By Franchesca Carrera With the lack of lighting across the Simpson campus, students and staff alike seem to be saying, “Hello darkness, my old friend.” Once the sun goes down every day, it is a fight to see when walking on campus. This can be dangerous for everyone, especially during winter weather conditions. As the rain drops, so does the ability to see. It is already difficult in several parts of the school grounds, as there is little to no lighting. For the most part, the only well-lit place is the pathway right in front of Owens near the clocktower. Besides that, lights line the walkways very sparingly. This increases the chance of someone falling, running into something, or getting hurt in some other way. This is only part of the problem. There is talk around school from many students about feeling unsafe on campus at night, especially from women. “I try to park my car in very specific spots on campus because they do have lights, but they don’t get turned on,” said senior, Jacelyn Wedman. “The little stand lights, half of them are broken and the other half don’t turn on. If you’re walking around in the dark, it’s a little creepy.” Not many students take night classes, meaning if something were to happen, there wouldn’t be anyone around to see or hear it. Walking to and from the parking lot and in between buildings is a risk because of the nonexistent lighting. Women are vulnerable. However, campus safety says they are working on the problem. “The lighting issue has been a concern of ours over the last 3 years but due to the budget restrictions we have not been able to address it out of our operating budget,” said Paul Davis. He also mentioned they are specifically concerned with the areas around academic buildings, as well as some resident halls and parking areas. There is some good news for the SU community as progress is being made with light installations. On top of campus safety working to add lighting, Student Government is also planning a ‘night walk’ with members of the department in order to fully understand the student side of the situation and make sure the lights will be placed where they are most needed. Adding lights to the campus won’t solve the problem entirely, however, it is a step in the right direction and the added visibility can help prevent any future safety incidents.

By Ariana West We asked these seniors the following: What was your favorite and least favorite part about Simpson? What are your plans after graduation? Austen Salcedo Communications Major “The best part about Simpson for me was the teachers and my baseball coaches.My least favorite part would have to be the inconsistent cafeteria food and the mandatory chapels which would always conflict with my busy schedule.” “My plans after graduation is to go back home, work on being a DJ, produce music, and work as a personal coach for baseball.” Alex Cooper Business Major “My favorite part of being at Simpson was being apart of the women’s basketball program. They were my second family and I have always felt welcomed there. Every person I played with taught me something about myself I didn’t know before. My least favorite part is the lack of diversity we have at this school. It was extremely difficult attending a school where there were not always a lot of people who looked like me.I always felt like people’s eyes were on me because of the way I looked and carried myself.” “After graduation I plan on getting my real estate license and staying in Redding for a year or two.” Spencer Scofield Business Major “I love the community at Simpson University, my favorite part would have to be the relationships I have built here. My least favorite part about Simpson is that everyone knows you, so don’t do anything embarrassing or everyone will know.” "I plan to get a sales job while I start my own business. I plan to open ecommerce stores online and use that money to invest in real estate so that I can retire early.” Ashley Oakley Psychology Major “My favorite part is that it was a new adventure to me and so far I haven’t regretted moving here. My least favorite part was leaving behind my best friends and family behind.” “After graduation, I plan on continuing on to get my masters in counseling, but I’m not sure if I want to stay at Simpson or find a new adventure yet.”

By Simpson U News editor REDDING, Calif.—Simpson University’s bass fishing team took home top honors Jan. 26 in its first college tournament of 2020 on its home waters of Lake Shasta. The team of Nathan Phillips and Chase Sherman topped the field of 14 teams at the Wild West Bass Trail College Series, which included anglers from Chico State, Fresno State, and Oregon State universities. Their five-fish limit weighed in at 10.78 pounds and included the biggest catch of the day, a 2.45-pounder. Simpson University had three teams on the water. The team of Sheldon Reese and Taj White placed fifth, with a weigh-in of 9.52 pounds. Ryan Beaty and Luke Blanchard came in 11th, with a 6.91-pound weigh-in. Overall, the fishing conditions were tough,” coach Alex Thiemann said. “That being said, our guys fished hard and put together a winning pattern. I was proud that Nathan and Chase got the win, but equally proud that our other teams put themselves in a position in which victory was only a bite or two away.” As first-place winners, Phillips and Sherman earned $1,000. Phillips, along with Beaty, has already qualified to compete in the FLW Yeti College Fishing National Championship in Leesburg, Fla., Feb. 26-28. At the weigh-in at Bridge Bay Marina, Phillips and Sherman talked briefly about the Simpson University bass fishing program, new this academic year. The six-person team comprise a new club sport for the university. “It’s an awesome program,” Sherman said. Phillips talked about the unique opportunity to attend college and pursue fishing with scholarship support and generous donations from local businesses, including Black Bear Diner, Harrison’s Marine & RV, and Phil’s Propeller. “Their support is the reason these guys will be able to travel to Florida for the national championship,” Thiemann said. “We are so thankful for their generosity.”

