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October 9, 2020 Issue 3 Follow us online

The difference between “The” and “A”: Dordt’s marketing team and rankings Hannah Kuperus—Staff Writer high school students as they begin their college search. These rankings help students find In the span of five days from September colleges that value the same aspects they do. 14 to September 18, the Dordt marketing team “If [a student] wants to go to a place where released four statements detailing the various faculty are really bought into educating students collegiate rankings and achievements from the and want to get to know you and help you learn fall semester. From tying for fourth best regional and think critically, then being ranked number college in the Midwest, to ranking second for one in student engagement is really helpful.” best undergraduate teaching in the Midwest, Moss said. to the largest ever fall enrollment, and to the While Moss acknowledged these rankings coveted number one spot in student engagement, may not be the reason students look into Dordt, Dordt had many reasons to celebrate. But how she has been told by the Admissions Office that they presented some information, specifically people ask about the rankings on visits. their tying for fourth as the best regional college “People recognize it as something special in the Midwest according to a US News and about this place... I think the longevity of it… World Report ranking, caused a debate from it’s just unique.” Moss said. “So it is definitely students and others on social media. something that we hear about from prospective Dordt’s initial Instagram post, which stated students. They’re like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of Dordt was “the top university in Iowa,” soon cool.’” read, “a top university in Iowa.” This edit from While Moss emphasizes the efforts of “the” to “a”, however, did not stop the flow of Marketing to be more clear in their press comments about the truthfulness of the claim, releases and social media postings, one may especially because Dordt did not alter their wonder if this only refers to the wording of the graphic that included a large “#1” looming post rather than the graphic associated with it. behind Covenant Hall. This flow of comments On Friday, September 18, Dordt posted about led Dordt to eventually comment on their post, their rank as number one in student engagement writing, “Hi everyone! Thanks for all your for the fifth year in a row, yet the picture they feedback about rankings. To clarify, our graphic Contributed Photo used on Instagram proved more reminiscent of refers to the ‘Best Regional Colleges Midwest’ the week, including ranking second for best the talent show or NCDC, rather than of student ranking, where we were named a top university “And it’s similar [with teaching]. We are undergraduate teaching in the Midwest and first engagement, which Moss defines as, “engaging in Iowa and also tied for fourth within this pretty detailed in what we explained in the press in student engagement for five years in a row. students in their learning.” While events such category. We understand your confusion and release itself, mentioning the fact that it’s the “[We were] very explicit about the fact that as NCDC or the talent show may look more will strive to be clearer when speaking about best undergraduate teaching regional colleges student engagement is a category… We always fun and exciting to prospective students, future rankings.” Midwest category because they do look at… explain that, but we made sure to really state clearer marketing might have included a scene Some commenters remained dissatisfied, other parts of the country as well for that… that [this time], so people clearly can tell it’s from Dordt’s classrooms such as a group in with one Instagram user expecting, “a more ranking,” Moss said. one of a number of categories within all of discussion, a lab based science course, or even a honest and visible response if Dordt has any For students at Dordt, the emphasis on the Wall Street Journal, and Times Higher history class in simulation. It remains to be seen sense of honor.” Sarah Moss, director of rankings may feel trite after ranking number Education Ranking.” Moss said. “If they wanted how the response to Dordt’s Instagram post marketing and communication at Dordt, stated one in student engagement for five years, but to dig deeper into the other categories, they’re on September 14 will continue to affect future that the incident impacted the way Dordt the rankings matter for a different reason. welcome to do so, but we primarily promote the postings and press releases. marketing approached the other releases from student engagement category.” According to Moss, rankings are helpful for Dordt and Sioux Center Trump shop comes to Sioux COVID-19 response Center Sam Landstra - Staff Writer Zac VanderLey - Staff Writer

Sharlee Fopma is rarely late for class. It is into the single digits in mid-September, Dordt Stephen Radke wipes sweat from his brow products. A Trump bear is sitting on the hard to miss it, of course, when the walk takes scaled back their virus containment regulations, after pulling off his Keep America Great cap. counter peeking out from his cramped living two steps. including the 24-student limit for classrooms. He scratches at his tattoo on his left forearm; arrangement. Above the bear is a Rambo Donald Since last Saturday, the junior pre-physical Fopma found herself unable to socially bellows out a long yawn; removes his worn out, Trump poster. Trump t-shirts, flags, and hats line therapy major has been quarantined in a local distance in her Sociology and Social Justice white vans; turns off his air pods; and plops the walls. A black box fan circulates the air of hotel. As Sioux County grapples with a surge class. At a table with four others in SB1603, down on his air mattress in the back room of the continued on page 2 in COVID-19 cases, 80 other students (as of no more than three feet separated Fopma from store at 3:30am. Another hard day’s work at the October 5) have been sent home or sentenced to her classmates for fifty minutes, three times a Trump Shop. hotels like Fopma. week. She raised her concerns to the registrar. The Trump Shop franchise currently has Her king size bed offers a more sizable In response, the registrar referenced a fifty-three stores around the country. The latest alternative to the extra-long twin she is geometric pattern the tables could be arranged appeared next to Taco John’s in Sioux Center on accustomed to back on campus, and a quilt in to allow proper social distancing in all September 23. Residents driving down the main handmade by her grandmother is draped classrooms. Such was not the case in SB1603; street are greeted by an American flag inflatable across it. On a footrest close by sit a Bible and the room and class size could not permit it. tube man waving in the wind and a live-sized devotional. Fopma reads them every morning Fopma had done what she could. picture of President Donald J. Trump on the before traveling the three feet to her desk for “Do you care? Or are you just wanting to door. class. make the profs happy?” Fopma said. “Are Radke, the young owner of the shop, moved “I’m doing as good as I can, I guess.” Fopma you more concerned about getting all of your to Sioux Center from Winona, Minnesota. He said. students back into classes rather than the safety watches political demographics, and Sioux Over the past few days, every aspect of of all the students?” Center was high on his priority list due to the her life has been squeezed into to these couple A few weeks later, one of her tablemates amount of republican voters in the area. hundred square feet. It did not have to be this tested positive for COVID-19. They did Upon opening the door plastered with way, though. Trump’s likeness, the prospective customer When COVID-19 cases on campus fell continued on page 5 is greeted by a variety of similarly themed Contributed Photo page 2 News News page 3 Trump shop comes to Sioux Donald Trump’s tumultuous Supreme Court scramble over Ginsburg’s empty seat Aleasha Hintz– Staff Writer Center cont. week A month ago on September 18, Supreme Caleb M.S.– Staff Writer her seat, “without delay!” Eight days later on “The Senate’s floor schedule will not nine individuals are entrusted to the lawmaking cont. from page 1 Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from September 26, Trump announced his nominee interrupt the thorough, fair and historically of the whole country. complications with pancreatic cancer. Just eight America. It smells like patriotic heaven: a little Professor Laremy De Vries. “I was expecting Secret Service agents drove President Trump Biden spent time calling for unity, pitching for the supreme court, creating an uproar in the supported confirmation process.” McConnell “To have five people making decisions on days later, President Trump announced his booze and body odor mixed with a faint burnt more normal stuff, and I’m just kind of around Washington D.C. in a heavily armored the strength of his COVID-19 response plan, Senate. wrote. This stands as a far cry from his 2016 marriage, that is not democracy,” said Taylor. nominee for the now-empty supreme court seat, pizza aroma. The most popular items, according shocked.” and hermetically-sealed suburban on Sunday and repeatedly questioning the character of the The nominee in question is Amy Barrett, a opinion that the senate held no obligation to A lot at stake exists for these parties; creating a point of contention between parties to Radke, are the playing cards, flat stickers, and De Vries compared it to a firework stand evening. The public appearance followed his sitting president. Both men constantly spoke conservative whose views differ from Ginsburg hold a hearing for Obama’s nominee, Merrick Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. in the senate. With accusations of hypocrisy gold signs. Those sell out in a matter of days. with its small room and bombastic material. COVID-19 diagnosis on October 1, and the over the moderator, Fox News’ Chris Wallace. in every way. She contrasts the late justice on Garland. And if Barrett gets appointed, it would mark the from the left and cries of defense from the “Business is going well,” Radke said. “I “I thought it would be too extreme for Sioux Presidential Debate on September 29. The lack of decorum during the debate led her stance on women’s reproductive rights, Dordt political science professor Jeff Taylor third justice Trump will have appointed in just right, a frenzy of political posturing abounded. stayed up all night [on September 29th] setting County, but maybe I don’t know Sioux County Political commentators and citizens alike to calls for measures to ensure constructive immigration, and the death penalty. points out Trump and McConnell do not violate one term, creating a 6-3 conservative majority. Ginsburg’s legacy, however, must not be up the store and restocking. From Wednesday to like I thought.” shared their frustrations about the debate last debates—such as muting the microphone of the With the Republican party holding the any constitutional law in nominating Barrett The potential shift in ideals in the court overwritten by bipartisan noise. Saturday I get more and more people.” Radke has met resistance in the past for his week. Jake Tapper of CNN called the spectacle party not permitted to speak. majority in the Senate, they could confirm so close to the election. It is the senators like would create a ripple effect on American Ginsburg was born in 1933, right at the tail The Trump Shop’s Facebook page has work. Some of his stories are not fit for a family- “A hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a Two days after the debate, on October the nomination with ease. If a vote happens McConnell, who have changed their opinion citizens who, ironically, have the least say in end of the Great Depression. She found herself become quite polarizing. The page’s profile friendly newspaper. He said he’s had guns trainwreck.” 