Trinity Digest

by Nicole Collins

2009-01-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

Staff Reporter

A Box Office Blackjack

2008-04-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

21 THE MOVIE - sonypictures.com

Card counter Jeff Ma of the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) blackjack team dropped his pseudonym and anonymity this year in the epilogue of Ben Mezrich’s Bringing Down the House, an inside scoop on six MIT students who won millions in Las Vegas in the late 90s.

Now a major motion picture that debuted worldwide Friday, Ma’s story scored number one in the box office and earned $24.1 million under the title “21” in it’s first weekend.
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But it’s not the greed that gets me going, it’s the vicarious thrill of watching these guys beat systems that aren’t supposed to be beat.
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Ma’s secret lasted a decade after his MIT escapade and six years after Mezrich’s novel had first been published. Not only was Ma’s name published, he also appeared on the big screen in a handful of shots as Planet Hollywood Dealer Jeff.

“The climate around gambling back then—it wasn’t the same as it is today,” said Ma in an interview with Mezrich in Vegas last year. “This was before the poker craze, and the resurgence of Vegas. Gambling was still kind of dirty—it wasn’t socially acceptable.”

Ma came from a conservative upbringing in upper-middle-class New England suburbia where he was shipped to Exeter Academy at twelve and naturally transitioned to MIT from there.

Because he feared how he would be perceived, especially by his father, for playing blackjack, Ma kept weekend card-counting expeditions a secret and separate from his life in Boston where he graduated from MIT and first worked as an investment banker at a firm in Chicago.

His double life was preserved on-screen by Ben Cambell (Jim Sturgess, Across the Universe), an MIT whizkid accepted early to Harvard Medical School – an elite educational opportunity he could not afford.

Although the real story is quite compelling, Hollywood naturally found a way to kick it up a notch with fictitious conflict, crafted struggles (tuition for Harvard Med, a fatherless protagonist, teammate love interest, estranged friendship from leading a double life, illegal interrogation by U.S. casino security…), and stretched ending.

“The movie didn’t do the book justice,” is a cliché that can be thrown away here. Yes: there were enough card-counting flaws and strays from the real story to annoy any informed viewer. But the movie wasn’t about teaching moviegoers how to count cards or train team play.

It was about retelling the MIT blackjack experience, a real tale fit for the big screen.

“I am turned on by stories that involve young kids making huge fortunes, and living large,” wrote Mezrich in the Epilogue of his book renamed 21, “But it’s not the greed that gets me going, it’s the vicarious thrill of watching these guys beat systems that aren’t supposed to be beat.”

And they beat the system because they aren’t gambling. Instead, they use large bankrolls to invest in their two percent edge over the casino.

“It’s a combination of math and acting. If you do it right, you make money; if the casinos catch you doing it, they kick you out,” wrote Mezrich, “That’s the purest evidence that its not gambling—casinos love gamblers. They hate card counters.”

Students Serve Over Spring Break

2008-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE & "SAY YES" AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - Lauren Dawn Rosko

Bridging Urban Mission Project (BUMP) and 20 Trinity International University (TIU) students partnered again to serve the Brooklyn communities of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park over spring break.

Brooklyn’s First Evangelical Free Church (EFC) National BUMP ministries coordinator Renee Young hosted TIU’s group in a large basement that also housed college students serving through the Center for Student Missions (CSM).

The TIU students partnered with Brooklyn’s First and Second EFCs, and the Vroom St Church in Jersey City, tutoring at after school programs and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Arab American Friendship Building and the Dorcas Chinese Community Center.
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Love them so they ask why.
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The group was lead by Director of College Activities & Leadership Development and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) student Adam Gustine, who desires to pastor someday in an urban setting.

“Leading this trip has been a remarkable learning experience for me,” said Gustine. “As I learn about urban ministry and the work of God through the church in the city, I can't help but be intrigued by it. I love leading this trip because I get to interact with students as we encounter the city together. I am already excited about this trip next year.”

At the Arab center, TIU junior Abigail Seeland continued teaching two women how to write and pronounce the English language alphabet. Moroccan immigrant Fatnaarjz, 60, spoke Arabic and understood a little French, but was illiterate. The grandmother had the passion of a kindergartener as she copied Seeland’s English letters on the pages of her journal.

“It was one of the most humbling experiences of the trip for me,” said Seeland. “To see their desire to learn and thankfulness was moving, and to experience love through smiles because it could not be expressed through words was powerful. It made me want to pursue ESL in the future, even if it is just through volunteering at a local school.” This was Seeland’s second New York mission trip through TIU.

Direct proselytizing is not welcome at the Arab center, as most students are Muslim. EFCA missionary Nomi Naeem converted from Islam six years after her immigration from Palestine to the United States forty years ago.

“Love them so they ask why,” said Naeem, who does not fear proclaiming her faith openly to fellow Arabs. Naeem is a member of First EFCs Arab Evangelical Church that has a regular attendance of 35. There are more than 70 thousand Arab Americans living in Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

TIU alumni and Urban Target Outreach Project in America (UTOPIA) missionary Ben Dodd lives in Jersey City across from the Vroom Street Church where he directs the after school program. Dodd is indispensable to the church, as he also sings and plays guitar in the worship service.

“Half of the world’s people live in cities,” said Dodd, “That’s why I’m here.”

Both Brooklyn EFCs are in need of summer interns and students who can commit as a UTOPIA missionary for one or two years. The six-week summer job pays $1,500 and the student can match that amount with a stipend through raised support.

"UTOPIA missionaries are a bright light to the churches of New York City," said Brooklyn’s First EFC pastor Dan Reeve. Reeve is a church planter in Bay Ridge and a TEDS graduate.

UTOPIA missionary Emily Green lead Second EFC’s first ever after school program “Say Yes!” in the heart of Brooklyn’s China Town. The program is a youth mentoring ministry that opens church doors to inner-city children during after school hours, providing them a safe and productive educational atmosphere off the streets, while teaching them about Jesus Christ.

The TIU New York mission group completed work projects for First EFC, painting the UTOPIA room and stairwell, and designing and creating board games for the after school programs at Second EFC and Vroom Street Church.

The team also broke into groups of three to four and designated a few hours to walk through Sunset and Boro Park to observe and pray for the people, and community life – these are called “neighborhood walks.”

“God lit a fire in my heart for urban ministry last week,” said TIU senior Nicole Calvin, “We all individually have forms of capitol, some unique, to offer to underprivileged people. In New York I was a friend, a teacher, a servant, a student, a learner… these are things all people can be to each other wherever they live.”

Coffeehouse Features Local Music

2008-02-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

ZACH PIETRINI & THE BROKEN BONES - Hollis Lewis

The local music scene surfaced by way of Coffeehouse this past weekend.

Trinity International University’s (TIU) Johnson Hall Lounge (JHL) was filled with a predominantly college student audience to see Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones Friday.

“Wow! I didn’t know people actually came to these things,” said one student.

“This is a fire hazard,” teased another.

The sound management was lacking as vocalist Hollis Lewis and violinist Mary Flowe could not be heard beyond the first table and drummer Nicholas Greener and guitarist Josh Connell both dominated the waves.

“I'm not exactly sure what happened with the sound,” said Lewis.

After the opener, Connell and bassist Michael Mehlan swapped for an awkward performance.

“Why is the guy looking at himself in the mirror?” asked a spectator. JHL unfortunately had floor to ceiling decorative mirrors. Watching Mehlan’s sensual reflection was as uncomfortable for the audience as the peeping of his butt crack when he dropped to his knees in an emotional guitar solo.

The full band returned and was redeemed with a powerful moment that couldn’t be rehearsed – the veins in Pietrini’s neck testified to the effort of his voice as he attempted to sing over the noise, and his failure to project was dismissed by a first row choir who sang out every lyric for him with pride.

“We had an hour worth of music prepared,” said Lewis.

But after the band blew two amps and performed three-ish songs, including the awkward duet, they exited the stage and the lounge numbers were cut in half.

Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones played Saturday at Taylor University in Indiana, where Lewis signed her first CD for a fan. They also had a show at Wheaton College at the beginning of the month, which went a little smoother.

“The Wheaton concert was the most fun I've had performing yet,” said Lewis. “We had a group of around 50 Trinity people come out to show their support and sing along. Wheaton's old chapel was packed out and you could feel the energy on stage”

Information about their albums “Mending the Broken” and “The Broken Season Turning” are available at the band’s MySpace website where a band biography, pictures and songs are posted.

Fans will have to follow the band live to hear the new tunes not yet recorded. They play at South Union Arts Gallery in Chicago Mar. 14.

The performance that won best entertainment for Friday night was trio Ben Krogh, Tim Ophus and Ryan Ebling who replaced one of the amps. One mic was used for Ebling’s banjo, and the other mic was shared by Ophus and Krogh for an unusual effect. Each switched off for lead vocals.