By Ariana West Imagine having to pick up needles left by the homeless everyday before practice. This is reality for the Simpson Baseball Team. Despite being one of the oldest teams here on campus, and an official NAIA team for twenty years, they are just now making some real progress on building their own field. Currently, the team has their home games at Tiger Field in downtown Redding. Going to this field, you will see lots of homeless people and possibly some heroin needles. According to Head Coach Dan Tating, when leaving the field at night, it is not unusual for homeless people to yell or even throw things. Last year, not only did the team have games at Tiger Field but practices as well. Coach Tating explained that another downfall of having to practice off-campus was having to be creative with practice times in order to get everyone over there at the same time. It was also common for players to miss dinner almost every night because of having to practice off campus. Senior infielder Chris Brue mentions that getting over to Tiger is very inconvenient, and for those without cars, finding a ride can cause added stress for players. This year, the school did not pay the rent money for the team to continue to practice at Tiger field, so they have been practicing on campus despite having very limited facilities. The on campus field is lacking a backstop, outfield fences, dugouts, and field lights. Basically the team is playing on a grass field with a pitcher's mound. If the team would like to practice after sundown, their only source of light, is generator powered construction lights which the team had to acquire on their own. Unlike the other teams on campus, the baseball team and team staff do all their own field maintenance. Every other field such as; the soccer and softball fields, are maintained by Simpson facilities. A high priority of Simpson this year is to increase student enrollment. “With the biggest roster on campus,” Coach Tating stated, “we are increasing enrollment more than any other team.” Yet they are treated like an outsider of Simpson Athletics. Senior Chris Brue also explained that, “The team does not get enough attention, despite the immense growth of the program over the last couple years.” Tating and Brue both agreed that it is hard to recruit quality players for this program when the facilities are lacking. The team has had to get creative and has begun raising their own funds to build themselves a field. Their most recent fundraiser was a silent auction dinner where guests were served a meal by the team and got to listen to MLB star Michael Lorenzen speak. Coach Tating said that the dinner was very successful and they raised about $13,000 which he thinks will be enough for a backstop if he can get the labor donated. In order for the field to be game ready, Tating thinks they will need around $200,000. While this may seem like a lot of money, the team is hopeful that they will have a field up and running fairly soon.

By Daisy Brenegan Redding, California. A small town surrounded by mountains. Full of beautiful lakes and some of the best sunsets you have ever seen. Named one of the top 10 Fishing Towns in North America according to Forbes magazine. Redding is full of so many sights to see. Here are some of the best spots in the Redding area to check out: Burney Falls (less than an hour outside of Redding) WhiskeyTown Lake Trinity River Shasta Lake Turtle Bay Park & The Sundial Bridge The Bluffs Lassen Volcanic National Park Sacramento River Trail Water Works Park Lema Ranch Freshman, Ryan Beaty says “My favorite place to go to in Redding is Shasta Lake because you can catch a bunch of fish there and you have a chance to catch a big one.” Another student Senior, Connor Rowe says “My favorite place to go is Heart Lake over by Mount Shasta. It has a nice place to hike too that overlooks the entire lake. The lake itself is super pretty.” Are you bored on the weekends? Do you want to do something fun but don’t want to spend money or drive too far? Take a break from homework and go check out some of these spots.

