By Lana Lucin How would Sean Rodriguez’s closest friends describe him?  Sean Rodriguez -  Photo Credit: Campus Life   Zach Pantea: “Thoughtful”   Max Wheeler: “Invested”   Rodriguez is a third-year student at Simpson University.  He serves as Simpson’s student body president through the Associated Student Body of Simpson University, ASBSU for short.   “We are the voice, we are the bridge between students and … the staff,” Rodriguez said.  People want to feel heard, people want to feel known, and that is something that Rodriguez does.  In order to make the student body's voice heard, ASBSU hosts meetings biweekly, which students are encouraged to attend “so they can have a voice,” Rodriguez said.  Not only do these meetings offer a space for students to come and listen to the current topics at the school and voice their opinions, but Rodriguez lives life with these students. Going to classes with them, having basketball practice with them, sitting with them in the cafeteria, playing beach volleyball on Friday nights. He talks with students, his peers and friends, and gets the opportunity to hear them out.  This is why Rodriguez wanted to be the student body president.  He was encouraged by those around him that truly “believed in my influence,” Rodriguez said.  According to Rodriguez he wants to “break down every single silo in the student body” so that we may be “one holistic body.”   Whether you see Rodriguez shooting hoops or in his office in the SU, feel free to approach him, he will create a space where your voice matters and is heard.

By Madison Thill This season, the Simpson University spirit program has added a dance team to its roster, welcoming new athletes to the program, along with some familiar faces.   Dance Team - Photo Credit: Roseline Lemette This season, the Simpson University spirit program has added a dance team to its roster, welcoming new athletes to the program, along with some familiar faces.     One of the returning athletes who is now a part of the dance team is Elisa Heidebrecht. Heidebrecht has been dancing since she was 6 years old.     “Ever since I was on the cheer team during our inaugural year, we were dreaming with coach Niki about starting a dance team,” Heidebrecht said. “So, it’s fulfilling to see this dream come to fruition.”    As a whole, the program, including coach Niki Burbank and her athletes, has wanted a dance team since the cheer team was formed in 2022. Coach Niki says the idea for dance has always been on her mind, but she realized it was feasible after attending competitions and watching other schools.     Coach Niki says that managing the dance team can be, “...a lot because I want to be fully invested in cheer. But at the same time, dance is a passion of mine, so I feel very blessed to be able to get it started here and watch it grow.”     A big part of it for her is being able to use her full choreographing abilities and expend a lot of energy on the dance team.     This new side of the spirit program has expanded and highlighted more talented athletes.     The dance team participates on the sidelines at sporting events, similar to the cheer team, but with different material, style, and goals. The team also hopes to perform competitively this season at NAIA dance competitions.   You can see them at home for the first time at Saturday’s football game. Start time is 7 p.m. at Foothill High School.   (left to right) Anastasia Hartman, Lily Standen, Kaedyn Bunn, Brooke Hewatt, Elisa Heidebrecht

By Ryan Gavin  Connection, fun, and lasting memories; the hallmark of campus life at Simpson.  Block Party - Photo Credit: Campus Life One month in, and Simpson University has already seen three of its Sweet 16 events; Kickball Kick-off, Block Party, and the ever-growing Fall Flick.   Why does Simpson host these events?  “To get people out of their rooms and involved,” said Noah Bryerton, Simpson’s Director of Campus Life. “The easiest, low risk way to do that is to come to campus events.”  Bryerton was a student at Simpson until 2023 and understands the importance of a tight-knit college community.  “One of the reasons I do this job is because I want students to make memories that are going to last a lifetime,” he said  “My two years as a Simpson student were two of the most fun years of my life, so I want to give back to the community that gave so much to me,” Bryerton said.  Simpson hosts 16 events each year, compiled of two semesters with their own ‘Elite 8’. Each event has a unique theme or activity. The events range from athletic, to theatre, games, and even fancy dress!   Sean Rodriguez, Simpson’s ASBSU President, said “I’ve seen the integration of all the different student groups we have on campus. I see basketball, worship team, soccer, student leaders, and other groups coming together and creating their college experience in a healthy and meaningful way.”  Sean Rodriguez (top) and Karan Poudeli (bottom) Credit: Campus Life The most attended event of the year so far was the Block Party, with 425 students at the event.   Block Party filled the boulevard with booths, cornhole, games, and a 27-foot water slide. It is held on the first Friday of each fall semester and allows new students to mingle with returners.  Karan Poudeli, a second-year international student from Nepal, currently works for the Campus Activities Board (CAB).    “Having the events on campus helps students know that they are not here just for classes and labs, but that the campus is a place for fun,” Poudeli said.  His first event as a CAB member, Water Wars, was not part of the annual Sweet 16. Instead, it was part of this year’s New Student Orientation.    Over 100 students attended the event, making for a successful inauguration.  “After rafting fell through, we pivoted to an on-campus fun event that would get new and returning students to come out and have fun,” Bryerton said.  The event was held on-campus, which meant no commute for students in campus residences.  “There will be more participation and on-campus resources will be utilized,” said Poudeli about events moving from off-campus to on-campus locations.  Fall Flick, which was hosted on Friday, Sept. 12, saw a change in location as well. Normally taking place outside of the Bean Scene, it was moved into the gym.    “We wanted a change of scenery and feel like the gym is an underutilized space,” Bryerton said.  Improving from 90 attendees to 117, the move has already proven  effective.  just three events in, what can students expect for the remainder of the year?   From familiar favorites such as Trivia Night, Boat Regatta, and the annual Homecoming dance, to new additions like the 5-minute Film Festival in the Spring, Simpson is trying to create an atmosphere where students can feel comfortable and have fun within their community.  An old favorite will also be making a comeback this Fall. Something Epic, an event where students don’t know what it is until they get there.  Bryerton will be leading an ambitious group of students in this year’s CAB team. In addition to Poudeli, the team is made up of Kaedyn Bunn, Gracelyn Lovejoy, Julian Nessi, Max Wheeler, Keegan Lagos, Ines Moreno, Elizabeth Aleo, and Addison Jones.   They are the student-leaders that help make these events possible. From setup to teardown, they run the events and ensure they run smoothly.

By Jacob Greene Photo by Ella Wright Men’s Volleyball swept DII opponent William Jessup University. “That was a really amazing game. It was obviously a little tough coming off the senior night high beating PUC, but we really refocused and, yeah, we have played them twice before and lost both times, and honestly, we kind of hate those guys,” senior Quinn Wright said. On March 16 the Red Hawks played their final game inside of the James M. Grant Center in Redding, Calif. The Red Hawks swept the Warriors by scores of 25-20, 25-22, and 25-21. Outside hitter Kobe Valdez did not enter into the game. However, he did help add to the intensity, along with the rest of the bench. “It was very exciting, honestly, especially since we lost in three-oh, in their gym and they seemed pretty cocky about it, so to turn around and come back and have all the energy on the bench and on the core was just a really great wind to have,” Valdez said. Flavio Mercado, Nathan Richards, Quinn Wright, and Kobe Valdez are the four seniors for the 2024-2025 campaign—with three of them playing for Simpson for all four years. Wright emphasized the satiating desire for revenge after getting by them twice this season. “We really had like a…had some vengeance in our play and in our energy, and we really wanted to take care of business and show them,” Wright said, “Show them what’s up, and yeah, it was awesome. A great feeling to sweep them.” Mercado was ready for the intense battle. “We went in there thinking like, ‘All right, we've got nothing to lose, we’re just gonna give it our all, we’re just gonna have fun,’ and then, it was a really intense battle of just like back and forth points,” Mercado said, “You can tell with the seniors with Quinn and Nathan, and Kobe that, we trusted each other too we’re like, ‘Hey, we're just gonna do our best and see what happens.’” Richards led the way offensively with 12 kills. Mercado had 9 kills. The supporting cast member for both of those players was the (then) back-to-back CalPac setter of the week, freshman Micah Nakasato, who had 25 assists. Nakasato [now] has won the award three times this season. The Red Hawks winning the first set shifted their mindset for the whole game. “After we won the first set, I was like, ‘Okay, we took a set off. It could be possible.’ We looked really good as a team. But definitely my thoughts were not like, ‘All right, let's three-oh them,’” Mercado said, “It was definitely not like that, it was ‘All right, we got one set, we got a breather, we, you know, we gave a good fight.” Valdez had an idea for why the Red Hawks were able to handle the Warriors. “I always practice my toss in a new gym, but if you're traveling, you kind of just get there and you kind of just going in like not with a, you know, good warm up necessarily of getting your toss perfect and stuff like that, so that probably could play a huge role,” Valdez said, “or you also have like a huge audience, much bigger than Simpson’s.” The Warriors had 14 service errors, while the Red Hawks had 15 service errors. Defensively, Nakasato had 6 digs. Wright, the libero, collected 5. Richards was also a big presence with 4 total blocks. “I think I played good my senior night game, I wasn't too happy with my own performance, even