-          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

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.

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.

Well, it’s here. A time that we have spent the last four years going to school for is finally upon us. We have taken classes on science, history, art, health, and math. But there is no class that can really prepare us for what we will accomplish once we get our little piece of paper that says we have paid over $100,000 worth of tuition and other needed expenses these last four (or five, or six; I’m not judging you) years. Some of us are going on to grad school, to either become a doctor or get your Doctorate, some have jobs already lined up, and some are going to be lying out on a couch back at the parents’ place.

But whatever our plans are, I can promise you that ten years from now, it won’t matter what we graduated with; it will matter what you do with it. Whether you graduated top of the pack or at the bottom, there is still plenty of time for you to either get passed up or for someone to fly by you with their own accomplishments. So what ever you do, don’t slow down or become complacent with what you accomplished in college. If you remember when you came out of high school at the top of your game only find out that you were just a big fish in a small pond, but you were a really tiny fish in a really really really tiny pond–same game, new pond. No one is going to care what you did in college. The only thing that will matter is what you can do right now.
So as we all move onward I can only say two things. The first is a challenge to either continue to excel at what you do, or if you don’t like what you’re doing, redefine what you are. It’s never too late to do that. The second is to wish you good luck, because we’re all going to need it.
Peace Gang.

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

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

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.

Have you ever considered leaving the Adventist church?  You certainly wouldn’t be alone.  Many college students leave the Adventist church after graduation for a variety of reasons.  We hear about their reasons, but what about reasons for staying Adventist?  Here are a few.

1. God is still speaking. Rumors of His death by modern philosophy and science are highly exaggerated.  Adventism at its core believes that God did not stop talking 2000 years ago, and will not stop making Himself known in some way or another.  That means that God is still speaking and listening to you.
2. People who love you. Your church may seem broken at times, but it is made of people, and many of these people love you.  The love of Christ is supposed to shine through the church.  Anyone who has been unwelcoming to you is not a real Christian.  Human beings fail at times, but the real point of a church is to bring believers together as the body of Christ.  If your church environment is hostile, you can change it by giving back the love of Christ.  There is a rule of reciprocity there.  If you show Christ’s love to others, they will eventually reflect it back.
3. Sex.  Before you laugh, keep in mind that Adventism, despite being known as a prudish, Victorian religion, is very supportive of marital sex.  Unlike many other Christian denominations who divide the body and soul, Adventists adopt the Jewish notion that the body and soul are one.  That means that sex is seen as a union not just of two bodies, but two souls.  Therefore, sex within marriage is a very good thing because unity is essential to a successful, happy marriage.  If Adventism seems restrictive in advocating monogamy, check out the statistics on all the physically bad things that happen to the body in sexual relations outside marriage—it’s frightening.  A view of a unified mind and body offers a healthy way of dealing with sexuality that many other traditions leave out.
4. Hope. With the belief of the unity of body and soul comes our belief in the state of the dead.  You may have been raised with the warning, “Jesus is coming!  He could come any time!  BE READY!” and thought to yourself privately, “It’s taken Him this long, and the world’s probably still not ready.  It probably won’t be ready in my lifetime, so why should I care?”  Anyone can die at any time, no matter how old or young.  A refrigerator could fall out of the sky on you, for all you know.  If this happened to you, it could be a thousand years to the outside world but as though mere seconds passed for you—and the first thing you would see is Jesus.  And what about the body the refrigerator crushed?  You would get it back, but it wouldn’t be smashed; God promises to restore the bodies of the dead and make them better than they were before.
5. Answers. Ever get confused?  You’re not alone.  One of the most confusing doctrines known to the Adventist faith is the millennium.  Ironically, the millennium offers a solution to confusion.  It’s a thousand years for you to ask God whatever you want to know.  If you got hit by a refrigerator falling out of the sky and suddenly found yourself face to face with Jesus, wouldn’t you be confused?  After getting your bearings (because you were, after all, just trying to get to class before this mysterious refrigerator appeared), you’ll start to notice a few things.  “Where’s my friend?” you might ask, looking for people you know.  “Why aren’t some of my family members here?”  The millennium is a thousand years for you to ask God all the questions you want, whether they’re about things that confuse you then or things that confuse you now.
6. Logic. Let’s say that you’re Spock and you want your religious beliefs to be logical and fit together neatly like the pieces of a puzzle.  By logic, the Bible is an amazing book because of its consistency despite its centuries of development.  If this consistency appeals to your logic, you probably want a consistent, logical framework for interpreting it.  Adventists have been doggedly determined to interpret the Bible as logically as possible ever since its beginnings. William Miller, a stubborn Advent pioneer, got it into his head to sit down with a Cruden’s Concordance and hash out the entire Bible’s supposed inconsistencies to the best of his satisfaction.  Even though he was wrong in the end (Jesus didn’t come in 1844), he left behind a legacy of people who are passionately obsessed with consistent, rational theology that fits together in a way that would make Spock proud.
7. Prophet. Ellen White never really wanted to be a prophet in the first place; her visions cost her a good deal personally.  The foreboding images we often receive of her frowning in a severe black dress have little to do with the Ellen that actually lived.  Have you ever been forced to read Messages to Young People? That book was not the spirit of her actual writings.  Although the compilations of Ellen White’s writings put out by the White Estate have their uses, they have been abused by adults trying to keep children in check.  Many of the quotes you may have been hammered with as a kid were in private letters to people she knew where she also lovingly asked after their health and how they were doing.  Ellen White loved young people.  There are some great stories about her giving kids buggy rides and shopping in Paris.  The issue of what to do with her writings is complex, but under all those controversies we still get a picture of a woman who loved Jesus and wanted to make sure that everyone got a chance to know a God that she had witnessed personally.  That’s a prophet worth learning from!
8. Encouraging history. While on the subject of Ellen White, look up some of the Advent pioneers.  They were teenagers, many of them quite fond of loud music and charismatic preaching.  Believe it or not, Ellen Harmon (the teenager who became Ellen White) probably would have been very much at home at the Gathering at PUC or a youth rally.  The founders of the Adventist church were a bunch of young people with a vision and a lot of enthusiasm.  When they were hit with stumbling blocks to their faith—especially the Great Disappointment– they wrestled through it and came out of it richly blessed.  There were some interesting characters who founded the church, including a sea captain, and their perspectives brought great variety to our church.
9. Sabbath. You may have a love-hate relationship with this word.  A lot of Adventists treat it as a series of “can’t”s.  However, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  God is giving you an excuse to rest!  He’s giving you an excuse to spend time with people you love and recharge spiritually for the week to come!  The Sabbath is a gift, not a curse.  Legalistic, rigid teachings on Sabbath observance are not God’s intention.  There’s so little time for recreation in this fast-paced society that every chance to relax a little should be a relief.
10. Equality. True Adventist belief recognizes the equality of all races, peoples, and genders.  The first mission field of the Adventist church was the American south.  Many of the Advent pioneers were abolitionists.  In fact, the Advent pioneers had a very idealized vision of spreading the message to everyone at once.  Sadly, after a few too many of the early missionaries got attacked by racists in the South who couldn’t handle desegregated meetings, they were forced to carry on the work in separate institutions.  The actual spirit of the Adventist movement was very much committed to Paul’s words, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28).  That includes gender.  Women have always been very important to the Adventist church, and continue to play an active role in it.  Everywhere doors are opening up for women in ministry that have not been open in a hundred years, since Ellen White was in leadership.  There’s still a good long ways to go on this issue, but times are changing and the church is maturing quickly.  It would be a shame to leave the church on this issue just to find it making a positive step forward only five years later.

