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By Tom Higdon OPINION Endings are always weird but the ending of this school year takes the crown. Amidst one of the more eventful years in recent memory, it can be easy for many seniors like myself to feel cheated out of their final year of school. When I transfered to Simpson last year, I had the perfect plan. My classes were laid out for the next two years and the bachelor's degree at the end of the tunnel felt like it would be a cherry on top of a time of fun and growth. Then, Covid-19 decided that those plans should change. My major, which relies heavily on face to face interaction, had to switch to an online curriculum overnight. Comfortable meals with all of my friends at the table turned into sitting in my room with a styrofoam box at my desk. Giving presentations to my peers and adapting to their feedback on the fly turned into asynchronous writing assignments and a monthly zoom call. A season of swimming went from having countless opportunities to compete to hoping for a single meet to come along and break the monotony of staring at a black line in the YMCA pool. Through all the change I have realized that none of this was going to go away as quickly as it came, so what is there left to do? Well fellow seniors I am here to tell you that you can still make the most out of your final hours as a redhawk and here is how: consistent effort towards creativity. As much as it may seem like Covid put a “Do not Resuscitate” tag on all of your favorite things, it really just hid those things behind a gauntlet of inconvenient obstacles. Take spending time with friends as an example. Pre-Covid, this simple part of our lives was as easy as going to the next dorm over and taking a seat or grabbing a bite to eat in the Caf with five of your best buddies. In this new normal though, it is not so simple but it's also not impossible. All you have to do is put a little more effort into finding creative ways to get together with your favorite people. Find some space in the union and play some charades. Drive up to Lassen and find a hike. Break out the spikeball net and go wild. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity is. As you sing your academic swan song don’t let anything, Covid especially, get in the way of you making memories that will last forever. Keep an eye out in the coming issues of the Slate for ways that you can look past the countless inconvenient obstacles that stand in the way of a perfect senior year.

By Ariana West OPINION According to a Medical News Today article, before the pandemic, 8.5% of U.S. adults reported being depressed. That number has risen to 27.8% as the country struggles with COVID-19. Not only have numbers risen among the entire population, but particularly among college students. The coronavirus pandemic has brought an onslaught of challenges for college students: virtual learning, financial responsibilities in the face of unemployment and an unwavering worry over possible infection, according to an August article by the Sacramento Bee. As a college student, I can say the Sac. Bee is right. This summer I lost my job because of the virus and I was forced to go on unemployment. Coming back on campus, despite having to wear masks all the time, was very exciting for me. I was thrilled to be able to have in-person classes, especially when most universities were completely doing virtual learning. However last week, because of a spike in cases in Shasta county, Simpson was forced to go completely virtual for classes and other events such as chapel. For me personally, it is hard to get out of bed sometimes just to get on my laptop and log into my first zoom class of the day. Being in class and actually getting to see my peers and professors face-to-face is definitely something I miss greatly and it’s only been one week. However, some students on our campus have been quarantined and cannot even leave their dorm rooms. When I asked Senior Victoria Mukisa how being on quarantine has affected her mental health she said, ”It takes a mental toll on me because I can’t really have any in-person socialization as I would like to, and not being around people is very hard for any human. I feel isolated and missing human interaction besides my RA who brings me my meals.” Many students like Mukisa have been quarantined because they have been possibly exposed to someone who has tested positive for the Coronavirus. When comparing her mental health before quarantine and after, Mukisa said that her mental health hasn’t necessarily worsened, but it’s definitely been challenged because she has to stay in a room with four white walls and she almost feels like she is in prison. Hopefully, we will be able to stay on campus and return to in-person classes after Christmas break, but only time will tell. If you are having any mental health issues or would just like someone to talk to, the Simpson University Community Counseling Center is located within the Wellness Center in the Owen Center, Suite 208. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please call our office at (530) 226-4667 or come by to schedule an appointment. Also, Mark Endraske said in an email, “It’s normal to experience many different emotions during this pivotal time in our nation's history. Please remember to reach out for help when you’re feeling stressed or anxious.” Simpson Care’s TalkNow service is available 24/7 at no cost to give you the tools to address any symptoms or situation. Just go to www.simpson.care to start your visit. Providers can discuss: Stress Anxiety Loneliness Depression Anger Relationship Issues Much more It’s ok to ask for help! There’s no better time than now to take care of your mental health and wellbeing. Go to www.simpson.care for more information or to start a visit.