“That was on purpose,” said Ophus mid-lyrics when feedback roared through the speaker. He didn’t miss a beat.

Listeners socialized over drinks and treats at tables clothed in black poster paper and equipped with drawing chalk, compliments of JHL Residence Life Staff and the Acting on Aids Team. Tshirts were being sold to promote prayer and raise money for Spring Break and May term mission trips.

Ex-Student Opens Gunfire at NIU

2008-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

STUDENTS GATHER AND PRAY FOR THE NIU COMMUNITY - mlive.com

Valentine’s Day was horrifically marred by a former Northern Illinois University (NIU) student who opened fire in a class with 162 enrolled, wounding 16 and killing five before turning the gun on himself Thursday afternoon.
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Kazmierczak fired over 50 shots within seconds.
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“He came in with a shotgun on his hip and just opened fire right into the crowd,” said NIU student Shane Pope. “And from that point on I just went into panic mode and quick-turned and ducked down and ran out of there as soon as I could and just hoping that everybody else could get out too. It was madness!”

The motive of gunman Stephen P. Kazmierczak, 27, has not been identified by police. No connection has been found between the Kazmierczak and the ocean sciences class or the students in Cole Hall that day.

“He was an outstanding student, he was an awarded student, he was someone revered by the faculty and staff and students alike,” said NIU Police Chief Donald Grady.

Kazmierczak stopped taking his depressant medication around the time he purchased two of the three weapons, a pump-action Remington shotgun and a glock 9mm handgun, concealed in a guitar case on the day of the shooting.

“The shooter enters the room and doesn’t have any expression on his face, doesn’t say a word, just points his gun and opens fire in the largest section of the crowd,” said George Gainer, a student who was inside Cole Hall during the shooting. “As I’m running, there were people around me and we were all just asking ourselves ‘What’s going on – is this real?’”

From the lecture hall stage Kazmierczak fired over 50 shots within seconds.

The gun dealer who sold a handgun to the Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho reported through topglock.com that he had sold accessories to Kazmierczak, who ordered his weapons Feb. 4 and received them Tuesday.

In the days after the shooting, the NIU community mourned those killed: Ryanne Mace, 19, Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia and Daniel Parmenter, 20, and Julianna Gehant, 32.

“People were gathered around singing hymns and joining together to remember those affected by this tragedy,” said NIU student Elaine Eliadis.

Crosses are mounted for each victim, as well as posters, candles, pictures, cards, flowers and stuffed animals. Students gathered around the memorials holding hands, crying and singing, “We are all Huskies.”

Cole Hall is still blocked off and the door that Kazmierczak shattered and entered has been fixed. Classes and athletic events are all pushed back a week and will resume Monday.

“This event will change everything that happens for the remainder of the year here at NIU,” said Eliadis, “And the worst part is, it could not have been prevented.”

Superbowl Simas

2008-02-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

GIANTS RECEIVER AMANI TOOMER CELEBRATES SUPERBOWL XXLII WIN - nfl.com

It was that annual Sunday when grocery stores sold out of guacamole and tortilla chips and advertising companies spent billions for seconds of airtime.

When Trinity International University (TIU) students gathered around televisions on campus, at local houses, and church buildings, senior athletic trainer and women’s soccer player Loryssa Simas sat four rows up from the New England Patriots’ end zone in Phoenix, Ariz.
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Manning threw a 13-yard touch-down pass to Burress with just 35 seconds remaining.
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“I lost ten years of my life watching the last two and a half minutes,” said Simas. It was about the time when the New York Giants began their miraculous 83-yard march down the field.

Eli Manning threw a 13-yard lob pass to Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown with just 35 seconds remaining. Giants won Super Bowl XLII and beat the undefeated, two-touchdown favorite Patriots 14-10.

“It was terrible,” said Simas.

The New England resident has been a life-long Patriots fan, a product of her parents Dave and Lorry Simas, who live in Rhode Island.

Sunday was Simas’s third Super Bowl experience. She watched live the Indiana Colts beat the Chicago Bears last year in Miami and the Patriots win their third championship over the Philadelphia Eagles in Jacksonville, Florida in 2005.

In the late 90s things were looking up for the Patriots, and so was business for Mr. Simas, who bought season tickets to Gillete stadium. He upgraded from club seats to box seats a handful of years ago.

The Simases attended the Athletes in Action (AIA) Super Bowl breakfast, an official sanctioned event and award ceremony to honor an National Football League (NFL) player who “exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community,” said an AIA spokesperson.

San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson won the 2008 Bart Starr Award. Simas met Super Bowl XLI Championship Coach of the Indiana Colts Tony Dungee and retired NFL player Bart Starr at the breakfast.

“Even though the Pats lost, it was an NFL record-breaking year, and it’s always a blessing to spend time with family,” said Simas.

Belichick's Resume Impressive, Suspected of Cheating

2008-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY - nfl.com

Forty years ago today, Vince Lombardi resigned as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Many Trinity International University (TIU) students hail from Wisconsin, and to their dismay the Packers will not compete in Super Bowl XLII.

But Lombardi will be there, making his $25,000 sterling silver entrance, just as he has every year since 1971.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy was named in honor of the Green Bay coach who led the Packers to six division titles, five National Football League (NFL) West championships and to win Super Bowl I and II in the ‘60s. His post-season record was 9-1.

The undefeated New England Patriots are fated to be champions Sunday, and the win over the New York Giants would be Super Bowl championship number four for head coach Bill Belichick, and a 14-3 playoff record – second best in NFL history, as he trails only Lombardi.

Some NFL fans have tossed around the idea of a replacement “Bill Belichick Trophy,” and their voices have been heard in less reputable outlets – mainly sports comedy formats, late night television types, and random internet forums.

“It would be a dishonor to rename the trophy and replace the legend Lombardi,” said TIU student and Kevin Geldon, a Packers fan who calls Wisconsin home.

Others think it is inappropriate to compare coaches from different eras and dissimilar football styles of play.

“Lombardi is the history of football and one of the greatest coaches of all time. Football is the way it is now because of him,” said Rhode Islander Loryssa Simas, a Patriots fan. “Belichick is more of the now and he will be history. He’s hall of fame worthy.”

But Belichick’s entrance in to the Hall of Fame was potentially marred by accusations of illegal spying. In September the NFL confiscated a tape from the Patriot’s sideline and after an investigation Belichick was fined $500,000. The Patriots were fined $250,000 and lost a future priority draft pick.

The NFL prohibits taping an opponent’s signals on the sideline. Video recording is not allowed in the coach’s booth during the game, on the field or in the locker room.
Some Patriot fans are skeptical about whether Belichick really authorized the operation.

“Nobody knows if he was directly involved,” said Simas. “The Patriots aren’t the first ones to videotape games and read plays off of opponents lips. Whoever did it was just the first one to get caught.”

New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, a former Belichick assistant, was the one who knew of the Patriots spying tactics and ratted them out. But Mangini has been suspected of spying too.

Northshore Nannies Share the Big Screen Story

2008-01-25T09:00:00.001-08:00

THE NANNY DIARIES - The Weinstein Company

The north shore Chicago is known for its affluence and high-paid nanny jobs. Subparents are in high demand in these parts, and at Trinity International University (TIU) there are plenty in supply.

Both female and male TIU students find job postings for babysitting and subparenting on MyTrinity online. Just Monday over two-dozen want ads were posted at a minimum of $10 an hour.

“We are a happy, fun-loving family with three adorable boys,” wrote a mom from Deerfield. “Looking for someone to play with and help with homework from 4:00 – 7:00.” The pay rate is $10 -$12 and the mom is usually home but she “needs an extra set of hands.”

References and a car are commonly requested, but not always required.

Local suburb parents have paid up to $14 cash an hour while students pocket tax-free income. Money is never a problem, but the hours add up, the favors increase in inconvenience and the pressure to be available always becomes overwhelmingly stressful.

Two anonymous TIU Seniors, Nanny A and Nanny B, are seasoned childcare professionals of the area. They worked nearly 30 hours a week during the summer and have cut that number in half while taking classes spring semester.

Both are familiar with working while the parents are around, and Nanny A has experienced babysitting children with an incompetent father.

“He can’t take care of his own kids, he can’t even put them to bed,” said Nanny A. “The mom cooks some times, but we usually order food for take-out. I clean up more than she does, they have a cleaning lady, and she bribes her kids. They seriously can’t take care of their kids on their own.”

Nanny A was called out of class 11 a.m. Tuesday to drive to the children’s house, grab wipes and diapers, a change of clothes, and water bottles for everybody, get to Portillos at 11:30 a.m. and save 16 seats. She is paid $12 an hour.

Nanny B usually shows up cook breakfast for the kids while the mom works from home. She has learned that “you can do anything with money.”

