News reports have indicated that President Barack Obama had bad luck selecting his cabinet members. Withdrawals and investigations have plagued his nominees. Some have been able to surpass the baggage check from the Senate during confirmation hearings while others have not.

Republican Senator Judd Gregg, ex-Secretary of Commerce, was the fourth and most recent withdrawal from Obama’s cabinet on Feb. 12. According to CNN.com, Gregg cited “irresolvable conflicts” on the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the upcoming census. Gregg’s announcement “comes as something of a surprise,” Obama said when he was in Ill. Gregg would have been the third Republican to join Obama’s team.

Obama announced the newest nominee for secretary of commerce late Feb. Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke is the third candidate for the seat and is currently pending Senate approval. Locke was the first Chinese-American governor in U.S. history and served for two terms.

Feb. 3 brought two withdrawals from Obama’s expected cabinet.

Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services

secretary nominee, dropped out because of money issues. Daschle failed to report $15,000 in charitable donations and more than $80,000 in unreported income from consulting. The controversy grew when it became known that he gained income from health-related companies, which eventually led him to withdraw. Since then Daschle has paid over $140,000 in back taxes for 2005-2007.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is Obama’s latest pick for the vacancy Daschle created.

The same day, Nancy Killefer, first chief performance officer-delegate, withdrew. Killefer did not want to become a distraction to Obama and the rest of the administration with her tax related delinquencies.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was the first of Obama’s black sheep. Richardson withdrew Jan. 3 because of a federal investigation. According to CNN.com, the investigation involves a Calif. company that won municipal bond business in N.M. after contributing to several of Richardson’s causes. Richardson however denies any improper actions.

Obama’s cabinet members have also faced issues during their appointments.

Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner was sworn in amid tax issues. According to NYTimes.com, Geithner failed to pay over $34,000 dollars in federal taxes during the earlier

part of the decade. He was also questioned about a former household worker’s employment and legal status.

Another Cabinet member also had problems with taxes. The Senate postponed Congresswoman Hilda Solis’ confirmation hearings when it became known that her husband had several outstanding tax liens for his auto repair company. Unpaid for 16 years, the amount was $6,400. But since Solis was not a formal partner in the business, Obama’s administration continued their support and was confirmed on Feb. 24.

Obama had more withdrawn nominees in a shorter time period than the two former presidents did during their entire terms.

George W. Bush’s presidency had two withdrawals. Bernard Kerik had an issue with an employee’s immigration status and unpaid tax payments. Linda Chavez also withdrew because of her relationship with a

woman of illegal immigrant status.Former President Bill Clinton had three

withdrawals: Hershel Gersher, Bob Inman and Zoe Baird. Gersher was accused of sexual harassment and decided to withdraw. Inman claimed the media tried to taint his reputation and walked out. Baird had two illegal workers and failed to pay taxes for her employees, forcing her to withdraw.

THE BANNERMarch 6. 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10

A California Baptist University Campus Publication

NEWS BRIEFS PAGE 3 ∙ TOMS SHOES PAGE 10 ∙ CBU GOLF PROFILE PAGE 14

(Photo by Kyle Meyer)

BY MONICA MARTINEZSENIOR WRITER

Obama Faces Challenges Building Cabinet

ENERGY DRINKS:THE CAFFEINATED GENERATION See page 10

(Photo Illustration by Mike Sampson and Kenton Jacobsen)

NEWS March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 2

Loose a few pounds. It is all about the way you look! Thin is in. Pump more iron.

These statements make women and men of all ages feel inadequate, which can lead to deep and hurtful repercussions.

Toni Jauregui, MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) Intern in the counseling center at California Baptist University, launched “In His Image” week on campus five years ago after loosing a friend to an eating disorder. “Young women struggle to find worth in God. It’s about who you are in Christ and not what other girls think,” Jauregui said.

The week provides resources for individuals who struggle with their appearance and self value.

Genesis 1:27 was the verse for the week which said, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

The week was designed to enlighten students to discover their identity and value in Christ. “The mirror lies and God does not. We think others pay attention but they don’t, because they are looking at themselves. We try comparing ourselves to models who don’t exist,” she said.

According to American Psychological Association, 64% of college women engage in disordered eating behaviors.

Through out the week counselors informed students about unhealthy habits and suggested ways to help friends in similar situations. Friday afternoon, students were given the opportunity to attend tea with older women to learn and grow from their experiences.

According to the National Men’s Resource Center, one in 10 people with a disorder are men. Jauregui wanted to bring this fact to the surface and drew men into the forums throughout the week.

