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World cup controversies

SeniorFarewells

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STAVROSSCHIZAS

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#transformationtuesday

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CONTENTS

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5 #TRANSFORMATIONTUESDAY6 STAFF SENIOR FAREWELLS8 FROM ROCHESTER HILLS TO VIENNA: A JOURNEY WITH GEO9 LIFE HACKS // NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER THAN10 HOME AWAY FROM HOME // AN UNORDINARY SPRING BREAK11 PORSCHIA WILLIAMS: AN EXTRAORDINARY LINEAGE // PHI ETA, WHO?12 WHERE MY TRUST IS WITHOUT BORDERS13 A FAREWELL TO THE BARTONS14 WHAT’S NEW ON FACEBOOK15 JOURNEY TO THE TRUTH: A DEVOTIONAL16 STAVROS SCHIZAS18 DR.BOWMAN: A TRANSFORMATION19 INSPIRATION20 MORSELS21 THE COLLEGE LIFE // JOSH TAUBE: BEHIND THE LENS22 A JOURNEY THROUGH JOURNEY23 HISTORY OF RC ATHLETICS24 BEHIND THE PAWS // CONTINUING THE RC SPORTS LEGACY25 HOME-GROWN OLYMPIC STARDOM26 LESSONS FROM THE LINKS // 2014 WORLD CUP CONTROVERSIES27 EAT YOUR WAY INTO A SMALLER SIZE // MEET COACH JOHNSTON28 A CHAMPION OF FAITH: MARK CHAMPION BROADCASTS BOTH SPORTS AND FAITH29 HOCKEY COMPETITION CREATES TEAMWORK // RC BASEBALL SLIDES INTO HOME30 EXPRESSIONS

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THE SHIELD ONLINEFOR THE LATEST SHIELD ACTIVITY

And Don’t Forget

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meet the staff.

WRITERS Dylan Bole, Shiloh Covell, Danielle Fecteau, Laura Gherke, Allyson Huey, Madison Kolke, Lonita Owens, Philip Powell

DESIGNERSStacy Catalano, Brad Fecteau, Bethany Hagerman, Amber Joseph, Madison Kolke, Mandi Kuhn

PHOTOGRAPHERSCaroline Huey, Rachel Miller, Laura Van Camp

ONLINE EDITORS BROADCAST PRODUCERSLaura Corp Abby Cook Kevin MooreDan Thomas Daniel Thomas PUBLISHER & FOUNDER Lora Hutson PRINT ADVISER ONLINE ADVISERLiz Fulton Carol CooperDESIGN ADVISER BROADCAST ADVISER Kayce McClure Darren McCullough

www.rcshield.com

Spring 2014 • Volume 14 • Issue 4THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF ROCHESTER COLLEGE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chelsea Hackel

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rachel Taylor

COPY EDITOR Natalie Redmond

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nick Simonis DESIGN EDITOR Joshlyn Booth

PHOTO EDITOR Cathryn Mankiewicz

OPINIONS EDITOR Katie Martelle

SPORTS EDITOR Sara Beason

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Lindsay Baslock

EXPRESSIONS EDITOR Sarah Roper

theshield

FOR THE LATEST RC ACTIVITY

The future is bright, friends.

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me, or maybe you’re coming back after the summer to continue the awesome adventure that is life at Rochester College.

Whatever the situation, I have always viewed summer as equivalent to freedom. Even if I plan to work every day, the last day of school still makes me feel like a prisoner being set free.

Summer holds so many possibilities. It is a time of renewal and building relationships that have taken a backseat to the mountain of homework that pushes everything and everyone out of your mind.

Homework is selfish like that.Now that the mountain of finals is looming

before us once again, let me remind you to take one step at a time. You will make it to the top. You can do it.

The future is bright, friends.

It’s almost here: the end of another school year. Finals are looming and summer is almost ready to release its full force of heat and sunshine. You’ve been plugging away all semester. I don’t

know about you, but I’m pretty much brain-dead by the end of April.

It doesn’t help that I’m graduating April 26. That thought is so bittersweet: bitter because I’m not ready to leave this place so filled with friends and memories, and sweet because I know God has something great coming up next.

It’s true for all of us. God delights in giving us good things and planning a wonderful future for us.

Maybe you’re getting ready to graduate with

EDITOR IN CHIEFby CHELSEA HACKEL

Welcome to theshield

photo via Google Images

We want to hear what concerns you, tickles you or ticks you off about

theshield! Contact us with your comments and

sugggestions.

Talk to us!

@rcshieldonline

theshield@rc.edu email:

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One of the most exciting parts of growing older and moving forward in life is looking back and seeing how much has changed. This growth is particularly notable in the Shield staff and their #TransformationTuesdays!

@BradFecteau: I had no #swag and life was tough. the kids made fun, I’d had enough. I found my #swag, and things got great. Now ladies love, and haters gon’ hate.

@ChelseaHackel: When I was 3, I thought I knew what it meant to wear a bit of red lipstick. I think I’ve got it under control now.

@LindsayBaslock: When I was 4, my dad introduced me to sports. Now, I’ve found my two passions in life: sports and writing. I play golf & hope to publish a novel one day.

@KatieMartelle: When I was 3, I had untamable hair and enjoyed wearing dresses and laughing a lot... so those aspects of my life haven’t changed much. I’ve grown in my self-confidence and maturity, though, and I don’t color outside of the lines anymore!

@RachelTaylor: Not much has changed besides the bowl cut and middle part. I still love fishing, feline-inspired clothing and that little lake near my home in northern Michigan. So many summers have been spent camping, boating and exploring up there—I wouldn’t have it any other way!

@NatalieRedmond: In 2010, I traveled to Israel. Last year, we celebrated my brother’s Bar Mitzvah. Judaism connects me to Jews both locally and worldwide. Being Jewish has given me a sense of personal identity as well as a profound respect for my place in the history of Jews who have come before me.

@JoshlynBooth: When I was younger, I was told that I was a mean little kid. Now, I’m one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.

@AllysonHuey: The difference in my appearance is obvious, but my personality has also changed drastically over the years. I used to be extremely shy and would have trembled at the idea of leading anything. I was not confident, and while I (like most people) still struggle, my confidence has grown a lot. Overall, I think current Allyson is a big improvement!

@MadisonKolke: I don’t always drink sugary beverages, but when I do, I do it in costume.

Many students have the privilege of attending a large school. I’m sure some people enjoy studying in a place where multiple sections of

every class are offered, degree programs are vast and varied, and students can walk the same route every day without ever seeing a familiar face.

However, I have the privilege of attending a small school.

Yes, options here are sometimes limited. Yes, I crammed 19 credit hours into both semesters of my junior year because I had to catch rare classes when they came around. Yes, these have been the hardest three years of my life.

But they have taught me so much about myself and the world where I live.

When I walk the halls and sidewalks at RC,

EDITOR IN CHIEFby CHELSEA HACKEL

I always see familiar faces. Here, I have the ability to form

relationships with students and professors that extend beyond the classroom. (How many students at large universities can say they’ve been to their professor’s house for dinner and a movie?)

The students I’ve become closest with throughout my time here have been unending springs of inspiration, support, encouragement and laughter.

We offer each other advice (whether asked for or not!), we pray together and we understand each other.

We laugh at English major problems. We read each other’s planners. We read each other’s work, too, and having a fellow writer critique your work is so valuable.

We spend hours studying in the CHILL, laughing and having deep discussions in class, eating lunches in the cafe and working on projects together: Shield meetings, Honors

Council, Blackberry Winter and much more. We do life together here at RC. Here, I

have forged friendships that will last forever. Taking a Dr. Greer exam together, trying to stay awake in 8 a.m. classes and traipsing all over the country (and even internationally!) will do that for you.

Lifelong friends are rare finds, and I have a whole herd of them. And, Rochester College has fulfilled my dream of being a triplet. (I bet even my fellow ‘trips’ didn’t know that!)

I’m going to leave Rochester College, but I’m not going empty-handed. Every single person with whom I’ve interacted has given me something valuable to take along as I continue to walk the road God has laid before me.

As I look back over the past three years, moment after moment flashes into my mind like snapshots of a beautiful life, and I am blessed. Blessed beyond belief.

Senior Farewells

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I have one article in which to write about the past four years of my college education, express gratitude to my wonderful professors and attempt to say goodbye to all of the

friends I have made here. This task is going to be difficult. Since transferring to Rochester College

my sophomore year, I have not only gained an education, but I have also formed lifelong friendships, grown, changed and become a better person.

I have gained a vision for my future and am excited about starting grad school this fall.

Working as both a supplemental instructor and English tutor through the ACE lab has both deepened my love for English language and literature and also cemented my desire to become a collegiate English professor.

I have made incredible friendships through

various classes, writing clubs and Sigma Phi Delta Nu, of which I’m proud to be a member.

I have thousands of pictures, memories, stories and jokes from the countless hours I’ve spent with my friends.

I am beyond blessed to have found and formed friendships with people who have encouraged me, laughed with me and cried with me.

Through the classes I have taken here, I have learned more than I thought possible, (especially because I have had to read Hamlet seven times in various courses!)

I have been taught more than academics; I have learned spiritual and practical life lessons.

Professors have been more than instructors: they have championed for me, welcomed me into their homes and given me their time and attention. If I can someday be half as influential and incredible as the professors I have had here, I’ll consider that a great accomplishment.

I am thankful for more than my educational accomplishments, however. Through Rochester College, I have traveled multiple times to the Hillberry Theatre, Stratford and Rock Glen in Arkona, Canada.

More recently, I have visited Istanbul and Izmir in Turkey, where I walked through the ancient cities of Ephesus and Laodicea. I experienced Turkish culture and the Muslim religion firsthand by visiting mosques and various families.

Traveling to Turkey was a life-changing opportunity that I will never forget.

Even though I’m a writer, words are not enough to convey the depth of emotions I feel upon preparing to leave here; I am at once grateful, excited, sad and looking forward to the future.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful three years, RC. It’s been one heck of a ride.

The moment I stepped onto Rochester College’s campus, I knew that I belonged here.

Being an RC student has stretched me more

than I ever thought possible. Now, I wonder: how do I say goodbye to a place that has changed my life and been my second home for four years?

How do I say goodbye to a community that has given me so much?