1, President Trump alerted the nation of his before the election, Barrett will all but likely based on opportunity, that are inciting conflict. the appointment of the new justice. no stranger to hardships in her youth. As she picture is Trump’s head photoshopped onto the pointed at his head, his life has been threatened, Twitter users echoed the sentiment in the infection with COVID-19 and began treatment be appointed. But a delay until after an election All of this points to a potentially bigger “I just want to be able to honor Ginsburg’s grew up in a low-income neighborhood from body of a red-and-blue-clad muscular superhero, and he is no stranger to name-calling. moments and days after the debate, calling the at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. The where Republicans stand to lose seats could problem, Taylor notes. The motivation behind legacy,” said Joya Schreurs, a member of the Brooklyn, Ginsburg lost her mother to cancer and the posts feature various Trump flags and “My favorite is when people call me a event a “disgrace to American democracy and White House confirmed the President tested turn the tables in favor of the Democrats. this scramble in Congress exists the fact that College Democrats club at Dordt. the day before her high school graduation, and shirts for sale. Under those posts people have Nazi.” Radke said, “I have blonde hair, blue public virtue.” positive after returning from a fundraising trip Two basic views have arisen from the these nine supreme court justices control the While the politicians in Washington bicker battled overt sexism during her time at law been commenting anti-Trump gifs, cursing out eyes, and run a Trump shop, so I become a Nazi News sources such as the Washington Post in New Jersey on Thursday, but did not share situation, and the presidential candidate Joe law of the land. But this was not always the over how to best represent their constituents, the school. Even though she graduated top of her Trump supporters, and even lambasting the city to people.” provided live fact-checking during the event, when his most recent negative test was received. Biden and incumbent Donald Trump represent case. The responsibility of judicial review used people simply mourn the loss of the notorious class at Cornell University, she struggled to find of Sioux Center for allowing such a store to Sioux Center, however, has mostly and reporters from the source identified a Since the President’s diagnosis, thirty people them well. Biden believes a hearing should wait to belong to the Senate, which meant lawmaking RBG. a job because of her womanhood. This came to exist. welcomed Radke with open arms. massive amount of fallacies from President in contact with the President since the debate until after the election, because results from situated itself much closer to the people. Now, an end, however, when Bill Clinton appointed “It makes me laugh because it generates “I know this is a religious community,” Trump, as well as some truth-stretching from have tested positive. This number includes the polls best show what the American people her to the Supreme Court in 1993. publicity.” Radke said, “I had some people Radke said. “It helps my business, and people former Vice President Joe Biden. the First Lady, Kellyanne Conway, a White want. Across the aisle, Trump claims the right During her time on the court, Ginsburg from Le Mars come because of all the hate on are super nice. The worst thing that has During the debate President Trump made House aide, and eleven Ohio debate staff. Vice to capitalize on the four years allotted to him in proved herself a champion for gender equality Facebook,” happened was some girls came in, talked about repeated false claims to attack his opponent. President Mike Pence has not been seen since the presidency. and civil rights. She casted decisive votes supporting Biden, and ran out.” The president claimed Biden never attended the positive diagnosis. He is expected to debate The Democrats cry hypocrisy and flock for cases of the likes of King v. Burwell and In the Trump Shop, two men in orange Delaware State—the university later refuted Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris on behind Biden, and the Republicans deflect “I thought it would be Obergefell v. Hodges, which preserved the working vests and steel-toed boots buy a Trump this claim. Trump claimed he brought back Big October 7. behind Trump. Both parties want their own say Affordable Care Act and legalized same-sex too extreme for Sioux Train t-shirt along with a golden Trump $100 Ten football—a Big Ten university president President Trump began Monday morning in the candidate, and both sides have a history marriage. In cases where she found herself in bill. Two high school girls in jeans and blue refuted this claim saying, “President Trump with a flurry of all-caps tweets, commenting on of acting the sore loser. the minority, Ginsburg gained notoriety for her County, but maybe I don’t sport jackets walk in timidly. Radke welcomes had nothing to do with our decision….when everything from the Space Force to the “FAKE In 2016, right before the last election, clear and scathing dissent. them like any other customer. his name came up it was negative because we NEWS MEDIA.” Trump later tweeted Monday the opposite held true. President Obama had know Sioux County like I She had a habit of stating her opinion, “I don’t care what color, gender, race, didn’t want this to be political.” afternoon announcing his discharge from the same opportunity that Trump now seeks sometimes to the point where her sharp tongue religion, or ethnicity you are. I’ll sell to Trump also took shots at the Green New Walter Reid Medical Center, saying he “feels to capitalize on, and senators like Mitch thought,” placed her in ethical trouble, namely her public anyone,” claimed Radke. Deal, including claiming the proposition better than I did 20 years ago!” McConnell had completely reversed their denouncement of Trump. Even pertaining to her -Laremy De Vries He accepts card or cash, but to him, cash is would “take out cows.” The Green New Deal Controversy continues to surround the views. replacement, Ginsburg had something to say. king. is thirteen pages long, available for anyone to administration in their handling of the virus and Obama had nominated a candidate for And like her trademarked dissents, Ginsburg read online, and makes no mention of seizing or transparency regarding happenings inside the the Supreme Court eleven months before remained clear and insistent she wished for He also has had customers from Nebraska, destroying livestock. Presidential residence. The second Presidential the election, and McConnell claimed the her replacement to be nominated by the next South Dakota, and Des Moines, Iowa. President Trump did not stop at making debate is slated for October 15 in Miami, hearings located themselves far too close to the president. This dying wish, however, may not While Radke does not require facemasks and blatantly false statements but also took shots Florida. It is unclear at this time how format election. Now, two months before the election, be fulfilled. does not currently wear one himself, his Trump at Biden’s family, including his deceased son, or precautions may be affected in the wake of McConnel steams ahead in Barrett’s hearings, Just one day after her death, President facemasks and neck gaiters have consistently Beau Biden III. Trump’s illness. despite recent issues with COVID-19. sold out. The store is rarely empty of people. In Trump tweeted out he would be working to fill the mornings random customers show up: some Contributed Photo on lunch breaks and others who have come from afar. The afternoons bring older couples and, later at night, he gets younger customers. Some, he claims, are Dordt students. Dordt limits food options due to COVID-19 “Wednesday is the busiest because there are church things at night and afterwards my shop Jaclyn Vander Waal– Staff Writer is swarming with people. I’m usually open past 10,” Radke said. The Trump Shop is here to stay, at least until until Dec. 11.” Dordt Dining Services is run through Schiebout tries to use three of her five meals “Bring meal exchange in the afternoon January 21st. As long as business is booming, a week, but it is becoming harder for her to back,” she said. “I don’t understand why they then there’s no reason for Radke to move on. Creative Dining Services, which is based in Zeeland, Michigan. Prior to the school year, make her way to the Grille. took this away. It has nothing to do with COVID The upcoming presidential election serves to “I dread eating at the Grille some days in my opinion. Lineups are still bad for the draw interest in politics and his wares. Creative Dining Services put together a 36- page COVID-19 manual that included the because I am unsure of what to get,” she said. Grille, so having hot meal exchange wouldn’t “Even if Trump doesn’t win—but he will—I Other students find it difficult to fulfill make it any worse.” believe I’ll have customers,” Radke said. do’s and don’ts of COVID-19 dining, Menzel said. The manual served as the basis of many their dietary needs. Lauren Hoekstra, a junior Schiebout said the issue could be resolved by There have been murmurings in the Dordt secondary English education major, has few rotating options in and out of the Grille better, community surrounding the new store. Some changes for Dordt’s food options and guides daily operations. options that fit her vegetarian diet. In previous with more variety in the chips and cookies for love it, some hate it, and others are more years, the vegetarian delight salad, veggie sides. confused. “If my people get sick, what do I do?” Menzel said. “What if the student population salads, and strawberry wraps and salads “The Dordt food service staff does a great “I think it’s just weird,” said Adjunct were served at the Grille. This year, only the job of meeting our needs, but I really hope to Contributed Photo Contributed Photo gets sick and they have to go virtual, what do I do? So those are the questions I ask every day.” vegetarian delight salad is offered. see chicken salad in the coolers in the next However, many students do not appreciate “I think it was sort of disappointing, just coming weeks,” she said. the changes. because I was so blown away by the Commons Menzel’s focus is keeping both his staff Bubble or Tabernacle: tent name casues debate Cassie Voogt, a sophomore exercise science last year and the Grille,” she said. “I had so and the Dordt community safe and healthy. many options of food that I could eat—which He hopes to evolve the plan as the school year Georgia Lodewyk .– Staff Writer major, has 21 meals per week in her plan. She said she doesn’t receive the right proportions of was really all that I wanted from Dordt Dining progresses, adding options such as rice bowls, in general. But now this year, it seems like they wings, mac-and-cheese and burgers as they go. As students headed to breakfast or morning food at the Commons since she can no longer did not think Dordt would actually pick it. importance because they are a part of who we park there.” Luke Wagner, a freshman at Dordt, have taken a step back.” Menzel found adgusting the Grille meal classes on September 28, many noticed serve herself. She is given too many eggs and “I thought they would just laugh at it.” De are and building a legacy.” Dr. Tom Prinsen, a said. “I don’t really think it [the tent] does Yet, Hoekstra keeps a positive outlook about exchange times the most difficult change to something different about the new tent next not enough granola in her yogurt for breakfast. Jong said. communication professor at Dordt, said. “So anything, the only people that use it are football Photo Credit: Jaclyn Vander Waal Dordt Dining Service because Menzel has been make because they had to “give and take.” Hot to the Commons. Someone had plastered a Voogt also misses the 1:30-3:30pm hot meal Other names submitted by students included building names do have importance.” people. It’s not really beneficial.” Dordt Dining Services has significantly incredibly accommodating for her needs in sandwiches required too many staff members to large, yellow sign to the side of the canvas with exchange at the Grille. “Commons 2.0,” “The Tabernacle,” and Dr. Prinsen teaches public relations and Dordt built the tent to provide more space changed food options this semester due to prior years. come within six feet, so he lessened the demand the words “The Tabernacle” written in bold “At the Grille, I usually just grab a salad “Shalom Dome.” marketing research classes at Dordt University. for students to congregate safely. Students are COVID-19 with the goal of servicing students Every time I said something, he always took for them by eliminating the 1:30-3:30pm hot lettering. It did not stay up for long, but the sign or something. I’m not about spending my Some on Dordt’s campus, like freshman In his classes he looks at the importance of encouraged to use the space for eating meal through the end of the semester. that feedback, and he went with it,” she said. “It meal exchange. The tradeoff was he kept the points towards an ongoing debate on campus Defender Dollars on a Defender, even though Justine Combs, are not in favor of the current building relationships between businesses or or congregating in large groups where it is The same meal is offered in all three serving was really cool to see how he actually listened 8-10pm late night meal exchange. surrounding the tent’s naming. that’s what I ate all the time last year,” Voogt name. Her favorite of the many suggested is institutions—like Dordt—and the surrounding unsafe to meet indoors. Resident Life, Student lines of the Dordt University Commons. Staff to people who have different needs and food “We wanted to keep some aspect of the A week before the sign appeared, Robert said. “Now I have to use my Defender Dollars “The