful endeavors. Where I thought I would find resentment, I found acceptance. Although I continue to fall into bad habits and make stupid decisions, I do not let them impede me from searching for God. Three years later, I continue to struggle with what scripture is saying and how my life is living out according to scripture. There are many parts of scripture regarding homosexuality and marriage that I do not understand. What I do understand is that I am fearfully and wonderfully created in the im-
age of God. I believe in a personal savior who died for my sins, who loved me long before my existence. My identity is in Christ. To my fellow students who are second-guessing this truthdont. Dont give up on the church. Dont give up on your faith. You are loved and welcomed in His kingdom. I dont expect the stance of the Catholic Church to radically change in my lifetime, but I do believe it is taking the necessary steps to represent a community that was once shunned and condemned. This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people, Pope Francis said. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity. Eduardo is a senior environmental science major with a minor in cell and molecular Biology. He has a passion for conservation Biology, and plans to start a Ph.D. program in developmental Biology after graduation.
I survived the Young Hall drought of 2013. I hope everyone made it out alive.
A supposed freshman reading Road Less Traveled in a hammock outside of Colt at 9 am....you shall succeed here young one
Save Point Loma Running EDITORS NOTE: Wow, whoever keeps sending this really wants to save point Loma running!
I should get an A in philosophy because whenever Im in class I ask myself the big questions, like why am I here?