The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Elizabeth Castellow
This semester, TPP set out to investigate and write an article on an issue that is relevant, important, and sensitive. The idea for the article was presented by a former staff writer and, as an Editorial Board, we agreed on the importance of this issue. Now, as I, the editor, sit down to sum up our findings and attempt to write an article that will be thought-provoking as well as move readers to action, I find that the task is far more difficult than I first imagined. Dealing with issues that strike at the core of who we are and how God made us, is never an easy task.
Often, as Christians, we do not talk about the sexual side of our beings; God made us to be sexual but as sinful humans we have perverted how He created us. It seems to be common knowledge that people struggle with sexual issues such as homosexual tendencies, looking at pornography, masturbating, and having pre-marital sex. Some Christians have tried to bring these issues to the forefront and address them in an appropriate way. However, often times these things are shoved away and those who may try to seek help find themselves hurt instead of healed. As TPP set out to delve into this issue, we chose to hold a forum for open discussion and take surveys to gather information. In our information gathering, we found that, although people of both genders struggle with similar issues, often women who struggle with pornography, masturbation, and homosexuality are overlooked or disregarded. Although men certainly struggle with these things it is wrong to assume that women do not or that those who do are simply the unusual few. When asked about this topic, Professor Carrie Caudill said, “The female sexual drive has often been overlooked by the Christian community, and topics of lust typically take a male-only approach. Like men, women have sexual desires. And like men these desires for intimacy can become corrupted. Increasingly in the Christian counseling practice that I work for I am seeing, women confess and look for help in their struggles with masturbation, lust, pornography, homosexual attraction, and other sexual issues. They commonly believe that they are the “only one” who experiences these struggles. It is time for this often buried issue to be brought to the healing & redemptive light of Christ.” Her insights sum up TPP’s findings. In the rest of this article TPP will show some of our findings as well as ways to take action.
In preparation for this article, TPP took surveys of CIU students. These surveys were distributed in a few classes and although they represent only a small sampling of students, the information is revealing. Survey responses were received from 56 students, 24 men and 25 women and 7 who chose not to disclose their gender. The surveys asked whether or not the person had struggled with sexually impure thoughts, homosexuality, pornography, masturbation, or premarital sex and whether those struggles had taken place in the past or in the present. The surveys also asked whether or not those responding had sought help and where they had sought it. 99% of the women surveyed said that they struggled with sexually impure thoughts, either in the past or in the present. 16 of the surveys filled out by women showed that they struggled in the areas of homosexuality, pornography, masturbation, and premarital sex, either in the past or present. The exact struggle varied greatly but that these things are an issue was clear. Although only a minority of women checked that they presently struggled with one of these issues, it must be kept in mind that only a small percentage of CIU students were surveyed. When asked about whether or not they felt comfortable seeking help answered varied. Some answered that they had sought out help and felt accepted by those they spoke to. Others responded that they had not sought help and did not feel comfortable with doing so, for various reasons, such as not wanting others to know, not trusting others, and not wanting to ruin their image and not wanting to be disciplined.
On the surveys, one student wrote that she was not seeking help but probably would seek it at CIU if there was a program or someone she could talk to. For those who want help with their struggles there are some places they can go. TPP spoke with Chaplain Donna Thompson and she spoke about an accountability group that is provided on campus through the chaplain’s offices as well as individual counseling. However, there is also a greater need for these opportunities. R.A.s and other student leaders have the opportunity to begin accountability groups and to be open to helping students with their struggles. The discussion in the forum hosted by TPP also had similar responses. These issues are struggles for women and responses from other believers vary greatly. However, there is always a need for honesty and a listening ear.
This subject should not just be thought of as facts from a survey or isolated quotes from anonymous people but as something that is relevant to all of us. Sexual purity is something that is God desires for all of us. Although these things are personal issues, they are also community issues. As believers we can strengthen one another and build each other up. At the forum some spoke of being hurt by the reactions of other believers but some also spoke of great help and healing provided by other brothers and sisters in Christ. Even on campus there is a dichotomy between those who think that these subjects should be discussed and those that can become offended when topics about sexual matters are brought up. This split is often one produced by each person’s individual background and upbringing but sensitivity is needed on all sides. Good, uplifting discussion of these subjects must start with the leadership. From the CIU administration to chapel speakers to R.A.s these people have the opportunity to encourage positive dialogue and opportunities for healing. Rejection and mistrust are not appropriate responses to someone sharing their heart and seeking help. Instead, we should also seek to provide love and support to those who disclose their needs and concerns.
In conclusion, I hope that this article serves as more than just another piece to raise awareness. It is a call to action, a call do something. As individuals, we must address these things in our own lives and follow God’s will for our thoughts and actions. As a community we must come together as a place for help and healing. Our reactions to others when they bring these things forward can be instrumental in bringing healing or causing additional hurt. As both individuals and as a community we must be a place where we can both find help and give help to those in need. These struggles are not few and far between, nor are they reason to shun another believer. Instead they are reasons to seek God and become transformed to be more like Him.

