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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 Cole Alberto McMahon   At the age of five, I put on my first baseball uniform. An extra-small “Paloma Valley Pony Baseball White Sox” jersey. Photo/Roseline Lemette Fast forward 16 years. I found myself putting on a uniform and spikes for the last time.     As a little kid, I always dreamed big, telling myself I was going to be a San Francisco 49er, a San Francisco Giant, and even a Jedi Knight. What you find out when you get older is, dreams do not always become a reality. This reality hit me after my freshman tryout in high school when my name was not put on the list of kids who made the high school team.     That dreaded list—I almost let it get the best of me. I am forever grateful for having a dad and mom who told me to keep going. I would have quit by now if I did not have their constant support in my corner.     Fast forward to my collegiate baseball career.     My career stat line looks like this: 3 appearances, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s, 2 ER, 6.75 ERA, and a .111 opponent batting average.     When I signed with Simpson, I was ecstatic to have a fresh start and continue playing baseball. My goal was to help win. By the stats, I clearly did not end up making the impact on the field that I set out to make four years ago. Four years of sweat, tears, and pulled hamstrings throughout.     After my freshman and sophomore seasons, I continued to make the push to become a “dude” on the pitching staff my junior year. That dream came to a halt once more. But this time, it felt different. This time, I was even given the option to quit.     After making a firm stance that I had no plans to quit, that constant conversation played in my brain every single day, even leading up to the final weeks of my senior career. What if I quit? Life would be easier. I would not put that constant pressure on myself to try to produce. Why am I still trying to play on this team even though I constantly have failed?    I did not quit because that constant voice in my head told me no. I did not quit because I wanted to make the people who believed in me all these years proud; my parents, sister, friends and various coaches throughout the years. I wanted to keep going for them, to prove them right. I did not quit so I can prove to the people who did not believe in me that they were wrong.     Senior day rolled around and I finally figured out the true reason why I stuck around so long. It was for the friendships and family I made with my brothers and coaches on this baseball team.     The emotions rushed quickly to my eyes when I walked on to the field with my mom, dad, girlfriend, and two friends. I could not help the tears gushing down my cheeks as I gave each coach a hug and continued with my fellow seniors.     Then came the last time I would be on a mound. I proceeded to throw my senior day inning in the sixth inning of a 7-inning game, only giving up one hit, and getting a roar from my teammates after striking out a batter.     My pitching coach and former teammate, Jackson Bennett, told my teammates to “shake’em up,” alluding that my final career outing was over. I said no, I wanted one more inning.    I began saying, “One more, one more!”     Soon, the dugout was filled with my brothers chanting, “One more!”    I felt like this was my “Going the Distance” moment in Rocky or my “Rudy” moment.    Bennett looked to my skipper, Dan Tating, and he gave the nod of approval for one last inning.    I jumped up with so much joy and broke down in tears with so much sadness knowing I was getting to go out for a final time. All my brothers were with me at that moment in the dugout—my favorite memory of that day.    I proceeded to go out and have a quick one, two, three inning. And that was it, my baseball career was done.     Sobbing, I hugged teammate after teammate, giving them words of affirmation and telling them I love each one.     Besides Alex Tolbert hitting the walk-off bomb to win the Cal Pac and dogpiling, my senior day was the best moment of my baseball career, and I owe it to everyone there that day.    That is why I never quit.    “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”  --Rocky Balboa

By Jacob Greene 4 years. Gone way too soon.   Photo/Roseline Lemette I could sit here, write down everything I learned—or I could walk you through it. Quickly. A “short” summary of sorts from which you can draw your own conclusions.    My sign-on typically goes something like this, “Hello fans and welcome into insert game this Jacob Greene here at insert place in Redding, CA. It’s great to have you with us.”    I have done a lot. But that is because of the opportunities presented to me. Work hard at what you are passionate about. Be passionate about what you work hard at. Take advantage of every opportunity—try new things, you may be great at it.    Coach Alex Thiemann took a chance on me. I knew little to nothing about fishing coming in. But now, after hard work, help from people, and experience, I have learned so much. That is the theme of my whole college career.    New Student Orientation (NSO) weekend, Molly Rupert tried to get me to join The Slate. I was hesitant, but here we are. The rest is history, I guess.     Worship team, same thing—people took a chance on me, namely Melissa How. I learned bass as I joined—thanks to Kayla Reiss and Jack Morgan.    I sought after opportunity. I have worked hard to get where I am. To obtain the skills I have. It does not come overnight. I have all of my professors to thank for all of the work they put in to help me. From projects to papers, they were there to help in any way they could. Molly Rupert, Woz, Professor Lemette, Mr. Lemette, and Dr. Brasher.    I almost left within the first 6 weeks of school. I am so glad I didn’t. My first year saw a lot of things happen to me—the biggest being my grandpa passing away during winter break. But I had my family. I had my friends. Without them, I would not love Simpson as much as I do.     