Tabernacle,” which is a reference to the community. There are a lot of perspectives to Activities, and some classes have made use of serve all food to students themselves except for restrictions.” Defender Grille true,” he said. Taylor christened the tent “The Bubble”. A tent- for it? That’s not happening.” portable resting-place for God carried by the look at when deciding on a brand—or in this the space in order to follow CDC guidelines. self-serve items in the breakfast nook, ice cream Hoekstra said she understands that Menzel hopes students realize they are naming committee chose the named from a list Marissa Schiebout, a junior elementary ancient Israelites in the Bible. case, a name for a giant tent. According to The yellow sign attempting to give a new and beverages. The Defender Grille has fewer COVID-19 makes the dining services at Dordt always welcome to talk to him. of student submissions for the chance at a $30 education major, also finds that she spends more “That thing is not shaped like a bubble in the Prinsen, names like “The Tabernacle” could be label to The Bubble may have been taken down, options for hot sandwiches and choices in the look different this year. She just wishes the “I tell the students that I’m in it to win it,” he campus store gift card. of her Defender Dollars at the Grille because of slightest. It holds no resemblance to a bubble.” viewed as sacrilegious. but the naming debate has the potential to Grab-n-Go line. The Grille’s afternoon hot meal Grille would have more options for her to eat. said, “but the only way that we are going to win Freshman Aaron de Jong came the lack of options. Combs said. “’The Tabernacle’ references our For other Dordt students, the tent’s location continue. exchange has been eliminated. Voogt also realizes changes needed to be it is if everybody works together to beat this.” up with the name based off the “2020 NBA “I was really hoping that with the hot food Christian background.” is a bigger problem than the name. The Bubble “The formal names we control, but the “The COVID world just changes everything made in light of COVID-19. She admitted Bubble” set up in Walt Disney World, Orlando meal exchange gone, there would be more Combs said she didn’t place the bright takes up most of the parking lot between the informal names, we don’t.” Prinsen said, for us,” said David Menzel, overseer of Dordt it was good to reduce the number of people for basketball players to stay isolated while choices for us,” she said. “There are not as many yellow sign on The Bubble, but that “whoever Commons and East Hall, reducing the number “Dordt can call it whatever they want to call it, Dining Services. “We spent all summer touching the same utensils even though she finishing out the 2019-20 season. options for chips and cookies, and sandwiches put the sign up, I love them.” of available parking spaces for students. but students may have their own name.” preparing—preparing how we service Dordt does not prefer to be served. She simply wishes He said when he sent the suggestion in he and salads are starting to be the same.” “A lot of our buildings are of great “A lot of people are mad because they can’t and the Dordt community so we can service for more choices. page 4 News News page 5 Wastewater treatment facility replaced after 39 years Dordt and Sioux Center COVID-19 response cont. from page 1 Eoghan Holdahl- Staff Writer not place Fopma on their contact tracing list Mahr, a parent with three children in the tested for the virus (via the Iowa COVID-19 workable, and you choose not to, you have an The Municipal Utilities of Sioux Center spent “This is a new treatment process however, despite interaction with her for almost Sioux County public school system, chose dashboard), MOC-Floyd Valley remained integrity gap. I see a ton of integrity gaps.” roughly 26,500,000 dollars and used 55,000 for all of us, so we’re learning the a full hour. She faced an ethical dilemma. to homeschool his kids after the MOC-Floyd hesitant to enforce masks. Instead, they Back on campus, Dordt had reinstated bricks to build a new wastewater treatment ins and outs and trying to figure “It kind of just came down to thinking about Valley school board refused to enforce a mask implemented the “COVID Shuffle”. multiple COVID-19 regulations. At the facility this year. Its completion was celebrated out what’s going on,” Ellis said. my roommates, rather than myself—sacrificing mandate. At the ring of every thirteen minutes, Commons and Defender Grille, they this past month. They also laid 24,000 feet of The SCADA software fourteen days so that my roommates stayed During the summer, the school sent out students rearranged their seating chart as to implemented heightened protocols and limited pipe and put in over 150,000 hours of labor. The (supervisory control and data healthy.” Fopma said. surveys to students, teachers, and parents, skirt the fifteen minute time period required seating. Attendance caps for chapel and praise old facility had been built in 1981 and the town, acquisition) stands as one of the Fopma entered quarantine. asking their opinions on masks for the to be contact traced, as laid out by the CDC. It and worship returned to 200, and only a limited not to mention Dordt University, has grown newest systems to get used to. It In September Dordt had eased off numerous upcoming school year. When the majority lasted one day. amount of tickets opened up for the Dordt vs considerably in size and environmental impact takes inputs from the pumps and COVID-19 regulations both inside and outside voiced their dislike towards a mandate and On September 25, administrators from the Northwestern football game. in the forty years since. So, replacing the facility other motors and sends it back to of the classroom. It felt as if the worst of things some even claimed they would refuse policy if four county hospitals met with local school On October 5, the university recorded 20 was seen by local officials as unavoidable. a central computer. Much to the had come and gone for a short while, with zero masks were required, the school decided against superintendents and university presidents over active positive cases on campus with 80 in Technologies required upgrades to new pleasure of Ellis, the SCADA active reported cases and just four others in requiring masks, breaking away from CDC Zoom. They feared ICUs would reach capacity quarantine or isolation, showing little change standards, which allowed for the construction of makes it far easier to see patterns quarantine on September 17. recommendations. if no changes were made in the community. An from days prior. new ultraviolet disinfection, an online software emerge in the general operative An original limit of 200 students expanded “It’s challenging,” said Howard Wilson, ask for mandated facial coverings, amongst “I’m angry.” Mahr said. “And I’m passionate to monitor the operations, and automatic rakes health of the system. SCADA to 300 for chapel and praise and worship, Dordt vice president and co-chair of the other things, was issued. about keeping my community safe, but how do to sift out the largest contaminants from the also facilitates the control of and attendance caps for sporting events also COVID-19 task force. “I think there are MOC-Floyd Valley replied by encouraging sewage. In the old plant, the employees used the plant. In the control center, raised. On September 13, local churches some people who haven’t taken the virus too masks. Other local schools and churches “It’s a really small hand rakes. Ellis can see all the pumps and began welcoming students back into their seriously.” followed in the same, non-compulsory, manner. “We would have to do this twice a day—and buildings displayed on a monitor. congregations after initially asking them to As COVID-19 cases in Sioux County rose “I really believe in integrity.” Mahr said. sacrifice to pay for we weren’t getting out ninety percent of what “We were transferring sludge, attend virtually. to the point where one in four locals had been “When you’re responsible to keep things we’re getting out now,” Zeke Ellis, the sewer now we just controlled it and Outside of campus, though, a different everybody to be just a department supervisor, said. actually turned off a pump by just narrative played out. COVID-19 cases had little bit more safe.” Ellis knows the facility like the back of clicking a couple buttons,” Ellis been rising in Sioux County since the beginning his hand. He walks through the wastewater said. of the school year and, along with it, the case 140 -Sharlee Fopma treatment process step by step. Dr. Jeff Ploegstra, associate positivity rate. With 27% of Sioux County 130 After sewage enters the facilities through professor of biology at Dordt, natives testing positive over a fourteen-day ACTIVE POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES a 24” pipe, it is raked, scoured by bacteria in 120 considers the construction of period (September 20 ), the county ranked fourth QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION I communicate that in a way where I can still be an oxygen-free basin, then aerated and tossed the new plant a necessary action in Iowa, according to the Iowa COVID-19 110 heard?” about while oxygen-loving bacteria disinfect it. in light of the economic and dashboard. On two of these days (September 20 100 Wilson notes that a “Gordian Knot” of “Right now, we’re built for the future population growth of Sioux and October 4), testing positive was a coin flip religion, politics, and personal health concerns obviously. You know, we don’t just build these Center. He points out when the of fifty percent. 90 have likely led Sioux County to the COVID-19 for today, or years, we build for twenty or forty old facility was built in 1981, Just eleven days after Dordt posted zero 80 numbers they are experiencing now. And years,” said Ellis, pointing to blower motors as the Pella Corporation and other active recorded COVID-19 cases, numbers on without any sense of tragedy in the community, tall as a full-grown man. “Everything’s a little 70 large businesses had not yet Contributed Photo campus spiked as well. On September 28, 135 of the impact the virus can have on others, a shift bigger than we need right now,” established themselves in Sioux Center. Dordt students had entered quarantine or isolation, 60 in action may not come easy. He hopes people After the raking process, the removal of University (then just a college) was also smaller things you flush down your toilet have to go “ We have the ability in this community to not with 18 active positive cases. It marked a 50 will take to wearing masks and practicing nitrogen and phosphorus via bacteria follows, and exerted less of a load on the wastewater somewhere.” only build something that’s environmentally fifteenfold increase for those in quarantine or proper social distancing though. Fopma does then clarification, and finally ultraviolet system At the treatment facility, employees expressed friendly, but also visually friendly.” Ellis said. “ isolation since September 17, and more than 40 too. filtering. The old plant possessed no ultraviolet “This is a response to a growing population their appreciation of the new plant as more than We’re pretty proud of what we’ve got here.” double from one week earlier. 30 “We have to all have a trust with the students process, which constitutes a significant upgrade. and part of that is Dordt.” Ploegstra said. “The just a way to get rid of waste. “It’s almost like six months ago, scientists 20 to make sure that everybody’s doing what’s are telling us to do these three things to slow going to be best for Dordt.” Fopma said. “It’s a community spread. And then we didn’t do 10 really small sacrifice to pay for everybody to be them for six months, and now we’re reaping just a little bit more safe.” the consequences,” said Steve Mahr, owner of 8/25 9/01 9/03 9/07 9/10 9/14 9/17 9/21 9/24 9/28 10/01 10/05 Town Square Coffee House in Orange City. Local churches and COVID-19 precautions Graphic Contributed by: Emma Stoltzfus

