SPORTS TENNIS OUTLOOK: SEEKING STRONG COMPETITION 14 LIFEstYLE BROTHERS RAISE MORE THAN $10,000 FOR CAPSTONE FILM

PROJECT 6 OPINION RICHARD SHERMANS INTERVIEW ISNT A BIG DEAL 12

Clause
student voice of azusa pacific university since 1965 WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 VOL. 50, No. 9 www.THeClaUse.oRG

Sendy Valles makes her mark 15

PROFILE

Steven Mercado PHOTO

Class, chapel schedule changes coming this fall

Schedule shifts next semester include pushing chapel back from 9:30 to 10:35 a.m.
Jessie Gomez
staff writer

After several months of numerous discussions with groups on campus, the administration decided to formulate a new universal campus schedule that will affect both undergraduate and graduate students. A complete list of the new class time periods was emailed to all faculty at the beginning of this semester. The new class schedule will take effect this fall. The new time slots will include 15-minute breaks between each class period, instead of alternating among breaks of 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Students will have a one-day per week option with classes starting at 7:15 a.m., a two-day per week option,

Kimb IC erly Smith GRAPH

sCHEDULE 4 THE WIRE

The new class schedule will kick in this fall.

Brooke Van Dam COURTESY

Cougar training: CrossFit

Paige Lange
staff writer

Former APU prof Ryan Bell to try on atheism for a PROFILE 8 year

Russell Orrell COURTESY

Last year, in the face of growing competition, the Azusa Pacific womens basketball team decided to supplement its workout with something new: CrossFit. Conditionings not the most fun thing, so we thought that they might like [CrossFit] better. It gives a bit

more variety and it can be geared toward endurance sports, assistant coach Danielle Foley said. CrossFit was created in 2000 as an all-inclusive, full-body workout that mixes high-intensity cardio with strength training to optimize fitness results. Founder Greg Glassman writes that he developed [CrossFit] to enhance an individuals competency at all physical tasks. The results it

elicits persuaded the womens coaching staff to incorporate it into their training routine. [We know] that womens basketball has a tendency in the past [to] say, We dont wanna get big and buff, we just like to get strong. CrossFit seems to speak to that a bit more [than traditional workouts], head coach T.J. Hardeman said.

Bel Canto and Mens Chorale to go abroad

This May, the singing groups will visit Poland and South Korea, respectively
Kelyn Struiksma
staff writer

CrossFIt 13

weets @apuclause
@hollyfaye | Holly: You know you go to APU when your professors from last semester greet you with a hug #iheartapu @Juliana_Harn | Juliana: Pick-up lines learned in Rhetorical Theory: My names Ray & as soon as you catch your breath, you can tell me yours. #dying #iheartapu

OPINION

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Hunter Foote GRAPHIC

@MatthewJRoss | Matt: Honestly so blessed by the relationships Ive made with my Professors. Shout out to my UBBL Profs, keep on keeping on #iheartapu

To see your tweets here, hashtag #apuclause, #apu or #iheartapu.

and Azusa Jan. 16 took several days to contain.

THE 1,906-ACrE BLAZE that broke out in the hills above Glendora

Colby Fire aftermath, reactions

FULL STORY 4

Azusa Police Department COURTESY

Bel Cantos royal invitation For the first time in six years, Bel Canto will be spending part of its spring tour overseas. The choir will travelto Poland, where members will use their voices to minster to people in orphanages, hospitals, schools and cathedrals over a two-week period. The ministry of Poland began when our members took a leap of faith to commit themselves for every facet of training and the week-to-week rigors of practice, Bel Canto Director David Hughes said. Christs admonition for us to go abroad to share the Gospel can be fulfilled in a very unique way through Bel Canto: women dedicated to sharing Gods neverfailing love for all humankind.

ABroAD 3

Wednesday, JAN. 29, 2014

Clause

theclause.org/nEWs
compiled by katie richcreek

campus safety report

The following are selected incidents as reported from the Daily Media Log from Jan. 22 through Jan. 28, courtesy of Campus Safety.

CALENDAR
Wednesday, Jan. 29

Dumpling 101

The International Center will host a lesson in dumpling making in honor of Chinese New Year from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sign up at the front desk.

SUNDAY, JAN. 26 ALOSTA PLACE There was a report of marijuana on campus. Azusa Police responded and the subjects were escorted off campus. SUNDAY, JAN. 26 SHIRE MODS Reporting party advised his motorized scooter was stolen; officer took a report. FRIDAY, JAN. 24 UNIVERSITY VILLAGE RP reported his vehicle was broken into. FRIDAY, JAN. 24 WEST CAMPUS RP reported a suspious male standing on the south lawn. Officers responded to make contact. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 1899 DINING HALL RP reported a suspicious person on campus. Officer made contact with the subject and advised the subject they were on private property. Subject complied by leaving campus. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 SHIRE MODS RP called to advise of a subject who was loitering in K court of Shire. Officers responded to check the area, but the subject was gone upon arrival. Weekly Numbers Keys lost/found....................3 ID cards lost/found...............7 Cellphones found..................1 Backpacks lost/found.........2 Unsecured bikes found.........0 False fire alarms.....................0

Friday, Jan. 31

Just Expressions

From 7 to 9 p.m., students will perform various art pieces as the final event for Justice Week in the Cougar Dome.

Friday, Jan. 31

SGA executive applications due

Sunday, Feb. 2

Stop by their office or visit apusga.org for info.

Chinese New Year Dinner

The International Center will host a Chinese New Year dinner at 5 p.m. at Forward Church in Glendora. Contact the International Center for info.

Students support mens basketball at rival game against California Baptist Friday, Jan. 24.

Kimberly Smith PHOTO

Monday, Feb. 3 Tuesday Feb. 4

Monday, Feb. 3

Summer Work and Career Fair

Teach for America

Tuesday, Feb. 4 Wednesday, Feb. 5

From 10:20 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Office of Career Services will host a Summer Work and Career Fair on Cougar Walk.

Teach for America representative Marissa Ring will be on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to meet with seniors interested in the program. To make an appointment, email marissa.ring@teachforamerica.org.

Blood Drive

The Athletic Training Program will hold a twoday blood drive in Trinity Hall. Schedule an appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: APU.

Azusa PD launches new social media team

Camille Garcia
staff writer

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

REMEMBER 1. If you see something, say something. 2. Safety is everyones business. 3. Dial 911 for life threatening emergencies. 4. Non emergencies: Campus Safety (626) 815-3898. 5. Lock all doors and windows to your dorm, apartment and vehicle. 6. Keep all valuables secured and out of plain view. 7. At night, keep to well-lit areas. 8. Always be aware of your surroundings. 9. Utilize the trolleys, safety escorts or walk in groups. 10. Avoid places where you are vulnerable and there are no exits. 11. Avoid texting or talking on the phone while walking as you may be distracted. 12. Avoid walking and jogging alone. 13. Secure your bike with a recommended Krytonite U-Lock.

Azusa Pacific University Resource Officer Mike Bires now heads the Azusa Police Department's most recent project: a social media team. Bires first proposed the social media group in Nov. of 2012, initially proposing to create the departments own website. With previous Web design experience, Bires and his team members from the Azusa PD developed the website, which launched this year. The social media team was put to the test Jan. 16 with the Colby Fire, which flared up the day after a group of police officers met to discuss the formation the San Gabriel Valley Law Enforcement Social Media Group. The officers met to discuss how to handle emergencies through social media on Jan. 15. We had no idea that in less than 24 hours, our department [would] be thrust into the limelight and [be] put to the test, Bires said. The Azusa PD's Facebook page had 210 likes prior to the fire. After the fire, the number increased to 400. This shows the impact that there was an emergency and the people turned to social media, Bires said. As URO for APU, Bires reached out to students to volunteer for the

URO Mike Bires

Mike Bires COURTESY

social media team. Senior psychology major Erika Huth and senior computer science major Dylan Price learned about Bires team through the Office of Campus Safety. I hope to help expand the Azusa Police Department in a sense of giving them more of an online presence helping out the community and connecting them closer through social media, Price said. With an interest in law enforcement after graduation, Huth looked to joining the program as a great opportunity to have Bires as a mentor. I have the same vision as Mike has I want the community to see the department in a positive way. I want people to feel comfortable so that they can reach out to the department, Huth said. Bires also helps maintain the APU Office of Campus Safety social media sites.

Trinity Hall flood update

Kimberly Smith PHOTO

First and Second South residents given all-clear to move back in for spring semester following December flood. For the full story, visit www. theclause.org/news.

Clause
NEWS STAFF editor-in-chief annie z. yu news editor megan sanders lifestyle editor hunter foote opinion editor scott jacob sports editor steven mercado design/photo editor kimberly smith asst. news editor katie richcreek copy editors alec bleher, kayla johnston business manager erin lee staff writers kaity bergquist, aubrey berry, marissa black, kimberlee buck, josh contreras, gina ender, tory freeth, camille garcia, jessie gomez, erica knudsen, paige lange, emily leyva, ashlee polarek, arianna ruvalcaba, taylor schablaske, kelyn struiksma, j. yvette toastado

mailing address p.o. box 9521-5165, azusa, ca 91702 phone 626-815-6000, ext. 3514 fax 626-815-2045 website www.theclause.org email editorinchief@theclause.org
FACULTY ADVISER kyle huckins The Clause is a student newspaper dedicated to providing a realistic, journalistic educational experience for students of Azusa Pacific University; to seeking truth and reporting it boldly, fairly and accurately; to enhancing the university community by providing a student voice imbued with truth, responsibility and accountability. The newspaper is published weekly, except during examinations and vacation periods, by the students of the Department of Communication Studies at Azusa Pacific University. The newsroom is located on Cougar Walk in between the cafeteria and Cougars Den. The views expressed in all letters to the editor and all signed opinion articles are those of their authors, not the staff or university. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Please include a phone number for verification of all letters to the editor. Anonymous and unverified letters to the editor will not be printed. The Clause reserves the right to edit the letters for length and journalistic style. The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff or administration of Azusa Pacific University. FIND US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER facebook.com/apuclause & @apuclause

