Before we go: PUC Seniors Share Favorite Memories

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Various in Campus, Feature

I transferred to PUC the spring before my senior year, and I had come from living in Arizona for two years. The first time I drove up Howell Mountain I was blown away by the beauty of the forest, the mountains, and the campus. It’s been an amazing year.

-          Larry Pena

I’m going to miss all my friends, the late night runs to jack in the box with the girls and always having to wait super long for a table at any restaurant cuz there are always 20 of us when we go out. But one thing I won’t miss is the fire alarms going off in the middle of the night in winning because some girl can’t cook popcorn!

-          Katherine Gomez

During my freshman year “Team Asia” was formed.  My roommate, Michelle Koilpillai and about 20+ other friends would stick together all the time.  We used to go the movies and take up 2 rows! The best time that I can remember was remaking “All I want for Christmas” by Maria Carey.  One Saturday night, when we all were bored, Uly Morales called us all together and from around 5 pm to 1 or 2 in the morning, we all just worked on our own version of “All I want for Christmas.”

The community, friendship, and love from all the members of “Team Asia” will be cherished in my heart as one of my fondest memories as a student here at Pacific Union College!

-          Lynda Torres

The best memories i have of puc are pulling all nighters with friends just talking and eating instead of studying for huge science tests, having door wars, doing the robot with meena nang, and speaking the silent roommate language with nennifer jam.

-          Grace Park

As far as PUC memories go, I have loved all the walks on the back trails at PUC and particularly one of my first. My husband and I went for a walk when we came across one particular plant. I took one look at it and said, “I think that is poison oak.” My husband so lovingly responded, “Nah! That’s not poison oak, see…” And he proceeded to pick a leaf and rub it in his hand. Needless to say, we both ended up covered in a poison oak rash. Wonderful memories…

-          Michelle Reimann

broom balling, ice skating, and REVO!

-          Cammie Heinrich

My greatest memory of PUC was starting the nursing program and performing assessments during my 1st quarter of nursing on my classmates, I’ve come a long way since then but It is always great to remember the humble beginnings all of us nursing majors face when we venture out in the world of nursing.

-          David Wilson

Loved going on TriCampus Retreat, enjoying Yosemite, and worrying about if the egyptians would make it back in there own cars safe to camp from the valley, driving and sliding all over the road in the snow fall without chains.

-          Robert Abdul Karim

Weekends have definitely been the highlight of my stay here at PUC, cruising the beautiful roads and experiencing the serene Napa Valley and all it has to offer.  The beaches near San Francisco have provided many good Saturdays and then hitting up the city afterwards has never been more fun and exciting.  Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square are always great places to chill at that are reasonably close to PUC.  During the winters, Tahoe, it’s gorgeous lake and the snow-covered slopes provide excellent snowboarding and skiing.  Home is even close by, only three hours away.  PUC, gonna miss you for sure.

-          Robert Negrete

I wouldn’t say this is my favorite memory but it’s definitely a memorable moment. My freshman year at Fusion, a bunch of kids were hanging out by the cafeteria at Mt. Gilead. We had just finished one of the meals and most people had already left.  Anyway, those of us who were still there were just talking and relaxing when all of a sudden, one of the Fusion leaders (we’ll just call him Blake Penland) realized there was a bee in the pitcher of orange juice near him.  He let out an amazing blood curdling scream, picked up the pitcher, and started running with it towards the railing.  I’m not a physics major so I don’t know how this next part happened but he threw the orange juice out of the pitcher and it flew AROUND the tree next to him and splashed all over a girl standing on his side of the rail.

-          Jason Silber

Making so many great friends on the PUC Soccer team, and being part of the team that posted the best record in PUC soccer history!

-          Steve Brooks

Practicing my nasogastric tube insertion skills with emily smith, reggie albarillo and justin pope and laughing so hard I almost peeing my pants THREE TIMES. seriously.

-          Ragini Kaligithi
“That’s Ranunculus!” Biology course feild trips. “Hey, Molly can you…..?” 8am Organic Chemistry with Dr. Hemmerlin. Philosophy of Origins study group. Diana Chung!!!

