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Febuary 21, 2020 Issue 3 Follow us online

Make it okay Evangeline Colarossi — Staff Writer Middel, Sarah Krysl, and Levi Jungling, along with the Dordt Psych Club has been spreading Tuesday night found the West Commons awareness, raising funds, and organizing crowded with packed tables, sweet snacks, and this event since the end of November 2019. important topics to discuss. Approximately Funding for the event came from Student Life, two hundred attendees, both students and Human Resources, Dordt Administration, Co- professors were randomly assigned a table to sit Curricular Committee, and the Psychology at, awaiting deep discussion of mental health. Department. Dordt is known for its aspect of community, and “The Psych Club normally plans smaller, the Psychology Club wanted to use this to open more low-key events, so this was a whole new up topics that may normally be avoided. task and step up in responsibilities than what “When I looked around, there was never a we were used to,” said Middel. “We were happy table that had a lull in talking and I think that and excited to plan such an important event as speaks to how needed this conversation was,” this.” said senior psychology student Megan Middel. This was the first time Make It Okay has “People are willing and wanting to talk about it, been held on a college campus, but psychology and that’s beautiful to me.” professor Luralyn Helming hopes that this will Shelly Rock, the speaker from Make It Okay encourage students to personally help with this presented several ideas, played supporting campaign. videos, and then used audience participation “While the Psych Club could do this again, to gather polls displaying the general climate I think it would be more effective if future towards mental illness. This process was efforts were dispersed across the student body, repeated throughout the evening, broken up by as mental illness touches everyone,” said discussion at each table to “take down barriers Helming. “Treating those with mental illness in order to foster a climate in which our call and with respect is not only in the hands of future discipleship of loving our neighbor becomes a psychologists, but rather is the business of all.” part of who we are on and off campus,” said If you would like to become involved with Middel. Make It Okay, contact Professor Helming or topic and understanding that mental health is Contributed Photo Students and professors come from a variety Dr. Vermeer. For someone to talk to regarding just as vital as physical health is how the Psych Illness) North West Iowa Board, along with of backgrounds, ages, and locations. All of these mental health questions, contact counseling@ Club hopes to eliminate stigma about this topic. Shelly Rock, the speaker at Make It Okay. He factors can affect a person’s understanding and dordt.edu, campus ministries, or a trusted friend Psychology professor Bruce Vermeer serves approached the Psych Club with this event feelings towards mental illness. Discussing this or mentor. on the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental after Rock told him of the program. Megan Blauw nurtures musical Koerner prepares for first gifts show Jaclyn Vander Waal— Staff Writer Sam Landstra —Staff Writer

After a word of prayer, Dordt University A fragile atmosphere lingers in the 4th Avenue senior Anna Blauw opened her senior harp Theatre classroom. Student actors Dakota Klein recital Saturday with Tournier’s “Etude de and Sofia Bouma stand at opposite sides of the Concert (Au Matin).” room with pained expressions on their faces. The audience silently leaned into the music They stepped out of character after playing a she played, and only rustling of programs could heated exchange between husband and wife be heard in the still auditorium during her for the upcoming production Everything is hourlong performance. Wonderful. As a daughter of a music teacher, Blauw was “How was that?” Director Laurel Koerner surrounded by music from a young age. She asks. A script and notes lay in front of her on the began by learning the piano, and when she wintery afternoon. Photo Credit: Emi Stewart reached the sixth grade, she was encouraged “I just wasn’t in the right head space,” Klein members will do the same. to begin learning another instrument. At the says. “I think these are people we can see ourselves suggestion of her father, she chose the harp. Koerner probes her students for what in,” Koerner said. “It’s important to me that the Eleven and a half years later, Blauw is happy worked well from previous rehearsals and show is hosting conversations students want to to share the culmination of all she has learned challenges Klein to consider the pauses during have.” with friends, family and community members his monologues. With less than a month away Throughout the production process, the at the B.J. Haan Auditorium. Contributed Photo from opening, most practices consist of fine- Everything is Wonderful team has maintained “It’s really exciting that I’ve gotten to this Blauw describes her relationship with Vorhes tuning dialogue. They run the scene again. “early and ongoing dialogue” about the mature point,” said Blauw, a choral music K-12 as a partnership. Everything is Wonderful tells the story of content on display. Koerner and the cast have education major with a music performance “She has a wealth of knowledge about what Miri, an excommunicated Amish woman who connected with professors, the Family Crisis minor. “I’ve been planning this moment since makes a good and varied recital,” Blauw said. returns to her people after the death of her two Center, and Campus Health. After the shows, I got here.” Together, they created the list of songs for brothers in a traffic accident. Upon arriving, they hope to hold a discussion panel on the Music adjunct professor Anna Vorhes, who Blauw’s senior recital. In addition to pedagogy however, Miri finds herself still unwelcome in topics seen onstage with counsellors available has taught harp at Dordt for about 30 years, and historical music works, they kept the her family while the man responsible for the on standby enjoys developing Blauw’s musicality. audience in mind. death of her siblings lives in their barn. It’s “What I hope for is a system that aids the “God gives us a gift,” Vorhes said. “It’s our “Music is ultimately communication,” Vorhes far from your grandmother’s Amish romance integration of what’s happening in the arts job to nurture it.” said. “We look for pieces that connect to her and books. on campus with what’s happening in the In their eight semesters together, Vorhes has the audience.” “I love how honest it is,” Koerner said. classroom,” Koerner said. worked to grow Blauw as a young woman and Blauw said she picked songs her audience “These are not two-dimensional representations Klein and Bouma stand in their strained Christian in addition to a musician. would enjoy because she wanted them to feel of idealized, romanticized, Amish people. It’s positions again after the second run through. “It’s important to know how to live in the included in her performance. messy and ugly.” Koerner asks them how their characters feel world while being God’s child first,” she said. “I want the audience to walk away and be Ideas of forgiveness and reconciliation towards each other in the argument. Vorhes recognized from the beginning that impacted as well as have an appreciation about surrounding trauma and abuse fill the play. “Things are bad,” Klein says. “Things are Blauw had incredible technical skills, so their a song they never heard of before,” she said. “I In Amish communities, sins are treated as really not good. Things are DEFCON 1.” time together primarily was spent developing want the audience to feel like the performance if they never happened upon confession. As Klein, a sophomore transfer student from the characters onstage wrestle with how to Blauw’s sight-reading and ensemble skills. continued on page 4 continued on page 4 approach wrongdoing, Koerner hopes audience · News· page 2

Are the humanities dying? that faced sharp declines included English, Tess Hemmila— Staff Writer major. ‘you’ll have to eat rocks’” said Belicia. philosophy, and religious studies. In December, Northwestern College In another effort to respond to the low After her parents warning, Belicia chose her On the other hand, Forbes reported that health announced that they will reduce their staff enrollment in humanities, most humanities major at Dordt carefully. Rather than simply professions more than doubled, shooting from by 11 faculty positions, five of which will be departments at Dordt have fewer faculty pursuing a major in English, she decided to 91,973 to 228,896 graduates in the ten-year through retirement. Northwestern’s humanities members than their STEM and social study English education in hopes of having period. Many other STEM fields and social are taking the hardest hit, as the college is also science counterparts. With the exception of more stable job prospects after college. science fields increased by more than 60%, planning to drop its majors in philosophy, the education department, most humanities Despite the foreboding enrollment trends, including criminal justice, agriculture, and writing and rhetoric, and literature. The cuts departments have less than five full-time history professor Scott Culpepper predicts biology. will only affect ten Northwestern undergraduate faculty members, some have only one. that the humanities are not going anywhere At Dordt, education is one of the top five students. Northwestern’s restructuring will Despite the useful skills that many humanities soon. Although the sciences are certainly more majors, but the other four are STEM fields. support increased enrollment in the STEM fields majors learn, many humanities students worry popular at present, Culpepper says that the Although the education department has not lost and decreased enrollment in the humanities. about the employment prospects after college. sciences and the humanities have alternated students at the rate that many other universities Northwestern is not the only college that has Some fear that they will not be able find a job going in and out of popularity many times report, it seems inevitable that Dordt will start to noticed a steep decline in humanities enrollment. in their field or that they won’t make enough before. notice gradually lower enrollment in humanities According to a 2019 study by Forbes, many money to support themselves if they do take a “Predicting their end is a bit premature,” fields. humanities fields have suffered severe declines job in their desired field. Culpepper said. “The moment is going to come Dordt, like many other liberal arts universities, in enrollment while some STEM fields have Junior Yovela Belicia faced these same in the next few decades when that pendulum has had to adapt to the decline in humanities more than doubled. Over the study’s ten-year concerns from her parents. From a young age, will shift back [to the humanities].” enrollment. One way that Dordt has adapted is period, the field of education suffered the most Belicia