theClause.org/nEWs

Clause

Wednesday, jan. 29, 2014

APU music programs to minister abroad

ABROAD, from PG. 1
The choir will partner with Next Generation Missions for the trip, an organization that combines music with ministry and reaches out not only to Poland but also to Jamaica, Scotland and Native American reservations within the U.S. It is interesting to think people just like us live on a different side of the world, do different things and speak different languages, but they are just the same as us, said freshman biology major Stephanie Zarling, a Bel Canto member. This will be a big culture change and will be a challenge to get used to. Poland is slowly becoming a main avenue for Next Generation Missions, as select organization leaders trace family ties directly back to the Polish throne. With this connection, Bel Canto has been cordially invited as guest of the royal family to not only attend, but also perform at the royal ball. Its really cool to see how God is using their royalty to serve him, Bel Canto President Heidi Chamberlain said. We have a lot of responsibility to not only uphold APU and Christian values, but we will be ambassadors of the royal family while we are there. We are really blessed to be a part of this and see how God is using that story in Poland to change Poland. Poland is known to be a traditional Roman Catholic-based country. To sing Christian songs throughout the week is unheard of for the people in Poland and Bel Canto is working to specifically pick music to move in peoples hearts, according to Chamberlain. I want to make an impression on the people I see, Zarling said. I want to them to know that I respect their culture and want to be a part of it. The choir not only hopes to develop relationships with people in each of the communities but also to continue to bond and deepen the unity among Bel Canto members. Not only do we spend class time together and concerts together, but the heart of our group is musical ministry, Chamberlian said. Whenever you are doing ministry with people, you are bonded with them. I couldnt ask for a better last year. Bel Canto will depart for Poland May 22 after completing its Northern California tour which begins May 4. Mens Chorale to South Korea On May 1, Mens Chorale will take flight to Incheon City, South Korea, where members will spend two weeks on tour performing at various venues throughout the country. University President Jon Wallace presented Mens Chorale with this opportunity to tour abroad as ambassadors for APU to both minister and make deeper connections with South Korea. Our mission from the university is to visit churches and build the bridge between the university and the local church, Mens Chorale Director Dr. Harold Clousing said. So what this is, is building the bridge between the university and an international church. South Korea is not entirely a new location for either the university or the music department. Faculty members such as Wallace, Vice President David Bixby, Provost Mark Stanton and Dr. Hae-Seong Park of the Department of Educational Leadership have all spent time building relationships and preaching in South Korean churches. Although the University Choir and Orchestra toured South Korea five years ago, this experience is new to both Clousing and Mens Chorale. We are a ministry choir and our purpose is to minister through song, said sophomore political science major and bass section leader Jamie Warren. Itll be really interesting to see how we affect other people [...] being in such a foreign land, seeing other Christians worshiping with us and realizing that Christ and the kingdom does not know borders. Mens Chorale will travel by bus throughout the country, performing at churches that reach an average attendance of 20,000 people on Sunday morning services. According to a 2007 census from the South Korean National Statistical Office, the percentage of Christians in South Korea

Holly Magnuson COURTESY

Bel Canto (above) and Mens Chorale (below) are two of APUs six choral ensembles. was 29.2 percent of the population, making Christianity South Koreas largest religion. It is a way to see how another culture worships, how another culture lives and some of how that culture can be influenced by who we are as men of God, Clousing said. The biggest challenge for Mens Chorale will be adapting to the language barrier. Dr. Young K. Kim of the Department of Higher Education Doctoral Programs will accompany the group and translate introductions to each song at every performance in addition to written translations. Mens Chorale is also working on perfecting two or three Korean pieces before departing. [Mens Chorale] has a really special group of guys, said senior biology major Michael McClellan, Mens Chorale president. We have great attitude and great talent, which is not always the case; its usually one or the other. During the trip, Clousing hopes

T. Brown COURTESY

to have his group stay in the homes of college students or at major universities to better understand the Korean culture. What we normally see during tour is that the brotherhood cements in a way it never has before, McClellan said. When you spend two weeks, in two crowded buses and doing home stays with people, you get really close to the guys and become this huge family. And that is so much fun to be a part of.

Students and faculty enjoy free museum day

APU participates in free admission to local museums
Ashlee Polarek
staff writer

Rain, rain... come back?

Record-low precipitation leads to a Drought State of Emergency
Alec Bleher
copy editor

On Saturday, Jan. 25, many Southern California museums opened their doors to the public free of charge, offering cash-strapped students a creative and free weekend option. For the past nine years, Southern California museums have participated in the Museums FreeFor-All program in an effort to offer the public a chance to immerse in the arts without cost. Twenty museums participated in the program this year, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the California Science Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Although many museums still required payment for parking, many were accessible by public transportation options such as the metro and buses, which not only cut back on

the cost of the trip but helped visitors be eco-friendly. I really enjoy art, and I think that this is a good opportunity for people who cant afford to go to museums all the time, said sophomore film major Victoria Rosales, who planned to go to LACMA that day. I think that art should be for everyone, not just for people who can afford it. This program is an opportunity for families who dont get the chance to experience the arts and sciences regularly. Museum officials say it opens doors for children to learn more about art and even how the human body works. Rev. Holland Prior, program coordinator for the history and political science department, shared her plans to visit MOCA and encouraged her students to check out one of the many museums offering free admission. If you missed this chance to check out some of the museums, dont fret. Many museums offer free days once a month or every two weeks. Be sure to check their websites for deals and updates.

With much of the country dealing with storms and icy weather, California is sitting high and dry. Too dry, in fact. Jan. 17, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a Drought State of Emergency and asked citizens to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 20 percent. According to the Governors Office of Emergency Services, many areas of the state are reporting the lowest precipitation levels since they first began recording in the 1800s. Such rainfall is especially painful for a state going on its third dry year in a row. In his declaration, Brown ordered water officials to ensure the state is prepared if drinking water supplies become an issue. This included ordering state agencies to reduce their water use and hire more

firefighters. He also took the opportunity to launch an expanded water conservation campaign, Save Our Water, according to Cal OES. We cant make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that Californias drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas, Brown said in his declaration. The Azusa community has already experienced the consequences of these drought conditions, including the two fires that ravaged the hills above the city this academic year. With the National Weather Service showing year-to-date precipitation levels for the area at 10-25 percent of normal, more consequences could be forthcoming. Should a much-needed storm materialize in the near future, it is important to note that one storm cannot undo months of record-low rain. The drought will continue until overall precipitation levels return to normal. To deal with possible shortages, the SoW campaign website recommends conserving water now, something that can be done in a number of ways at APU.

Tips to conserve water

1. If you do laundry regularly (and I sincerely hope you do), running only full loads will use less water and get you in a money-saving habit for the future. 2. Students with dishwashers should use them, as they tend to use less water than washing by hand. Just be sure to fill them up with dishes before running. 3. For pots and pans too big for the dishwasher, soak them while cleaning rather than letting the water run. 4. Showers are nice, but for each five minutes you spend showing, you use an additional 2.5 gallons of water if you have a lowflow shower head, according to the SoW website. Get clean, but then get out. 5. For you zealous water-savers out there, try turning off the shower while washing your hair, which can save up to 150 gallons of water a month. 6. When brushing your teeth or shaving, only turn the water on when you need it to rinse.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2014

Summing up Colby Fires aftermath

Jessie Gomez
staff writer

Clause

THECLAUSE.ORG/NEWS

Burned mountain range and polluted atmosphere are just a few repercussions left by the fire

The Colby Fire began blazing around 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 near the Glendora Mountain/ Azusa Canyon area. According to the Incident Information System, Colby burned 1,952 acres and destroyed five homes and 17 structures. An estimated 300 firefighters worked against the fast-paced flame, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department Although the university was never under any threat, the fire affected numerous students and faculty both on and off campus. My roommate woke me up at 8:30 a.m., and all I could see was a big, huge cloud of orange, senior communication studies major Annie Hansler said. We had been

Left: Several CL-215/Bombardier 415 Superscoopers were used to fight the fire. Right: A surfer looks at the smoke from the fire, which has stretched down to the coast. evacuated before in the year, so we really werent too worried. But when we saw how close the fire was, then we started to worry. Mandatory evacuations were issued for Easley Canyon, San Gabriel Canyon Road, Mountain Cove Community and homes north of Sierra Madre Blvd, according to an NBC report. Hansler and her roommates live on the northern side of Azusa Avenue, which is just before the entrance into the Canyon, and were asked to evacuate. Due to the intensity of the fire, the majority of the Los Angeles/Orange County region was covered in a cloud of thick smoke and pollution that day. Various students on campus, especially those with asthma or respiratory problems, were encouraged to stay indoors and seek attention from the Health Center if needed. Sophomore English major Maurice Johnson was one of the many students on campus who had an allergic reaction to the smoke. I was outside for classes and near a door at work for four hours, which is always swinging open, Johnson said. I have asthma, and so with the smoke entering my lungs, I caught a reaction which affected my breathing; my eyes and parts of my body swelled. Health officials issued air-quality warnings for several days afterward due to thick smoke from the blaze. Despite the negative consequenc-

Azusa Police Department COURTESY

es of the fire, APU students have joined forces to help out the community during this time. In last week's Wednesday morning chapel, Associate Vice President for Internationalization Matt Browning invited students to gather and clean up the Garcia Trail. We need to lend a helping hand to the city of Azusa, Browning said. The symbolic A on the Garcia Trail was damaged and is no longer visible. However, the cross atop the mountain range remains standing.