By Paulina Diaz Sierra Brenner is not a typical student at Simpson University. Brenner is a transfer student from Shasta Community College. She chose Simpson because it is close to home and because she got the opportunity to continue her soccer career while going to nursing school. At most schools, due to the workload, nursing students are not allowed to practice any sports. She says her favorite thing about the nursing program is that you get to know all the professors on a personal level and the class size is smaller than at most universities. “You are with your cohort all 2.5 years, each taking the same class and same clinical’s and you get to see the same people every day which makes it a comforting environment and you make really amazing friends,” she said via email. Brenner says being a nursing student-athlete is hard, but possible. As a third-semester student, she has two 12-hour clinicals and two days of class. When she is not at the hospital or in class, she is at soccer practice three times a week. Brenner’s favorite thing about playing soccer is her teammates and the fact that she is able to take the stress away from nursing. “I love the fact that we are almost like a family.” Brenner has been a part of the Simpson Women’s Soccer Program rebuilding process since Fall 2018. “It has come a long way and I truly believe we have a chance to take the championship with the team we have for this upcoming spring season,” she said via email. When people ask Brenner if being a nursing major is hard, she tells them that having good time management skills and dedication are key to success. “I try to take it week by week and write out on my planner what I have to do for that week. In nursing school, it’s hard to plan ahead because it takes up so much time just to write it all down on your planner and you feel like you’re wasting your time!” Sometimes, Brenner has two tests and up to 15 assignments in a single week. “I usually try not to focus on things so far ahead and just make sure what I need to get done in this day or week, gets done & go from there,” she said via email. When Brenner graduates in Fall 2021, she wants to apply to multiple hospitals in California, but also outside of California. She hopes to get a job at a hospital as quickly as possible. Her dream is to be an ER nurse or pediatric nurse. Brenner has some advice for those wanting to be both a nursing student and an athlete. “You can totally do it! Time management is really important and realizing that you probably won’t have a social life unless you're at practice. Practice is your break which means when you're not at practice, you are studying. Don’t allow anyone to tell you it is impossible to do both because it is not.”

By Ariana West With midterms and the stress of being a college student in the midst of a pandemic, everyone has seemed on edge lately. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Simpson held a Day of Shalom. Classes and sports practices were cancelled for the entire day. Events included free hammocks and free drinks to the first 30 students, hamburgers and drinks during lunch in front of the Bean Scene, blessings and prayers in the Prayer Tent, and online Shalom activities for credit. Junior Caleb Gonzalez described his Day of Shalom as much needed especially because he has three midterms coming up. Gonzalez cleaned, slept, and used his day to study. Gonzalez also said that he would really like more Days of Shalom in the future because this one, “really helped student morale especially during these stressful and uncertain times.” While it is unknown whether or not there will be another Day of Shalom anytime soon, students have Thanksgiving break to look forward to for now. Students such as Communication major and golfer Eric Norris would like to see the Day of Shalom on a Tuesday or Thursday, the days he has more classes on. Tuesday and Thursdays are also days with no chapel, which would give students the entire day to rest, study, spend time with the Lord, etc. Good luck to everyone with their midterms. We got this!

By Ariana West According to dictionary.com, “Halloween is the evening of October 31; the eve of All Saints' Day; Allhallows Eve: observed especially by children in costumes who solicit treats, often by threatening minor pranks.” This year, for students at Simpson University, Halloween just seemed like another weekend, but with costumes. Many students including myself went to Nash Ranch to do the haunted corn maze which included being chased by a guy with a chainsaw. Julie Engelsman of Residence Life said in an email that Residence Life did not plan any events this year, but lots of RAs had fall themed floor events throughout October. With Halloween over,Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. In order for us to continue to stay on campus, we must continue to stay smart and safe during this pandemic.

By Jacob Pursell There is no doubt we are living in a Covid-19 world. We all know that, but what exactly does that entail when living on Simpson’s campus? Well, luckily, there are many protocols and rules set in place that try to keep students and faculty as safe as possible. As of October 18th Simpsons cases have increased us to purple protocol. Meaning all Simpson students should be receiving daily COVID-19 symptom screenings through their Simpson emails. These screenings are sent to ensure that no students are feeling any COVID symptoms. If you do have these symptoms, here is what you should do. First thing is to fill out your daily screening form, and notify the Wellness Center (located in the library). You will have to quarantine until a negative COVID-19 test can be provided. If you stay quarantined for 10 days after symptoms reside this is also acceptable. The most important thing to do, though, is rest and hydrate, as it can be very draining. Stay safe and remember that Simpson can get through this if we all work together to give ourselves the best possible outcome.