By Micah Yaun
By way of introduction, the following three classes are not my “favorite” classes. They may or may not include my favorites, but, if I had to pick my favorite classes, I would pick on the basis of enjoyment and personal impact the classes had on me. I selected the following three classes as “must take” because of their exclusive instruction and training that I did not get in entirety in any other class. Also, these are not required for every major. I do not at all intend to speak against the value of any Bible Core or General Education classes. At the same time, the following three classes are, in my humble opinion, unmatched in their value for life and ministry.
The first class on my list is “Counseling Youth and Families,” taught by Dr. David Olshine. This class is basically a class about you and why you are who you are. Dr. Olshine’s famous quote on opening day reflects accurately the class’s purpose, “I’m going to rip you apart…and then I’m going to put you back together.” Everyone you interact with everyday is not simply an individual, they are a part of a system, a family system, and so are you. The family system is the number one voice in a person’s life. Even the absence of a close family structure is the loudest voice a given person is hearing. This class gives you the tools to understand your own family of origin and of procreation and how it shapes you as a person. Through this understanding of yourself, “Counseling Youth and Families” lets you see what it’s going to look like as you try to guide others in understanding their own lives.
The second class is “Bible for Teachers” taught by Dr. Anita Cooper. The main reason I believe everyone should take this class is because of the high view of Scripture it conveys. Understandably, not everyone is going to be a formal teacher of the Bible. The Bible must, however, be central to how we think, act, and lead. Many of us grew up knowing that the Bible is important and that it is the Word of God. But if anyone has ever asked themselves, “So what’s so great about the Bible?” they should take “Bible for Teachers”. The student in this class is taught to view and teach the Bible as a whole, a book with one purpose and theme, Christ. If Christ is not the theme of the Bible then it is just another piece of literature on the shelf. “Bible for Teachers” is not about how to teach nifty Bible lessons. It is about communicating Christ, gospel, truth, as the Bible reveals it.
“Developing the Church” taught by Dr. Chris Little wraps up the “Must Take” list. All of our lives (for some) we have gotten in the family car on Sunday morning to go from home to church, right? Wrong! We have gotten in the car to take the Church to meet together with the rest of the Church. Have you ever heard someone say that we just need to get back to how they did church in the New Testament, but then it seems like no one is willing to take the time to see what that would really mean? Maybe you’ve heard me say this and wonder why I’m not taking the time, or maybe you seen someone go off the deep end leaving the church angry and bitter. In taking “Developing the Church,” you have a chance to search out what “Church” truly means with other searchers. You have grown up with an idea of what “Church” is. For me, it’s a pink carpeted, red pew room called a sanctuary. I’m sitting in the third row of the far left section with my family. I like some of the songs, some I don’t. The preacher preaches and then everyone goes their separate ways to eat lunch. What does “Church” mean to you? “Developing the Church” will blow your view of Church out of the water and replace it with a balanced, Biblical precedent and directive for how “Church” is supposed to happen.
If possible, take these classes in this order. But don’t let that impossibility stop you from taking them. These classes will leave an impact on you that will not go away. I challenge every CIU student to take these three classes and pour yourself into them before you leave CIU. If you take my challenge and you feel the same way, I want to hear about it. I also want other students to hear about it from you. In these short three to four years, take advantage of what you can and take these three classes. If I’m wrong, at least you’ve filled elective hours, right?