Former Israel PM Sharon's legacy

Scott Jacob
opinion editor

New year, new laws

2014 brings forth new state and federal laws that affect many
Alec Bleher
copy editor

Campus schedule change coming

SCHEdUlE, from PG. 1
which includes Monday/Friday, and the traditional three-day per week option. Alongside new course times, chapel will officially start at 10:35 a.m. and run until 11:25 a.m., instead of running from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. This allows students to take up to three classes before chapel. We are really excited for this new change, said Dr. Vicky Bowden, vice provost for undergraduate studies. We will have all this information provided with the student advising materials so students can plan effectively for Fall 2014. Bowden added that professors are currently using the new schedule to select their class times for next semester. This means that during academic advising, students will choose classes in accordance to the new schedule. The decision to create a new class schedule was brought upon by the needs of the growing capacity of the undergraduate students. The reality is we are only at 47 percent classroom use, said Bowden. our problem is not space capacity but effective space utilization. With new changes on the way, administration faces challenges the university has never encountered before. A later chapel time may call for extended breakfast and lunch times along with a secondary location for chapel to accommodate Dinner Rally days. Trolley services will also be also changed to adapt to the new schedule.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died Jan. 11 after eight years in a stroke-induced coma. Sharon was widely known for his military victories as a general in the Israeli army in addition to the controversial, hardline policies he implemented as a political figure. Sharon was exonerated by many Israelis for an avid dedication to his country, and viewed by Arabs as a villain. After becoming the defense minister of Israel, Sharon was accused of allowing the killings of more than 800 Palestinian civilians in 1982. A Lebanese Christian paramilitary group was allowed to enter a Palestinian refuge camp in Beruit that was under the protection of Sharon's soldiers. This event led to him receiving the nickname "The Butcher" from Arabs. Sharon believed that Israel has a holy right to the land occupied by both Palestinians and Israelis. Those who agreed with Sharon admired his prowess in major battles such as Israel's war of independence in 1948, and the war of 1973. President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both declared Sharon as a man dedicated wholeheartedly to Israel. Sharon is survived by his three sons Gilad, Omri and Gur.

OpINION 10

If you're having trouble living up to some of those New Year's resolutions, the state and federal governments might have a few you will live with ... unless you like fines and/or jail time. Joining their 100- and 75-watt cousins of last year, traditional 60and 40-watt incandescent bulbs are now illegal in accordance with the Energy and Independence and Security Act of 2007. In their place, the government wants to see citizens buy the more energy-efficient halogen and compact fluorescent bulbs. For those of you wanting to eat healthier in 2014, the Food and Drug Administration may make that just a little bit easier. According to an FDA press release, the organization announced that it plans to remove trans fats from its list of additives that are "generally recognized as safe." Anyone wishing to use them would have to secure FDA permission. New sections of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) took effect with the coming of the new year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' website, insurance companies can no longer discriminate against those with preexisting conditions or on the basis of gender. This includes denying coverage renewal or charging higher rates. In addition, insurance plans cannot place limits on the amount of annual coverage an individual may receive. People who decide to take part in clinical trials cannot be dropped from their coverage for this reason. Health insurance tax credits based on income and for small businesses also rolled out this year in addition to

flickr.com COURTESY

the Health Insurance Marketplace for those not covered by their employers. Be ready to buy health insurance upon graduating. However, those under their parents' insurance may remain on their parents' insurance until the age of 26. Uninsured Americans will now be subject to a penalty for failing to comply. The state of California had a few laws of its own come into effect with the start of 2014. Most controversial is AB 1266, which allows transgendered students to use the school facilities (like bathrooms) and join the sports teams of the gender with which they identify. However, some activists are challenging the implementation of this law, attempting to collect the necessary signatures in order to place a referendum on the ballot. The state's minimum wage is set to go up this year. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, workers will be paid a minimum of $9 an hour starting on July 1. Starting at the beginning of 2016, it will be $10. The California Department of

Public Health enacted a rule that all food employees in California, including chefs, cannot touch many readyto-eat foods with their bare hands. As a result, chefs will now have to wear single-use gloves or use utensils, which may make the preparation of certain foods, like sushi, more difficult. A number of measures on immigration also took effect. California Bill AB 4, also known as the "Trust Act," that was passed in September of 2013 states that jails can now only hold on to immigrants for federal immigration enforcement if they committed violent or serious crimes. Additionally, employers are forbidden from punishing or retaliating against workers on the basis of their immigration status. The Golden State now bans highcapacity magazines, thanks to AB 48. Gun owners must also lock up their firearms. Going hands-free is no longer enough for drivers under the age of 18, following the enactment of the California SB 194 of 2013. Reading or sending texts via voice command is now a ticketable offense for teens.

THECLAUSE.ORG/NEWS

Clause

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2014

Give me a (spring) break: Changes

New spring calendar gives students a midsemester break in addition to Easter weekend
Emily Leyva
staff writer

#CLAUSTAGRAM

As APU students looked through their academic calendar, some were surprised that this year's spring break falls in the middle of the semester. In past years, students typically enjoyed spring break around Eastertime. However, APU administration has instead granted a mid-semester break in the month of March in addition to a three-day weekend for Eas-

ter in April. For freshman psychology major Maddison Sytsma, the change was bittersweet. "I think it's good, because it would be a long time to go all the way from January to mid-April without having a break," Sytsma said. "But I guess it could be a problem; I'm from out of state so I won't be able to go home for Easter. With the two breaks, I can't afford to go home for both." On the other hand, freshman undeclared major Alex Jaggers said the mid-break and three-day Easter vacation is a bonus. "I like the mid-break; [for Easter] I will probably just stay here just because it's easier and there's not that much time off," she said. The mid-semester break will be March 10-14, and students will be excused from classes before 1 p.m. on April 21, the Monday after Easter.

BITTERSWEET

Name: Jonathan Prawiromaruto Instagram Name: @jprawiromaruto

BALLOON PARTY!
Name: N/A Instagram Name: @madslian

Khristi Adams screens new documentary: 'A Narrow Road'

Campus pastor hosts on-campus screening of latest project, which spotlights APU student's life
Ashlee Polarek
staff writer

ROOMIE LOVE

Name: Robbie Thayer Instagram Name: @robthayer28

GRUMPY BALL

Name: Kristi Schwartz Instagram Name: @kristischwartz

Khristi Adams screened her second documentary on Friday, Jan. 24. thats why my name wasnt on the chapel slides. I wanted to show George, and only George, his extended family at church and here at APU, Adams said. A Narrow Road is very different from Adams' first film, "Chivalry is Dead." The documentary focuses on Ramirez and his life story, instead of showing interviews with various individuals. I want to do the most authentic stories. I sought after the most extreme of men on purpose [in "Chivalry is Dead"]; I thought George was just as real of a human being. So many people have experienced so much, it served as a reminder for me to not just assume things about people," Adams said. After the screening, a panel made up of three of the filmmakers answered questions about Ramirez and the documentary. Adams said she looks to share the documentary with the APU campus again soon. I hope people would be encouraged, not because of my story, but because of God. I hope someone would find the strength to keep going, to keep pushing," Ramirez said. "I know its hard sometimes to see some light at the end of the tunnel, but keep going." Ramirez said he got through challenges and hard times by trusting in God and his friends, who encouraged and supported him. "You just have to really pursue God in what you do in life," he said. "Its not always easy but you know Hes in control when you give yourself to Him."

Kimberly Smith PHoto

Khristi Adams is at it again. After authoring her first book last semester, this month she released her second documentary, which focuses on APU student George Ramirezs testimony, his struggle with cerebral palsy and his life with a foster family. Adams, a campus pastor, hosted a screening of the documentary Friday, Jan. 24 in the Cougar Dome for APU students, and nearly 60 of Ramirezs friends and peers filled the seats. "Although its my story and where I come from, people are going to have their own opinion. There is still a lot that people dont know about me," Ramirez said. Adams first screened the film at Ramirezs home church, led by former APU Campus Pastor Coba Canales, who also appears in the film, explaining how he met Ramirez and how they became such good friends while Caneles was working for APU as a campus pastor. George was around Coba a lot, so we had an opportunity to get to know him on a surface level," Adams said. "The one thing that stood out is George is always pleasant, joyful and makes himself available. I was curious to see what was underneath all that. Adams said she went into the filming process knowing very little about Ramirez, wanting to hear his full story for the first time as she filmed, to experience his story the same as an audience would. Adams' name was not credited or mentioned in the promotions for the screening. I wanted it to showcase George;

Lifestyle
PROFILE

Senior film majors go big for capstone project

Twin brothers raise more than $10,000 for senior thesis short film
Tory Freeth
staff writer

Senior film majors Phillip and Peter Hall have raised $10,810 to produce their senior capstone project, a short film titled, The Lost Dutchman. Using crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, the brothers raised enough money to follow through with their ambitious plan: to shoot a film in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. The Halls first began developing the story in January 2013, inspired while hiking near home in Mesa, Ariz. Dec. 28, 2013, they reached their pledged Kickstarter goal of $10,000, just one day before their deadline. Phillip and Peter Halls film is based on a legend the two grew up with, The Lost Dutchman. Based off real-life people, main characters Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser approach the Superstition Mountains in hopes of finding gold, but learn incredible lessons on the way. Although there are many versions of the legend, the brothers have decided to pull from history and local accounts as well as their own imaginations. They have co-written the screenplay and will start filming next month. One of the things I really liked about the Hall brothers was in terms of script, they were really responsive and actually willing to listen, Phillip Hall, Brooks Malberg, Shelby Etcheson and Peter Hall said Dr. Warren Koch, a film professor. You need to have that passion and it needs to be for the entire project, meeting with the team to invited to view the films, creating a chance for exposure to film professionals. your story, but at the same time, you have to be check progress and help problem solve. Hes a resource, but hes very hands-off All of the members of the production crew, willing to be flexible, to flesh it out in different in a lot of ways, Phillip said. The film pro- except for Director of Photography Andrew ways so it becomes universal. The brothers have a number of people sup- gram is structured to where by the time you Ceperly, are currently studying at APU. Profesget to your thesis sional actors will make up the cast. porting them in film, capstone, This is a great crew, Etcheson said. addition to Koch, you should be able Were all friends, but were also great collabosuch as their to pretty much do rators. co-producers, According to the brothers, filming logisthis on your own. senior film maThe produc- tics have presented a challenge because the jors Brooks Maltion crew and ac- film takes place out of state, in the wilderness berg and Shelby tors will film on and is a period piece. However, the Halls said Etcheson. location in Arizo- Malberg and Etcheson have been instrumental To be honna from Feb. 7-16. in film scheduling, budget breakdowns, securest, producing is The Lost Dutch- ing shooting locations, casting, hiring the crew, all about probman will pre- transportation to Arizona, acquiring funds, prolems and solving miere April 29 at viding food, housing and much more. them, Malberg They take their jobs so seriously in a beauthe Film Premiere said. Thats part night, hosted by tiful way, Peter Hall said. They are 110 perof why I love it, APUs Theater cent all the time. Theyve done an amazing job though. Youve Film & Television of helping Phil and I make the film we want to got to make Department in make, and thats a beautiful thing. The relationsomething work Phillip Hall, co-writer and co-producer Hollywood. ship between a director and a producer is so that often times The premiere will be open to anyone who vital. seems impossible. One of the biggest challengThe brothers have been drawn to film from es with student filmmaking is trying to make a wants to buy a ticket and will feature all films put together by the upperclassmen in the last a young age, and even participated in theater high-quality film with basically no money. Koch has served primarily as an adviser academic year. Many industry contacts will be productions. Both said they were led to APUs

