Chapel–our daily bread, our daily cred

Lauren Francis, staff writer and Carly Williams, photo editor

The Spiritual Formation Department initiated a new chapel attendance policy last fall. The policy requires that all students who do not complete the mandatory chapel amount are required to write a two-page reflection paper and pay a $20 fine for each absence. The policy does not affect seniors who have had their Spiritual Formation credits waived for the entire 2009-2010 school year. 

Towers lobby to be revamped

Mary Baker, staff writer

Since past student facility representatives Tyler Choi and Samantha May began to voice students’ dissatisfaction with the Towers Lobby last spring, Vice President for Student Affairs, Anne Hamilton, and other faculty members are stepping towards a renovation project.

Hamilton and students have been working side-by-side in efforts to give new life to the central place of socializing for freshman. One project in particular has been a web site created by Intern for Student Activities and yearbook advisor Kevin Funkhouser called www.LoveTheLobby.com. 

Though the site is not yet completed, it will serve as an outlet where students can voice opinions and complaints about the lobby via anonymous polls, view a student-made film about the lobby and find information about the history and future of the project in general.

While there is much excitement surrounding this project, a large amount of funds are needed in order to make this anticipated dream a reality. 

“We’re currently in the stage of seeing how much it will all cost,” Hamilton said. “We want to have the blessing from administration before we move forward with this, so we’re taking our time to do it the right way.”

Fundraising has been put on hold for the time being until the university has a complete estimate of the project’s price tag. However, Hamilton, facility representatives Savana Koteita and David Stretz and other staff members including Funkhouser will continue to work together with administration to make the plans concrete.

“We’ve been wanting to do this because students want it, so we’re asking students ‘What do you want to see in the lobby?’” Funkhouser said. 

Completed in 1970, the lobby has become outdated because the only remodeling has ever been replacing carpet and tile.

It has even become a place to dodge when giving campus tours. Broken foosball tables and pool sticks, out-of-order phone booths and laptops balancing on trash cans to view movies is not an atmosphere conducive to what the lobby is meant to be—a safe, recreational place for students on campus, Hamilton said.

“You need to create environments for conversation to happen on a college campus,” Hamilton said.

Those working on the project want to know what students need in the lobby. Whether it’s a proper space for computers, more comfortable seating or even a television, now is the time for students to voice their opinions. 

Board broadens expertise

Elijah Dove, staff writer

Three new board members have been added to the Board of Trustees since its installation in June 2009 to incorporate broader and more diverse experiences in the running of the university.

Although the Board was comprised of many professional individuals, including Assemblies of God Superintendent George O. Wood, it had the minimum number of members needed to constitute a board. While the overall effectiveness of the board was not diminished, it did lead to the combining of the Academic and Student Life committees. This meant that there was a possibility that not all issues would receive equal attention.

The expansion of the Board was to also ensure there was the breadth of expertise needed to provide oversight for an organization as complex as a university, President Carol Taylor said.

The first member to be added was Tom Prince, just under two months after the Board was installed. A member of both the Audit and Finance committees, Prince brings to the table 40 years of financial services experience.

Evelyn Robertson, installed at the beginning of December, is on the Advancement Committee. An organization change consultant with experience in the design and implementation of strategic change, Robertson has consulted with numerous organizations, including Xerox and Compaq.

Delbert Tarr, Jr., installed at the same time as Robertson and seated on the Student Life Committee, feels a great deal of optimism about the new Board.

“The synergy of this group will blow you away,” Tarr said.

The Board has been working well together, so much so that the President and Executive Director of WASC, Ralph Wolff, was encouraged at what the university is willing to do to correct the past. Expanding the Board is one step toward that advancement.

Tarr has more than 50 years of experience in 70 countries and believes cultural variety is essential for a healthy university.

“There’s diversity [at Vanguard], but we need more,” Tarr said. 

 The addition of three new board members to the 16 initial members allowed for the separation of the Academic and Student Life committees, thus enabling them to focus on the issues especially concerning them.

“Adding three more members allowed us to strengthen the financial expertise on the board, expertise in organizational management, and academics,” Taylor said.

There was also discussion at the last meeting of adding another member, but this should not be taken as a sign that the Board will continue to expand until it reaches its maximum capacity of 29 members; it will be intentionally kept smaller to aid smoother operating.

