By Ariana West Not only was the show full of laughs, it also had a lot of deep, faith-driven messages. Dr. Norm Hall described Michael Jr. as, “Someone who has integrated his faith into his life and he’s using that to motivate change. And it was an easy decision to bring him to Simpson.” Combining comedy with faith can be a key way to reach people, as laughter can allow people to open up more. Not only would Jr, make the audience laugh like crazy, he would take advantage of this and share a spiritual message with them. Michael Jr. was also very personable and even interacted with the audience. He would pick a random person and ask them questions about their life, and then would somehow come up with a joke on the spot based on what the person would say. I personally have never seen a comedian interact with an audience as much as Jr. did. I think it made people feel more connected to him, and feel like a part of the show. Michael Jr. has made appearances on The Late Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel, Oprah, CNN, and ComedyTV. He has performed at some pretty prestigious comedy clubs as well including; The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and the Comedy Store. Not to mention he regularly entertains at colleges such as; Notre Dame, Harvard, Liberty University, and the University of Alabama. He also performs at various churches across the nation according to a press release from Simpson News. After asking Michael Jr. why he chose to come to our small school, he explained to me that he felt it was where God wanted him to come and he felt this was a good spot to visit. He also said he really enjoyed his experience here at Simpson. Michael Jr. has been a clean comic his whole career meaning he does not curse when he performs and tries to keep his shows appropriate for all ages. He said he tries to use comedy as a way to help people and as a vehicle to lead people to Christ. Instead of just trying to get laughs from people he wants to help others find their purpose. Jr. has been a Christian for close to twenty years and hopes he made an impact during his performance here at Simpson.

by Franchesca Carrera On February 10th, President Norm Hall held a fireside chat in the Morgan Lobby. During the hour and a half discussion, one topic that came up was student-athlete stoles. As of right now, according to Hall, stoles for the graduating Simpson athletes will not be provided by the school. Dr. Hall gave his reasoning for not providing the stoles, saying graduation in the past has primarily been a celebration of academics, not athletics. Dr. Timothy Orr, who was also at the chat, countered Hall. Orr said other schools provide stoles for student-athletes who meet a certain GPA, allowing them to show off the hard work that goes into representing the school in both academics and athletics. Currently, there is one team on campus that will be wearing stoles which is women’s basketball, as stated by fourth-year team member Lexi Thompson, at the fireside chat. According to Thompson, her team will be sporting the stoles on graduation day because Head Coach Derrick Pringle Jr. purchased them with his own money as a surprise for the girls. While the seven seniors on the women’s basketball team are thankful for the gesture from their coach, they don’t feel like it should have been their coach’s responsibility. According to Thompson, she said that she feels the school should support the athletes and provide the stoles. Meanwhile, other teams will still be going without the special ribbon around their neck. Softball’s Mia Olvera, who spent three years as a Red Hawk, is disappointed she won’t be able to represent her hard work both in the classroom and on the field. “All student-athletes should be given a special stole because we’ve worked twice as hard as just an average college student,” said Olvera. “We had the same amount of responsibilities in the classroom as well as having to work hard for our sport in order to be successful.” Olvera is frustrated that the school doesn’t want to provide these stoles, since the athletes only want to represent the school in the best way they can, she said. “I would hope they would think it was fit to thank us for all of our hard work academically and physically,” stated Olvera. At the end of the student-athlete stole conversation, Hall stated he doesn’t have a strong opinion either way. He said at this point it is something the athletes need to discuss with their coaches and take it up with Athletic Director Tom Galbraith.