By Hayley Wylie On Friday, November 15th, Simson University hosted their second ever Hawkman. Hawkman is a parody of a male beauty pageant, where men all over campus come together and compete to be crowned the official Hawkman. The event took place in the Grant Center and involved seven competitors. The night was hosted by Kevin Alcosiba and Lynsey Sullivan. The competition began with a sandwich-making competition. Each man was paired up with another and had to make the best sandwich with the weird ingredients they were given. These ingredients included things like chocolate and sriracha. Dr.Orr, a professor at Simpson University and a self-proclaimed “foodie”, tried one of the sandwiches and gave it a thumbs up. Following the short competition was a talent portion. Starting off was Regan Ong, who did a cover of Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. Joey Uhl followed Ong with a stand-up routine that mostly consisted of “dad jokes.” Next was Kyle Thompson who did a cover of Waving Through A Window from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hanson. Brandon Cervinia followed Thompson and showed off his mixed martial arts skills. Andrew Huss also did a cover on his ukelele of La Vie En Rose. Ending the night was Logan Friesen, who ate an entire In N Out double-double cheeseburger in just three bites, leaving the crowd in shock. Following the talent portion, each male returned to the stage to show off their formal wear and their escorts for the night. The competition ended with each contestant being asked two questions in the questions and answers portion. At the end of the night, a panel of judges came together and crowned Logan Friesen the winner of the Hawkman Competition. When his name was announced, the entire swim team stood up with body paint covering their chests that spelled out Logan’s name. The rest of the contestants also picked Logan up and shouted with joy. When asked how he was going to celebrate, Frisen replied, “I’m going to In N Out!”

By Charisma Anderson The A.S.B.S.U, which stands for Associated Student Body of Simpson University, has exciting plans for campus in the near future. The A.S.B.S.U staff consists of Luke Williams the Student Body President, Jacelyn Wedman the Executive Vice President, Franchesca Carrera the Chief Marketing Officer, Ethan Wulfestieg the Chief Student Finance Officer, Naomi Hollgarth the Chief Residence Life Officer, Dylan Lum the Chief Athletic Officer, Priscilla Lupe the Chief of Student Activities, and Antonio Junior the Chief Spiritual Life Officer. According to Luke Williams the team has been working really well together despite going through some change in the A.S.B.S.U structure. “Jacelyn and I have been working to figure out a structure that works the best to fit the campus, and we also meet with the entire team every week. ” Said Willaims. In the duration of this semester, the A.S.B.S.U has worked very hard to put on events that they are very proud of. “Tent America, the 50 hours of worship was a joint Spiritual Formation and Student Government led event. I thought it was amazing and everyone loved it. We also started the Spirit Club this semester, and we have plans to unveil the name of the spirit section soon and will hopefully have some T-Shirts coming in. This year we were also able to open up the concession stands for our team to use, and other clubs to use in their fundraising. This is a big deal because for the last three years it mostly hasn’t been open.” Said Willaims. Although Luke has many projects he’s passionate about, he is most passionate about bringing athletes and non-athletes together. “It’s been a big passion of mine to keep Intramurals alive, as I believe it helps bridge the gap between athletes and students. It’s especially important now as we have more sports teams in our school. Another event that helped bridge the gap between athletes and students was Humans vs. Zombies, as we had a lot of athletes and non-athletes participate and it turned out to be a blast.” Said Williams. A.S.B.S.U also has some exciting things planned for the future of Simpson. “Our biggest thing right now is we are trying to bring back the Senior Gift. After surveying some seniors about what they would like to see on campus, we found out they would like to see water fountains and water bottle fillers in the dorms. That is one thing we have been working on, and will probably start fundraising for pretty soon. We are also looking into the Student Union and how we can get that set up.” Said Williams. The future of Simpson University is looking bright, as the A.S.B.S.U has many special plans up their sleeve.

By Andre Alvarez Many people are accustomed to familiar chicken spots like that of Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC), Popeyes, Chick- fil - a and Church’s chicken. But one familiar spot that people are not accustomed to and is making a splash in the Redding area is The Chicken Shack. The Chicken Shack is a restaurant that does not classify as fast food, but it has affordable prices that will not break one’s bank based on the quality food. The Shack does a significant job of separating themselves from the traditional chicken spots in the area. This separation from other spots is made through their diversity in their menu. The shack is able to incorporate unique meals that include menu sections of chicken waffle sandwiches, brioche bun sandwiches, loaded chicken fries. Chicken wings and buttermilk tenders plus fries. Out of these diverse courses, their chicken waffle sandwiches and their loaded fries have made the biggest splash with students at Simpson University. Students who have tried the shack are impressed with the menu items. Junior Damien Awai, a general studies major says the shack, “it is way different than what KFC is about. They have the one and only fire fries. Chicken shack got that smack.” Said Awai. The shack has been able to attract people with their well-known course of loaded chicken fries that include buffalo fried chicken bites, pepperjack, ranch, bleu cheese crumbles and chives. With these combinations, they have managed to show their variety in their courses of chicken not just throughout their whole menu, but differentiate themselves from other chicken establishments. If you are in the area and want something that is different from the usual chicken spot, stop by The Chicken Shack. They are located at 2586 Churn Creek Rd, Redding, CA. Change it up and give the shack a taste.