At the Late Night French Toast event on Monday, Head Wrestling Coach John Petty,

Girls’ Basketball Coach Danelle Bishop and Assistant Professor of Christian Studies Jeff Mooney told students that the beauty within them is the most significant. Mooney said, “My life is about making God known to other people and it doesn’t matter what I look like.”

Thursday evenings’ “Sex avnd Chocolate” was the biggest hit of the week. The A.J. Staples Room overflowed into the hallways as students gathered to hear the panel answer questions about relationships and sex. The panel consisted of a variety of individuals and couples from CBU in all types of relationships from 35 years of marriage to single leaders.

Vulnerable panel volunteers captured students’ attention after sharing the strengths and difficulties within their marriages and personal convictions.

The events of the week were aimed to inform students about different issues that play into a healthy self image. The counseling center urges students to seek out a mentor, find an accountability partner and educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of an unhealthy habit. The center is available for students and staff for free counseling.

“I hope this week encourages people to step back and see what rules their hearts or what is lacking. See what God wants for you and change the root of the problems,” Jauregui said.

Source for “Symptons of Depression”http://psychcentral .com/l ib/2008/

depression-and-anxiety-among-college-students

MirrOr, MirrOr nO MOrE liEs

BY CARISSA GONZALESSENIOR WRITER

www.ggbts.edu

888-442-8701

Campus locations: Northern California Southern California Arizona Pacific Northwest Rocky Mountain

… on mission to the world.

Taking your knowledge…

Symptoms of Depression:

•

Mood behavior problems- unable to en-joy things like they used to.• Thoughts of death or suicide- attempts of suicide• Appetite changes– either not eating enough or eating too much.• Chronic aches and pains• Hopelessness • Unable to sleep Anxiety:• Constant worry• Social isolation• Negative thoughtsEating disorder symptoms:• Sadness • Irritability• Difficulty concentrating• Fatigue.Treatment includes variations of psychotherapy and medica-tion• Psychotherapy – one-on-one or group “talk therapy,” • Having faith in the Lord• Medication-helps balance the chemi-cals in the brain

BY SAMANTHA STEWARTSTAFF WRITER

NEWSMarch 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 3

nEWs BriEFs: CBU AnD THE WOrlD

BY JESSICA CULBERTSONSENIOR WRITER

For further information, contact: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, Professor of Law, Ethics & Humanities College of Arts & Sciences, California Baptist University 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504 Tel: (951) 343-4288 / Fax: (951) 343-4520 / Email: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

All showings will be presented in Mission Hall, Room 109 @ 6:00 P.M.

Opportunity for discussion & dialogue will follow each film

Monday, Mar 9: Shtetl [Frontline program on the pre - and post-war history of Bransk, Poland, a Jewish shtetl destroyed by the Germans in 1942]

FILM SERIES ON THE HOLOCAUST/SHOAH

Spring Semester, 2009 FIV

E T

OTA

L M

OVI

ES

Monday, Mar 23: Downfall [April 1945, in the bunker with Hitler at the end of the war. German language film, with English subtitles]

BY ALYSSA ISGETT PERSPECTIVE EDITOR

BY ABBY BROYLESSENIOR WRITER

BY MONICA MARTINEZSENIOR WRITER

Australia Fire ImpactsMany

ACCESS Devotional

Uphill Battle in Race to Recovery

Small Changes for ‘09

In his first address to a joint session of Congress Feb. 24, President Barack Obama intertwined optimism with the harsh realities of the state of the nation that he vowed to strengthen and rebuild through ambitious efforts in education, energy and health care reform.

From the rostrum of the House chamber, Obama promised Americans in his primetime-televised speech lasting nearly an hour that the nation “will emerge stronger than before.” Technically not an official state of the union address, this was meant to instill confidence in a country a week after Congress passed the largest stimulus package ever in American history.

“As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us, watching to see what we do with this moment, waiting for us to lead,” Obama said.

On the eve of his address, the stock market fell to its lowest point in over a decade. Two days later, he unveiled the 134-page blueprint of his multi-trillion dollar federal budget, a figure nearly four times the greatest in history.

Still, the President with an approval rating greater than 60 percent pushed his expensive agenda and assured Americans that in the future, the federal government would pull the reigns on spending. He also vowed to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term in office, hoping to accomplish this by a spending reduction on the war in Iraq and allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to lapse in 2010. Also, Obama wants to roll back income tax deductions for the wealthy and funnel that money to a health care reserve fund.

“Let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year,” Obama said.

