Vol 81 Issue 12

The Southern Accent

Update of the Week, page 2

New social vice president hosts mid-winter party

The Student Voice Since 1929

Pressing Issue, page 4

Collegedale remembers Judge Kevin Wilson

Bautista appointed SA President

Jeaneva Bautista, senior accounting major, waited calmly for the Student Association (SA) cabinet members around her to receive the news she had already known for over a week. Moments into a special SA meeting, John Hargy announced his resignation as SA president due to the completion of his biophysics degree. Bautista, the then-vice president, would be taking his place.

According to Dennis Negrón, vice president of Student Development, Hargy can no longer work for SA because he is not taking any credits this semester. “SA officers must be members of the general assembly of Southern, more easily interpreted as the student body,” stated Negrón in an email to the Accent. “But the general assembly, as defined by our constitution and by-laws, is defined as all full-time students—those taking 12 hours or more. John was not taking any hours this semester, so I couldn’t make an exception.”

In a text correspondence with the Accent, Hargy explained the reasoning for his resignation, citing that when he originally ran for presidency, he did not know he would no longer be able to take classes this semester.

“I completed my degree earlier than expected at the conclusion of the fall semester, which resulted in a change to my enrollment status,” Hargy stated. “At the beginning of the academic year, my enrollment and financial aid were confirmed for the full year, and I accepted the Student Association presidency in good faith with the expectation that I was enrolled through the spring semester. The exact timing of my degree completion was not fully clear until the end of the fall term.”

Hargy, now an alumnus, shared his plans for the future, with graduate school applications at the top of his todo list—along with traveling.

As senior SA advisor, Negrón worked closely with Hargy during his presidency.

“John, in the most positive sense of the idea, is hyper-focused on his goals, and he approached being president in

that manner,” Negrón stated. “But what was so enjoyable about working with John is that he connected so well with his whole team.”

Third Female President in 30 Years

Sitting in her new office last Thursday, Bautista expressed optimism about her position. She had known Hargy would be stepping down since the first week of school, and now she felt prepared to assume the presidency. In an interview with the Accent, Bautista said that initially, she was not sure if she could do justice to the role while taking two senior capstones and a 14-credit load. However, she felt the need to give back.

“I saw it as an opportunity, and I also felt bad for the team as someone who has been in SA for three years,” Bautista said. “I felt that [I] would have let some people down if I didn’t.”

Now that she is in office, Bautista reflected on what it means to lead Southern’s student body as a woman, which only two other individuals have done since Negrón has been at Southern. Those two are Sheryl Kambuni,

approximately

“I think it’s history...we haven’t had a female president in a while." - Carlos Peguero

New social vice president hosts Mid-Winter Party

Asher LeVos  Reporter

Southern’s Senate confirmed Jordan Collazo as the newly elected social vice president for Student Association (SA) on January 14, just three days before he hosted his first event, the Mid-Winter Party.

Collazo came into this role unexpectedly after his predecessor, Lily Mutai, did not come back to Southern this semester due to personal reasons, according to Mutai. While he is a freshman, his resume includes working as an assistant to the previous social vice president and running the Cub Squad program, where students get paid to help with event setup and take-down. He also was nominated for his position by then-SA President John Hargy.

While other candidates were also considered for the role, Collazo stood out, according to Alexis Grentz, director of Student Life and Activities.

“[Collazo and Mutai’s] style of working together was very collaborative, which allows for Jordan to pick up right where they left off,” Grentz said.

Collazo wanted to live up to the confidence his mentors, who helped to recruit him and mentor him in his previous role, had in him.

“If they see that I’m capable of this role, I’m not going to back down,” said Collazo. “I wanted to meet their expectations, but I never thought I would be able to get this role.” Collazo acknowledged the potentially overwhelming pressure his new executive role presents.

“So, it’s definitely been pretty intimidating coming into this position and telling people older than me what to do,” Collazo said. “Thankfully, everyone is really nice and understanding. They know that I’m learning and want to help guide me.”

Three days after he was appointed to his new position, Collazo prepared to launch his first solo event, the Midwinter SA Party. Collazo said he felt confident in the event setup and details because of his previous experience, yet he still worried the event would not meet the expectations of students and staff.

On the night of the party, neon lights glowed in the dimly lit Iles Gymnasium. Scattered groups of students played glow-in-the-dark pickleball, while on the other half of the court, more students participated in volleyball and basketball. Most students at the party found their way up onto the stage, where Southern’s art club had set up tables with strings and charms for making keychains. Nearby, students could visit a glow-in-the-dark face painting station and a photobooth.

Sarina Young, a senior graphic design student and the communications director for SA, noticed how many students gathered at the art tables.

“Something I’ve noticed recently is people are more drawn to the art activities, and I think that’s really cool,” Young said.

Rileigh Juba, senior animation major, helped organize and manage the keychain activity.

“I’m so happy that SA asked

the Art Club to be here,” said Juba. “They emailed us and helped provide funding and supplies. I’m happy they did so because we had a good turnout at our booth.”

Another student, Summer Lehmann, sophomore physical therapy assistant major, enjoyed the booth.

“It’s really aesthetic and colorful,” Lehmann said. “It was really fun to make keychains.”

Also on the stage, tucked behind a curtain, Heaven Robles, junior biology major and SA secretary, stood behind the camera, capturing moments in the photo booth. The colorfully lit and decorated space offered a backdrop for photos with friends.

“I really love capturing different friend groups and their smiles,” Robles said.