Lexi Schnaser– Staff Writer Churches are an important part of life in from everyone and leave right away.” to meet, to spacing rows out six feet apart.” aversion to that risk.” Harmelink said. “That’s Positive cases by county as of October 7 Sioux Center and the Dordt community. While United Reformed Church is also In light of the rising cases in Sioux County, not at all casting judgement on one or the at Dordt, students are required to wear masks instrumenting safety measures, and those URC decided to temporarily suspend their other, but being respectful that everyone’s indoors and strongly encouraged to social decisions have been constantly changing, children’s Sunday school and will re-evaluate circumstances are a little bit different,” distance, the story is different for most churches according to Harlan Harmelink, an elder at the if they feel comfortable starting up again. Until Harmelink said most of the members are in town. URC and Director of Financial Aid at Dordt. recently, ushers have been dismissing rows to appreciative of the slow transition back to First Reformed Church and United “We were continually evaluating as we went exit the building immediately after the service normal services, while still being respectful of Reformed Church are two of the many churches through” Harmelink said, “from initially having to have fellowship outside. members’ comfort level. in Sioux Center that welcome Dordt students half the congregation in the morning and half at “Everybody’s situation is a little bit different Jake Thorsteinson, a junior at Dordt and into their congregation. They are both taking night, to setting up more seats to allow everyone in terms of the risk they dare to take or their student member of URC, said he found it steps to accommodate CDC recommendations encouraging that churches have measures concerning masking and social distancing. in place at all. Thorsteinson is from Alberta, FRC started meeting in person again on Canada, where a mask bylaw requires his home August 2nd. At that time, most churches in the church to mandate masks inside the building area had long since started meeting again. and implement proper social distancing. “We’ve blocked off every other pew and “In general, whether or not the measures we feel that way will ensure we are below fifty they have put in place are working, the fact percent capacity in our sanctuary and that it will they are making an effort is really meaningful help a little bit in keeping people spread out,” especially because there aren’t any laws,” said Dr. Travis Else, the executive pastor of Thorsteinson said. “They’re self-regulating and preaching and care at FRC. recognizing it is important.” “We just want people to be comfortable at Dordt students and Sioux Center residents church and not afraid of whether or not they’re have different perspectives and experiences catching a COVID virus.” with COVID-19. While some churchgoers are In recent weeks FRC has strongly encouraged comfortable going to church regardless, some members to wear masks when in the building are still hesitant to jump back into normalcy and have suspended their coffee service. They with rising numbers in Sioux County over the chose to not require masks because they were last few weeks. Both First Reformed Church and unsure how they would actually police the United Reformed Church are still livestreaming mandate. their services each week, so members who feel “The question we continue to ask is: ‘what’s uncomfortable attending in person can still reasonable?’” said Else. worship together. “I think that it’s okay that churches are One of the best ways the church body can making [masks] an option because they are love its neighbors well during this time is to be social distancing,” said Sarah Holmberg, a respectful of everyone’s different perspectives, Dordt junior who attends FRC. “It wouldn’t Harmelink says. It is important for churchgoers make sense for churches here to mandate it, to feel safe and comfortable while at church. In because it would turn a lot of members off from the end, “having the rows six feet apart does not going to church.” impact how we worship.” Johanna Christensen, another junior attending FRC, said, “I think I feel pretty safe [at church] as long as I am sitting a pew away Contributed Photo page 6 News News page 7 First Monday controversy Q&A with Aaron Baart in response to Jacob Hall Katie Ribbens - Staff Writer Caleb Pollema - Staff Writer

The following is a Q&A session with Dordt’s Perhaps the irreconcilable difference for Mr. Dean of Chapel and Chief of Staff, Aaron Baart. Hall simply lies within the distinction between This is being published in response to a series our two worldviews—how we each see the of articles by Jacob Hall, a local man involved world. As a Dordt graduate and ordained with Sioux County Conservatives and a writer CRC minister, I would self-describe my for the Iowa Standard website. Hall has posted theological inclinations as “Reformed,” while a sixteen-part series on the Iowa Standard Mr. Hall would more readily define himself “exposing the undeniable falling away from as a “fundamentalist,” and indeed has called Dordt University’s biblical roots.” Nearly half himself this in a recent post on his blog. As a of the series has specifically gone after Baart result, I’m going to pursue a path of cultural for his personal politics, social media activity, engagement, consistent with a Kuyperian, and chapel messages on homosexuality and Reformed world and life view, whereas a various other topics. Hall claims many students fundamentalist approach is much more culture- have decided to not attend chapel because of warring by nature. In the end, I think that Mr. Baart’s comments. The purpose of the following Hall’s stated fundamentalist worldview is is to allow Baart to respond to the accusations incompatible with the Reformed worldview for the benefit of the Dordt community. The that Dordt upholds. As such, his critique of passages below are Baart’s exact words. both Dordt and me lacks relevancy because we The sole exception is found in his answer to perceive the world so differently and are truly question three. Baart initially quoted the entire operating out of very different worldviews. introduction to Dordt’s handbook section Regardless of such differences though, I’m heartbroken that a brother-in-Christ would use on “sexuality, gender identity, and sexual Contributed Photo conduct”. Due to space and readability, this blogs and social media pages that attempt to has been cut down to a key selection that Baart look like actual news outlets to try and unfairly settings that I believe that God’s design for mess” on us. It’s where we are called to live. highlighted himself. Dordt’s handbooks can be discredit my ministry. I strive to spend my life marriage is between one man and one woman. 3. As a Christian university, do you believe read in their entireties online. Any questions on behalf of the Kingdom of God, ministering Even the students who self-identify as LGBTQ that Dordt should make a public statement regarding the subject should be directed to him in hard places, adding beauty and efforts that I have the privilege to visit with know regarding where they stand on the topic of for further discussion. of reconciliation in my community and in this about me. But more importantly than homosexuality? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the world. In the end, it’s my prayer that the that, they know that I love them deeply and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ visibility of the fruit from my life and ministry so does God. Historically, the Church has Dordt doesn’t need to make a new statement 1. Why do you believe that Mr. Hall has will simply speak for itself. struggled to navigate healthy conversations on sexuality because it hasn’t changed the same brought these accusations against you? around sexuality. In fact, on the whole, we’ve one we’ve held to for decades. You can find that 2. One topic that Mr. Hall addresses in his been quite abysmal at it, and we likely all owe information in our student, staff, and faculty I honestly don’t know. My guess is that series of articles is homosexuality. What is these fellow image-bearers sincere and heartfelt handbooks. The wording is identical in each. he believes it’s a righteous crusade and that your position on the topic? Do you believe apologies. Jesus himself would often disagree Here’s the excerpt from the faculty handbook, he’s rooting out heresy or false teaching or that the Bible teaches that marriage is with people, but he still always loved them specifically page 89, section 7.2.2.1. something. That’s why it pains me to even be between one man and one woman only? deeply and even offered his life up for them. To writing these things. I think it’s tragic that too borrow language from Dr. Preston Sprinkle, our “Dordt University believes, based on its many people have been exposed to his online I have always held to the historic positions primary offensiveness to our LGBTQ friends understanding and interpretation of the Bible, activity and have believed that he might have a regarding sexuality outlined by both Dordt hasn’t been our theological position; it’s been that the only appropriate and permissible point—that Dordt might be suffering any form University and the CRC. And, I have always our ministry posture. Unfortunately for some, context in which sexual intimacy may be of mission drift. I assure you, Dordt is not. Nor submitted to the authorities appointed to govern that nuance is lost and ministry presence or expressed as overt sexual interaction is in the am I. Up until now, I simply have not engaged my life and doctrine. When I was hired at Dordt absence in a messy situation can only be seen by marriage partnership of a man and a woman.” his critique, but since our own students have over ten years ago, I assured the president some as either condoning or condemning. But I now asked and because good people are being that integrity and a foundational submission believe that the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels Anyone who works at Dordt has already led astray by what he posts, I felt it was time to the authority of Scripture and appointed, teaches us very clearly that such a dichotomy agreed to live by those shared standards, myself for transparent answers to the questions being supervisory bodies are deeply important to me, simply isn’t true, even if it is tempting. We included. And even if someone writes online asked of me. and that if I ever deviated from the university’s are to hold fast to our beliefs while being stories trying to make Dordt’s policies appear It also merits a reply because these attacks stance on any significant theological issue, unconditionally loving to absolutely everyone. slippery, that doesn’t change Dordt’s stance neither Dordt nor any denomination would This is especially true when they are God’s (nor my agreement with Dordt’s stance), just Contributed Photo feel like an insult to Dordt’s board of trustees need to investigate my beliefs because I would because they keep saying it several different supporting Trump—a man that contradicted called this book urgent and sharp-elbowed, perspective and they have a different context and our denominational church structures that hurting or marginalized children (see the Eyes turned to screens across campus and resign before that could ever happen. That’s ways. evangelical values. Kobes Du Mez begged to and I think that is accurate.” By choosing a that they’re living in.” already oversee my life and doctrine. Virtually Sermon on the Mount). beyond for Dordt’s First Monday Speaker, true, not only regarding doctrine pertaining to differ. She believed that he stepped into the very provocative title, she sought to help white “These labels are so slippery,” Bailey said. all of the accusations have been settled by those I am well aware that questions concerning Kristin Kobes Du Mez, played on Vimeo sexuality, but equally applicable to all major 4. Would you be concerned as the Dean of role white evangelicals prized. evangelicals face some of their issues. “You might call someone an evangelical, and official bodies already years ago. Specifically, sexuality are a substantial issue for our youth October 5th. While Kobes Du Mez planned points of doctrine. I don’t believe that it’s my Chapel and Chief of Staff if Dordt students “I was incredibly disturbed to observe [in While the audience had prepared for they might not even agree to the term.” the allegations all stemmed from a chapel today. I live in those conversations every day. to visit in April, due to COVID-19 she had calling to deceptively change a denomination or were skeptical of what you have said and white evangelical circles], year after year, one disagreement, Kobes Du Mez came across less Kobes Du Mez was careful to point out sermon I preached at Dordt on March 18, 2015 Seeing this great need, I’ve sought to educate to reschedule and became the first speaker to an established institution. Rather, it is to serve have decided to no longer attend chapel? after another, we were preaching and promoting controversial than feared. that “white evangelicals” doesn’t fit into just about homosexuality. You can still listen to it myself and spend time learning to minister present virtually. As a Dordt alumna, she could said organization. I still believe that. This is this militant model of Christian manhood “As a historian she feels the need to provide one category and could be interpreted several online as Dordt has never sought to remove it effectively in and around this issue. This has relate to her audience well, but her speech was why I’m so troubled by these false accusations. I wouldn’t merely be concerned, I would that had become implicated either personally, a narrative that’s more factually based,” Jake different ways. or apologize for its content (see “Dordt Chapel” helped me tremendously in my ministry on ill-timed. Moreover, I have said before in numerous be heartbroken. If any of our students ever directly, or indirectly in sexual abuse scandals,” Thorsteinson, a junior at Dordt, said of Kobes “When I think of ‘who is an evangelical?’ on Spotify). campus and also beyond, presenting in nine With Election Day only a few weeks away decided to no longer attend chapel because of Kobes Du Mez said, “I understood that this very Du Mez. “Personally, I do wish that she came it really is somebody who has been shaped and different states and three Canadian provinces and Sioux County still debating the New York what they have read on a social media post or militant brand of Christian masculinity in fact down a little harder.” formed by this broader evangelical culture, to over 10,000 high school students (and their Times’ “Christianity Will Have Power” article, blog, it would mean that they have been led contradicted many of the teachings at the heart The controversy surrounding Kobes Du which includes theological ideas, but it also parents) in the past few years on issues of the debate around faith and politics is a touchy astray by someone who simply doesn’t grasp of the gospel.” Mez’s book stirred up an important question: includes a kind of cultural identity.” pornography, sexual dysfunction, and God’s one. Kobes Du Mez’s book, “Jesus and John the complexity of cultural engagement that lies Lyle Gritters, a Dordt alumnus and former How do Christians deal with disagreement Culpepper blames a polarizing culture Biblical ideals. I have written articles for the Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a at Dordt’s Reformational core. But I hold out employee, lived through the decades Kobes among themselves? for the increased sensitivity to disagreement. Christian Educators’ Journal, The Banner, Faith and Fractured a Nation”, serves as another hope that Mr. Hall would want to reconcile with Du Mez referenced as key points for militant He said he doesn’t believe Dordt should stop and other publications. I have been invited playing field for that discussion. Dordt, and with me. I pray one day that will still Christianity to arise. She pointed to anti- hosting speakers that might come across as to numerous Protestant, Catholic, and public be possible. communist ideals meshing with the evangelical controversial. schools to teach on these issues. I’ve done “Recognize that Finally, I would also encourage anyone to culture. Gritters said he couldn’t relate to the “It’s troubling that the culture has changed the same at colleges and universities. And “We as a go back and listen to or view our past chapels. culture she was describing. to the point that it seems like a lot of people I have served as a consultant for churches, unity isn’t the They are on our website, on Livestream, “As I look back over the 50’s and 60’s,” have lost the sense of what the purpose of the regional groups of pastors, school districts, and university, we have Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and more. Dordt Gritters said. “I don’t think we necessarily same thing as university is,” Culpepper said. “We certainly community leaders who are working through has nothing to hide, and neither do I. I’ve been thought of it [communist threat] as a religious want to support and affirm the principles on very difficult issues around sexual abuse, hurt, an imperative pastoring in Sioux Center now for over 16 issue.” uniformity,” which the institution is founded. But those confusion, and brokenness. The hard, but great years. My life is a wide-open book, and I am to embrace the Additionally, Gritters didn’t recall principles don’t do the larger world any good joy in all of this has been the opportunity to see doing everything in my power to live it fully witnessing a militant patriarchy find a foothold -Justin Bailey if you don’t take them out and if we don’t test firsthand the healing power of Jesus Christ in to the glory of God. And at Dordt, we’re proud controversies of in evangelical circles. them again.” the middle of some people’s greatest pain and of the faith formation that we instill in our “We as a university, we have an imperative Leah Zuidema, vice president for academic anguish. students. We have always not merely sought the day to engage to embrace the controversies of the day to affairs at Dordt, said Dordt doesn’t endorse My life as the Dean of Chapel and Chief to produce graduates, but serious disciples of engage with them,” Scott Culpepper, a Dordt “Recognize that unity isn’t the same thing as everything a speaker says just because they give of Staff at a Christian university exists at the Jesus and effective Kingdom citizens who live with them,” history professor, said. “If we’re going to be any uniformity,” Justin Bailey, a theology professor them a platform. Dordt hosts speakers so that intersection of grace and truth. And if you’ve for the glory of God. Rest assured, that’s not kind of legitimate university, we have to tackle at Dordt, said. “How do we resist the cultural students can get a special learning opportunity, never lived day-in and day-out for over a decade going anywhere. -Scott Culpepper the hard questions.” temptation to vilify people who disagree with not to push a political agenda. with 18-22 year-olds who have real sexual And, if any Dordt student or genuine supporter But rather than appearing with fists raised us?” “I don’t think that we go and seek struggles and stories, you wouldn’t understand has any lingering doubts about those realities and ready for a fight, Kobes Du Mez diffused When asked this question, Thorsteinson controversial speakers,” Zuidema said, “I think what it’s like to keep a hospitable and loving after reading this article, I would welcome the situation with a smile and a few clarifying said, “I think some strategies you can use is just that we look for people who are really engaging approach like Jesus to anyone who is searching, confused, or simply thinks differently than you. them to call or email me and continue the In her presentation her criticism focused statements. remembering that we’re all made in the image some of those challenging questions of the I’m going to hold to the truths of Scripture, conversation. on militant patriarchal white evangelicals “The subtitle ‘How White Evangelicals of God and just because they don’t understand, day,” but I’m going to do it in a very loving way. Soli Deo Gloria! Aaron Baart responsible for suppressing women and Corrupted a Faith’ is making a bit of a normative or they don’t come from your point of view claim,” Kobes Du Mez said. “One reviewer has is probably just because they have a different Sometimes, I think that approach is confusing to people. That’s why I’ve often referred to Contributed Photo Jesus’ model as being willing to get “ministry page 8 Art & Entertainment Opinion page 9 Henry Cavill should be used A society facing Should we go to church? My God, my God, why have in more period dramas, vis- consequences – The Social Zac VanderLey - Staff Writer you forsaken me There was always one certainty in my family: Connor Van Hulzen - Staff Writer Sunday was for church. à-vis Enola Holmes Dilemma film review You might expect a less serious title for an Yankees always spend immeasurable amounts Gretchen Lee—Staff Writer Daniel Ketchelos—Staff Writer I’d look wistfully out the window thinking of the Seahawks game I was missing as my parents article dealing with something as silly as the of money, always hit lots of home runs, and drove to church. I remember sitting in a wooden sport of baseball. I, however, have decided that always beat the Twins in the most heartbreaking And no, it isn’t just because he looked such a name is only way to convey exactly how ways possible. The Yankees have single- incredibly dashing in that Victorian-era suit. pew while wearing a button up shirt that made my neck scratch and letting my mind drift to a I feel at the moment. handedly contributed 13 losses to the 18 total. I had mixed feelings going into my viewing The Minnesota Twins have now lost 18 Ignoring sole wins entirely and focusing on of Enola Holmes, stemming from the fact that I pretend basketball game. But, regardless of my mental state, I was physically present at church straight playoff games. Yes, you read that right. the Twins’ ability to win a playoff series, the am not particularly fond of lead actress Millie One-eight. Eighteen. The date of the last Twins Twins haven’t managed to do that since the year Bobby Brown. I initially wasn’t sure if Henry each and every Sunday. I think spiritual disciplines like attending playoff win? You guessed it, October 5, 2004. 2002. That means it is possible to be a freshman Cavill would be able to pull off playing the The 2020 Twins’ lack of a postseason at Dordt University and have never witnessed a legendary Sherlock Holmes, and I was wary of church each Sunday are an important aspect Contributed Photo of the Christian journey, which is why I was victory hurts just a little more than previous Twins playoff series victory. the fourth-wall-breaking featured in the trailer We are more known for our political beliefs excited to attend church in Sioux Center last outings. For one, the Twins were finally able to Going back even further – since their World for the film. However, all three of my main then our spiritual purpose. We preach loving week for the first time since returning to campus. dodge the New York Yankees in the first round. Series victory in 1991 – the Twins have been to concerns were firmly squashed within the first our neighbor, but some of us won’t even wear a That being said, I hesitated. Sioux County Didn’t matter. For another, the Twins had finally the playoffs nine times. In these nine trips, they 30 minutes of the film; Enola Holmes is an piece of cloth that could save lives. continued to post upwards of a 30% testing assembled a team that was, in my opinion, all- hold a winning percentage of .182 (6 out of 33). absolute delight. I think we sometimes fall prey to believing positivity rate while Covid-19 cases continued around better than any in my lifetime. Didn’t That number is horrifyingly low. Adding to the Enola Holmes was raised solely by her the only form of church is on Sunday at 10am to rise. I watched as Dordt went from 0 active matter. For yet another, the Twins had a home- pain, their cumulative regular season winning mother, who taught her all of the skills a lady was in a hard pew with a large group of people. But cases to 135 in quarantine after a weekend of field advantage (albeit, without fans) after percentage during those nine seasons sits at not intended to learn, such as fencing, fighting, I wonder what would happen if we viewed the people attending church. Church was not the winning the AL Central for the second year in .571 (775 out of 1,356). and the deciphering of codes. With both of her church as more than a building? sole cause of Dordt’s increase in numbers, but a a row. Didn’t matter. The Twins’ ability to win regular season brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, grown up and I challenge us to think of the church as the packed room full of singing, maskless people is The Twins continue to find new and games and inability to win postseason games working in London, Enola has had very little fellowship of believers. We can exist without a the perfect breeding ground for any infectious improved ways to shatter hearts. After setting has now gone on long enough to earn them contact with the outside world, causing her to building, and we will forever exist as long as virus. the all-time record for the number of home runs a place alone in the history books. They now form a close bond with her mother. However, two or more of us meet in the name of God. So, I asked myself, should I go to church? in a season last year and seemingly improving hold the record for the most consecutive playoff on the morning of Enola’s 16th birthday, Mrs. Contributed Photo However, when we value traditions over the My church back home required masks and upon that same team this year, the Twins still losses amongst all the four major sports leagues. Holmes vanishes with little trace. Determined People are social. Human connection is a former Facebook engineer. heart of the law, we become complacent. distancing while holding churches outside. could not find a way to win a singular playoff What might be the craziest thing about all of to find out why her mother left without warning, necessity. But what happens when the drive Advocating the importance of freeing oneself And complacency can make us resemble the If that were the case in Sioux Center then my game. this, however, is that I know without a shadow Enola embarks on an adventure that will find for interaction becomes overconnected? The from technological manipulation stands out Pharisees more than we would think. feelings would be slightly different, but, alas, Will they ever win a playoff game again? of a doubt, this offseason, I will still manage to her protecting a young marquess, running away Netflix Original