Obama’s speech was interrupted 65 times by applause and 37 standing ovations in a room where the first African-American president addressed Congress, the first Roman Catholic Vice President and first female Speaker of the House were seated behind him, and among those looking on were the first African- American first lady and the former first lady and fierce campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State. The historical nature of the night expanded into the guests seated in the House chamber. Michelle Obama, seated in the balcony during the address, was flanked by those mentioned in the President’s speech as personifications of the ideas he articulated Tuesday night. Seated to the right of the first lady was Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the eighth grade South Carolina student who wrote a letter to Congress, urging them to remember the importance of education in America. Also present was Leonard Abess Jr., a Florida bank executive, who, after selling a majority stake in Miami-based City National Bancshares, took his $60 million in proceeds and divided it among everyone on his payroll and 72 former employees. Obama noted Abess’s selflessness in his speech and quoted a line from Bethea’s letter saying that “we are not quitters.” He included these personal stories hoping to inspire bipartisanship in an ever-partisan Washington.

“Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tre-mendous burden, but also a great privilege, one that has been entrusted to few generations of Ameri-cans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill,” Obama said.

Raging since Feb. 12, the brushfires in the state of Victoria, Australia have taken a significant toll. They have officially claimed the lives of over 200 people and destroyed 988,000 acres.

More than 900 homes have been destroyed along with wildlife. One of the fires that started by the town of Churchill killed 21 people and is suspected as arson.

The fire in the town of Marysville is under investigation for foul play. Police suspect several of the other major fires to be arson as well.

Police state that the death toll is expected to rise; bodies are still being discovered. According to Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe, there is a chance that some of the bodies may never be identified. Damage has reached about $3.9 million.

Feb. 22 was declared a national day to mourn the fire victims. A koala bear known as Sam has survived the wildfire and become a symbol of hope during this time of grief. He has touched hearts around the world. He was found by a fireman. Pictures of the koala drinking from his

New to California Baptist University this semester is the international chapel for those students involved in the ACCESS Program (ESL classes).

Similar to the undergraduate chapel, ACCESS Devotional is a time of praise and fellowship which is then followed by a message. Because of language barriers, international students are not required to attend the undergraduate chapel until they become full-time students. This chapel allows the international students to have a similar experience.

ACCESS Devotional is held on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Garden Chapel. Chapel credit is not given for attendance, but anyone is welcome to come.

For more information, contact Bryan Davis in the International Center.

New Penny Designs: The U.S. Mint will release four new pennies this year. The first design, already in circulation, features a log cabin in Kentucky where Lincoln was born. The second penny, out in mid-May, shows Lincoln sitting on a log representing the period he worked as a rail-splitter. The third illustration is of Lincoln at the Illinois Legislature, expected to be out in August. The final penny is a symbol of Lincoln’s presidency. It is a picture of the U.S. Capitol without its dome, which shows the division of states during the Civil War.

Rising Postal Service Prices: Prices in the postal office will increase on May 11. Stamps will increase two cents, from 42 cents to 44 cents. Other mailing services such as standard mail, periodicals and packaging will also change. Forever stamps can continue to be used. USPS.com also posted on website that prices for mailing services will adjust every May.

More Money for Financial Aid: President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

water bottle have surfaced on the Internet.Sources: http://www.radionetherlands.nl United Press International

adds $500 dollars to PELL grant, making the maximum amount possible total $5,350 dollars. The Federal Work Study program will receive $200 million for a community center initiative.

Sources: latimes.com, usps.com, http://w w w. n a i c u . e d u / d o c L i b / 2 0 0 9 0 2 2 3 1 _arrahigheredprovis.pdf

FEATURES March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 4

THE GrEATinDOOrs?Tanning is a widespread trend that provides

people a tan body for the gloomy winter. Of course, this nice summer glow can come with a price.

The most dangerous risk and detrimental effect of tanning is melanoma cancer. This type of cancer begins in the cells that make the pigment melanin. It may begin in a mole as well as pigmented tissues in the eye or intestines. Melanoma is a deadly cancer that has killed about 8,000 people in the United States in 2008. Still, some people are willing to risk their life as well as their bodies to have a bronzed summer body all year long.

There are two types of tanning: indoor and outdoor. Indoor tanning can have bad effects on the body, including sun burns and damage to the cornea because of the tanning bed.

When skin is sun burned, the process of the skin going from red to tan speeds up the skin’s aging process. Tanning will not benefit people who want to look younger.

Outdoor tanning exposes people to the sun, while indoor tanning allows people to control the level of Ultraviolet rays. It has also been proven that spending time in a tanning bed can decrease depression and stress. Indoor tanning can also help cure diseases such as psoriasis or osteoporosis, as UV rays can assist in providing the body with Vitamin D that is used to cure such conditions.