By Paulina Diaz Contrary to what many students may think, Dr. Cornelius Quek is not a karate master, but he is a retired professional soccer player from Singapore. Quek joined the Singapore Football National Team when he was 12 years old. Even though he showed a special ability for soccer at a young age, he was always involved in many sports. Quek made multiple appearances for the national team until he became a missionary at 19 years old. As a former athlete, he says student-athletes should use the gift that God gave them and follow their heart and passion. “When I was about 19 years old, I just felt like God told me he had a different path for me. He wanted me to pursue Ministry. I guess you could say that was part of my destiny,” Quek said. Ministry allowed Quek to travel a lot. By the time he was 25 years old, he had visited over 25 countries. Not only has he visited a lot of countries, but he has lived in many. Before coming to the United States in 2005, he lived in England and Germany. Before moving to Redding, Quek had only lived in metropolitan areas, not rural areas like Redding. Now, he says he has fallen in love with the outdoors. He said he had never lived somewhere surrounded by so much nature. “If you look at the places where I have lived, they are all big cities. I had always been a city boy. I had always been around skyscrapers and tall buildings. I had never lived in a place with a lot of nature,” he said. Quek has lived in Redding for eight years. For three years, he was an adjunct professor at Simpson University. This year, he was hired as a full-time professor. He teaches courses like Faith and Society, Hermeneutics, and Bible Study Methods. He says his favorite part about teaching at Simpson is getting to know his students. “I love getting to know my students so much that I have stuffed up my office with “goodies.” I have an entire shelf full of those things,” he said. More than being a professor, Quek says he wants to help students navigate through adult life. “My job is to help students. I love getting to know their stories, their hobbies, their passions… I think that is the difference about being a professor at Simpson.”

By Tom Higdon Saving lives and busting rhymes, Robert Krause is as busy as they come. Robert Krause began the nursing program at Simpson this year. Born in Fort Bragg and raised in Woodland, Krause said he first came across Simpson when his hometown pastor recommended it to him. “The program was a little easier to get into, but also I mean I am Christian so I value that,” Krause said. With the semester in its sixth week, the nursing program is in full swing. The typical nursing student is lucky to have a single week without an exam and Krause is no exception. “No test this week but I’ve got two next week,” said Krause. The typical day to day is already filled with studying and a rigorous course schedule but the climax of every week comes on Saturday. Every weekend Krause has a 5 a.m. wake up call. He gets dressed and is out the door by 5:30 a.m. when he heads to Red Bluff Healthcare, an assisted living facility. “It's a 12-hour shift so it's 6:30 in the morning till 6:30 at night,” Krause said. While on shift, he says that his main responsibility is helping the resident patients with anything they need, from changing their clothes to eating their meals. Krause says that, along with the hands on patient care, throughout the shift he will have to fill out a number of forms for a single patient. He documents the conditions they may have as well as any medications they are taking. Despite all the time dedicated to his studies and a 12-hour clinical every week, Krause still finds balance. “I started playing drums when I was 10, when I was 12 I played for my church but I didn’t start making beats and producing actual songs until about 5 years ago… I started rapping like 2 years ago,” Krause said. Krause’s passion has led him to start creating his own music. He has written, produced, and published four original songs on Soundcloud with plans for more in the future. Kraus says that even after he graduates from Simpson, making music is something he is going to stick with. On top of producing music post grad he also hopes to work in an emergency room. “I just want to be able to be someone there to help, and I think that I work well under pressure,” Kraus said. As a nursing student on campus, Krause and his peers make up a significant portion of the student body.  Krause says that the environment is one of fellowship and collaboration. “I have a study group that I study with and they’re amazing. I feel like I’m going to be very good friends with them over the next few years,”Krause said.

By Tom Higdon Should I stay or should I go? A question on all but a handful of student’s minds this holiday season. Last Thursday the student resident assistants were informed that they would be considered “Essential workers” on campus. This meant that they were exempt from the travel restrictions sent out to the student body on Oct 2. These restrictions meant that if a student were to travel home for Thanksgiving they would not be allowed to return and continue the semester on campus. RAs, because of their essential status, would be able to return to campus even if they travel home for Thanksgiving. According to Morgan resident, Arabella Strach, this decision has left some students feeling as though there is an unfair double standard between the student residence life staff and the rest of the student body. Head of residence life, Julie Engelsmen said via email “our student leaders serve such a critical role in serving our students and are considered essential workers on our campus. They are needed in the sense that they help to foster community, help with mental health issues and loneliness, deliver meals to residents who are quarantining, respond to crises." She went on to add, "this decision was based on the idea that we wanted to give the RAs the same opportunity as other students who are able to decide on their travel plans, and yet balance this with the reality that they are needed after the break.”