Through RC, I’ve been to Stratford and Utah, Detroit and Colorado. I’ve taken classes that I’ve loved and classes that I have not loved quite so much. I’ve found friends in unexpected places.

RC has given me so many experiences crammed into so few years.

Through GEO, I traveled with seven other students to Colorado and Utah on the Earth Science Field Study. That trip cemented my bond with several lifelong friends and gave

me an incredible experience in a part of the country I had never visited before.

Those many hours spent hiking 11 miles through Canyonlands or the breathless minutes spent just a few feet from an elk in Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains were beyond incredible.

As a senior, I’ve taken many classes. Admittedly, some classes made me wonder why they were required at all, but I always learned something.

These lessons weren’t necessarily what I was expecting, but I’ve never walked away from a class without gaining a new perspective. The classes I’ve struggled with most were often the classes that taught me the most.

Learning didn’t stop with the classroom or a GEO trip for me, though. As part of the Shield staff, a member of Sigma Phi and an editor of Blackberry Winter, I’ve learned leadership skills, teamwork and habits that will aid me in my career.

Helping RC’s writing community develop

and finding fellow writers among my peers has been a privilege. I’ve also built friendships and learned about life from people who are different from me and from older people with years of experience.

The professors here at RC are some of the most amazing people I’ve met. Every single professor I’ve had has taken the time to get to know me as an individual.

I’ve been to movie nights at a professor’s house and have had professors take time out of their lives to help me with whatever I needed.

I am so blessed and proud to become an RC alumna.

Coming to this college was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I still don’t know how to say goodbye, but I do know how to say thank you.

Thanks, RC. Thanks for changing me and teaching me and shaping me. I won’t forget these years or the people who have made these years so wonderful.

And now, I say farewell.

EXPRESSIONS EDITORby SARAH ROPER

OPINIONS EDITORby KATIE MARTELLE

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the heart of Vienna. In Vienna, the group was able to

experience a different culture and even made friends with English-speaking locals from a nearby church.

When asked to describe a typical day in Vienna, Laden explained that classes usually went from nine o’clock in the morning to noon.

The students took courses that covered art, German language, culture and aesthetics.

After morning classes, they had a lunch break, and then students headed out to whichever museum, historical site or monument was scheduled for the day.

At night, the students were free to do as they pleased, whether it was exploring Vienna, spending a quiet night at Das Millicanhaus or planning future adventures beyond the city boundaries.

Laden took full advantage of his travel time through GEO, and he mentioned a memorable adventure during 10 days of free travel time when he joined a couple other students in exploring Germany, France and Luxembourg.

In addition to Vienna, the entire GEO group traveled to Venice, Italy, and this experience was Laden’s favorite trip of the semester.

Over the course of mere months, Laden set foot in Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.

“Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to see Europe. I wanted to travel,” Laden said.

GEO was not the first time Laden had been to Europe. Since 2010, Laden spent his

summers in the country of Kosovo working at a month-long English camp for kids, and this camp spurred his desire to travel more.

“That’s a big reason I wanted to go to RC, for the opportunity I knew was available,” he said.

Though the trip involved difficulties such as homesickness, his semester abroad was certainly worthwhile.

“[GEO] gave me a wider perception of other people’s opinions and beliefs. It shaped my worldview,” Laden said.

Gaining independence was crucial to the trip because it was the first time Laden had lived away from home for so long.

Because of his GEO trip, Laden has been overcome by wanderlust and can’t ignore the pull to return to Europe.

The classes taken abroad supplied credits toward his minor in International Studies and also gave him the desire to return to Europe someday soon.

“Now that I’ve spent [extended] time in Europe, it made me feel more confident about doing something in the future like applying for a job or an internship” Laden said. “And I want to continue learning German.”

Not only will Laden move forward with confidence, he will also have a distinct component to his education that will give him an edge into the world of business.

Laden’s journey with RC’s GEO program will not be forgotten.

E a c h y e a r , Rochester

College students have the chance to study abroad in Vienna, Austria, for an entire semester through our Global Educational Opportunities program.

In fall 2013, sophomore Michael Laden took full advantage of GEO when he joined fellow RC students Andrew Warnke and Miranda Brow for a semester abroad.

These RC students traveled with 16 others from Oklahoma Christian University for a combined experience in Austria.

Once there, faculty members from OC led the group as both chaperones and instructors for the 12 academic credits that each student earned while studying abroad.

Before the trip began, OC students and teachers hosted RC students for orientation.

From there, the combined group traveled to London for a week before moving on to their new home in Vienna.

“It was challenging and a little overwhelming at first living in a new country and new culture,” Laden said, but he added that he made friends easily with the other students on the trip.

While in Austria, the group stayed at a renovated hotel called Das Millicanhaus, which is owned by OC and is located in

a journey with geoFrom Rochester Hills to Vienna:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR, STAFF WRITERby RACHEL TAYLOR + DANIELLE FECTEAU

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St. Paul ’s Cathedral

Trafalgar Square

Schwarzwaldeckhaus

I like to think of life as a journey. I understand that sounds super cliché and cheesy, but it’s true.

One of the more (admittedly annoying) aspects of my character is that I try to be optimistic and find the good in everything.

As a kid, I remember a hayride I went on one night with a group of friends.

Someone pointed out a black, boarded-up house and began to tell a story about how he had heard that it was haunted.

I frowned at this suggestion, worried that the house and/or the owners might be hurt over those allegations, and I decided to try to find a way to redeem the situation.

“I don’t think it’s haunted,” I defended stoutly.“Really? Then how come the old lady that lived there hasn’t

been seen coming in or going out in 25 years?” he challenged.I remember scrambling for an answer. “Maybe she hasn’t been seen because she just…died in the

house a few years ago…or something,” I stumbled.I believe his response was something like, “That’s what

would make it haunted, doofus.”My attempts at optimism were annoying to people when I

was 7. Fifteen years later, they’re still annoying.Still, when I was faced with finding a topic for another

NAMMT (Nothing Annoys Me More Than…) article, I scrambled to think of something that invokes my wrath.

OPINIONS EDITORby KATIE MARTELLE

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NOTHING MAKES ME Happier THAN...

Sometimes when I scroll through my favorite websites, I come across some “too good to be true” solutions to everyday problems. These helpful tidbits are called “life hacks.”

Occasionally, these ideas get bad reputations because Internet trolls post false information that can lead to disastrous results.

To redeem the reputation of life hacks, I bring you 12 true hacks that will hopefully improve your life or, at the very least, blow your mind:

1. Tip a half-filled water bottle sideways in the freezer, so when it freezes, you can keep your drink cold.

2. Use a staple remover to open key rings.

3. If butter is too cold to spread, use a cheese grater to grate the butter before spreading it.

Mind you, I am not an Amy-Adams-from-Enchanted type of person. I do complain. Things irritate me. I get crabby: especially and

inexplicably on Thursdays. Yet, I don’t really like to dwell on negative aspects of my life because

I have too much for which I am thankful. At the risk of sounding like Julie Andrews and perkily listing off my

favorite things, I definitely am blessed.I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn at a college that I absolutely

love. I’m thankful for blue skies and the hint in the air that spring is coming.

However, that one random snow day we had late in this semester was also wonderful, especially because I was still in the process of recovering from jet lag after my spring break trip to Turkey…another event in my life for which I am beyond thankful.

I guess the world already has enough negative aspects in it without me giving them the advantage by dwelling on unpleasantness.

Through all of life’s difficulties, we need to still keep our focus on life’s beauty.

Christians, especially, have an obligation to fight against the injustice, pain and poverty that are prevalent in our world, but we don’t need to complain.

We need to stop waiting for the world to change and start embodying this change ourselves.

Think for a moment: what might happen if, instead of focusing on what displeases us, we could focus on our blessings?

4. Use a can opener to open those pesky plastic packages that electronics and SD cards normally come in.

5. To remove deodorant stains from clothing, rub the stain off with either jeans or dryer sheets.

6. To keep apple slices fresh, cut them up and then secure them back into place with rubber bands.

7. To keep buttons from falling off your favorite shirts, paint them with clear nail polish. The polish will ensure the threads won’t unravel.

8. At Chipotle, you can ask for your burrito to be wrapped in a cheese quesadilla.

9. If you’re eating applesauce but don’t have a spoon, just fold the lid down to create a makeshift one.

10. If you have a sore throat, eat a piece of cucumber. The cucumber will cool down your throat and help stop the itching.

11. Chewing gum while cutting onions will prevent you from tearing up.

12. Putting your phone on airplane mode when you play games will remove the ads. In airplane mode, your phone also charges faster.

Madison Approved

by MADISON KOLKESTAFF WRITER

I have not had personal relations with these LifeHacks.

life hacks

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STAFF WRITERby LONITA OWENS

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Most people at RC know Viktoras Merkevicius, or “Vic.” You may know he is in his second semester at RC, that he

plays basketball or that his major is history. But did you know how he ended up at RC?

Merkevicius was born and raised in Vistytis, Lithuania. He loves Lithuania and never intended to come to America until a friend approached him with information about a company named Pro Futuro Sports.

Merkevicius’s friend told him that Pro Futuro Sports finds schools in America for basketball players and other athletes to attend and provides the students with a full scholarship to receive their education in the United States.

He was impressed and decided to give Pro Futuro Sports a try since he liked the idea of getting an American education funded, while also playing his beloved sport of basketball.

Though Merkevicius was excited about this opportunity, his parents were hesitant. However, he was persistent about coming to America. He obtained the proper paperwork to pursue his dream, and since he didn’t show any signs of quitting, his parents decided to support his endeavor.

To begin his journey in America, Merkevicius was sent to Stoneridge Prep School in Los Angeles, Calif., where he graduated in 2012. After Stoneridge, he

Ordinarily, Spring Break is an excellent excuse to put a hold on academic responsibilities and instead cuddle up for a week at home with

Netflix. This year, however, 12 Rochester College

students and faculty members decided their spring breaks would be better spent studying abroad. From Feb. 28 to March 7, this group, myself included, had the opportunity to travel to Turkey.

The Niagara Foundation of Michigan generously sponsored our trip. Part of the Hizmet movement, which is an international, non-political global peace effort based out of Turkey, the Niagara Foundation strives to bridge cultural and religious differences through undertakings such as these friendship-building trips.