Tanning is a growing, widespread trend that many people consider fun and rewarding. Tanning gives people the look that they want in a matter of minutes without having to spend hours outdoors.

Sources: http://www.tanning-advisor.com/indo or- t anning-versus-outdoor-tanning.html

h t t p : / / w w w . s k i n - c a r e .becomegorgeous.com/perfect_skin/indoor_tanning_vs_ sun_must_read-62.html

Tanning beds provide that sun tanned look. (Photo by Kristin Vaughan)

BY CAMILLE CRITESSENIOR WRITER

She walks over, tray in hand, a huge smile on her face as she s i t s down. Her bubbly personal i ty shines through and touches ever yone around her. She does not look f raz zled f rom the day ; she looks excited and energetic . Br iana Burca is a ver y busy f reshman at Cal i fornia Baptist University.

Burca faces the chal lenge of being a nursing major while a lso being greatly dedicated to play ing the v iol in. She plays in CBU’s University Choir and Orchestra . She has played the v iol in for 11 years and comes f rom a musical family.

Her father plays the base in a symphony orchestra and her mom used to play the v iol in in an orchestra .

Even though her major i s nursing , which cal ls for great

academic dedicat ion, Burca said she “never wants to the abandon the v iol in.”

Burca grew up in Spain while her parents were pursuing their musical careers . She has an interest ing cultural background and i t i s ev ident in her l ight accent and character ist ics .

She is f luent in Spanish, Engl ish and Romanian; her parents are or ig inal ly f rom Romania . Burca’s parents st i l l l ive in Spain, and although she misses them, she says she is an adaptable person, especial ly with the help of technolog y.

She is constantly doing something , whether i t i s social , academic or musical ; i t i s inspir ing . “I need to be busy. I l ike i t , I need to be doing something ever y hour of ever yday,” Burca said. She is even thinking of gett ing involved in of f-campus extracurr icular act iv it ies .

The nursing program at CBU is nothing short of a chal lenge. Burca is up for that chal lenge. Although she is st i l l not quite certain where exactly she wants nursing to take her

she said that she “has a burning to help people ’s physical and spir i tual needs .”

When it comes to how a g irl f rom Spain ended up at a Southern Cal i fornian school i t was nothing but an act of God.

Burca’s mother put desired col lege trait s into an Internet search engine and one out of the two results was CBU — a col lege that her mom was an alumna . Burca also plans to look into and get involved in di f ferent ministr ies outside of school . She wants to get out there and make a di f ference.

Keeping busy wil l never become a problem for this young lady. Burca is apply ing for the leadership posit ions of resident assistant , focus leader and admissions host .

“Even though sometimes people tr y to discourage me with nursing and I may sometimes wonder how I am going to make i t through without my social t ime, I know God has a plan and I trust him with ever ything I do,” Burca said.

BY JESSICA CULBERTSONSENIOR WRITER

Briana Burca keeps everyone smiling. (Photo by Kristin Vaughan)

CAn’T BUrsT HEr BUBBlE

It is Monday night and more than half the girls in Simmons Hall 2B are running around, getting dressed up and talking about how much fun they are going to have.

They are excited about the Swing Dancing lessons that are held every Monday night at 7: 00 p.m. at the Coffee Depot located in downtown Riverside.

Coffee Depot boasts that it is the largest coffee house in America. According to the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America), they can fit anywhere between four to seven other coffee houses in their own location, which is roughly 7,200 square feet.

It is not the size of the Coffee Depot that has attracted so many students, it is the swing dancing. “It’s great learning a new dance step that isn’t from our generation” Jordyn Neilson, a CBU student, said as she prepared for her next swing dance lesson.

The University of California Riverside’s swing dance club teaches people of all ages from six to sixty, and newcomers are always more than welcome. Neilson heard of this opportunity “through fellow students who had been going for quite some time.” On occasion, live bands like Hobo Jazz, The Hot Tamales, and others perform. The swing dance lessons are typically free but when there is a live band it costs $5 to get in the door.

They offer a beautiful wooden dance floor with chairs lined up along the sides for people who are not yet ready to take the plunge into swing dancing or for those who have been dancing all night and need a quick break before heading out again. The room is well ventilated with two large sliding glass doors that are open for the fresh air and ceilings fans to keep the dancers nice and cool.

This is a great way to have some fun after a hard day at school.