“Last summer the mom accidentally messed up the t-shirt designs for her daughter’s birthday and paid-off the Marriot front desk guy to reprint the corrections at Kinkos within the hour,” said Nanny B. That mom got those prints in time.

During the summer, Nanny B spent a lot of time at a clubhouse pool with her kid, and was scorned for repeating swimwear.

“I wore little sundresses and my cute sunglasses – I can't look bad in front of these crazy women who are never seen in anything but the latest fashion in tennis wear,” said Nanny B. She gets paid up to $18 an hour.

The TIU nannies have enough anecdotes to fill a book, but they are all about six years too late.

In 2002, two New York University graduates teamed up and published a novel about their combined eight years of upper eastside Manhattan babysitting that paid for college tuition and loans. Newsweek announced the novel as a “phenomenon.”

Authors Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin’s New York Time’s bestseller “The Nanny Diaries” played out on the big screen last year starring Scarlet Johansson as Nanny.

The movie and book are fiction versions of Nanny’s experience at an upper class home with the X family: an absent, unfaithful and workaholic father, and a grossly self-seeking mother who does not cook, clean or care for her son, a neglected four-year-old boy.

Athletes Use Fruit & Vegetable Supplements

2008-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

A dietary supplement wholesaler urged the Trinity International University (TIU) women’s soccer team to eat more fruits and vegetables during a lecture Saturday.

Health professionals and clinical research support the many healthful benefits of Juice Plus (JP), according to a company representative Lynne Page, who gathered the female athletes in the Meyer Sports Complex conference room.

The usual morning soccer fitness testing and indoor practice was lengthened by a yoga session in the foyer with instructor and national ranking triathlete Joann Della Torre, who swears by the dietary supplement. A complimentary fruit buffet was provided at the sales pitch that turned six female athletes into Juice Plus customers – a four-month $39.75 per month commitment.

Juice Plus claims to be the next best thing to fruits and vegetables and does not label it's product as a vitamin supplement. We are a whole food based product providing nutrients found in seventeen fruits, vegetables, and grains, said Page.

In 1992, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the food pyramid that recommended 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit. In 2005, the USDA released the new “MyPyramid,” which was only a visual redesign of the former— the only difference was the added recommended amount of physical activity.

Juice Plus pushes for 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and attempts to link American eating habits to the national rise of cardiovascular disease, cancer and infertility.

Page presented a two-year old MacDonald’s Happy Meal and the only thing to show for its age was the wrinkled and ripped bag. The hamburger bun was absent of mold and the patty had not been decomposed – bacteria won’t eat the fast foods Americans shove their faces with.

Fruits and vegetables, though, are dubbed today’s new fast foods – they are small, easy to pack, and perfect for snacking on between meals.

“Fruits conveniently come in their own natural wrapper,” said Page. The women’s soccer team was delighted to learn that the kiwi fruit skin was edible and healthy, although the texture wasn’t appetizing.

Studies show that people should get their nutrients by eating actual food products and not supplements. Page recognized that incorporating more servings of fruits and vegetables into a diet can be difficult and expensive, especially to TIU students who rely on the food vendor Sedexho as their main food source. Although it is not a substitute for the real thing, Juice Plus serves as a “convenient, affordable, and natural” supplement for the extra needed servings.

TIU men’s basketball Head Coach Marc Davidson has his familyon Juice Plus. His five kids, all under the age of 12, participate in a children’s research program that allows them to take the supplements for free. Davidson and his wife take the capsules while the kids take the gummies and chewables.

“My taste buds have changed and crappy food doesn’t satisfy me,” said TIU Physical Therapy major Laura Della Torre, who has been on JP for three years and became a JP representative three months ago.

Since taking the supplement, Della Torre desires foods rich in nutrition and has experienced an increased energy level. She suffered chronically from Mononucleosis all throughout high school and into her freshman year at TIU, but since taking JP she has been Mono-free.

“Juice Plus in only ten bucks a week,” said Della Torre, “And that’s manageable when you think about all the crap-food you buy in a week.”

Trinitarian Tries Green Fundraiser

2007-12-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

STUDENTS DROP THEIR PHONES AT THE LEW CENTER - Linda Caselletto

The Trinitarian is thinking green to save some green. The Trinity International University (TIU) Yearbook is working to eliminate a necessary deficit incurred by an extension of production, and to update technology with the Phoneraiser.

This fundraiser works by student donation of used cell phones and inkjet cartridges, which can be recycled, in accordance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, or refurbished and reused.

“With Christmas coming up, there is a good chance that new cell phones will be in people's stockings,” said yearbook advisor Linda Casalletto. “This is an opportunity to get rid of the old cell phone properly and benefit Trinity at the same time.”

And around this time of year, black inkjet cartridges may be sitting idle and empty in student printers. Professors have complained about brown and blue ink used for final papers.

The donation of used cell phones and empty inkjet cartridges will not only support the Trinitarian, but it will benefit the environment by a reduction of toxic waste.

If improperly disposed of, one cell phone can pollute up to 132,000 liters of drinking water, said Phoneraiser.

Upgrade promotions by cell phone providers, such as Verizon Wireless, are becoming more frequent and accessible to users. Verizon customers who upgrade their cell phones are required to trade-in their used device, which is sent to a company warehouse that recycles or refurbishes it for reuse.

This money-saving strategy by wireless companies could be detrimental to the success of the Phoneraiser, but beneficial to the environment.

Students can drop off their donations at the Lew Center Information Desk and other marked locations in residence halls. Cell phone donations are tax deductible and receipts can be made out to students who include their Trinity mailbox number when submitting their properly working used phones. Phone chargers and accessories will not be collected.

A TIU broadcast email, not yet scheduled for distribution, will explain further details of the Phoneraiser that have not yet been arranged.

Alumni Win Dodgeball Tournament

2007-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

A group of Trinity International University (TIU) alumni by the team name “Balstin” split $300 Sunday after winning the annual Dodgeball Tournament, hosted by Student Government Association (SGA).

“I don’t care about the money – I just want to win,” said competitor Heidi Ebersole of “Getting’ After It.” Ebersole’s team had the manpower to go all the way, but took third after eliminated by “Balstin” in two different overtimes of single-player face-offs.

The SGA event drew 23 teams, with names like “Slippery Gerbils,” “Ball in the Face,” and “Not Creative Enough.” Over 150 spectators, largely made up of teams waiting to take the court or already eliminated, dwindled over the course of the three hours it took for the tournament to expire.

The tournament was played round robin and single-elimination style. A match was won by best of three games. Trinity Intramurals appropriately documented rules for the game, but competitors voiced their frequent disagreements with calls made by referees.

“Bogus! Bogus! Bogus!” shouted a player in disgust to his cheating opposition. Several players took advantage of missed calls and remained inside the volleyball-sized court despite knowing they had legitimately been knocked out. The biggest discrepancy, mostly a misunderstanding, concerned the definition of a “live” ball.

According to the official TIU Dodgeball Tournament Handbook, a live ball is a ball that has been thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field. It was often difficult to see if a ball had skimmed anther ball before hitting a target.

The key for success was speed and accuracy of throw and agility of body. The ideal dodgeball athlete would have the arm of a baseball player, the accuracy of a pitcher, and the agility of a football player.

Football senior Cole Goodenow showcased his skill as he impressively dropped and rolled to duck a live ball, and soccer junior Natalie Zierten displayed alertness as she jumped in what looked like a mid-air quasi-double toe-touch to escape a live ball, and ultimately both their eliminations. Zierten’s team, Dodge This, lost in the final and took second place, a repeat from last year’s tournament.

Teams played with a minimum of two girls, who weren’t too detrimental to the team if they were bad – nor too beneficial to the team if they were good. Few females had much of an arm, so the strategy became catching her ball instead of throwing her out. To win a match, a team relied on at least one male sniper.

For “Balstin” that sniper was an anonymous alumnus. Soccer senior Megan Pelland was the solo girl for the champion alumni, who played one man down. Pelland earned $50 for her performance and plans to save it for her wedding this summer.

The next college activity on the calendar requires a little less brawn and a little more grace. College Union has organized transportation for Ice Skating at Millenium Park tomorrow Saturday. There is no cash prize for top skater.

Held Maintains His Wit

2007-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

JOSHUA HELD GIVES AN ORAL DEFENSE THAT SEALS HIS VICTORY

Returning Battle of the Wits champion Joshua Held reclaimed his title and $100 at the second annual Trinity academic triathlon Tuesday.

Mathematics Professor and television’s Millionaire contestant Paul Bialek emceed the event, sponsored by Student Government Association (SGA) and organized by Academic Life Director Laura Gisler.

Thirty student contestants took the Lew Student Center stage for the first round spell-off. The official word list was compiled from the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“Venom” was the first word, and first eliminated was Eddie Pascual, defeated by a calorie-free vegetable.