though we won, but the Jessup game, I thought I played really well,” Wright said, “Jessup has a lot of top spin servers so the balls are coming a lot faster and I kind of take pride in passing those well and against Jessup, I pass really well. So, yeah, I was super happy with my serving and passing and got a few digs in there too.” Richards enjoyed the win. But, most of all he enjoyed playing with the people around him. “I mean, with me and Flavio, we’ve been playing, I mean, we started playing against each other in club in high school, and just to kind of play one last home game with him was—it was super special and Quinn and Kobe also,” Richards said. Bittersweet would be an understatement. “It was sadness, but it was also just kind of like, you know, happy that we won and happy I got to do with the people around me,” Richards said. The final point of the game was a long rally which was indicative of the overall match—back and forth, with the Red Hawks prevailing in the end. “It was one of the longest rallies in that game. After the ball touches the floor, I just...my legs got weak of like all the emotions, so I just kind of collapsed a little bit until, my team has got me up a little bit and it was just like a lot of emotions of like, ‘Wow, we just won the last game at home,” Mercado said, “And I don't know, I did not get expect me—I didn't expect to get that emotional, but it was a good, it wasn’t sad tears of like, ‘Oh, it's over,’ it was happy that I was like, ‘I had a great run.’” The four-year veterans took a moment after the game together, to soak it all in one last time. “After we got the game-winning point against Jessup, I looked over and Flav was choking up and tearing up, and that got me emotional, and we just had a really cool moment. I hugged those guys and the three of us sat on the bench just kind of looking out on the court for what was our last home game ever,” Wright said. Their home barn holds a lot of memories. “That moment was just like soaking it in. All like soaking four years of volleyball together. Quinn, Nathan, and I were recruited freshman year, and it was just like, all right…it’s gone,” Mercado said, “We're never gonna sit like this anymore. We're never gonna be competing anymore.” There were a lot of family, friends, and photographers present to capture the moment. “It was a good moment to spend with those guys and, I don't know, I was looking back into pictures that some people took,” Mercado said, “The hug we had and just like be in that emotional moment together, like ending together and when we also started together was a really good moment.” Photo by Jacob Greene “It was definitely sentimental. I mean, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears on that gym floor and I mean, hundreds if not, you know, a thousand practices over four years and all the games,” Wright said, “So yeah, it was an emotional experience. I'm really glad we ended our home season with a win, and against the DII opponent made it even sweeter.” Wright was also emotional following the final point of the game. A legacy has been built by this core to carry over to the next core. Akira Davies learned a lot from Richards, Mercado, Wright, and Valdez. “I mean, Flav, Nathan, and Quinn, they kind of all taught me everything last year. So going into the next couple of years without them, I kind of just wanna take what they gave me and give it to the upcoming freshman that are gonna come in and kind of just guide them in that way of becoming good players and good people on and off the court,” Davies said. Wright sees a lot of potential in the young core. “We do have a good core with Micah [Nakasato] as the setter of the future. He's just already playing so amazing. He'll be a really big part of the team next year, as well as Akira [Davies] and [Jacob] Shelton, and Frankie, our middles are super strong, as a lot of people can tell,” Wright said. The young core will have fans in the stands with the soon-to-be retired Red Hawks cheering them on. Richards’ final words in his interview, “Go Red Hawks.”

By Ruby Photo by Bobby Rutledge College friendships are fickle in nature: here’s how they are made, kept, and ended.   The friendships we make in those heady days of late-night study sessions and existential musings at 3 a.m. are special. There’s a certain magic that comes with making friends in college. Yet, many of them just disappear.    The bonding experience in college feels organic, often sparked by proximity. However, unlike a business partnership or a marriage, there aren’t specific rules for friendship. No one hands you a handbook. No one says, “Here are the expectations, and here are the consequences if you don’t meet them.”   In the business world, if you want to make a partnership work, you talk about deliverables, timelines, and expectations. Your responsibilities are defined. Marriage has its own long list of expectations as soon as you say “I do.” But friendship is murky. Friendship is a vague social contract, and when that contract is not explicitly defined, it’s easy to trip over the fine print.  As time goes on in a friendship, you realize you never really talked about what your expectations were. Do you both assume you’ll be each other’s plus-ones at every single event? Do you expect daily check-ins, weekly hangouts, or is it the type of friendship where you pick up where you left off every few months?   