Mental Health | 7
Opinion | 8
Religion | 8
Lifestyle | 9
Building more tolerance for frustration
Fight for freedom of speech in a techno-oligarchy
Being transformed through trials
How American Girl impacted me
February 5, 2025 Collegedale, Tennessee
Southern Accent
Vol. 80 Issue 13
The student voice since 1926
Senate plans for futsal courts Pickleball courts decision uncertain
Students play a futsal match at Iles Gym. (Photo by Reagan Blake)
Alissa Flores News Editor Futsal, a fast-paced, smallsided variation of soccer played on hard courts, may soon join the array of sports facilities offered on campus, according to Alfredo Trevedan, the executive vice president for Southern’s Student Association (SA). Edvan Benitez, SA president, initially proposed the introduction of either pickleball or futsal courts to campus, Trevedan said. After deliberation, polls and multiple in-depth meetings, SA decided on futsal courts and aimed to implement them within
the year, despite the school of Health and Kinesiology’s opposition to having them on their premises. Trevedan said senators contacted students through constituent emails asking for opinions, starting in the Fall 2024 semester. “It didn’t seem like we got a lot of responses from the student body in terms of what was happening with the pickleball and futsal courts,” Trevedan said. “But students [were] more than welcome to present any excuses or concerns or anything that they [could] bring up to their senator.” Carlos Torres, a senior
public relations major and member of the futsal community on campus, said he has seen soccer and futsal grow in popularity during his years at Southern. Still, participation has been limited by the lack of suitable places to play. “Having a location that will be consistent for students is going to be super useful, and I think it’s appropriate to have somewhere for everyone to play the sport they love,” Torres said. Trevedan explained that after gathering information from students and faculty, the Student Association successfully pushed for a shift in plans from pickleball to futsal
courts. With the decision made, Trevedan attended an impromptu meeting with School of Health and Kinesiology leaders to present a proposition and solicit their support. He stated that during the meeting, he was surprised to learn that the faculty members did not favor the decision. “I got grilled by the Hulsey Wellness Center,” said Trevadan, “and after that happened, they kind of shut down the idea of it being built on Hulsey’s premises.” Despite SA’s fund of $134,000 set aside for the project, Tredvedan acknowledged that the Hulsey staff
presented logical reasons for their veto of the idea. “Outdoor futsal courts are really expensive, and if we want to build a whole other indoor court, that’s going to be even more expensive,” he said. Darrin Bissell, the facility manager at Hulsey, said the School of Health and Kinesiology staff had discussed support of a futsal court, provided that Landscape Services and Plant Services approved the location and if it did not take the place of pickleball courts. Ultimately, the School of Heath and Kinesiology wanted to create a plan for maintain-
See Futsal on page 2
Adventist church responds to immigration policy changes Matthew Orquia Editor-In-Chief
institutions to support the vulnerable and uphold the rights of the marginalized in society,” the statement reads. In addition to their statement, the NAD also shared a document entitled Guidance on Immigration Enforcement Activity on Church and School Property, which provides information for church and school leaders dealing with these new policies. The Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists posted an Instagram video with suggestions for how to respond to an immigration officer visiting the church.
Amid shifts in immigration policies during the Trump administration, the North-American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist church released a statement asking for “human dignity and decency.” According to the NAD, the policy changes make it so that churches, schools and hospitals will no longer be treated as “sensitive locations,” offering them less protections from government immigration enforcement.
“There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members."
The NAD released a document providing guidance for church and school leaders.
“There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members,” the release states. The press release, published on Jan. 31, offered support to those who are concerned about the recent policy changes impacting immigrants and refugees. “As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports
the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country,” the release states. The release also appealed to the Biblical principles of equality and unity, citing the 14th fundamental belief of the Adventist church. “Dehumanization and margi-
nation by law or the implementation of the laws or policies are diametrically opposed to the Bible,” the release states. “Therefore, it is inhumane and robs people of their God-given dignity in Christ to have policies that make them afraid to go to church and school because of the threat of being deported.” Along with the NAD, the Regional Conference Ministry for the Seventh-day Adven-
tist church also released a statement calling the possible impact of the policy change “disruptive and potentially traumatic.” Their statement also directly rejected “xenophobic characterizations” of immigrants, and espoused the contributions of immigrant families to their churches and communities. “We, therefore, affirm the sacred responsibility of our
"The Seventh-day Adventist church makes neither membership nor attendance contingent on someone's immigration status. Everyone is welcome to worship with us." The NAD guide states that “The Seventh-day Adventist Church makes neither membership nor attendance contingent on someone’s immigration status. Everyone is welcome to worship with us.”