-          Molly Reeves

My greatest memory here at PUC is meeting my friends my freshmen year at Fusion. 5 years have gone by and they are the bestest friends i could ever ask for.

-          Jessica Rodriguez

Now What?: Graduating Seniors Share Plans for Upcoming Year

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Various in Campus

Name: Amanda Flynn
Major: BS Fine Art  / BS Graphic Design, Illustration Emphasis
Plans for the future: Pursuing a position in graphic design

Name: Katherine Gomez
Major: BA Nursing
Plans for the future: Trip to Europe for a couple weeks and then hopefully find a job ASAP!

Name: Larry Pena
Major: BA Communication
Plans for the future:  Staying in Napa Valley for a year or two–possibly writing, PR, and alumni relations.

Name: Lynda Alexi Torres
Major: Business Administration B.S.
Plans for next year: Dental School

Name: Timothy “Twid” Widmer
Major: BA in English, Emphasis in Drama with Honors
Plans for next year: Headed to Virginia Commonwealth University to begin work on my MFA in Theater Pedagogy.

Name: Grace Park
Major: Religion/Pre-dent
Plans for next year: Loma Linda Dental School

Name: Michelle Reimann
Major: Nursing
Plans for next year: I am planning on moving to Montana and working at a hospital there.

Name: Alyssa Zima
Major: BS Biology
Plans for next year: I’m coming back to work in the biology department, or Clark Hall.

Name: Cami Heinrich
Major: Music and pre-speech pathology
Plans for next year: Hoping to attend Loma Linda School of Allied Health in the fall

Name: Christopher Ha
Major: Biophysics
Plans for next year: Loma Linda School of Pharmacy

Name: John Mackenzie
Major: Nursing
Plans for next year: BSN at PUC

Name: David L Wilson
Major: BS Nursing
Plans for next year: Hopefully get a job somewhere close in the area and perform some mission work.

Name: Jonathan D. Kim
Major: BBA Accounting
Plans for next year: I will either be looking for a job or continue my education by going to graduate school to get my MBA.

Name: Heather Lanier
Major: Nursing, ADN (aka Superhero)
Plans for next year:  Saving lives via working at a local hospital wherever they will put me. However, considering the rate we put out nurses compared to the rate hospitals are hiring new grads now, I might just end up on a street corner with my first aid kit and cardboard saying “will bandage for food” or I guess I could go the wiser path and work on getting my BSN. Suppose that’s part of the plan either way – part time or full time. So really, this is only one graduation of many. Oh joy.

Name: Kelley Hawkins
Major: Biochemistry
Plans for next year: I am going to Loma Linda Medical School

Name: Robert Abdul-Karim
Major: Theology
Plans for next year: Internship as Dean & Chaplain at NPAA

Name: Robert Negrete
Major: Spanish, Pre-Physical Therapy
Plans for next year: I’m going to Loma Linda for Physical Therapy.

Name: Jonathan Groschel
Major: BA Business
Plans for next year: This summer I have an internship at a hospital in Kansas City learning hospital administration. Next year I’ll be back at PUC to finish my nursing degree.

Name: Steve Brooks
Major: BBA Business, Accounting emphasis
Plans for next year: Manage Resident at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital; Getting married to Caitlin Boren in December 2010

Name: Ragini Kaligithi
Major: Nursing
Plans for next year: I plan to get my bachelors degree and start working as an rn

Name: Victoria Miller
Major: Nursing Major
Plans for next year: Next year, the goal is to get a job in Labor and Delivery (cross your fingers!) and start working on getting my bachelor’s degree in nursing. Yay!

Name: Jonathan Groschel
Major: BA Business
Plans for next year: This summer I have an internship at a hospital in Kansas City learning hospital administration. Next year I’ll be back to finish my nursing degree.

Name: Molly Marie Reeves
Major: Environmental Studies
Plans for next year: This summer- work for the Bio Dept., take the GRE, apply for the 2011 Grad School deadlines. This fall- take Vet. Tech classes. Basically, do all I can to make the world a better place for the animals we share it with.

