Opinion | 6
Mental Health | 5
How to look at life with a glass- Overton Window: There’s nothing left about being right half-full mentality
November 06, 2024 Collegedale, Tennessee
Religion | 6
Lifestyle | 7
The signs of the times: Preparing for Jesus
How collecting books became my hobby
Southern Accent
Vol. 80 Issue 08
The student voice since 1926
Southern impacted by turbulent election season
Collegedale residents line up for early voting on Thursday. Thursday October 31, 2024. (Photo by Stephen Ruf)
Hayden Kobza Managing Editor Editor’s Note: Although the Accent’s print publication is distributed on Wednesdays, the paper is printed on Tuesday afternoons. Because of this, we were unable to publish the election results in this issue. For our most up-to-date election coverage, please visit our website at southern-accent.org. Americans flocked to the polls yesterday to elect a new president and other government leaders. Now, the day after Election Day, a haunting question remains: What will happen next? According to a 2024 Stress in America study conducted
by the American Psychological Association (APA), 77% of American adults surveyed said the country's future is a major source of stress in their lives. “Research shows the distress we feel around politics can harm our physical and mental health—and it’s only getting worse,” according to the study. “In 2016, the presidential election caused significant stress for 52% of adults—this year, that number jumped to 69%. Additionally, many U.S. adults said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence (74% of respondents) or that the 2024 election could be the end of democracy in the U.S. (56% of respondents).” The survey was conducted
Mountain Cottages nearing completion Anaya Parker Reporter Starting in December, Southern Adventist University students residing at Reflection Pointe will move into the new Mountain Cottages, according to Marty Hamilton, associate vice president of Financial Administration. This is a delay from the original move-in date of Nov.15 given by Hamilton, as reported in a previous Accent article. Hamilton is working with Lisa Hall, dean of students and director of residence life, to plan the move. He hopes to move students to the Mountain Cottages as they
become available, but no date has been set. “I am planning for the first week of December to start them moving,” Hamilton wrote in an email to the Accent. “ … We are trying to give students the most convenient time to relocate.” Because the end of the semester can be a busy time for students, administration is planning how they will help students relocate, according to Hamilton. “It is getting close to finals, and I am worried I will have to move during finals,” Houston Beckworth, a junior archeology major currently residing in Reflection Pointe, said.
Southern's Mountain Cottages are set to be complete by December.
(Photo by Hannah Johnson)
See COTTAGES on page 2
online between August 1–23, 2024, among 3,305 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, according to information published on the APA website. Oversampling was conducted for subgroup analysis by racial/ethnic groups. Several Southern Adventist University students shared their post-election fears with the Accent prior to Election Day. Emma Schmidt, a freshman marketing major, said she was concerned that a war could break out no matter who won. “I don't necessarily think that is an outrageous idea,” Schmidt said. “I think [it] is very plausible that it could happen. At the very least, there [could] be riots, no matter which way
[the election goes]." Schmidt said she believes that there are more pressing issues in the world, “but this [election] is something that could possibly just like all at once, trigger and start something.” Maryjoy Guirnalda, sophomore religious studies and medical science double major, said, “Well, for me, personally, if the party that I want doesn't win, I fear a lot of things, not just in a political manner, but also in the spiritual realm of things as well.” However, Guirnalda said that she knows that God is in control and whoever becomes President should be respected. “Even though we have all these fears, we still have to put
our trust in God and know that at the end of the day, they're going to lead us somewhere," she said. "And whether that be to a better light or a darker light, we just have to be prepared as citizens."
“Those who are most engaged online are the most discouraged.” Lisa Clark Diller, a professor in the History and Political Studies Department at Southern, shared ways to have assurance amid political uncertainty. “Christians have a perspective on the brokenness of this world that shouldn't make us See ELECTION on page 3
Oakwood University announces president's departure to NAD Alissa Flores Reporter On Oct. 21, the Board of Trustees at Oakwood University announced the upcoming departure of the institution’s president Leslie Pollard via a statement released to the public. Pollard, who has served as Oakwood president for 15 years, is scheduled to leave at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year for a position with the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD). In his new role, he will serve as assistant to the NAD president for pastoral continuing education and mission. “He will supervise and coordinate the Division’s engagement with continuing education for clergy and second-career ministerial professionals,” according to the statement signed by NAD President G. Alexander Bryant, chair of Oakwood’s Board of Trustees. “He will assume this new role on July 1, 2025.” The announcement came as Pollard faced increasing pressure from a group of alumni, faculty, staff and students, known as Concerned Oakwoodites, to resign.The group organized in the fall of 2023 to address some concerns about Pollard’s leadership raised by supporters of the university. A statement released by the Concerned Oakwoodites in an Oct. 22 article published by Spec-
Leslie Pollard in October 2012. (Photo sourced from Flickr)
trum magazine stated, “One year ago, we stood together, united by a shared vision: to save and restore our beloved Oakwood University. We believe the announced resignation of Dr. Leslie Pollard as Oakwood’s president marks a significant moment in this quest.” David Person, co-founder of Concerned Oakwoodites, as well as an alumnus and former general manager of the Oakwood University radio station, said under the current leadership, Oakwood has faced issues such as decline in enrollment,
low retention of employees and students and poor infrastructure maintenance.
“The main theme of it is lack of transparency.” Once aware of problems, Concerned Oakwoodites analyzed public records and submitted its findings to the Oakwood Board of Trustees for review. “We had a press conference in which we called for transparency and accountability from the Board of Trustees and the adminSee OAKWOOD on page 2