My Final Project!

So, we had to create a publication for my final Editing and Design Project, and being me, I decided to do a modern tattoo magazine. I wanted it to be more posh and high-class and all the pictures and some of the articles are from the Washington Post

College Ink: Responsibility Mandatory

Every kid goes through the question “Should I get a tattoo?”

For most kids the idea is about rebellion and looks and “how will mom and dad react?” but for many others it is about expression and dedication. In college, when kids are given more freedom, both financially and from parents, getting a tattoo is a tightrope walk of responsibility and fun, on which every student tries to not fall off.

In 2009, the average credit card debt for a college student ranged around $2000. Along with this students were getting a mean monthly income from work of $453 and $312 from parents.

So after all the shopping, food, booze, books, and entertainment, how much is really left for that first little star on your foot or “MOM” on your arm? Not enough at all

Most students by the end of the month can’t afford enough money to fuel coffee for all nighters and do their laundry, yet according to the Pew Research Center 40% of people ages 18-29 have at least 1 tattoo.

This means that many students are spending money they don’t have on tattoos, when many actually come to the conclusion that they don’t like what they got done.

So does this mean that age defines who is responsible enough to get a tattoo?

While many might believe this question is answered by the simple fact that you can’t get a tattoo until you are 18, that’s not entirely true.

Many kids today are growing up faster due to outside sources that generations before us have not had to deal with in such great amounts, such as the availability of illegal drugs or domestic abuse.

When looking at college students who take on the load of school, family, sports, work, friends, and acting as their own parents while away from home, responsibility is thrown onto them and expected.

So when the time comes to make the decision of whether to get that first tattoo or not when no one is standing in the way, responsibility lays in the scales: can you afford it, will you love it forever, and can you defend getting it?

On the MTV show “College Life”, a show focused on college freshman with cameras filming themselves during their first year, cast member Jordan is shown definitely ignoring his scale.

Jordan weighs his debt of school tuition he has to his parents (both of who work full time jobs) and instead spends $2000 on a full arm tattoo, an average amount for many tattoos.

Jordan stands out as a major warning flag to college students in the US: make sure that getting a tattoo won’t come back to hurt you, in money or regrets. Getting your first tattoo defines whether you really are responsible or not.

LGBTQ Community Club Needed

Whenever a high school student thinks about college, they envision interesting classes, being out on their own, and most of all, meeting new people from every community and culture and enjoying this through different clubs. This is the vision I was given at Evergreen State University, but here at SPU, it’s definitely not been the same.

SPU has clubs of every kind, but one club that isn’t allowed to be included in the roster of official SPU clubs is that representing the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) community.

The interesting fact though is that there is a group seeking to be the missing LGBTQ club: SPU Haven.

Every community group needs a voice and expects one in college and at Seattle Pacific University, the restrictions and exclusions being forced upon SPU Haven need to change. Since 2007, Haven has constantly been trying to find acceptance as an official SPU club, but have not succeeded.

Having attended a high school that openly accepted LGBTQ youth, as well as being part of the Garfield High School GSA (gay/straight alliance), I was shocked and somewhat disgusted by the fact that there was no club at SPU, especially with openly gay students attending.

So why is there no official club for homosexual students and their straight peers and supporters to come together?     

The SPU Statement on Human Sexuality (a release that is gone over and copyrighted every year) states that while they promote tolerance that “Within the teaching of our religious tradition, we affirm that sexual experience is intended between a man and a woman.”

It is understood that as a private Christian college, SPU does have to be careful on the subject of homosexuality considering it is a controversial topic. Many students and faculty may not support the school if they openly accepted homosexuality, that they may see the school as promoting it if Haven were to become an official club, and thus to lose many donors and students.

But is the peace among the general student body and faculty really worth keeping away such an important club from many students?

All official clubs at the school are given spots on both the “SPU Clubs and Organizations” webpage and the SPU ASSP website. Along with this official clubs are able to gain club funding from ASSP, the group that runs events at the school, as well as get events shown on the ASSP webpage.

Because they are not being given official status, SPU Haven sees none of these benefits.

While the school does allow Haven a place to meet on campus, the group has been met more by obstacles from having their booth for Day of Silence, a day created to bring awareness to abuse towards the gay community, in 2009 being torn down, to being refused official status, even when complying to all the terms set to obtain official status.

One of the main responsibilities of a college is to give their students a place to congregate over topics in a safe environment. Missing a club the represents such a large number of students and community members can only hurt the student body.   

While I am not a current member of SPU Haven, I have attended one of the events they have put on and have seen firsthand the conversations and ideas that they have started and how much they benefit the school already.