FEATURESMarch 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 5

In terms of rational self-interest alone, it is difficult to imagine why anyone would ever consider running over 26 miles in a single day —that is, assuming the situation is not life or death. On Feb. 1, however, that is exactly what 17 students and six staff members from California Baptist University did as they participated in the annual Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. The annual event included over 18,000 runners in all.

A marathon is perhaps the most recognizable feat of pure fitness and athleticism in sports, and there is no questioning the supreme necessity of a concentrated effort in training before the big day.

Led by Chris Hofschroer, director of recreational sports, the participants from CBU were no exception. In the months leading up to race day, runners developed a hardened physical endurance and a tight kinship with their peers — both of which proved to be essential to the success of the ultimate goal.

When the day finally came, CBU runners gathered up their courage and commitment as early as 4 o’clock in the morning to put themselves to the ultimate test. The sunless morning sky bore a starkly chilly air for the participants, and the electric aura was not lost on student Scott Fender. “It was the sum of all the excitement that we built up during the months of training,” Fender said. The adrenaline, which assisted the runners near the beginning, would soon fade.

Mile after mile, step after step, the

ambitious travelers grew weary. Fender, who by his own admission did not participate in the entire CBU training regimen, felt especially browbeaten by the intense physical exertion.

“At about mile 14, I figured that I could just stop because that was at least the halfway point,” Fender said.

Whether it was personal pride, or a relentless will to keep his word to his friends, however, he found it in himself to press on.

George White, another CBU student, said afterwards that he felt at one point that mile 18 “was the max for my legs”. With inspiration derived from personal commitment and encouragement from fellow runners Janelle Fagg and Chris Hofschroer, though, he was also fought the urge to quit.

The sight of the finish line brought with it a sense of relief for the bedraggled runners. “The last 100 yards — with all the

people I didn’t even know cheering for me — gave me a huge sense of accomplishment,” White said.

All the finishing participants received medals in order to remember their triumph, but the memories of the event itself will survive independently of any physical object of designation. Fender described his sense of achievement as “a great fulfillment of what I had been telling my friends” and “something no one can ever take away from me.”

run in thesun

BY JOSH HARRISSTAFF WRITER

CBU students participated in the annual Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach on Feb.1. (Photo provided by Chris Hofschroer)

COFFEE sHOP FUnBY KELLI KEIGWIN

SENIOR WRITER

Coffee and dance lessons create a fun break from studies at Coffee Depot in Riverside. (Photo by Cayla Ames)

With registration for fall 2009 just around the corner, beware when signing up for classes – your summer plans just might take a turn. For Nick Coibion, Tim Wilkins

and Caleb Childers, what started as an intercultural studies class has become a life-changing event as they prepare to spend their summer hiking the 1,700 mile Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) to raise money for the persecuted church in Asia, and share the gospel with all they encounter.

Together, the team has set the goal of raising 100,000 dollars to build 100 wells, for 100 villages. Through deserts and mountains, sand and snow, Team Sweetwater is using physical activities, doing research and acquiring the proper gear as they prepare to take on the PCT.

It all began with Coibion, during a Global Perspectives lecture by Assistant Professor of Global Studies Jeff Lewis. The lecture for the day was the physical and spiritual state of the

world, focusing on the area known as the 10/40 window. “I remember

him talking about 30,000 children dying every day from hunger, and he broke down in class crying,” Coibion said. “Everybody was silent. The mood immediately changed. It was at that point that I felt the Holy Spirit

asking the question, ‘So what are you going to do about it?’”

After prayer and waiting, he had an answer. “I knew from class, I don’t want to just preach the gospel, because that’s not going to meet the physical needs of these people who are starving and thirsty and poor,” Coibion said.

“But I knew that I also didn’t just want to meet the physical needs because that’s not fulfilling the great commission,” he said.

A difficult search to find just the right organization came to an end when Coibion was directed by Resident Director J.J. Seid to “Gospel for Asia.”

According to their website, www.gfa.org, the organization exists, “To share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have never before heard His name.” Combining the spiritual and physical needs of the world, one of their tools is the creation of a “Jesus Well.”

While building a well through many organizations can cost anywhere from 3,500-18,000 dollars, a Jesus well can be built with 1,000. Using workers native to the area, the well is given to a rural village in India that is going through persecution for the sake of the gospel.

Though the well is given to the Christians, they open it up to the very people that are persecuting them, as an attempt to show the love of God through a tangible action. This provides everyday opportunities for native believers to share the gospel. When Coibion discovered this about the ministry, the decision to support them was final.

“They are using what they’ve been blessed with to advance the kingdom,” Coibion said.

Now that Coibion had found an organization that had the opportunities he was searching for, there was a larger task ahead – what exactly would he do? With swimming to Catalina, and kayaking

the Mississippi River as news of the past, Coibion sought new opportunities.