Davin Lindwall COURTeSY

If youre a passionate, creative artist, youll keep doing it no matter what. If you say that film is what youre passionate about, then it will happen. Youll make it happen.

film department because it is still early in its development and growing every year. As students here now, we are kind of writing the traditions and the rules of what this department is going to be, Peter said. Its amazing to think that something I do now could set a precedent, could make an impact for this entire program that could be felt 50 years from now. The Halls said they are dedicated to making films after graduation, even if the road is not an easy one. Inspired by well-known director Christopher Nolan, the brothers are willing to start by filming on the weekends with some friends just as he did. If youre a passionate, creative artist, youll keep doing it no matter what, Phillip Hall said. If you say that film is what youre passionate about, then it will happen. Youll make it happen. Peter and Phillip Hall plan to submit The Lost Dutchman for as many film festivals as possible during the 2014 submission period, hoping it will be chosen for potential screening in 2015. For more information about The Lost Dutchman, check out www.lostdutchmanfilm. com.

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WeDneSDAY, JAn. 29, 2014

Theater students host fundraiser for Scotland trip

Raising money with fun performances
Josh Contreras
staff writer

On Friday night, APU theater students hosted a humorous Miscast Cabaret event in the Blackbox Theater to fundraise for a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer. A cabaret is traditionally live entertainment in a restaurant or night club setting, but the theater students arranged for the event to be more casual with couches and a few tables placed near the performers like a floor show. The venue also included bleacher seating as well. The miscasts were numbers chosen by the performers for characters they thought would never play on stage in a professional setting. The students sang, danced and made audience members laugh with their unusual performances. Junior theater major Tory Freeth and alumni Brittany Gilmore played Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in the number Confrontation, taken from the musical Les Miserables, while senior acting BFA student Scott Kuiper performed an untraditional male performance of Elsas Let it Go, from Disneys Frozen. Additionally, senior acting BFA student

Mackenzie Breeden, Claire Schuttler, Taylor Wesselmen and Hannah Bushyeager smile after finishing their performance. Tim Davis performed as Candela, whose character is convinced that her boyfriend is a terrorist in the number Model Behavior, from the musical Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. The Miscast Cabaret had a total of 22 performances with a variety of similarly natured musical deliveries. The whole purpose of the event was for students to raise money to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this coming summer. Many of the students who plan on going see this trip as a ministering and learning opportunity, as well as for themselves. We will be performing a piece there in front of an international audience with a large group

Josh Contreras phOTO

of other artists and people around the world to exchange culture and ideas, said senior theater and screenwriting double major Hannah Bushyeager, host and performer of the cabaret. It is going to be an incredible opportunity for us as a theater department because we have never been able to go out to other countries and perform. This will not be the first time APU has tried to reach out through ministry in acting. According to senior acting BFA student Taylor Wesselman, who also hosted and performed in the Cabaret, a drama ministry travelled around the U.S., but this is the first international trip the theater has ever done. Representatives from APUs theater department will be joining many others in the festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is set up in many ways like a convention, only with us, it is a lot of theater groups from around the world singing and learning from one another, Kuiper said. The trip to Scotland will cost about $5,000, according to Wesselmen. The group originally had 25 people interested in it, but has been cropped down to 12. I thought we had a great turnout and the audience was very responsive and supportive, Wesselman said. We are looking to use the money from this cabaret and the previous one to put on a much larger event where we will be focusing on getting more substantial donations and funding. To donate toward the trip, contact APUs theater department.

Hollywood actress dialogues with APUs aspiring actors

Theater Department hosts 16-year-old performer at monthly Q-and-A session
Tory Freeth
staff writer

Hollywood actress Kerris Dorsey visited campus Tuesday for a lighthearted evening session with APU students, answering questions and offering advice to the Theater Departments aspiring actors. Dorsey, currently playing the role of Bridget Donovan in Showtimes television series Ray Donovan, sat down for an interview at the Blackbox Theater for the departments monthly Q-and-A session. It was so refreshing to hear from someone who has grown up in the business [who] is really down to earth, junior theater major Claire Schuttler said. She has a great head on her shoulders, and even though she has grown up working with very successful actors, she is so humble about what she has accomplished. The event featuring professional actors was previously known as Third Wednesdays but recently changed to Pro2Col, short for Professionals to College students. This was the first time that Pro2Col showcased a teenage actress. Francesca Fromang COURTeSY Dorsey began acting professionally at 5, receiving her first substantial role as Kathy Kerris Dorsey (right) answers theater department marketing director Matthew Gilmores questions at the APU Blackbox Theater. Cash in Walk the Line. Since then, she has guest starred in various television series such ond season of Ray Donovan as Bridget DonoDorsey not only discussed her career, but sion sound more like a human experience, as AMCs Mad Men, FX Networks Sons van, daughter to the title character, whos played also everything from approaching auditions to senior theater major Taylor Wesselman said. of Anarchy and Disney Channels Shake it by actor Liev Schreiber. Dorsey explained that being on set. A lot of her training came while the cameras Up. acting in a teleBeing as close as we are to Hollywood, werent rolling because interacting with these Dorsey has vision series as its awesome we can have these great artists people and hearing their stories was an unexworked with opposed to a come and share with the students, Gilmore pected master class. I thought that the interview acclaimed acfeature-length said. Im thankful that our students can gain with Kerris was very enlightening. tors such as film allows her insight from working professionals in the inThe students questions varied in nature, Brad Pitt in to spend more dustry now. although many were about her experiences on Moneyball, time growing Dorsey said to help combat her nerves set. When one student asked her to recount a and Steve and developing while on set, she reminds herself that all suc- favorite memory on the set of Ray Donovan, Carell and Jen- Matthew Gilmore, theater department marketing her character. cessful actors - even the Brad Pitts of the world Dorsey shared a reminiscence of Jon Voight nifer Garner in director Theater De- - had to begin somewhere. sitting down to tell her the story of auditioning the upcoming partment MarActing is her craft, something to be studied for and filming Midnight Cowboy. Voight refilm Alexanketing Director and mastered, Dorsey told the students. She cently won the 2014 Golden Globe Award for der and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Matthew Gilmore conducted the interview did note, however, that acting is also some- Best Supporting Actor as Mickey Donovan in Bad Day. Her longest-standing role is five with Dorsey, then opened the floor to the au- thing to be enjoyed, advising the students to the show. years as Paige Whedon in ABCs drama series dience for questions. Although the event was take a break if they ever reach a point of comFor more information about upcoming APU Brothers & Sisters. open all students, most of the audience con- placency. Theater events, check out www.facebook.com/ Next month she will begin filming her sec- sisted of around 40 theater majors. She did a great job of making the profes- AzusaPacificTheater.

Being as close as we are to Hollywood, its awesome we can have these great artists come and share with the students.

WeDneSDAY, JAn. 29, 2014

Former APU prof to try Year Without God

of Ministry program. And Ryan, by his own admission, couldnt do that for us. Ken Fong, a longtime pastor and former colleague of Bells at Fuller, said he is [admiring Bell] from afar for being so honest. I trust Ryans heart, to be motivated by things that are much more pure than not, Fong said. Im enough of a pastor and a friend to not want to presuppose what a good outcome [of Ryans project] would be. Similarly, at APU, Bell said he had a lovely conversation with Dr. Donald Isaak, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Richard Robison, chair of the Global Studies Depart ment, about his trek into atheism. Isaak called Bells project interesting and even courageous, but that he personally thinks what Bell is doing is dangerous. If Im mistaken I dont mind being corrected, but as far as I understand it, hes seeking for answers intentionally outside of Gods Word, Isaak said. The Rev. Kevin Mannoia reached out to Bell to connect af ter he learned about Bells change in his spiritual journey. As APUs full-time chaplain, Mannoia provides spiritual support and encouragement to the universitys graduate students and faculty/staff, much like what the campus pastors do for undergraduate students. These are tough moments for anybody, and his world has changed dramatically. ... I want to be available, Mannoia said. This is a very authentic time for him. Hes very sincere in his desire to pursue this project. Although Mannoia said faith without any doubt is never good, he would warn against having an antagonistic attitude. God welcomes the questions, Mannoia said. And be careful of doing it in isolation; dont follow that path of questioning alone. Senior global studies major April Fautsch, a former student of Bells, described him as passionate and radical. If I had to picture one of my professors doing [this project], it would be him, she said. I wish him luck. Another former student, senior business management major Chris Duke, said he struggles to understand if Bell truly believed in God before, how he could completely cut God out of his life. Id be interested to see how hes doing in July, Duke said. Im friends with him on Facebook and Im constantly seeing his updates. ... Im very excited to see where it will lead him and what Gods going to do with him over the next year. Bell is now several weeks into his atheistic journey and said hes learning about terms such as an agnostic theist and agnostic atheist. He is probably somewhere in between, he said. Reflect ing on his journey so far, he said it has included elements of loneliness, high pressure, clarity and freedom. There have been moments of real, Oh, no, what have I done? kind of things, he said. [But] theres also a feeling of immediacy ... living without the premise of a god really forces a person to deal with life as it presents itself to you right now. So someone asked me what do you believe in, and I said I believe in Zoe and Sophie, my daughters. That I know for sure.