By Amy Roberts
Trucks have been coming in and out, piles of lumber appear and disappear, a roof is up and brick walls are gone. The renovations of Memorial Hall are nearing completion. I sat down with longtime friend of CIU, David Ratchford, overseer of the project and general contractor Don Blackstone to discuss the project. Memorial has been rebuilt from the walls out, and new residents will find a home they can comfortably settle into.
Some of the most important renovations will not be seen. The asbestos has been removed, and all new electrical and plumbing has been put in. New HVAC systems will be installed, and both hardwire and wireless internet have been updated.
The student rooms will have a new look. The old built-in cabinets have been removed. Each room will now have a sink, microwave and refrigerator. The furniture will be modular, so that each room can be rearranged to meet the needs of the roommates. New windows will provide a clear view to the world outside. The floors will be tiled, with carpet in the hallways. Four new dorm rooms have been created from the rooms in the stairwells. The stairwells themselves will have a great new look. They will be air-conditioned, with new treads and flooring, and a pickled treatment on the bricks to tone down the “pink” color. The bathrooms will be completely retiled, and have all new toilets, sinks, and showers. The bathtubs have been removed and a new exhaust system added (good news for everyone).
The first floor will look much nicer. The lobby will be larger, able to hold meetings for the residents. The area that is presently the doorway will be enclosed and added to the lobby. The doors will now open straight out from the lobby. They will be opened by an electronic card system, similar to hotels. The first floor will be handicap accessible including the bathrooms. The walls will be smoothcoated and tray lighting will be featured in the hallways. The laundry room has been moved to the first floor and will be more like a lounge, with plans for comfortable seating and a TV.
The front façade of the Memorial Hall will have a new look as well. The stone wall will be removed and new windows and a trellis installed. The front walkway will be covered to protect residents from the rain and to provide shade. The parking lot will be removed to allow for more green space for the campus.
CIU plans to have it open for a tour at graduation, and for all the renovations to be completed by June. Don Blackstone, the general contractor, and his crew have found working at CIU to be a joy. He had praise for everyone he has worked with, from administration to Jeff and his team in the cafeteria. “The wives are complaining that their husbands aren’t eating at home, since they fill up at the cafeteria”, he joked. We all look forward to seeing their hard work completed, and having a modern dormitory for the students to enjoy. I guess the only downside is that the pitched roof will mean that no one’s furniture can end up on the roof of Memorial.

By Sarah Nixon
I love chapel. Really, I do. Being able to come together as a group and be encouraged and exhorted by speakers, to worship God together as a community, and to allow God to speak to us through the speakers is really a great privilege. I can think back to various chapel services in my two years here and pinpoint exact moments when God convicted me, showed me love, or really used a message to open my eyes to new truths, and I am sure that many of you can say the same. Chapel is a brief interlude in our days, a fleeting moment when we come together before the Lord in a wonderful gathering of souls—but issues arise when we think that chapels are the essence of our spiritual lives.
If we rely on chapel for time to worship and spend with God, for Him to speak to us with utter clarity, then we probably will do fine while at CIU. When we leave this wonderful place, however, we’ll soon find that our spiritual lives fall limp and lifeless. Chapel cannot sustain our spiritual lives. Church cannot sustain our spiritual lives. And though they are encouraging and I would dare say perhaps essential, they should not become the bulk of our spiritual journeys.
Life is lived in the mundane moments; in walks to classes and random meals, in fleeting conversations at the salad bar and research in the library. Life is lived in the brushing teeth, writing papers, doing dishes moments that dominate every single day. Your life won’t always have chapel. It won’t always have Christian friends. In fact, some of you will go places where it won’t even have church. Some of you will go where you and you alone are the church. What will happen then, when what you are used to relying on for spiritual food is gone? When all you have is the mundane moments?
My exhortation is two-fold. First, make sure that the friendships you are forming here are not merely friendships based on fun and shared experiences. Make sure that you are taking the time to spiritually pour into your friends. Tell them what God is teaching you, ask them what He is teaching them. Be intentional. Pray with one another. Share burdens with one another. Hurt. Cry. Laugh. Don’t waste this time of ready-made community and only use it for leisure, not growth. Friends that you can play with can be found anywhere. Friends that you can grow with are rare.
Second, don’t allow personal time with God to be put on a back burner. It is so easy to let school, work, relationships, and life in general take priority. But life will never be any less busy than it is right now, and if you don’t make “God and I time” a priority, it probably never will be. Take time and allow God to love on you, to speak to you, to convict you and encourage you. Learn about Him—not from the pages of a theology textbook but from spending time with Him. So many of us struggle with resting in the midst of our busy-ness and crammed schedules. Make time to get alone and rest with Him. Let Him show you what Sabbath rest really is.
These aren’t easy things. Believe me, I know. But they are life-giving things—grace-giving things. Go to chapel still. Take advantage of it being here for us, so easily and readily accessible. Allow God to speak to you through all of the speakers and songs and special days. Learn and grow. But don’t allow your spiritual life to be limited to between 10:50 and 11:45 every day. Let it ooze into all your seconds of all your minutes of all your days. Allow it to seep into the pores of conversations, allow it to direct what you do when you’re bored, allow it to slowly but surely transform your life. Be purposeful in forming friendships that will sharpen and be purposeful in taking time to spend with God. And when you do that, your mundane moments will begin to be changed. Your life will begin to be changed.
Don’t waste another day. Real life, life to be had in abundance, is waiting.