These unspoken friendship rules can start to mess with your head. It’s easy to assume that a good friend will always be there, but if they suddenly don’t show up to your birthday party or fail to acknowledge your major life milestone, you might start questioning the validity of your bond. That’s when the fade-out begins. The slow and silent drift from talking once a week to becoming a distant memory.   This isn’t necessarily anyone’s fault. The thing about college is that it’s a time of transition. People change. You enter as one person and, if you’re lucky, leave as someone else. College friendships, by nature, tend to be temporary. You were both thrust together into the chaotic environment that is higher education, but once those forces dissipate, the connection becomes harder to sustain. This isn't a tragedy; it's just life. People grow, and people grow apart.   There are some things you can do to maintain your friendships. Communication is key. Making time for occasional check-ins can work wonders. Show up, even if it’s just sending a thoughtful text or paying for a coffee.     Hannah Hartsburg and Mak Moretto have been close friends their entire senior year at Simpson University.    “We were in leadership training and we sat by each other and she was talking about going to the gym,” Moretto said, explaining how they met.    “And then I was like oh I’ll hook you up with the student discount. And we started going to the gym together and we started yapping,” Hartsburg said.    “That’s what makes a true friendship right there,” Moretto said. “When we first started to get to know each other we went to Theory and we told each other our testimonies and shared that with each other and that brought us close together.”    They also weighed in on what qualities are the foundation for good friendships.    “It was so easy to talk to you and you were just so fun. Those are just the characteristics I look for in friends and I was like, this girl is easy to connect with and be friends with, it was just easy,” Hartsburg said.    Moretto stated that trustworthiness was important to her.    “Trust for sure. Can you trust the other person with information you tell them, to keep it between you two. Kinda like a relationship honestly. Literally communication, forgiveness,” Moretto said.    Sometimes friendships require a little bit of maintenance—like watering a plant. Don’t let the years slip away without ever making an effort, because in the end, it’s the small gestures that keep the connection alive. And if the spark dies despite all your efforts? Well, at least you tried, and you’ll still have fond memories.    According to Hartsburg and Moretto, friendships fade for a number of reasons.    “Sometimes thinking that you have to update each other constantly…it’s not going to be daily, and I think just knowing that,” Moretto said.    “Updating each other on the hard things, like when I’m away from my friends I like to call them,” Hartsburg added.   Friendships in college are often spontaneous, carefree, and a bit like a road trip with no destination. The key is not to get too caught up in the expectation that every friendship you make in those four years will stand the test of time. Some will last; some will fade.  That’s the beauty of it all. The fleeting nature of college friendships is precisely what makes them special. You get to experience the highs without the heavy weight of long-term commitment. And if some of those friendships do survive the test of time, that’s just the cherry on top. Either way, having friendships in college is important.    As Hartsburg said, “I feel like in general it is important to have a sense of community around you, it’s important to have friends even outside of relationships.”

By Ruby Churchill A small group gathered for the second fireside chat of the spring semester.  Image Courtesy of Pixaby Simpson University—where there may be no physical hearth, but the warmth of delightful student banter more than compensates. In this conversation on March 21, 2024, financial aid woes meet scholarly aspirations.    The gathering formed a cozy circle. Attendees included President Hall, Student President Brandon Hall, Shondra Dickson, and various faculty members.    After introductions, Dr. Hall delved into the intricacies of university finances and tuition adjustments.  Dr. Hall also explained that the government has raised minimum wage, which decreases funds that were once available for other areas.    “The government has got deeply involved in pressing up a lot of costs, a lot of auditing. Since I've been here, the cost of forced additional wage is nearly $3 million, and last year food and fuel went up $1.2 million,” Hall said.    Enter Shondra Dickson—the financial aid maestro—armed with scholarships to battle the budgetary beast that is a 4-year-education.    “This year was tough because the Department of Ed did the first major overhaul of the FAFSA financial aid process in 40 years,” Dickson said.    Many other issues—financial or otherwise—were discussed. Simpson University is more than just a campus; it's a sanctuary of learning, love, and the occasional existential crisis over scholarship applications.