Throughout the course of the week, not only did we tour ancient cities and famous mosques, but we also had the pleasure of meeting with Turkish families and learning about modern culture and government. With

COPY EDITORby NATALIE REDMOND

the variety of experiences we were granted, I enjoyed my time in Turkey immensely. As the week drew to a close, however, I was surprised to find myself at peace with the idea of returning home.

Traveling can be a heady experience; I have found that getting swept up in a foreign country’s landscape, warmer weather (imagine!) and cultural differences can be so enchanting that I seriously begin to consider life as an expatriate.

This trip, however, was different. Upon arriving home, I realized that if I

had returned to Michigan sporting a fez, eschewing Kibo Corner in favor of sipping tea in tiny glasses and waxing poetic about Turkey’s perfect society, then I would have wasted the Niagara Foundation’s money and my own time. A friendship trip such as this one is meant to grant travelers a small glimpse into Turkish life, but this snapshot includes the country’s imperfections as well.

Therefore, if I am to write about Turkey in a way that does the country any sort of justice, then I am not at liberty to gloss over its mistakes and uncertainties in favor of declaring everything “perfect.” At the

same time, international-relations trips are designed to inspire introspection. I can’t critique Turkey accurately; having spent a mere eight days there, I barely learned the Turkish word for “water,” let alone how to fix the Turkish government.

However, I am a born-and-raised American, and I may reevaluate my own national perspective based off of experiences I have had abroad. Of the few conclusions to which I can decisively come, I have found this: Turkey is beautiful for many of the same reasons America is and broken, too, in similar ways. Both countries have an overwhelming selection of breathtaking landscapes, but, historically, these same landscapes have found themselves soiled by the wars waged there. Both countries have scores of citizens: people who are crippled by internal disunity, and people who, for no other reason but their shared humanity, will generously open their homes and hearts to strangers.

In short, I can call both Turkey and America beautiful, and I can call them both broken. When I do so, however, beautiful does not mean perfect, and broken does not mean irreparable. There is always hope.

AN UNORDINARY SPRING BREAK

moved to Waco, Texas to attend McLennan Community College for one semester before being approached with the opportunity to be a student at RC.

Merkevicius visited RC on May 6, 2013, and he felt attending here would be a wonderful experience. The next day, he was admitted to the college, and he gladly accepted. He believes attending RC has been was one of his best decisions. He loves America and is proud to be the first member of his family to make this transition.

Luckily, he said he didn’t experience culture shock upon arriving in America. He has been learning English since he was 8 years old, and before coming to America, he researched our country so he would know what to expect.

However, Merkevicius still misses Lithuania. When asked what he misses most, he mentioned Lithuania’s laid-back lifestyle, his family and his girlfriend.

Even though he speaks with his loved ones regularly via Skype, Internet conversations cannot compare to seeing them in person. He loves going back to Lithuania every summer to connect with family and friends, but when he visits, he won’t be gone for long, because RC has become his home-away-from-home.

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If you’ve already checked out all the social clubs on campus without anything

catching your eye, don’t give up yet! A new social club is on the horizon for the

Rochester College community. After his first semester at Rochester

College, freshman Caleb Touchstone feels that it is time to make a difference on campus.

Touchstone has decided to form a new social club, Phi Eta Rho (PH).

Touchstone wants this new social club to focus on coexistence and harmony with others.

During Touchstone’s first semester, he noticed that there are divisions between

STAFF WRITERby SHILOH COVELL

Williams has many ambitions and dreams for her future. When she finshes her education, she wishes to work in a communications firm. From there, she would like to create commercials and voiceovers for a radio company.

However, she would also love to become a radio personality, get involved in acting and make it big in the music industry.

If the opportunity presents itself, however, Williams would jump on a job that takes her inside the Hollywood scene.

Williams wants to sing jazz and R&B music. She would also like to create a country music album.

Without a doubt, Williams has her goals set high, and she has a background that can set her apart from all the rest.

Aspiring to work in the heart of Hollywood, Williams has dreams of chasing the success her relatives have achieved.

“I’d love to be just as big as them, if not bigger,” Williams said.

With an impressive family legacy and great talent herself, Williams could very well be the Etta James of the 21st century.

Many RC students know Porschia Williams by her angelic voice in the Rochester College A Cappella Chorus from years past.

But what might surprise people,

however, is that Williams is related to some prominent public figures.

Williams is cousins with the hip hop/rap artist, Sole; R&B/soul artist Ginuwine, who is famous for songs like “Pony” and “Differences;” actor Larenz Tate, who was in movies like “Crash” and “Ray;” and the late jazz singer, Etta James.

Additionally, her grandfather, Edward Williams, sang with groups who later became Motown sensations, such as The Temptations and The Spinners.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Williams was unable to meet Etta James before her passing in early 2012. However, her grandfather has told her about the memories he has with her famous family.

The Williams family didn’t always live in M i c h i g a n —

W i l l i a m s ’ s

grandfather made his start in Chicago, Ill. From there, he traveled to California,

Wisconsin and finally Michigan, where he met his wife, Suzette.

Williams’ grandmother, Suzette, managed Motown musical acts, including The Dramatics, Five Phases of Soul and Tanya Williams.

Music brought her grandparents together, and a love of music is instilled in Williams now.

“Hollywood is just running through my veins,” Williams said.

When people learn of Williams’s family tree, they are usually shocked. Typically, people exclaim that they love Etta James’ iconic love song, “At Last,” and ask Williams to sing it for them.

Williams was a member of RC’s A Cappella Chorus from 2010-2013 and aspires to get into the music business as well.

“When I went to California with the chorus last year, I’ve never felt more at home than I was then. Hollywood is calling my name,” Williams said.

Right now, Williams is a mass communication major at RC and works in the pre-school at the Rochester Church of Christ.

She has assisted with the 2- and 3-year-olds for three years, teaching Bible stories and singing with them.

Even after she graduates this spring, Williams hopes to continue working with the kids, as well as beginning a master’s program.

She has applied for graduate school at Oakland University and hopes to get a master’s degree in arts and communication.

the different students on campus: athletes, thespians and even student nurses all hang out within their own groups.

Although cliques are inevitable in any college, Touchstone still feels compelled to blur the dividing lines and bring the campus closer together.

Though the other social groups on campus are accepting to all potential members, Touchstone wants to introduce another group that specifically pushes all of its members to work towards common goals, even if members have different interests or backgrounds.

PH will not only accept those of different backgrounds and activities, but it will also be RC’s first co-ed social club.

Though several social clubs have brother and sister sections, PH will be fully integrated.

Touchstone is excited to see how this integration will influence his budding social club.

In order to make the club official, Touchstone is working on filling officer positions and drafting a club constitution,

Phi Eta, eagerly anticipating the club’s first pledge week next fall.

A few students have already expressed their commitment to the new group, and many others have shown interest. Some of these committed students will be initiated as officers once the club is official.

All potential members are looking forward to next fall, when the club will be open to more students. Many service projects and volunteer opportunities are also being planned for the new group.

Loving one another, working with each other and giving one’s self to God are the three main goals of this new social club, and just like the club’s song, “Revelation Song,” Touchstone wants all the group’s members to honor and praise God while working in harmony as He intended.

Touchstone is working hard in order to lay the club’s foundation and make a concrete mission statement and constitution.

He hopes this new social group will benefit the entire Rochester College community.

Porschia Williams: An Extraordinary Family Lineage

ASST. SPORTS EDITORby LINDSAY BASLOCK

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STAFF WRITERby DANIELLE FECTEAU

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Two weeks seems like such a short amount of time. Nothing life changing can really happen in just two weeks, right?

In the summer of 2012, I was able to live out my dream of going to Malawi, Africa, on a two-week mission trip. In these two weeks, God completely broke me down and changed my entire outlook on life.

During the month before the trip, I tried to prepare myself for the challenges I knew I’d meet in Africa, but looking back now, I realize there is no way anyone can

really prepare to see brokenness at its highest level.As soon as I stepped onto African turf, I felt a tug on my

heart. This place was exactly where God wanted me, and he made that abundantly clear.

God filled my heart with love and compassion for all the people I met during those short weeks. He broke me in the best way.

You know those commercials with the starving children, sad music and the man with a deep voice who claims that if you give just “five dollars a day,” then you could save a starving child?

Those children exist. I saw them with my own eyes. What these commercials don’t show, however, is the

joy these suffering people still find. This joy seems unexplainable, and this unadulterated

happiness is what broke me. I began to realize all I take for granted in my life, simply because I’d never truly known what it is to struggle for survival.

People in Africa sang and danced to God all day long because they have the strongest kind of faith, a faith that only comes from relying on God for day-to-day survival.

Before my trip to Africa, I’d never leaned fully on God, and it took that two-week-long trip for me to realize that.

After just a few days in the foreign place, my heart was broken. That brokenness is where I found comfort in God, and it was a comfort I had never truly known before.

The sad part of short-term mission trips is that they don’t provide opportunities to fully envelope yourself in the culture and the people.

You may feel like you aren’t really making a difference, but God can use us all in miraculous ways, even without us realizing it. I may have deeply touched someone’s life in Malawi, but I’ll never know for sure.

Upon returning to the United States, I was angry with God that He let me see all the pain and suffering there. Then God reminded me that prayer is my most powerful weapon. Though I can’t get in my car and drive to see these people every day, I can pray for them.

I still don’t feel like I accomplished much in Africa other than loving on kids who I will likely never see again. But God may have accomplished great things through me.

Although I left no visibly lasting impression on the small country, what really came of the trip was the lifelong impression that God, as well as Malawi, made on me.

Where My TrusT Is WIThouT Borders

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From freshmen to seniors, almost all Rochester College students have been influenced by John and Sara Barton. The Bartons have been at the school since 2002 and have

been involved with many different parts of the college in their time here; however, this summer they will start a new chapter of their lives in California at Pepperdine University.

During their time at RC, John Barton has served as provost, developed a philosophy curriculum and taught many different religion classes.

Sara Barton has served as campus minister and taught in both the religion and English departments.

Both professors have also built connections between Rochester College and Uganda, and John Barton has led groups of students to Turkey as well.

In their new positions at Pepperdine, Sara will serve as university chaplain, and John Barton will teach in the religion department.

Although John Barton expressed that it was not an easy decision to leave life in Michigan, “We felt that this was a new opportunity, season and adventure for us,” he said.

