Coffee: A cautionary tale of the drug hiding in your drink
March 22. 2023 Collegedale, Tennessee
Religion | 6
Opinion | 6
Mental Health | 5
Getting our ducks in a row: A vindication of the duck as Southern's mascot
Facing Temptation? Remember your kids
Lifestyle | 7
Don't let influencers build your wardrobe: Beware of tasteless TikTok trends
Southern Accent
Vol. 78 Issue 19
The student voice since 1926
School of Health and Kinesiology opposes proposed mascot, fears it could lead to interscholastic sports Amanda Blake Managing Editor
During the Feb. 13 Faculty Senate meeting, Robert Benge, dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, asked senators to delay a vote on Student Association's (SA) proposed bear mascot so he and his employees could submit written feedback, according to a previous Accent article. After the meeting, Benge and Judy Sloane, a professor at the school, wrote a letter detailing their department’s stance against the creation of a mascot for Southern Adventist University. They submitted the letter to Bob Young, vice president for Academic Administration, who told the Accent that the letter was shared with the Pres-
ident’s Cabinet, deans and chairs and vice presidents. Rachel Williams-Smith, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, said the deans and chairs heard Benge’s concerns during a meeting, but, based on her recollection, no one gave any comments in response. In an interview with the Accent, Benge described the School of Health and Kinesiology’s standpoint. He clarified that the school has never considered the duck to be its official mascot, nor did the thought of the bear replacing the duck cross his or his employees’ minds while voicing their opinions. The duck has nothing to do with the school’s stance against the proposed bear mascot, he said.
The letter he and Sloane wrote contained three points, Benge said. First, of the nine full-time faculty in the School of Health and Kinesiology, not one approves of the mascot. Second, the implementation of a mascot does not make sense for Southern’s campus. “Mascots are associated with interscholastic sports teams,” Benge said. “We don’t play interscholastic sports here, so we didn’t see the relevance of it.” Third, the faculty do not believe a mascot properly conveys their perception of the school. “We consider the School of Health and Kinesiology an acaSee MASCOT UPDATE on page 3
"The faculty do not believe a mascot properly conveys their perception of the school." Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022 (Photo by: Ron Cabacungan)
Village Market hosts Wellness Fair for first time since COVID-19 Alana Crosby Editor-in-Chief
On March 16, the Village Market hosted the first Wellness Fair since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was organized by Lisa Reynolds, the Village Market vitamin department supervisor, as a way to reach the community and spread awareness about natural options offered at the store. The event featured product representatives for sev-
eral brands sold at the Village Market, along with the chance to win gift baskets and try free samples. Reynolds wanted to hold the fair for several reasons. In an interview with the Accent, she said during the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery stores were considered heroes, often continuing to work while a lot of businesses closed down for lack
of workers. However, due to inflation, Reynolds said, rising prices have decreased grocery store popularity. “[Grocery store employees] were here literally risking our lives, and we were here, especially wellness department people,” Reynolds said. “But all of a sudden now we're the bad guys because prices are higher. So, I thought it would be … a
good way to remind people that we're an asset to the community. ” Reynolds said the Wellness Fair gave community residents an opportunity to try new products they would not usually try, especially considering inflation. “I think we're in the highest inflation in 45 years, and people are hurting,” Reynolds said. “And I reason that if I have the ability
to get free products in people's hands, it would bless them. … If inflation is really high, you're not likely to maybe try something you've never tried before. So, getting either the samples or the full-size free product in their hand gives them the ability to try something new that they might have been afraid to.” According to Reynolds, the See WELLNESS FAIR on page 2
Emily Turk (left) and Lisa Reynolds (right) pose for a photo during the Wellness Fair on March 16. (Photo courtesy of source )
Counseling Center sees increase in attendance over the past two years Emily Morgan Staff Writer The number of students who use counseling services has increased over the past two years, and so has the symptom severity, according to Amy Ortiz Moretta, counseling services coordinator. Moretta stated in an email to the Accent that this increase can be attributed to multiple factors such as COVID-19, national trends and a strong decrease in social stigma toward mental wellness, as well as many other personal struggles. The Counseling Center has conducted 542 counseling sessions since Jan. 9, according to Moretta. In addition to these sessions, Moretta explained, counseling services also include classroom presentations, along with collaborations with campus resources and mental health wellness events like Healthy Minds Quality Enhancement Project (QEP). The Counseling Center also has an Instagram account that the staff uses to reach students, with counselors on call at all times to respond to stu-
Signage outside of the counseling center in Beitz. (Photo by: Mila Bales)
dent crises. Student Support Services also launched in-dorm counseling services during the Winter 2021 semester to give students more options for counseling, according to a previous Accent article. “The stigma attached to counseling is not as powerful; it is now seen as an extension of wellness,” Moretta said. “Our students are juggling many overwhelming challenges. The counselors help process loss, death, divorce, anxiety, depression, break-ups, questions of identity, overthinking and lack of motivation. These are just a few of the topics we help the students process in counseling.” Regarding the effect of COVID19 on the number of students who use counseling services, Moretta said, “Illness and isolation have impacted the way we relate to others. We are still learning about the long-term effects of COVID-19, and the social, emotional, psychological and physical effects have yet to be determined.”
Moretta said going forward, the department will continue to collaborate with the Healthy Minds QEP to create educational and entertaining programs for the students. “We also collaborate with the University Health Center, Disability Support Services, Ministry and Mission department and Academic Support department to ensure that students' emotional, educational, physical and spiritual needs are met,” she said. According to the Counseling Services website, the cost of its services are included in tuition. More information about the Counseling Center can be found at https:// www.southern.edu/administration/student-success/counseling. To set up an appointment with the Counseling Center, call 423 236-2782; email Lauree Fogg, the counseling center office manager at ljfogg@southern.edu; or go to the center’s location on the third floor of the Bietz Center for Student Life.