“C-E-L-L-E-R-Y,” spelled Pascual, who volunteered for the event to earn extra credit points in Bialek’s calculus class.

Pascual joined the hundred or so spectators who feasted on a free assortment of Buffalo Wild’s take-out wings, potato wedges, salad, brownies and beverages. Those who attended were also offered free raffle tickets for the chance to win four $5 Starbucks giftcards upon answering correctly random Trinity trivia.

Moral standards were also tested as a contestant conceded that he accidentally misspelled “paradigm” with an “n” instead of an “m.” The judges’ panel was uncertain of the misspelling because of the contestants’ speedy correction.

Sitting in on the panel were Academic Dean Steve Pointer, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Coffee Washington, Professor of English William Graddy, and Professor of Biblical Studies Samir Massouh.

Trinity Hall Resident Assistant Laura Costerisan was flawless and impressive in the Spelling Bee round, securing one of the six positions for the second round: Team Trivia.

When a contestant successfully spelled a word, Bialek would shake his head as he proclaimed, “That is correct!” – a ruse he may have learned from Millionaire and The View host Meredith Vieira. When a contestant misspelled a word, Bialek would console them with phrases like, “That was a tough one,” and “I’m sorry, the correct spelling is…”

Held credited his sophomore biology course after dominating cnidocyte – a word that sent Bialek into the Merriam-Webster Third International dictionary for accurate pronunciation. Despite misspelling cheroot, “C-H-E-R-O-U-T,” and a few other words during a spell-off against Christina Jensen, Held earned himself a spot on Team One for the second round competition.

The six finalists for Team Trivia were: Team One: Joel Sanford, Joshua Held, and Joshua Kalb and Team Two: Christina Jensen, David Rabe, and Laura Costerisan. This round played similar to Jeopardy and included categories reminiscent of academic courses offered at Trinity.

“What is Cold Family?” contributed Laura Costerisan when Team Two was to name the slide of a Pablo Picasso painting of the Blue Period. The correct question was “What is The Tragedy?”

“Samir Massouh wrote the Old Testament,” teased Bialek during a Bible questioned that was disputed. Massouh was frequently consulted for judgment on Bible topics.

The contestants, judges and hosts were not the only ones enjoying the game. Spectators entertained and impressed themselves as they played along from the audience, spelling the handful of words they recognized and the random trivia they happened to know the answers to.

Sanford, Held and Kalb won the Team Trivia round. The three finalists advanced to the third and final round: Oral Defense.

Kalb went first and struggled through an issue concerning retail and consumption tax, arguably the toughest topic of the night. The question was hard and he felt awful, he said, although his glowing demeanor told otherwise when he exited the Lew with his arm over the shoulder of brother Ben Kalb.

Sanford, second, addressed the global warming issue lightly and with casual confidence. His performance sufficed for second place and $50.

Finally, Held was to compare 2008 presidential candidates. He spoke smoothly and coherently using attractive hand gestures, volume, pitch and rate while delivering his carefully constructed answer – however careful one can construct an answer in a minute and a half with little time for preparation.

Next for SGA is Trinity’s coed Dodgeball Tournament scheduled Sunday Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Teams of 6-10 players can sign-up in the Lew Student Center since Monday. First prize is $300.

No Wins for the Trojans

2007-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Winter came before the snow for athletics here at Trinity International University (TIU).

Men’s Soccer ended their season at St. Xavier University Friday night, losing 2-0 in the NAIA Region VII quarterfinal. The Center Referee endured harsh criticism for calling a seemingly one-sided match for the Cougars.

“We disagree,” shouted Director of Student Affairs Adam Gustine from the stands after a dubious foul was called for the wrong team. Gustine was respectful and his sentiment was understood, said Associate Dean of Students Greg Leeper who had sat next to Gustine in the stands.

“Nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts, we got screwed!” chanted another disapproving fan at the final whistle, though eliciting an embarrassed response than a proud one.

This year the team experienced one of their most unique seasons, said senior captain Caleb Redelman. They went nine games with no wins (0-8-1), but stole second place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) and earned a bid into the Region VII tournament.

“We had a good group of guys,” said Redelman, “We never gave up hope that we could win.” The men finished 6-12-1 overall.

Women’s Volleyball ended their season at the University of St. Francis Tuesday night, losing in the fourth game (30-17, 31-33, 30-28, 30-21) of the CCAC quarterfinal.

“I feel good about how we played,” said Coach Jill Rokosik. Her eyes and mouth told the story of a coach who was still recovering. The women finished 13-22, shoddy compared to last year’s 24-18 finish at the NAIA Region VII semi-final.

Women’s Soccer is exhausting all opportunities for post-season play again this year. They ended their NAIA future hopes Oct. 26 at St. Xavier, losing 2-1 in the NAIA Region VII quarterfinal.

But, unlike the men, their current overall record is above 50 percent (9-8-1), which makes them eligible by TIU standards to compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The women play in the NCCAA North Region semi-final against Judson University 7:30 at St. Xavier tonight.

Men’s Football lost by a touchdown at St. Francis Saturday, 13-6. They finish their season in Davenport, Iowa against St. Ambrose University at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The men are 2-8 overall.
Men’s Varsity Basketball suffered tight losses in their first to games of the season. The men were defeated at Mount Mercy College (IA) 79-73 Tuesday.

“The team is playing really well. Our freshmen are putting in some good minutes,” said senior captain Chad Reilly, despite the losses.

Women’s Basketball also came up just short Tuesday at home against Viterbo University (WI) 57-52.

The only win of the week was Men’s JV Basketball at home against Trinity Christian College – a win only recorded in the minds of those who care.

Chicago Marathon Marred by Heat

2007-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Marathon was canceled for the first time Sunday as the heat and humidity put over 300 runners in ambulances, hospitalized 49 and took the life of a 35-year-old man.

Chad Schieber of Midland, Mich was pronounced dead after collapsing in the 18th mile. Four runners have died in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon’s 30-year existence, but never have so many been reduced to unconsciousness or suffered nausea, heart palpitations and dizziness as on Sunday.

“It was absolutely insane,” said Trinity International University (TIU) senior Laura Della Torre. She was one of several TIU Athletic Training students that volunteered at the race-sponsored aid stations.

Libertyville’s Condell Medical Center employs Certified Athletic Trainers for the Marathon. TIU’s Athletic Training Program Director Karl Glass works in conjunction with Condell to provide TIU Athletic Training students the opportunity for monitored volunteer work and experience to earn clinical education hours in order to sit for the National Athletic Training Certification exam – a graduation requirement.

Senior Athletic Training students Kate Nelson and Christy Bullmore could be found sweating alongside Della Torre between miles 17 and 18, running quarter-mile sprints with wheelchairs to pick up and haul collapsed runners to the medical tent.

Early on about every 15 minutes a dizzy runner would visit the tent. But that number increased suddenly to an average of two-dozen people at any given time until the race was cancelled at 11:30 a.m., said Della Torre.

Three cots, five chairs and the floor at this station were shared by thousands of dehydrated runners over the course of the race. The volunteers responded to all needs – Notified emergencies, monitored temperatures and treated rolled ankles. They also distributed Vaseline and Band Aids for common chaffing and blisters, and gels, power bars, and water for nutrition and hydration.

The highest temperature Della Torre took that day was 108 degrees. Brain cells are destroyed at such high body temperatures. The man was unresponsive, unconscious and injected with two IVs, one was a chemical-seven solution – containing essential fluids beyond the normal sodium-chlorine saline.

City ambulances outside of Chicago responded to the surplus of calls and it took 45 minutes for one to retrieve the athlete now reduced to a comatose patient, said Della Torre.

Over 35 thousand runners began the Chicago Marathon and less than 25 thousand finished the race, according to race officials.

TIU student Graham Hallen was about four hours into the race at mile 23 when a marathon official with a megaphone announced, “The Marathon has been canceled, please walk.” Graham completed the race at 5 hours 6 minutes and 10 seconds. He survived the heat, but had surgery on his foot the following Thursday.

Athletic Director Patrick Gilliam finished his sixth marathon at 5:25:28, and TIU student Danielle Plantz finished at 5:51:04 – both an hour after their anticipated time.

“Running is now a felony, please walk,” said another course official.

Joining the Opposition for a Practice Session

2007-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

CALUMET & TIU POSE AFTER A JOINT PRACTICE TUESDAY - Dana Larmour

Calumet of St. Joseph’s College Crimson Wave Women’s Soccer forfeited their third game this season Tuesday against the Trinity International University (TIU) Trojans. The Crimson Wave (0-12) are battling a variety of injuries in addition to a slim roster.

Despite the forfeit, the TIU women’s soccer program traveled to Indiana for a combined training session with Calumet to encourage them and show them love.