by Daisy Brenegan The Wellness Center has undergone several changes this past year, including the nurse and counseling services. In previous years, several emails would go out to the students promoting hours and events held by the Wellness Center. The emails were also used to inform the student body that there are resources for them. This year, however, it has only been promoted once in an email sent out by Mark Endraske on February 10th. According to Endraske, Simpson University no longer has a counselor on campus throughout the day. She can only be seen by appointment, there are no walk-ins available. Information is posted on the door of the Wellness Center to contact someone urgently but it’s not posted around the school. At the fireside chat held on the 10th, Endraske stated students are able to have three counseling sessions for free and any followup session costs 65 dollars. According to several returning students who attended the chat, last year they received one free session then had to pay ten dollars for every following session. Although the budget has significantly gone down, Student Development has been trying to make small improvements, said Endraske. Recently, Simpson adopted a new app called HealthiestYou. The app allows you to contact a doctor 24-7, talk to a therapist, and find cheap medicine. Nurse Teri, who has dealt with students having problems with the app said, “It’s an informational app not really an app that can help you much. It’s good for those that don’t have health insurance but still you can’t do anything the doctor told you to do. Like if they told you to go to urgent care but the student has no insurance, they cannot get anything done.” She also said, “Parents need to be aware before they send their kids to school that their insurance does not work in this area. All you have to do is call and have it changed over to this area and the problem is solved.” Nurse Teri is often there by herself. Many students say she is a life savior and helps in any way she can. “I love nurse Teri! Last spring she basically saved me, I had a terrible ear infection and she gave me medicine that fixed it in 2 days,” explained Sophomore Eric Norris. “Having a counselor and nurse are both important because not all students have insurance to see outside resources.” Junior Christian Alvis said, “The nurse is very important. There are a lot of students who cannot drive to the hospital or might not have medical insurance. So having the school nurse is definitely important for students and having a school counselor. College is stressful and students have mental breakdowns all the time. We need people to talk to.” Nurse Teri’s hours are Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. She also mentioned she is eager to help and get to know the students. To have your opinion heard, fill out the Wellness Center Survey sent to your Simpson email.

by Ariana West In the last issue, there was an article titled, “The Outsider of Simpson Athletics.” The goal of this article was to raise awareness for our baseball team not to anger or call anyone out. The article went into detail about the baseball team and how they do not have the on-campus facilities that they desperately need. After talking to the coach and some players, the article described their progress with attaining these facilities such as a “game ready” field, batting cages, fencing, lights, etc. So far this year, the team has been fundraising and doing their own field maintenance as coaches and players stated in the last article. According to left fielder Aaron Torres, “We as The Simpson Baseball team dug the holes for our fence posts.” Another player, senior pitcher Andrew Cisneros explained that, “We honestly have not noticed any more attention after the article was written. Since we are in season now, we are trying not to get distracted by things going on off the field and focus on playing well and trying to win.” At the fireside chat on Monday, February 10th, President Norm Hall informed students attending that his first goal is to finish the baseball field. Hall stated that, “I talked to a guy that said he could make a sizable donation next year to help finish the field. He told me that he couldn’t do it this year, but next year could give $160,000.” Then Hall clarified that this can only happen if the gentleman sticks to his word. As of right now, the team will continue to have their home games at Tiger Field for the remainder of this season.

by Bryce De Camargo On January 26, 2020, shocking news broke across the world. Kobe Bryant, GiGi Bryant and 5 others died in a helicopter crash. Kobe was an idol to many people. He was known by almost everyone and was an inspiration and role model to many. Even people who don’t watch basketball most likely knew the name Kobe Bryant. He impacted our country in a major way. His daughter Gigi also had a huge love for the game of basketball just like her father. The two were able to bond over this shared passion during their lives. According to an article from ABC news, Kobe had three other daughters besides Gigi Bryant and he told stories of people telling him how it was a shame that he didn’t have any sons to carry on his legacy in the NBA. While Kobe could have pointed out the stupidity of that supposition, Gigi didn’t need anyone speaking for her. “I got this,” the 13-year-old would say. And that looked certain to be true. While Kobe wasn’t racking up 50 points per game, he was coaching his daughter Gigi in basketball. The two had an inseperable bond which made this tragedy that much more devastating. Kobe was inspiring to many on and off the court, and his death impacted many people. Kobe coined the nickname the “Black Mamba” because of the snake’s ability to strike with 99 percent accuracy. Here at Simpson, many students were impacted by Kobe’s death as well. Junior wrestler Adrian Maruffo said, “I was in shock when I found out he died. I did not believe it at all and I still don’t to this day. He was one of my biggest idols and still will forever be one of my idols.” Junior Juice Gaines stated, “He was a great player and he made me want to be better as a competitor and a person.” Freshmen basketball player, Dimitri Margelis explained, “I was so shocked when I found out about Kobe’s death, I had just woken up and it was the first thing that popped on my phone. I was completely devastated and sad.” Many were inspired not only by his long list of accomplishments and impressive NBA career, but also his untouchable work ethic. We must pray for all the families that have lost loved ones in this tragic accident. We must never forget Kobe, Gigi, John, Keri, Alyssa, Sarah, Payton, Christina, and Ara.