By Caleb Wimble
In the midst of what has been without a doubt one of the most unique presidential races in the history of our nation, we’ve seen even more than our country’s usual share of political sophistry. Mud-slinging and back-biting abound with profusion, especially for a point so early in the election process. It seems, however, that the worst of this rhetorical refuse has been reserved for the primaries. The recent “pastoral scandals” in the campaigns of both Obama and McCain respectively have received remarkable media attention and, if student conversation here at CIU is a reliable indicator, have altered the standings of many prospective supporters of either candidate. The question of why this has occurred begs to be answered, and it may be that we uncover an interesting facet of voter psychology in the process.
When the U.S.-damning inflammatory sermons of Barrack Obama’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, first fell under the media spotlight, it was seen by a number of political analysts as the potential silver bullet for Obama’s presidential aspirations. It seemed as though every pundit on the networks had a field day with the news, each major station playing repeated footage from several of the objectionable sermons for weeks following. Obama’s responsive speech, “A More Perfect Union,” served as moderately effective damage control, but there was no denying that the public revelation of his pastor’s incendiary, anti-American remarks would have a lasting effect on voters.
Several weeks ago a similar incident occurred within McCain’s campaign, albeit with less of a commotion. Pastor John Hagee, a controversial pro-Israeli activist who has called for invasion of Iran since 2006 (citing the need to fulfill biblical prophecy), announced his official endorsement of Senator John McCain. McCain, who had been courting the endorsement for over a year, stated that he was “very honored” by the endorsement, calling Hagee a “man of principle [who] does not stand boldly on both sides of any issue.” While Hagee may truly not stand on both sides of any issue, it has been well-noted by the media that he certainly takes a strong stance on a single side of many. Beyond his statements regarding Iran and Israel, we have been repeatedly reminded by the press that he has also called for an “unrelenting war against the Catholic church,” to which he refers as the “Great Whore” and the “anti-christ.”
More interesting than these events themselves, perhaps, is the fallout generated as a result. Beyond the immediate effect both incidents had upon the polls, the degree of relevance placed upon these endorsements by American voters at large is of remarkable note. Few deny that the last century saw an incredible decline in the depth and candor of the process of political campaigning - instead of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, for instance, we receive little more than 10-second sound bytes promising some vague description of “change” or “firmness of experience.” Candidates in general have developed a dubious reputation for the uncanny ability to switch sides of the fence without so much as stepping over the wire. But even within the midst of this shallow superficiality in the political sphere, should we not expect a more rigorous, reasonable response from the American people?
Instead of effecting change and decrying such fickle reversals in the voting populace, it may be that we are doing the very opposite. Rather than encouraging our candidates to strive for depth of character and clear pursuit of purpose, we leap at the chance to attack the very core of their moral fiber on the basis of a single endorsement. Have we truly become so cursory in our rationality that we believe the support of one man to be an indisputable metonymy of another’s position?
The results of the extent to which this line of thought could be carried is a rather telling indicator of its illogic. Do we honestly believe that our candidates should accept only the support of those whose worldview and opinions are in absolute alignment with their own? In essence, can we truly hold every endorser to a standard next-door to perfection? It may do us some measure of good to examine ourselves in the process of judging candidates in such a regard. We, as supporters and voters, are offering our own version of endorsement for our respective candidates of choice, who each in turn gladly accept the offer of our vote as a portion of their campaign infrastructure.
It is true that few of us hold to political views as extreme as those of Reverend Wright or Pastor Hagee. But certainly few of us would claim to be in absolute sync with the policies or morality of any political candidate, let alone that of our presidential ticket. Endorsements do not necessarily work two ways; though a candidate may be glad for the affirmation of a particular public figure, and likewise hold some measure of respect and appreciation for the figure himself, it seems a tenuous stretch to believe that the candidate is necessarily condoning any of the words or actions of the figure beyond the endorsement itself.
Perhaps in the midst of this public outcry we may take a stand for a more honorable treatment of our nation’s political process. And perhaps we might also allow ourselves to be humbled by a gentle reminder of our own shortcomings as human beings before so readily casting our condemnation of others. After all, if Christians are to be considered the representatives and endorsers of Christ, should this world consider their failings to be reflective of his character?