documentary, The Social as a common theme throughout The Social English professor Bob De Smith and his some churches are not requiring restrictions and The laws of nature would say yes. However, get excited about the Twins. I’ll still invest my from Mycroft, racing against Sherlock to find Dilemma, directed by Jeff Orlowski, uncovers Dilemma. Harris urges corporations to develop wife have not been physically to their church, cannot easily meet outside. I’m not convinced that the Twins haven’t time and money and what’s left of my fragile clues leading to their mother, and trying not to the dangerous side effects of overconsumption software that is humane and does not take Covenant Cristian Reformed Church, since When I’m faced with a spiritual question, been doomed to an eternity of mediocrity and mental state into this team. I just don’t know get herself killed or caught in the process. in an online social world. advantage of consumers. early April. I turn to the stories from Jesus’ life on earth. heartbreak. any better. Former leaders of large tech corporations Despite thorough research and credible “It’s partly circumstantial,” said De Smith. Jesus spent most of his ministry challenging the I was born in 2000. So technically, I have The Minnesota Twins and their fans are truly Contributed Photo come forward with chilling information on sources, a few parts of this film are distracting. “My son got married, we attended a funeral, and Enola’s childhood were also well-done and norm. He asked more of his followers than they been alive for a playoff victory. But I certainly the definition of insanity: doing the same thing “Enola Holmes the negative effects of overindulging in social A fictional dramatization of Gen-Z becoming we also visited my daughter who is immune- enhanced the quality of the movie by helping expected: forgive seven times seventy-seven, don’t remember the night of October 5, 2004. over and over again and expecting a different networking. They speak out against corporations addicted to social networking is used compromised. We just wanted to limit our is an absolute build background for the main character and he said, turn the other cheek, and love your For as long as I have been aware of it, the result. using technology to manipulate our opinions, throughout the film to aid the factual narration. contacts.” help the audience understand her relationship neighbor as yourself. Twins have consistently run into the playoffs At this point, the losses are almost expected. the rise of fake news, and how depression rates These sequences featured subpar acting and De Smith doesn’t want to bring the virus to delight.” with her mother. A great soundtrack, excellent The one group of people that Jesus full steam ahead only to be ushered out without But you can bet that when the Twins do win their are increasing as a result of overconsumption. overdramatization that was unappealing to Dordt or to church. He finds watching online to cinematography, and a decent script were also criticized to the point of righteous anger was even an ounce of resistance. first playoff game since George W. Bush’s first Intimate interviews with former tech leaders watch. If the filmmakers had substituted these be worshipful and engaging, and he knows that hallmarks of Enola Holmes. the Pharisees: a faction of legalistic, political The main villain over the course of these term, I’ll be right there watching and cheering Overall, I deeply enjoyed this film. Enola was saturate this piece. Notable figures include sections with real people dealing with their once he does return to church, the connections The biggest flaw of this film, in my Christians. The Pharisees knew all the rules and 18 consecutive losses are the dreaded New along. plucky and independent while still managing former Design Ethicist for Google, Tristan problems, it would have made the piece more he has made throughout the years will still exist. opinion, is missed opportunities for comedic enforced each one to a T. They were the faces York Yankees. The antithesis of the Twins, the to skirt being annoying. The writers and Harris, Former Twitter Executive, Jeff Seibert, impactful. “It’s hard for those who are new to the area and emotional payoff. Several side plots were of Christianity, yet Jesus consistently critiqued actors managed to produce an incredibly well- and computer scientist Jaron Lanier. These Minus a few unnecessary elements, this and searching for a church,” said De Smith. “I started that reached only a partial completion. their hypocritical lifestyle. developed character over a very short period of former tech leaders advocate against their social is a documentary for everyone who uses would just encourage people to be patient.” They may be completed in future sequels, but In Matthew 12 the Pharisees condemn time that was both relatable and fantastic. Henry inventions and how they negatively affect social networking services. Understanding De Smith believes Covenant CRC has the the loose threads of this movie made it feel a Jesus’ disciples for plucking heads of grain on Cavill truly shone as Sherlock Holmes, making society. how corporations use these apps to alter how right formula for meeting in-person: half the bit lacking and left me feeling like something the Sabbath. But Jesus defends his disciples by him feel like other iterations we have seen of Harris argues against the algorithm that individuals think and respond to issues is congregation meets each Sunday, wears masks, was missing from the end. In particular, Enola’s quoting scripture and proclaiming: “I tell you, the character onscreen while still adding the manipulates individuals. He emphasizes how important. Consumers should be actively and distances. Face to face church can be safe reunion with her mother didn’t feel satisfying or something greater than the temple is here.” depth of his care for his younger sister. Seeing notifications, data tracking, and recommended understanding and criticizing the information and have merit even in the time of a pandemic. “earned.” The audience wasn’t given a chance Scripture states the disciples were hungry, so the man most known for playing Superman in content works to increase the algorithm’s they take in, and sources provide information De Smith challenges the Dordt community to to see all of the building backstory between the Jesus valued the lives of his disciples over the a British period drama was a bit like seeing a manipulation of the mind. The narrative of that may help individuals become independent interrogate the why behind attending church. two characters lead to that reunion and it left me rituals of the Sabbath. professor in jeans and a t-shirt at Walmart, but, this documentary sends a warning to parents, of their devices. If you are seeking to understand Church is an important part of our walk with feeling like filmmakers had run out of time or Even though Iowa does not contain a mask once the initial shock wore off, Henry Cavill teens, and businesses on how social networking how corporations develop services to influence the Lord, but it can become based in tradition resources to play out the ending in a better way. mandate, I believe we should be the ones going fit the time period splendidly. I sincerely hope manipulates the way people think and respond an audience, this piece will provide more rather than a desire to spiritually grow. The Overall, Enola Holmes was entertaining, beyond the law by making sure our neighbor is he delves into more historical films of this era to social issues. insight. Overall, The Social Dilemma receives a goal of the Judeo-Christian church is to foster smart, and novel. It is a unique, new take on safe. We should value life through love rather in the future. The breaking of the fourth wall 7/10 for excellent research, but overdramatized the fellowship of believers, so if you need to be an old favorite in terms of Sherlock Holmes as than tradition. worked well with the atmosphere of the film and scenes and poor acting drag it down somewhat. in person to satisfy that connection, then by all a whole and in terms of movies about teenage The Church, first and foremost, reflects made it feel unique and interesting. It almost “We are more profitable means go to church, but don’t forget your mask. felt like a callback to the moments in the Robert girls who save the world. I would very much so Jesus Christ. It makes me sad to see the Church like to see more of the Enola Holmes character to a corporation if we’re through the eyes of my non-Christian peers. Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films where Contributed Photo Sherlock would pause and explain how he was as well as the other characters introduced in this spending time staring at about to fight his opponent. The flashbacks to first film. a screen, staring at an ad, Feenstra delivers Juliana Martinez- Guest Writer than if we’re spending noted that Feenstra is “a truly conservative polls closed at 9pm on June the 2nd. said Zylstra. that time living our life in In January of 2019, Iowa State Senator and candidate who’s passionate about his faith, “When the first result came in, I think it Emily Schwickerath, Feenstra’s political Dordt Professor, Randy Feenstra, announced his who knows a lot when it comes to politics, and was 10 points down or so. My mom said from director and scheduler, also notes of the a rich way,” candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives he’s had actual experience… and compared to the other room, ‘Don’t let Randy see that!’ but, campaign’s optimism. “ to represent Iowa’s fourth district. Although Steve King, he’s actually articulate.” Zylstra I saw it,” Feenstra said with some laughter. “I We’re closing in on the finish line with the running for the U.S. House is never a small continued, “he seems very genuine, very think everybody had a little anxiety because we wind at our backs. We feel the momentum feat, beating a 9-term incumbent presented an religious, very conservative. And so that’s what all put so much effort into it.” everywhere we go, whether it’s visiting small The Social Dilemma is not a feel-good unlikely victory for Feenstra. In 2018, only pulled me into this campaign.” After the polls declared his victory, Feenstra towns full of yard signs or hearing words of movie. This film explores the circulation of fake 35 of the 470 congressional elections resulted The Zylstra family is not alone in their realized the weight of the office he may hold. support when we walk into Casey’s wearing news, an increase in self-harm and suicide rates in victories over incumbents. In our nation’s pursuit of change. “You can always think about it, but now it’s Feenstra shirts.” among teens, and how social networking causes history, only about 10% of all elections ever “It was surreal to see the community of real.” Although it would be easy to sail to the people to constantly consume information. result in an incumbent’s defeat. people getting together and saying ‘Hey, I’m As he noted, the stage feels a bit bigger finish line, Schwickerath says that Feenstra got Throughout the flick, the algorithm is On June 2nd, when Feenstra defeated King going to support you,’” said Feenstra. when the President of the United States calls to work immediately after the primary. personified to show how individual choices are by nearly 10 percentage points; the unlikely During the primary campaign, Feenstra noted to congratulate you, along with Minority “He knew the race was far from over, and manipulated by technology. Harris emphasizes victory became a reality. the importance of his team: from schedulers, Leader McCarthy, Vice President Pence, House that extensive planning and months of hard how each choice made on social media is not “I came from a Steve King Family,” said to neighbors who were making phone calls, Republican Whip Scalise, and Senator Thune, work would be required to win in November. independent of the algorithm. Every swipe, tap, Kendal Zylstra, a Dordt Student and Lyon to prayer warriors from all across the district, just to name a few. He got back to work that night.” and click has been influenced by a system built County native. “My grandparents skipped everyone played a vital role. Even his church Although there are certainly individuals who Feenstra is working hard towards November to sell the user. my cousin’s wedding in 2002 to go to the began receiving notes of encouragement from were sad to see the 18-year incumbent lose his 3rd, but notes that he has real hope because of Another key argument made in this nominating convention to make sure Steve across Iowa’s fourth district. seat, the optimism for Feenstra across the state an eternal perspective: documentary reveals how the user functions a King got in” But, like many voters in this last “I thought I would be so nervous [leading is unmistakable. “As Christians, we know that we can have product to be sold to corporations. election, the Zylstra family saw the need for up to the campaign], but I was at peace with “I don’t think