Other students shared their thoughts regarding the event, with some congratulating Collazo.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who puts this together because I know putting events together isn’t easy,” senior religious studies major Jeanyvah Desarmes said. “Also, I think [Collazo] is a wonderful person to have as a new social vice president. He’s a pretty energetic guy and really nice, so I’m glad to know he is our new social vice president, and I think he’ll do a great job.”

During the event, Collazo coordinated and checked in with other students to make sure the event ran smoothly. After seeing all the students at the event, Collazo said he felt reassured and rewarded. Looking forward to future events, he

stressed his priority of reaching out to different groups and communities to enrich campus events. Collazo said, “I would love to really serve as a bridge

involving different groups and communities in our events. I absolutely love my job, and I’m looking forward to the events we are planning for this semester.”

MLK Jr. Service Day around the community

Chloe Smith News Editor

On Jan. 19, over 900 of Southern’s students, faculty and staff joined together for the university’s annual Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Service Day to assist local organizations.

The event started in the Iles P.E. Center, where the Student Association (SA) served attendees breakfast and a short worship service was held.

“This was my first event representing [students] as the SA president,” said Jeaneva Bautista, who stepped into the role at the beginning of the semester.

“I believe it was a success… I feel blessed to be part of an amazing organization that is willing to go above and beyond to serve others and showcase God’s love through service.”

Once groups were seated together, students turned their attention to a song service led by Merge Worship and a short devotion given by Reginald Horton, collegiate pastor of Merge. His message centered around the concept of equity and how “everyone has a right to Christ.”

The Accent encourages readers to write articles and voice their opinions. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Accent, the Southern Adventist University or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

For any questions, comments and article submission information, email the editor at haydenjkobza@southern.edu.

For all advertising inquiries, email alvajohnson@southern.edu. See

SA President

continued from page 1

1975, according to a previous Accent article.

Bautista said it was “shocking” that so few women had been president in recent years.

“I feel like I've seen a lot of women being leaders,” Bautista said. “[However], I've never really seen those leaders want to have a presidential role, me included, since I ran for VP instead.”

As Bautista grew up, she said that her mother demonstrated how women can be powerful leaders. She attributed the lack of women applying to be SA president to the fear of stand-

ing up to a system mainly controlled by the opposite gender.

“It’s the fear of having to go against not only the men, but the culture behind it...the stereotype that a lady might not be able to lead,” Bautista said.

“...But I believe once you start showing female leaders that things can be possible, I think hopefully by this time next year, [a woman] would try and step up into that role, into the presidential role.”

Natalie Shelburne, a freshman elementary education major, said in an interview with the Accent that she wants to see more women in student leadership.

“I think we definitely need more [women],” Shelburne

said. “...So that's great for her, and I think it’ll hopefully show an impact in the community of Southern.”

Carlos Peguero, freshman theology major, shared similar sentiments.

“I think it’s fascinating,” Peguero said. “I think it’s history. If we look at it, a lot of people are going to be really excited about this, because we haven’t had a female president in a while, so I think it’s pretty cool.”

What lies ahead

Bautista is familiar with being asked to step into unexpected roles. When she was a freshman, she was selected as a senator.

However, Bautista did not

accept the position due to personal reasons.

After she switched from political science to accounting at the end of her freshman year, Bautista applied for SA finance director (now titled payroll manager) and got the job but didn’t realize at first that the position was for two years. Then, the vice president stepped down her sophomore year, so she took on that position.

“It gave me a better understanding of Student Association, and it made me love it,” Bautista said.

Bautista said ran for vice president because she would have regretted it if she had not taken the opportunity.

“I had this goal, back when I was a freshman, when I rejected the offer of being a senator due to personal complications, that one day I wanted to either be the president or the vice president,” she said.

While Bautista cannot reveal all of her plans for the semester before they are confirmed, she said in an interview that she will try to maintain a majority of Hargy’s initiatives.

“This is something that we didn’t really expect," Bautista said. "But hopefully I could also bring the same results that John was able to [achieve] the first semester and continue not only my legacy, but his legacy that he has already placed last semester.”

Blue Hole swim spot closes for park upgrades

Eliana Morales Managing Editor

The Blue Hole, a popular swimming spot in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, will be inaccessible for about one year as North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park undergoes upgrades. The park features a “deep gorge…spanning approximately 10 miles with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs and the waters of a Tennessee State Scenic River,” according to the Tennessee State Parks (TSP) website.

A blog post on the TSP website, published on Jan. 12, states that the upgrades will include an improved park entrance, asphalt and striping in parking areas, an ADA-accessible river-viewing pier and a restroom.

Since the Blue Hole is a mile-long hike from the main parking lot on Montlake Road, it will be unsafe to access while the upgrades are ongoing.

“With the construction project, there is no safe way to allow visitors to get there,” stated the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in a Jan. 12 press release. “Both sides of the gorge are dangerous. Anyone who attempts to access the Blue Hole may face charges.”

Many Southern students, including junior computer science major Gabriel Silva, enjoy visiting the Blue Hole. He said that the temporary closure is unfortunate, since it is one of his favorite places in the area.

MLK Jr.

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After receiving Service Day T-shirts, students gathered to take a group photo before departing for their assignments.

This year, more than 900 people signed up to participate in 54 projects, according to Cheryl Craven, director of Christian Service.

“I’m really proud of our students for showing up and being the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Craven.

Craven explained the process of choosing organizations to partner with each year.

“We learn of a need, and then we seek to continue that relationship,” she said.

Another aspect the university seeks when partnering with organizations is the ability to accommodate a large number of students. According to Southern’s website, four-year students are required to take part in three service events with a minimum of three hours each during their time at the university.