Sara felt especially drawn to the open position, feeling it’s “a unique role with the opportunity to serve both students and employees.”

Both expressed excitement for the new opportunities that lie ahead.

“I look forward to new vocational

STAFF WRITERby Allyson Huey

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opportunities and contributing to the spiritual life of the Pepperdine community,” said Sara.

John Barton said he especially anticipates “time to teach, develop research and possibly create new study abroad programs” in his new position.

“We are looking forward to seeing what Los Angeles and Orange County have in store for us and what ministry opportunities we will have there. And of course we’ll enjoy the view of the ocean,” John Barton said.

However, their excitement does not mean leaving will be easy.

“I love life in Michigan. I’ve enjoyed the Rochester College community, participation in local public school activities, our neighbors, our church and the four seasons, even winter. I will deeply miss life here; it’s a great place to live and work,” Sara said.

John Barton said he will miss “the flexibility of being a part of a small college, teaching World Religions and leading trips to Africa and Turkey.”

However, “the main thing I will miss is the community at the college; faculty, staff and students,” John Barton said.

Both have meaningful memories and connections to the school that reveal their deep involvement and influence at RC.

“I enjoyed taking RC students to Uganda for summer internships. It was rewarding to see them grow in their faith on those trips, and it was fun to see the connections grow between Uganda and Rochester College.

“Watching Ugandan students become Rochester College graduates is high on my list of favorite memories. It’s also been delightful to watch Larry and Kay Norman experience Uganda and bring Kibo Corner to life on our campus,” Sara Barton said.

Reflectively, John Barton mentioned how strongly he believes in Rochester College’s educational mission.

“I am convinced that RC’s educational level is high and offers unique opportunities and relationships,” John Barton said.

John Barton feels overwhelmingly thankful for the RC community.

“I am grateful and blessed by the community and I hope I have been able to give some of that back,” he said.

Sara hopes she has passed on to her students a deep love for the Bible.

“My students know that I believe in the power of gathering in community around God’s word, and I hope that if I leave a memory with them, it will be my love for the Bible,” she said.

The Bartons will be greatly missed. All staff, faculty and students can agree that the Bartons have tremendously blessed the school during their time here.

We all wish them well in their coming adventures.

a farewell to the Bartons

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Amber JosephI don’t always get on Facebook, but when I am, you can bet I’m supposed to be doing something else.

15 hours ago · Comment · Like

Brad FecteauNASA just found 715 new planets.I just found 3 skittles that fell under my futon last week.I ate them.Your move, NASA.

yesterday 5:17 · Comment · Like

Miriah JonesMy favorite moment today, when a student of mine compared Lebron James to Victor Frankenstein. Why? They both run from their mistakes. I almost died.

March 24 · Comment · Like

John Irons JrIt was a pleasure to play with this group of guys this year. We had some great moments and some bad ones (like today). Regardless we remained a team, and continued to believe in each other. Thank you Lord for the ability, and opportunity to play this game. — with Andrew Thompson and 12 others.

a few seconds ago · Comment · Like

Beth BowersYour youngest reader... Photo Courtesy of Chris Shields -With Brian Bowers

Compiled by Bethany Hagerman. The Shield prints Facebook statuses as they appear when posted. To see yourself in the”What’s New on Facebook?” recap next issue, become a fan of The Shield Online. PLEASE NOTE

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We dwell in a world filled with voices: our own, others and the chorus of society. These voices, both good and bad, are unfortunately easy to believe.

But what about the voice from God that declares the truth about who He is, who we are and how the latter belongs to the former?

Do we easily believe His truth and exchange it for our own? Or do we simply dismiss a voice that contradicts our own understanding, even when it belongs to the King of Kings?

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”—John 18:37

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and because of Him we are able to embrace a life filled with every truth that is worth believing.

These honest beats of love, worth and forgiveness were only set into motion because of a Savior who knew we couldn’t accept them on our own.

Christ came to define the truth that dwells around us. He came to say that we are precious and bold and fearless and wonderful. We are everything He could ever hope to care for, and that is why He offers a second chance.

There is no reason to feel guilt, shame or fear in these moments when He is begging for us to accept a love He believes we deserve.

Christ breaks the chains that bind lies to victims and bind victims to rock bottom.

He craves for us to realize that our past was never meant to hold us back. Each one of us was created for a relationship with him.

However, we can easily be led to believe a different set of voices if we are not extremely careful.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full—John 10:10.

Will we choose to believe the absolute truth of Christ? Or will we choose an understanding that leaves room for outside influences?

In the past, I’ve made the mistake of chasing hollow truth. Throughout that pursuit, I was confused and unable to decipher God’s truth from my own understanding.

These are only a few lies I’ve been told over the years: you’re not good enough, thin enough, pretty enough, talented enough or smart enough, and you will never be loved by someone else. You’ll never amount to anything and you are worthless. Who are you to claim to be better? You’re a wreck. You have no place before the throne of a big and perfect King.

What does God have to say about this toxic language? How does He feel about the way we talk to ourselves?

Well, God is so great. He is perfect and knows just how to handle our brokenness because he is the one who spoke us into motion. He

JOURNEY TO THE TRUTH: ADEVOTIONAL

meets us right where we are with love, grace and mercy. He picks us up and brushes off doubt, sin and shame and wraps us

in His righteousness. Then, when we are made new, He whispers to us a new truth. God tell us that this is no longer a battle. This is a journey that has

just begun. He says, “I will lead you, I will guide you, and I will be the one to decide your worth. I have called you out upon the water of uncertainty and adventure. Do you trust me? This won’t be easy, but the rest of your life begins when you begin to trust the truth that I have declared. You may be vulnerable and fragile, yet you are even more beautiful because of that very place where you need me the most. I have set you free from the lies which creep in when you are unable to define the truth and who you are. I am calling you to be a part of my greatness, and I need you to trust me enough to let go of your own understanding and welcome a new definition of my truth.”

We are worthy of Christ’s love, and that is the truth.

by RACHEL TAYLORASSOCIATE EDITOR

We are worthy of Christ’s love, and that is the

truth.

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StavrosRochester College

student Stavros Schizas began an

unforgettable journey when he moved from his native country of Greece to the United States to play basketball.

Basketball has been a part of Schizas’ life since he was 15 years old. Since high schools and colleges in Greece do not offer organized sports, he played on a club team and dreamed of playing at the professional level.

Simultaneously, Schizas worked as a bartender and spent almost a year in the Greek military per the country’s requirement that every man between the ages of 19 and 45 serve at least nine months in order to be prepared for war

should it be declared. “Back then I didn’t like it, but it helped me develop

character and made me tougher,” Schizas said.During his days in the military, Schizas worked with a

personal trainer who helped him contact colleges in the United States.

He sent highlight tapes to Kirtland Community College in Roscommon, Mich., where he was soon accepted as a student.

“I actually had to trade my car to come over to the States. I made a deal with my brother—he could have

my car if he bought my airline ticket to get over here,” Schizas said.

Once he was in America, Schizas had to continue fighting for his dream. He says there have been numerous times in the past four years that the circumstances seemed there was no other option than to return home, but that every single time something would happen that gave him the courage to continue fighting.

For example, when Schizas was playing at KCC, his house caught on fire and he thought he had lost everything. “I remember watching my house burn, and all I could think of was, ‘I have no money, no clothes (except the ones I was wearing), no passport,

and [I’m]homeless. I started to come to the conclusion

that this was the end of my journey.“

In that moment, Schizas prayed that God would save his

passport so he could at least go home as soon as possible. Mi-

raculously, after the flames were

put out, the fire department came out of the remains that were once his house, carrying a suitcase.

“As I opened the burned suitcase, to my relief I realized that my small leather bag with my passport and all my legal documents was inside unharmed,” he said. Although he was extremely relieved, he says he caught himself thanking the firemen for their efforts to save his house, while the reality hit him that it was gone and he would be too in the few next days.

Yet, to Schizas’ surpise, the community of Mio, Mich., along with the Red Cross, came together and provided clothing, food and enough money for him to remain in the US.

“Not only did God save my most important belongings, but events like this prove to me that God always has my back, no matter where I am in the world. The fact that no matter what the obstacle is, with God’s help I can overcome it —that’s all the en-couragement and inspiration I need!” he said.

And so, Schizas’ journey continued. At KCC, he studied fine arts with the goal of becoming a graphic designer. He had to take classes to learn English as a second language, which put him behind in his degree plan.

After spending two years at KCC, Schizas hoped to transfer to a four-year college and play basketball. His decision came down to Rochester College or Davenport University, but RC was more persistent, so Schizas chose to come here.

“As a player, you want to go to a team that you know really wants you. You’ll get to play more and you will get more attention,” Schizas said.

Assistant Coach Tom Webb had seen Schizas play at KCC, but it wasn’t until RC came to play a game at KCC that Schizas spoke with Head Coach Klint Pleasant.

“Stavros is an extremely rare player to coach, and I’m very grateful to have had the chance to coach him,” Pleasant said. “He’s rare in the sense that usually very good players are not the most humble players…but he’s both.”

At 23 years old, he continued his journey into the RC community. Schizas said his first impression of RC was that it is a quiet school.

Throughout the past two years as a Warrior, Schizas said the 2012-13 season stands out to him the most.

SPORTS & ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORSby SARA BEASON // LINDSAY BASLOCK

...no matter what the obstacle is, with God’s help, I can overcome it.

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SchizasDuring that year, his first season at RC, the basketball

team was ranked no. 25 in the NAIA Division II national poll and won the USCAA National Championship after defeating Daemen College 70-67.

“It was the highlight of my career in the USA,” Schizas said. “Playing against Division I schools was an experience I wouldn’t have had if I did not come to Rochester College.”

Schizas is currently studying mass communication and will graduate in the spring of 2014 with an associate’s degree in fine arts.

After graduating from RC, he wants to play professional basketball overseas.

“[Professional basketball] has been my goal from day one,” Schizas said. “I came to the U.S. to develop my skills for four years and then possibly play professionally overseas.”

Over the past two years at RC, Schizas has scored more than 800 points and has had more than 80 assists and 285 rebounds.

He has been a powerful leader on the team, a hardworking student in the classroom and a positive influence on and off the court.