Name: Nicole Pidoux
Major: Graphic Design
Plans for next year: I plan on being an SM to Thailand and doing graphic design work with an organization in Bangkok.

Name: Jessica Rodriguez
Major: B.S. in Nursing
Plans for next year: I am planning to get a job ASAP.

Name: Ariane Gregory
Major: Social Work / Music
Plans for next year: I am going to graduate school for an MSW at Syracuse University.

Name: Sean McMunn
Major: Biology
Plans for next year: I wish I knew.

Name: Erika Kim
Major: English, Literature emphasis
Plans for next year: Teaching English in China.

Name: Peter Katz
Major: English, Literature emphasis / History, European emphasis / Music
Plans for next year: Get married to Ariane Gregory in June, and start the English Ph.D. program in Critical Theory at Syracuse University.

Swim with the Devil: One Senior’s Favorite Memory

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Erika Kim in Campus

Alyssa Zima (Senior: Biology)

My favorite memory here at PUC happened last year when we went on an unexpected trip to Devil’s Punch Bowl right before school ended. A group of eight or nine of my friends and I snuck out of our dorms and went to Devil’s Punch Bowl after midnight.

On a random night, my roommate, Jaylene, and I were in our room, and like so many PUC students, we were having a fit of boredom. It was midnight, and we were wondering what we should do.

So, we started calling around to other friends, and one of our friends, Caitlin, said she wanted to go swimming. She suggested that we hop the fence and sneak into the PUC swimming pool. Then we called our friend Steven, who already graduated, and when he heard we wanted to go swimming, he suggested that we go to Devil’s Punch Bowl instead.

At first, we were too scared to do it, but another phone call to our friend, Bradley, convinced us we had to go. He just happened to be going to Devil’s Punch Bowl as well, and since we all wanted to do the same thing, we went together. So Jaylene and I, and a bunch of other people snuck out of our dorms and went there in the middle of the night.

When we got there, we walked down the path to Devil’s Punch Bowl, which was interesting because it was dark and we didn’t have flashlights. Eventually the path ended, and we had to climb down a steep slope that was about ten feet long to get to Devil’s Punch Bowl. We were planning on staying at the edges of the pool, and we never intended on getting in, but we ended up getting in and swimming across. Devil’s Punch Bowl is about six feet deep and thirty six feet across of freezing cold water.

We rushed to the car and rushed back to school. On the way back up the path, we climbed back up the path. Since we were all damp our feet got really muddy, and at one point I got stuck when I stepped into a giant puddle that sucked my foot in.

We got back to PUC around 2:00 AM, and my roommate and I walked swiftly into Andre, tried not to look the front desk worker in the eye, skipped the sign in sheet, and ran up the stairs to our room as fast as we could. Luckily, we never got put on restriction.

It was a special experience because it was really out of character for me, and out of the ordinary in general. Usually I’d be studying or doing something else, like going to Denny’s or In-n-Out, but I always look fondly on this trip because it was different; it was spontaneous. Every step we took to make it happen went against our usual rituals and went against every rule, especially curfew. I wanted to experience something new, and this was it.

The Next Step: SA President’s Farewell Message

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Scott Brizendine in Campus

Congratulations, graduating class of 2010!

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Various in Campus, Community, Feature

Congratulations, graduating class of 2010!

Give us a reason: Student Senate ‘10-’11 candidates share their platforms

Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Peter Katz in Campus

Name: Jonathan Barrett
District: Village
Ideas:
-Start the movement towards a more student-focused public safety
-Start the movement towards a more student-focused and efficient judicial committee
-Push for greater incorporation of God’s character into worship programs and colloquys.

Name: Byron Lu
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Have more promotional events to other academies and high schools to know PUC
-More dorm visitation for students
-Have more students and administration meetings to see the needs of students and help administration understand the students

Name: Jennifer Cho
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-An alternative plan/research done on how to most effectively use the parking spaces on campus; especially Winning’s parking like. The school
making $15,000 on parking citations is not good.
-A plan for the caf limits. Student should be allowed to choose their caf card limit based on his or her own personal eating habits.
-Intramurals should be free of charge. If anything, the school should fund it or make sure no one has a monopoly on it. Some sort of check and balance system so students’ don’t pay unreasonable fees.