By Jacob Greene Tear down. Set up. Tear down. Set up, again. Image by Jacob Greene The time dedicated to chapel, plus the sacred space that comes with it—two hours a week—is quickly gone due to the high demand for the gym. It must be rapidly torn down every week due to the many athletic events in the James M. Grant Center. There is a prayer chapel on campus. Like many elements of campus, it is undersized for what is needed—much like chapel in the gym now. The bleachers are filled up in addition to about 12 rows of seats that take up half the hardwood flooring. The football program starting saved Simpson from closing. This is at a time when many other private Christian schools closed. With Simpson rising, why don’t we upgrade what our university promotes—a Christ-centered lifestyle. A permanent chapel would add new elements to our university. It would lessen the burden on the Athletic and Music Departments. There would be no transitions necessary for chapel two times a week. An obstacle stands in the way—funding. Dr. Scott Barnett has submitted a proposal for a chapel to President Dr. Hall. In it Dr. Barnett explains his view of how the project could be funded. “We communicate to [the] community around us our values by the buildings that we have, by where we spend our money, and then seeing that we have a chapel would be a huge statement to the surrounded community, but also just from a Christian standpoint,” Dr. Barnett said. “We're gonna call ourselves a Christian institution, we should have a place where we can gather as a community to worship and not having an actual place to gather to worship, I think, communicates a lot about what really value as a community.” Dr. Barnett understands there are other variables in the process of fundraising. “I can't speak to all of the fundraising hurdles and things like that, but I think we're putting priorities on other things and that's understandable to some extent. But we're also making decisions to split our priorities rather than focusing on doing certain things well,” Dr. Barnett said. Rather than constantly adding on new elements or programs Simpson adding a new chapel would allow the university to upgrade something already established—such as the chapel program. “Building a chapel would enable us one to do our music program really well, to show our value of gathering to worship really well, but also would free up the gym so the gym could actually be used as a gym,” Dr. Barnett said. “All those practice rooms, all those offices that music now occupies could now become coach’s offices and then even the classrooms could be made into locker rooms and you would actually serve the athletes well with the gym rather than kind of halfway—as it is now.” If the administration can secure $7.5 million for a new business building—who is to say it would be difficult to raise funds for an epicenter that would serve as a physical representation of what is of utmost importance to our institution. Buildings represent what is valuable to an institution. The same goes for where money is spent. It shows where the priorities lie. However, for a private Christian university, there must be a balance between the tensions of marketing, business, and religious identity. It is not as simple as building—there needs to be funds to improve infrastructure without taking away from other parts of the university. Sarah Jobson, Dean of Students, explained the duality of Simpon’s infrastructure. Plus, what a permanent chapel could do for culture. “I think it would be beautiful. It would show our students—even those who are visiting—all this is important to us. The same way that a gym does, right? Like, the same way that a library does,” Jobson said, “to have a gym be dual purpose…I love that we're resourceful. 
I love that we are good stewards of what we have.” Jobson continued to expand on the multipurpose gym. “But could you imagine yeah, space that is just dedicated to that and that alone. That play and holy can be separate. Now, maybe we value that play and holy can be together and I do.” Jobson said, “But man, could you imagine? 
I don't know that we could build one big enough for what we need. But what if it was used in different ways. What if we offered two services on those chapel days?” Chapel builds community—literally. The Director of Spiritual Formation, Natalie Goens discussed gym being used as a chapel. “I think a place where–just because a lot of work goes into setting up for chapel–a lot of people work really hard for that, which we’re really thankful for,” Goens said, “I do have to say—I think there's something really neat about the gym in the way of there's a lot of like churches that meet in cafeterias, in gyms, and it makes it a more welcoming environment for anyone to come to. Like I think anything that can feel slightly religious can be a little bit scary for certain people.” A permanent chapel. That could shift campus culture as it would create a space that does not need to be torn down for athletic events. “I think having a place on campus that stays a chapel could be very helpful to walk with the Lord in some ways,” Goens said. Simpson is entrusted with funds that are given to the institution to promote what the university represents—Christ-centered living. “Anything you put on our campus will change the culture. The fact that we have better lighting on campus,” Jobson said, “[it] changes how students feel about their safety. So I could imagine what a chapel would do for our culture.” Goens concurs with Jobson—that people are drawn to meaningful spaces. “People are drawn to spaces that are meaningful to them if they represent a major or a certain area of study or a certain vocation, like athletics,” Goens said. A space that does not go away means using the whole chapel hour. It means having a building that can be available at any time. “I think if you had a dedicated space that we could use like that, then it would cut out distraction. 
It would cut out the distraction of chairs and set up and, yeah, you could store music better,” Jobson said, “You could, yeah, be a more seamless experience than I'm standing here praying with a student while, love them, but other students are trying to take the chair that my coffee's on, you know, like, yeah, there could it could limit distraction.” Melissa How, the Worship Coordinator, does not think a chapel would change anything in terms of spiritual maturity. “I don't know that I think it would improve or increase like spiritual competency or spiritual curiosity or even spiritual maturity among students. But I do think it could be a really cool, symbolic building,” How said. “That would be clear when people come to visit and like, ‘Oh, wow, this is [a] Christ-centered campus. This is cool. There's a chapel here.’” I brought this up at a fireside chat in the Fall of 2024. The following is an excerpt from the notes of Slate Staff Writer Ruby Churchill: Talk of big budgets naturally led to a student (me) question about a permanent chapel building. “There is one in the master plan. We try to build projects that serve the greatest need…you build a chapel if you have enough donors,” Hall said. “By the way, when you make your millions, I’m going to be calling you for a donation for chapel.” “I’ll get right on that, I’ll pay off my student loans first,” I replied. If we are asking people to “#comeflywithus,” then we should be all in on what unifies us. According to Natalie Goens, one fact overtakes them all. “I think you can encounter the Lord anywhere, whether a gym or outside or in the prayer chapel or all of that, but it'd be great in the future if there was a space where, as soon we could where I mean, just even convenience wise—we didn't have to set up and tear it down every week.” Not only would a chapel be symbolic. It would be a place that does not go away. Although a chapel is not conditional to encountering the Lord, it does help cultivate a space that remains unchanged.