“We love organizations that can take a lot of people, because we have a lot of students to place,” Craven said. “So, some groups are 2 people and some are 120.”

To host the annual event, the Christian Service Department

He described the Blue Hole as the go-to hang-out spot on a Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Hole is also a favorite local spot for senior health and wellness major Prince Atama.

“I’m definitely sad to see it closing for so long,” he said. “It’s a bit of a letdown for the upcoming season, but I hope the safety upgrades make the park even better for everyone eventually.”

Emily Dekle, a junior nursing major, also enjoys going to the Blue Hole and even hosted her latest birthday gathering there.

“I like going to the Blue Hole

because it’s a beautiful place that has both excitement and peace,” she said. “The nature is relaxing and recharging, while cliff jumping makes me feel alive.”

Although she is sad about the closure, Dekle believes it will be worth it if the parking situation improves, since she has noticed the parking lot often gets overcrowded during the summer.

The park’s capital improvement is part of its strategic management plan, according to Jennifer Donnals, the senior communications advisor for the Tennessee Department of Envi-

ronment and Conservation.

For example, installing an ADA-accessible river-viewing pier will improve the state park’s accessibility in support of its stated goal of providing well-maintained facilities and amenities.

The planned upgrades to improve parking lots and add a restroom are listed in the plan as key short-term recommendations, meaning they can be addressed sooner than other recommendations.

In her email to the Accent, Donnals stated that funding for the project was approved by the Tennessee General Assem-

bly, and the project itself was approved by the State Building Commission.

In TSP’s blog post, Park Manager Sarah Geeslin stated, “We’re excited about the longterm benefits these improvements will bring to the park. While construction will temporarily limit parking and require the closure of the Blue Hole, these upgrades will create a safer, more accessible experience for visitors in the future.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation during this project, as visitor safety is always our top priority.”

plans year-round, according to Craven.

“I’m mindful of [ Service Day] year-round, because it takes about 90 to staff the event,” she said. “I’ve got to have a coordinator for each project, which is either a student or a staff member.”

Emily Livergood, a junior art major, shared her experience serving in the Chattanooga community.

“We went to the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga

and helped lead activities with kids that were about MLK [Jr.],” said Livergood. “It was really awesome getting to connect with fellow students and even Southern professors while making an impact on kids.”

Hevanna Hippler, a junior digital communication major, spent her day with an organization that supports student moms.

“We went to an organization called Momentum Network, where we helped cook food

and build shelving units for their moms and childcare facility,” said Hippler. “I really like their mission because their goal is to help college students who have had unplanned pregnancies move through college with support. ...They are able to grow close relationships with the other moms living by them and build a community.”

Local coverage by WDEF highlighted the university’s strong community service involvement.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a very special day at Southern Adventist University,” said Southern’s president, Ken Shaw, in the article. “We are a Christian university, and part of our fabric is service. …We have great relationships with probably 40 or 50 nonprofit organizations in the greater Chattanooga area. So, on MLK [Jr.] Day we get to go out and serve those communities.”

COLLEGEDALE NEWS

Editor's Note: The Southern Accent has produced a two page Collegedale News section this issue as part of a national initiative to enhance community news coverage. The local effort, led by Southern's School of Journalism and Communication in conjunction with the Center for Community News (CCN) at the University of Vermont, places student journalists at the forefront of addressing the news desert crisis, a phenomenon caused by the decline of newspapers in local communities. The Accent believes local news is vital to a thriving democracy, and we remain committed to reporting about important issues, novel occurrences and interesting people in the greater Collegedale area. We will publish this special section in five issues of the newspaper this semester. To submit tips or press releases, go to https://southern-accent.org.

Collegedale remembers Judge Kevin Wilson

Kyla Wetmore Reporter

After over 35 years of service to the City of Collegedale, Judge Kevin Wilson passed away on Jan. 9, 2026. First elected as city judge in 1990, Wilson was re-elected four times and has served generations of Collegedale residents, according to a city press release.

As municipal court clerk, Rachel Shuttles sat next to Wilson on the bench each week, assisting with records and other court activities. She commented to the Accent about the significant impact that Wilson had on the community.

“He loved life so much [that] he wanted everyone to live it as long as they could. [Sometimes] that meant getting free from addiction or making sure you slow down so you don’t kill yourself or someone else,” Shuttles said. “All I could probably sum it up with is 'yes,' he loved life, he loved people. He loved being here. He loved us.”

Shuttles remembered several times when defendants credited Wilson’s firm words with helping them turn their lives around.

“If someone told him that he had changed their life, you could see it in his eyes that he was getting emotional,” Shuttles said. “It just meant so much to him that what he was doing made a difference.”

According to Shuttles, Wilson was also quick to defend the court staff. In one example, she said that Wilson severely reprimanded a defendant who had targeted them with public online criticism and would have spoken out to defend anyone he cared about.

Deputy District Attorney General Steven Moore prosecuted alongside Wilson for three and a half years and knew him professionally for well over a decade. He noted Wilson’s intelligence and positivity in particular.

“I can't remember a time

sitting here that [Wilson] didn’t come in [with a] big smile on his face,” Moore said.

Many people who worked directly with Wilson said that he was consistently fair, while striving to give sentences in a way that would help people change their trajectories for the better.

“Kevin always tried to find the best in some people, even when they've made very bad decisions,” Moore said.

In addition to serving as a judge for the City of Collegedale, Wilson was an active member of the Chattanooga Bar Association, the Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference, the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conferences and the American Collectors Association (ACA) International, according to the city’s press release. He also served on the board of the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation.

The Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation’s founder and executive director, David Barto, was about 10 years old when he first met Wilson. Years later, Barto asked Wilson to be on the board when the foundation first started. Wilson assisted in several projects including tornado cleanups and helped with legal matters.

“He was very intentional about being involved and being of service,” Barto said.

Wilson graduated from Southern in 1978 with a BS in Business Management, according to his bio on the Collegedale Government website. He served several times as an evaluator for Southern’s senior business strategy presentations, according to Stephanie Sheehan, dean of the School of Business.

Dr. Mark Hyder, professor at Southern’s School of Business, stated in an email that Wilson never talked down to or embarrassed a student.

“Several of the students have gone on to become attorneys and remember him as a kind,

witty person that helped them understand the law and the role of an attorney,” Hyder stated.

A new Collegedale City judge will not be officially elected until the fall. Until then, the position will be filled by a licensed attorney appointed by the city commission, according to a notice of judicial vacancy released by the City of Collegedale.

While the commission reviews applicants for the temporary position, Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Tori Smith is serving as Collegedale city judge. On Jan. 14, she sat for the first court session since Wilson’s death.

“It was really hard,” Smith said. “I opened up court talking about him. I wanted everyone to know that I knew I was sitting in a great man's seat, and that that’s who should be there,

and that I wanted to honor his legacy by treating everyone with respect and kindness.”

Smith got to know Wilson as a public defender in his courtrooms in East Ridge and Collegedale and considered him a close friend and mentor. She enjoyed practicing in front of him because of his ability to think outside the box and his treatment of every individual.

“Even though the nature of my job was to advocate for my client, he also cared deeply about everyone that came in front of him,” said Smith. “So even though we sometimes would disagree on the way in which we thought we could best help them, it was easier to understand his ruling.”

When Smith began the process of becoming a judge in 2024, Wilson advocated for and supported her. She shared that

he always gave her time if she had questions and believed in her more than she believed in herself.

“I'm honored to get to fill in for [Wilson’s] seat right now and to try to fill his shoes, which [is] impossible,” said Smith. “I don’t know that there will ever be another Collegedale judge like Kevin Wilson.”

Wilson’s wife, Scarlett Wilson, expressed gratitude for the response from the community since Wilson passed away.

“Kevin would be so honored by all of the outpouring of appreciation and kindness,” Scarlett Wilson said. “He was very special and so loved his profession and all of the interesting people that he had the opportunity to interact with. He made friends everywhere he went.”

Collegedale's own Storm Safety Day

Yoly Viera Reporter

As areas across the nation weather through severe storms and low temperatures, Collegedale city government is preparing to host an event all about preparedness over panic.

Storm Safety Day, a free community event on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m., will offer community members hands-on education, safety resources and guidance on how to respond calmly and effectively during severe weather.

According to City Commissioner Laura Howse’s social media accounts, the event will take place at Founder’s Hall at the Collegedale Commons.

“Storm Safety Day gives people a chance to ask questions, learn from experts and feel more prepared for the next weather event,” Howse said.

Historically, the Hamilton County area has experienced severe weather such as the 2011 Ringgold–Apison tornado and the Easter tornado of 2020. Due to the success of last year's inaugural Storm Safety Day, the city decided to repeat the event.

“By bringing together weather experts, hands-on weather radio programming and a free health clinic, we’re giving people practical tools they can use right away,” Howse said. “The goal is simple: be prepared, not scared.”

Plans for the event include multiple demonstrations and presentations. The Collegedale Police Department and Tri-Community Fire Department will operate booths where professionals will answer questions about how they can help people before, during and after a storm, with Southern Adventist University providing a free health clinic.

Southern Adventist University student Zachary LeClerc, senior nursing major, is helping to organize the health clinic for the event. The clinic will offer free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, along with other basic health education.

According to LeClerc, the goal of the booths is to demonstrate simple actions anyone can perform to positively impact others. He added that the clinic offers an opportunity for other students to minister to the community.

“Part of being a Christian is being a neighbor to all people,” LeClerc said.

Another focus of Storm Safety Day is to promote weather radios as a reliable source of information during emergencies

such as power outages. Visitors to Storm Safety Day have their radios correctly programmed and learn about the best ways to use them.

Attendance is expected to be high, mainly due to newer res-

Collegedale's official Instagram).

idents and families who want a closer look at storm safety procedures.

Howse hopes that the community can come together to be better prepared and safer for future challenges.

Collegedale welcomes City Manager Jon Holmes

Leif Bromme Collegedale Reporter

Locals gathered on Jan. 20, 2026, at City Hall to welcome Jon Holmes, Collegedale’s new city manager. Attendees of the meet-and-greet were able to speak directly with Holmes in the West Room, where city commissioners and the new manager’s wife, Sarah, were also present.

According to a post on the city’s Facebook page, Holmes began his work on Jan. 5, marking the next phase in his career of high-level municipal leadership.

Now nearing the end of his first month, Holmes described the transition as hectic.

“The amount of information just floating about the organization and community, just meeting people—it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant,” Holmes said.

He said government officials and community leaders have been helpful during his transition, aiding him as he takes notes and researches his new role.

“They’ve been patient with me,” he explained, “especially

when I ask the same questions a couple of times.”

Though Collegedale is not a large city, the role of city manager still bears significant responsibilities. According to the Collegedale Charter, city managers are responsible for budget management and the application of policies set forth by the city council. As manager, Holmes must be familiar with every government department’s function, needs and abilities. As a high-level administrator, he will also play a large role in communicating with the public.

As outlined in the City of Collegedale post, Holmes previously served as the city administrator of Odessa, Missouri, and David City, Nebraska, as the county administrator of Franklin County, Kansas,as the city manager of Aurora, Missouri. Though his career has led him to many communities across the nation, he said the core of his responsibilities remains the same.