Name: Cabel Bumanglag
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Better Campus Center
-Getting teachers more involved with campus life
-Food quality and food pricing

Name: Jeffrey Figueroa
District: Newton
Ideas:
-Replacing the problematic television grid in the caf would make a lot more appealing
-I think the school needs more options for musicians to practice for events. It becomes a problem for events that require multiple bands to try
practicing at the same time at Scales Chapel
-Faster internet should be pushed again. It is ridiculous how slow the current state is

Name: Kevin Deoso
District: Nichol
Ideas:
-More activities on the weekends.
-Facilities staying open past midnight.
-24 hour cafeteria

Name: Rachelle Kim
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Ambs Hall
-There needs to be better and more treadmills in the Andre gym.
-The printers in Irwin and Chan Shun Hall are always running out of ink or broken. Replacing printers in Winning and Andre.

Name: Steven Chung
District: Newton
Ideas:
-Make PUC more affordable
-Renovations in some buildings.
-More recruitment to increase student body

Name: Autumn Hunter
District: Andre
Ideas:
-More open dorm visitation
-Longer caf hours on Saturdays
-Fix broken Graf sauna

Name: April Marquez
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Make PUC more injury-friendly. (Well equipped first aid kits in every dorm)
-Improve teamwork among SA members and strengthen SA support
-Improve common areas in each dorm

Name: Michel Shenouda
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Cafeteria food should be worked on more, especially on weekends.
-Faster internet
-More gym hours, particularly weight room

Name: Erica Marquez
District: Winning
Ideas:
-Create a stronger spiritual oriented student body with more interactive vespers and meetings
-Have a student body that is full of school spirit by better advertisement of PUC team games, etc.
-Eliminate segregation, whether racially or based on high school by holding social events with combined cultural clubs, majors, etc.

Name: Mika’ele Cruz
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Outsource custodial work
-Renovation of gym facilities
-A better set of checks and balances in SA Senate. Also, more strict requirements for SA officers

Name: Eirene-Gin Nakamura
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Open dorms (with strict policies) for 3 hours per day. RA’s should be on duty and doors will be open at all times.
-Later curfew on weekends for juniors with a certain GPA, perhaps during the week as well.
-More pinks available for upper classmen under age of 21.

Name: Cristina Alba
District: Winning
Ideas:
-Better communication between admin and students.
-Renovations to Irwin Hall
-Redo the SA job positions

Name: Emily Johnson
District: At-Large
Ideas:
-Renovated and updated Campus Center
-Bring Jones Soda back to the caf
-More and better printer access across campus

Name: Dustin Baumbach
District: Grainger
Ideas:
-The Grid needs a new TV along with new wireless to be able to actually watch TV without the connection cutting out
-The library needs to stay open another hour to match the 1 o’clock curfew in the dorms so that if the dorm lobby is too loud they can go to the
library till 1
-The gym needs some hours open during the day for people to work out because a lot of people have large breaks during the day

Name: Kate Osena
District: Andre
Ideas:
-New workout equipment for the weight room
-Return of rec room for men and women’s dorms
-Better laundry machines for all dorms

Name: Lily Guan
District: McReynolds
Ideas:
-Construct security cameras in the main buildings on campus to help avoid thefts
-To encourage the dining commons to turn on the new channels on the ‘big screen

We Will Not Be Silent: The Reality of LBGT

Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by Tim Widmer in Campus

It was an early February morning when Lawrence Forbes “Larry” King walked into E.O. Green Junior High. It was a school morning not unlike any other school morning. Larry went to his first period computer class. This would be the last class he would ever attend. Fellow student, fourteen year old Brandon McInerny sat down in his seat, opened his backpack and pulled out a .22 revolver. He raised it and fired twice, killing fifteen-year-old Larry King.  King was taken to the hospital where he was declared brain dead shortly.

The murder of Larry King was a hate crime, but maybe not the kind you would first expect. Larry King was not murdered because of his race. He was killed because of his sexuality and gender expression. King came out as openly gay at the age of ten. A naturally effeminate young man, King was tormented and bullied by the other students at his school for the next five years. This tormenting culminated in his murder on February 12, 2008. Brandon McInerny killed King because he was gay.

