Features

Information is sometimes hard to find

The Chan Shun Library features an information bulletin board that is kept updated and always has something new to share.

It may be the information age, but it’s not always easy for off-campus students to get the information they need or want about what’s happening on campus. Most students, on or off campus, rely heavily on the network e-mail distribution program administered by the student services office. Tessa Bryan, a master’s student in the management/leadership program, is the student services secretary who makes sure events and announcements get forwarded to students via their student portal e-mail addresses. But not all students take the time to check their student portal inboxes. Some just don’t have the time, and some find it inconvenient to check more than one e-mail inbox every day.

SWAU staff bake cookies for Acrofest

Southwestern Adventist University faculty and staff dole out fresh, homemade cookies and brownies to hungry participants at last weekend's Acrofest. The annual event drew 700 students to Southwestern from academies, high schools and other colleges and universities. Faculty and staff donated more than 200 dozen cookies and brownies for the event, and distributed them to students.

Friday night event follows Acrofest theme

Keith Gray baptized an Acrofest participant during Friday night activities.

In keeping with the “Facing the Giant” theme, the Acrofest Friday night vespers program featured singer Ana Laura and worship speaker Jason McLeod, both of “Facing the Giants” fame. The program was held in the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium. Ana Laura is best known for her song “Completely,” featured on the “Facing the Giants” soundtrack, while Jason McLeod is the actor who played the part of “Brock” in that movie. The program ended with group praise singing and ten baptisms. A native Texan, Laura sang a mixture of Christian pop and praise songs, including a song in Spanish that reflects her family’s Mexican roots. Assisted by her sister on keyboard, Laura led the audience in praise singing at the end of her set.

In Unity performs local benefit concert

The late hour didn’t keep a good-sized crowd from showing up at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Keene Adventist Church for the In Unity reunion concert. After an icebreaker opening from local folk singer and humorist Elia King, ten current and former In Unity singers performed for a friendly crowd. Many audience members seemed to remember how it all began. The group formed on the Southwestern campus in September 1991. It started one day when student Chris Morris, now an academy teacher in San Diego, was sitting at the piano in the men’s dorm. Six guys gathered around and soon were hammering out an a cappella version of “What a Fellowship.” The following Saturday they showed up unannounced and performed for the college Sabbath school.

Creative writers group learns by doing

The tension is high in the classroom at the back of the Chan Shun Library. The strange pulsing mixture of excitement and anticipation is palpable. For this small group of four members, three students and one professor, it is a tidal wave, a tsunami promising to either carry them on up to unimaginable heights, or bury them beneath the surf. These are the Rough Writers. The Rough Writers have always been a small group. The group was built last fall on the backs of the passion for writing of its three founding members: Dr. Glen Robinson, Kathy Douglas, and me. We gathered to us a few like-minded creative individuals, each with unique interests and skills. Some were aspiring novelists, others poetry lovers, and still others expressed themselves through songwriting. With determination we built a permanent home for creative writing, expression, and constructive feedback.

Silhouette

Alex Wicklund shows the beauty in a pair of hands and a crystal rose as his Silhouette assignment for Commm 224 Digital Photography. You can see Wicklund's work as well as the work of other students by clicking on the Gallery button above.

Students spend evening at the Parks

Eva Misuraca, Social Vice President of Southwestern Adventist University’s Student Association, waits for students to line up for their skating passes at The Parks at Arlington’s ice rink on Saturday, Oct. 24. SWAU students not only had an opportunity to ice skate, but to enjoy the eating, shopping, and other activities that were offered in the mall.

Action

Alex Wicklund captures himself with a flashlight and time-lapse photography for his Action assignment in Comm 224 Digital Photography. You can see Alex's work as well as the work of others by clicking on the Gallery button above.

Chadwick addresses questions of origin

Art Chadwick does fieldwork with his students at the Wyoming DinoDig site.

Where did we come from and how did we get here? Those questions are commonly regarded as scientific inquiries. Not entirely so, explained Art Chadwick, Southwestern Adventist University research professor of biology, at campus assembly on Thursday, Oct. 15. Chadwick is no stranger to scientific inquiry. He publishes papers with titles like “Preliminary depositional model for an Upper Cretaceous Edmontosaurus bonebed” in scientific journals such as Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. According to his curriculum vitae, Chadwick’s interests include “basinal and suprabasinal sedimentologic trends, including the analysis of paleocurrents and other directional structures.” It’s heavy stuff by anyone’s standards.

Nature

Alex Wicklund proves that Texas is not all cactus and sagebrush with his photo of moss for Comm 224 Digital Photography class. You can see Alex's photos as well as others by clicking on the Gallery button above.