Simpson is not about the buildings. It is about the people. Scotty, Christine, Eric, Marty, Terry, Alex, Lori, and others in the caf. Plus, all the Bean Scene workers, who are too many to name throughout the years, but between Terry and Jill, they are aware of my need for coffee. I cannot forget Staff and faculty—especially TRIO. Without Keith and Angie, I would not be enrolled nor graduating.     Without the friends I have made here, I do not know what I would do. When you have a solid group of friends who are always there for you, it makes a huge difference. The only way to get that is to get out of your room, go to events, and talk to people. If it were not for a room change, I would not have become as close with “The Boys” as I did. The Boys, being my friends: Christian, Quinn, Riley, Ron, Tim, Daniel, and Ethen. Plus, there are the mentors I have had—the “older siblings”–including my actual older sister, Natalie. But also, Emily, Gianna, Miller, Gibby, and Noah.     I think of all the classes I enjoyed. There were so many that without my classmates they would not have been as fun. Do what you enjoy. Find your passion. You do that by trying things. Live outside your comfort zone.     I can never forget all the podcasting. Most recently, The Perch, but also Off Topic, with an A-list like clockwork every Tuesday during the NFL season. We would all watch Stephen A. Smith’s A-list after making our own. A tradition that has carried on even now.     I will never forget the chance to play bass for—I think—the first ever metal band at Simpson, Day Nor Hour. Led by Bertie Wolske. Plus, there was also working on what I think will be a film that wins many festivals. Written and directed by Logan Haskell—with the help of many people—Burned Arms and Broken Hands, that was also something super special to be a part of.     I got to go to Alaska on a mission trip a couple of summers ago. Which was one of the best 2 weeks of my life. That same summer, I went to Washington, D.C. with TRIO. With the Bass Fishing Team, I have also been able to travel. That is something I never thought I would be able to do before the age of 25. Since being in college, I have added 14 states to my checklist. Say yes to things—that is all I can say.    I used to be a shy kid. Now I have been on the air a lot—for someone that just turned 22, anyway. I got there by trying things. I got recommended to try for a job in radio over the summer. That would eventually lead to me calling games for football, women’s and men’s basketball, softball, baseball, and men’s volleyball. Without Molly Rupert, Connor Sutton, Sam Nakata, Curley Wilson, or everyone else who helps me out in some way within the Athletic Department, I would not be able to do what I love so much.    Have gratitude. For the people in your life, the opportunity you have, and for the journey God takes you on.     I had a teammate pass away during winter break of 2022. Myles Davis, someone who took the time to invest in me. He took me fishing a number of times to teach me the ropes. Without him, I would not have accomplished the things I did with the Bass Fishing team. I have a hat I wear specifically at tournaments. One inside, one of the things I have written is “Thanks, Myles.” It’s a small to give him a nod when I’m fishing a tournament. I remember getting the call from my coach—my major league call-up. Which was something I always dreamed of, but unlike in those dreams this call-up was not for baseball. Coach told me I would be fishing the Major League Fishing College series—so I still got called-up to the majors, in a way.    Some of the most recent “big win” moments stand out to me as I reflect. The first time we put out a printed edition of The Slate, that was huge. The first printed edition in a decade or so. Then, of course, there was getting 3rd place at Clear Lake.      Some of the earlier wins were when I first played bass for the worship team. It was one of the first few times I had played. It was the first time I had played without feeling any sort of jitters, everything went smooth, and I did not feel ill-prepared at all.     The same type of situation happened when I started calling games for basketball. It was one of the last few calls I had—shoutout to all my color commentators: Cole McMahon, Sean Rodriguez, Hannah Parsons, Jewels Zaragoza, and AJ Raffaeli. It was electric. It felt effortless, but also flawless. Over the summer, the same thing happened, but on the radio. There was a game mid-season where it felt like every aspect of calling a game, from preparation to process to the pre- and post-game—it all went smoothly.    I will never forget the first Sweet 16 event I won, Something Epic. Jewels and I were the team leaders. Our team was so much fun, but also competitive. The event is a variety of mini games that culminate in points based on a slew of different categories, such as your chant, team participation, the place you finished, and your overall team energy. The Sweet 16 events started my freshman year. If you want to see how far my journalism skills have come, go find the article to see how bad it was compared to now. I had come close to winning many times, so finally winning one felt awesome—especially as a team leader with one of my closest friends.     Also, as an RA for two years now, I have learned so much that I will carry with me. Leadership is a learned skill. It is something that I am still developing. But it is also something I will use for the rest of my life. My leadership philosophy is humble servitude. Have an attitude of serving humbly. This is because I believe that to lead is to serve, as Jesus did.     I have been able to experience a lot. I have been able to have lots of opportunities. But it is because of God, nothing else. People, opportunity, passion, and ambition were given to me, which helped me take the journey I have.     God has given me a path. He gave me Simpson. He gave me the people in my life. For that, I will always be grateful. As the curtain closes on my time as a student, I look forward to where life goes from here. Simpson helped prepare me for my dream job. One day, I will be calling games on the radio for a major league baseball team.     7, 138 cups of coffee later, peace out, Simpson.