Regardless of whether you voted for proposition eight or not. This kind of violence is unacceptable. Each year LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) individuals are bullied, teased, and taunted because of their sexuality. Some are murdered, many are beaten, and some commit suicide. As you can well imagine this harassment has forced many students to stay in the so-called “closet” for fear of their own well-being. Hundreds of thousands of students are forced into silence because they are afraid to be who they are. Anti-LGBT action is a big problem in America today.

In 1996, students at the University of Virginia established a day of action in an attempt to create safer school campuses for all. Each year, for the past fourteen years, thousands of students nationwide have expressed solidarity for those who have been silenced by anti-LGBT behavior. Many participants identify as LGBT themselves, but many are straight individuals who consider themselves allies of their LGBT friends.

You may not have noticed, but at least for some students, Friday at PUC was a just a little quieter than any other normal Friday. Several PUC students participated in this year’s “National Day of Silence” organized by the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network). They expressed their solidarity with LGBT students everywhere but particularly with LGBT students within our Adventist system, and even more importantly with students here on our own campus.

I participated in this year’s DOS event for the first time. I, being young and idealistic was hoping that maybe the youth of our church were past bigotry. However, the Day of Silence showed me different. It seemed that as I was silent I became even more aware of what people were saying around me. I heard many scoffers saying things like, “When you change the world…Let me know” or asking critically in response to the event “What the h**l is a pansexual? Does that mean the like animals?” A quick look through the Facebook walls posts of some of my friends and I saw more of the same. One of my friends announced through a status that he was participating in this year’s event, and somebody wrote, “DISLIKE! You of all people really???” It was responses like this that left me disheartened. The fact of the matter is that bigotry still exists within our little haven on the hill.

Identifying as LGBT is not easy and it does not present an easy road in the future. Many LGBT individuals loose friends and family because they reveal their sexuality. In Adventism, the response is also this harsh. Adventism, like many fundamental Christian churches does not have the best track record in providing support for those who identify as LGBT. Those who are “out” have had to rely on close friends for support, without very few other people to turn to. However times are changing and organizations are beginning to be formed. One of the biggest resources for Adventists is a group called Kinship. Their websites boasts, “Supporting and advocating for gay Adventists since 1976. “

One of the best and closest resources for those who want to find out more about LGBT on our campus and within a spiritual community is GASP (Gay and Straight People). This underground and student led discussion group provides support for LGBT students on campus. It’s open to both LGBT individuals and allies. You can find them on Facebook and join the group. GASP is a great way to find like-minded peers to talk to about LGBT issues. It’s a great way to take the first steps to begin to build a supportive LGBT community on campus.

There is also a “Safe Place” program here at PUC. About 20 faculty have opened their door at any time for you if you need a place to talk. Their doors will bear the Safe Place logo. Just stop by any of their offices and say, “I need a safe place to talk.” They are more than willing to spend a little time talking to you.  There is a list of faculty who participate in the “Safe Place” program on their website. Some supportive faculty on campus include Aubyn Fulton, Alex Carpenter, Shana Ruggenberg, and Leticia Russell.

For those of you who are struggling and questioning right now. I have four words for you: You are not alone. There are a lot of places from which you can receive support.

Resources:

SDA Kinship – www.sdakinship.org

GASP – Search GASP on Facebook.

Safe Place – http://pucsafeplace.wordpress.com

Cafetaria Time Lapse

Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by Craig Hickerson in Campus

Cafeteria Time Lapse from Craig Hickerson on Vimeo.

We Continue to Support the Ordination of Women Into the Gospel Ministry

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Staff in Campus, Editorial

Jean Sheldon can teach future pastors…

Heather Knight can lead a college…

Ellen White can found a religion…

But none could be an ordained minister in the Adventist Church.

The C2 continues to resist social injustice, everywhere.

The use of these images do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Jean Sheldon, Heather Knight, and Ellen White.

Congratulations President Knight!

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Staff in Campus