“[Schizas] has been a joy to be

Map of Greece - Single Color by FreeVectorMaps.com

around. He’s done well academically and he’s always respected our program, culture and mission…he’s always polite and is quick to express gratitude,” Pleasant said.

Case in point, when asked if he would like to men-tion anything about his experience at RC, Schizas replied, “When I first came to RC, I knew I would fit in perfectly. The students and teachers here are all posi-tive, God-loving people. The RC community has gone out of its way numerous times to help me, and for that I am forever grateful.”

Dr. Craig Bowman, professor of Old Testament, used to swim, bike and run up to 400 miles a week, keeping him in tiptop shape, but then

God sent him on an unexpected journey. Never in his wildest dreams did a devoted

husband and father of three think he would be sent on the life-changing journey he faced in 1998 when his wife, Patti, insisted he get a physical before his 46th birthday.

The doctor’s test revealed that he had Essential Thrombocythaemia.

ET is a disorder where the body produces too many blood platelets. One of the common symptoms of ET is an enlarged spleen. The disorder also brings about a heightened risk of stroke and the possibility of more severe health problems in the future.

Since Bowman suffered none of ET’s usual symptoms outside of high platelets, he chose not to take the medication. The medicine had an energy-sapping side effect, which would have completely altered his active lifestyle.

Instead, Bowman continued his energetic

life and even competed in three Ironman triathlons, which involved swimming, biking and running a total of approximately 140 miles without a break.

In addition to his triathlons, he continued to travel, including leading groups of RC students on archeological digs to Tamar, Israel.

In 2007, events took a sour turn, and Bowman suffered a mini-stroke. The ER doctor and Patti insisted that it was time to seek treatment.

After two years, Dr. Bowman’s platelets were under control and his workout regimen continued, but he was chronically fatigued. Because of this, the doctors decided to perform another bone marrow biopsy.

This test revealed that, in addition to ET, Bowman also had Myelodysplastic Syndromes , a blood-related condition where his body did not produce enough red blood cells.

A lack of red blood cells would cause him to become anemic and require blood transfusions. MDS is also a form of leukemia.

With the hope of keeping the cancer in chronic remission, doctors began Bowman on nine monthly rounds of chemo. Unfortunately,

the chemo failed and MDS aggressively transformed into the life-threatening disease, Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The only step the doctors could take to save his life was a bone morrow transplant, which required finding someone who matched Bowman’s bone marrow type.

Finding a donor was easier said than done because only 30 percent of bone marrow patients usually find a match. However, God was able to provide what Bowman needed. His younger brother, John, was indeed a match.

On April 20, 2010, the successful transplant took place. Bowman’s immune system was left extremely fragile, and he had to be in isolation for months because he was hyper-susceptible to germs.

Bowman’s recovery went tremendously well, and he returned home from the hospital on May 5, 2010. The doctors were surprised by how well his journey to recovery was progressing.

Once home, Bowman resumed his daily workouts while carrying his IV pole. Gradually, he began to feel better, and this upward trend continued until he developed stomach pains six months later.

In October 2010, Bowman was hit by his next trial: graft vs. host disease. His body was rejecting the bone marrow transplant, and he had to be hospitalized.

Discouraged, Bowman began to lose hope. He was unable to eat solid foods, and he was too weak to get out of bed.

Bowman’s future looked bleak until the Lord renewed his strength through encouragement from a fellow cancer survivor. Little by little, Bowman began to force himself to eat and exercise again.

Bowman said with the encouragement from family members, close friends, cycling partner Dr. Keith Huey and the RC community, he was able to return home on Dec. 8, 2010.

At the one-year anniversary of having his transplant, the procedure was declared a miraculous success. Bowman’s doctor was amazed at how well he had recovered, especially considering his initial survival prediction was only 3 percent.

Through the grace of God, Bowman was able to achieve a new normal. He calls his journey “not one of silver linings, but of transformation.”

After his battle, Bowman became more productive, energetic and, according to his wife, talkative.

Bowman feels as though he has been born again and is now able to return to all the activities he loves. He was even able to return to Israel in 2013, where he had one of his best archeology digs.

“Although the journey has been long and difficult, the transformation has been miraculous and rewarding,” Bowman said.

Dr. Bowman:Dr. Bowman:A Transformation

STAFF WRITERby LAURA GEHRKE

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MORSELSLITTLE NUGGETS OF ENTERTAINMENT GOODNESS

J A M SLEWIS WATSONALBUM: The MorningAfter five successful EPs, Oxford-based singer-songwriter, Lewis Watson, releases his first album, sure to showcase his raw vocal talent. Now available for preorder.

HAIMALBUM: Days Are Gone

The three sisters that are HAIM grew up in the San Fernando Valley listening to 70s classic rock, which the group channeled in its debut album Days Are Gone.Features hit single, “The Wire.”

F L I C K SNOAHA man is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission of rescue before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world.Starring Russell Crow, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Anthony Hopkins.

(IMDb)

DIVERGENTIn a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the Mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late. Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet. (IMDb)

R E A D STHE PROMISE OF A PENCILThe riveting story of how a young man turned $25 into more than 200 schools around the world and the guiding steps anyone can take to lead a successful and significant life.

(Amazon.com)

PANICHeather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought. (GoodReads)

SHAWN McDONALDALBUM: Brave

Sparrow Records recently announced the release of Shawn

McDonald’s latest LP, the artist’s first collection of new songs in three years. Features hit single, “We Are Brave.”

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College

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Many factors can motivate a college student’s choice to enroll in school. Rochester College senior Josh Taube had two goals when he decided to enroll in RC’s Center for Extended Learning: to get his bachelor's degree and to graduate summa cum laude.

The Clinton Township resident is looking to graduate this summer with a degree in mass communications.

Josh Taube:

Current CEL student Josh Taube hopes to one day use his degree to start a career in film and become a director.

For Taube, this career decision seems like a natural choice, but he understands why some people feel he will have a hard time achieving his dream.

“Most of my peers would agree my goals are difficult to obtain, but so is being a doctor, lawyer or professional athlete,” Taube said.

In addition to realizing his goal of becoming a film director, Taube decided to give himself the extra ambition of graduating summa cum laude, with a 3.85 or higher GPA.

“I got good grades in high school, but they weren't outstanding. My goal of graduating summa cum laude is to help prove to myself that anything is possible with hard work,” Taube said.

Taube first heard about RC's CEL program in 2012, while he was working on his associate's degree in video production at Macomb Community College.

One of Taube's professors mentioned that RC offered him the opportunity to earn his bachelor's degree in mass communications, and Taube jumped at the opportunity.

Taube chose the CEL program over the traditional program at RC because doing so allows him to continue to take classes at Macomb Community College without frequently driving between Clinton Township and Rochester Hills.

Taube believes getting his bachelor's degree will give him a major leg-up on his competition in the film industry and offer a major boost to his credibility.

Though Taube said he feels disconnected from the larger RC community, he is proud of the community he has developed at Macomb. Additionally, Taube is proud that his professors are respected and knowledgeable members of the media.

When not attending classes, Taube spends most of his time watching and creating films.

Presently, Taube has created approximately 15 short films and two feature-length films, which have debuted at Emagine Theater in Rochester Hills, Mich. These premieres were set up and planned by Taube himself, an accomplishment of which he said he is very proud.

Taube's first film is called “Unfinished Business” and debuted on Oct. 21, 2012, to an audience of 120 people. Taube described the film as an urban action movie centered on revenge.

His second film, “Horizon Line,” debuted Feb. 24, 2014, to an audience of 200 people. Taube describes this film as a drama involving three characters’ interwoven stories, wherein they make the best out of the worst situations.

Some of Taube's favorite films include “Big Fish,” “Memento” and “The Machinist.”

While finishing up school, Taube is currently working on an unnamed project that he hopes to debut soon. His current work can be viewed on his personal page at www.vimeo.com/joshtaube. Check it out!

BEHIND THE LENSMuch can change in the four years a student

attends college. Although the days leading up to graduation sometimes seem to drag, many changes occur from year to year.

Rochester College senior Caleb Stinnett is a behavioral sciences and social work major. He also is a resident adviser on the 2nd floor of Alma Gatewood and the vice president of the social club

Epsilon Theta Chi. Stinnett reflected on how much has changed for him in the past four

years. “Being a senior has given me the opportunity to see how this place has changed me and in what ways I would still like to see growth in my life as I move forward,” he said.

While he is excited about graduating and looks forward to finishing his education, Stinnett said that balancing senior-level classes while maintaining other responsibilities is difficult.

Stinnett has enjoyed the traveling experiences Rochester College has provided and looks forward to helping the homeless and those struggling with poverty after graduation.

Junior Angela Stabel is majoring in accounting. She is involved in RC’s A Cappella Chorus as well as Autumn, the social club Omicron Omega Zeta. Stabel also works as a math tutor in the ACE lab.

She enjoys being close to the graduation finish line but not having to say goodbye yet. Life as a junior, however, is difficult because of the responsibility. “There’s a lot of pressure to succeed…to be professional and independent,” Stabel said.

After graduation, Stabel has “big ambitions,” including getting her master’s degree in accounting. Stabel also wants to have a positive influence on society by fulfilling people’s needs and undertaking a variety of ministry outreaches.

Shelby Ramey, a sophomore majoring in behavioral science with a track in social work, juggles many extracurricular activities. She is actively involved as the community life director in Student Government, an NSO peer adviser, an intramural athlete, a member of the social club Sigma Phi and a resident adviser.

Ramey said the best part of being a sophomore is helping the freshmen. Almost halfway through college at this time, Ramey looks forward to the future. “After graduation, I would like to find a job with an adoption or foster care agency,” Ramey said. “My main goal is to work with children and help give them a better start to life. I have a passion for working with children, so I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Ramey, a Canadian citizen, is not sure where she will live after graduation, but she quipped, “Maybe if you Americans are lucky, I’ll stay in the United States!”

Psychology major and freshman Christopher Carcamo juggled performing in both Celebration and “Troilus and Cressida” just weeks apart, running the prayer ministry 10:36 and participating in Delta Nu social club.

Carcamo said he loves being a first-year student because of all the new experiences college provides. However, Carcamo does admit that there was a period of adjustment.

He said “learning the basics of college life” was difficult at the beginning of the school year, but he has adjusted well.