“This is a little bigger organization than what I came from in some ways,” he said, “but in a lot of ways it’s about the same — same amount of employees,

same budget size. That’s some of the easier parts.

“I would say the first year or so is all about getting to know the organization and the community," he continued, “building relationships with the commissioners and staff—taking ownership of the responsibilities that the city manager has.”

Holmes met several Collegedale residents at the event, including Chad and Beth Pickering. After a conversation with the new manager, they both came away with a positive impression.

“He seems cordial,” Chad said. “And [he] seems interested in helping the city and keeping in communication with the neighborhoods—keeping people informed.”

Beth emphasized the need for stronger interaction with city officials.

“[Communication] wasn’t working very good,” she remarked. “It’s a big priority to us.”

Beyond the logistics of the role, Holmes also shared how he’s adjusting to the Collegedale area.

“I’m just starting to explore,”

he said. “I double-majored in history and political science, so some of the history stuff is [interesting]. I want to go up to some of the Civil War battle sites.”

He also expressed interest in

embracing the new landscapes of Tennessee after a career in the Midwest. “Once it gets a little warmer, I’ll just kind of explore the area and everything,” he said.

Blake Laing, Ph.D.

Contributor

Editor’s Note: This article is a fact-checking response to a piece published in Issue 11, titled “The unseen harmful consenquences of sleeping next to your phone every night” from Blake Laing, Ph.D., professor in the School of Engineering and Physics.

The microwave spectrum of radiation is definitely non-ionizing radiation. Photon energies range from about 0.000001 eV to 0.0001 eV, which means that

an atom would have to absorb at least 10,000 microwave photons instantly to be ionized (the absorption of even three or more photons at a time is extremely unlikely).

Microwave radiation has the same effect on molecules as any other kind of heating: rotational motion is excited. It’s a non-starter to worry about ionization due to microwave radiation. Wireless phone signals (such as 5G), Wi-Fi signals, and microwave radiation all use the microwave spectrum.

Microwave radiation is not

ionizing, but the second question is still relevant: “What is the intensity?”

“We don’t have to lie awake wondering whether our bodies are absorbing too much radiation.”

If our bodies absorb too much energy, we can get overheated, whether it comes from radio waves, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet rays or X-rays. An extreme example of

MENTAL HEALTH

this is the Active Denial System “heat ray”, which directs 100 kW of power toward a combatant, raising the temperature of the skin (for reference, a kitchen oven has a power of about 3 kW).

The danger from this device lies in the amount of power it delivers, not the fact that it happens to use microwaves to deliver it (it can cause something like sunburn to the skin with prolonged exposure). We don’t have to lie awake wondering whether our bodies are absorbing too much radiation

Fact-checking sleeping by your phone SPORTS

from a roommate’s microwave oven, cell phone or Wi-Fi router: if too much non-ionizing radiation is absorbed, we will feel it! The bottom line is we should be mindful of separating ourselves from our phones, but not because of hypothetical radiation risks, and we should limit our exposure to ultraviolet radiation because of tangible ionizing radiation risks. We can do both without fear.

Seahawks and Patriots to play in Super Bowl LX

Matthew Taylor Sports Editor

The NFL Championship weekend ended in two games that were decided by four points or less. The New England Patriots became the AFC Champions after facing the Denver Broncos and coming out on top in a low-scoring 10-7 game. The divisional rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams was as entertaining as ever, but quarterback (QB) Sam Darnold managed to lead his new team, the Seahawks, to victory with a season-high performance.

It’s impossible to write about this NFL season without being up front about my personal bias. I have been a fan of the Denver Broncos since 2011 and was overjoyed to see my team win their first playoff game since Peyton Manning’s retirement after winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016. After a firstround bye that they secured via tiebreaker due to the Patriots’ early loss against the Raiders, they were slated to host Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills.

After a series of debatable penalties called on both teams, the Broncos won with an overtime field goal, making the final score 33-30. This victory, however, was short-lived. In a post-game interview, head coach Sean Payton announced that Denver’s second-year QB Bo Nix would miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. This hammered the first nail in the coffin for Denver’s playoff hopes.

The Patriots also came into their game with their second-year QB—Drake Maye. Maye is currently nominated for the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after a phenomenal season, leading the league in pass completion

rate. As a Broncos fan, it is easy to disregard Maye’s path to the Super Bowl for a number of reasons. The Patriots were given the statistically easiest schedule of the season. Three of their games were against teams with winning records. Of these three, they only managed to defeat the Buffalo Bills, although they lost in their other meeting this season.

The Patriots’ playoff opponents were all lacking in detrimental areas. In the Wild Card, they hosted the Los Angeles Chargers, who suffered to protect their QB Justin Herbert with their worst-ranked offensive line. In the Divisional Round, they faced a struggling Houston Texans offense without their star wide receiver (WR) Nico Collins, and their third-year QB, C.J. Stroud, threw four interceptions. Finally, the Denver Broncos were forced to start their backup QB Jarrett Stidham in his first game in over two years through a game that ended in a blizzard.

While it would be easy to rely on these statistics alone, there is no denying that the Patriots are deserving of being considered one of the best teams in the league. The three defenses they faced this postseason were ranked in the top five for yards allowed per game: Los Angeles Chargers (5th), Houston Texans (1st), Denver Broncos (2nd). While Maye failed to pass over 100 yards in the Championship game, he managed to bridge the gap with enough rushing yards to close out the game. This, however, is unlikely to be enough against the NFC Champion.