Led by the inspiration of Athletic Director and Coach Patrick Gilliam, the women’s soccer team desires to be others’ focused this year. This is not just an ideal set aside for the off-season, but a mindset lived out even during the unpredictable demands of the fall.

The decision to go was made by the Trojans via a 36-party conference call at 10:45 the night before. Typical teams would have used the forfeit as an opportunity to go scout other league matches to be better prepared for future opponents in the post-season. Robert Morris College and Trinity Christian College, both top teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), had games that evening.

“Success in soccer is not the most import thing,” said Gilliam. “The most important thing is how when we see somebody in need we reach out and minister to that need.”

On Tuesday afternoon, 30 TIU women’s soccer players joined seven Calumet players, traded names, training t-shirts, and a cheer. The teams ran sprints, practiced drills and competed in a full-field scrimmage under the leadership of a combined coaching staff.

Lightning and thunderstorms emerged from a clear sky, and although the blinding wind and heavy rainfall made training difficult, the energy and hustle on the field increased.

“You are a classy bunch of ladies,” said Calumet of St. Joseph’s College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Emily King to the Trojans in a the post-practice huddle. King’s is a first-year coach at Calumet. She graduated in 2006 from Valparaiso University where she played NCAA soccer for four years.

When the training time expired and the rain did not, the group huddled as one, hands in, and on a three-count shouted “unity.” The players stripped off their soaked shirts, shorts, shoes and socks, and took refuge in a gym to eat pizza and fellowship.

Reflecting on a time when he coached a high school team that had similar injury and roster setbacks to Calumet, Coach Gilliam prayed aloud for Coach Emily and her developing program. The Trojans didn’t plan to engage in direct evangelism that afternoon, but trusted that if they were hearers and doers of the Word, the Holy Spirit would do His work.

“Hopefully along the way they ask what’s inside of people that makes them give up their afternoon to drive down here and do it joyfully and excitedly,” said Gilliam.

The teams have continued contact through Facebook, an online social network.

“We had a lot of fun and enjoyed you guys coming out,” wrote Calumet women’s soccer player Jorie Arnold in a Facebook message. “It lifted our spirits and we thank you very much!”

Athletes Modify Popular Drinking Game

2007-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Water Pong was the social game of choice for over 30 Trinity International University (TIU) athletes Friday. Represented at the off-campus Buffalo Grove residence were soccer, basketball, baseball and football athletes.

Water Pong and Beer Pong are one and the same, with the obvious exception: alcohol. Closet doors and kitchen tables have been substituted for the playing surface, and plastic party cups filled with a couple ounces of a liquid are set up like billiard balls at both ends.

Teams stand at each end table and exchange attempts at tossing a Ping Pong ball into the opponents’ cups. Both teams are responsible for consuming the contents of any cup made on their side. A winner is determined when a shot has been made in each cup, then losing team is responsible for drinking all cups remaining.

“I’m not sure that adapted drinking games are a great thing to promote,” said Athletic Director and Women’s Soccer Coach Patrick Gilliam.

Drinking games of this sort are commonly played at colleges nationwide because they double as a social activity and one that aids a faster consumption of alcohol. But simply mimicking the drinking game while meeting Trinity Expectations was not the goal for the event.

“We’re getting hydrated for tomorrow’s game,” said women’s soccer senior captain Loryssa Simas. Simas is also a student Athletic Trainer and studies under a department that takes serious the practice of hydration.

Before the start of the semester, all the athletic teams congregated in the Meyer Sports Complex to watch the Gatorade documentary on hydration, compliments of Athletic Training. During last week’s Boil Order, Certified Athletic Trainer Angie Ryan traveled to Lake Forest College to fill a total of 80 gallons of water for the athletes practicing that day in 90-degree weather.

Soccer athlete Serena Bjurlin shares the passion for necessary hydration and can be spotted around campus carrying a Nalgene water bottle. Bjurlin dominated Friday at Water Pong with partner and soccer player Steve O’Brien. Together they managed a seven-game winning streak during “winners- stay” play.

But rules of the game were a little shaky, because few actually knew how to play.

“I have the rules posted in my basement,” said soccer athlete Jesse Edson, “and I forgot to bring them.” Edson put up a handful of impressive wins with partner and soccer player Bobby McColl.

“We had matching uniforms,” said McColl, attributing the attention to attire as a winning strategy. It cannot be determined whether Bjurlin-O’Brien or Edson-McColl were the Water Pong champion, because the teams never played head to head.

Losing in Water Pong was really winning – as losers in Beer Pong get are the most drunk, losers in Water Pong are the most hydrated.

A hydration party is as rare as a party with a curfew. Nevertheless, everyone was kicked out of the house upon 11, because the women’s soccer team has a strictly enforced 11:30 “lights-out” policy the night before every game.

Premieres at a Dorm Television Near You

2007-09-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

GREY'S ANATOMY - abc.com

Television’s most watched drama “Grey’s Anatomy” returns to Trinity Hall’s Chicago Wing second floor suite TV screen 8 p.m. Thursday as the fall premieres weeks are just ahead.

Last year the new Trinity residence hall venue, that comfortably accommodates about five people, attracted over a dozen female students for an hour on Thursday evenings.

Although most of the group are currently graduated or living off-campus, the remaining few will continue to gather around the plasma screen for “Grey’s” fourth season, said second-floor resident Erica Koster.

A sneak peek of the premier episode is available at abc.go.com. It is reminiscent of the Pilot as new interns are broken-in, including Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) half sister Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) who introduces a pseudo-love triangle with Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey).

“Grey’s” was nominated for best drama series at the 2007 Emmy Awards Sunday and Katherine Heigl won best supporting actress for her performance as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens. Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) is the only familiar who is not returning to the show.

All female students are welcome to the second floor suite for the Thursday night showings, said Resident Assistant Natalie Zierten. Fans with conflicts can miss scheduled broadcasts without getting lost or left behind, because episodes are posted online as soon as the next day, and complete seasons are sold on DVD.

Those who lived on the second floor easily adopted “Grey’s Anatomy” fan status because Koster’s roommate Vanessa Speer owned the first and second season on DVD.

“I watched seasons one and two in like a week,” said former second-floor resident Wendy Moore who borrowed Spear’s DVDs. She also finished “Lost” season one, about 18 hours, in one weekend with roommate Jesse Edson. “Lost” season four doesn’t return until January.

The third season of “Prison Break” debuted Monday on Fox, and will be watched faithfully in Buffalo Grove at a women’s soccer house, although not always at 7 p.m. Mondays.

“We record the show on our DVR and watch it whenever we have time,” said house resident Laura Della Torre. The digital video recorder (DVR) operates just like the popular television recorder TiVo.

“The Office” returns for its fourth season Thursday on NBC. Men’s basketball player Tyler Liston already purchased the third season DVD that only recently became available this month.

The comedy’s 8 p.m. airtime competes with “Grey’s Anatomy” for thirty minutes. While the Trinity females choose a gender-exclusive site to watch their favorite show, the males can gather around Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and hear his latest overused one-liner: “That’s what she said!”

Other popular dates among Trinity students include “House” Tuesdays, “CSI” Thursdays, and “CSI-Miami” Tuesdays.

Starting a new show can be a hefty commitment for college students. Taking the plunge comes addiction and self-control issues. Viewers dive into the plots of their favorite dramas, confusing reality and fantasy for an hour a night and sometimes, in Moore’s and Edson’s case, entire days in a week – classes and studies are usually the first to get shafted.

“I don’t study as it is,” said transfer Bobby McColl with a smirk, “and if I get addicted to a television show then I definitely won’t study.”

SGA Chapel Introduces New Student Leaders

2007-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Trinity community was introduced to the new Student Government Association (SGA) for the first time Friday, as the student leaders hosted Chapel.

Campus Life Director Jessica Tober exposed her dramatic flair onstage with the performance of a monologue – acting is one of many talents of this diverse group of elected and appointed student leaders.

“We all bring something to the table,” said SGA President Daniel Oksnevad, as he attributed subtitles to his nine-member team, such as skateboarder, choir member, youth leader, honors student, baseball player, musician, techie, and the list goes on.

This unique group is a composite of Trinity’s campus, representing the mass unusually well. They meet nearly weekly, maybe once or several times – whatever it takes to discuss, plan and report thoroughly and completely.

Secretary Naomi Wenzel takes down minutes, Vice President Emily Duby seconds motions, and Treasurer Troy Anderson practices fiscal responsibility. If issues become tedious or procedures dull, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. William "Coffee" Washington never fails to bring the group to smiles.

As Oksnevad steers the progress of group discussion, Washington consistently addresses him as “Mr. President” for every inquiry or suggestion – possibly facetious, but his tone is absent of sarcasm and has the presence of deference. He addressed former SGA President Matt Hill in the same way.

“It’s what he does,” said Oksnevad with appreciation for his mentor and friend. This selfless and agreeable group is a reflection of Coffee’s leadership.