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Ryan Bell sits down with The Clause to discuss his yearlong atheism exploration
Annie Z. Yu
editor-in-chief

When former APU adjunct pro fessor and longtime pastor Ryan Bell decided to embark on an un usual yearlong personal faith ex periment, he didnt realize how much of a stir he would create in the media and with Christians and atheists nationwide. But after his opening letter declaring his Year Without God project was published on the Huffington Post Dec. 31, he has spent every day trying to keep up with what he described as a never-end ing, exhausting influx of emails, tweets, Facebook messages, blog comments and other notifications. Its emotional because people think they know you, and they say some pretty hurtful things at times. They ascribe motives to what Im doing, like Im just trying to create a media platform for myself, or Im not sincere, its a stunt, the 42-year-old told The Clause. Its so upsetting. I try to tell myself that its all part of the research; these responses are as interesting as the project itself. Bell grew up in the Seventhday Adventist church, attended Christian colleges and has been a pastor his entire adult life. Most recently he served for eight years as a senior pastor at Hollywood Adventist Church, but was asked to step down last March. Bell said his activism against Proposition 8, Californias ban on gay marriage, was a big part of why he was eventually asked to resign. However, Larry Caviness, president of the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adven tists, said in a statement emailed to The Clause that although issues with same-sex views may have contributed, they were not a major factor in in the conferences decision to ask Bell to resign. After Bell lost his pastoral position, he was left teaching one class on cultural communication for APUs Global Studies Department and one class for Fuller Seminarys Doctor of Ministry program, both as an adjunct. Bell formulated the idea for his yearlong project during a friendly conversation on philosophy and theism sometime between Christ-

Former APU adjunct professor Ryan Bell laughs as he speaks to friends about Sunday Assembly, a church for atheists. ments, and just let my questions be there, and explore them, Bell said. One of Bells former APU students, Amanda Eckersall, called Bells sudden trek into atheism a little shocking. The former senior graphic design major has since transferred to Citrus College, but recalled how Bell would often start his classes by handing out a pas sage from Scripture. Of course I think its wonderful to explore different beliefs, but I just wonder how serious hes going to take atheism, Eckersall said. I worry about him, spiritually and financially. Bells story has been picked up by mainstream media such as the BBC, NPR, CNN, Religion News Service, Washington Post and others. An atheist blogger even set up a fundraising page for Bell, raising more than $27,000 so far. After intense public scrutiny and questioning, Bell said he has been forced to clarify both to himself and others what his project really is, and that

Russell Orrell COURTeSY

Bell, who is involved in several activist causes, speaks at an anti-gun violence conference on the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall a week after the 2012 Newtown, Conn. shooting. doing is stepping into the void. So its not about things Im doing so much, but about being in a space where I dont know what to do, he said. If God is not there actually, and my belief in God is really about the effort to avoid the reality ... that God isnt there, then a year without God is really about not fighting it. About not fighting that question, and allowing that ques tion full room to roam. Bell will be blogging about his project throughout the year, as well as his plans to travel, meet with and interview both individual and groups of various atheists and the ists. He said numerous people have come out to him as either serious agnostics or atheists, asking him spiritual questions and inviting him to be a part of their story. I said from the beginning this is one part journalism, one part spiritual journey, Bell said. I want to explore atheism in America from the inside. Its really participant-observer research. Meanwhile, Bell is also hunt ing for full-time work, preferably something writing-related that isnt too overwhelming, since he is treating his Year Without God project as a part-time job in itself. Social justice, community engagement, social services type of jobs ... I think that would keep me connected to stuff I really care about. More than anything else, Ive been a social justice activist, he said. Contrary to several media reports, Bell was not fired from his positions at APU and Fuller. Bell was on a semester-by-semester contract for the two Christian universities, and had to sign a faith statement to renew each term. We find it as a very high value that our professors will encourage students spiritually [and] pray for students, said Kurt Fredrickson, associate dean of Fullers Doctor

Ken Fong COURTeSY

It would be a year without God, a year as an atheist, to sort of not force myself into theistic arguments, and just let my questions be there, and explore them.
Ryan Bell, former APU professor and lifelong pastor mas and New Years Day. Bell said for the last two or three years, he has been exploring a non-ontological approach to God - focusing on how to think about God, instead of the being-ness of God. Without any full-time work, he said if there were ever a time to explore these questions, it might as well be now. It would be a year without God, a year as an atheist, to sort of not force myself into theistic argu -

it has evolved since he first announced it last month. For example, although he did write that he would not pray or read the Bible for inspiration. Now he stresses that those are merely consequences, not goals, of the project. His faith was much more robust than just praying and reading Gods Word, he said. And he said hell still read the Bible, but with a different set of lenses. Its almost like the thing Im

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Students speak: Super Bowl teams, traditions

Kelyn Struiksma
staff writer

Clause weDneSDAY, JAn. 29, 2014 9

Students share their thoughts on the match-up with the NFLs No. 1 defense, the Seahawks, against the No. 1 offense, the Broncos

Andrew Counts, SOPHOMORE SOCIAL WORK MAJOR

Kailey Hanks, JUNIOR APPLIED HEALTH MAJOR

Hanks, who will be rooting for the Seahawks, said rooting for her team has been a tradition from a young age. Im hoping to go home to my family to watch the game because its such a huge tradition for me, and exciting because the Seahawks have never won the Super Bowl. Hopefully we will this year, Hanks said. Although Hanks says she likes the energy of the whole team, her favorite player is quarterback Russell Wilson. He is really good and cute, Hanks said. He has really good aspects to the game running, throwing and he is really smart.
Kelyn Struiksma phOTO

Counts, a Seattle native, will be rooting for the Seahawks. With only one other Super Bowl performance, he is excited that they have another opportunity to compete for the title. Its really exciting because this is the

Kelyn Struiksma phOTO

dream match-up, said Counts. You have the AFC champions verses the NFC champions. The No. 1 defense from the Seattle Seahawks, going up against the No. 1 offense, the Denver Broncos. Thats what you want to see; the two No. 1 teams going head to head. Cornerback Richard Sherman is one of Counts favorite players to watch, as he is so good at what he does and does it with a sense of style. This Super Bowl, Counts will most likely be watching the game with friends and eating pizza, but explains how his passion for the Seahawks can quickly reduce his appetite. Usually theres not a whole lot of eating because Im real anxious and get really stressed out, said Counts. I pace around and theres a lot of breath ing techniques that happen. Ill be in and out of the room, yelling at not always the appropriate times.

Lindsay Lee, SOPHOMORE CHEMISTRY MAJOR

Jeff Kemp, SENIOR APPLIED HEALTH MAJOR

Kemp, who will be supporting the Seahawks, respects the passion with which the team continually plays. He said the Seahawks have a 1-0 mentality.

Kelyn Struiksma phOTO

Its the ideal that every game they go into, their record is always one win and no losses, so every game there is no pressure because were the best team and were going to win, Kemp said. The Seahawks are more than just a team to watch for Kemp. Quarterback Russell Wilson serves not only as his favorite player, but also as a role model. He is more than just a football player, Kemp said. He is a Christian and has an amazing story about how he came to the faith when he was 14. He is someone I can look up to even though I have never played football. Kemp hopes the Seahawks will be able to combine their offense with their strong defense. If both can click, we will definitely win the Super Bowl, said Kemp.

Kelyn Struiksma phOTO

Lee, a 49ers fan, will be rooting for the Broncos out of spite against the Seahawks. Just weeks ago, the Seahawks triumphed in a 23-17 victory against San Francisco. Its a big rivalry between the 49ers and the Seahawks, and I dont want them [the Seahawks] to win, said Lee. Although the Broncos are not her team, Lee thinks they have a great chance of winning and she respects Peyton Manning. This might be one of his last years, so I feel like he should have his time to shine, Lee said. Hes a good football player and he shows that on and off the field. More than anything else, Lee is looking the overall great atmosphere the game brings.

Sean Janas, SENIOR BUSINESS ECON MAJOR

Colorado native and lifelong Bronco fan Janas hopes that after years of just missing the mark, the Broncos can pull out a win and get a Super Bowl ring. According to Janas, the Broncos deserve to win because of the unrecognized talent they have. Cornerback Champ Bailey has been in the NFL for 14 years and has set various records, but this year Janas hopes that he can finally win a Super Bowl ring. Janas also supports quarterback Peyton Mannings skill and leadership and believes if the Broncos win the Super Bowl, it would be a great swan song for Manning. As they say in the movie, We ride together, we die together, bad boys for life, said Janas. Ill always be a Bronco fan no matter what happens. Go Broncos!

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10 weDneSDAY, JAn. 29, 2014

Freshmen: What we learned first semester

Ellen Mayer
Cinematic arts major Adams Hall

Clause

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Freshmen share lessons learned, from researching professors to finding support on campus
Kimberlee Buck
staff writer

Jordan Tuttle

PsycholoGy major Trinity Hall

After a semester of experience under their belts, freshmen all over campus can feel a little more confident. They may still be figuring out their major, why so many people are barefoot or how not to flood a building, but they are starting to get this whole college thing figured out.

Edward Valdez
BioloGy major Smith Hall

There so many resources on campus to get help, whether its the counseling center, campus pastors ... There are so many people [who] want to help you. If you reach out they wont redirect you.

Kimberly Smith phOTO

You actually need your syllabus because in high school they didnt matter as much, but now all of your assignments are in there, so its quite important.

Kimberly Smith phOTO

Biochemistry major EnGstrom Hall

Breanna Navarro

Hannah Bournes
PsycholoGy major EnGstrom Hall

Diversity is really what makes this place special and creates a community. The fact that we have a background with God, there is that initial love that we all have for each other that is really special. ... We may be all different but we all have God in us and we all share that love that creates that community.