“We had heard about Ethan Johnstone and the swimmers doing their things, so we thought let’s do something like that but let’s go 4 months, and do something that’s pretty difficult, so we started researching,” Coibion said. “We decided we were going to do was hike on the PCT from Campo, Calif. All the way up to Achoa, Oregon.”

At 1,700 miles, he was to discover that the PCT is a daunting trail for even the most experienced of hikers.

Undeterred, Coibion began asking around for pledges to see if he actually would be able to raise support. The first round of pledges resulted in the creation of a team, with Wilkins joining forces. “I was just really excited about it for him. I took about a month and prayed about it,” Wilkins said.

In the middle of the summer of 2008, Wilkins joined the team. As an entrepreneurial filmmaker, Childers joined soon after.

Junior Emily Evanson was drawn to the cause, and is now the church coordinator for the team that has now taken on the name Team Sweetwater. “I’m probably not going to hike,” Evanson said. “Hiking with a bunch of boys is not okay. But he asked me to help and I said whatever I can do, I will help.”

Though the trip is still weeks away, the members have been learning already.

“You begin to realize a lot of the things you have in life you don’t need. You build a dependence on community, you build a dependence on friendship and you build a dependence on God,” Childers said.

The journey has brought them from a global perspective in their faith, to a simpler perspective for life. “You learn the difference between want and need,” Wilkins said. “When all you have is what is on your back.”

On any count, English professor Irina Renfro has lived an incredibly eventful life, full enough to amaze even the most jaded and cynical.

Born in a medium sized city in Siberia in the Soviet Union, she grew up largely without her parents, who had disappeared for roughly five years. Left with a woman who she had been told was her grandmother, she later found out that she was a stranger. When her mother returned from her disappearance, “She didn’t know what to do with me,” Renfro said. Later she found out that her parents had most likely been imprisoned in a labor camp.

Despite her volatile parental situation, she finished high school at 16, and left to attend Saratov State University with a good friend. She graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in literature.

Renfro was teaching high school in a small village in Siberia while continuing her research. She would ride 350 miles on a train to a nearby city

where she would be able to find books. One day, after reading a book that sparked her interest, she wrote the author explaining her own views and the direction she wanted to take with her research. Impressed, the author took her on as a graduate student in St. Petersburg State University.

It was there she met her husband, an American, who was studying as an exchange student from UCLA. They met after Renfro moved into an international dorm in order to have a more reliable line of communication with her advisor, who was teaching in Paris at Sorbonne. They were married in 1974, though she expected that they would be able to choose where they were to live, that was not to be the case.

“We were naive,” Renfro said. With her husband forced to leave the Soviet Union and unable to return, and herself unable to be published, they began the process of moving her to the United States. With Cold War tensions, it was very difficult for her to get a visa. Through many ups-and-downs, including a letter to then-President Jimmy Carter,

they were able to finally receive the visa and she came to the United States in 1978.

For roughly the first four years, she stayed home raising their children. She began to teach Russian again at Riverside Community College in 1992. She began to teach at California Baptist College in 1997 after then-Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Pat Kirchner asked her to teach a Language Acquisition course. Since then, she has taught all but three of the courses in the course catalog. Her favorite courses to teach at California Baptist University are Shakespeare, Linguistics and Russian Literature. In 1996, she published a Russian language textbook, which she thoroughly enjoys teaching.

For those who wish to visit Russia, she recommends traveling to St. Petersburg, particularly the Hermitage and St. Isaac’s Cathedral and Lake Baikal, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

irina renfro: From st. Petersburg to riverside

Tim Wilkins is a member of Team Sweetwater.(Photo by Enoch Kim)

Team sweetwater: legendary Men

BY JUSTINE HOLGUINFEATURES EDITOR

BY MARK GRAHAMSTAFF WRITER

Professor Irina Renfro helps her students to understand lin-guistics by using IPA. (Photo by Kenton Jacobsen)

FEATURESMarch 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 6

FEATURESMarch 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 7

For too many students at California Baptist University, the absence of private transportation entails long weekends stuck in the confines of the rather tame campus.

Without a car, even the briefest trips across town may seem a tiresome bother for not only the luckless student —but also his or her friends with a car who may not enjoy being a personal taxi. Believe it or not, there is an answer to this hopeless dependency, and it lies with the Riverside Transit Agency.

Riverside’s bus routes are quite extensive, and with a stop just off campus near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Adams Street, CBU students who dismiss public transportation as lowly or distasteful do so at the expense of their own rational interests.