decided that she wanted to be an author, In the meantime, Culpepper believes that by ending the Christianity and popular culture with a 19% decrease of approximately 20,021 but her parents warned her that she might not be universities and colleges should “stick to their major. Junior Enoch Kim is the only remaining graduates. This leaves the lowest number of able to make a living. guns” to preserve the humanities because of the Christianity and Popular culture student and education graduates since 1986. Other fields “They used a saying that roughly translates to crucial life skills that they teach. will be the last to graduate from Dordt with the Dordt students witness historic impeachment trial Hannah Van Otterloo— Staff Writer “We got up into the Senate gallery, which are that partisan politics plays a major role in what “While I’m saddened to see our government On Wednesday, February 5, the impeachment seats that sit right above the Senate floor. So, happens,” Zylstra said. leaders spending such time and energy on a trial ended as the Senate voted to acquit from that position, you can see all 100 senators Kuperus agreed. “For all of the history and matter like this, overall I walked away with President Donald Trump. A week before the seated right in front of you,” Zylstra said. significance, it also highlighted how divided a confidence and appreciation for our three trial concluded, however, four Dordt students “I think overall, one word that comes to mind our country is,” he said. “Regardless of your branches as well as for our bicameral legislative had the opportunity to sit in on the trial along is historic,” Kuperus said. “This is only the third position on to convict or not to convict, here we branch. Seriously, the framers of our republic with President Hoekstra and Dr. Barb Hoekstra. time a sitting president has been impeached in were in the Chamber of the Senate discerning were truly genius in the shape of our system of Nicolas Kuperus, Rachel Heynen, Kendal the 200-plus-year history of the U.S.,” whether or not to convict the President rather government. Zylstra, and Emily Zylstra were in Washington, “As to the gravity of the event, I was struck than working on legislation and positive change “Now, I pray that we’ll get more dedicated D.C. while attending the National Association with gratefulness that our country does operate that will bring the two parties together and help servant leaders (ideally with Christian hearts of Evangelicals’ Christian Student Leadership with a respect for process,” Hoekstra said. “I Americans across the country. In a way, the and minds) to be in those roles in D.C.—both Conference. While there, the students were thought Justice Roberts was the epitome of how whole thing seemed to be an exercise of futility in the elected seats and in the staff positions— able to hear from senators, representatives, a Supreme Court Justice should carry the role.” because, with the exception of Mitt Romney, to really maximize the potential of our national congressional staff members, and organizational After their forty-five minute experience, they we knew that the vote was going to go straight government into the future.” leaders, as well as visit the Supreme Court, tour all reached similar conclusions. along party lines… So regardless of the merits the Capitol, and explore Washington D.C. “One thing I realized is regardless of which of the claims of either the house managers or On Thursday, January 30, they also had the political position, you see how partisan things the defense team, it seemed that a conclusion opportunity to sit in on the impeachment trial are. You don’t see a lot of Democrats walking had already been made in the minds of many of proceedings in the Senate. President Hoekstra’s across the aisle to talk to Republicans, or the the Senators.” administrative assistant, Mrs. LeeAnn Republicans walking across the aisle to talk to While observations like these don’t inspire Moerman, was able to secure staff passes for Democrats about something… I think that no much hope for collaboration in our current the group from Senator Ernst and Senator matter whether you’re for the impeachment or government, President Hoekstra helps put it Grassley’s offices. against it… you have to acknowledge the fact into perspective. Photo Credit: Nicolas Kuperus 2020 Cultural Fair President’s weekend Alicia Bonestroo— Staff Writer decked tables in the grille area. Significant Yee Lim Shin — Staff Writer items and foods from each culture sat with people in the world. Coming down the stairs of the Campus Center their corresponding boards, free for the tasting On February 13-16, Dordt University held Along with these speakers, five students from and into the Grille area, the community was met pleasure of passing students. a President’s Weekend event in Phoenix, AZ Dordt University’s Worship Team and 2 staff with small flags dangling from the ceilings and In addition to displaying food, some members with around 100 guests from that area. The members also attended the event to lead people bannisters representing many countries around of the Cross-Cultural Club wore traditional event was created to promote Dordt University in worship and have fellowship with them. the world. An origami table was at the foot of clothing from their country. Those that chose and describe the college’s future dreams and The worship team, led by Jonathan De Groot the stairs. There, they could fold paper into any to do this participated in a fashion show later visions to those who were unable to visit Dordt. and Kimberly Byma, led the group to worship shape they wish -- with either the help from in the evening. “The people that we invited to the President’s every day. volunteers, instructions from books, or the Highlights from the fashion show included weekend are people who are either future “We not only led them in worship, but we internet. styles from Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, parents or future grandparents, or even of also were randomly assigned to tables,” said On February 15 the Cross-Cultural Club Paraguay, Philippines, South Korea and China. current or future students at Dordt,” said senior nursing major Tianna Veldhuisen. “We held their annual Cultural Fair, where Dordt’s Alongside the fashion show was a talent show President Erik Hoekstra. could just make conversation with them and get international students share parts of their where students had an opportunity to display This was the second time Dordt has ever done to hear a bit of how they’re connected to Dordt native culture with the community. This year, dances, music, or other talents traditional a President’s Weekend in this area and all of and if they have any children or relationships TJ Rankin, a transfer student, attended Dordt’s to their home culture. All three of the talent the people who were invited to the event were at Dordt.” Cross-Cultural Fair for the first time. acts this year consisted of singing in multiple people related to Dordt. The guests attending The students were able to talk about Dordt “There were several well represented languages. were able to listen to President Hoekstra talk from a student’s perspective and give a different countries with a lot of information, as well as “It was really interesting to see the different about the current situation at the university as angle of how Dordt was impacting them. the interesting cultural foods,” said Rankin. types of fashion,” Rankin said, “and the talent well as Dordt’s future dreams and visions of “I really liked that they asked us about our Colorful trifold boards containing information show was very fascinating.” where they were heading. experience at Dordt and how the whole event and fun facts about each country represented The three topics for the weekend that the event was done with worship,” said South Korean focused on were to: raise the bar, ready the heart, exchange student Sunbin Kim. and reform the culture. Two faculty members The President’s Weekend was created to and one staff member from Dordt talked about promote and present Dordt and the things they these topics and how Dordt was implementing were achieving and striving for to the people them into the lives of the students. Education who cared about Dordt. Professor David Mulder talked about raising “People are excited about Dordt,” said the bar and how to continually get better and President Hoekstra, “and part of this place strive for excellence for the cause of Christ. runs on donations from people who love the Dordt’s football coach Joel Penner talked about students that are praying for them and want to readying the heart and how to shape and train see them do great things in the world.” a student’s heart to love the Lord and be ready and willing to serve Christ in their vocations. Social Work Professor Abby Foreman talked about reforming the culture and how Christ calls us to take care of the more vulnerable Dordt Facebook News page 3

Ag club takes PAS by storm PLIA 2020 Gretchen Lee — Staff Writer Lexi Schnaser— Staff Writer Chicago. Colorado Springs. New Orleans. St. hear from a lot of upperclassmen who are going Louis. Atlanta. Houston. Panama City. Sound on trips with their friends.” Additionally, some like fun places to travel? Well lucky for you, people choose to go home and earn some quick you could go to any of these places and more cash by working for the week. While these for a spring break PLIA trip! PLIA, or Putting reasons are understandable, it is important to Love Into Action, is a spring break mission remember that we won’t always have these trip program. Co-leader of PLIA, sophomore unique opportunities to serve. Sarah Holmberg, says PLIA is an opportunity Freshman Timothy Molitor says one reason he for Dordt students to serve outside of the Sioux chose not to go on PLIA this year is because Center area and see other places around the “it’s for a short amount of time, so even though country. I think you do get to do a lot of service, I’m not “It’s a really good opportunity to set aside too inclined to go on that. If there was lower studies and other focuses to go serve others, cost, I probably would go.” Contributed Photo get to know classmates, serve God, and love on This year, Dordt students will spread out After weeks of late-night preparations, a four- the Beef teams placed 1st and 5th, the Sheep people,” Holmberg said. across the U.S. to serve in fourteen different hour drive, and two full days of competition, teams placed 1st and 2nd, and the Swine team This year’s PLIA group consists of the 109 locations. Most of the service trips will consist the Dordt Agriculture Club returned victorious placed 3rd. The Soil Science team also placed Dordt students who applied for the trip by of hands-on construction or landscaping work, from the Professional Agricultural Students 2nd. Friday, February fourteenth. There are usually while other trips are more relational where (PAS) Conference. The individual competitions also went very anywhere from 100 to 125 students who take students will go into to schools and read to On Tuesday, February 4, eighteen members well for Dordt competitors. In the Agricultural advantage of