Got questions?  Come and discuss them with us on Friday, April 23 in Dauphinee Chapel at 6:30 PM. There will be a panel discussion presented by the Heritage Room, and everyone is invited!

REVO PUC is putting into action being the hands and feet.  It is intricately connected to the faith that we have in being compassionate.  The idea that predominantly drives REVO is the giving of ourselves so that others can be brought to completion/healed/treated.  We really want to take Isaiah 61 and 2 Samuel 24:24.

This is about connecting the students to something that matters through the event that is REVO.  It raises awareness, inspires empathy, illicit compassion, and calls you to be concerned with a higher standard of living for yourself and others.

What is the philosophy behind REVO?

In 2 Samuel 24:24, David has to build an alter to God and he is offered the land for free as well as the sacrifices, but David refuses to accept by saying something that I think sums up REVO well.  The gist of it is, “I will not give to God that which costs me nothing.”

REVO is about getting people involved by making people really give.  It is easy to contribute, but to make a sacrifice and really have to give something up is a completely different experience.

It’s easy to be able to contribute by donating $20 to a cause or donating things you no longer want or need, or even spending a couple hours to volunteer.  Not that those contributions are not valuable, but these types of contributions may be impersonal and may not be particularly valuable to you.  I don’t want to cheapen the gift that REVO has to give.  Your gift should cost you something because it makes the people you are giving it to matter in a very personal way to you.  Giving something that is valuable to your connection closer to the people you donate to for the cause, and they will appreciate it more knowing that the donation came from a genuine place.  It connects you to them into something that’s more than just superficial.  It’s an investment in your humanity.

How did PUC get involved with REVO in the first place?

Actually, PUC was the first college to host a REVO event, and SDA colleges remain the only college campuses that have hosted REVO events so far.