Eastbound and Westbound buses, though operating on an approximate schedule, arrive and depart every half hour from the Magnolia/Adams location. This route stretches as far East as UCR and as far West as the Galleria at Tyler, but these two destinations also offer the traveler access to many other destinations further away—including locations in and around Los Angeles.

Planning trips is no intimidating task, as all the information regarding fares, times and routes is available quite plainly on RiversideTransit.com.

Passes and tickets are also available for purchase on the website, as well as other information regarding particular rules and regulations. Riders who intend to travel with unordinary carry-on items should pay special attention to the rules provided, as

the bus system is strict when it comes to what is and is not allowed to accompany the paying rider.

Safety, of course, is paramount in the context of any public bus ride. Public transportation is the target of a certain sense of unfair, stereotypical criticism regarding the presence of unseemly fellow riders. This seems a rather uppity, aristocratic mindset, but it assuredly denotes at least a partial truth regarding the supposed dangers of bus travel. Just like in any other public setting, there are bound to be people with starkly negative intentions in and among the more positive majority. In order to travel effectively while staying safe, riders should heed well some basic safety axioms:

• Although night travel is sometimes necessary, it is safest to travel during the daytime

• If at all possible, always travel with a companion (especially for female riders)

• Never hesitate to report suspicious activity to the authorities onboard

• Though it may seem a symptom of undue paranoia, carrying pepper spray can serve as a good safety measure (again, this is especially true for female riders)

Riverside’s bus system is an affordable way to travel around town, and it provides an effective alternative transportation option for CBU students frustrated with their inability to move about.

So, although there are certainly legitimate negatives associated with bus travel, perhaps it is time to shake the irrational, stereotypical fears of public transportation in an effort to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.

riVErsiDE TrAnsiT: WHY nOT TAKE THE BUs?BY JOSH HARRIS

STAFF WRITER

Thousands of Christians are persecuted everyday in North Korea for their belief in God.

“There is no other country in the world where Christians are persecuted in such a horrible and systematic matter,” Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors organization, said. Open Doors is an organization that seeks to “strengthen the church to be the church in the most hostile places.”

With a population of over 22 million, approximately 500,000 North Koreans are Christian. Worship is silenced. Biblical teaching is done in secret. Evangelizing is discrete. Prayers are intense. In such

conditions mediocre Christians are nonexistent. Every step in a person’s walk with Christ is a life-or-death movement.

Religion of any kind is outlawed in North Korea. The government supports religious organizations and churches as a façade for tourists and to monitor the country’s religious activity. The political and religious doctrine taught in religious services support the government’s control over the people.

Proselytizing and even holding a Bible is a request to be beaten, tortured, imprisoned or executed for three generations down even after the offender is sentenced. Christians are given the most dangerous jobs in prison and endure the most intense forms of torture and execution.

“In North Korea you can get away with murder if you have good connections. However, if you get caught carrying a Bible, there is no way to save your life,” a North Korean refugee said.

Police patrolling the border between China and North Korea went undercover as underground church leaders to find Christians to detain and eradicate.

“The state is working hard to wipe out Christianity,” Jerry Dykstra, Open Doors USA spokesman, said.

“One witness who testified before the U.S. Congress in 1990 reported the killing of several elderly Christians by police who poured molten iron on them after they refused to renounce Christianity and embrace the state ideology of juche,” Persecution.org said.

“Despite all the persecution and

suffering, God is calling more and more people,” Tom, an Asian pastor, said. “The Bible commands us to preach the gospel. It is a natural act for Christians.” It is estimated that there are 512 illegal house churches in the country.

Thousands of new converts are baptized every year.

“Even in the midst of persecution, the Asian church does not pray for safety and deliverance from persecution but for strength and endurance for God’s will to be done in their lives and for people to come to Christ,” a missionary who served Asia, said.

*- names changed for protectionFor more information go to http://

www.opendoorsusa.org, www.persecution.com, www.persecution.org, http://www.compassdirect.org

To be a Christian is to be a criminalBY CARISSA GONZALES

SENIOR WRITER

(Map provided by RTA)

VISION March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 8

“The heavens declare the glory of God;and the firmament sheweth His handywork” Psalm 19:1Kristin Vaughanstaff Photographer

(Center)After a full day of meetings, CBU journalist enjoy the San Diego sunset.Reina Mendezstaff Photographer

Isn’t it amazing how water can bead up and stick around?Kyle MeyerPhoto Editor

(Center Bottom)Cast and crew of “Arsenic and Old Lace” work tirelessly into late hours of the night to prepare for opening night of the show.Michael Ring staff Photographer

VISION March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE9

A little editing can go a long way with beautiful skies over the swim team practice. Kenton JacobsenPhoto Director

With spring break just around the corner, it is a good thing stores are stocking up on a staple beach accessory.Kristen Vaughanstaff Photographer

Brick, I dont know why, but I like taking pictures of itKyle MeyerPhoto Editor

A worm that lives up to three months in soil can infect 900 million people worldwide. The disease can be deadly but it is completely preventable.