this opportunity each spring. children or work with refugees. of the Dordt Ag Club travelled to Ames, IA, Education competition, Jacob Van Der Wilt “Sports and band and choir really affect how “But all of it is relational because you get to participate in a series of agricultural-related earned 2nd place. Brayden Konynenbelt was many people can come because of tours and to know your site organization leaders and competitions. These contests covered areas the 1st place winner in Agricultural Sales. In the games,” says Holmberg. These opportunities the people on your team really well,” says such as Livestock Specialty, Impromptu Public Vet Tech Specialty competition, Katia Sytsma are great ones as well, where students get to Holmberg. Speaking, Dairy Specialty, and Employment placed 6th. In the career planning competitions, invest time in their activities they love. Some One of Holmberg’s favorite parts about PLIA Interview. Students faced the challenges of Hannah Baljeu was 2nd in Agriculture students also find the timing of the break a is that “even if [the people we’re serving] aren’t the competition by drawing upon their ag Education. deterrent. Christians, even if I’m not telling them about knowledge to solve problems and demonstrate In the Employment Interviews, Gretchen “For freshmen, it is their first year being away God’s love with my words, I can show them their prowess in their chosen area. Lee was 2nd in Agriculture Education, and from home, so they want to go back to spend God’s love through what I’m doing and the time “The competitions challenged me but Joslyn Fousert was 1st in Crop Production. time with their families,” Holmberg said. “I I spend with them.” were not extremely difficult,” said freshman Karibeth Englesma, Micah Kooiman, and Kalli participant, Emma Zwart. “It was just a good Moser also swept the Job Employment: Dairy opportunity to learn and practice skills.” Zwart Production category, taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, was a member of the Dordt Sheep 2 team and respectively. Joeli Haan, Mariah Posthumus, a participant in the Employment Interview and Adri Tilstra took the Employment Interview: competition. Feeds and Animal Health category by storm, Katie Bush, a freshman member of the Dordt placing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. In Job Employment: Beef 2 team and a participant in Impromptu Livestock Production, Aubriana Vander Woude Public Speaking, felt similarly. “As a freshman, was 2nd, Emma Zwart was 4th, Tim Guse was the content was a little hard, because we haven’t 6th, and Levi Larson was 11th. learned a lot of the specifics yet. We are only In the Precision Ag competition, Kallin Crile in the 3,000 foot animal science class, so we placed 11th. Katie Bush was 4th in Impromptu haven’t gotten into the specifics of feeding and Public Speaking. stuff yet.” The Dordt Ag Students felt that it was an While this competition focuses on skills- overall very successful week, both in terms of building, there are other benefits to attending the competition, and in the relationships they PAS. built. “I enjoyed getting to know Dordt students “I had a blast. I got to know more people and better. My favorite part of PAS was watching develop connections within the ag community,” Dordt do well in almost all of our competitions said Zwart. “Working as a team on the case and seeing teams and individuals excel,” said study and the presentation, I got to work with sophomore Dordt Beef 1 team member, Mariah people that I haven’t worked with before and Posthumus. explore topics in an industry that I have been in The teams from Dordt did indeed excel at my whole life.” PAS. In the Specialty Livestock competitions, Contributed Photo Chaos at the caucus Spencer Short— Staff Writer was just general incompetence all around.” With the party leader stepping down, and Now with most of the mess behind them, Kim Van Es, the Chairperson of the Sioux both the Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders party members and officials are tasked with On Monday, February 3rd, Democratic Center South caucus and the vice-chair of the campaign re-canvassing, essentially re- rebuilding trust and ironing out the kinks for Party members went home after a long day of Sioux County Democrats, holds a different counting, some voting precincts, the party has a the next elections. A lot of this focus is aimed caucusing; aka, casting their votes, listening to view on the caucus situation. lot to deal with internally. Yet along with internal at attempting to get younger people interested speakers, and participating in the process, ready “I think it went well,” Van Es said, “we did issues there have a multitude of attacks from in politics since only around 30% of college-age to rest easy for the night knowing that their use the app [for voting], and we had to restart it President Donald Trump, and now they also people eligible to vote turned out in the 2018 voice mattered and that the results would be in on some phones a few times, but overall I feel have to handle debunking conspiracies as some election, the lowest voting-percent age group in by the next morning. it worked very well for us… The changes were believe these issues were caused intentionally the nation. Unfortunately, that isn’t what happened. made with good intent, the Iowa Democratic to give Buttigieg an edge over Sanders, as Pete “As a student, especially a student of Iowa, The caucus results, normally released late in Party wanted to be more transparent. I really do won the Iowa vote by a small margin. you have unique opportunity to be involved,” the night of the caucus date, were nowhere feel bad for [the IDP].” “It was by no means rigged, [the IDP] said Van Es, “I started getting involved in to be found that next morning. The reason? was just understaffed at the higher levels and politics because I am not only a citizen of my A total meltdown of the multiple methods the As a student, overstaffed at the lower levels,” said Kooi, “It community, but also a citizen of the Kingdom, Democrats had to report in vote tallies. was expected to be close, there’s no reason to and out of that conviction I began to serve in New this year to the caucus was a phone especially a student suggest that anything happened.” politics… I encourage others to do the same.” application that the volunteers would use to tally up votes. Along with this method of reporting, of Iowa, you have however, was the ability to call in who ended up voting for what candidate, which was the unique opportunity Diamond Staff 2019-2020 method used most frequently in previous years, the ability to check in the votes on a physical to be involved Chief Editors: Copy Editors: Lexi Eekhoff Emi Stewart piece of paper, also not an uncommon practice, Erika Buiter Harrison Burns Lauren Hoekstra Jaclyn Vander Waal and along with the method of emailing the Troy Price, Head Chairperson of the IDP, Emma Stoltzfus Tess Hemmila Haemi Kim Connor Van Hulzen results. The app, however, was stated to be the stepped down eight days after the fiasco after Lindsay Kuiper Hannah Van Otterloo main way that votes should be taken that night. multiple calls for him to resign from party Story Editor: Staff Writers: Sam Landstra Yage Wang Allison Wordes Logan Aukes Gretchen Lee “I am absolutely disappointed in the leadership both in-state and on a national level. Ben Boersma Juliana Martinez Staff Advisor: reporting,” said Payton Kooi, a registered- “The fact is that Democrats deserved better than Layout Designer: Alicia Bonestroo Caleb Pollema Lee Pitts independent sophomore from California, with what happened on caucus night. As chair of this Anneka Baker Sydney Brummel Kathryn Ribbens the Iowa Democratic Party Caucus being the party, I am deeply sorry for what happened and Evangeline Colarossi Caleb Schreurs first one he has ever attended. “They had all bear the responsibility for any failures on behalf Photography Editor: Tabetha DeGroot Yee Lim Shin these methods of showing the votes and they of the Iowa Democratic Party,” said Price in his Sawyer Strelnieks Zachary Dirksen Spencer Short Luke Drooger Anthony Siegrist still failed. This absolutely unacceptable… It letter of resignation. page 4 Arts & Entertainment

“Without”: a perspective on perfectionism Allison Wordes — Staff Writer

Black and white keys blur in and out of focus and worship team. on the big screen. The ticking of a metronome “Emi knows you have to have more than one counts time ominously. Students sit quietly, good take,” Zuidema said. The cast and crew captivated in their seats of SB 1606 at Emi’s worked out the schedule so they could do 3-4 short film showing, called “Without”, held on shots at a time. For Zuidema, the challenge was Tuesday, February 11. to play the piano at the correct tempo, over and As part of her senior capstone project, digital over. media major Emi Stewart worked to write and “You have to play it in front of 6 people produce a short film showing off her skills and recording you,” said Zuidema. Despite this abilities in the world of filmmaking. challenge, she enjoyed working with Emi and Digital media majors are required to do an her crew. independent study project before they graduate. There are multiple options for what exactly the project looks like: a short film, research project, “The mirrors or documentary. Stewart started planning in her junior year. are reflections As she wrote a story and began to cast the project, it didn’t feel quite right. Over the of ourselves” summer she began in another, more confident Photo Credit: Emma Stoltzfus direction. The second filming began during the Stewart said. She said she was somewhat through in a new light. One major strength of the film was fall semester and finished mid-November. amazed herself by the way the small details “That’s one of the benefits of… previewing cinematography. The film starred several Dordt students of the film tied together. Some of this success it—you get to see it in a way you’ve never seen “I love to control the cameras and set up those including Erika Buiter, Lindsey Zuidema, was chance—for example, squishing 6 people it before,” Stewart said. nice creamy backgrounds.” Stewart said. Damon Groen, and others. into one of the music building’s practice rooms Digital media professor Mark Volkers The film had some spectacular shots, including “I could still act while having a lower level of leaves little choice but to be creative with encourages students to sit in the back at their scenes where the character could be seen from commitment,” Zuidema, who stars as a young angles. senior project showing so they can watch for the reflected surfaces like car rear-view, bathroom, pianist, said. She has been playing piano since Stewart prefers the writing part of the audience’s response. After all, the filmmaker has and practice-room mirrors. The shots switch the age of 5 and acted in a high school for The filmmaking process, even though she doesn’t already seen the film many times over. Stewart to include mirrors every time the character is Sound of Music. Zuidema also plays oboe and consider it a strength. The film is around 16 said she spent nine months with her