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 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 Jacob Greene College. Four years—if you are lucky—that form you. They can be transformative—if you allow. A built-in community that helped create moments you will look back on with the utmost nostalgia. Transition, memories, conversations, growth, community, firsts, lasts—all of these components make up the shared college experience. With all those positives you cannot forget the negatives, late-night cramming, clogged toilets, roommate drama, homesickness, bad games or competitions, and of course the heartbreak—whether it be from sports or not. This year is a year of truly basking in the last moments of college. It is an “Alright, let’s do this one last time” moment. I have been blessed to be integrated into a community of wonderful people. But it did not start out that way. Freshman year—within my first 6 weeks—I wanted to go back home. College was not what I expected. Now, looking back—it is better than I could have ever imagined. Through various series of events, I ended up in Thompson 209. That began the creation of a tight bond between all of “The Boys”—or so we were referred to as. That group makes up only some of my best friends that I have made here at Simpson. Since freshman year I have made a wide variety of friends all in different pockets of campus. It came with time—not to mention some awkward interactions at first. Lots of game nights, caf table chats, and late-night conversations—we are all tight. Do spontaneous things—especially with your roommates. We went to Denny’s at 2 A.M. one time—now we go as a yearly tradition—Taco Bell is more of a weekly tradition. I was once told that college is only 4 years of my life—after those years are over, I will not be friends with them. That is not true at all. This past summer I was in the wedding of one of my closest freshman roommates–along with some of the other Boys with whom I became friends during my freshman year. Create or find a community—they have the potential to become your lifelong friends. It seems like only a year ago I was a wide-eyed freshman unsure of things–of the next 4 years–or heck, of the next 4 hours. I felt as though I was lacking in so many departments. But I kept saying yes. Opportunity knocked—I answered. The transitions came—I had people to help. Community popped up—I chased after it. Curveballs came at me—I tried to lean out of the way, got knocked down—but, I had people to help pick me back up. All sorts of conversations, moments, failures—they all led to growth. This is a place that can shape you in a positive way. If you allow it–if you keep saying yes to things–if you seek opportunities–it can give you an avenue to fulfill your dreams. As I look back at my 3 years (and counting) I think back to all the different moments I have experienced. From the first time that all The Boys hung out, to the first time playing bass in chapel, or that first time I felt like a journalist with the Slate—then, of course, those times with friends where it felt like time was going by too fast to truly appreciate the fun time we were having. There are so many fleeting moments I wish I could go back to—to relive–to truly appreciate.

By Addison Jones    Simpson University has been patiently waiting for its new and returning students to fly back in.     New Students were greeted with a jam-packed weekend full of fun. The campus was buzzing with each new event. From the electric football scrimmage of the team to the scenic float down the Sacramento River--while not forgetting Midnight Madness at the local Oasis Fun Center. Transfers and First Time Freshmen forged an amazing experience with valuable connections.     Transfer and Commuter Student Carly Lucero speaks on her experience with the events.    “I live 30 minutes away from campus, which can be a challenge for attending the events. I still find I have a great group of friends to go to all the events and make great memories,” Lucero said.     Students were also given a glimpse into the core values and faith of Simpson University. The incorporation of God’s will and faith brought many emotions to students. Whether it was serving in the gateway groups, attending church at Pathway, or attending Arise with the worship team—God's  presence was with us.     New freshman Evie Anderson speaks personally on how it has been with her faith here.     “It’s been inspiring to see the faith element being incorporated into these events. It confirmed that I made the right choice to attend Simpson University,” Anderson said.     The fun never stopped—important and information-filled meetings were held for the freshmen, as well as transfers. Information was given on Simpson academics itself including the specific majors. There was a big welcome meeting held on Friday. The Residence Hall meetings were held on Sunday Night.    “Definitely got a good overview of my major and its expectations. The meetings were very informative with great speakers,” freshman Bella Oliver said.     This is just the beginning of the plethora of events hosted by the students and the university.  Be sure to check out the Campus Life Instagram – @campuslife_su  – for information on the next six weeks full of events!