by Daisy Brenegan These seniors were asked three questions: What is your favorite food at the cafe? What are your plans after you graduate? Who is your favorite professor at Simpson ? Katie Hollingsworth 1. “My favorite food at The Caf is the French Fries. I steal my boyfriend’s French fries from his to box all the time.” 2. “My plans after I graduate are, I’m starting law school in the fall! I’m currently deciding between the University of Alabama and Seattle University.” 3. “My favorite professor has to be a three way tie: Dr. Costillo, Dr. Bailey, and Dr. Slane. They have all been incredibly formative in my personal life and in what I decided to pursue for my career! I wouldn’t be the same person and have the same passions I do now without them. They wrote references for my law school applications too!” Connor Rowe 1. “My favorite food at The Caf is the burgers. They always taste fire.” 2. “My plans after I graduate is to make money and get my masters.” 3. “My favorite professor is John Ayabe. He has challenged me the most to grow in my work and helped grow my passion for history.” Charisma Anderson 1. “My favorite food at The Caf would be the tomato soup and grilled cheese!” 2. “My plans after graduation are to move to SoCal, and experiment with what I want to do because I have a couple options.” 3. “My favorite professor is Molly Rupert!”

by Paulina Diaz As Simpson University keeps rising, so does the number of international students. For a couple of years now, the school has been taking on the mission to bring more diversity to campus. Students from all around the world have become a part of the Simpson community, giving it the fresh start everyone was hoping for. This year, Simpson University has the most international students it has ever had. But every accomplishment comes with its own challenges. As a lot of people might agree, college is a demanding experience. This is no different for international students, who struggle with their classes as second-language speakers.  “The hardest thing for me about taking classes that are not in my first language was that I have to participate in class, it is really hard for me, I normally get nervous while I’m talking because I don’t want to make a mistake,” said Carolina Oropeza, a freshman student from Mexico. Some students worry that they might not be getting enough help from their professors. Since the school is new to students who are second-language speakers, professors have had to make some adjustments to help them engage better. Professor Mirek Woznica explained that he lets international students in his Oral Communication class express themselves in their first language. “I do allow them to show me their skills by speaking their own language [if they choose to] which some of them did and it was beautiful to see them on their natural way of speaking, but then they have to obviously say a speech in English,” Woznica said. Another big concern among international students is the constant struggle to get around the city. Ariana Castañeda, a sophomore student from Tenerife, explained that the hardest thing for her is not having her own car. “I think the most complicated thing for me is having to constantly ask people for rides. Sometimes I feel like people get annoyed,” Castañeda said. Some of Simpson’s staff members have made it their personal goal to help international students feel at home. They are providing resources for students like rides for grocery shopping, social gatherings, and other activities. Ruben Basurto, Financial Aid Specialist and member of Student Financial Services is part of a team that is trying to make sure international students feel more comfortable. “I am creating a group in which international students can rely on to take care of needs such as shopping while providing emotional support… We understand that being far away from home is a tough process, the more emotional support they have, the easier it is for them to adapt in this new culture,” Basurto said. According to Oropeza, some international students rely heavily on their fellow American peers for help. American students try to give international students as much support as they can. Both students and professors agree that they love having so many international students on campus. “I love it, I absolutely love it especially in the writing or communication department because they communicate differently… it is more diverse,” Woznica said. Despite the struggles and challenges, students, staff and professors have taken matters into their own hands to improve the Simpson community for international students.