“I look forward to experiencing so many things in the future,” Carcamo said. From exciting experiences to making relationships with new people, “I don’t know what God has in store for me, but I’m all in,” he said.

No matter what year a student is, college is an adventure and proves to be one of the best journeys that can be taken in life.

STAFF WRITERby PHILIP POWELL

OPINIONS EDITORby KATIE MARTELLE

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“After All These Years,” Journey is still “All that Really Matters.”

This band has given me a “Better Life,” and I just know that we are “Better Together.”

Journey started its own long musical journey in San Francisco, Calif., in 1973.

After a radio contest proved unsuccessful for naming the band, a roadie was “Happy to Give” them the name Journey.

The original band included Neal Schon on lead guitar, Gregg Rolie on lead vocals and keyboard, Prairie Prince on drums, Ross Valory on bass and George Tickner on rhythm guitar. Journey was a ragtag group of artists who were all previously part of another musical group.

When the guys first got together, they formed a jazz-fusion band but they didn’t have much of a following.

Soon after Journey’s first public appearance at the Winterland Ballroom on New Year’s Eve in 1973, Prairie Prince rejoined his original group, The Tubes, and the band hired a new drummer, Aynsley Dunbar.

On Feb. 5, 1974, the new and improved Journey debuted at the Great American Music Hall and signed with Columbia Records.

After the band released their first album, “Journey” (1975), rhythm guitarist George Tickner left the band, and Journey released its second album, “Look Into the Future “(1976), without him.

Since neither album was successful, the remaining band members decided to take vocal lessons in order to improve their sound and add vocal harmonies to Rolie’s lead.

In 1977, their album “Next” contained shorter tracks with more vocals and featured Schon on lead vocals for many of the songs.

That same year, Columbia Records decided that a change in Journey’s musical style would prove a “Change for the Better.” Columbia hired Robert Fleischman for lead vocals and transitioned the group’s style.

While on tour with Fleischman, the band wrote the hit song “Wheel in the Sky.” Unfortunately, due to personal differences, Fleischman was fired within the year.

Journey decided to “Keep on Runnin’” until “Lady Luck” was on their side. In the fall of 1977, the band hired Steve Perry as their new lead singer.

Journey’s fourth album, “Infinity” (1978), reached No. 21 on the album charts and gave Journey their first platinum single, “Lights.”

However, if Journey could have had a “Look into the Future,” they might have seen brewing trouble between drummer Dunbar and Perry. In 1978, Steve Smith replaced Dunbar, and the band recorded their album “Evolution” (1979).

Evolution gave the band their first Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 single, “Lovin,’ Touchin,’ Squeezin,’” and “Departure” (1980) , which included the top 25 hit “Any Way You Want It,” reached No. 8 on the album charts.

After a long tour and a live album recording, Rolie decided to leave the band. Rolie recommended Jonathan Cain take his place. With Cain, the band achieved their greatest musical success.

In 1981, Journey released its eighth and best-selling studio album, “Escape.” The album reached platinum status nine times, went to number one on the album charts and included three top 10 hits, including “Who’s Crying Now,” “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Open Arms.”

After a few more albums and much success, the band decided to go its “Separate Ways” and gradually disbanded after 1984. After disbanding, the new group took a strange turn and swapped out many of the original musicians for artists such as Randy Jackson, who would later judge on American Idol, and Larrie London.

Journey reunited under new management in 1995 and released “Trial By Fire,” which included the Grammy-nominated song, “When You Love a Woman.”

Plans for another tour ended when Perry injured his hip and refused surgery. At this point, the band searched for a new lead singer, and Smith left the group.

After many failed attempts to replace Perry, Journey finally found Arnel Pineda covering their songs on YouTube and brought him on as the new lead singer.

Journey continues to do well, but hopefully “Someday Soon” Perry will be back to continue “The Journey Story.”

A Journey Through

STAFF WRITERby MADISON KOLKE

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Sports are extremely important to many students at Rochester College, but although the school has been expanding its sports offerings over the past few years,

this trend towards growth has not always been the case.

The first sport initiated at RC, men’s basketball, was coached by Clyde Balderson in the college’s opening year, 1959.

During that time, the school was not part of any conference. In fact, the team only played recreationally against local church teams.

After the first season, a now legendary RC coach, Coach Bill Shinsky, took over the basketball team.

Shinsky coached from 1960-70, just after graduating from Abilene Christian University.

In 1969, RC added its second sport— men’s baseball.

From the 1980s onward, the school gradually added women’s basketball, cross-country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s golf.

For a few years, the school offered track and field as well as cross-country, which were both coached by Dave Hutson, but those sports only lasted at RC for four years.

Luckily, as of fall 2013, women’s cross-country has returned, and next year, men’s and women’s bowling and tennis will emerge as well.

For RC students since the 1970s, Garth Pleasant has been the well known coach on campus.

Pleasant began working at RC in 1971 as an instructor of health and physical education. He and wife, Pat, were also employed as dorm supervisors.

“I am sort of known as ‘Coach,’ but Coach Shinsky is Coach Number One. I am Coach Number Two,” Pleasant said.

Pleasant held the reins of men’s basketball for more than 30 years. During this time, he instilled two building blocks within his athletes.

The first building block of his program was academics. Pleasant wanted his players

to know they were not going to be able to play their game forever and their education should come first.

He also wanted his players to leave RC as better people. Character was a foundational part of his program.

“When we left a locker room, we left it cleaner than when we went in because we represent Rochester College. I told my kids that you represent our basketball team, Rochester College and your last name,” Pleasant said.

Sports over the years have also become important to the school’s admissions department. Initially, RC sports teams held team tryouts that accepted walk-on players. Now, athletes are recruited and offered scholarships. It is always a blessing for people to get the opportunity to play sports at the collegiate level, and currently 35 percent of RC’s student body is athletes.

“When I became the [basketball] coach, I started really going out, traveling and watching kids play. Instead of having tryouts, I would recruit our team,” Pleasant said.

This shift in the way Warrior teams are formed has helped transition RC athletics from recreational competitions to competitive intercollegiate games.

“Winning was not our focus, but we wanted to win…I [also] wanted to recruit kids that would fit into the mission of our college,” Pleasant said.

Over time, multiple sports have been added, and the college has transitioned into the NAIA.

Arguably, however, the most significant change to RC athletics has been Klint Pleasant’s shift into his father’s position of athletic director.

“Coach Garth was here for so long. He was the face of this athletic department, and, in a lot of ways, the face of the school to everyone in this area for more than 30 years,” said Assistant Athletic Director Clayton Bissett.

Klint Pleasant is now following in his father’s footsteps and continuing to expand upon the Pleasant legacy.

To grow upon a solid foundation, RC athletics hopes to add more sports offerings in the future and develop an on-campus athletic facility for the college and the community.

ASST. SPORTS EDITORby LINDSAY BASLOCK

Tom Johnson and Ricky Brown helped the Warriors earn their first national ranking in 1982.

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Rochester College is adding two new sports to its athletic program starting in fall 2014.

Men’s and women’s tennis and bowling are ready to begin, and tennis has already started with recruiting.

Sarah Johnston, who attended and played tennis at Ferris State University, will coach RC’s new tennis

team. The FSU women’s team won four conference championships while she played there.

She also majored in professional tennis management and served as head coach of the women’s tennis team at Kalamazoo College.

“My goal for the first year of this program is to compete successfully in the NAIA. I cannot wait to get to work,” Johnston said.

The men’s tennis prospects signed their letters of intent on Feb. 4, and the women’s tennis team is still forming. The men’s tennis team already has signed two current RC sophomores and five incoming freshmen.

Practices for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams will begin in August, and their first matches will be in September. The teams will have

Two Additions To RC’s Sports Legacya practice season in the fall and conference season in the spring.

Meanwhile, Coach Richard Maruszczak is also in the process of forming the men and women’s co-ed bowling team.

Maruszczak is already recruiting from high school programs, including Holly High School and Waterford Kettering High School, which produced state and county champions. Some team members have already been accepted to Rochester College.

In March, Maruszczak will have a bowling showcase where the recruits will sign their letters of intent.

Tryouts will be held in September at Bowl One Lanes in Troy; afterwards, the bowling season will begin in November.

The tennis and bowling programs are still developing their rosters and are hopeful for success under the guidance of Coach Johnston and Coach Maruszczak, respectively. These two programs are looking to build teams that will noticeably influence the NAIA conference and add to the strong legacy of RC sports.

Though mascots attend nearly every sporting event,

few stop to think about the people who hide behind the costumes.

After being selected from approximately 5,000 applicants, Erin Blank wore the head of Detroit Tiger’s mascot, PAWS, from 1999 to 2002.

Blank said she wanted to be a mascot because she loves sports. “Not having enough skills to play on the court as an athlete, being a mascot became the perfect bridge between hardwood and bleacher seats,” she said.

Blank had only learned about the job the day before the application was due. After applying, Blank had to pass four interviews. The final interview of the four was a performance interview. Because she knew the supplied outfit would be too big for her, Blank brought her own costume in order to maximize her performance.

Once she was hired, Blank realized that wearing the head came with responsibility. Not only did she perform at the games, but she also made over 250 community appearances in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario and was also responsible for 6,000 Tiger Kids Club members.

During the time she held the title of PAWS, Blank alone carried the weight of the tiger. Now a committee shares the responsibilities of PAWS.

Many baseball fans greatly enjoyed having PAWS around, but team rivalries occasionally sprung up.

“There were always a few rare situations that I’d have liked to avoid, mostly involving getting

surrounded by would-be Yankee or Indian fans!” Blank said.

Blank fondly recalls a fan encounter wherein a child asked her if PAWS pees while sitting or standing. Blank’s assistant replied, “Why, sitting down, of course!”

Currently, Blank designs mascot costumes and owns the company Keystone Mascots, which was organized in 1997. So far, her company has designed over 100 costumes.

“We took a page from Jim Henson’s book and often use strange items in our constructions—eye whites can be vacuum-formed plastic or even just some plastic bowls cut to the right shape, and noses can be ultra suede,” Blank said. Creating a character can take Blank’s team up to 200 hours.

Blank and her team even redesigned PAWS to give him actual paws. Previously, the mascot had just worn gloves. PAWS’s tail also used to drag and get dirty, so Blank helped alter it.