Kimberly Smith phOTO

Got Advice?
What did you wish you knew as a freshman? Tweet @apuclause with your best advice and you may be featured in our neXt issue.
Reading beforehand and doing your research on your professors helps a lot because everyone has different preferences ... ratemyprofessor.com is helpful.
Kimberly Smith phOTO Kimberly Smith phOTO

You have to plan out tasks so that you dont forget about them. Writing things down really helps.

Legacy of Iraeli prime minister: hero or murderer?

Despite Ariel Sharons war hero status with Israelis, he is responsible for countless innocent deaths
as defense minister. If one were to ask an Israeli directly involved in Sharons history Scott Jacob - or one who shares similar views of opinion editor Israeli right to the Holy Land - to describe the ex-prime ministers legacy, Ariel Sharon passed away this their response may very well support month at 85, after suffering a stroke the exoneration of a hero. The arguin 2006 and falling into a coma for ment would be that he was loyal to the Israeli nation and the people witheight years. While the Israelis mourn their in it. But that doesnt change the fact hero, Palestinians are glad the former that he is responsible for the countless prime minister died. This sparks a deaths of hundreds of innocent Palesvolatile controversy as onlookers ask tinians, Lebanese and Egyptians. Refugee themselves, camps by definiWhose side tion are estabare we on as lished to provide Americans, solace from an Christians increasingly bruand individutal circumstance. als? Very few people Israelis in the APU comsaw Sharon munity can even as a war hero fathom the conbecause he ditions and overhelped de- Howard Zinn, author of A Peoples whelming fear feat Egypt in History of the United States that come with 1973, while being displaced Palestinian Arabs see him as an enemy because due to violence. It is essentially the of the 1982 Lebanon invasion when most vulnerable place where a human hundreds of men, women and chil- being can be in this life. When a massacre is allowed to pass through where dren died in refugee camps. Sharon was also accused of kill- human beings need to feel safe, there ing 800 Palestinians in the supposed is very little room to see the bureauoversight of security troops stationed cratic oversight as forgivable. Initially my thoughts were neuoutside a Palestinian refugee camp. Due to this ethically fragmented de- tral, until I waded through numerous cision, Sharon was forced to resign articles and documentaries. Sharon
staff writer

Opinion

J. Yvette Tostado

There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.

Protest art in Nabulus, Palestine decrying the separation wall between Israeli settlements and the West Bank. did some good for his people, but I soon realized that does not excuse the fact he also destroyed many families. Killing only provokes further bloodshed in the form of retaliation. Howard Zinn, in his book A Peoples History of the United States, wrote,There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. There is something deeply complex and worrisome about Sharons heroic legacy, especially when considering the violent uprising between 2000 and 2005, which resulted in the deaths of 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis. But unlike Palestinians, I will not celebrate Sharons death because, as Christians, we are not called to celebrate the death of another child of God. Ariel Sharon was an incredibly powerful leader: he had his values, his own beliefs, and he stood by them. He was known to not follow anyones rules but his own, which led the victory of the war in 1973. The Israelis valued him because of his role as a leader, how he led their country and what he brought to the Israelis in terms of political power and extensive land gains. From an American point of view,

Justine Jacob COURTESY

his death is an extremely sensitive issue because of the deep-seated ties our government has financially and militarily with Israel. While there is certified evidence of senseless killings and even war crimes within Sharons career as a leader, Obama would never make negative statements against Sharon and possibly jeopardize the relationship between our nations. Sharon did not shy away from his hardline values. His unwavering dedication to Israel and his people resulted in a legacy of victories, but at an astronomical cost of human life and freedom.

The flickering light of one mans spiritual journey

Former APU professor Ryan Bells year of atheism project shows lack of boldness to fight for his faith
Marissa Black
staff writer

Which is worse: leaving someone you no longer want to love, or to continue pretending to love? Should you let go of what already seems a lost cause and save further heartbreak, or is it better to fight for that person despite not really wanting to love? Now apply your answer to a relationship more important than any person what if the relationship in jeopardy were between you and God? While this may sound like a plot line from A Midsummer Nights Dream, Ryan Bell former pastor, ex-adjunct professor of intercultural communication at APU and a previous adjunct in the Doctor of Ministry

Ryan Bell has a discussion about Sunday Assembly, a non-religious gathering for atheists. program at Fuller Seminary battled this conundrum. Bell used to be a pastor at Hollywood Adventist Church, but after he was fired last March, he ultimately chose what the Christian Post calls flirting with unbelief in choosing to live a year of atheism rather than settle for a faith he didnt consider his own. So, Im making it official and embarking on a new journey. I will try on atheism for a year. For the next 12 months, I will live as if there is no God. I will not pray, read the Bible for inspiration, refer to God as the cause of things or hope that God might intervene and change my own or someone elses circumstances, Bell wrote in a blog post published on the

Russell Orrell COURTESY

We dont like to face the reality that our faith has been marooned on an island of stagnancy, left to rot without the nourishment it needs.

Huffington Post Dec. 31. I dont believe Bells decision to live as an atheist for a year stemmed from some deepseated hatred of Christianity or of Gods people. I believe it was a direct result of what is proving to be the biggest enemy of all Christians:apathy. Instead of confronting his doubts and making an effort to mend his relationship with God, he dismisses it all together. While other religions can aggressively try to snuff out our lights, apathy lets them burn out leisurely, slowly adjusting our eyes until we become comfortable with darkness. This apathy led to Bells desire for something fresh, something else to believe. Just like passively dating someone with no intentions can make

you jump at the opportunity to meet someone different and new, living passively in our faiths bores us; it leaves us uncommitted and uninterested. I think too often Christians would rather settle for what Revelation calls a lukewarm Christianity. We dont like to face the reality that our faith has been marooned on an island of stagnancy, left to rot without the nourishment it needs. I believe we can become lax in our worship, engaging our bodies but refusing to budge our hearts and minds. We can become lax in our involvement with the body of believers, telling ourselves that chapel counts as church because the body is the body no matter where we go, right? We can become lax in our genuineness, going through the motions as it were, with no intention of growing. The most terrifying discovery we can make as Christians is to realize that the actor weve been watching put on a convincing character is our self.Scripture supports questioning and testing of our faith, commanding us not to just passively accept our beliefs without ever doubting. We are human and thus prone to skepticism and questions. Second Corinthians 13:5 says to examine yourselvesas towhether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified (NKJV). Scripture encourages us to not settle in our beliefs. We are not called to live comfortably in our faith, but to be constantly challenged by it. I support Bell in his decision to admit his shortcomings. I believe his recognition of his weakened faith is admirable, but his resulting plan of action is not. He lacks the boldness to fight for his Father, his faith, his future. When faith seems fragile, we cant try to fix it by ourselves. We will only smash it. Give it to someone who can repair it. Give it to the Healer.

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WEDnESDaY, Jan. 29, 2014

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Sherman controversy is an overreaction caused by media

Star NFL player makes some strong comments but they can be forgiven
Kaity Bergquist
staff writer

The reaction to Richard Shermans postgame comments is unnecessary. Athletes are going to bring a level of intensity to their game that is unlike any other, and they should not be punished for it. Jan. 19, the Seattle Seahawks played the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game. There was a lot at stake; one team was going to the Super Bowl and one was not. The focus after the game should have been on the winning team - the Seahawks earned the 23-17 victory - but it was not. It was on some spur-ofthe-moment, pure reaction, all-outintensity quotes made by Seahawks cornerback Sherman. When Sherman was interviewed by Fox News reporter Erin Andrews moments after the game ended, he was fired up. He had just completed a thrilling block of the football in the end zone that caused an interception that gave the Seahawks a win. That play gave them the Super Bowl spot. Immediately after the play, he ran over to 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, for whom the football had been intended, and tried to congratulate him on the game. Crabtree pushed

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him in the face and ignored his attempts for a handshake. This slight prompted his interview.Im the best cornerback in the game, Sherman said, screaming and jumping around. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, thats the result you are going to get. Dont you ever talk about me. ...Dont you open your mouth about the best, or Im going to shut it for

you real quick. This was obviously not the most well thought-out response. But he later cooled down a bit and reflected on his heated statements. If you catch me in the moment on the field when I am still in that zone, when Im still as competitive as I can be and Im trying to be in the place where I have to be to do everything I can to be successful ... and

help my team win, then its not going to come out as articulate, as smart, as charismatic - because on the field Im not all those things, Sherman told CNN in an interview Jan. 21. What was most surprising about this incident was the reaction. Thousands took to social media to criticize Sherman for his comments, and many derogatory terms and racial slurs were used. This is not right. Sure, he prob-

ably should have been watching what he was saying, but he was in the moment. What he said didnt hurt anyone. Crabtree might have felt threatened by his statement, but what came out of Shermans mouth was fueled by an intense game and some bad blood between the men. Just because someone has a moment showing some emotion in a public sphere does not mean the person deserves to be attacked for character or race. Take, for example, Muhammad Ali, a very successful athlete who said many controversial things in his career, in fact, much worse than what Sherman said. When asked about one of his opponents, Ali said, Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the U.S. Bureau of Wildlife. These kinds of childish attacks were prevalent throughout Alis career, yet even his bitter rival George Foreman declared that he was a prophet, a hero, a revolutionary. This situation can even be compared with the recent arrest of Justin Bieber. In that situation, a huge public reaction is completely justified. Bieber was breaking the law and creating a situation that could have been dangerous to innocent people. All Sherman did was show some passion after a game. Some people found his rant to be a distraction from the attention that should have been given to his teammates after their big win. The blame should be deflected to the media as well as those on social media. We are the ones that make things like this go viral, but we also have the power to see it as it really is: a hyper-passionate moment after a big game.

Execution and the little things

With season half over, Cougars look to make adjustments and move up in conference ranks
Steven Mercado
sports editor

Sports
The Cougars (10-6, 6-4) begin the second half of the season with a four-game road trip that begins with three games at the Hawaiian Islands. They cap off the trip with another rematch against the rival Cal Baptist Lancers.