By Addison Jones Photo courtesy of Campus Life College Campuses make memories you’ll remember. Simpson University loves to create memories—showcasing them to every platform available. Now, you can have all your college year memories in your hands. Campus Life is proud to work on a book containing all this school year’s memorable moments. Whether from Sweet 16 events, sports games, chapel, or life in general, this photobook will feature it. It’s a book that won’t just collect dust on the shelf—it’s a piece of memorabilia that will last forever. Kia Flack, the creative projects coordinator and mastermind of the Campus Collective has had this book in mind for some time. “There’s been traditions being built, and we’ve been taking photos of it, so we’re like, what if we did like a collection not just pictures from the event,” Flack said. Flack envisions the book to find a place on your coffee table, a piece that completes your home or dorm room. The process of the book is constantly in the works, with events coming left and right on campus. With so much happening in a year, putting focus on a couple is a challenge. “We want to highlight things like welcome weekends, homecoming, the sweet-sixteen events, chapel, mission trip stories from last year, sports highlights, and special events,” Flack said. A school year's worth of photos is hard to compress to 70 pages—but Campus Life knows how to sort through it to get to the highlights. Hannah Hartsburg, one of the Media Assistants for Campus Life has enjoyed working on the book. “It’s honestly been fun because it’s been a different perspective looking at past events, and we get to reflect on it,” Hartsburg said. The collective is being worked on constantly, with a new event each week to capture and paste into the book. “It’s been fun to work on it every week and just kind of have a little time dedicated just to this,” Hartsburg said. Ruby Churchill, one of the Media Assistants for Campus Life loves getting to format and show a creative side to the book. “I love the creativity and organizing everything. We need to be sure everything fits and making sure it all looks good,” Churchill said. Churchill does voice the struggle behind having so many memories and little space to work with in the collective. “We also have so many pictures we wanna show when we only have 70 pages,” Churchill said. Flack’s vision for the book is to have a flow—the style is put into thought, with photos being chosen carefully. “We don’t wanna put too many photos on one page where it looks cluttered. You want it to still look stylish and almost like calming as you look through it, so we have to choose our photos wisely,” Flack said. The Campus Collective is set to be a new tradition at Simpson, for students will have this book as a memorable piece even after college. The book is set to be released during Spring Fest, the last sweet sixteen events, so be on the lookout and get it before it’s gone.

By Ruby Churchill Photo by Bobby Rutledge Simpson is not your traditional university—but there are traditions on campus. Quirky customs sprinkle a touch of intrigue into the lives of students. Simpson may seem like it is all business, sports, and academics, but it has its traditions.  If you have ever wandered near the welcome center in Owens, you have likely spotted A. B. Simpson’s statue—with his shining dome. An age-old practice among students involves giving that glorious scalp a good rub. Rumor has it that after, you’ll be showered with good luck. Near the pond you might find the campus’s beloved red and white duck. Jacob Greene discovered that he is a Muscovy duck. “I was curious about the chicken-duck hybrid waterfowl. So when I was out fishing the pond one day, I Googled Conrad’s species. Turns out he is a Muscovy duck,” Greene said. This special duck has many names, from Marshawn to Conrad to Chicken-Duck, according to Campus Visit and Event Coordinator Noah Bryerton. “He is named Marshawn as an ode to Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks’ great running back, whose nickname was Beast Mode,” Bryerton said. Marshawn waddles around the pond like he owns the place. Frankly, most would say that he does. If you ever need a reminder that life is sometimes best spent swimming lazily in a pond, just look at Marshawn living his best duck life. Then there’s the mythical one-legged goose. You might be skeptical, but legend has it that this noble creature roams the campus with a sense of purpose. He has been oft pointed out by tour guides to wide-eyed prospective students. If you’re fortunate, you might just catch a glimpse of this majestic beast. Just don’t ask him about his missing leg—some things are best left unspoken. Now, let’s address the globe in front of Owen’s Center, which once spun with the grace of a ballerina. Unfortunately, it’s been more still than a library