The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams faced each other twice before in the regular season. Each time, the home team prevailed. Their first meeting was in Los Ange-

les on Nov. 18. This game ended in a close 21-19 victory for the Seahawks. Their rematch in Seattle on Dec. 18 went the other way with the Seahawks winning 38-37.

This division rivalry has been historically even. Their record was decided by a single game this season: 29 wins for the Seahawks, 28 wins for the Rams. Matthew Stafford, veteran QB for Los Angeles nominated for MVP against Drake Maye, sought to balance the all-time record in his path to his second Super Bowl. Stafford’s supporting cast made this a promising opportunity. In the backfield, he was supported by running backs (RBs) Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum. He also was supported by the elite WR duo of Offensive Player of the Year nominee Puka Nacua and veteran Davante Adams. However, the Seattle Seahawks matched the Rams in nearly every way. They also had a dependable backfield with RBs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Jaxson Smith-Njigba, third-year Seahawks WR, led the league in receiving yards in a contested season-long battle against the Rams’ Nacua. The Seahawks also were supported by Cooper Kupp, a former elite Los Angeles Rams receiver, in his third revenge game of the season.

The area where the Seahawks managed to outplay their division rivals was their extraordinary defense, ranked 6th in yards allowed per game. Despite the odds, Matthew Stafford threw for 374 yards, 3 touchdowns (TDs) and not a single interception. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold managed to challenge his stats with a nearly identical performance: 346 yards, 3 TDs, 0 interceptions. Both Nacua and Smith-Njigba recorded over 150 receiving

yards, cementing their historical seasons. Matthew Stafford has the most recorded game-winning drives of current NFL quarterbacks, yet his magic failed to work in the final seconds of the game. Seattle managed to take the victory over their division opponents in a 27-31 victory. Sam Darnold registered his 30th win in his past two seasons, becoming the first QB of the 2018 draft class to lead his team to the Super Bowl. He reached this monumental achievement before notable names such as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield.

All eyes are on Levi’s Stadium as the Seattle Seahawks and

New England Patriots converge Feb. 8 for a Super Bowl rematch from 2015, where Tom Brady’s Patriots managed to defeat Russell Wilson’s Seahawks in a last-second interception. With the Seahawks at full strength, Drake Maye faces his greatest challenge yet with an opportunity to prove the doubters (including myself) wrong. Sam Darnold has a chance to cement his legacy and prove that he cannot be defined by his unimpressive tenures with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers through 2023. Legacies will be made. The results will break records and hearts. This is American football at its greatest.

Rethinking our resolutions for 2026 OPINION

Maddie Schmidt Opinion Editor

When the clock struck midnight on January 1, one of my first thoughts was, “Am I going to make any resolutions this year?” If I’m honest, I don’t typically make a New Year’s resolution list. I try it out every few years or so, but I can never seem to stick to all of the resolutions, so why make them in the first place?

By this time of year, most of us have already let one, two or perhaps many of our resolutions go out the window. However, as I continued thinking about what my list would look like this year if I were to make one, I realized that I have been looking at New Year’s resolutions all wrong.

The few lists I tried to make in the past always consisted of multiple goals I wanted to achieve, such as fitness plans, healthier eating habits, better time management, trying new things, etc. I would feel motivated for a week or so, but ultimately, I’d get bogged down by the grand-scale goals I then felt obligated to see through. And when I had a day that I forgot to work out or if I procrastinated an assignment, I felt like a failure. Once that happened, the resolutions would be forgotten, one by one, until the next year rolled around.

A better approach for actually committing to a list of resolutions is to make fewer, simpler resolutions. When I sit down to write my list, I can always come up with a long string of changes I want to apply to my life. However, the longer that list is, the more

likely it is that I will fail to meet all of those goals. It is easier to stick to only a few things that will, with consistency, actually make a difference.

For example, if you want to feel healthier this year, it is more realistic to make the resolution to drink more water and to go to bed earlier than to make a rigorous workout routine and stick to a strict diet. Once those habits are made, you can then take the next small step. Small, attainable goals lead to large improvements in lifestyle.

Another good approach to keeping resolutions is to replace old habits with new ones. It can be difficult to simply cut out a bad habit, and it can also be hard to find room for a new habit and stick to it. So, even if the two habits are unrelated, finding two habits to switch out can be helpful.

If one of your goals this year is to read more, but you also want to stop doomscrolling on your phone for long amounts of time, you can make a suitable resolution: every time you find yourself doomscrolling, put down your phone and pick up a book instead. Eventually, one habit will fully replace the other, and you won’t have to think about it at all. You can effectively accomplish two resolutions for the price of one. Lastly, there’s nothing special about the new year. It might be exciting to think about starting fresh, but it still requires your own motivation to stick to your resolutions. There is nothing magical about the first day of January; that date cannot create motivation for you. It’s one thing to sit down on

RELIGION

New Year’s Day and create a list of things to do, but it is another thing to wait for the new year to begin a new goal. If you can’t begin a goal today, what will change when the new year comes around?

Putting off changes that will benefit your life only for the sake of making it a resolution shows that you may not have what it takes to carry it out. You are effectively practicing failing before the new year even starts. Rehearsing failure only sets you up for more failure.

Furthermore, if you realize that a resolution isn’t working

for you or that you’ve put unrealistic goals on your list, there is nothing wrong with changing them. If March comes around and you discover a goal that you wish you had put on your list, go ahead and add it.

We make resolutions in hopes they will affect our lives on a grand scale, so why treat them as if they only make a difference for that year? We grow by constantly discovering changes we should make that will shape us into better people. Why wait to implement those changes?

