Mental Health | 5
Opinion | 6
Religion | 6
Lifestyle | 7
The grass isn't always greener
Dancing and devotion: Why do Adventists not dance?
Gospel to fools: Risking reputation
From graduates, with love: Top tips for life at Southern
April 10, 2024 Collegedale, Tennessee
Southern Accent
Vol. 79 Issue 22
The student voice since 1926
Ruffling feathers and spawning a task Karen Swallow Prior speaks force: What is the bear mascot up to? at Southern Emma Boughman Reporter
Where’s the Bear Been? Jared Chandler, current SA president, spoke with the Accent about SA’s use of the mascot this school year. “We probably should have used [the mascot] a little bit more,” he said in a voice message. Chandler said overseeing the mascot did not fall under any SA member's job description, which led the group to use it only at events where the mascot would be considered a necessity, such as Organizational Showcase, or
Nationally renowned author Karen Swallow Prior visited Southern Adventist University’s campus last week. Prior is the author of “On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books,” and her writing has been featured in esteemed publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times. On Wednesday evening, she spoke about conversion of faith and evangelical Christianity at Southern Scholars' second annual Benjamin McArthur Endowed Lecture Series. The next day, she was the plenary speaker for the university’s first Illuminate Conference, an art and faith symposium that took place on campus Thursday and Friday. Ella Quijada, a sophomore psychology major and Southern Scholar, attended Prior’s Wednesday session, which delved into the evangelical movement and how it continues to affect American culture and religion. At least 100 people attended the lecture, according to Quijada, who said she especially enjoyed the Q&A session. “I got to know her a little bit better,” said Quijada, who wrote an article about the lecture for Spectrum magazine, in an interview with the Accent. Southern Scholars hosted a luncheon the next day to speak with Prior about her presentation. The Accent attended and asked Prior what she hopes attendees took away from the McArthur lecture. She said she wanted listeners to learn the importance of understanding genuine conversion and fully knowing their beliefs. Prior is a Christian and often mixes her beliefs into her work. She writes a monthly column for
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(L-R) Jisu Park, Kyungseo Moon and Sarah Park pose with glowing props alongside Southern Adventist University's bear mascot at Glow Night of Sports . Saturday, January 13, 2024. (Photo by Ron Cabacungan)
Lesieli Savelio News Editor Alissa Flores Reporter In March 2023, the President’s Cabinet approved a bear mascot for Southern Adventist University, an initiative proposed by Student Association (SA) earlier that school year. This year’s SA introduced the mascot, a black bear dressed in a green Southern T-shirt, to the student body at events in the fall. Since then, the bear has appeared at more events, administration has created a task force to promote the new mascot, and individuals on campus have expressed opposing opinions about its implemen-
tation, with many voicing that they prefer the duck, considered the unofficial mascot of Southern before the bear was introduced. The duck has been the inspiration for such Southern traditions as the School of Health and Kinesiology's Duck Walk and the Accent's "Find Kevin" And "Ask Kevin" newspaper features. Mascot Task Force According to Justin Moore, associate vice president for Financial Administration, University President Ken Shaw recently asked him to chair a task force to promote the bear on campus. He stated that the task force is made up of five people, including himself. “The goal of our task force is to come up with ideas and
Returned SMs share challenges of navigating life after missions Lucas Bueno Staff Writer Returning to Southern Adventist University after months of service overseas often presents student missionaries with various challenges that can affect their social and academic lives and even their emotional health. Eliana Hounslow, sophomore nursing major, shared her experience of returning to Southern after her time of service. Hounslow served at Kendu Bay Adventist Hospital in Kenya from September to December of 2023. Emily Schneider, junior biology major, also shared her experiences of returning to Southern after being a student missionary. Schneider served in Palau for ten months as a third-grade teacher at an elementary school. Hounslow initially went to Kenya to help at a physical therapy clinic. However, she also spent a week in the maternity ward at a local hospital, helping mothers through labor and assisting with C-sections. “I really enjoyed being in the nursing side of the hospital versus the physical therapy side, so I asked to be [assigned] more in the hospital,” Hounslow said. While in Kenya, Hounslow helped out in many different areas, including a school for the disabled. As a result of her expe-
riences there, she decided to switch her major from physical therapy to nursing and hopes to be accepted into Southern’s nursing program in the fall. Hounslow returned to Southern during the winter and said the drastic difference in climate compared to Kenya was a big change for her to get used to again. “I didn’t come back to like, you know, the bustling place that I was in Kendu,” she said. “ … I felt like I didn’t have my people. I kinda felt like I was just coming back, and everyone else had gone on with their lives, and I was just pushed back into this life.” Hounslow said it took time to process all the different feelings she had upon returning to Southern, while also adjusting to the practical differences she encountered. She remembers walking on the wrong side of the road and trying to pass people on the right because she grew accustomed to that in Kenya. Also, Hounslow struggled to settle into her “normal” life at Southern and get back into the rhythm of going to class and studying. “My normal was over in Kenya, where I would wake up sometimes without power and sometimes didn’t have water,” she said. “Like, everything was See MISSIONS on page 2
a plan to further integrate the bear all over campus,” he said. Another duty of the task force includes creating a list of name options for the mascot. “I think a good, catchy name is important to have,” Moore said. “If you look at other universities around the country, they often have names that are catchy and roll off the tongue easily.” Once finished, the list of names and plan for implementation will be shared with the President’s Council, according to Moore. The President's Council, formerly known as the President's Cabinet, consists of Shaw and administrative vice presidents. The task force plans to include students and alumni in the voting process after the list is narrowed down.
Janell Hullquist, director of Marketing and University Relations, said that voting will most likely take place at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
Auto program to provide free vehicle inspections Nyah Jackson Staff Writer Southern Adventist University’s Applied Technology auto program is offering the community free vehicle inspections on Sunday, April 14, from 1-4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Samaritan Center. Dale Walters and Steven Oskins, instructors of the applied technology auto program, will be assisting the students performing the vehicle inspections. According to Emiko Miyagi, the university’s auto services manager, Southern Auto Care offers these free car inspections twice each year, in April and October, weather permitting. Miyagi said, “April is National Car Care Month. We feel people need to know the importance of properly maintaining vehicles.” The car inspection event is important because it provides students in the program an opportunity to interact with customers, according to Miyagi. The event gives these students on-the-job experience that goes beyond the classroom. According to Walters, the inspection “includes checking lights, fluid levels, engine computer codes, tires, hose belts,
filters and more.” The free inspection will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for students, faculty and the community. The Applied Technology auto program has partnered with the
Samaritan Center since its students started doing free inspections 20 years ago. Miyagi said customers and clients at the Samaritan Center can benefit from the car inspections.
Skyler Pangkey works on a car in Southern Adventist University’s auto shop. Thursday. March 28, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Boggess)