Scholten (the democratic optimism and be content because God is in “We are more profitable to a corporation if change. whatever the outcome was going to be… God nominee) stands a chance. I think Feenstra control. He’s going to further the kingdom, and we’re spending time staring at a screen, staring “We [have] been big Steve King supporters, kept calling me, and a door was opening wider should cruise to election, and it [will be] very I just want to be a part of that.” at an ad, than if we’re spending that time living and then over time, it has worn us out.” Zylstra and wider.” exciting to have a Dordt professor as one of 435 Contributed Photo our life in a rich way,” said Justin Rosenstein, Contributed Photo After nearly 17 months of campaigning, the members of Congress” in Washington, D.C., page 10 Feature Feature page 11 A professor’s journey with faith and the FBI Nursing department The COVID diaries: inverse Jayden Hoksbergen – Staff Writer welcomes Kleinwolterink quarantine Jon Moeller, Dordt’s new instructor of him his money, and waited for him outside of She asked Moeller some pointed questions the course of my life.” Moeller said, “It changed Sydney Brummel – Staff Writer Shannon Oostenink - Guest Writer criminal justice, originally wanted to pursue the house. The dealer came back with a whole about his beliefs. For the first time he really the course of my soul—where I’m going to criminal justice as an adrenaline junkie. On brick of cocaine—about the size of a book— started to think about his faith and his sins. spend eternity.” For the 2020-2021 school year, the nursing the responsibility of the teacher to keep updated a more serious note, he always held a natural and broke off a piece for Moeller. Moeller’s experience in taking down meth That course has since then led him to become department welcomed back one of their own. with such changes and ensure that the students desire to serve his country and community, and Moeller continued to buy from the dealer. labs and doing cocaine busts like these enabled an instructor of criminal justice at Dordt Originally from Sioux Center and having are being taught the most current material. that became a large factor in his decision to Eventually he bought a large amount to gauge him to get into the FBI. He started by working University, where Moeller hopes to teach the attended nursing school in Sioux City, Deb work in criminal justice. how much crack the dealer could come up cold-case homicides and street killings cases next generation about making an impact and Kleinwolterink elected to continue her teaching Moeller started off his career in criminal with on short notice. They planned the meeting in Washington D.C. and stayed there for 10 difference for the Lord. career right in town at Dordt University. “At Dordt I can justice with two years of uniformed street to happen in the back of a Korean restaurant; years. In March of 2001, he switched to internet “It’s a Christian institution, and we get to Kleinwolterink began her career in the field officer work in Kansas City, Missouri. Then he Moeller waited in his car. child crimes and worked cold cases on the side. correlate and integrate really examine what the underlying problem is, practicing at St. Luke’s in Sioux City, later went undercover in narcotics and vice for three A large part of drug culture comes from By 2004, Moeller had started working gang and that’s ultimately sin,” Moeller said. “More transitioning to some family practice clinics. years, dealing with ecstasy and a new strand of ripping people off—that’s how a dealer raises crimes, dealing with MS-13: a violent Central how we are created importantly, we get to approach every area The experience she gained from her practice meth. He couldn’t tell anyone his real job, and his status. As a result, anyone who’s buying has American street gang. Eventually, he worked of the criminal justice system with eyes wide prepared her well for her teaching in the by God. It’s just so that resulted in several arrests from the local to be careful, Moeller especially so. He left his in an extraterritorial jurisdiction, which meant open, filled with grace, filled with Christ’s love, classroom. police. car in gear and driver’s side door open. He kept any violent crime in Europe and Africa that but also being avengers for what is right.” “My work has been very general,” amazing how He did Moeller found his faith in Christ during his a sharp eye on his surroundings as he waited didn’t count as an act of terrorism sat in his Kleinwolterink said. “I worked on the medical career in the force. One night in particular for the man his dealer would send to bring the jurisdiction. create us” floor at St. Luke’s and then the medical clinics became a turning point for him. drugs. The man showed up with a shotgun. I worked at were a family practice, so that’s all He worked as an undercover officer in Maybe the man had a high and became -Deb Kleinwolterink “... we get to approach very general.” narcotics at the time. He and his snitch— paranoid, or maybe Moeller’s eye in the After working in Sioux City, Professor someone who helped him catch drug dealers— neighborhood got caught. The man pulled every area of the criminal Kleinwolterink entered the realm of nursing ran into a dealer in the projects. The dealer and Moeller from the car and brought him to an education. She began teaching at Northwest snitch began talking while Moeller bought some apartment. Fortunately, Moeller talked his way justice system with eyes Iowa Community College (NCC) in Sheldon, Overall, the experience had by Professor cocaine from the dealer. He noticed the dealer out of the situation and returned home safely. wide open, filled with IA, where she worked for five years. Kleinwolterink as an instructor at Dordt has didn’t seem paranoid and acted careless about The next day he worked with a church he Kleinwolterink taught at NCC for a couple proved enjoyable so far. She further values Contributed Photo how much crack he gave him—Moeller got attended to replace the roof of another local grace, filled with Christ’s years before transitioning to the director of the the Christian perspective she has been able to What is inverse quarantine you might ask? more than what he paid for. This clued Moeller church. He saw the contradictions in his life, I lived the good life for about a week…Then, nursing program. incorporate into her teaching. It is when one of your apartment-mates tests in that the dealer could be placed higher up on going from nearly being shot at the night before love” positive for COVID-19 and contact traces all of honeymoon phase passed. Suddenly, the best “I didn’t do much teaching in that role, and “We’re dealing with teaching about the human the chain. to singing songs from Veggie Tales with people your other roommates… except for you. Then, parts suddenly became my biggest problems. I -Jon Moeller I really missed the teaching aspect and the body, and how it works,” Kleinwolterink said. Moeller got the dealer’s number and called from his church. At the time he practically instead of sending the quarantined peoples to didn’t have a kitchen, so I had to eat all of my relationships with the students,” Kleinwolterink “At Dordt I can correlate and integrate how we him up directly. The dealer told him he had lived on the streets; he smelled, had dirt on his a hotel, they get the apartment and you get the meals at the Grille or Commons… as a senior. said. are created by God. It’s just so amazing how He gotten stuck at a mall with a broken-down car. clothes, and the group of young adults working In September of 2007, Moeller moved to boot. You soon find yourself in your own hotel I had to bring everything I needed for the day Kleinwolterink first heard about an open did create us, and now I can pull that together Moeller went to meet him. He found the dealer on the church didn’t know he worked as an Northwest Iowa, where he would work for the room on the same floor as all of the quarantined with me. If I forgot something, I had to walk position in the Dordt nursing department and teach the students about that.” in the parking lot with the car hood up. While undercover cop. He felt struck by how much next 13 years. While there he dealt with every and isolated students. or drive back to the hotel. And that hinged on around a year ago. Missing the teaching aspect not mechanically inclined, Moeller tinkered they poured love into him regardless. violation—with the exception of any occurring While this sounds like an awful situation, I hoping I didn’t forget or misplace my room key. of nursing in her own life, she immediately around and managed to get the dealer’s car The group all stayed in the basement of the on Native American reservations—for 19,000 found myself on cloud nine. Let me paint you Plus, those mornings when I realized I didn’t gained interest. started. Having gained the dealer’s favor, he church overnight, but Moeller couldn’t sleep. square miles. a picture: two queen-sized beds, your own have the shoes or shirt that I needed for the “The more I investigated Dordt and looked asked him to hook him up with more crack. He went and sat on the front step of the church. That night years ago sitting on the front porch bathroom with a bath, a TV, an armchair, a desk, outfit I wanted to wear for teaching practicum: at what they believed and how they teach, I got The dealer had nothing on him, but he offered One of the girls in the group joined him, and she of a church had a huge impact on Moeller. and complete privacy. And as a cherry on top, very annoying. quite passionate about actually being at Dordt to take Moeller to the house where he stored it became the first person he told about his job and “I can’t be any more grateful to her, or to that you don’t have access to a kitchen, so you get a The peace and quiet I originally enjoyed in the teaching role,” Kleinwolterink said. “It’s to hook him up. Moeller followed him, gave what that entailed. whole incident, because it completely changed free 21 meal plan as a senior. was replaced with missing the random and been a good, good change.” Contributed Photo So, what does a day in the life of an inverse fun conversations that inevitably occur when This semester, Kleinwolterink teaches two quarantined student look like? I wake up each living with roommates. Dance parties and classes: Wellness in Self and Others and morning at 7 or 8 and make the ten or so minute karaoke becomes significantly less fun when it Professionalism in Nursing Practice. She has walk to campus for breakfast and my daily is just me, myself, and my reflection (although enjoyed her return to teaching and appreciates “good morning” from Marlene. After a meal of my showerhead has gotten some impressive Mask up and sing out playing a role in the learning process of her that can only be described as technically edible performances). students, watching them begin to understand (I’m kidding…for the most part), I walk back to An overall impression of my time as, most big concepts. Troy Harvat- Staff Writer the hotel to prepare for the day. likely, the only inverse quarantined student “When you teach nursing, you’re teaching When class time approaches, I drive back to at Dordt: 3/10. One point for the bed, a point your counterparts.” Kleinwolterink said. COVID-19 has led to many complications and choosing to use the masks. mask every time I open my mouth, which is choir room. Smaller ensembles, like the 4th campus. Between classes, I stop by the Grille for the shower/bath, and a final huge one for “They’re going to be your co-workers someday, new guidelines around the world. Dordt’s choral “We did do our homework,” Smit said. “We helpful,” another student said. Avenue Singers and Bella Voce, are allowed (except on Wing Wednesday) for lunch. And not actually having to quarantine. I am far too so having an influence in that is really cool.” program is no different. The need for masks wanted to put in plenty of time and research During the first few weeks of the semester, in the rooms as long as they practice social when I am done for the day, I settle into “my extroverted find the capabilities to enjoy having Throughout her work, Professor has been a hindrance to the singers, but they before making our decision; it was a significant students in the various choirs wore their regular distancing. The men’s choir, Canons of Dordt, spot” in 55th and start on homework. After a that much time and space alone. I’m all for Kleinwolterink has found that one of the understand why it is necessary to wear them. financial investment.” Though the total price for masks. The first Chorale practice had to be held is also allowed in the choir room, but they are a nice mix of homework and talking with friends adventures and trying new things, but I would greatest challenges in teaching nursing is how Unfortunately, the masks that students would all the masks was nearly $6000, they drew from outside before they tried splitting up into four large enough ensemble that they cannot remain