The whole point of New Year’s resolutions is to find

ways to improve our quality of life. It works differently for every person. If we focus only on whether we succeed or fail, we are missing the point. We should allow ourselves to fail and then keep going anyway. Otherwise, we are missing the beauty of resolutions. It is empowering to make steps toward improving ourselves but not feel defeated when we have moments of standing still or even stepping backward in that journey. If the overall trajectory is moving forward, then we are doing something right.

God’s Provision: Thoughts from GYC

Nina

Bueno Religion Editor

Over this past Christmas break, I was suddenly hit with a desire that was so strong, I couldn’t seem to let it go. I sat on my bed late at night, wondering what in the world had gotten into me.

At the time, I was not impulsive; I didn’t make decisions without planning, and I did not go forward until everything was laid out before me. Yet, God had suddenly placed a desire on my heart. With everything against me: finances, time, family plans and even the lack of planning in general, it felt impossible.

But over the preceding weeks and months, God had been showing me what it was like to live life without everything planned out, without a 10-year plan, or even a day-by-day schedule sometimes. God had been showing me what it was like to live life with Him— to simply cherish and experience my life in the present with God.

So, there I was over Christmas break, four days away from the start of Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC), with this sudden desire planted in my heart by God: to attend GYC.

Why I hadn’t planned to go before the last minute, I don’t know. Maybe I forgot. But I believe that God brought me there at the last minute to teach me that even when things look impossible, He will provide. Even when I have no plans, God will still bring me to His end goal. Even when I couldn’t see the way, I could learn to see the invisible One who was with me.

And so, I began to see God’s provision as I put my trust in Him. Things aligned perfectly

so that I could attend GYC.

Over Friday night and the Sabbath before GYC, I talked with my parents and prayed.

By Sunday evening, I had cheap housing and a plane ticket, and my family was completely open to me going. My usual doubts and fears started creeping in. Did I have enough money for registration? What if my housing fell through at the last minute? What if there was a snowstorm and I couldn’t fly out of Canada?

By Monday, I still hadn’t registered for the conference because I was worried that something would fall through.

I wanted to take the wheel and be able to control the outcome. I wanted to set my expectations so I wouldn’t be disappointed.

But I had to remember: God was in charge. Even if He was invisible, He was leading. I couldn’t have planned it out in a cheaper way, especially at the last minute. He was the one who had given me the desire and He would fulfill it.

On Monday afternoon, my brother let me know about someone who was selling five early-bird registration tickets. I thought there was no way I’d be able to get one. But we found out that the guy had a few left, and once again, God provided. I was able to purchase the last ticket he had— for a lot cheaper than the price of late registration.

After that, everything happened so fast. My brother and I packed for GYC (God provided at the last minute for him, too, but that’s another story!), hopped on a plane and landed in Orlando Wednesday night— the last day of the year and the first day of GYC.

I ended 2025 and began 2026 with a deep impression on my

heart and mind. I had seen the Invisible at work.

Throughout GYC, God continued to show up for me in huge ways, confirming my faith, convictions and impressions He had given me in the past. Every day, I began with the expectation of seeing and learning something new about the invisible God I had come to desire more than anything else. And He provided. Just like the children of Israel in the wilderness with manna, God continued to provide exactly what I needed for each day.

In the book of Exodus, God constantly provided for His people and showed up for them. Moses especially had an immense amount of faith and trust in God, even in the face of the constant grumbling and opposition of the Israelites in the wilderness. This was because he had been through the wilderness himself. Moses had learned to trust God’s provision in His own life and had seen the Invisible.

I’ve been in and still am in a wilderness season in my life right now. I have no idea what my 10-year plan is. Some days I live simply from class to class, open to what the Lord has in store. And other days I grumble and ask the Lord how He will provide, even though He’s shown me time and time again that He will.

But time and time again, God reminds me of the lessons He taught me this past break. If He gives me a desire, He will fulfill it. If I trust Him, He will provide. Even in the wilderness, the cloud and fire are there to guide me and remind me that the Invisible is with me. It doesn’t matter where He leads me to go—as long as I’m with Him.

As you read this testimony, I hope you are filled with a sense of God’s provision. I hope that as you look at your own life, you will see the Invisible at work, because He is there. His greatest desire is for a relationship with you and to experience life with you. I pray that will become your greatest desire, too—a life with God where each day, He provides exactly what you need, and you see a little bit more of the Invisible.

“And God said, ‘I will be with you’” (Exodus 3:12, NIV).

Ultimately... life rewards action, not intelligence

Rhett Seitz Lifestyle Editor

Recently, I was scrolling through YouTube and stumbled upon a video in my feed titled “Life rewards action, not intelligence.” It was a leadership presentation by Conor Neill. Intrigued, I clicked the video, thinking it might be clickbait. Instead, his video left me with insights that changed the way I view life.

The main premise was all in the title. Neill emphasized how many of us grow up believing that the secret to getting far in life is raw intelligence. Much of this misconception stems from the fact that we spend our early formative years in school, where success is often attributed to being “smart.”

While schooling certainly involves intelligence, especially certain subjects, that brainpower isn’t something you have the moment you come out of the womb. Sure, some may argue that certain people are born brighter than others, but most of that success we see in school actually comes from action. The A grade that a student earns is rarely the result of raw genius allowing them to ace a test on material they’ve never seen. It is the result of action: the effort to learn new material, study it and apply it to homework or exams—even if it meant the possibility of failure.

I say this to encourage you: You are not limited by your intelligence, your natural academic abilities or how gifted school says you are. Your success comes from taking action. Real success doesn’t come from

getting it right the first time; it comes from trying—from showing up—consistently.