“It’s important to understand that making PAWS come alive doesn’t end with the people who bring him to life. There are decisions made in the office that involve branding, sales, sponsorships, merchandising, community and public relations and how the general public sees the Tigers through what PAWS does or doesn’t do,” Blank said.

Blank understands that there is more work to being a mascot than just amusing people. A loveable mascot like PAWS can become the public face of the Detroit Tigers—a fun, unique gig, but an important responsibility as well.

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STAFF WRITERby LAURA GEHRKE

STAFF WRITERby DYLAN BOLE

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After 17 years of skating, ice dancers Charlie White and Meryl Davis took gold in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

During the 2010 Olympics at Vancouver, White and Davis won silver behind Canadian gold medalists Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue. The two pairs happen to share the same coach, Marina

Zoueva, and train at the same ice rink in Canton, Mich. The rivalry between the two pairs spans years, and they have

traded competition wins back and forth, each pair attaining two world championships.

Despite their rivalry, the couples are also good friends. “Charlie and I would be the first to commend Tessa and Scott on their

talent,” said Davis.Both White and Davis grew up in the Bloomfield Hills area of Michigan

and have skated together since 1997. White became a skater when he was only 3 years old, and Davis first

stepped on the ice at age 5.Seth Chafetz, their first coach, worked with White and Davis until

2005. “I remember asking Charlie’s mother if they could skate together, and

she told me she thought it would be cute,” Chafetz said. “I told them to skate from one end of the rink to the other—that was it. They took off with so much power, and they were adorable … right away I knew they belonged together on the ice.”

White competed in singles figure skating for several years, but after the 2005-06 season, he chose to focus on ice dancing with Davis.

Together, they have won the U.S. National Championship six years

in a row, and their most recent victory came just weeks before they traveled to Sochi.

White and Davis took the ice for the first time in Sochi for the U.S. Figure Skating team in the new Olympic team skating competition.

Placing first in both the short program and free skate, White and Davis helped the U.S. capture the bronze medal.

The two skaters captivated both the audience and the judges in the short program portion of the individual competition.

Skating to music from “My Fair Lady,” White and Davis performed brilliantly and received a world-record score of 78.89 points. Going into the free skate, they led their rivals, Moir and Virtue, by two and a half points.

For the free skate, Davis and White danced to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” the tale of the queen who saves her life by telling stories to the king for 1,001 nights.

Reportedly, the pair worked on the dance’s opening lift for two years before performing it in competition.

Davis and White went to Sochi chasing gold, and there they claimed it. Furthermore, they also earned the United States’ first gold medal in ice dancing history.

“This gold medal represents so many great starts together through the years,” White said. “Standing at the top of the podium was a dream come true—and it reinforces that great starts truly can lead to great things.”

Davis agreed that the victory was very important to the pair. “To have finally realized our goal of a gold medal is a tremendous

feeling. My great start with Charlie has led us to where we are today, and we’re thrilled to have brought home a win for Team USA,” Davis said.

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photos via ABCNews.com

EXPRESSIONS EDITORby SARAH ROPER

HOMEGROWN OLYMPIC STARDOM

Compared to other sports, golf is not physically strenuous, but it is as heart wrenching and mentally difficult as any other.

There comes a time for many athletes when they

have to go into retirement from their sport. However, the game I play is rare because I will always be able to play my sport.

I have heard people argue that golf should not be considered a sport, but in my opinion, no other sport demands a more perfect composure and positive mentality.

Each hole golfers approach is challenging and requires nothing less than their best, and sometimes golf’s standards are set so high the game feels intimidating. Imagine having to hit a tiny ball into a small cup from 200-500 yards away for 18 holes and being expected to hit it only 72 times a round.

All sports require a positive mental attitude. With golf, especially, losing focus is easy, and meaningless shots may be hit.

However, golf also demands a great deal of conviction and humility.

There have been times when I would leave myself a one-foot putt for birdie, which usually is an easy tap-in. If I didn’t focus on that particular shot, I would miss it and end up barely making par.

One shot may not seem like it would make much score difference, but at the end of the round, one shot can become the difference between all other games and your personal best.

The strongest lesson golf can teach a person is to live in the present. All you have is one life, this one round. If you are not focused in the moment, you are not playing your best round of life.

Golf can also teach patience. Making good shots the entire round is rare, but if you are patient, the good shots do come.

Similar to golf, life will not always be easy and enjoyable. There are hardships that you must overcome.

“Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character,” the famous golfer Arnold Palmer once said.

Good things will happen in due time, but in golf and life both, patience is a strong sign of positive character.

ASST. SPORTS EDITORby LINDSEY BASLOCK

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Every four years, the world’s largest soccer stage is set, and this summer the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro will open on June 12, with Brazil facing Croatia.

The entire tournament will take place in 12 cities across Brazil.

Brazil has not hosted the World Cup since 1950, and many protests have already begun among the citizens.

People are in an uproar over the controversial implications the World Cup may have on the Brazilian economy. For example, 3.3 million tickets will be available for purchase and 400,000 are set-aside for the Brazilians alone. A single ticket to the final game will cost $990, or 1,980 Brazilian reals.

The ticket prices are steep, so much so that one ticket costs more than the average Brazilian’s monthly salary.

The Brazilian government is also forcing 30,000 families to relocate out of Rio de Janeiro in order to make room for the tournament. The government has given each family $22,000 U.S. dollars to move their families out of the city. However, this amount of money is inadequate compensation, since the cost of living in Brazil is on the rise.

Another controversy over the World Cup tournament centers on rebuilding stadiums in the area and improving Rio de Janeiro’s infrastructure.

Curitba Stadium, home of Atletico Paranaense, is being updated to a 40,000-person capacity and is set to be completed May 15.

However, after the stadiums are built, their operation will be turned over to private firms. These firms, and not the Brazilian people, will see the financial benefits from this enormous taxpayer expense.

To counter, the Brazilian government claims that building and rehabilitating stadiums will help develop surrounding neighborhoods.

Although the people are forking over their tax money to these private developers, the only way they may benefit is from the upgraded roads, hospitals and other infrastructure.

Despite the disputes among the people, the income from the tournament should do some good for the country’s overall economy.

People will still gather to watch the games and many will travel to watch them in person.

The world governments may interfere, but political disputes will not affect the true soccer fans around the world.

“I will be watching the whole thing,” RC soccer player Ethan West said. “Soccer is a beautiful

game, and there is nothing like watching players unite together for their country.”

Lessons from the Links

ASST. SPORTS EDITORby LINDSEY BASLOCK

Controversy

photo via huffingtonpost.com photo via pgatour.com

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Too often, people spend countless hours at the gym and expect to lose weight or get in perfect shape.

Exercise alone, however, cannot accomplish either of these goals. A fit and healthy body needs the proper nutrients in its diet.

In our culture, “diet” is generally used as a negative word. Many think of diets as unpleasant abstinence from delicious chocolate ice cream and crispy French fries.

However, people do not need to remove all yummy foods from their diet in order to get into better shape.

People who are serious about fitness, though, do need to be aware of what foods they are consuming each day.

Various mistakes trip up people who are trying to make the most of their fitness.

Sports nutritionist Melanie Jacob said that many people are misinformed about nutrition or caught up in bad eating habits.

Jacob says some of the most popular fad diets require people to abstain from gluten and dairy for non-medical reasons in order to shed some pounds.

Dangerously, this dietary alteration may result in a vitamin deficiency, which can wear the body down even more.

Skipping meals is another common mistake. College students especially get into the habit of skipping breakfast in order to gain a few minutes of sleep or save a few dollars.

However, Jacob said that eating a protein-filled breakfast will reduce cravings later in the day.

“I usually recommend that breakfast has at least three food groups: something with protein, something with fiber and something with color,” Jacob said.

Jacob suggested several healthy breakfast ideas: Greek yogurt with berries, toast with nut butters, Keifer or another type of smoothie drink, a breakfast sandwich or wrap with eggs or egg whites, cheese and orange juice with calcium.

Another mistake Jacob noted was people’s consumption of energy drinks and protein powders. Many do not realize these products frequently contain insubstantial or banned ingredients.

Additionally, in order to get the most out of a workout, good eating habits need to become part of one’s lifestyle.

People should also come to practice fueled and hydrated, Jacob said.

“Consuming beverages that contain electrolytes and carbohydrates can help sustain the fluid and electrolyte balance during exercise performance, especially if training is beyond 60 minutes,” Jacob said. “Depleted muscle glycogen stores from inadequate calories and carbohydrates will lead to early fatigue.”

A lack of fluids leads to decreased speed, energy, strength and stamina.

Overall, keeping a balanced diet and adequate hydration level will allow a body to function at its maximum ability during a work out and will ultimately lead to better health.

EAT YOUR WAY INTO This school year, Rochester College added tennis coach

Sarah Johnston to its coaching staff.Johnston will be coaching the first men and women’s

tennis team in RC history after playing tennis in college herself.

She attended Ferris State University for professional tennis management and got her Bachelor’s of Science in marketing.

While a student at FSU, her tennis team won four conference championships in the midst of a 19-year winning streak in the GLIAC Conference.

Johnston began coaching while she pursued her master’s degree in education. She also served as an assistant coach for the FSU women’s tennis team.

After that, she worked as the head coach at Kalamazoo College while also teaching health and wellness and weight training courses at the school.

Johnston has expressed her excitement for coaching at RC this year.“My favorite aspect of the game of tennis is coaching a player to beat an

opponent based on psychological factors in the midst of competition,” Johnston said. “Tennis is 80 percent mental, so even if one player looks stronger that doesn’t mean they will always win.”

Johnston also teaches professional tennis at Peachtree Tennis Club in Clinton Township, Mich.

“I love teaching all ages and ability levels a game they can play for their whole life,” she said.

A SMALLER SIZEMeet Coach Johnston

SPORTS EDITIORby SARA BEASON

What is your favorite dessert?Cheesecake

Who is your celebrity crush?Adrian Grenier

What is your dream vacation?Dubai

What is your favorite color?Purple

Who is your favorite athlete?Steffi Graf

AA&&Q Q

SPORTS EDITIORby SARA BEASON

Detroit Pistons radio broadcaster, Mark Champion, started with a journey through the sports industry and ended up on a journey through faith.

Champion was working for the Detroit Lions in the late 1990s when team Chaplain Dave Wilson introduced him to Christianity.