on exam week. Until someone finds a rich alum with a passion for spinning globes, we’ll have to settle for the static representation of the world—like a traveler who forgot to pack their sense of adventure. The campus also has a bridge across the small pond that promises a glimpse of romance. It is said that if you walk across while locking eyes with someone, you will fall in love with them. It’s a risky endeavor. One moment you’re simply enjoying the scenic views, and the next, you’re tangled in a whirlwind romance. In addition to these there are several other customs that distinguish Simpson. Between Sweet 16 Events and special dorm activities, there is always something to do. “I love when staff and residents open up their houses and their own space for students to come in and hang out,” Bryerton said, referencing dorm-specific events. Iconic campus-sponsored events include everything from racing couches down the boulevard at the Davenport Derby to stretching your mind at Trivia Night. There is also the Block Party, Spring Fest, Night Life, the Boat Regatta, and much more. “They create a culture of belonging. If you know that something is happening and you come up and enjoy it, then you have something to look forward to next year” Bryerton said. Sarah Jobson is the Dean of Students. She is the mastermind behind Sweet 16 Events. She noted that there have always been traditions on campus that set it apart. For example, during Jobson’s time students thought of a way to highlight the ducks and geese at the pond for visitors. “We used to paint duck prints on the actual road,” Jobson said. Jobson elaborated why traditions are important. “I think making memories is important. I would ask a friend group ‘Well why do you guys go and do things’ and it’s the same reason, like building connections, making memories,” Jobson said. “When you have these old traditions, you talk about them for forever.” If you have ideas of traditions on campus or at sporting events, Noah Bryerton wants to hear from you. You can contact him via email at nbryerton@simpsonu.edu or visit him in the Student Development Office. An eclectic mix of traditions defines Simpson University. Remember to rub A.B. Simpson’s head before a test. Be sure to take extra precautions when crossing the bridge, or else you may risk your heart. Participate in Sweet 16 Events when you are able. We can always find a sense of community in the delightful absurdities of campus life.

By Ruby Churchill As a college student in California, it is important to know the steps for casting your vote. Here is a detailed guide to help you navigate the voting process in the Golden State (without getting too political). You are eligible to vote if you are over 18, a U.S. citizen, and a California resident. Welcome to the world of democracy—it is time to flex those newly-acquired civic muscles. To register, you can go online through the California Secretary of State’s website. You will need a California driver’s license or state ID. You also need the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. You can further register in person or by mail. You must register 15 days before Election Day. This means that for the upcoming general election, the deadline is Oct. 21, 2024. If you are a procrastination pro, California lets you do same-day registration. California is the land of convenience—every voter is automatically shipped a mail-in ballot. You can use your home address and have your parents ship your ballot to you. If you want to vote in more local elections, you can update your address. Once you are officially registered, it is time to play detective. Research the candidates using sites like Ballotpedia or the California Secretary of State’s website. On Election Day, you can head to your assigned polling place or your county elections office with your completed ballot. If you prefer to stay snuggled in bed, you can mail it. You are probably wondering why all of this is important. Dr. Dan Sloan explained that voting is a crucial process for students to participate in. “It’s important because we live in a republic…it is the fabric of our nation, the fabric of our democratic values is to go out and vote,” Sloan said. Voting allows people to influence decisions that directly affect their future. By participating in elections, students can advocate for issues that matter to them. They can help shape a society that reflects their values and needs. Additionally, engaging in the democratic process fosters a sense of civic duty. Elizabeth Aleo is a political science major as well as a communication major. She stated that voting allows people to have a say in elections. “It will get their input, and basically get their voices heard,” Aleo said. By voting, college students ensure a future that aligns with their values. Now go vote like the responsible adult you are.