By Jacob Greene Sport or not—bass fishing is tough. Pre-fish We – myself and my boater partner, Brayden Bishop – left at 4 a.m. to make the 3-hour drive to Lakeport, CA. That day we fished all around Clear Lake from 7:30 to about 5. In the cloudy, cold, and periodical rain—we had no bites at the end of the day. Pre-fish is the time spent before a tournament to find where the schools of bass are. Then you throw different styles of lures. You change the color, the presentation (retrieval rate), or the technique. You use trial and error to find a behavior pattern the bass are in. That is also conditional on what season it is. On LiveScope we did not even see any schools of bass. We knew going into this tournament that it would be tough. We also knew the weather pattern was going to improve as it got closer to tournament day. The MLF Toyota Series had started their pre-fish 2 days prior—in 29 degrees with snowfall. Day 2 of pre-fish–which was Day 2 of the 3-day tournament for the Toyota Series–we went out early. After Day 1 we had only eliminated water. There was no pattern we had found. We could not figure out the bite—which we knew was due to the pressure on the lake in the last couple of weeks. We had a couple of places to try, one we wanted to go to—first thing. Our goal was to get to the spot across the lake before the pros blasted off at 7 am. Our lines were wet by 6:45 am. On Brayden’s 3rd cast of the morning, he set the hook on a 7-pounder. Our plan–now that we had found fish–was to sit there all day to make sure no one took our spot. At about 7:10 a boat rolled up—asking us to move. He was leading after Day 1 in the Toyota series. We moved. From there–in our state of hopelessness–we ran north and south searching for something that replicated that spot. We found nothing. Both of us kept in contact with our teammates to see how they were doing. Everyone had 1 or 2 bites. By the time we got back to the hotel, we had nothing to go off. We had covered a lot of water—attempting to [still] replicate what we found earlier. We were looking for down willows, warm water flowing in through a creek channel, and some sort of flat or ditch where the bass would be schooled. Some places had downed willows, but no bites. After talking to a couple of other teammates we found out they were biting down south–if you could find them–if you fished a drop shot. I had been fishing a drop shot along with everything else in my tackle for the past 2 days—coming up empty. With pre-fish over –20 hours of fishing done–with only 1 bite, the hopelessness ahead of tournament day only grew. All we knew was fish slow. We needed to not throw any fast-moving baits. Tournament Day I woke up at 5 am. We had to pack before heading to the boat. From there we got all our gear ready, checked in, then launched. Neither of us knew where to start—what water to cover. As we idled out before blast-off we decided to see if there was a pro in our one spot where we had a bite. He was so we went north—then south to find a fish. 3 hours later we had nothing to show but an empty live well. Brayden made the call to go to a spot where we had seen fish on day 1. As we rolled into the area a boat 100 yards away from us caught a bass. They graciously offered to let us roll past them–to where we were trying to go–since we were in a tournament. About 10 casts in Brayden cast his swimbait (the only bait anyone could get bit on). He got bit but missed the fish. I gave him my drop shot rod. He casts into the same spot, gets bit, sets the hook, and the line snaps. As that happens, I flip my Senko (a slow-moving finesse bait) into the same spot—then I got bit, missed the hook set, and reeled in with no lure on the end. I put another Senko on—cast again, then set the hook as I got bit. Once we got that first fish in the boat, we stuck with what we were doing—after about 24 hours of fishing in 3 days, we had figured out what pattern to run. I kept flipping a Senko into the tules. Brayden fished a drop shot. Our 3rd fish was the biggest, but our 4th made all the difference. Without the 4th fish–caught about 2 minutes before we left to make it back by 2 pm–we would have got 6th place. We got 3rd, one spot away from qualifying for Nationals. RESULTS 1st Joey Gentle / Justin Gentle UCLA 16 - 13 (5) 2nd Kent Moua / Seth Moua FRESNO STATE 14 - 09 (4) 3rd Brayden Bishop / Jacob Greene SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 13 - 13 (4) 4th Landon Ford / James Hawkinson SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 13 - 09 (4) 5th Austin Brown / Brandon Huse CHICO STATE 12 - 13 (4) 6th Justin Keegan / Cody Wyatt SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY 9 - 07 (3) 7th David Berry / Aiden Grad SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 6 - 10 (2) 8th Jordan Harris / Fisher Perkins CHICO STATE 6 - 06 (2) 9th Michael Bray / Brennan Osborn SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 5 - 14 (2) 10th Miles Bootay / Jim Emory SACRAMENTO STATE 3 - 06 (1) 11th Dylan Grad / Taj White SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 2 - 01 (1) 12th Koobheem Her / Austin Soucy CHICO STATE 0 - 00 (0) 13th Peter Khoury / Steven Verschoor CHICO STATE 0 - 00 (0) 14th Nolan Bartlett / Bradley Tiller OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY 0 - 00 (0)