H la sierra loved II £ /, A/.l Criterion Staff Chief Editor Nicholas Smith Copy Editors Natalie Romero Kendra Kravig Photographers Katie Schoepflin Jeremy Caesar Natan Vigna Designers Jesse Mella Alberdi De La Fuente Writers Laura Adams Mindy Bielas Sheldon Benjamin Sylvie Haber Kendra Kravig Natalie Romero Carlos Casiano Jeremy Caesar Contributing Writer Geoff Blake Advertisements Krissy Traustason Web Designer Nic Sanchez Criterion Sponsor Christine Law Publications VP Jesse Mella ublications Sponsor Heidi Weiss-Krumm 1 1 What's Inside? ^1 1 sFre. Meet Your Salsu Should Know Officers T S* JLA -SJEHRA U And More... My Trip to Greece 22 IGNITE Experience Movie Review: 06 24 The Social Network Atlanta 2010: Literacy Project: 18 GC Report 27 Hope In El Salvador My fellow students... ■■■■■■ What an exciting time to be a 2010-2011 school year. But, as Jesse is student here at La Sierra University! With committed to not only maintaining such a new state of the art School of Business standards of excellence set forth by the going up, brand new gated security qualified expertise of Nic Sanchez, but also system, and record numbers of incoming to producing an improved Perspectives freshmen, a joyful buzz seems to permeate and yearbook, so too am I committed to the sidewalks of our campus, making our delivering a refined Criterion magazine to ears ring with the anticipation of a fantastic your hands. year to come. Now, as you thumb through the To the new students on campus- pages of our first issue, enjoy the feeling who, for the first time, are experiencing the of how these gloss pages feel on your close-knit community standard that seems fingertips. Touch it. Massage it. Love it. Put to define the coalescence of our student it under your pillow and use it to firm your body-you have opened a publication that mattress. But above all this, I encourage has not only a rooted tradition here at LSU, you, the reader, to fulfill your calling as such but also an elevated standard due to the and read through the articles, written by TLC given it under the able leadership of students for students, for your enjoyment. last year's editor, Israel Carreon. And as I cross the t's and dot the i's on this To the returning students, most premiere issue, I intend for you to do just of you already realize how far the Criterion that. has had to come to be the respectable publication that it is today. The Vice- President of Publications for SALSU, Jesse Mella, and I both recognize that Nick Smith the bar has been set high for this coming Chief Editor It is an honor and pleasure on the and departments on our website. This is behalf of your SALSU officers.to officially an opportunity for students off/on campus, welcome all of you to the 2010-2011 missionaries, and study abroad students school year. I hope that this past summer, to be involved in our SALSU events by you have traveled, tanned yourself for a watching and listening to our SALSU Radio. new California look, and enjoyed the last Networking is crucial as students of few warm or cold summer days of your learning Higher education and SALSU hometown. This year SALSU has a lot in encourages it. store for you from exciting social events, With networking comes to a newly improved publications, and participation and our events needs you opportunities for ministry work. SALSU has to participate. For example, CABL Run, 4 goals for this year: 4th Down, Midnight Cafe, Social Night (Thursday night),Open Gym Night and 1) To make sure that commuter students more. We planned these events for you, the are part of the SALSU experience on students and we want you to JOIN US. campus and networking is a must. However, as we become of service to you, never forget to serve the Lord 2) To share our Adventist belief of service that loves you unconditionally. Trust full to the community through ministry works in him and anything in your college life with your Religious VP—Pono, will be possible just like how the book of Philippians' is a witness for it. 3) To fundraise $3,000 and more toward the El Salvador Literacy Project, and 4) To become more than just a voice for the students and to be of service to students. As officers we are here to serve the students and make sure that every SALSU event benefits your spiritual, physical, and social needs. A new thing that SALSU is bringing you this year is SALSU Radio. We will be Jon Finau broadcasting live news, upcoming events, SALSU President music, and advertisements for other clubs President's message m IGNITE Reflections by Sylvie Haber Has anyone noticed all the new that as the flowers need nurturing to grow, faces, full of excitement and ready to start so will their children in this phase of their a new chapter in their lives? Yes, they are lives. Their prayers will aid in this transition our new freshmen and they just experi- into the world of adults. enced IGNITE! Appropriately, diversity was cel- At the end of every summer, in ebrated by the "Path of The Just", where preparation for the new school year, fac- everyone was able to identify their heritage ulty, staff, and volunteer students dedicate by placing a fan on the respective conti- a few days to the incoming freshman class. nent of their ancestry. This event allows This year should have been no different, for barriers to be brought down instanta- but it is! In the history of La Sierra Univer- neously and the bridges of communication sity, there has never been so numerous a to be erected with a smile. One of the most class. The campus is buzzing with over beautiful landscaping designs that exists is 400 new freshmen, anticipating all that lies the Earth and here it is on a smaller scale. ahead for them. Right here, on the campus of La Sierra Uni- The students were welcomed by versity, populated by its students, standing IGNITE, which does exactly as its name proudly and welcoming each other. implies—ignite the spirit of excitement by The "Hello Walk" event was spe- awakening feelings of elation and exhilara- cific for introducing the students to their tion, and to bring together the freshmen professors and making sure that the stu- class as one family by assisting them in the bonding process. At IGNITE, many friend- "The Campus is buzz- ships form and many people reunite after a long summer. ing with over 400 new One of the more notable events freshmen, anticipat- was the "Blessings" ceremony, where, af- ter sharing a beautiful blessings service, ing all that lies ahead the parents were cordially asked to "let go". The speakers that highlighted the for them." Blessings Ceremony were the President of the University, Randall Wisbey, La Si- dents could see a different side of the fac- erra University Church Senior Pastor, Chris ulty and start building relationships with Oberg, and from the School of Religion, their prospective mentors. I implore the Dr. Maurey Jackson. According to many freshmen to take advantage of what we of the freshmen, this program was one of have here at La Sierra University. Our fac- the most powerful of the week. Packets ulty cares and wants to see us succeed, of flower seeds were distributed to the but they would also like to see us become parents, a reminder of their child's spiri- productive people serving the Lord and tual and intellectual growth and need for doing as He would. Getting to know them prayer. The moment, full of grace, was a would open up your eyes to how selfless moment to be remembered as the parents your instructors are and how serving and were notably moved by the gesture. Over giving back has enriched their lives and the course of the year, they will witness the hopefully become an inspiration to you to growth of these plants and be reminded pivp hark NSLC The talent show was a time for fun, snes, for demonstrating his outstanding putting a smile on the faces of students in skills with the Chinese yo-yo! this time of uncertainty. During the talent But what is IGNITE without fam- show, many students got to show off their ily groups? The whole essence of IGNITE talents to their peers and really step out of is being in family groups and getting to their comfort zone. Of all the events during know people that are in your shoes. Dur- IGNITE, the talent show consistently draws ing the time with family groups, everyone the most response from students as far as participated in activities that brought every- enjoyment. Of course this is not to say that one out of their comfort zone. By the end of the enjoyment during IGNITE is limited to IGNITE these family groups actually turned into actual "families"; they shook off all that "The whole essence uncertainty and bonds were strengthened. Overall, the event went off without of IGNITE is being in a hitch. Another year marked with an "ig- niting" start, it was a successful beginning family groups and get- to an exciting year for all and an amazing ing to know people experience at La Sierra University. that are in your shoes" Welcome, freshmen! the talent show. But this is the part of the event where people let go and allow their talents to speak for them. Many of the acts included saxophone playing, a cre- ative and entertaining way to play the piano with three people, and a lot of dancing.