By Hayley Wylie Whiskeytown Cemetery is not your typical cemetery. Located just a few miles past the Whiskeytown visiting center is a cemetery filled with unique, quirky graves. According to SFGate, the cemetery was originally intended for the poor. It was a place for people who couldn’t afford a typical burial to be laid to rest. However, the untraditional headstones and serene location have caused the cemetery to attract all sorts of graves. Including those of children, millionaires, and even homeless. Unfortunately, after the devastating 2018 Carr Fire, the fun and peculiar cemetery has become a bit eerie. Upon arrival, it’s easy to see the remaining damage from the wildfire. The giant trees are left black and leafless, no birds or wildlife seem to find refuge in the burnt area. The once grassy area surrounding the graves are brown and brittle, with every step the sound of breakage fills the air. The only thing that seems to be thriving is the small insects. Despite the fire damage, there are still many gravesites that were left unharmed. Many of the most memorable headstones came in the form of benches with the person’s name and death date carved into the wood. There are also two brothers; James Scott Voorhees and Patrick Ronald Voorhees. Both headstones reading “Mom’s Favorite”. Almost every headstone has something memorable about it. Whether it be the handmade iron plaque or the weird toys and quotes placed on headstones. There are clearly many fascinating stories to be told. Although a trip to the cemetery may seem morbid and strange, this one is worth the detour. Whiskeytown Cemetery will provide you with tons of excitement and a memorable time.

By Daisy Brenegan Sometimes a break is needed from the cafeteria food. Sometimes students want to enjoy a nice meal for a reasonable price. Redding is full of lots of varieties of food. From chain fast-food restaurants to little, independent restaurants. There are so many different places to go to. One affordable place is Raliberto's Taco Shop. It is located on 135 Lake Blvd. It is an independently owned restaurant that has some very affordable mexican food. Senior, Bryce De Camargo said, “I go there 1-2 times a week and I always get a carne asada quesadilla. The food is so good and affordable. I recommend it to anyone that loves Mexican food.” Another restaurant is Pasta Pronto. It is located at 920 Hilltop Drive. Senior, Lucas Lula said, “I like Pasta Pronto because it has lots of options on the menu and everything always tastes so good,” Pasta Pronto has reasonable prices and is also does to-go orders and delivery. There are a lot of international students this year at Simpson. Lots of them have never really eaten American foods. After talking to freshman Dimitri Margelis, from Greece, he says his favorite place to eat in Redding is In N Out. In N Out is located 1275 Dana Drive. “In n Out is my favorite place to eat because burgers are my favorite American food,” Said Margelis. Along with these places, there are many other places to check out such as: Snack Shack Mod Pizza El Zarape Mexican food Cinders Wood Fired Pizza New China Restaurant Westside Pizza Manhattan Bagel Niu Hawaiin BBQ Thai Cafe From The Hearth Cafe Country Waffles Five Guys Peter Chu’s Skyroom The Lighthouse The Habit Burger