script. doubting herself. bass guitar and is currently involved in the 4th minutes long with the credits, which estimates Stewart wanted to have a small, casual “The mirrors are reflections of ourselves,” Avenue Jazz, concert choir, wind symphony, out to 1 minute per page of script. showing in Dordt’s new screening room. Stewart chose the theme of music— However, students are not allowed to use the specifically, piano. While having played for 14 years, she confessed that she still struggles to play well. “Make a story “I was always frustrated with technique,” Stewart said, “and preferred to play by ear.” you want to She said it is easy to focus on perfection both in music and the film industry. Perfection becomes tell” the standard. As someone going into this area room without a professor being present, so of work, she feels the unbelievable amount of it was moved to the vast space of 1606. This pressure to perform well, for both herself and allowed for even more people to come and others. support Stewart—and enjoy homemade gluten- “Overall, my character is not in a great spot,” and-dairy-free cookies. Zuidema said. As a pianist herself, she realizes Stewart offered encouragement to how it may be easy to get frustrated practicing Photo Credit: Emma Stoltzfus underclassmen, especially those going into but not to the extent the film portrays. media production. “There’s a little of me in that character,” “Don’t be afraid of failure,” Stewart Stewart said, referring to her protagonist. said. “Reevaluate what you determine as The Birds of Prey characters Reflecting on her previously abandoned project, failure. Make a story you want to tell.” Most Stewart thought perhaps it was her sense of importantly, she encourages students to keep it perfectionism that kept her from finishing it. simple and have fun while they have access to “I have never hallucinated a metronome all the professional equipment, professors, and had fun (and so did I) coming to life,” Stewart said as a disclaimer. Gretchen Lee — Staff Writer fellow students in a university setting. Part of the reward of a film premiere is seeing As an added bonus, those who attended the how others react. Stewart was delighted by the I will admit: the 2016 Suicide Squad movie Every brawl was flawless, captivating, and fun showing got to view pure joy and chaos in the way people responded to the humor in the film. was not my favorite. While it had some excellent to watch. The directors made a creative choice show’s blooper reel. Even things she hadn’t considered funny came action scenes and interesting characters, the on the use of colors and interesting weapons movie felt lacking in plot development. It just throughout the entirety of the film, and it felt “thrown together,” if you will. That said, seriously pays off. Pair all of that with a man- I was incredibly excited for Birds of Prey and child of a villain, a funky soundtrack, funny the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley running gags, brilliant visuals, and this movie Blauw cont. Quinn from the first few seconds of the first becomes an instant win. cont. from page 1 teaser trailer. I was not disappointed. There were some elements, however, that Birds of Prey begins with Harley Quinn lacked. Occasionally, cringe-comedy was . . .was worth their time.” rehearsals three days a week. It also teaches explaining to the audience that she has broken used which, while functional in most places, When choosing a performance order, Blauw about the relationship between the audience and up with her boyfriend, who just so happens to was simply, well, cringy in others. Using such sat in front of a large whiteboard and listed performer. be the Crown Prince of Crime in Gotham, Joker. humor is a risky move as it only appeals to a every possible order she could think of. She “You learn how to share who you are through The severing of this relationship leaves Harley certain audience. I also was disappointed that had much to consider when deciding an order a piece of music without exposing your entire vulnerable to attack from everyone she has Black Mask never actually fought any of the -- the style of music, the energy to play it, key self,” Vorhes said. wronged in the past. One such revenge-seeker main characters. Going in, I was hoping to see changes and more. Blauw loves the way people react each time is the incredibly narcissistic villain of our him brawl with Harley or Black Canary, but that “I’m a chronic overthinker and processor,” she shows up to any performance with her film: Roman Sionis (aka Black Mask). In the never came to fruition. Having that fight scene Blauw said. harp. She especially loves the awed faces and meantime, a young pickpocket named Cassandra would have made Sionis a significantly better When she decided on a working order, she comments children make. Cain has accidentally stolen a massive, prized villain but, I still enjoyed his character anyway. took a picture of the whiteboard and sent it to “The shock factor is really fun,” she said. “I diamond from the pocket of Sionis’s right- I feel that Birds of Prey has brought an Vorhes to revise. never get over that.” hand-man, swallowing it when she was arrested element to the table that many other DC movies This last big performance at Dordt is both She also enjoys explaining the harp pedals to for theft by Detective Renee Montoya. While are lacking: fun. This movie manages to allow surreal and bittersweet to Blauw. bewildered observers. Pedals control sharps and Quinn, Montoya, and Sionis’ driver, Dinah its characters to develop and grow, providing “It will change the dynamic of my last couple flats on the harp, which means each accidental Lance (Black Canary) all try to protect and/or a well-planned storyline, and create a fun months here, definitely,” she said. is played with the feet. capture Cassandra and the diamond, another experience for the audience all at once, which Blauw said she has learned a lot about “It’s a crazy time,” Blauw said. “It looks mysterious figure with a crossbow targets crime is something I feel most DC movies have failed perseverance and endurance by playing the beautiful in my hands, but my feet are going bosses at very convenient moments. to deliver. harp. It always involves hard work, no matter crazy while I try not to make too much noise.” With so many characters and storylines to I also appreciated the way this movie portrayed how many recitals she prepares for. Vorhes is proud of all Bauw has accomplished keep track of, I was pleasantly surprised to empathy, loyalty, healthy female friendships, “Every time, I expect it will be easier, but during her four years at Dordt and is sad that find this film is easy to follow. The storylines and dealing with trauma. It touched on each every recital is just so different,” she said. their time working together is coming to an end. wove together in a tasteful way, even with an of these topics in a way that recognized their Vorhes thinks preparing for a musical After Dordt, Blauw hopes to continue playing unreliable narrator like Harley Quinn. Each of importance and gravity but didn’t overshadow recital teaches many lessons. It teaches life- the harp. She is considering getting her master’s the main characters were given time to develop the plot or sacrifice the lighter atmosphere. It planning skills because Blauw must fit time to degree in harp performance. From there, and grow in such a way that all the “Birds” were is evident that a significant amount of time was practice into her already busy schedule, which she would love to teach private harp lessons multi-dimensional. put into the planning and production of this includes eight hours of student teaching every and perform at churches, for paid gigs and in The fight scenes were another strong point. movie and the result is a masterpiece. day followed by an hour or more of choir ensembles. · Arts & Entertainment· page 5

Broadway and desserts Megan Middel: The Untold Tabetha DeGroot — Staff Writer

The warm lights of the B.J. Haan wash over guests enjoyed the evening. Stories an excited audience, a blend of spectators and “This was the highlight of the week for me,” Yage Wang — Staff Writer performers on February 15. Students, professors, freshman Julia Holleman said. “It’s the best of and community members alike gather around my two favorite worlds: music and dessert.” Strolling into the painting classroom of the Art landscape hanging on the wall.“It can reveal the tables clad with white tablecloths, soon to be While filled with fun and frivolity, the event department, Megan Middel’s studio occupies a brokenness, highlight a hopeful future for these topped with an array of delicious desserts. Small also served a purpose. Dordt University director tiny square in this place. As with many other kids,” she said. talk fills the air until one voice rises above the of choral activities, Mr. Ryan Smit, shared that artists, one never expects to see what they have Middel’s father works for a nonprofit rest: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with deepest the concert choir is planning a tour throughout accumulated on their tables: apples, an electric organization that helps people in Africa build pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome the Eastern United States and Canada in a few cooker, pigments, and a few trying out paintings their own business. Through this, she connected you here tonight,” booms Zach Dirksen as the weeks. One of their destinations will be New with vibrant color. All around the walls in her with a Ugandan organization called “Mercy”. keys of the Steinbach accompany him. York City, where they will be attending a studio, ten portraits declare their stories in The Mercy Organization has a kids’ camp that The audience becomes aware of the concert Broadway show. They will have to pay for the silence. is open to any child who wishes to come. “Part choir members surrounding them when they tickets to the show themselves, as well as hotel Middel is a senior student majoring in of the Mercy ministry is trying to connect them started a chorus of “Be Our Guest” from the fare for the night. Studio Art and Psychology. On February 20 in back to their families, which doesn’t necessarily Broadway rendition of Beauty and the Beast. The Broadway and Desserts night was the Campus Center, Middel’s art show opened What follows is Broadway and Desserts: the Smit’s idea to raise money for their New York for the public to see. The Senior Art Show is “I think art can best arrangement of sugar and show-tunes activities; it was the first time the Dordt music a practical exhibition for all art majors to gain this side of highway seventy-five. Music department has done something like this. Smit experience and demonstrate their knowledge lovers of all ages enjoyed selections from The expressed before the show that if it was well- and works in their last semester at Dordt. be both reflective Sound of Music, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, received, the concert choir will most likely “The goal of the senior show is for the Little Women, Aladdin, and Frozen. The choir do it again next year to raise money for their students