THURSDAy, JAN. 30 BYU-HAWAII @ LAIE, HAWAII

The all-time series between the Cougars and the Seasiders is tied, 1-1.

sAturDAy, FEB. 1 hAwAII PACIFIC @ hONOlUlU, hawaii

The all-time series between the Cougars and the Sea Warriors is tied, 3-3.

The Azusa Pacific mens basketball team stands with a 10-6 overall record and a 6-4 conference record at the halfway point of the season after an impressive victory Friday night to stop the conference-best California Baptist Lancers from a perfect season. The Cougars performance during the first half of the season was shaky. After their 20-point win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in their home opener, they lost the next two games at home against Cal Poly Pomona and Biola. A week later, they won back-to-back games against Alaska Fairbanks and Northwest Nazarene (Idaho), but began conference play with two losses against Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur, respectively. The Cougars recently went on a five-game home winning streak that was snapped by Dixie State on Monday, Jan. 20. Its been eventful. Weve had some injuries, some tough losses, but all in all, I like how were competing and playing, head coach Justin Leslie said. Were competing at a high level. We just have to continue to grind out and do those little things that are the difference between winning and losing. The Cougars two starting guards, juniors Troy Leaf and Robert Sandoval, possess the ball the majority of the time. Directly after a rebound, they push the ball up the floor and either take it themselves, find a teammate for an open shot, and run the pick-and-roll or the few offensive sets they run. Leaf leads the Pacific West Conference in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game, leading Hawaii Pacific junior guard Justin Long by just 0.1 points.

monDAy, FEB. 3 ChAmInADE @ hONOlUlU, hawaii sAturDAy, FEB. 8 CALIFornIA bAPtIst @ RiVeRSiDe, CaliF.

The Cougars are 0-2 against the Silverswords all-time.

Junior guard Troy Leaf looks to lead the Cougars over the opposition in the second half of the season as he did on this fallaway jumpshot against the Dixie State Red Storm Monday, Jan. 20. Leaf said the Cougars had a lot of tough breaks in the first half of the season. According to Leaf, a number of the games they lost could have been wins if they had buckled down and made smarter plays. Staying focused throughout an entire game [is key]. If you take a minute-and-a-half, two-minute stretch out of a game, we win those games, Leaf said. We need to be able to maintain our consistency throughout a game and not only have spurts of consistency. The Cougars point to their defense as one of their main early struggles. Leaf talked about inconsistencies early in the season and said inconsistent defense caused issues for the team. But lately things have picked up, particularly the defense, he said. I think we started really inconsistently, but I think were starting to come together and starting to learn how to play with each other, Leaf said. I think if we take where were at now and put that seven or eight games ago, we would be a lot happier with where we are at. One of the key contributors to the improving defense is sophomore forward Sharif Watson. The intensity he brings on the court ignites his teammates to bring the pressure to opposing teams. I personally try to do my best every play to keep the ball from going into the rim. If that means taking a charge, getting a block or bodying up, Ill do it, Watson said. Watson and senior forward Tyler Monroe provide the majority of the scoring on the inside for the Cougars. Watson averages 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, leads the team in blocks with 27, is second in steals with 21, and is shooting 64.5 percent from the field. Monroe averages 12.2 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and is shooting 54.7 percent for the season. Leslie said the teams inside scorers need to make difficult shots around the basket, the shooters need to sink shots when they are open and the team as a whole needs to consistently execute the little things.

Steven Mercado pHOTO

Following the Cougars recent 78-63 upset over the conferenceleading Lancers, the rivals are set to face off in another heated contest. The Cougars lead the alltime series, 73-26.

Fifty/fifty balls, executing scouting reports, and game preparations are some of the little things, Leslie said. Those little things are the difference and were making steps, but I think its fair to say thats a key for us. Everything came together on Friday nights contest against the conference juggernaut Cal Baptist Lancers. The team came to the Felix Event Center undefeated with a 16-0 record before the Cougars stunned the Lancers with a 78-65 victory. As the players look forward to the second half of the season, Leslie is excited for what lies ahead. All in all, the team is doing really well, Leslie said. Theyre learning, theyre tougher and theyve been a lot more mature. Its all part of the process, but its been a lot of fun. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Cougars win over the Lancers might be what they need to push them into a hot streak to close the season.

CaLiFORnia bapTiST CHaMinaDE DiXiE STaTE bYU-Hawaii aZUSa paCiFiC DOMiniCan (Ca) Hawaii paCiFiC pOinT LOMa nOTRE DaME DE naMUR HOLY naMES FRESnO paCiFiC aCaDEMY OF aRT Hawaii HiLO

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10-1 9-2 8-3 7-4 6-4 7-5 6-5 6-6 5-6 4-7 2-9 2-9

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CrossFit boosts level of performance for Cougars

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ACaDEMY OF aRT aZUSa PaCiFiC Hawaii paCiFiC CaLiFORnia bapTiST DiXiE STaTE FRESnO paCiFiC pOinT LOMa HOLY naMES Hawaii HiLO nOTRE DaME DE naMUR bYU-Hawaii CHaMinaDE DOMiniCan (Ca) 10-1 9-1 8-3 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-6 5-6 5-6 4-8 3-8 2-9 2-9
a player who transferred from Division I school Portland State this year, applauds the results that CrossFit has produced. I think CrossFit has been great for our whole team. Just helping us get in shape I dont feel as winded when I play, Greene said. CrossFIt, from PG. 1 I think its not just a fatigue thing, This workout regimen gave the but its a mental thing. Foley was one of the coaches team a whole body workout that was entertaining, well liked and benefi- who pieced together this workout cial in producing top-shape players program. She implemented her with the ability to outhustle most of CrossFit workouts and helped adjust them to the needs of her team. the competition they play. The Cougars are making no[CrossFit]s different than just standing and lifting weights or just ticeable gains this year. Last year straight running. It combines a lot of around this time, their record was different movements, which is what 7-3 in conference; now, it is 9-1. basketball is. Its more realistic to a As much as anything else, it basketball game, or things you have to just brought a competitive nature, do in a basketball game, Foley said. Hardeman said. I definitely think Junior forward Allison Greene, we will continue to do it.

Cougars adopt different training method to build strength

Junior guard Allison Greene and the rest of the Cougars are able to endure hits and contact like Greene did against the Dixie State Red Storm on Monday, Jan. 20 due to their increased strength and endurance from their CrossFit training regimen.

Steven Mercado pHOTO

Tennis program seeks strong competition

With season starting Saturday, mens and womens teams look to stay competitive against opponents this year
Steven Mercado
sports editor

14 wEDnESDaY, Jan. 29, 2014

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Following a 23-2 national championship year for the mens tennis team and an 18-8 season for the womens tennis team that ended with a NCCAA semifinal loss to Fresno Pacific, the Azusa Pacific tennis program is preparing for its final season before full NCAA eligibility. The mens tennis team will be without two of its top players from last season. Former captain Jochem Hoefnagels graduated and Ben Eger will be redshirting this season. Sophomore Jan Meyer and junior Gary Yam return to the team as top players for the Cougars this season. The roster consists of four newcomers, including a sophomore transfer from Eastern Washington, Tomas Aranguiz. Head coach Mark Bohren said this season is going to be much different from last season, with a few seniors gone and several newcomers arriving. Its impossible to repeat what we did last year. We didnt lose a match in the NAIA last year until the national championships, Bohren said. Expectations are like they are every year to be our very best by

Following a championship year, senior captain Freddy Wilkens looks to compete hard and lead the men to another successful season. the end of the season. Senior and team captain Freddy Wilkens is taking Hoefnagels spot as the top player and the senior leader for the Cougars. He had a 19-7 singles record last year and earned AllPacWest Second Team Singles honors. Bohren said he is excited about Wilkens ability to be an effective leader for the team this season. [Freddy] has an amazing ability to lead the guys by example out there, and that leadership will, just like last year with Jochem, win us a

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few matches, calm us when things are difficult, and pull us through some of those really close dual matches, Bohren said. Wilkens, the only senior on the active roster, said he takes his role model position on the team seriously. For myself, I always try to stay on top of things, I always try to organize everything, I try to do the best I can to help everyone out and to lead the team the best that I can, he said. Meyer, last seasons PacWest co-Freshman of the Year, and Yam are returners who, according to Bohren, will carry the men through the lengthy dual matches. The teams good shape will keep the squad from adversity relating to fatigue. We put a lot of time and effort into [conditioning], so that always helps in those really long, 3 1/2 hour matches where guys are playing and conditioning comes to be a part of it, Bohren said. We might even win a match or two off that strength off of our ability to be physically fit and ready to compete for long periods. The womens tennis team is essentially the same as last years, aside from losing one player and adding freshman Natalie Johnson. Bohren said he wants the team to be successful, but more than anything, he wants to stay competitive. The wins and losses are not that important to me. Were trying to build each day to get a little bit better, Bohren said. The girls, one of their expectations as a group is to be competitive in every match. Whether were better than the other team or not as good, theyre going to go out there and compete their hardest.

Out of the eight players on the roster, four are experienced seniors, which Bohren said makes a huge difference. I just think, as a coach, its a lot of fun to have seniors, Bohren said. Theyre very well behaved, they know what to do, theyre on time, they know exactly what to expect, theres no real surprises for them, so its a really relaxed group of girls. Senior captain Emily Harris is will be leading the team for the second straight year. Her combined singles and doubles record was 3112 last season and she received AllPacWest Second Singles team honors and All-PacWest Second Doubles team honors alongside junior teammate Danae Ingwaldson. Bohren is thankful to have a leader like Harris on the team and said nobody is better and [more] durable than the senior captain. Shes a perfect role model for the girls, being able to fill that good presence at No. 1 singles that she brings, Bohren said. A heck of a tennis player. I always say shes a good tennis player, but shes a better person. Harris said she is ready to lead her teammates and like last year, is honored to take this position. She is a player who leads by example through her performance during practices and matches. According to Harris, the team has great chemistry and she is excited to play alongside her teammates and make memories during her last season.