by Franchesca Carrera Get ready to laugh, Simpson U. On February 20th at 7:30 p.m., the Grant Center will host Michael Jr. in his “Off The Cuff” Comedy Tour. Jr. has appeared on several talk shows, including The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Oprah, BET's ComicView, CNN and ComedyTV. He has also performed on the stages of some of the most prestigious comedy clubs in the US, such as The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. Not only does his list of performance spots include TV and comedy clubs, it also includes some of the most well-known colleges in the world, regularly performing at Notre Dame, Harvard and the University of Alabama. Tickets can be purchased online at https://store.michaeljr.com/collections/tickets/products/michael-jr-live-redding-ca-michael-jr-off-the-cuff-comedy-tour-feb-20 for $20-$85 or in the Student Development Office for $10.

by Ariana West Many athletes and non athletes that live on campus depend on the cafeteria for every meal and The Bean Scene for their caffeine needs. However, the hours of operation at both, cause some students to miss meals at the cafeteria, and others to go to class tired without their daily dose of coffee. Simpson University has two different places for dining on campus, The Bean Scene and the Emeriti Dining Center, or as known by the Simpson community, “The Caf.” At The Bean Scene, students can grab a coffee or smoothie on their way to class. According to the school website, students can also buy, “house-made soups, grab-n-go items, pastries, desserts, locally baked gluten-free pastries.” The Bean Scene also has couches and tables that students can gather to study or hang out with friends. The Bean Scene is open from Monday thru Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. Kaci Pebley, a first year nursing student stated, “I wish The Bean Scene opened at six in the morning because many of my classes start at seven a.m. which means I cannot grab myself a coffee and a quick bite to eat before class on those days.” Other students agree that the hours of operation at The Bean Scene should be changed as well. Ruby Daube, a junior basketball player here at Simpson, explained that, “The Bean Scene should be open at least half the day on Sundays so students can still get coffee and snacks.” Many students enjoy doing their homework in The Bean Scene instead of the library but find it hard to do so when it is not always open. According to sophomore golfer, Eric Norris, “The Bean Scene should always be open because the library is not the best place to study because it’s hard to talk in groups since you have to be pretty quiet in the library.” Maybe a resolution to these problems could be having The Bean Scene open at all times for students to hang out or study in, but have the hours of selling coffee and snacks remain the same, with the addition of it being open half the day on Sundays. As previously mentioned, students are not pleased with the hours of operation at the cafeteria either, especially athletes. Daube also mentioned that, “As an athlete it’s kind of hard to work around The Caf hours because we either have practice or games that usually interfere the dinner time so we usually have to go out and spend our own money on food.” For students without cars, catching a ride with a teammate or friend might be their only chance to get dinner. If not, they might have no choice but to skip dinner entirely. Students that live on campus and pay for a meal plan are having to miss meals because the cafeteria is not open when they get out of practice or a game. Eating right when the cafeteria opens, before practice is not a choice either, as this could lead to athletes getting sick during their sport. Is this fair? Norris proposed the idea that, “The Caf should be opened from 4:00-9:00 p.m. so that athletes can still make it to the cafeteria after their practice or game.” The sooner these new hours of operation are put in place, the sooner athletes won’t have to worry about skipping meals.

by Francesca Carrera Simpson softball’s season is just getting underway and already the team has added impressive victories to the win column, topping the number one ranked team in the country, Southern Oregon University. On February 2, the Red Hawks played their fourth and final game of the weekend, the second against the Raiders. Sophomore pitcher Sunshine Wehunt was in the circle for SU, recording 8 strikeouts in the 2-0 shutout win. Prior to the victory over Southern Oregon, Simpson beat Holy Names University in a walk-off 1-0 win. The following Tuesday, the Red Hawks beat the Beacons from Northwest Christian in a doubleheader, winning both games, 8-0, and extending their win streak to four. This past weekend didn’t go as planned for SU as they fell to Oregon Tech and Dominican University of California. However, the close scores showed their resilience and fight. Simpson will play at home again on Saturday, February 16th and Sunday the 17th as they take on Eastern Oregon and William Jessup. For a full schedule, head to simpsonredhawks.com