By Elise Newman
It would seem more appropriate given the content I am about to disclose that I would have 95 reasons, which would promptly be nailed to the stage in Shortess Chapel. Nevertheless, I wish to publish a mere ten ways in which the Catholic Church seems more biblical and effective than the Protestant Church. Please note that my intent is that of iron sharpening iron.
1. Celibate leadership.
Growing up as the daughter of a Protestant minister, I have witnessed on more than one occasion the struggle of the married minister between the importance of family and the call of the ministry. Celibate leadership is a principle, which Paul speaks of extensively in I Corinthians 7 when he states, “An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs (vs. 32).” It appears that celibate leadership is the ideal way of doing things. I am not arguing that it is the only way churches should function; I am arguing that it is the best.
2. Holistic worship.
The approach to worship in a traditional mass service involves each of the senses. Incense for smell; architecture for sight; music and chanting for the ear; communion for taste; kneeling and standing for touch.
3. Unity.
A common solution to problems in Protestant churches is for the church to split. This is heartbreaking for believers to endure and is exactly the opposite of what Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane when he said, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me.” (John 17:23) The Catholic commitment to unity is attractive to those of us who have witnessed the petty divisions that plague Protestant country churches.
4. Daily mass.
Acts 2:47 mentions the Lord added to the early church daily. This meeting on a daily basis to worship God and support one another in community is something the Catholic Church has maintained throughout the centuries.
5. Latin mass.
Oh yes, reading the Nicene Creed in the original Latin text gives a feeling of unity within the body of Christ which transcends the boundaries of time. When reading the creed you participate in a Christian tradition alongside Athanasius, Augustine and Mother Theresa.
6. Importance of imagery. From crossing oneself to praying the rosary, the Catholic faith is full of imagery that is beneficial to those of us who spend our time thinking or analyzing meaning.
7. Aesthetics.
Closely tied to imagery and holistic worship is the value Catholics place on making their churches aesthetically pleasing. In his book Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton commented on European cathedrals, “Christ prophesied the whole of Gothic architecture when…He said, ‘if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’” The glory of God is visually realized in cathedrals.
8. Lack of first person singular pronouns during mass.
The only time an individual references self during mass is to acknowledge human failure and our need of Christ. It seems to me that Protestant churches have largely bought into our culture’s rampant individualism and offer ministries for individuals rather than focusing on the whole church body. Mass gives priority to the church as whole and the focus remains not on the individual, but on corporate response to the Word.
9. Pedigree.
The Catholic Church traces its roots directly back to the days in which the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. Because of the commitment to unity within the Catholic tradition, they have maintained a single, unbroken line of leadership.
10. Confession.
The sacrament of confession is beneficial to the individual for the catharsis of inner struggles that we tend to suppress and hide from other believers. I have observed from the student environment at CIU a number of students living in shame over their sins because they were too afraid of what would happen if someone found out. This kind of environment is exactly what the sacrament of confession avoids. We should be free to pour out sins in the confidence of a wise leader.
Conclusion
I could probably write ten reasons why I am not Catholic today, however, this would be irrelevant to the audience that reads this publication. The purpose of writing this article is to implore those of us at CIU to examine different areas of the Christian faith and see God at work in places we may not expect. It is true that some people come out of the Catholic Church wounded or confused; however, I can honestly say that God has chosen to heal wounds I have suffered at the hands of the Protestant church through my interactions with the Catholic Church. Sitting in mass at the Catholic Oratory in Oxford brought healing in my life and revived my love for the Lord. My sincere hope is that this article will inspire critical thought and sharpen your theology. Peace be with you.