By Ruby Churchill AI could be a tool of innovation or a distraction. AI is a branch of computer science in which machines are designed to think like humans, as stated by Wix Encyclopedia. It helps computers achieve goals on their own, enabling tasks to be automated. As AI steadily reshapes industries worldwide, the classroom finds itself in the spotlight. Increasingly sophisticated AI tools are entering the fray. Educators and students are left pondering—should we roll out the red carpet for AI, or should we be clutching our pearls in horror? While some believe AI can enhance learning experiences, others worry it might overshadow the all-important human touch.   The potential of AI to revolutionize education is immense. It can tackle tedious tasks, as well as personalized learning, automated grading, and administrative duties. As Old Testament professor Dr. Thomas Middlebrook puts it, “AI is the internet all grown up. And now it can talk to you.” Some schools are already integrating AI into their classrooms. Georgia State and UC Berkeley utilize virtual assistants, according to the website Global Admissions. Such chatbots can help with admissions, financial aid, and general college questions. AI is further being used for research and campus security. Could Simpson be next?   Professor Rosealine Lemette of the Digital Media Department has been investigating how Simpson could utilize AI. “The AI that I’ve actually been looking at for classroom use is an AI chatbot that gets integrated into Canvas. These chatbots…you can train them on your subject matter so that they won’t give out answers and they know how to coach the students,” Lemette said. In the scheme of educational innovation, using AI in the classroom could be the next step for Simpson University. Professors and students alike are entering a brave new world. “I know our provost is leaning that way, it’s just really getting a lot of people on board. So, he encouraged us to go to a seminar where we watched other schools that were using these trainable chatbots in classrooms…” Lemette said. With the abilities of AI ever widening, the possibilities are endless. This means an educational transformation could be on the rise. “Of course it’s going to change education. It’s going to change the type of student that we get, and the type of products that those students are going to go on to develop,” Middlebrook said, “...maybe the biggest boon to education will come with a world-class tutor for every grade level, for people who don’t even have basic education access.”   However, there are concerns about AI. Not everyone is ready to hand over the reins of teaching to our silicon friends. It is important to determine the best way to utilize it. “The question is, like any tool, what is the best use of it? We can use books as stepstools, but they’re meant to be read. We can use AI to write our 5-page essay for us, but it’s meant to develop your mind and thinking,” Middlebrook said. Dr. Timothy Orr, Associate Professor of History, also had some thoughts. He highlighted further worries related to education and learning. “Multiple generations are cutting the corners thinking that we care about the end result when, as professors, in actuality we really care about the process,” Orr said. “Students tend to think that AI is somehow separate from plagiarism, it’s not, you're just plagiarizing a computer,” Orr added. How colleges should navigate this AI-infused landscape is a question on everyone’s minds. The key may be striking a balance—leveraging AI’s strengths without letting it pull focus from good old-fashioned human interaction. “On a more practical level, recognizing that students are going to use it anyway, I think it needs to be standardized much like work citations are standardized,” Orr said.   As AI evolves, its role in education is bound to grow, offering students a treasure trove of resources. However, it is important to approach this shiny new tech with a critical eye. AI should be the cherry on top, not the entire sundae.

By Makoa Royat A simple day in the life of a Simpson University nursing major. It is either a 45-minute drive or a 10-minute drive to the hospital. One thing is for certain—it will dark when you get there and dark when you leave. While most people leave their house with their phone, wallet, and keys, nurses have some extra sundries to pack: scissors, penlight, red book, stethoscope, polishable shoes, name badge, and clipboard. Additionally, a sunny disposition may not be required but it is vital for nurses. By the way, you can be dismissed from clinicals if you forget one of the above resources—sans the sunny disposition. Once you go through that mental checklist in your head, you also need to remember to bring water, food, and caffeine for the next 12 hours—extra caffeine if you are on night shift. For the most part, clinical is from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. When you get to the hospital, you meet up with your clinical instructor. They will pair you up with a nurse (babysitter). You follow them around like a potty-trained puppy. From then on, you are off to the races. It is the healthcare lottery whether you get Nurse Ratchet or Nurse Sunshine. However, 90% of the time you are with a nurse that is helpful, explains what they are doing, and tells you tricks of the trade. They were in your shoes not so long ago. One of the great things about clinicals is the fact that students get pulled to see procedures. I have had wonderful viewing opportunities—leg amputations, a cesarean section, hip replacement, intubation, and bedside pancreatitis. I did chest compressions on a patient. I scared some poor little boy because the surgical robes made me look like an alien. Those experiences are scarce so take them if you get the chance. You get an hour lunch with the rest of the students. Meanwhile, the clinical instructor talks about the day and expectations for homework. Throughout the day you are taking care of 3 to 5 patients. Each one has their own story on how they got there. For almost every patient you are administering medications, in addition to doing physical assessments. A physical assessment is similar to when you get a physical at a doctor’s office, but it is not as intense. We do that for all patients. On the surface this does not seem very chaotic, but it can be. Many patients cannot walk—you need to help them to the bathroom. Some have enough meds to sedate a small horse, while others have the memory of a goldfish. For the latter, you have to tell them to stay in bed unless there is a nurse present. If you ever have the chance to share a meal with the black-cladded health care scholars, they will ruin whatever you have on your plate, while they have no problem eating pea soup. One of the busier majors on campus is nursing. Students like to complain to anyone that will listen, but inside they love what they do.