“I fully believe that you are put into a place for a reason,” Champion said. “I thought I got the job up here in Detroit because I was good, but I think I was brought up here in order to find the Lord.”

Champion started his broadcasting career in 1968 at Ball State University with a major in broadcasting and a minor in journalism. As a freshman, he also worked for student radio station WBST.

Later in college, he moved to a commercial FM station, which was run by the broadcasting director at BSU.

Champion found his first post-collegiate job with a radio station in Fort Wayne, Ind., but only stayed three months because the station became automated.

In 1972, Champion left to join a friend in Tampa Bay, Fla. as a news broadcaster for station WDAE.

In 1978, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an open position for a play-by-play announcer. Champion applied for the position, but he was not hired until 1979, when the position opened for the second time.

After 10 years with the Buccaneers, Champion joined WWJ Newsradio 950 and the Detroit Lions, where he met Wilson.

Champion and Wilson, both BSU graduates, soon became friends. Wilson, who also pastored at Kensington Church in Troy, Mich., invited his friend to Sunday morning service.

Champion decided to attend a service and said he fell in love with the church. He also got involved with small groups within Kensington.

After some time at the church, Champion called Wilson and the two met for breakfast. The men prayed together, and Champion committed his life to the Lord. “My life started changing

SPORTS EDITORby SARA BEASON

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dramatically,” he said.At one of the Lions’ games in Chicago, Champion and the other men

in his church small group were able to speak in chapel. He said a few players inquired about the message afterwards.

Champion said he continued to plant seeds among friends and colleagues.

At this time, he was also working for the Pistons, covering 25 to 30 games during the Lions’ season.

He stopped working for the Pistons in 1997 due to a broadcasting contract agreement with the Lions. He then began working for Michigan

State as the men’s basketball radio broadcaster during the Mateen Cleaves era.

Champion received his first ring during the 1999-2000 season when MSU won the national championship.

In 2001, he returned to the Pistons and began sitting in on the Pistons’ chapel services each game.

Currently, he runs a podcast during chapel time, but he still enjoys attending when he is able.

Champion constantly embraces his Christian journey each day by being a spiritual influence in his workplace and staying actively involved with church events.

Mark Champion BroadcastsBoth Sports and Faith

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The Rochester College men’s baseball team opened up its season by heading south.

The Warriors prepared for their season by playing tougher teams from the USCAA and NAIA during the trip, playing their first two games on March 1 against Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

The Warriors struggled and went 0-2 to

EU but left for Vero Beach, Fla., to face three more teams.

RC lost to Post University, Newport News and University of Mary in Florida. However, before their last game down south, the team fought for the first win of the season.

“Everyone on the team was going to do whatever it took to get the first win of the year for the team,” RC junior and infielder Chaz Hill said.

The Warriors beat Penn State University-Brandywine 7-3. Hill and sophomore outfielder Kevin Moore both batted 2-4.

Junior pitcher Ryan Balazy got his first win for the season on the mound, striking out three batters and only allowing three hits for the game.

“I would say [the game] was a great ice breaker for us and hopefully the wins will continue to come now,” Hill said.

RC went 1-5 during its preseason opening games, but Moore had an A.I.I. Conference batting average high of .476 for the trip.

“Being the leadoff hitter on the team, I try my best to get on base and put my team in the best position to score runs and also win games,” Moore said.

Additionally, the team was grateful to play outside in the sunshine and felt as though they improved every day they were out there.

Before the trip was over, however, the Warriors had another exciting experience. After one of the team’s meals, the men spotted Detroit Tigers’ first baseman

Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera was even kind enough to take time to greet the team and take a picture with them. “It was surreal… it was just a great feeling, seeing and meeting one of the best players in the game,” Moore said.

After meeting the 2012 Triple Crown winner, the team is gearing up to begin their regular season. They will play schools such as Siena Heights University, Northwood University and Madonna University.

This season will also be the inaugural year for new head coach, Ryan Chipka.

Chipka moved in to the position after serving as a four-year captain under Coach Jordan Ackerman.

“I think that the ability to get outside and play baseball and also play against some highly competitive teams has prepared us well for our season up north,” Chipka said.

Rochester College is rooting for men’s baseball as it slides into the 2014 season.

ASST. SPORTS EDITORby LINDSAY BASLOCK

RC BASEBALL SLIDES INTO HOME The Rochester College men’s

hockey team ended its first season with a record of 15-17-3, which included sweeps of Wayne State University and Canisus College.

The team consisted of 15 freshman, two juniors, one sophomore and one senior. Three of the freshmen

players—Matt Kadolph, Dean Gordon and Brock Malatches—joined the team from Canada.

In the second game against Oakland University, RC was down 1-5 in the third period and fought back to score three more goals, but eventually lost the game 4-6.

Kadolph said the OU game stood out to him most because of the comeback that resulted from the team’s persistence.

The team continued to push forward against a division opponent that qualified for the national tournament.

The team’s two goals for the season were to be eligible to make the national tournament and to have a 20-win season, and in their first season they came close to fulfilling these two goals.

The coaching staff’s main goal was to create a team culture that reflected their attitudes and believed they could win every night.

“As far as creating a winning culture, I believe whole heartedly that was our greatest accomplishment,” Assistant Coach Keith Anderson said.

Anderson mentioned that Head Coach Nick Tomcyzk’s attitude was that RC’s team could beat any other team on any night. This mindset influenced all aspects of the hockey team, from practices to each game.

As a result, a competitive personal bond was created between the coaches and players, Anderson said.

The first season for the RC hockey team allowed the players to recognize the competiveness needed to compete in the league.

“As a team we learned about the league, about ourselves and about what it takes to win,” Kadolph said.

Thus, this season provided an opportunity for the hockey team to educate themselves about their league opponents, create a winning team culture and understand what needs to be improved.

As the team prepares for next season, they are focused on getting more players on the roster. The hockey team only had three lines of forwards and five defensemen, so competing with teams with full lineups this season was difficult.

Consequently, the hockey coaches have already signed a few players to fill these open spots for next year, and will hold a two-day tryout June 6-7 at Fraser Hockeyland, the Warriors’ home ice.

“With guys competing to crack the lineup every weekend, our competiveness and play will only increase as we play some of the top teams in the nation next year,” Anderson said.

Hockey CompetitionCreates Teamwork

STAFF WRITERby DYLAN BOLE

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XPRESSIONSWriting makes a map, and there is something about a journey that begs to have its passage marked.

Christina Baldwin E

Find your Garden of Eden Start weeding Find your flow

Watch the waterfalls flowFind your passion

Watch the birds splashing Find yourself

Visit the mountain shelfLearn everyday

Take it day by day.

When I travel, I have little anxiety to reach a destination; rather, the part I enjoy most is traveling itself. The endless, blurring miles that most people dread driving are for me the highlight of the trip. Sitting in the car is the one opportunity I have to make incredible progress by doing absolutely nothing.

Gazing out the window, watching the states fly by, one can find a true perspective of how big the world is and what small roles we play within it.

At the same time, though, traveling allows us to have influence that is otherwise impossible to find. Rest stops, once one looks beyond the questionable sanitation and one’s own bursting bladder, are intersection points. Paths cross here from all locations and walks of life, and too soon do they separate, likely to never meet up again.

By being present at these moments, though, I can place myself—if only as background fodder—into the stories of strangers.

“He’ll forget this moment,” I think as I catch the eye of the man driving a Hummer in the lane next to ours. His license plate identifies him as a firefighter, and a small dog occupies the passenger seat next to him.

Glimpsing through the windows of others feels almost too intrusive to be polite, but, nonetheless, I willingly accept my position as a curious voyeur, and apparently the man does too. We share a brief smile and then continue on our separate journeys.

We’ll probably never meet again. If, by some chance, we do, it’ll still be as strangers, destined perhaps to be dearest of friends, most bitter of enemies, or mere bystanders to each other’s lives.

But all encountering strangers have histories that must start somewhere: let mine start with you, from this car, with a smile.

Lying in this frigid bed of a dusty hospital room, the cliché feeling begins, as the four walls begin to close in, and the shame settles uneasy. The only sound to be heard is the steady pulse of a ticking clock. Like an empty castle with no windows to see the sun and no doors in sight to escape the endless hallway of dark clinging shadows. A maze of questionable, endless circles. Where must people turn beyond their own frail spirits when feeling trapped? No escape to free the soul! When the only light to be seen is the light from a candle flame reflecting the subconscious, what is left of sanity itself, so to speak? An asylum that is never to be forgotten as denial makes its comforting appearance. Shame.

Looking upward, she glanced at those boring ceiling tiles. For the first time in a while she could hear her own thoughts. She couldn’t move. Quickly her eyes shut once more. The ocean tides pulled her back to the beach, where she once ran away to find nothing more than a simple gift of peace. Holding her cross in one hand tightly. Watching the waves crash against her feet. Tears streamed down her face as she began to pray, but suddenly, an unusual occurrence happened. Where the ocean carried her over to the river. In the process she was drowning, swimming violently against the currents, but still alive. Still alive, ah yes— back to the river it was. She couldn’t believe what just happened. Her heart pounding so fast. Like a kiss that turned her whole world upside down. She opened her eyes once more. Still alive. Still lying in her frigid hospital bed. On the table next to her was a letter from an anonymous writer. She opened it and read:

On Travel and Intersectionsby NATALIE REDMOND

Sick Waterby TABITHA BAXTER

Find Your Garden of Eden

“Some sit and wonder Some are satisfied

Some just striveTheir whole lives

Innocent souls surroundingTrapped in toxic society

We could sleep the day awayTo watch the sun fadeWe could run far away

From the dark forests in our mindsWe could fall from tall buildings

Set fire to all cities!Anything to free the soul

Anything to plot the escapeBut the scripts of our lives

We cannot re-writeBurn away the ashes

Blessed are those who striveSpending futures to create futures

As chapters reveal our lives Your life is a golden highway

Sacred, glittering, shineYour heart is fragile

It gets better with timeCry oceans, lakes, and rivers

Then begin to swimThis isn’t over this is how life begins

Cast away your burdensPlace them in the fire

Your story is yet to comeYou’ll find your way lost one

Burn with desire.”

by DYLAN BOLE

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SEMESTER RECAPThe people we’ll never forgetThe stories we’ll retellThe events we’ll remember