By Franchesca Carrera Simpson Rising has been the motto for SU in the past year and a half as many changes have taken place. In the summer of 2019, the Simpson University Grant Center received a large makeover which included the resurfacing of the floor and the addition of two brand new scoreboards. According to an article on the athletics website, this is the fourth major project in the last two years for the facilities within the Grant Center. The renovations to the gym have given fans and players a new experience as one of the scoreboards also has an LED videoboard. In previous years, the athletics department shot videos for the teams, but they typically went unused. However, with the addition of the board, the videos are now put on the screen, allowing the players a sense of pride at being able to see their names and faces in lights, literally. For the six sports that utilize the gym while in season, the upgrades have been a welcome change. “When the gym was being renovated, I felt like we were a priority,” said women’s basketball senior, Alli Ramelli. “The gym gets used for a lot of different things and a lot of professors don’t like us athletes, so it made us feel like the school actually cared about athletics.” But while some teams are enjoying the change to their home others are left wondering where the support for their much-needed upgrades is going to come from. Sports such as soccer, baseball, swimming, and track and field are without equipment that allows them to compete hassle-free. Swimming and track and field can’t even practice, let alone compete, on the SU campus as there are no facilities to accommodate them. Soccer and baseball, on the other hand, have the facilities, but they desperately need fixtures to be added. Head Women’s Soccer Coach, Milton Carrera, explained they aren’t asking for much. “To be honest if [the school] were to fix the practice field, that would be a lot better,” Carrera said. “Lights would make a difference, but then again, the field needs to be addressed.” The needs of the soccer teams are just some of the few things that require the attention of the school. Just above the soccer field is the beginnings of the baseball field, a project that after years of coaches asking, is finally being built. However, it is going to take time and money before the field is ready to go. Head Baseball Coach, Dan Tating, listed what is still needed before the field can be used for a game. “Outfield fence, backstop, dugouts, and a bullpen would be what we need just to be able to play,” said Tating. He’s also willing to work with the school, explaining that while there needs to be stands at the field, the soccer ones will do just fine and will save money. In the meantime, SU has been using Tiger Field, which is about 15 minutes from campus, and comes with a plethora of problems of its own. The biggest problem being it turns away potential players because they don’t get to play on campus and Tiger field is known for the homeless and drug issues. A common theme among coaches with requests was the need for a locker room next to the soccer and baseball fields. Carrera mentioned that opposing teams come here to play and don’t have anywhere to change, other than the basketball and volleyball locker rooms, which are located on the other side of campus. Others have voiced the need for a smaller facility like the gym, to host events such as chapel, awards, and symposiums. This facility could also help with scheduling conflicts between the teams when it comes to holding practices on a daily basis. Having a brand new LED board and flooring is wonderful for the teams that use it, but for those that are still trying to find a place on this campus and money to use, it can be seen as the athletic department pushing them to the side.

By Daisy Brenegan Simpson Athletics has grown immensely this year with the addition of five new teams. One, in particular, has made a big splash. SU’s swim team has set multiple program records this season. Along with breaking records, “They are defying the odds in their inaugural season,” according to the Simpson Red Hawk’s Facebook page. Baseball and softball seasons are just getting underway. Men’s and women’s basketball have about a month left of conference play before their season comes to a close. Upcoming games: Baseball - January 31st at Historic Tiger Field, Redding. 11 AM & 5 PM Softball- February 1st at Simpson Softball Field. 10 AM & 2 PM Men’s basketball - February 1st at California Maritime Academy. 7:30 PM Women’s basketball February 1st at California Maritime Academy. 5:30 PM Be sure to go out and cheer on your Simpson Red Hawks. For more articles and schedules go to simpsonredhawks.com.