Guest Editorial by Jacelyn Wedman The blue bins on campus aren’t just for looks. Nearly every office, hallway and classroom is furnished with a blue recycling bin. Every residence hall floor has a large cylindrical bin, while offices usually have smaller bins. Recycling bins provided by the city of Redding stand behind the caf and the library, and are taken out by the city on a regular basis. But despite this, recycling programs have struggled to take root at Simpson. Paul Davis, director of campus operations, mentioned that Simpson has been participating in recycling programs for seven years. “Historically a campus club like the Business Club or GateHouse will collect all the recyclables and cash them in as a fundraiser,” Davis said. “To be honest with you I don't know much about the program because it's always been student-driven.” The blue recycling bins are meant only for specific items, namely plastic bottles and aluminum cans. According to the city of Redding, no plastic film, styrofoam, or anything with food residue can be placed in the bins for recycling. Garrett Struwe, facilities coordinator at Simpson University, has struggled with student apathy toward the recycling guidelines. “In order for the system to work effectively, everyone bears some responsibility for placing the proper items in trash and the proper items in recycling,” Struwe said. He added that many students place their styrofoam to go boxes in the recycling. “A large piece of lasagna fell out of one as I was pulling it out,” Struwe said. But the lack of student interest in recycling isn’t the only problem. According to Struwe, student employees may not be recycling properly. “The system also breaks down here if my employees are not well informed on recycling or simply don't care enough to make an effort to recycle,” Struwe said. A facilities crew empties trash and recycling every Friday afternoon around campus. This crew has been directed to mark recycling bags so they are disposed of separately, but as Struwe said, “it's practically impossible to enforce unless I'm working with them.” Recently, facilities has placed large city of Redding recycling cans in the main lobbies (second floor) of all residence halls. These bins are accompanied by a chart outlining items that can and cannot be recycled. The bins are taken to the residential lots to be recycled by the city of Redding on a regular basis. Struwe is a one-man facilities army, and therefore has other, more pressing projects. “Although I do see the value in having an effective recycling program,” Struwe said, “there have often been other projects that I felt were worth prioritizing more.” Much of the recycling responsibility rests on the students, staff and faculty. “I've learned you can have a really good system on paper, but if people don't care the system breaks down,” Struwe said. Presenting recycling to the student body in an engaging, meaningful way is, according to Struwe, vital in encouraging participation. Davis mentioned that the facilities staff is fully supportive of student-led programs. “We are more than happy to provide more containers to make the programs grow and be more successful,” Davis said.

By Charisma Anderson Simpson staff and commuters living outside the city limits of Redding, are dealing with the inconvenience of power outages at their homes due to PG&E. Pacific Gas and Electric is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric companies in the United States, that is based In San Francisco, according to their website. The company provides electric and natural gas service to about 16 million people throughout a 70,000-square mile service area in northern and central California. According to popularmechanics.com, Pacific Gas & Electric Company is shutting off power to nearly 800,000 customers in an attempt to reduce the risk of wildfires that could be sparked from their poorly maintained infrastructure. Forecasts of high winds and hot weather are the main reasons for PG&E to shut off its customer’s power. Anna Erickson, a student pursuing her Communications degree shares her recent experience of living outside of Redding in Bella Vista. “When the power goes out I lose wifi and electricity, but I do have water. The hardest part about the power outages is having to change my schedule. When I have power, I normally go home in between classes, soccer, and work to do laundry and work on homework. When the power is out, I can’t do either of those at my house. I have to make multiple trips back and forth to town, and I can’t help but think of all the wasted time and gas used in the process. Also, I’m always cold without my heater!” Said Erickson. Anna Erickson is one of many who are dealing with the inconvenience of losing their power at a moment's notice. Mirek Woznica, a Professor of Communication here at Simpson who also lives in Bella Vista, and has experienced losing his power twice already. “In my understanding, the official reason for PG&E to shut off power is to protect from sparking more fires. There is also a discussion about them protecting their assets since they have been in bankruptcy. There are lots of ways of understanding it, but the main reason published in the media it to protect from sparking fires,” Said Woznica. For Professor Woznica, the hardest part about not having electricity it getting used to the darkness, trying to keep fish he caught frozen, and being unable to charge his electric car. According to Woznica, there is talk about PG&E shutting their power off becoming a normal occurrence. “I respectfully disagree, because this is not normal. I don’t feel like being without power just because the company decides to turn it off whenever they need to is normal, plus it cost people a lot of money, as many are having to buy generators that comes out of their monthly income and pay a bill to PG&E.” Said Woznica Professor Woznica finds this whole experience quite strange as he compares it to his childhood growing up in Poland. “Infrastructure in my country during the communist time was poorly done. I don’t recall in my childhood or growing up the power going out for more than two or three hours. Even with huge snowstorms and high winds, we rarely lost our power.” Said Woznica. As Fall turns into Winter, staff and commuters will see just how much they can handle losing their power in the months to come.