to really take everything that they have and meaningful, opened a door to a “Whole New World” where European tour. This seemed like a possibility been exploring through throughout their years they invited the audience to be the guests of when Smit asked the audience if Broadway at Dordt,” says Professor Drissell. “It brings a just as in art an “Enchanted Evening.” Nicholas Schnell’s and Desserts should return and was met with synthesis of all the knowledge and learnings, charming performance of “On the Street enthusiastic applause. combined with what they care about, what therapy.” Where You live,” Aaron Medberry’s tender “I think the show went really well,” junior motivates them, and what inspires them to presentation of “Edelweiss,” and Anna Blauw’s Concert Choir member Brittany Bloemhof create.” beautiful portrayal of “True Love” rendered said after the show. “There were fun acts and Middel’s art show includes 10 portraits mean their parents but their aunts or uncles. So, applause. something for everyone.” of Ugandan children whom Middel met last they can stay at their homes, their natural states, “I was super impressed by the characterization As the show closed, the “Von Trapp Family January. but still are being helped through Mercy.” and how everyone brought their own flare to Singers” bid adieu to the audience, who left This is why every painting has a theme their songs,” junior Christianna Marcy said. with stomachs full of cake and heads filled with color and personal story written in the Sweet melodies mixed with sweet treats as the the sound of music. “I want to use background. Middel wants to closely combine the protagonist of the painting with their spirits their stories and stories. “Each piece starts with little bit of their brokenness, like where they came from. “Sonic”: a bit bland to create a Kwagala, was abandoned in a gas station. Zach Dirksen- Staff Writer Mercy Ministration rescued her. She is two years old now, but her story does not define her new lens of in any way. I just want to highlight that even though those kids go through so much, they still perspective” have such hopeful outlooks.” “I visited Uganda for about 14 days and there After Middel graduates in May, she wants to were about 200 hundred kids. I actually took pursue her master’s degree in Chicago. This art pictures of all of them, but I only captured 10 show is only a preview of how she is capable of them (in my drawings),” said Middel. “Some of fusing art with therapy as a meaningful of them I got to know well and I know more profession. On top of this, Middel hopes her about their stories, but some of them are little artworks can create a second hopeful outlook bit more distant because I only got to briefly talk for other people. to them.” “I want to tie a little bit of my future vocation Contributed Photo Every portrait in Middel’s collection has with my senior show. I think art can be both It’s almost as if we’ve seen it before. A seen a dozen times before. It works in many of a distinct, infectious smile. Those smiles were reflective and meaningful, just as in art therapy. young-to-middle-aged man finds himself in the the same ways those movies work, and fails in the initial inspiration of Middel’s paintings, It’s very therapeutic.” company of an oversized CGI creature with a many of the same ways those films have failed: allowing for a subject of study that is powerful talent for human speech. Said animal often It’s got some fun moments and it makes good and rich in context. possesses a unique skill, perhaps musical ability use of its cast, but fails to bring anything new or “I want to use their stories to create a new lens or some sort of magic power. The unlikely duo unique to the table. of perspective for people who often don’t hear finds themselves in a variety of scrapes and close While I’m not a Sonic fan per se, I know about their sides of the world. It’s normal for shaves, often pursued by a comical villain. It’s there is so much more that this film could’ve them, but for us, it’s a complete shock.” Alvin and the Chipmunks, it’s The Smurfs, and done to stand apart, and the fact that it is just a Middel wants to contain her artworks with it’s a multitude of other family films released buddy road-trip sci-fi family comedy is kind of healing power rather than just a pretty pictorial between 2000 and 2012. And, like an aftershock maddening. Contributed Photo of movie genres past, it’s Sonic The Hedgehog. However, the experience isn’t a total waste. Yes, the speedy blue rodent has made his way The film does have a few bright spots. Parks to the big screen, and, if anything, it’s blandly and Recreation’s Ben Schwartz brings a fun Koerner cont. Before returning to Dordt as a professor, familiar. and warmth to his vocal portrayal of Sonic cont. from page 1 Koerner taught at Tabor College in Kansas Ever since teleporting to our planet, Sonic’s that ensures it doesn’t grow stale or annoying. . . .Tabor College, holds a special connection (where Klein also attended). She and her been lying low in Green Hills, Montana. James Marsden turns in a surprisingly to Everything is Wonderful. His upbringing in husband bought their first house there and gave It’s a solitary life, but Sonic’s made the most believable performance, especially considering a Mennonite community parallels the fictional birth to their daughter, Amelia. of it by stealing various objects for his cave he was likely acting against nothing throughout Amish town in the show. While driving in the car a year ago, Koerner’s and admiring the lives of Tom and Maddie production, with Sonic being added in later in “It’s important to me to tell this story about husband handed her his phone with a job posting Wachowski, the Green Hills’ resident police the editing process. the people who are not too far from my own,” from Dordt. A position in the theatre department officer and veterinarian, from afar. To Sonic, The absolute best thing about the movie is he said. had recently opened. they have the perfect life: friends, purpose, and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. Carrey brings an Before repeating for a third time, Koerner “It had such a strong inevitability,” Koerner love. But to Tom, things could be better. Being energy and humor to his role that we haven’t leaves her chair and kneels next to Bouma, said. “Maybe that’s what we call calling.” a police officer in a small town can be boring, seen from him in decades. Hearkening back to who sits on a rehearsal cube. In a quiet voice, A difficult moving process to follow, Koerner and he’s put in for a transfer to San Francisco. his performances in The Mask and Ace Ventura, Koerner illustrates the state of Bouma’s and her family now live in Sioux Center. Things come to a head when Sonic, finally Carrey commits every muscle of his body and character in the scene. Unlike some directors, In addition to Everything is Wonderful, she realizing how lonely he is, accidentally releases face to the role, energizing the entire production who give straightforward instruction, Koerner teaches performance classes and a handful of an energy surge so powerful that it causes a with his manic genius. Every frame Carrey prefers to coax emotion out of her actors. core classes. This past fall, Amelia played a mass blackout. The government takes notice occupies in Sonic The Hedgehog is a genuinely “She knows what she wants and knows how to minor role in the mainstage production Known and brings in an expert to handle the situation: fun time and pushes the movie ever so slightly get you to do that,” Klein said. but to God. Doctor Robotnik. He’s as smart as he is crazy, closer to being a unique experience. Carrey’s Koerner holds an MA in theatre history and Back in the theatre classroom, Klein and and things begin to look bleak for our little performance alone might be worth the price of performance theory and an MFA in acting. She Bouma find success on the third try. hedgehog hero. Sonic turns to Tom for help, a movie ticket. has worked with professional actors in LA and “Almost tears!” Klein says. but accidentally loses his teleporting rings. Sonic the Hedgehog is an unoriginal waste of in scene shops across the country. It was while Even with the heavy subject material, the cast Thus, the pair sets out to retrieve the rings, with its source material’s potential, but still provides a student Dordt, however, where she began her finds time for lightheartedness. Koerner calls Robotnik in dogged pursuit. a sometimes-entertaining and fun escape, love for the theatre. for a ten-minute break before returning to the Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t so much a movie especially thanks to Jim Carrey’s hilarious “I found the kind of community I wanted to challenging script. as it is a test run to see if the character works performance. Perhaps its inevitable sequels be in for the rest of my life,” Koerner said. “[It “Doing this ‘loving our neighbor’ thing can in a medium outside of television and video will be able to capitalize on the weirdness and is with] people who are asking hard questions be really hard,” Koerner said. “We need to do games. It simply takes the Sonic brand and originality of the SEGA mascot, but for now, and care deeply about connecting with the it anyway.” pastes it over a formulaic movie structure we’ve this safe, unoriginal version will have to do. broader community.” · Feature· page 6

Early birds get snow removed Dordt loses flexibility Lindsay Kuiper — Staff Writer Kate Ribbens— Staff Writer needs them to come in. It’s 4:00 a.m. in the middle of winter at Dordt. The Dordt University Facilities Team, more Groans and cracks can be heard as students’ background of skillsets. Veltkamp had done While most students are sleeping (or perhaps informally known as the Grounds team, works bodies become stiff from the cold and disuse. yoga for 5 years before attending Dordt’s pulling an all-nighter), Cheney Vander Berg and year-round to keep Dordt’s campus functional Impromptu stretching occurs as students yoga club. She attended a camp that combined Shane Van Essen are just waking up. and aesthetically appealing. In the spring and painfully stand at the end of their long classes. chiropractic work with yoga to facilitate They walk, wordlessly, to the maintenance summer, all of the grassy areas on campus have Backs pop, complaints are spewed, and jokes additional releases in the body. However, building on the West side of campus. They’ll to be mowed and weeded weekly. In the fall, about “old people’s syndrome” emerge. Is there most of the students that attend yoga club are be removing snow from the sidewalks around dead leaves are the main concern. a cure for this epidemic? experiencing it for the first time. The poses are Dordt for the next three to four hours. “Every leaf you pick up now is one less leaf Once upon a time, Dordt had a yoga club beginner friendly, but each individual can make On another day at work, Vander Berg might you have to pick up later,” said Van Essen. that many students were a part of. Now, them more strenuous if they so desire. find himself sitting in a wheelbarrow for a Safety is a high priority for Vander Berg and