By Paulina Diaz Athletic Director Tom Seitz is not just a serious office guy. When he is not running the Athletics Department, he is busy discovering new Redding sites. During his days off, Seitz likes to go to the beach, climb mountains, and head outdoors. “I probably come across as even-keeled and maybe introverted a little bit. In reality, I am very much outgoing. I like to get to know people better and enjoy a lot of the same things that people enjoy. I like to take advantage of what is offered in the area,” Seitz said. It was not just the great outdoors that brought Seitz here.The school’s faith statement and its diverse athletic program are two of the things Seitz said he likes the most about Simpson University. In the midst of a very challenging school year, Seitz hopes his 25-year experience in athletics will contribute to success. Seitz said his four core values are: athletic performance, academic excellence, spiritual growth, and character development. “If we are successful in those four different areas, I think our program will be successful overall,” he said. Seitz will bring a similar culture to the one former Athletic Director Tom Galbraith brought. “A culture of striving for excellence,” Simpson University Women’s Basketball Coach Derrick Pringle said. Pringle affirms that Seitz wants the athletic department to be a contender in the Cal Pac and in the future, be able to compete for national titles. This year is different for all coaches, players, and staff. According to Seitz, COVID-19 has changed the landscape for college athletics and athletics in general. “All of our fall sports conference games have been postponed until the spring. So, while we are not competing in games, we are practicing and working out. It will become very hectic in the spring, if we are able to compete, when everyone is trying to compete at the same time,” Seitz said. Coach Pringle said that Galbraith did a great job of putting both the coaches and athletics teams in a great position to be successful. Now, Seitz will help bridge the gap between the athletic department and the school administration. “One of the exciting things about having a new AD is learning a different leadership style. Tom Seitz comes to Simpson with a wealth of knowledge and experience, which I am looking forward to learning from,” Coach Pringle said via email.

By Jacob Pursell What does Thanksgiving break mean to you? That might change this year. In some of the most recent news, students are going to have the option to remain on campus during the entirety of Thanksgiving break, or to stay home for the final three weeks of the semester. This raised many questions from many different students that live on campus. Thanksgiving is normally one of the very few times a year students can spend quality time in person with their loved ones. For many on Simpson’s campus, this is a huge decision that they said they did not get a voice in. Ivan Sevilla, a starting wrestler for the Simpson team, stated, “I am just concerned that with my season if I don’t go see them during that break then I will not see them at all this semester. With our wrestling season getting pushed back to December it makes this just that much harder.” Thanksgiving break is the only time with family for a long period of time for many of Simpson’s student-athletes. On the flip side of this, if students do decide to leave, then they are not allowed to return to back on-campus living. The email from Julie Engelsman, Director of Res-Life, says, “Students who choose to travel and not return to the residence hall for the last three weeks will not receive a housing refund, as the choice to leave is optional.” This also caught the attention of some of the students living on Simpson’s campus. "I was surprised when I first read it (the email)" ~Ivan Sevilla Simpson professor Mirek Woznica said, during a class lecture, ”Simpson’s diversity on campus is great, but is Simpson inclusive with these diverse student’s ideas?” Diverse students mean diverse ideas. "Students should be able to provide a negative COVID test result in order to return back to campus." Troy, starting swimmer on the Simpson team for the second consecutive year, said after reading the following.

By Tom Higdon Despite uncertainty, Simpson Athletics remains collected and steadfast after some unprecedented changes. The only game being played this fall is the waiting game and the Red Hawks are doing everything they can to adapt. On Aug. 20, just before the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, the NAIA announced that all fall sports would have their seasons of competition pushed to the Spring 2021. Simpson athletics had to adapt in a number of ways. In previous years the women’s volleyball team would finish its season well before other indoor sports such as men and women’s basketball and men’s volleyball began their season in full force. Head women’s volleyball coach Mike Haworth has had to change the way his team’s season runs. He does see some positives in these changes though. “We get this whole couple months to really work on integrating some of the new kids and getting them accustomed [to training],” Haworth said. He also acknowledged that the wait can wear on the athletes, “It's hard when you start working hard and you don’t play until February. It's just such a long distance,” said Haworth who has coached for over 35 seasons at the club and high school level prior to coming to Simpson in January 2019. Another problem- there’s only one gym. Gym availability is an issue not just for Haworth and his team but for all indoor sports teams.  With the postponement, four teams will now have to share a facility that was already pressed for availability in previous years. “It's so much worse this year,” Haworth remarked. “We are going to have to be real flexible. Right now we are starting to see it impact us. We really don’t have that much time in the gym.” New athletic director Tom Seitz said he is hard at work trying to give all our sports programs ample opportunity to train and compete despite these obstacles. “We are already starting to look at off campus alternatives,” Seitz said. Simpson is looking into any school that has a usable facility. From gym floors to soccer fields Seitz said he has his eyes on any facility that will allow Simpson athletes to train at any given time. The problem with using outdoor facilities not owned by Simpson is that many of them have limited access to their own students. These schools and facilities have little wiggle room to allow the Red Hawks to use any space they have available. Even with these obstacles ahead, Seitz said that all the coaches on campus are prepared to move forward with the coming athletic seasons.