Eloquent core values and rehearsed mission statements aside, “SGA’s main purpose is to serve the student body,” said Oksnevad. And they do that by allocating funds to the different academic departments and hosting varieties of student activities that foster community.

The increasing student activities dominating the online Trinity all-purpose calendar, such as the expired Lew Coffeehouse, Scavenger Hunt, Cirque Shanghai, and Gino’s East, are all compliments of College Union Director Stephanie Erickson and new supervisor Adam Gustine.

Students are urged to stay tuned to plans regarding the Homecoming Dance, because the event is under tentative renovation, said Erickson.

Dynamic advertising for these events decorate academic halls and doors. The signs, posters, videos, and t-shirt designs are under the artistic scrutiny of Media Director Ben Krogh.

“I’m giving talented people a chance to be responsible,” said Krogh about his Media committee.

Upcoming events include The Battle of the Wits, organized by Academic Life Director Laura Gisler, and a revamped and highly anticipated Dodgeball tournament.

Illinois Qaukes and Students Sleep

2007-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

THE EPICENTER OF THE QUAKE WAS ABOUT 350 MILES FROM SOUTH BEND - wsbt.com

In Chicago the snow falls and the wind literally blows – and apparently the earth quakes. But few Midwesterners or Trinity International University (TIU) students recognized it.

“I didn’t feel a thing and I was kind of mad,” said Loryssa Simas, who remained dead asleep during the earthquake that hit southern Illinois at 4:36 a.m. Friday with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2, said geologists. “I wanted to be able to say I felt an earthquake.”

The rumbling originated in the Ozark Dome region, an area including several fault lines that covers roughly five Southern and Midwestern states that don't compare to the seismic zones found in the west.

“I felt at home,” said Christine Naumo, a southern California native who recalled the 6.7 that sent waves of concrete rippling through her Santa Clarita neighborhood when she was seven years old.

Some 120,000 square miles of earth shook from southern Memphis north to Michigan, and from Nashville west to Kansas City.

“There goes everything I learned in fifth grade geology,” said Minnesota native Wendy Moore who didn’t believe earthquakes could happen in the Midwest.

No one was killed, only slight injuries were claimed, shelves were rattled, a chimney collapsed, and beds jiggled.

“I thought my bed was vibrating,” said Laura Della Torre, who believed she was imagining it all.

By Tuesday a few students were still unaware of the disturbance that came in the wee hours of the morning.

“Didn’t have a clue anything happened,” said Jesse Edson.

“I woke up to pee around 5, but I think it was over by then,” said Dana Larmour.

“I didn’t feel it, but my friend did and thought a train was going by,” said Jami Higgs.

A comparable earthquake hit the same spot six years ago and a bit stronger quake hit the southern Illinois area in 1968. But none of these were as severe as an early 1800s rumble that shook all the way down to Memphis.

At least 22 aftershocks from Friday’s quake were recorded by Monday at magnitudes as high as 4.5.

“What earthquake?” asked Levi Arnold.

April 25, 2008

Sex Talk, No Need To Be Coy

2007-04-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Johnson Residence Hall lounge was a male-free zone the night of Tuesday, as Trinity International University (TIU) Women’s Ministry Council (WMC) hosted its third annual “Sex Talk.”

It was an intimate gathering of a few dozen female TIU students who sat in a tight circle and shared large bowls of popcorn and the opportunity for one chapel credit.

A panel of three distinct women; a Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) Professor, TEDS alumnus and TEDS student, each told unique testimonies, identified sexual myths and tackled nine of several questions posed anonymously by way of pencil, paper and plastic cup.

Two inquiries sought out advice for remaining abstinent during long-term relationships and engagements. One that received significant attention concerned the differing affects of sexual, emotional and spiritual intimacy.

“Couples who spend a lot of private time together in prayer are often the couples who have premarital sex,” said a panel member. The same panel member said that great sex stems from great communication.

“Is it ok to talk to your fiancé about how great its going to be to have sex?” and “Is it ok to talk about sex among your girlfriends?” were two more questions pulled from the anonymous cup and read aloud by Assistant Director of Student Ministries and WMC leader Rebecca Lien.

“Yes!” a panel member answered without missing a beat, “To both.” The panel explained further that the conversations should not be intended to turn on or tease the fiancé.

“Is doing everything, but sex, ok out of marriage?” and “Is anal and oral sex permissible in marriage?” were questions that two panel members volunteered the third to answer. The panel advised that, although there are sexual acts that don’t impregnate, out of marriage they are not short of sexual sin. They added that not feeling guilty about participating in these acts does not justify them.

“We are told that the Missionary Position is the only way. I’ve read Genesis to Revelation and it’s not there!” a panel member said vaguely about sex within the marriage. The second question was never answered directly, but she said that there is a lot of sexual freedom within a marriage.

“How can you be open about your sexual history with friends without feeling judged?” was the final question pulled from the cup.

“The Restoration Program,” said Johnson Hall Residence Director Heather Harms. It is a refuge for students, designed to encourage them to approach staff, faculty, and Residence Life without fear of judgment or disciplinary action. “When we hear about your struggles, we hurt for you,” said Harms.

Students can also turn to WMC, which exists “to advocate on behalf of women, compel them to live transformed lives of worship and empower them with tools for renewing their minds.” This past semester WMC met the needs of women struggling with body-image issues by initiating a credited aerobics class. They were intimidated to work out in the Lew Student Center on their own, but were comfortable with fellow female students in a class.

“We are revamping the ministry to meet women’s needs,” said WMC member Melissa Diaz, who worked beside co-member Kara Bergman to host the “Sex Talk.” WMC is seeking applicants for next year and applications can be found online at www.mytrinity.tiu.edu via Spiritual Life and Student Leadership.

Also next year, the frequency of the gathering will quadruple and it will be renamed “At the Well,” a title that reflects Jesus’ unconditional love for the Samaritan woman as written in the Book of John.

AT&T to Install Speedier Internet

2007-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Trinity International University’s (TIU) internet speed will increase more than 400 percent no later than Apr. 10. The new technology is a sizeable investment of close to $30,000 a year, said Information Technology (IT).

The expansion of the TIU campus, also known as Trinity Hall, furthered the motivation for a completely wireless campus and caused an unanticipated surge in students’ internet use – massive downloading and uploading traffic called for extra bandwidth.

In December, IT signed a contract with AT&T that was to enhance internet bandwidth from 4.5 megabytes (MB) to 20 MB. IT has done their part to ensure a timely transition, but there is still work to be done by AT&T – and the target date is fast approaching.

“We’ve been waiting on them,” said IT Director of Networking and Telecommunications Kelvin Tohme. “It takes time, it’s not about flipping a switch.”

The State of Illinois has approved AT&T’s architectural and engineering design plans and have granted work permits for the trenching and boring portion of the project that went underway Mar. 14. AT&T also installed relay rack and Cisco switch networking equipment in the IT room in the basement of the Mansion to prepare for the increase in bandwidth.

But AT&T still needs to pull and terminate the fiber optic cable from their off-campus site to the Mansion – to be done by Today – complete connectivity testing of the new circuit, and cut over to the 20 MB bandwidth by the Apr. 10 deadline.

Once the new technology service is established, any future need to increase the bandwidth is just a phone call and a few business days away.

“The internet experience should be quite pleasant,” said Tohme.

A Different Kind of Madness

2007-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Seven teams were ranked, a round-robin bracket was drawn and two handfuls of Trinity International University (TIU) business majors jumped into bumper-carts to compete in an aggressive Whirly Ball tournament that lasted until midnight Wednesday.

The free event was student picked, organized, marketed, and managed by the Trinity Council on Business (TCB), a club led by Business Professor Sidney Yeomans and elected officers. It is open to business majors, minors and undecided students, and convenes once a month in lower Melton on Wednesday nights.

This year TCB has alternated between serious and fun events; from an Executive Advisory Board (EAB) Panel Discussion and a bowling outing with the Business Professors in the Fall, to an Alumni Business Forum, where alumni were invited on campus to share about their business experience, and a Business Etiquette Dinner in the spring.

Because TIU is a small campus, building relationships is key and networking is helpful for business students to find a job after graduation, said TCB. Their mission is to provide a conducive environment for spiritual, academic, and personal growth in preparation for Christ-centered leadership in the business world.

“Our main purpose is to facilitate relationships between current business students, faculty and alumni,” said TCB Co-President and accounting major Tim Jeanson. WhirlyBall is an unconventional, yet entertaining and active way to cater to that vision.

“It was a good time of fellowship and competition,” said TIU business-accounting major Jason Kofroth. The activity was fitting for a business club event, since nearly half of all business majors, a male-dominated major, are involved in Trinity Athletics.