By Elizabeth Castellow

What’s the Deal?
CIU students should prepare themselves for a new buzzword on campus: Quality Enhancement Program, or QEP. Perhaps this wasn’t as exciting of a phrase as you were hoping for, but the implications for our school are important.
The facts you need to know are that, as a part of the school’s accreditation (what makes your degree mean something), CIU has to submit a QEP. The CIU faculty and staff have been working for over two years to prepare for visits from the accrediting agencies: SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), ATS (Association of Theological Schools), and ABHE (Association for Biblical Higher Education). Dean Swift told TPP that, “A significant amount of this time is spent preparing a self-study so that we are well prepared for the criteria and scrutiny of the agencies.” Every school goes through a process where they choose an aspect of their school to look at and to improve upon or change. Spiritual formation is the area being studied by CIU. As stated in the Student Handbook, spiritual formation is “the divinely ordained transformational process by which the Holy Spirit leads believers to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ through the Word of God, and by that relationship become progressively more free from sin and more like Christ. The Spirit’s formative work occurs in the context of a vital engagement with a community of believers.” Whether or not you agree with this definition, this is what drives the school’s view of spiritual formation and the activities and programs that come out of this view.
So what?
If what has just been said sounds like big words that don’t mean much, you are sadly mistaken. If you’ve ever wondered about standards, chapel, why we have chaplains or what Student Life is all about, the root lies in the school’s view of spiritual formation. As a part of evaluating this area of CIU and submitting the QEP information to SACS, CIU is required to get student input and ideas. This means you have a chance to impact how this school functions and change things for future students. TPP asked Dean Rick Swift, for his take on the QEP and what it means for students. He said,
“CIU will be taking a look at how we can better nurture the spiritual transformation of our students. This does not necessarily mean more programs, in fact it may mean less specific programs with a greater emphasis on creating a community environment in which relationships (personal and spiritual) can develop. CIU has a spiritual formation statement in its handbook that refers to this process as a work of the Spirit, fed by the Word, but often realized through dynamic relationships. As a result we realize that there is no “five steps to a spiritually transformed life” program that we can develop. What we can do is create opportunity for relationships to thrive on campus—relationships that utilize various means of grace to create an environment that causes students (as well as faculty and staff) to grow in their dependence on, obedience to, and hope in, God and His Word. This is a five-year project and so everything will not be ready to go right away. We need to think, try, assess, adjust, ask, listen, etc. in order to be where we think we should be. We are in no way trying to replace the role of the church, but CIU presents a fairly unique opportunity for relationships and we need to be stewards of that opportunity.”
Spiritual formation in an institutional context is an issue full of benefits, problems, and potentially problematic situations. There is a balance of how much influence and control a Christian institution should have on the lives of its students. This balance greatly impacts the everyday lives of CIU students. The school’s study of how it does spiritual formation can ultimately have a positive impact for the CIU community as whole.
Now what?
So now you know. The question is, ‘What should you do with what you know?’ As the school pursues the QEP process, don’t slip into a state of apathy. If there is something you believe to be important for spiritual formation or that you would like to see on campus, send an email or have a conversation with your chaplain or dean. As students we have an opportunity to impact the future of the school and how it operates. Input is vital; not only for spiritual formation but also for campus atmosphere and community. In regards to student input, Dean Swift said, “Where do the students fit in? Everywhere! We want and need your ideas. Many have requested the return of small groups. We’re working on them, but you probably have some great ideas that we may not have yet considered. We’ll be revisiting many areas: small groups, chapel, lifestyle standards, accountability, the advising process, and so on. We would love to see the implementation phase drenched with the input of students. This experience is for you and you probably have a good idea as to what is working and what is not. We’ll be recruiting more help with the QEP, but if you are interested, please let me (rswift@ciu.edu) know as soon as possible.” It is clear that without students becoming involved this process may lack what it needs to ultimately be of benefit to students. Fortunately, these opportunities are being given, if only we will take part in this community.

World
Kosovo Declares Independence
On February 17th, Kosovo’s parliament declared independence from Serbia. This has been recognized by the United States, and the majority of the EU. However, the Serbian population, supported by Russia and China are against an independent Kosovo. There have been riots in Serbian capital city of Belgrade and several foreign embassies, including the U.S. embassy, were attacked by mobs.
There is a history of conflict between Albanian Muslims and Serbs. Many Serbs consider Kosovo the heart of their country. However the Albanian majority has long sought independence.
In 1974, the Yugoslavian constitution granted Kosovo status as an autonomous province within Serbia. In 1990, when the ethnic Albanians began campaigning for independence, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic attempted to suppress their desire. In 1999, NATO led air strikes on strategic targets in Kosovo and Serbia to quell ethnic cleansing of Albanians.
The issue of Kosovo’s independence carries great weight for other countries with autonomous provinces vying for independence as this precedent may encourage others to follow suit.