Sideline tweets: Pro tweeters connect with amateur fans

Daniel J. Cook, commentary

Mock it all you like, but Twitter is here to stay. Personally, I’ve loved it since the day I signed up, and 1,953 tweets later, I don’t see this relationship ending anytime soon.  The biggest argument against it is, “No one cares what you are doing”; but my 75 followers and counting would beg to differ. But for the most part, they’re right, no one cares what I’m doing. But millions of fans do care about athletes like Shaquille O’Neal (a.k.a. @THE_REAL_SHAQ), Charlie Villanueva (@CV31), and Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore17).

The 140 character-limit is slightly more than the average sentence contains, so it doesn’t take a lot of effort to get one’s point across. There is a tweeter out there for everyone. Whether you care about breaking news, secret sales, or new music being released today, no one is excluded for lack of interest.

Where I get the majority of my pleasure from does not come from commenting on a professor’s recent lecture, but rather hearing from NBA All-Star Kevin Durant (@KevinDurant35) about what it was like to play against a rejuvenated Tracy McGrady. Athletes hate talking to media people who notoriously misquote them, but Twitter gives athletes the opportunity to say what they want, how they want. Good or bad.

The Durant example was good. Anything Shaq, Dwight Howard, or Steve Nash tweets is good. However, there is a dark side to all of this. During the last off-season, the Minnesota Timberwolves fired then head coach Kevin McHale behind closed doors and planned to hold a press conference about it days later. Rookie forward Kevin Love didn’t know that.

“Today is a sad day … Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach this season,” Love tweeted.

Love was fined a small amount for “conduct detrimental to the team,” and has since stopped tweeting.

Though that was an unfortunate incident, more good comes from the little blue bird then does bad. Of the 22 athletes that I follow on Twitter, 11 of them wear a Vanguard uniform. Since I didn’t discuss this article with any of them I won’t mention their names, but thanks to them keeping up with scores, injuries, and game times is significantly easier. Not to mention that having some of this inside knowledge makes watching their games that much more entertaining.

Fans love getting as close to their sports idols as possible, and Twitter allows this to happen, at a safe distance. Just the other night I got to see what Ochocinco was eating for dinner. I didn’t really care, but athletes somehow always get built up to be some sort of super human race that doesn’t eat normal food. Let me tell you, Ochocinco eats McDonalds and loves it, and there is nothing more normal than that.

Twitter allows athletes to connect with their fans without really having to do anything about it. Kevin Durant will occasionally give away gift boxes, which is awesome, and guys like Chris Bosh will take and answer fan questions. What it comes down to the fans getting the “intimate” relationship they crave, while protecting the athletes from the crazies.

I’m a believer, and as long as there is even a possibility that Dwight Howard will talk to me, 140 characters or less, I’m going to keep coming back. Terrell Owens mentioned me (@SportsManDC) last year, why would I stop now?

Nonprofit pairs with Reef to sell Ugandal

Hannah Petrak, editor in chief

31 Bits, a nonprofit organization made up of five alumnae, has partnered with the shoe company Reef to produce a sandal that shows off their individually unique beads normally strung on necklaces and bracelets.

The nonprofit started in 2008 when Alli Swanson, Jessie Simonson, Anna Nelson, Kallie Dovel, and Brooke Hodges saw an opportunity to help women in Uganda support themselves through careful rolling of recycled paper. 

Before 31 Bits, the women would make the beads but leave them in their huts with no chance to make a profit. Now, they are made into jewelry and then sold in the U.S. 

Just over a year ago, when the business was still sprouting and only employed six struggling women, Swanson’s mother happened to be wearing one of the colorful necklaces at the right time.

Swanson’s father is involved in the surfing industry and was having Brianna Brownley, the lead designer from Reef, over for dinner when Brownley noticed the necklace and had an idea. 

After 31 Bits’ first business meeting and then looking forward to the mountain of production ahead, the two companies agreed on a contract and now are ready to sell the “Ugandal” for $58 at Jack’s Surf Shop, Surfside and on the Reef Web site.

While 31 Bits’ main purpose is to help the women support and set goals for themselves, the shoe company has never lost sight of the original aim.

“It’s cool because Reef makes it all about our ladies,” Simonson said.  

The number of women has since grown to 35 and, after all of their hard work, each is receiving a pair of the sandals. 

While the beads do not make up a majority of the shoe, the rest of the material is also made from sustainable materials and manufactured in a Brazilian factory with strict humanitarian standards.

“Not only is it good for the environment, but it’s also good for the ladies,” Swanson said. “It’s a very green shoe.” 

To receive updates on the Ugandal launch parties and other information, become friends with 31 Bits Designs on Facebook and visit www.31bits.com.