The Whirly Ball court was similar to the size of a basketball court, but it included elements from several different sports. Hoops were laid flat in the middle of the backboards that suspended from opposite walls. The absence of out-of-bounds was similar to ice-hockey, and the use of a miniature quasi-lacrosse stick was the means by which a softball-sized whiffle ball was scooped from the ground, passed between teammates and shot against the target.

Players don’t just ride on bumper cars aimlessly.

Each shot that ricocheted against the backboard earned one point, while a shot hitting the target earned two. In the championship game, Jeanson scored a point with only 10 seconds remaining to break the 2-2 tie and secure a tournament win for his team.

“It was a very sweet experience to get together with my fellow business majors and win,” said TIU business-human resources major Jonathan Ott. These kind of activities are important because it helps the students spend time with their business classmates and professors outside of the classroom, said TCB.

Just before TIU’s spring break, Jeanson and TCB Co-President Josh Antioho invited Professor Yeomans for dinner at their off-campus house. They students made side-dishes while Professor Yeomans brought nine steaks to grill.

“Having fun is a key part of keeping our Christian faith real and exciting,” said Professor Yeomans, who also competed in the Whirly Ball tournament.

“He is definitely one of the coolest professors,” said Jeanson, who has made the most of his involvement with TCB. On Jun. 29 Jeanson begins a four-year program in the financial department of the Boeing Company in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Spritual State of the Campus Apathetic, say Leaders

2007-02-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY - tiu.edu

Last semester individuals started noticing it, before the break they voiced their concern about it and this semester they are acting upon it.

A few weeks ago, Trinity International University (TIU) Director of Chapel David Whited called a meeting with the TIU Residence Life team – all shared concerns for the spiritual state of the campus, said Assistant Resident Director (ARD) Hillary Leeper.

Christian apathy was the subject that dominated the conversation. Resident Directors and Assistants addressed the problem, asking each other if there is something they are doing – or not doing – to contribute to the apathy.

“It's been on our hearts since last semester,” said Leeper who joined with Resident Director Heather Harms and ARD Heather Armstrong to schedule a few get-togethers throughout the semester with their Resident Assistants to pray for the campus.

Prayer groups have been sprouting up all over. A group of students meet with Senior Vice President for Student Affairs William “Coffee” Washington to pray every-other Wednesday night from 8-11 p.m. in the Arnold T. Olson Chapel.

Over 30 students are involved in a group called Penuel that meet on rotation during Chapel Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to pray for the service while it is in session.

Senior Daniel Frampton organized an email prayer chain that united the School of Language, Literature and Communications.

“I feel like everyone started noticing it at the same time,” said Junior Heather Hershberger, a Christian Ministries major. She was convicted about her own proneness to slowly becoming a fence-rider last semester.

Hershberger is currently taking “Strategies for Discipling Ministries” with Professor Sundene, who facilitated class discussions last week about apathy and complacency, complimented with a study on the neither hot or cold, but lukewarm Church of Laodicea.

Christian apathy is being countered on campus with awareness and prayer that will ideally lead to revival. “An important aspect of collective revival is a personal revival in each individual heart,” said Women’s Softball Coach Kelly Bergmann.

“Repentance. That is where revival begins, with a personal humility and brokenness before God, allowing Him to search the heart and shed light on areas that need to be dealt with,” said Bergmann. “When individuals begin to do this in their community, that is when collective revival happens…and this ‘revival’ spreads like wildfire in a powerful way.”

Over a third of TIU’s students are athletes. Athletic Director Patrick Gilliam, aware of the impact of the athletic community, challenged athletes to take an intentional role in praying for and promoting spiritual revival on our campus.

Gilliam, a current Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) student, gathered information on how to promote a revival and presented it to his women’s soccer team during their weekly team bible study Tuesday. According to his studies, TIU’s spiritual state is compared to fallow ground; ground once farmed, but which now lays waste.

In “Lectures on Revival,” Charles G. Finney wrote, “If you truly intend to break up the fallow ground of your hearts, begin by looking at your own heart … prepare the mind into a state where it is fitted to receive the Word of God.”

It is written in Hosea, “Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rain righteousness upon you.”

Luis Palau Speaks Next Door

2007-02-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

PALAU HAS SPOKEN IN PERSON BEFORE LIVE AUDIENCES
TO MORE THAN 25 MILLION PEOPLE - luispalau.net

Sixty years ago Wednesday a 12-year-old Luis Palau entered into a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” and a 72-year old Palau stood at the pulpit of Christ Church Lake Forest (CCLF) Sunday morning to tell about it. Palau was guest speaking at CCLF for their Global Ministries Celebration, “From neighborhoods to nations: reaching the world near and far.”

Senior Pastor Mike Woodruff introduced the world evangelist and doctor of theology, highlighting that he has preached the Gospel to more than 1 billion people worldwide and has spoken in person before live audiences to more than 25 million people.

“My life goal was to win as many people to Christ as I could” said the Argentine, in solid accent, when he first put his foot in the door of evangelism. Palau began preaching at 18 years old and over five decades later he was in town preaching in all three CCLF worship services on “Faith in Action.”

He was a gifted storyteller, capturing the crowd with enthusiasm, charm and comedic technique. With his sport-jacket unbuttoned, Palau paced the stage, dodging the podium, performing impressions and using authoritative hand-gestures in synchronization with the pressing points of his sermon.

“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some,” recited Palau from I Corinthians 9:22. It is through innovative evangelism that Palau seeks to win people to Christ.

The Luis Palau Association hosts free two-day festivals throughout the western hemisphere, known for their huge concerts and skateboarding demos. Contemporary Christian music accompanied with extreme sports may be an unconventional method to spread the Gospel, but it has exploded over the last decade and Palau is determined to reach, what he calls, the “Next Generation.”

“It’s not for old-timers, it’s for kids,” said Palau. With the same idea in mind, he pioneered Next Generation Alliance, a partnership ministry “to encourage and equip a new generation of evangelists” that specializes in evangelism training and resources through conferences around the globe.

In his clear effort to reach young people, Palau and his son Kevin Palau also launched “Livin It” – a skate tour directed by Stephen Baldwin. It features extreme sport athletes such as Lance Mountain, Ray Barbee, Jay "Alabamy" Haizlip, and Christian Hosoi, who perform stunts and tell their stories to encourage viewers to live life with a purpose and share it.

Trinity International University (TIU) sophomore Michelle Smith and junior Chad Reilly attended CCLF Sunday morning with no idea that Palau was speaking, a story that may be shared by handfuls of TIU students.

“I’m encouraged and inspired by his stories,” said Smith, who has heard Palau’s name in an ad on the radio but didn’t know of him otherwise. His message inspired her to focus more on evangelism, as she is looking to combine Christian Ministry to her Elementary Education major.

Palau currently resides in Portland and listeners can tune into his daily radio broadcast and podcast “Reaching Your World.” Lists of upcoming events and more information about festivals and partner ministries are posted at palau.org.

Bioethics Lecture Series Sheds Light on Stem Cell Research

2007-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

- Gary Varvel, The Indianoplis Star

Cloning and stem cell research are on-going controversial and intimidating issues for a lot of people, causing many to become weary and turned-off. But local disinterest and confusion were discarded Thursday evening as Trinity International University (TIU) Professor of Bioethics John Kilner, Ph.D., told the truth about bioethics to an audience of 50 at the Kenneth Kantzer auditorium.

Stem cells are primal cells that have the ability to renew themselves, divide and grow into a range of desired tissues, such as nerves and muscles. These new tissues are used to replace damaged ones, ultimately improving quality of life for everyone.

Kilner’s listeners left with a firm grasp on the difference between the two basic forms of stem cells: adult (obtained without harming human life) and embryonic (obtained by destroying human embryos), and the ethical issues that ensue. But what they didn’t know is that they would leave with an awareness about the lack of scientific researchers who engage in truthful communication about stem cells.

“Why do we so often try to mislead people, to gain some sort of benefit,” said Kilner, “when it so often backfires in our face?” His concern is that truthful communication; what one says and what one understands, has been replaced by Utilitarianism communication; deception used to advance scientific research that harms the vulnerable.

Potential beneficiaries include: those who are ill or injured, subjects of research; human embryos, and sources of materials; those who donate eggs or somatic cells are being exploited through this deception. The corruption can be traced among scientific circles engaged in embryonic stem cell research.

In 2004 South Korean cloning researcher Hwang Woo-suk claimed to successfully clone human embryos – a medical breakthrough at the time. In 2005 an investigation found that the eggs were purchased and the research was fabricated.

In 2006, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) removed a single cell from an embryo without harming it, claiming “early embryos can yield stem cells and survive.” Just one problem: all the embryos used in the experiment were destroyed. In a total of ten experiments, ACT implied that 16 cells were removed from 16 embryos, and two stem cell lines were created as a result.

A research investigation found that the two stem cell lines were actually a result of 91 cells that were harvested from the 16 embryos, causing their inevitable deaths.

