Mental Health | 5
Opinion | 6
Religion | 6
Lifestyle | 7
How cold-water immersion soothes the mind
Research matters: Vote for principles over party
When Jesus leads you to Gethsemane
Five nearby spring break beach destinations
February 28, 2024 Collegedale, Tennessee
Southern Accent
Vol. 79 Issue 19
The student voice since 1926
Benitez wins SA president by 40 votes, Trevedan and Dizon secure VP positions McKee Library integrates VR headsets into learning resources Lia Colon Staff Writer
During her speech, Dizon summed up her platform using the phrase: “Strengthening bonds and faith.” In an interview with the Accent, she said she is looking forward to implementing both aspects of her campaign slogan on campus and described her desired combination of bonds and faith as true Christian fellowship. “It’s quite challenging for me to put the spiritual aspect to social things, and God knows about this, too,” she said. “And God knows that I’ve been telling Him, ‘Lord, I am not qualified for this position.’ But God said, ‘No, Cha Cha, I didn’t call you here because you’re qualified. I called you here to make you qualified for this position.’” Dizon plans to create events that help people step out of their regular social circles and have
McKee Library recently purchased virtual reality (VR) headsets to provide “an immersive virtual reality education gaming experience,” according to a flyer posted by the library. Mica Myers, periodical librarian, said students must reserve study room 131 to rent out one of the two available VR headsets, and first-time users will need to take a short quiz online and receive a certificate. Once completed, students must bring their own headphones, wired or wireless, to connect to the headset. “As soon as they show us that they completed the quiz and that they have earbuds, we check it out to them in the system, and they can use it in this room [131] for three hours,” said Myers. According to Myers, four programs are currently installed on the headsets. One is the International Space Station, which allows students to explore the space station as if they were there. Another is a science lab experiment associated with the TV series “MythBusters,” in which people conduct wild experiments and supervise episode development. Lastly, the library installed Beat Saber, a popular rhythm game. Myers said she is looking into adding a program that allows students to go into and explore the human body virtually.
See SA on page 3
See VR on page 2
(Left-right) Alfredo Trevedan, Edvan Benitez and Charlynneth Dizon present their election campaign speeches at convocation. Thursday, February 15, 2024. (Photos by Andrew Boggess)
Amanda Blake Editor-in-chief Edvan Benitez won Student Association (SA) president last Thursday in the closest presidential election since 2013, when Southern Adventist University began using SurveyMonkey to conduct voting. Benitez, senior theology major, beat his opponent, Bryson Baird, sophomore engineering major, by 40 votes. One thousand and eighty-six students voted in this year’s general election for the 2024-2025 SA officers. Benitez received 563 votes (51.84%), while Baird received 523 (48.16%). Voters elected Alfredo Trevedan, junior accounting major, as executive vice president (VP). Trevedan ran unopposed for the position and received 1,023 “yes” votes (94.2%). Charlynneth Dizon, junior psychology major, received 797
votes (73.39%) for social VP, beating Priscille Mikala, sophomore music major, by 508 votes. Community Emphasis During election speeches, given during convocation on Thursday, Feb. 15, Benitez said, “I want to emphasize that I want to serve you because this campaign is not about me. It’s about us. It’s about our community.” In a recent interview with the Accent, Benitez once again highlighted his focus on community by pointing out that each of the winning candidates’ campaign platforms focused on connection and friendship. “We want to build community here on campus,” he said. “Especially for me, I have a heart for those who feel lonely.” According to Benitez, loneliness is a prominent issue on campus. He has spoken to sev-
eral students about their Southern experience, he said, and while many have given him positive feedback, they also mention a deficient social aspect. Trevedan began his election speech by describing his personal struggle to build quality connections on campus as a freshman. “Why don’t people invest in me the way I do to them?” he said to the audience, explaining the feelings he’d experienced as a campus newcomer. “Does my existence even matter?” He then introduced the cornerstone of his campaign: Southern Adventist University Community Emphasis (SAUCE). “I obviously can’t force the student body to create relationships with other people, but I am excited to create spaces and opportunities for students to build relationships,” Trevedan said during a recent interview with the Accent.
Lifestyle Medicine Club to host construction management students ‘Chopped’-style cooking challenge Southern president engages with Emma Boughman Reporter
During a recent visit to the Construction Management Program, Southern Adventist University President Ken Shaw spoke with the students about their studies and spread mortar on blocks with them in the warehouse masonry lab. Shaw said he was involved in construction while at Southern as a student. “When I was at Southern, I worked with the construction crew and enjoyed the practical experience,” he explained. “I also helped build houses in the summer, helped masons lay block for
a cafeteria, [and] put in a foundation for a nursing home facility, etc.” Josh Castro, a sophomore construction management major, said Shaw came to interact with and encourage students. “It seems like President Shaw really cares for the students and goes out of his way to interact with us,” said Castro. Shaw told them stories about his fieldwork and his belief that construction is a great trade. “Students are why this university exists. I always enjoy better understanding our students’ experiences,” Shaw said. See CONSTRUCTION on page 2
Amy Mejias Reporter On Saturday, March 2, at 8 p.m, the Lifestyle Medicine Club will host a “Chopped Challenge” in Hulsey Room 3135. This challenge will be based on the popular Food Network TV game show “Chopped,” where four chefs face off against each other by making a meal out of mystery items in their basket for the chance to win a cash prize. The university expects approximately 80 people to attend the free event, according to Michael Scribner, senior allied health and pre-nutrition major, who is the
Lifestyle Medicine Club president. “However, we hope everyone who wants to come is able to attend,” he added. Scribner said the club wants the Chopped Challenge to inspire viewers to incorporate lifestyle medicine practices to improve their quality and length of life. The students’ vision for the event is based on the TV show, where chefs interact with the audience through a narrator and judges provide interesting feedback to help viewers understand the created dish without having to taste it themselves, Scribner said. He added that snacks will be available.
“We came up with this idea since an officer of our club had friends who put on this event at their former school,” Scribner said. “It was a big hit, so we thought we would try it out and put a healthier spin on the competition by using only plantbased whole foods.” The Lifestyle Medicine Club’s mission is to provide information about lifestyle medicine and educate others on an evidence-based practice of helping individuals and families adopt and sustain healthy behaviors that positively affect health and quality of life. See CHOPPED on page 2
"During the pandemic, all in-person recruiting opportunities disappeared, and some are just now returning to in-person events."
Ken Shaw speaks with construction management major Daniel Amann during class. Wednesday, February 14. 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)
Lifestyle Medicine Club’s promo material for its “Chopped Challenge.” (Photo courtesy of source)