For the full article, visit www.theclause.org/sports

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Featured Keynote Speaker:

Kara Powell, Ph.D.

Fuller Youth Institute Visit apu.edu/cdl/, or APUs mobile app the week of the event, for the full schedule.
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Young softball team prepares for new season

After losing 11 seniors last season, team looks to younger players to pick up leadership roles
Kaity Bergquist
staff writer
Holly Magnuson COURTESY

15

With a year of Pacific West Conference experience under its belt, the Azusa Pacific baseball team looks to bounce back with a stronger all-around team.

Cougar baseball ready to bring the steam

Erica Knudsen
staff writer

The Azusa Pacific baseball team is ready to start its new season with a double header on Saturday, Feb. 1 against Cal State San Bernardino at the Cougar Baseball Field. The attitude our team has every year is what we call bringing steam. This means a lot of energy, focus and enthusiasm on the field, senior pitcher Hunter Brown said. With 16 freshmen and nine transfers this season, the players are wellbalanced. They have dominant members in pitching, offense and defense that will increase their chances of winning the conference title. I think what we are most excited for is just to play an actual game with the new group of guys, senior pitcher Jacob Cage said. Weve been practicing for about six months now, and I think everybody is just ready to play and have fun. The Cougars have been working hard for several months with 6 a.m. practices three times a week and scrimmages four times a week during the offseason. They ended their season last year with a record of 1930, but they won nine in a row at the

finish. They plan on using that same determination to win conference this year. Last year, we were young and still learning, but our optimistic attitude going into each game has never changed, Brown said. The goal for the Cougars this season is to come together as a team and continue to stay positive through successes and failures alike. Their main concern is making sure each player is handling adversity in a professional way and giving his best effort each time on the field. We want to be consistent with our process of handling things, and we really believe if we have a good process, practice [the] right way and a maintain a good attitude, then the wins and the losses will take care of themselves, head coach Paul Svagdis said. Moving from the NAIA to NCAA Division II has not affected the Cougars dramatically. Their training has been changed in different areas, but the competition and skill level have been consistent in the transition to Division II, leaving the pressure behind. The one difference between NAIA and Division II is just putting in the extra hours to become that much better, Cage said.

The new pitching coach, John Verhoeven, has also contributed to the new training this season, with his past experience as head coach at Biola University and as a former Major League Baseball player. I think people assume our poor results last year was because of our move to Division II, but I would say that wasnt the case, Svagdis said. I think we just have more opportunities available to us now that were Division II. The coaches do not want the players to only play baseball well, but also to become respectful men. With each season that passes, the players are learning new ways to improve their baseball skills, along with lessons they can use for the rest of their lives. [Svagdis] puts having a great character above being a great baseball player, which I love, senior outfielder Joseph Daris said. I wouldnt want to play for any other head coach. The team is more than ready to start the 2014 season and wants as much support as it can get from the Azusa Pacific community. When you walk out on the field and theyre practicing hard every day, have a good attitude, and believe in themselves regardless, as a coach thats all you can ask for, Svagdis said.

Going into its second season as an NCAA team, the Azusa Pacific softball team is looking forward to making an impact in its conference. The team joined the Pacific West Conference as a Division II NCAA team last season and finished its season with a 23-24 overall record and a 12-18 conference record. The team will not have playoff eligibility in the NCAA until next year, but the squad did play a role in determining the final playoff spots by winning games against teams like Grand Canyon at the end of the season. The team lost 11 seniors this year, leaving behind a small group of underclassmen and many holes to fill. Its hard to replace 11 girls when thats even more than a team, head coach Carrie Webber said. Nine of those 11 had been with us for four years, so thats a big loss for us. Junior outfielder Sona Babayan said losing that many players made things noticeably different this year. You kind of have expectations in the beginning, but we came out strong in the preseason and showed a lot of potential and just meshed really well together and really quickly, Babayan said. Webber said the Cougars recruited four freshman and four transfers for the team this season. The loss is hard, but it also gives us the opportunity to bring in new talent and really develop the program and take it to bigger heights, Webber said.

Junior second baseman Katrina Oviedo, one of the teams leading returners, looks to help power the Cougars through a new year. Webber said at the beginning of last season, the Cougars werent sure how the level of competition would change in the new division. They quickly found out that the competition was better and more consistent, which led to adjustments for the team. Players also felt they were at a disadvantage because they were unfamiliar with their opponents, but this season they are more prepared. Last year we had a lot of onerun games, and this year well win a lot of those one-run games instead of losing them, Webber said. Babayan said that the transition to the NCAA is exciting. Itll be challenging, but I think we can do really well against the teams, Babayan said. The strongest aspect of the team this year is the hitting, according to Webber. Last season the team collectively batted .269 with 134 RBIs. She pointed to Babayan, junior second baseman Katrina Oviedo and junior center fielder Renae Chappelle as the upperclassmen who should be big contributors to the team this season. Were looking to them to really lead the team on and off the field, Webber said. On the pitching side, there are only three pitchers on the team this year.

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PROFILE

Sendy Valles makes her mark

Erica Knudsen
staff writer

The junior communication studies major transferred to Azusa Pacific last fall from Long Beach State, where she also played basketball and was part of a Division I program on a full-ride scholarship. At Long Beach State, Valles was teammates with former Cougar guard Amanda Sims, who transferred to APU the year before Valles did. After Valles played for Long Beach an additional year, she decided it was not the place for her. She talked with Sims and decided to give APU a shot. Transferring from a Cal State University to a private Christian university was a huge culture shock for Valles. Not only did she have to adapt to mandatory chapel requirements and a Christian worldview, but it was also a change to switch from Division I to Division II. Here at APU, people really care about your well-being, whereas in Long Beach, I just felt like a number,

Valles said. My coaches here care a lot more about us, and I think it is just a more positive atmosphere. Valles was elected captain her first year as a Cougar, and her peers and coaches believe she will stay a leader on the team while she finishes her education at APU. Sendy is a very vocal leader and obviously really good at basketball, junior guard Katie Powell said. She is a smart player because she thinks through things before she acts and has a lot of knowledge when it comes to basketball. Her teammates and coaches describe her as reliable, looking to her to come through if something needs to happen in the last minutes of the game. I think Sendy is consistent; she is definitely one of our best players, assistant coach Danielle Foley said. She knows that one of the main goals on the team is to score points and she does that consistently. Whether its a win or loss, Valles takes responsibility for her mistakes during the game and leaves the court

determined to improve. I think its awesome we come from different places, and she has a lot of basketball experience from past schools, junior center and captain Emily Nordberg said. So, bringing together ideas from different schools and pasts is always a good thing because we are creating a new culture on how we want the team to look. This season there were seven returning women and seven new ones on the team. Sendy has done really well living up to her expectations on and off the court, things like school, chapel, and practice, Nordberg said. Instead of sitting back and refusing to adapt to the culture here, she has definitely embraced these things. The Cougars are currently 9-1 in conference play and are half a game behind the Academy of Arts in San Francisco. Valles and her teammates have played well and need to maintain their current level of play if they hope to win the conference.

Junior forward Sendy Valles creates a variety of different scoring opportunities, such as attacking the basket like she did against the Dixie State Red Storm Monday, Jan. 20.

Steven Mercado pHOTO

16 WEDnESDaY, jan. 29, 2014

After the men won the national title last year, the entire team looks to continue building the programs legacy
Taylor Schablaske
staff writer

Track & Field looks to maintain legacy

competing for a national championship is senior jumper and short sprinter Sameer Sedam. As defending National Christian College Athletic Association Champions, Sedam fully expects both teams to be right back at that level this season. We have many athletes that are full of experience at the big stage as well as freshmen and transfers who are eager to show off their God-given abilities at a high level, Sedam said. Given our state of training and state of mind, stacked on top of the rich winning traditions of Azusa Pacific track & field, we all fully believe we will bring more national championships home to APU. The Cougars hosted their first meet of the 2014 season on Saturday. At the indoor events qualifier meet, the Cougars put up 49 marks that met the NCCAA indoor national championship standards. During the meet, 37 Cougar athletes registered at least one NCCAA qualifying mark, including 11 who were able to qualify in multiple events. Overall, the women accounted for 21, while the men added 16. For the men, standout performers were senior mid-distance Riley McKee, who ran a 1:55.37 in the 800 meters, and sophomore sprinter Ronald Douglas, who ran a 22.10 in the 200 meters, both of which would be provisional qualifiers for NCAA Division II competition. For the womens team, the top performers of the day were senior hurdler Jordan Chesley (60 meters, 60 meter hurdles), senior mid-distance runner Diandra Carstensen (800 meters, mile) and junior transfer Amber Panapa (weight throw, shot put). The Cougars next meet will take place Saturday, Feb. 1 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
The Azusa Pacific Track & Field team will participate in three more meets before going to the NCCAA Indoor National Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22.

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As the Azusa Pacific mens and womens track & field teams enter the 2014 season as their final year of competition before they become full members of the NCAA, coaches and athletes are striving to carry on the winning traditions of APU track & field. Several key Cougar athletes are redshirting this season, which will allow them to save eligibility for NCAA competition next season and years following. This years redshirts include top mens sprinter sophomore Remontay McClain and senior multi-event participant Megan VanWinkle on the womens team. Despite the absence of several key players, athletes are still expecting to be competitive on the national level this season. Im hoping to see people, including myself, step up and become better athletes so we can start our first NCAA season off with a bang, VanWinkle said. I want people to know our name and know that we are a force to be reckoned with. Before next seasons NCAA debut, this season holds many expectations. We have a solid group of juniors and seniors that will be competing that will still have the ability to do really well, mens head coach Kevin Reid said. David Schulte is coming back as a defending champion in both indoor and outdoor 400s; were going to have good relays. Its going to be a solid year. Another key returning athlete who will be

Senior jumper and short sprinter Sameer Sedam placed third in long jump, first in the 4x400 relay and registered one qualifying finish in the 60-meter dash out of 49 total qualifying finishes in Saturday, Jan. 25s indoor qualifying meet.

Kimberly Smith pHOTO