History is full of brilliant people who started on the wrong foot but succeeded through sheer persistence.

Consider Albert Einstein. While he was undoubtedly a genius, he famously struggled with the rigid structure of the schooling system. It wasn’t just his brain that changed physics; it was his relentless action to question, publish and prove his theories.

I experienced this personally in one of my earliest college classes: Calculus I. I studied for my first test and got a 52%.

The issue? I wasn’t studying the right way. I tried to memorize everything as I was used to doing in humanities classes, rather than doing several practice problems. I quickly realized that if I didn’t change my approach, I would continue to fail. I considered dropping the class.

Did I lack intelligence? No. I just hadn’t taken the right action. Did I give up? Absolutely not. Once I implemented a new study method and committed to working out every practice problem, I ended up getting an A in the course. It was a complete turnaround, fueled entirely by a change in action.

This principle applies to everyone. Nobody is born a successful finished product. We all have to learn and experiment, even if it means failing a few times. Life is a journey. Think of children learning to walk. They don’t automatically know how to balance; they stumble. But after toddlers take action to make those first

wobbly steps, they eventually run. That is the beauty of living this life, this side of heaven. It is the same with any successful person you admire. It wasn’t luck or magic IQ points that got them there. It was hard work and effort until their craft became second nature. When you see someone and think, “That person is a better singer or speaker than me and must be smarter,” that is rarely the case. They likely just took more action than you did when it comes to that craft. It’s also the case with finding a job or dating. You may be quick to judge someone or think you aren’t as good as someone else. The truth is that you just did not take action, while they did. Intelligence in any area follows action, not the other way around.

I say all of this here today to encourage you. If you ever feel down or limited by your academic abilities, maybe it’s time to try something different. Or if you have a goal for this new year that you want to fulfill, maybe it’s time to take the first step. Action comes first, then intelligence follows. I’m not here to say that action is the end-all, cure-all for everything in life, because it’s not. But action is the answer for a lot, and possibly most, of life’s challenges. For us at Southern, another word for this kind of action is faith.

The Bible is clear on this.

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) reminds us, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” You are capable of more than you think you are.

God does not limit you here by your intelligence. If that were the case, then God would not be a just or awesome God. On the other hand, God gave you the ability to take action.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7 (NIV), “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” Notice the requirement? You have to knock. The best opportunities in life are the ones you seek after, not the ones that just happen to fall into your lap. So, what are you waiting for? You have the promise in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) that you “can do all things through Christ who strengthens [you].” Stop waiting for the perfect moment or for a sudden stroke of genius. Take that leap of faith. Take action. It’s as close to magic as you can get.

Winter Weather Crossword Puzzle

Across 1. “Painfully cold snow _________”

2. “Thin, wispy clouds with ice crystals ________”

3. “Fluffy, heap-like clouds _______!”

7. “School is _______!”

Down 1. “Severe snowstorm with high winds ________ ”

4. “Ice pellets mixed with rain and snow ________!”

5. “Hanging piece of frozen dripping water _______“

6. “Let it ______, Let it ______!”

Created by Lindsey Hazen

• Payday: Salary.

• 6:07 pm Sunset.

• 6:30 pm Vespers: Student Week of Worship @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists

7:30 pm AfterGlow @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists South Atrium

8:30 pm Vespers: Student Week of Worship @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists

• 11:00 am Convocation: Student Week of Worship @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists • 5:30 pm

• 4:00 pm Concert: Southern Symphony Orchestra Concerto @ Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists

Basketball Intramurals

Wednesday 6:00 pm

- Let him shoot vs cybertrons (Men’s B)

- Dumbson 5 vs Old School (Men’s B)

- Omomo Prep vs Dear Basketball (Men’s B)

7:00 pm

-YMCA legends vs White Heat (Men’s B)

- Tall Tale vs mermaids (Women’s A)

- Southern Ducks vs Pookie bears (Men’s B)

8:00 pm

- We’re Washed vs Oreo bro’s (Men’s A)

- Hoogins vs Love muffins (Men’s C)

- We’ve never lost vs The Last (Men’s C)

9:00 pm

- Frank Ntilikina vs Buddy’s Villain Arc (Men’s C)

- happy birthday alden vs Cambodian National Team (Men’s C)

- See you in court vs Big Bounce (Women’s B)

Thursday

6:00 pm

- Isreal GPT vs Matcha Men (Men’s C)

- BouncyBiggityBouncey vs Basketball (Women’s A)

- LPC vs Wasabi (Women’s B)

7:00 pm

- Chick-fil-Layups vs Shyla (Women’s A)

- New Taipei Kings vs SY (Women’s A)

- The Great Whites vs 2025-2026 Wizards (Men’s C)

8:00 pm

- All 41-14 All vs Foul baiters (Men’s C)

- C-League Avengers vs Coughing Baby (Men’s C)

- Jadd and friends vs Shalom Yahweh (Men’s C)

9:00 pm

- Larry Legend’s Lunatics vs Compa (Men’s C)

Become an advanced practice nurse and earn a doctor of nursing practice at the same time.

The BSN to DNP program mentors bachelor’s degree-level graduates as they gain necessary RN experience through an advanced nursing practice emphasis of their choice.

Options include: • DNP/MBA • Lifestyle Medicine

• Nurse Educator • Nurse Practitioner (emphases include Acute Care–Adult/Gerontology, Primary Care–Adult/Gerontology, Family, and Psychiatric Mental Health) Call or visit online to find out how to get started.

BSN DEGREE TO DNP