REVO started at a bible study in 2008.  One particular PUC student, Rachel Thompson, was really moved by the Not for Sale campaign after the president of the campaign, David Batstone, gave a talk about it.  It came clearly to her that to get involved in these campaigns, you should support it by selling your stuff.  Her friend, Nina Brav, had hosted an event called REVO in Hawaii to raise money and awareness for the Grace of God Orphanage in Malawi, Africa. So, Rachel decided to bring it to PUC by combining the Not for Sale campaign with REVO.  Through a lot of hard work and God’s blessing, they had an amazing event that raised money and awareness for fighting child slavery.

Grace Jung continued REVO last year.  After a lot of prayer, she picked the Napa Valley food bank.  REVO raised over $8000 to help keep the Napa Valley food bank open in a really tough stop.  So many people are eager to help support people abroad, when so often there are people and organizations right next to us who need help.  At the time, the Napa Valley food bank was in need of support, and the locals of Napa depended on the food bank.  REVO was able to help keep the food bank open in order to feed people who were in need, right here in Napa Valley.

This year we hope to continue that legacy.

What causes is REVO supporting/raising money for this year?

We’re supporting two different charities: one local, one global.

The local charity is KidzReach, which is a program that takes kids who are in foster care or come from families with one or both parents in jail and brings them all together with PUC students and other volunteers who take care of the kids.  KidzReach gives these kids a chance to go on field trips to the zoo or the beach, and do other activities like hiking or mud caving.  We take them out for a day of fun and make sure they’re well fed.  Basically, the mission is just to let them be kids.  REVO would be raising money to fund a camping trip for them to go into the forest and let them experience nature.  A lot of these kids live out in Lake County or Vallejo, so most of them don’t get the opportunity to spend time out in nature.

The global charity we’re supporting is the Tropical Health Alliance Foundation (THAF).  It is a multifunctional charity that supports a variety of programs, but the program we’re going to be supporting is one that does treatment and research for Podoconiosis.  Pondoconiosis is a form of Elephantiasis of the feet which causes the feet to swell and in some cases can be debilitating.  REVO is the first one to be actively supporting five specific clinics and one hospital that combined treats thousands of patients with Podo.  Podo is completely preventable and in many cases easily curable by wearing shoes.  TOMS shoes is doing a matching gift where for every person we treat, TOMS will provide shoes for them and their family, effectively eradicating the disease in future generations, and hopefully taking care of/treating/curing  2 million people in Ethiopia and 4 million people worldwide.

This will be one of the first pushes by any organization outside of TOMS to actively treat and prevent this disease.

How can we get involved?

Sit down in your room, and look around at what you value.  Take time to look at each thing that you value and ask yourself, “Why is it important?”  Then look at the cause that you want to be involved in, and ask, “Would I give that up in order to (fill in the blank)?”  In this case the question is, “Would I give that up in order to support KidzReach or THAF?”  That’s what REVO is about.  It teaches you how it is possible that the stuff that you value can be turned into real action, and that compassion and self sacrifice can be given to a cause to make a real difference.

Give us stuff that means something to you, give us donations, and prayers.  REVO is about giving of yourself to see something that you care about succeed.

What inspired you to get involved?

REVO is about serving the community in a real way, and allowing that kind of service to be expressed through this event is really what made me want to get involved. God has done such amazing things through REVO and the blessings that you see when you are involved blow you away. I think that the idea of REVO is infectious to this generation, especially in the way it makes you give of yourself to the cause that then shows you the real results that come from working together.

What can we expect to see?

You can expect to see God moving in great ways. There will be a huge stuff sale, amazing music from student bands as well as a special guest band from SoCal.  We’ll be serving great food from Armadillos and Helmer’s Corn-Dogs, and there will be information from THAF, KidzReach, TOMS shoes, and Amnesty.  To round out the evening, we will have a Fashion show brought to you by six of your peers who have worked really hard to create some amazing designs for their models.

Dr. Larry will be on hand to explain and show first-hand accounts of his time in Ethiopia and the devastating effects that Podo has on the lives of these people. Lauren Waychoff who is in charge of KidzReach will be there showing off pictures and amazing testimonies of what kind of an impact the program and PUC kids have had on their lives.

This will be an event for the whole family.  There will be amazing food, fellowship, and fun because of the hard work of dedicated students who gave generously in hope of nothing in return.  It will be an event to remember because of the step of faith that students took in rocking their world forever.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Keep us in your prayers and clean out your closet for the sale cause the way that REVO is a success is letting God work through us to make a difference. Hope to see you guys there, it’s going to be amazing!

If you guys want to get involved, we can always use the help.  Shoot an email to PUCREVO@gmail.com.

Check out www.startarevo.org if you want more information on what REVO has accomplished and want to see other causes that REVO is involved in.