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Southern Accent The student voice since 1926
‘The best obtainable version of the truth’: Legendary journalist Carl Bernstein discusses role of media
Vol. 78 Issue 11
Tuition to increase by 6% next school year
Amanda Blake Managing Editor
Bernstein said he believes more college dropouts and people who understand what is really going “in the streets” should become reporters. He addressed the belief among some Americans that “elites” now occupy most news organizations, controlling the topics that are reported. “What we are terrible about is covering the people of the country and what’s on their minds,” he said. When asked about distrust in the media, Bernstein placed a large percentage of the blame on the general public’s low receptiveness to truth, adding that it has become a large contributing factor to polarization in the nation. “I would say an overwhelming [number] of people of all political beliefs are looking for information to reinforce what they already believe,” he said.
Due to high inflation, Southern Adventist University will increase tuition, the general education fee, residence hall rent and meal plans — called the “Big Four” by administrators — by nearly 6% for the 2023-2024 academic year, according to Doug Frood, vice president for Financial Administration. For the academic year, tuition will equal $24,350, the general education fee $940, residence hall rent $5,140 and the bronze meal plan $2,920. Southern’s website lists the estimated food allowance for residence hall students as $3,360, and using that number, lists $33,790 as a residence hall student’s sample yearly cost. For community students, that cost is $25,290. The website adds, “With a full load, plan for books and supplies to cost an estimated $1,100.” “It’s been tough. I can tell you personally, there was not a single person in the room when we were making the discussion to set tuition for next year that went out of there happy,” Frood said in an interview with the Accent. “ … We are trying, and we are trying our best. Let's hope inflation comes back to something more reasonable.”
See CARL BERNSTEIN on page 2
See TUITION INCREASE on page 3
Legendary journalist Carl Bernstein speaks with Alison Lebovitz, host of a weekly PBS series, in front of a packed audience in Iles P.E. Center. Thursday, December 1, 2022 (Photo by: Ron Cabacungan)
Amanda Blake Managing Editor Matthew Orquia News Editor Carl Bernstein, one of the reporters who helped uncover the Watergate scandal leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, visited Southern Adventist University’s campus on Thursday, drawing more than 1,500 people to Iles P.E. Center. Bernstein shared his views regarding “truth” and the role of journalism in society during a conversational-style presentation moderated by local television personality Alison Lebovitz, host of “The A List with Alison Lebovitz,” a weekly WTCI/PBS interview series. The interview, taped before a live audience, will be broadcasted on WTCI/PBS sometime in the near future. Bernstein, the 78-year-old leg-
endary journalist, described how he worked for The Washington Evening Star as a teenager and covered the civil rights movement and former President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. He provided insight into how he and Bob Woodward exposed Nixon’s crimes as young reporters in their late 20s working for The Washington Post. The majority of the conversation, however, consisted of commentary on the role of journalists, public distrust of the media and advice for young reporters. “What I learned from great reporters as a kid covering civil rights: The truth is not neutral,” Bernstein said. “And think about it, a lynching is not neutral. And so from that evolves the notion: the best obtainable version of the truth is not going to be neutral a good part of the time.” Bernstein used the phrase “the best obtainable version of the truth” frequently throughout the
presentation to reference what a good journalist or news organization should aim to report. “What a reporter does is not just cover these elevated events, but you cover the surroundings and the context and the place in which it occurs,” he said. “And a part of the best obtainable version of the truth is context, not simply a set of facts about what a congressman says on the floor.” Bernstein’s visit to campus inaugurated the School of Journalism and Communication’s R. Lynn Sauls Lecture series, an annual event meant to “inspire a new generation of truth seekers, storytellers, and influencers” by annually inviting prominent journalists and communication professionals to campus. In addition to the hundreds who attended in person, the lecture also attracted more than 200 online viewers, according to the university. As a college dropout himself,
Ignite Live to return next semester Kathy Zelidon Reporter On Feb. 4, Ignite Live will return to Southern Adventist University for its first show of the school year. The show will take place in Iles Gym at 8 p.m. Regular Ignite hosts Gianna Bacchiocchi, junior health science major, and Aaron Patterson, senior mass communication – media production major, will host the production. “Ignite Live is a live event that aims to expand our YouTube
school year, with the first featuring special guest Alex Kendrick, a popular director of Christian films, and the second featuring Melvin Adams, a former Harlem Globetrotter and motivational speaker. Fernandez said this year’s guest speaker is yet to be confirmed but will be “major.” Fernandez told the Accent in an interview that the Ignite team is still considering several topics and themes for the night, but they want the show to be an opportu
key guest will be participating in the entire show rather than just as a speaker. Clubs will also be allowed to participate in games for prizes and have booths, and a student-led band will be performing. In addition, curfew for on-campus students will be extended to 2 a.m. This Ignite Live will be the first to be advertised to the Chattanooga population. When asked about the future of Ignite, Fernandez told the Accent that he hopes Ignite can be an event not only for students but
Campus Shop changes prove good for students, bad for sales Naomi Linder Staff Writer Last fall, Southern Adventist University debuted its new student center, the Bietz Center for Student Life. With this new space came the relocation of numerous campus resources such as the Campus Shop, which was previously located next to the Village Market on University Drive. The store, renamed the Southern Shoppe, is located on the first floor of Bietz. In an interview with the Accent, Sydney Whitmill, senior education major, said moving the bookstore was a positive thing for students. “Now that the campus shop is in Bietz, I feel like it’s so much easier for me to stop in and get what I need,” Whitmill said. “Walking all the way to the VM and then carrying my stuff back to the dorm was not it; Bietz feels so much closer.” While this move seems to have positively impacted some students, administrators tracking sale numbers said the relocation has negatively impacted revenue for the shop. According to Doug
Frood, vice president for Financial Administration, moving the shop away from University Drive has decreased the number of community customers. When asked if the move has affected the shop’s financial status, Frood said, “On one hand it’s great because the students are a little closer to it, but [it has] now lost the off-the-street traffic.” Another change the bookstore made was moving to MBS, the largest used college textbook wholesaler, as its sole provider of textbooks. According to Frood, this has decreased the amount of money students have to pay for their books by thousands of dollars, which also has resulted in less revenue for the shop. Frood said the store has been looking to increase sales of other items such as clothing, but because there is less street traffic, it has been focusing more on online sales. “It may not be perfect,” Frood said, “but we’ve made progress.”
Last year's Ignite hosts Aaron Patterson and Elise Deschamps speak to an Ignite Live crowd. November 5, 2021 (Photo by: Cecelia Moreno)
show, ‘Ignite,’ into a talk show experience,” said Professor Pablo Fernandez, Ignite’s staff sponsor. “In ‘Ignite’ we discuss meaningful topics for our community, giving students the chance to voice their opinions.” The event is produced by the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) in partnership with Student Association. Ignite Live occurred twice last
nity for students to release their stress from their everyday lives. “Students have been bombarded with issues like mental health, school and health problems,” Fernandez said. “At our event, students can come, relax, have some fun and hopefully get something out of it.” The show will be in the format of a late night show with games and activities. Fernandez said the
also for the surrounding community. “The long-term vision of Ignite Live is to become one of the major Christian entertainment events in Chattanooga,” he said. “We can show who we are as a university to the people just across the street.” You can view Ignite’s episodes and past clips of the Ignite Live shows on the SJC’s YouTube channel or at the Instagram page @ignitesau.
The Southern Shoppe sign in Bietz Center for Student Life Monday, December 5, 2022 (Photo by: Alana Crosby)