“History is littered with misguided attempts to relieve suffering by cutting ethical corners,” said Kilner. Putting an end to suffering can also be achieved through adult stem cells, but promoters of embryonic stem cells often disregard ethical routes based on the current assumption that an embryonic stem cell can grow into any cell.

Misleading language is used to smokescreen the fact that producing the desired cells from embryos “requires cloning human beings and then destroying them. Cloning and killing are too high an ethical price to pay,” said Kilner.

Stem cell debates are not about science versus religion, but an entire mindset; biological versus philosophical, according to Kilner. “Is an embryo a ‘being’ or just ‘some cells’? – An adult could be called ‘some cells’,” he said, but scientists don’t kill adults to advance their research.

In 1933, 399 African-American men in Alabama diagnosed with syphilis were untreated and exploited in order for scientists to conduct research on the phases of the disease. It was not uncovered until 1972 that 28 men had died of syphilis, 100 others were dead due to syphilis related complications, at least 40 wives had been infected and 19 children had contracted the disease at birth. None of the patients were told that they were being used for medical research.

Because of studies like Tuskegee, the National Research Act law was passed to protect human subjects from being reduced to lab rats. But this law doesn’t protect human embryos, because the human status of an embryo is still up for debate. To eliminate the ethical dilemma, some scientific authorities redefined an embryo as not human up to two weeks after conception, and some up to eight weeks.

Kilner recognizes these redefinitions as “fancy word plays” that cause a “pressing need for truthful communication” and a call for citizens to “avoid sweeping dismissals” about the effectiveness of adult stem cells.

The National Institutes of Health account for 14 stem cell studies that report adult stem cell plasticity – a wide range of potential for growing and dividing into desired cells. Several science journals have recognized adult stem cells as pleuripotent, including Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley.

The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics “Do No Harm” keeps score of stem cell research treatments for diseases – Adult Stem Cells; 72 (including 26 cancers), Embryonic; 0. The “Do No Harm” website is maintained at TIU’s Center for Bioethics.

“There is another safe way to develop the same cures,” said Kilner, who was referring to recent developments in amniotic-fluid stem cells found in the placenta. Adult stem cells are not the only ethical means for advancing research.

This year a study has been published that found amniotic-fluid stem cells are “readily available, perhaps ethically trouble-free and possibly as powerful and flexible in function as their embryonic counterparts.”

“Telling the Truth in Bioethics: Stem Cell Research, Cloning, and Beyond” is only the first bioethics seminar of a series of three held by TIU. The presentations, free and open to the public, are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Kantzer Auditorium. Future seminars are scheduled for Feb. 22 with Lawndale Christian Health Center CEO Arthur Jones and Mar. 15 with Wheaton College Philosophy Professor of Faith and Learning Dr. E. David Cook.

Trojan Soccer Donates Gear to Zambian Orphanage

2007-01-26T09:00:00.001-08:00

ZAMBIAN ORPHANS GATHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO - Adam Riddell

Zambian orphans posed for Trinity International University (TIU) alum Adam Riddell’s “my kiddies” facebook album with cleats, tennis shoes, jerseys, shorts and soccer balls donated by the men and women of TIU soccer Wednesday.

Former TIU men’s soccer captain Riddell now partners with Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) and lives and works with orphans and vulnerable children in Lusaka.

“There are 52 of them and they all love to play soccer,” said Riddell. Upon a short visit to Chicago in January for his best friend’s wedding, Riddell came up with the idea to bring donated goods from TIU back to his kids at the orphanage.

TIU women’s soccer player Wendy Moore answered Riddell’s call and volunteered as point-person for the soccer clothes drive. Moore posted a sign at the Meyer Sports Complex and at her Trinity Hall suite, both complemented with empty cardboard boxes that turned over 150 items over the span of winter break.

“It was something I wanted to do, because I had met those kids and had been there,” said Moore. Her and Riddell were both part of TIU’s first team to be sent to Zambia in the spring of 2006. “You could tell already last year that Adam was going to be back.”

The donated gear exceeded the luggage regulation and Riddell was unable to bring it all with him on the plane. The excess goods will be taken by Interim Associate Dean of Students Greg Leeper and his wife Hillary Leeper on their return to Zambia – a short-term mission trip scheduled for spring break. The Leepers plan to unite with Riddell and do ministry with JCM – “Combating child labor through education.”

“In short, we remove kids from the work force and put them back into schools,” said Riddell. In addition to helping the children, Riddell and JCM teach the parents specific skills, such as baking, catering, and tailoring, in order to help them to provide for their child so that he or she can go to school instead of work.

Riddell and JCM also head efforts to remove some of the 800 kids who live on the streets in Lusaka alone. In one weekend Riddell and his team removed 13 kids and invited them to the orphanage.

“It’s heartbreaking to see a 10 or 11-year- old sleep on concrete,” said Riddell. After adding kids to the orphanage Riddell begins the process of building their trust and finding out their real story.

Riddell put ear-to-ear smiles on the kids’ faces when he arrived back at the orphanage with boxes of the Trojan soccer gear, and pictures were posted online for all TIU men and women soccer players to see. Kings put on the New Castle jersey, Esau juggled the TIU Brine practice ball, and Jack wore the Predator soccer cleats with style.

“Many thanks to the wonderful people in the men and women’s soccer program at TIU for their generous donations,” said Riddell. “If I was an emotional man, I would have cried many times over at the sight of my guys wearing shoes and playing ball. Thank you so so much.”

ADAM RIDDELL GIVES A HEARTY THANKS ON BEHALF OF HIS KIDS - Adam Riddell

Trinity's Own Wed on Campus

2007-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Trinity Hall Residence Director Anne Kooi and Trinity International University (TIU) Director of Networking and Telecommunications Kelvin Tohme were married in the Arnold T. Olson Chapel center Saturday afternoon.

The two met while Tohme was giving an Information Technology (IT) presentation last year to the Trinity Residence Directors and Assistants about using GroupWise – email communication software – and accessing the TIU network. Kooi stayed afterward to ask questions, but friends say that she confessed it was for a little more than just getting information about the technology.

Tohme and Kooi quickly recognized long-distance running as one of their common interests and both participated in the Chicago Marathon in Fall 2006. Tohme popped the question last summer at the romantic Castle Coch in Wales, and slipped an engagement ring on Kooi’s finger after she excitingly proclaimed “yes!”

“These rings are more than some wedding bling” said Rev. Steve Argue after the couple repeated their vows. The informal style of Reverend Argue’s message and his long, blond, shaggy hair added flair to the traditional, yet contemporary, ceremony in which only one cell phone sounded.

The guests were escorted to their seats and the wedding party was accompanied to the stage with hymns performed by a solo instrumental pianist. The Bride began the small stretch to her Groom, lined by family, friends, students and faculty, while bridesmaid and TIU’s Johnson Residence Hall Director Heather Harms sang “Praise to the Lord.”

The service continued with a congregational reading of Psalm 100, Lamentations 3:22-26 and Isaiah 25, and another solo by Harms. She sang “Jesus What a Beautiful Name,” a song she had sung to encourage roommate Kooi.

Friend of the Groom and TIU’s IT Director of PC Support and Instructional Technology Chris Miller also read scripture from Romans 12:1-3 and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School student Matt Tebbe lead the couple in worship.

When not fixed on each other’s eyes, Kooi and Tohme faced the audience during most of the service, smiling warmly and showing appreciation for all of the love and encouragement that was present in the room. The anticipation and excitement in the chapel could not be denied, and it was intensified by Kooi’s glowing smile and Tohme’s raised eyebrows.

“Thanks for being H-O-T hot!” said Tohme to his bride as they exchanged personal comments before they recited their vows. Laughter sprang immediately from the crowd – half in surprise and half in confusion. “I don’t know why they’re laughing,” continued Tohme coolly, “Because you’re Honest, Open, and Transparent.” Kooi responded with a curtsey and reciprocated with an insightful story about the recent impact the worship song “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” had on her life.

Row by row, the couple greeted and dismissed the guests to the Lew Center, which was transformed into a reception hall with its light fixtures, white table cloths and centerpieces of long-stemmed red roses. The bathrooms were stocked with dinner mints and the lofted balconies were adorned with lights and an overflow of guests, all who enjoyed dinner from “On The Border” Mexican cuisine served by Sedexho caterers.

Dancing continued well after finished dinner plates were removed from the tables and Groomsman and TIU Athletic Director Patrick Gilliam gave a three-point sermon as his Best Man speech. While the wedding party kidnapped Kooi, Tohme was forced to slow-dance by himself in order to bring her back to the dance floor. Tohme also serenaded his new bride with a Steven Curtis Chapman solo.

After hours of celebration, the newlyweds performed their grand exit and Tohme surprised his wife Sunday morning with a one-week honeymoon in Costa Rica.