National
Death of Heath Ledger
On January 22nd, actor Heath Ledger died from an accidental drug overdose; he was 28. The medical examiner announced that Ledger had taken six types of pain killers and sedatives but that the death was accidental. According to CNN, Federal authorities are looking into two pharmacists and trying to discover whether or not the drugs were legally prescribed. Heath Ledger’s first American film, in 1999, was 10 Things I Hate About You; one of his most recent works was the movie Brokeback Mountain. Ledger also starred as The Joker in the movie The Dark Knight, which is scheduled to release on July 18, 2008.

McCain’s Presidential Race
A few months ago it was predicted that Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign was nearly over. Today that has radically changed. According to CNN he is now the presumptive G.O.P. nominee for the Republican ticket.

Local

Parking Tickets
Drivers owe the City of Columbia over three millions dollars. How? In parking tickets. Fines as little as $5 have grown into a significant sum of money. These fines should be paid and city officials cite that the City of Columbia needs the money. The city is even considering going as far as obtaining warrants in order to collect these fines. While some may consider a parking ticket a trivial offense, these fines can add up quickly and it is advisable to pay as quickly as possible.

By Stu Cone

If you’ve been paying attention to television, you may have noticed that many of your favorite shows didn’t last very long after Christmas. The reason is because they had no writers. No writers, means no scripts. And no scripts means there aren’t any productions. No shows. Hollywood more or less shuts down, save for a few films that made it into production in time. But even those films suffer, as they could not have their scripts changed or amended in any way because… that would be writing!
So, what’s the deal? I’m not here to convince you of anything regarding the strike. I am pro-strike. This article is more about making the bullet points of why the strike happened. Why me? I suppose because I’m a writer, because I have access to and interact with WGA member writers, and because I’ve been following the strike pretty closely since before it began because I have a future stake in it. The deal reached in the last few days will possibly be the deal that I inherit as a writer when I become a member of the Guild. So… what’s the deal?
The Writer’s Guild of America is for all intents and purposes a union. Some of you may be familiar with unions, but for those who aren’t, here’s the basic idea: A union is, in a nutshell, an organization that represents workers in a particular field to ensure that they are treated fairly and compensated appropriately. When a union’s members come to a situation in which they believe that they are not being treated fairly, they can legally halt their work and protest, going on strike.
Unions have been around for quite a while in America, and founding them was a hard process for the nation. People died to create a work environment that was beneficial for more than just the bosses.
But, aren’t writers making millions of dollars in Hollywood, Stu?

Some do. A handful.

Worldwide.
Some are in a more moderate bracket, and some are living on residuals.
Residuals are basically royalties. When a writer sells a script, they are selling the rights to use their work for production. Anytime money is made off of the product, they are entitled to a percentage of the profits. That sounds amazing, and it would be if that percentage were in the 25% range.
The agreement leading into the strike was in the 2% range for DVD sales.
For the writers who aren’t in that 10 or so who are inking million dollar deals, striking was more about putting food on the table between scripts. If one sells a script for a movie that costs more than $5 million, the minimum scale pay is $77,000.

Zowie, that’s amazing!

And if you don’t sell another script for 5 years? And you live in Hollywood’s cost-of-living situation?
Ah. It’d be nice to have residuals coming in off of that sale to keep things going until the next sale. And maybe something more than 2.5% of $14.99/DVD.
Now that we understand residuals (and why they are necessary for some) a little better, let’s get to the heart of this particular strike.
New Media
New Media is the term being used to describe streaming content over the internet, more or less. Under the pre-strike union deal with the studios, there was no residuals provision for writers in regards to streaming content over the internet.
That means that if you’ve ever watched LOST through ABC.com, the studio made money from selling ads that streamed with it, but the writers who worked on the episode received nothing.
And the studios wanted to keep it that way, or offer a deal comparable to the current DVD deal.
Imagine writing a fantastic paper for one of your classes. And the Prof went on to showcase that paper in every class he taught as a great example of how to write a paper.
Now imagine he gave you no credit for it, resulting in an F.

It’s sort of like that.
Or, more accurately, imagine that you got an awesome job, worked hard, and then your boss refused to pay you for every other day of work. Ouch.
These analogies aren’t perfect, but I hope you get the point.
Not every writer is rich. Many are not. Employers were doing shady business. That is why any union strikes, and that’s why the WGA went on strike. For more information, I’m including some resources below.