however, the attendance is down. Shantelia Students are motivated to do yoga for a wide quick picture, and Van Essen might stroll Van Essen. Shook, one of the leaders of the club, believes variety of reasons. Veltkamp says the physical through the graveyard of discarded bicycles in “Rule #1 for Grounds: there are no heroes,” that fewer students are attending because of the benefits make it worth it. the upper level of the maintenance building. said Vander Berg. stereotypes associated with yoga. The media “I think it’s good for your flexibility,” But this morning would be a time free from He explained that it’s always better to advertises yoga as a spiritual practice, which Veltkamp said. “People who have back sarcasm, witty exchanges, and time-consuming complete jobs slowly and carefully rather than causes many Christians to shy away from it. problems and everything can strengthen certain shenanigans—messing around at such an early running the risk of injury. “It’s not about spirituality or energy or muscle areas.” hour is frowned upon. “The unseen jobs that Grounds staff members all these stigmas out there,” Shook said. “It’s Many athletes joined yoga club to keep When heavy machinery is being operated by work on are the jobs that makes a huge becoming healthy with your body, stretching it themselves loose during the off-season, or sleep-deprived college students, there can be no difference,” said Van Essen. “Those are the jobs out, just becoming looser and more flexible.” to balance their other workouts. Muscular room for error. that make the day-to-day go by smoothly for Shook said that fear also keeps a lot of people health is maintained by balancing the strain of The Grounds workers each have routes they everyone on campus.” from yoga. Fear that they’ll be embarrassed by workouts with times to stretch and relax as well. must complete before they can clock out for the Recently, the team had to move 10,000 their inability to do poses, or that they’ll be However, there is a mental component to yoga day. Moving snow is the most time-sensitive pounds of water softener salt into the basements looked down upon. It’s also a stereotype that as well. job they have to work on. At 8:00 a.m., hordes of dorm buildings so that the showers work only girls do yoga, which could be pushing “It’s a really good stress reliever for me,” of shivering students will make their way across properly. away potential club members Shook said. Exercise combined with quiet campus, so the paths must be cleared. Vander Berg and Van Essen said that the full- “It’s not just for girls. It’s, you know, for time away from the busyness of life is a key Once the snow has been removed and the ice time staff in charge of Grounds do their jobs everyone and all age groups,” Shook said. “All component to maintaining good mental health. has been covered in salt, Vander Berg and Van because they have a commitment to Christian the old clubs that I did back at home had elderly Yoga club meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in Essen can head to class. On most days, they’re education. people, men, women, children, even dogs.” the aerobics room. Most sessions only take 30- busy until at least midnight. When they’re “[It’s] pretty neat because they rarely get Amber Veltkamp, a student studying abroad 40 minutes, so students can attend during short finally able to anchor their heads to their pillows recognition,” said Vander Berg. “That’s partly from the Netherlands, started attending yoga time blocks. The club has a special event each and sink into a well-deserved sleep, they will because they don’t want it, but it’s mostly club this semester. She recommends that month and has opportunities for participants to have completed a 20-hour day. because of their determination to get the job students at least come out and try it. choose the muscle group to focus on. The club They don’t always know if they have work done.” “Yoga club at Dordt is lucky because you balances strengthening and stretching muscles in the morning. Every night, they keep their “I do my job, I do it well, and that’s enough can just try stuff. There are poses that you will with a variety of poses and routines. The phones on and nearby in case Denny, their boss, for me,” he said. “That’s all the praise I need.” almost definitely be able to do,” Veltkamp said. leaders cater to the students attending and often “It’s not about being flexible, it’s about finding have a “back to basics” routine to welcome your own boundaries.” newcomers. Girls’ night in for Galentine’s Students at yoga club come from a wide Sydney Brummel — Staff Writer and organized this year’s event, she was assisted by some of her close friends. They helped her It’s the day before Valentine’s Day, and the craft and hang up the decorations, and others excited buzz of special dates and sweet treats supplied food and drinks. With an expected fills the campus. But walking into West Hall turnout of around twenty people, they put a on the evening of Thursday, February 13, one great deal of thought and effort to make this get- might notice a slightly different atmosphere. together ideal for a group of girl friends. Love is in the air all right, but rather than a “We’re basically trying to have the girliest feeling of romance, it is the bond of friendship. night possible,” Kuiper said. A small sign reading “Gals, come this way!” One table, covered with a pale pink tablecloth, directs students to West Hall’s basement. Usually is strewn with chocolates and other snacks, such serving as a small computer lab, the room has as Oreos and bags of popcorn. Freshman Allie been transformed. Christmas lights line the Zwart provided a large bowl of her homemade rearranged computer desks. Pink streamers punch. A few bottles of nail polish and face hang across the ceiling tiles, and strings of masks sit in the corner of the basement. paper hearts dangle overhead. Balloons scatter A gift exchange starts the evening off. the floor. A small group of freshman girls is to Afterward, the group of girls view the Netflix thank for this seasonal redecoration. chick flick, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love “I have been inspired by the great show that is You, which was released only one day prior. Parks and Recreation, where Leslie Knope put a With two mattresses sitting in front of a TV, Contributed Photo date to Galentine’s Day, which is February 13,” the friends had comfortable seating while the freshman West Hall resident Lindsay Kuiper movie plays. said. Despite the limited space of West Hall’s Kuiper, a digital media and communications basement, Kuiper and her friends successfully Opinion: Love in politics major from Orange City, IA, has celebrated created an environment that welcomes any girl, Lexi Schnaser — Staff Writer Galentine’s Day for the past two years by regardless of her relationship status. With the to quote Democratic presidential candidate Pete arranging special girls-only parties with her colorful decorations, delicious goodies, and the On the morning of February 6th, 2020, the Buttigieg, but God does not belong to a political friends. company of good friends, the girls are sure to day after his acquittal, President Trump spoke party. God loves us with a radical love that we “Now I’m at college and I wanted to do the enjoy a memorable celebration of the unofficial at the annual National Prayer Breakfast. The are called to share with others. same thing,” Kuiper said. “And here we are in holiday. purpose of this event was to promote humility, In his speech, President Trump did not hesitate West Lobby basement just with the gals. No “It’s just a fun day to spend with girls,” reflection, and faithfulness among the leaders of to attack Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and boys are invited because its just for the gals.” freshman Alinda Brouwer said. “It’s fun to have our nation. The theme of the breakfast this year Utah Senator Mitt Romney, saying, “I don’t like While Kuiper sent out the email invitations your significant other, but if you don’t have was focused on Jesus’ call to love our enemies. people who use faith for justification for doing your girlfriends as well, what’s the point?” However, this message seemed to have missed what they know is wrong, nor do I like people President Trump completely. who say ‘I pray for you’ when they know that Whether or not you support President Trump, is not so.” it is evident that he did not express humility, I agree with the President here. We should reflection, or faithfulness during this address. not use our faith to support our political From claiming he was “put through a terrible decisions, but rather let our beliefs in our faith ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt guide how we interact with our neighbors on people” who did “everything possible” to a local and federal level. Also, duh, don’t tell destroy him and our country, to boasting about someone you’re going to pray for them if you the greatness of our country, Trump missed the really won’t. But who are we to judge whether core message of loving our enemies. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Romney were Many Christians who are politically active leaning on their faith? support Trump because he supports pro-God and So, if we’re going to take anything away from pro-life policies. But how much can someone be the National Prayer Breakfast, the impeachment pro-God when they don’t even attempt to adhere craze, and the American political culture in to Jesus’ commandments? general, let it be this: if Jesus calls us to love our Our political culture today is unhealthy and enemies and speak truth into their lives, let’s corrupted. There is no perfect political party put away the partisan divisiveness and instead for Christians, and Christians should not try to support the person who we believe can help us Photo Credit: Sommer Schaap squeeze themselves into one political party. Not love our enemies and serve our neighbors. Opinion· page 7