who pass through, I pack up and head to the not do this again. Now if you will excuse me, dynamic the healthcare field is. With consistent normally wear hurts their ability to breathe and a fund set aside for situations like this. smaller groups. After difficulties and negative in one room for the total hour-and-a-half of hotel to get ready for work or night class. A short it’s time for my daily walk to campus. produce proper diction; that is, their consonants His Chorale students had positive feedback feedback, Professor Smit requested permission practice. Due to their size, the Canons must research, best practices continue to change. It is session back at 55th rounds out my homework would be muffled and lost in the cloth. on the new masks: “I don’t love masks, to hold practice inside the auditorium while move from the choir room to the band room for the night and I head back to my peaceful and anyway,” one said, “but it’s definitely easier to practicing social distancing. about halfway through practice, or vice versa. Having predicted these issues, Dordt’s Contributed Photo quiet hotel room to cap off the day. music faculty searched for an answer. Director sing and breathe in the singer’s mask.” “It’s almost impossible to hear anyone else “The plan we have now seems to be going as Ryan Smit ordered masks specifically designed The masks are made to create a tented space around me,” one bass singer said. “I can barely good as it can” Smit said, “It’s coming slowly, for use by singers in late August. However, due between the wearer’s mouth and the fabric of hear the tenors, and I can’t hear the altos at all.” but we’re making progress, and I think we’ll be to back order, the majority of the masks didn’t the mask, allowing easier breathing and less Due to the size of Chorale, COVID-19 prepared for our performances in October.” arrive until September 16th. They searched interference when singing. guidelines prohibit them from practicing in the through several different options before “My lips aren’t brushing up against the Room for Jesus- Coronavirus, spontaneous worship, and reformed culture Nicholas Hembrough—Guest Writer

At first, the darkness and the bright hues like the BJ Haan Auditorium. This transition, students became confused. There were no a lot of exhortation, but not a lot of activation.” that splashed the back wall of the BJ Haan however, has not been particularly easy. breaks in the music between where one song Priore said. Auditorium were all that could be seen. Once “We don’t have any time to set up—we were started and another stopped, many of the songs “It went on so long that, as someone who eyes adjusted, students made their way down very lucky that the class that was in the BJ Haan and phrases being sung were unfamiliar to was there to worship and there to sing in that the wide aisles of the auditorium and partitioned on Thursday night ended about 25 minutes early them, and the students were unsure of what designated time, it was tough.” into rows set six feet apart. An eagerness hung this past week. That helped us out a lot,” they were supposed to do at times. When asked about the biggest improvement in the air like a fog, making every breath heavy Alex Priore, the worship arts tech director, “That was good for a little bit, but at some Praise and Worship could stand to make, Priore in anticipation. The clock struck 10 pm, the said. point, probably about ten minutes in, maybe did not wish for a time without masks or social band filled the stage, the leaders welcomed the “To not have our own space for worship is a little less than that, it was like, ‘OK, are we distancing. Rather, she made a statement of students, and the first Thursday night Praise and challenging, because we are sharing it with so going to sing more, or is this it?’” Said Clara hope for the future. Worship began. many other people on campus.” Peterson, a junior. “I would love to see leaders engage In the ongoing battle with the COVID-19 The limitations of the space did not seem to “Part of it is that they were on stage… and in spiritual song more, and then call the pandemic, corporate worship culture has shifted curb the excitement of students, however, as the there was less of a community feel.” Peterson congregation into it with them.” She said. “I feel in America and across the world; the inability first night of the revamped worship event filled said. “There was very much a disconnect like there’s a lot of willingness in students, but it to meet face-to-face forced has many churches the BJ Haan to its then-maximum limit of 200. but it’s definitely also a cultural thing. Most might be hard ground because it’s unfamiliar to online exclusively, resulting in a complete lack Students soon realized, though, that the space churches around here have liturgies, and that’s a lot of people. It might feel unstructured.” of live, group worship opportunities. and masks were not the only alteration that had what people are used to so they sometimes feel The next Praise and Worship will be Likewise, this fall, Dordt has severely occurred from last year’s sets. The format had lost.” Thursday, October 15, at 10 pm in the BJ Haan limited in-person attendance in accordance changed as well. Reformed students were not the only ones Auditorium. with COVID-19 precautions. This means some As the music started, students were asked who left the BJ Haan with questions and events, like Thursday night Praise and Worship, to remain sitting while a song was prayed thoughts about the new format for the evening formerly held in the Grill Area in the Student over them. But after several minutes of music, though; Priore also felt confused. Contributed Photo Center, have now been moved to larger venues, teaching, and prayer from the stage, many “As a person in worship, I felt like there was The Back Page Nectar lacks luster, but Belieber – A review of Justin doesn’t dissapoint Bieber’s new single and vibe Caleb M.S.—Staff Writer Tabetha DeGroot- Staff Writer

However, it is obvious there are moments “I don’t believe in nirvana/ But the way that where Joji is stretching his musical muscles. we love in the night gave me life.” Pick a vibe, The vocal manipulation on “Tick Tock,” is a Justin. Is Holy about faith, or about the personal high point, as is his interaction with Lil Yachty messiah you have found in your wife? It seems on “Pretty Boy.” Despite the lazy and poorly to be a strange hybrid of both. mixed beat, something about the collaboration Don’t get me wrong, Holy is the best we works out. Maybe it is the juxtaposition of the could hope for after Yummy, which some might artists, or how Yachty sounds like he is having crown as the greatest trial of 2020. The lyrics as much fun as he did in his SoundCloud days. are sincere and mature, two words I never Unfortunately, the Lil Yachty feature is the thought I would use to describe Justin Bieber. only one the album where a featured artist is And the lines featuring Chance the Rapper utilized well. Despite features by Diplo, Omar carry probably the deepest and most prominent Apollo, and Kenny Beats, Joji fails to capitalize Christian themes: “I’m a believer, my heart on the individual strengths of the adjunct artists. is fleshy….I wanna honor, wanna honor you, Instead, he opts to smother the features in his bride’s groom, I’m my father’s child.” It’s not own aesthetic, numbing their potential effect. your typical “Christian” song, but it’s also not a As a whole project, Nectar is spotty– but has typical pop song, content wise. moments of brilliance. A definite improvement From a Christian music standpoint, it is not from BALLADS 1, the 2020 project only the new Oceans. Holy will not find a home in Contributed Photo Contributed Photo makes me more excited for the future of Joji. the set at your next church service or chapel. We currently live in the wild west of music. It focuses a lot on human love and contains a Anything goes and anything can gain a healthy dose of pop culture in it, like when it The pupation of Joji from YouTube following around these parts. In this new age says, “pimps and the players say, ‘Don’t go personality, to unground SoundCloud musician, of music streaming, worlds collide, resulting in crushin.’” But maybe that’s not a bad thing. to a full-fledged artist with three studio albums SONG BREAKDOWN a sometimes-jarring effect. A playlist can range Maybe we need something in between Friday under his belt has been an exciting arc to follow. from explicit rap to Christian contemporary, night and Sunday morning. Pop songs rarely The “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” star depending on the taste of the playlist composer. talk about God, and Christian music shies away followed up his 2018 LP BALLADS 1 with The same can be said for artists themselves, from any sort of “worldly” references. I am not Nectar this past month. The artist promoted WILL LISTEN AGAIN as the evolution of global music makers from saying Christian songs need to be explicit to be the project with two lead singles, “Run” and Run secular to Christian seems to be a new trend, accurate, but they often convey the feeling of “Gimme Love.” Thematically, Joji is preaching now giving the term “Belieber” a whole new living in a nice Christian bubble all the time. to the choir as he sings about love lost, love Gimme Love meaning. Holy conveys the feeling of existing as a part longed-for, and inner turmoil. Musically, Joji We were amused when Kanye started rapping of the real world while still acknowledging dances across the spectrum of stellar and bland. Pretty Boy about Chick-Fil-a; but now, none other than the God’s presence. This is not to say the theology The guitar interlude in “Run” sends the listener swooshy-haired king of bubblegum pop himself of the song is correct or that the focus is entirely to the stratosphere, while many of the songs in has crossed over to the Christian scene. Justin edifying, but if you are tired of hopeless pop the latter portion of the album are bland, good Bieber has become more vocal (pun intended) songs or mundane Christian contemporary, you for background listening and not much else. DELIGHTFULLY MEH about his faith lately but remains sonically may find Holy refreshing. The strengths of Nectar lie in the Ew grounded in the secular pop neighborhood. As a whole, Justin Bieber’s new single is particularities, as do the weaknesses. The Bieber’s new single Holy balances a strange neither good nor bad. I would say Holy, along previously mentioned guitar bridge in track Tick Tock limbo between gospel and just another tune to with Bieber’s seemingly new outlook on life, seven, “Run,” makes up for the prior chilled- play over the speakers at a Forever 21. is simply interesting. It is not groundbreaking out six tracks. Beats and backing tracks by and Upon the first listen, Holy contains all the or controversial (God knows that is the last large do not feel groundbreaking or risky. The elements of a Christian contemporary song. In thing we need right now). Holy is just another opening track “Ew,” along with lead single BURN IT DOWN fact, while I was playing it during lunch one addition to the Bieber library that we will “Gimme Love,” share DNA with the Weeknd’s day, (for research purposes) one of my friends probably forget about soon, but if you need a excellent LP After Hours, which dropped earlier Afterthought asked, “Is this Chris Tomlin?” It has the safe, calm vibe while you do your online shopping at this year. However, when these particularities easy-to-follow, flow of a praise song backed by Forever 21, give it a listen. shine, they do so brightly. The string outro on Daylight a trap beat and piano chords. It’s a calm vibe “Ew” sets the album up well: dissonant, dreamy, affectionally dubbed “R&Beiber” by some. and a little haunting. These soft cords located at the start of the song Nectar, despite its strongest moments, is DARK HORSE and right before the climax invoke a tenderness underserved by the production on the project. and serenity much needed in a time like this. In moments the listener is straining to hear the NITROUS And with the help of another outspoken mumbled vocals of the artist, and then just a Christian, Chance the Rapper, the song holds track later you find yourself wanting more from potential, but falls a bit flat at the end. The first the backing tracks. verse had me curious, the first chorus had me bopping my head when the beat came in, but the rest left me a bit bored. The repetitious chorus gets stuck in your head, but the song relies on that a bit too much. DORDT UNIVERSITY With a closer look at the lyrics, it becomes apparent that faith is more of a background character than the star of this song. “I might go down to the river,” Bieber sings, seeming to SPECIALS reference baptism. This is followed by “running to the alter like a track star.” The song then takes a swift turn when it says, COLLEGE BUFFET Contributed Photo ONLY $9 STUDENT ID REQUIRED Diamond Staff 2020-2021 CODE: 54012

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