Director of AIM Asia Speaks in Front of College Co-Eds

As the screen next to him showed phrases over time such as “Our Outreach Among the Untouchables” and “It’s a Vision of the World Made New!,” Reverand Dr. Joab Lohara, bishop of the Immanuel Conference Church, spoke today at Seattle Pacific University for the school’s Common Day of Learning.

            The day was focused on the theme of “Transformation Through Creative Mission (Acts 26: 17-18)” with an opening speech given by Lohara and afternoon seminars on topics involving Christianity and India.

              Formally a journalist and missionary, Lohara spoke of his beliefs of what he referred to as “Global Transformation,” where everyone can find a happy and healthy life through Christianity and Jesus Christ.

            One of three Free Methodist bishops in his home country of India, Lohara stood at the podium and spoke of deadly situations during his journalistic years as well as miracles he has heard of and seen that have led him to where he is today, finding responses of “amen” and hallelujah” from the audience.

            “The evil idea system must be replaced by the idea system that Jesus Christ embodied” Lohara said when discussing what global transformation is.

            With his speech being focused on the area and people of India, Lohara raised questions of the caste system and how missionary work and global transformation has stretched beyond the limits of caste, to people of all backgrounds and economic standing.

            With Indian culture so firmly grasped in deciding economic standing through caste systems, Lohara found it very hard to find support from many people.  “As long as Hinduism remains, the caste system remains,” Lohara said when one the subject of going beyond the caste system.

            Through his missionary work in India and surrounding countries, Lohara told of projects that allowed rural areas gain things such as child care, medical clinics, toilets, housing projects, and other materials to allow for a prosperous community.

            After the building projects were put under way, Lohara said, literacy was put underway, with the first book many people were given to read being the bible.

            Lohara himself has created three different missions, including AIM Asia, to help with the global transformation and embrace as he quoted from Revelations 21: 3-5 “the grand vision of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

            Lohara finished his speech to the applause of students and faculty alike where thereafter, the ASSP president announced funding for a new church in India through Lohara’s mission AIM Asia.

Church Members Unite to Speak to Students on Homosexuality by Kelly Waks

One of the biggest debates of today is the controversy over homosexuality and its place in churches all over the US.

At SPU, this has been a trying conflict this year, but one group is trying to inform others about the pros of acceptance.

On November 6, SPU Haven, an unofficial school club dedicated to keeping conversations going on LGBTQ issues on campus, hosted a panel of 6 pastors and ministers, straight and gay alike, to speak on the pastoral ideas behind homosexuality in the church.

The panel was hosted by SPU Haven members Caleb Richmond, Joy Bethune, and Aaron Roberts with their faculty advisor Kevin Neuhouser from the SPU Sociology department.

The speakers, Rev. Dan Conklin, Pastor Sarah Klaassen, Pastor Doug Early, Rev. Jim Carter, Rev. Ray Neal, and Rev. Karen Ward spoke to students and faculty alike.

After a small movie-like disclaimer was given by SPU Haven member Caleb Richmond, explaining that the views given were not that of Seattle Pacific University, the panel introduced themselves and their churches. 

Rev. Dan Conklin of the Saint Mark Episcopal Church was one of the first members of the panel to express a strong standpoint to the debate topic.

“[homosexuality’s] not a matter of issue but of people.” Rev. Conklin said.

Many of the speakers shared more of their personal stories rather than facts about their churches and congregations.

Pastor Klaassen of the Seattle Mennonite Church discussed the “struggle and trauma of coming out” but also the comfort she found in her new congregation.

Along with Klaassen, Rev. Neal of the Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church spoke of his history from being a married in Tennessee to the reverend of one of the leading gay churches in the Northwest.

After introductions from the speakers, the panel opened up questions to the audience, which caused more debate than most would have thought.

Many audience members asked questions involving where the reverends and pastors draw the line, or how they treat their gay congregation members verses their straight members.

While Queen Anne Presbyterian Pastor Doug Early explained that through his pastoral style of following the scripture that homosexuality does not come up often, Rev. Ray Neal gave a different idea that sparked some debate.

“I don’t hold [my homosexual congregation members] to the same level as [straight congregation members] because society doesn’t” Rev. Neal said.

Rev. Neal’s comment led to a debate amongst audience members about what gay culture really is, with no real decision being made.

While the panel was open to its controversial moments, many of those who attended where surprised at the outcome and understanding that was found by audience and panel members alike.

With the openness of the panel to answer all questions as best they could, it was Rev. Karen Ward that left everyone with an idea to remember.

“We love Jesus and Jesus loves us and that what’s important.”