Nancy Pelosi – need I say Impress me, Timberwolves Connor Van Hulzen — Staff Writer players to handily defeat the first-team players more and sufficiently embarrass the organization. Kids latch onto specific sports teams mostly Butler was eventually traded to the Caleb Pollema— Staff Writer go a long way in showing that our country is due to those teams’ recent successes. For me, Philadelphia 76ers. The firing of coach Tim becoming more divided than ever. Or is that the as a kid growing up in the Minneapolis suburbs Thibodeau followed shortly thereafter, and the 39 years. case? in the mid-2000s, I had some options. The Timberwolves were suddenly back at square Think of all the things you could do in that I believe the State of the Union speech itself Twins – as frustrating as they may be when it one. amount of time. Most coaches in professional would argue that it is quite the opposite. comes to playoff success – were at least able To recover from the mistakes of past regimes and collegiate sports don’t last that long in Now, at this point in my story, I could go on to string together multiple seasons of playoff and rebuild the team without a full tear-down, their jobs. For some Americans, 40 to 45 years to explain why I believe President Trump’s runs. The Vikings – another perennially snake- Gersson Rosas was hired. Having experienced encapsulates an entire professional career. policies have worked and why I think he should bitten playoff team – had some solid teams much success in the front office of the It’s been 39 years since Nancy Pelosi began be easily reelected. While I believe these things, and actually made their way to two NFC Houston Rockets, Rosas brought promise to an her political career as the Chair of the California I’m not going to expound upon them. championship games before I turned 18. The organization who doesn’t get much anymore. Democratic Party in February of 1981. To put Instead, I would rather expand on a few points Wild – even with their first-round playoff exits What the Timberwolves needed to get over in perspective, the average cost of a gallon of I believe are non-negotiable as a young member every year – allowed me to watch good hockey the hump was star players. Saddled with bad gas in 1981 was $1.31. In other words, it’s been of Generation Z who will be voting in his first for the first time and truly enjoy the game. contracts that left them with minimal cap space, a while. presidential election next November. Notice that out of the four major sports teams however, meant these star players would not be She turns 80 in March. She has been in First, our national debt and deficit are both in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I only named three. walking in the door during free agency. politics for nearly half of her life. She represents increasing and there seems to be no reversion That’s because for most of their history, the At the trade deadline, Rosas got to work. California’s 12th District, which consists of in sight. The politicians of today, regardless of Minnesota Timberwolves have not shown even He ended up trading away two draft picks and nearly 80 percent of the city of San Francisco. party, keep kicking the can down the road for a fraction of as much ability or success as the seven players in return for one draft pick and As a native Californian and a champion of the the next generation to fit the bill. three previously mentioned teams. eight players – headlined by certified star point revitalization of my beloved Golden State, let We have the big-government Republicans The Timberwolves have competed in the guard D’Angelo Russell. me tell you San Francisco is the last place you and the big-government Democrats. The only playoffs five times over the course of my The D’Angelo Russell trade is supposed to want to live or take a nice vacation in right now. vast disagreement is over what and how much lifetime. Over the almost 20 years of my life, give Wolves fans reason to celebrate and be It is the core of a homelessness epidemic money should be spent. Republicans have left the Timberwolves have advanced past the first excited for the future. The real question then running rampant through California, not the curtailed spending and limited government round of the playoffs only once. (Also, the becomes: Will these Timberwolves be any to mention the hub of the state’s absolute stance at the door, especially under a more only time they’ve done it, period. Yes, ever. different from the previous iterations? abandonment of the rule of law. It is sad. populist Trump administration. This team entered the league in the 1989-1990 My first inclination is to say no. With the As a resident of California’s Central Valley, Second, as someone preparing to enter the season.) Minnesota Timberwolves, whatever can go which I would argue is one of the most vital workforce full-time in the next year, I am even I don’t have a passion for following the NBA as wrong will go wrong. As a result, I believe the geographical and economic regions in the more concerned with the removal of money much as I do the other three major professional Wolves though well-intentioned and appearing entire country with its abundant agricultural from my paycheck. sports leagues. I probably even follow MLS as a team on the upswing, will continue to production and oil reserves, I find the downfall While the removal of money from summer more closely than I do the NBA. I believe this is operate in their failing ways. of my state utterly despicable. jobs and internships is minimal, for a real job it due, in part, to the fact the Timberwolves almost The Minnesota Timberwolves have and will I also find despicable the recent actions of the is not. One of these removals is Social Security. rarely find the time to even give fans a glimmer continue to be the “little brother” of the four 52nd Speaker of the House, Mrs. Pelosi. Another problem for the next generation of hope. When they do finally manage to find major sports teams in Minnesota until they Let me just cut to the chase. to solve. Another benefit I will probably not something to make fans excited though, that is are able to consistently prove themselves to She ripped up the State of the Union speech receive when it is time for me to retire. when things really get interesting. be more than a habitual participant in the draft for the entire country to see. I watched it live Finally, I find it interesting most of our federal Starting in 2004, the Wolves missed 13 lottery. I certainly wish them the best of luck, and was quite frankly appalled. politicians are well, older. Donald Trump, 73. straight seasons of playoff basketball. In 2017, but I just don’t see this team pulling it together What was she thinking? I honestly would love Elizabeth Warren, 70. Bernie Sanders, 78. after the drafting of franchise cornerstone Karl- anytime soon. to know her answer to that question. Chuck Schumer, 69. Mitch McConnell, 77. And Anthony Towns in 2015, the hiring of GM/ Furthermore, it is only fair I bring up President yes, Nancy Pelosi, 79. coach Tom Thibodeau, and the trade for a star Trump’s handshake rejection at the beginning I think this points to a firm need for player in Jimmy Butler, the Timberwolves of the speech. The video footage leaves room congressional term limits. A way to more easily experienced their first playoff appearance I can for the possibility he may not have seen her curtail career politicians and prevent them from remember. After being promptly shuffled out of handshake, but I’m willing to give her the abusing their power. It would give voice to a the playoffs by the Houston Rockets and James benefit of doubt. Generation Z that is much more conservative Harden in a 4-1 series, fans were disappointed, But then again, if I was in President Trump’s than many realize and far different from its but still excited to see what the team had in store shoes would I want to shake the hand of a millennial counterparts. for next season. woman who has been looking to oust me from I believe this is something everyone can agree The team had shown to fans they were ready office from the moment I began my term? I on regardless of political party, except maybe and able to win. And in doing so, it lured these would think not. those currently in office. poor fans into a trap before they even knew Shenanigans aside, I believe these actions Just ask Nancy Pelosi. what hit them. In the next season, the Wolves struggled. And soon enough, their star player Jimmy Butler demanded a trade and burned every one of his bridges as he left town in a single practice. Nerf crew assemble Media members witnessed him swearing up a Benjamin Boersma — Staff Writer spring. On the other end is my Atlas, the biggest storm and leading a rag-tag group of third-string Contributed Photo Nerf gun in my arsenal which is capable of T-minus-60 minutes. firing two Rival rounds per trigger pull. The behind a table towards the back and load one important rules to keep in mind. It’s become a routine for the past few most I’ve done with that gun is add a braided round in each Nerf gun. Both come equipped • The dart or ball velocity cannot exceed Saturday afternoons. At about 2 pm, I set out yarn strap and a jerry-rigged scope from some with magazines, although I don’t usually use 120 feet per second. One of Woudstra’s Nerf my three Nerf guns, attachments and ammo in PVC pipe. them when I’m sniping. This far back, I can guns has a ball velocity of around 190 feet per preparation for the weekly Nerf club meeting. I T-minus-10 minutes. take the time to load one round at a time unless second. Since the velocity is well over the limit, check to make sure each gun performs the way Most of my friends have joined forces as we someone rushes my position. he doesn’t bring that one to club meetings. I like before putting everything I plan to take head over to the Rec Center. We’re missing the The little kids charge down the basketball • The ammunition must be made of foam. in a bag. Khaos, but there’s other heavy firepower to court. One of the ones on my team is carrying Some people prefer to upgrade their Nerf guns T-minus-30 minutes. choose from. a Titan machine gun with a barrel length of the to shoot different types of ammunition. My A half an hour before the first meeting of the Mastbergen meets us by one of the basketball kid’s height and a fifty-round drum. He escapes crossbow is capable of shooting custom-made semester, I sent a text to a few of my friends. courts. We set up some tables on their sides and the match untouched. The drum is almost empty balls, which are more accurate over long range. We’ve all had Nerf guns since we lived in the scatter them around the battlefield. Not the best by the time he’s finished. Of everyone on my However, they are not made of foam, and they dorms. Two of my friends have Apollo-type cover, but it’ll do. Woudstra would arrive later team, he scores the most hits on the opposing can reach a velocity of over 180 feet per second. pistols, which fire the golfball-shaped Rival with his collection of Nerf guns. team, and he holds an entire flank by himself for Needless to say, I can’t bring those to club rounds. Another friend has a Khaos-type A group of kids, seeing the pile of Nerf guns much of the match. meetings. machine gun. on the ground, come over to us and ask if they Nerf isn’t the only company to sell toy guns. • Orange parts of the Nerf guns, including Other club members carry a much wider can join in. I look at my roommate, fellow A casual Google search reveals about as many barrel tips and triggers, may not be painted over. arsenal. Freshmen Zach Woudstra and Joe senior Matt Frazeur. We both shrug. off-brand models as there are stores to sell them. This allows law enforcement and bystanders to Mastbergen, the two club leaders, own a mix “You’ll have to ask the club leaders,” he tells Even so, Nerf is still the most well-known. As tell at a glance that the guns are just toys. This of new and old models. Their collections the kids. a result, most off-brand models are still called is required by law. Other than that, repainting range from Kronos-type pistols, released in Their patience pays off. Mastbergen lets them “Nerf guns.” is allowed as long as people can reasonably tell 2018, down to the Nerf classic: the six-round join in, then texts Woudstra. My crossbow is one such type. The string that it’s a Nerf gun. Maverick revolver. Most of their Nerf guns “He’s going to have to bring all his guns,” is merely an aesthetic touch. The actual firing The Nerf club usually meets Saturday have some form of upgrade, ranging from Mastbergen tells me. mechanism is a spring-loaded air cylinder, afternoons at 3pm in the Rec Center. Those spring replacements in their Mavericks to a A quick estimate puts attendance at around capable of slinging a typical Nerf dart around who are interested in joining are encouraged to complete rewiring of the feed mechanisms in twelve people. Amusingly, the younger kids fifty feet without any serious upgrades. Over contact either Woudstra or Mastbergen for more their machine guns. almost outnumber the six college students. Christmas break, I added some upgrades that information. I don’t claim to be quite that ambitious. Most Meanwhile, we pair off into teams, doing our increased the range to almost seventy feet, just of the upgrades I do involve some light power best to keep a balance between college kids and enough to compete with Woudstra’s sniper rifle: boosts to the springs or a few aesthetic touches. younger kids. For this battle, I decide to use my a highly modified Longshot. My Maverick, which I’ve had since junior high, Atlas and my spring-loaded crossbow because Modified Nerf guns are accepted in the club, has a full barrel drop, as well as a compressed of their accuracy over long distances. I hide even encouraged. However, there are some The Back Page page 8

Father Of All… album review: Green Day in 2020 Caleb M.S. — Staff Writer

The year is 2020. We don’t have flying cars, self-tying Nikes, or hoverboards, but we Contributed Photo do have a new Green Day album. Green Day delivered Father of All… (full title not suitable This is the XFL for the Diamond) on February 7 of 2020 to a Connor Van Hulzen — Staff Writer dubious music critic community. The variance in rules while still maintaining Contemporary and fringe critics alike were core concepts of the game of football has On Saturday, February 8 the American public skeptical of a new project from the band, who allowed for audiences to enjoy the league as was introduced to another spring football has delivered lackluster (at best) albums in something new. league. The XFL played its first games that recent years, and their most recent work held Dordt University Football Special Teams Saturday, featuring the Seattle Dragons playing in high regard by consumers and critics dates Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon the DC Defenders and the LA Wildcats playing back to 2004’s American Idiot. Father of All… McCormick said, “I’ve probably watched the Houston Roughnecks. feels sanitized, carefully curated, stagnant, and about three XFL games and I can already tell This is not the first time the XFL has unemotional amongst a genre charged with that it’s better than the AAF. I think the AAF operated as a spring football league. In 2001, passion, politics, and frenzy. Contributed Photo was supposed to function as a ‘minor leagues’ the league operated for only one season before Green Day may very well be the pop- does not feel squeaky clean come across as of the NFL, but it had too many different rules folding. punk pioneers, but this most recent project forced rebellion, like the workplace softie to allow it to succeed. When teams can’t blitz Vince McMahon – better known for his swings much farther toward pop than punk. wearing a leather jacket and putting a toothpick or are only allowed to play man coverage, it involvement with WWE – functions as the Instrumentals on Father of All… could easily in their mouth then pretending to be harder dumbs down the game a little too much.” owner of the league, as he did with the first have been borrowed from the worst of The than they are. “I Was a Teenage Teenager” asks McCormick also mentioned XFL-specific iteration of the XFL. The return of the XFL was Black Keys or Fall Out Boy, compressed and “Who has the drugs?” and proclaims, “My life’s rule changes as benefitting the league. He announced in January of 2018. The time allotted unzipped three times, ran through effects, then a mess and school’s just for suckers.” These said, “The XFL has an ability to keep the between the announcement and the playing of haphazardly tossed under Billy Joe Armstrong’s lyrics carry a visceral image of balding boomers knowledgeable football fan and football coaches the first game allowed for logistics to be fully trademark tinny voice. holding a Bud Light while they flip burgers with interested in the league with the coaches being fleshed out. Clocking in at just 26 minutes, Father of All… all their middle-aged dad friends in the back mic’d up. The fact that the game is faster – by The recent history of spring football leagues is decidedly un-conceptual and bland. If any yard, complaining about modern baseball, and having a 25-second play clock rather than the has not been encouraging. The Alliance of through lines can be lifted off of this project, reflecting on the glory days on their high school 40-second NFL play clock – will help keep American Football was a football league which they are the feelings of disconnectedness to pop football team. casual fans interested as well.” operated during the Spring of 2019. The AAF culture and current events. Each song would be Father of All… represents a larger issue in Dordt University Football Wide Receivers was announced after the XFL – in March of more in place in a GMC Sierra commercial or contemporary music. Weezer released The Coach Ben Dixon was cautiously optimistic 2018 – but chose to begin playing as soon light-beer ad than on a punk album. Black Album last year that evoked many of the about the league. He said, “Eventually, these as possible in an effort to be there first and It is worth noting Green Day has just signed same sentiments I am communicating in my teams are going to need to score a lot on offense establish a brand before the XFL could even a two-year contract with the National Hockey review of Green Day’s most recent work. Both to keep fans interested.” begin operations. League to provide music for advertisements and groups are strikingly similar in market, age, The sideline interview integration into the The short amount of time between the jumbotron content, and many of these songs do and past relevance. At their height they were broadcast raised concerns from both coaches. announcement and the playing of games lead feel as if they belong blasting in an arena. The influential, mainstream, and not all that bad. McCormick mentioned specifically a moment to the AAF not being sound in investment or title track and “Oh Yeah” both come across as Granted, each has had their quality moments he witnessed in a game which was coming logistics. Emergency loans and investors had designed to blare for thirty seconds at a time, and each their commercial flops. However, down to the wire as a moment he found the to be brought in on a seemingly weekly basis cut and sliced up across a period in a large Weezer may be on better footing after releasing interview process to be weird. “In one game, to support the league. When head investor stadium. For an album with an expletive in the The Teal Album, composed entirely of covers. there was about two or three minutes left on the Tom Dundon pulled out during the middle of title, only two songs are marked as explicit on Weezer is having fun, making music to make clock. The losing team throws a touchdown and the season, the result was an unfinished season this project, and even content wise the piece is music, and holding true to their band’s ideas, then is trying to get back in the huddle to call a and headaches for players who were suddenly squeaky clean. which may have shifted in their twenty-five play for the conversion and the sideline reporter without jobs. A billboard advertising for Father of All… years of activity, but who doesn’t change over was still trying to interview the wide receiver With the failure of the AAF, the XFL was heralds this album as “NO FEATURES, NO the quarter of a century? who caught the touchdown. It was really poor able to observe and take note of what works SWEEDISH SONGWRITERS, NO TRAP Green Day, on the other hand, has gone the timing on the interviewers’ part.” and what doesn’t. One thing that the XFL has BEATS, 100% PURE UNCUT ROCK.” Does way of Fall Out Boy or Panic! at the Disco, Dixon echoed this statement when he emphasized has been rule changes. With slight it hold up? There are certainly no features, no and gave into contemporary pressures. If the said, “Obviously there are some kinks to alterations to rules that exist in the NFL, the writers outside of the band are credited, and quality and shifting sound of their music has not work out with the sideline interviews. You XFL has been able to make the game more fun there are no trap beats. alluded toward their selling-out, the quite literal have players who aren’t comfortable on to watch and easier to understand for viewers. But, does it meet the standard of “PURE selling out in their contract with the NHL makes camera on the sidelines and that can make for Kickoffs are entirely different. Video UNCUT ROCK”? Short answer: no. Yes, the it all too obvious. Green Day will continue to some bad interviews and make the players replay reviews feature an in-booth camera and guitar is there, the drums get a nice little run follow their own advice given in the second to uncomfortable.” microphone so viewers can see what the referees every once and a while, and the band does not last song on the album: “Take the Money and The XFL has so far reached a large audience. see and hear what the thought process behind shy away from the gratuitous use of organ, Crawl.” The key to its success will be cultivating that the decision making. Players are interviewed synth, and auxiliary percussion. Each song audience and retaining fans so that it doesn’t SONG BREAKDOWN live on the sideline after big plays and/or critical sounds virtually indistinguishable from the one achieve the same fate as the AAF. Though it is mistakes. Coaches are wearing microphones before it, outside of a drum or guitar solo here yet to be seen if this will happen, the product Will Listen to Again: when making playcalls so the audience can hear and there. Remove the vocals and I might think the XFL has already put out shows promise that N/A what play is about to be run. There are not one- you gave me a mixtape of royalty free samples it could become a spring football league that Delightfully Meh: point kicking extra points but offensive plays to use in garage band. Claps and tambourine stays. “Father of All…” which can score one, two, or three points. make an appearance in “Oh Yeah,” “Meet Me on the Roof,” and more to give the listeners “Take the Money and Crawl” the idea of “Hey look I can participate in this,” Burn it Down: which is fine if the ending platform at which “Literally everything else”. this album is heard from is crappy speakers at Dark Horse: DORDT UNIVERSITY an NHL rink. N/A The lyrical moments where Father of All…

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