According to friendsoftoms.org, “Podoconiosis [is] a debilitating disease that causes extreme swelling, repeated ulcers, and deformity in the feet and legs. Podo is 100% preventable with shoes.”

Closets in America are full of shoes. Deciding which pair of shoes will match an outfit the best is a challenge. We do not even consider the fact that many people worldwide do not have one pair of shoes to place on their feet.

According to shinystyle.tv/ethical_fashions, “TOMS shoes is trying to donate… shoes to men, women and children in Ethiopia who suffer from a soil-based disease that can be prevented simply by wearing shoes.”

TOMS shoe company does “shoe drops” in different countries. In 2006, a shoe drop to Argentina brought 10,000 pairs of shoes to men, women and children who did not have any shoes.

In 2008, the shoe drop to Africa brought 50,000 pairs to people in need. For every pair of TOMS purchased, the company will send one pair of shoes to a child in need; the campaign is called “One for One”.

What is the point of telling you all of this information? Personally, I feel a bit convicted. Shoes are my weakness. I have enough pairs of shoes in my apartment on campus to wear a different pair, everyday, for nearly a month. Yet, there are children dying of a preventable disease because they have nothing on their feet.

So, what does this mean for you? TOMS has created an event that can be held in any city and is put on by you. This event is called “Style Your Sole,” catchy, right? Style Your Sole is an event in which you order as many shoes as you would like, pick a date, and decorate your very own pair of shoes.

Why decorate your own pair? The answer is simple, you get to express your creativity by designing the shoes for you to wear and you get to tell people about TOMS whenever you are asked about your awesome pair of shoes.

If I have captured your attention, you can get involved on campus. The Campus Activities Board is holding the Style Your Sole event on March 26. Sign ups began February 20 and will end March 6. For $25 a pair, you can sign up and,

in March, decorate your own pair of shoes. CAB will make the order and the design party will be held in March. Sort of a neat way to give to a child in need, don’t you think?

I am so fascinated with the idea that there is disease infecting millions of people each year and it is preventable. There are many diseases that are somewhat preventable through doing certain things, but Podoconiosis can be avoided by something so simple as a pair of shoes. It just amazes me how a pair of shoes can prevent a disease.

There is no cure for cancer and yet we fight to raise awareness and money to find a cure. I think this is because we all know someone who has been affected by cancer in some way. But how many of us know someone who has died from not wearing shoes?

Through buying a pair of shoes, something we all do anyway, and being able to give a pair to a child who does not have something to protect their feet, just seems so simple. There are people less fortunate than us all around the world. Sure, the economy is not the greatest, but we still have more money than a lot of other countries.

Buying a pair of shoes can prevent a disease, and save a life.

For more information, check out TOMSshoes.com and styleyoursole.tomsshoes.com.

ARTISTS/BANDS WANTED:WE nEED CBU ArTisTs AnD BAnDs FOr THis COlUMM

sO iF ArE in A BAnD Or KnOW OF A BAnD, lET Us KnOW AnD WE Will FEATUrE THEM in THE

BAnnEr.

Contact banner@calbaptist.edu

Getting CreativeBY ALYSSA ISGETT

PERSPECTVE EDITOR

PERSPECTIVE March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 10

I am basically an energy drink connoisseur. Actually, I am writing this at 2:00 a.m., as I sit rather awake after consuming a NOS energy drink – which tasted really bad by the way, stay away from them!

I have tried well over 20 different brands and flavors of the stimulant-rich beverage. For some reason, I enjoy the bottles that have the biggest warnings on them, like Redlines, Nos, and this really crazy stuff called Endorush. Why do I do this? I am not entirely sure, but here are two possibilities.

I think for me, that it is a way to avoid some sleep. This nocturnal unconsciousness seems to me like an untapped potential power source. If someone were able to go without sleep altogether, the time they saved would clearly give them the power to rule the world.

Just the other day, I heard about a man in Vietnam who was no longer able to sleep as a result of a high fever that he had 30 years ago. This would be really cool, but then again. . . he is a farmer. . . who is not ruling the world.

If the average person sleeps for eight hours a day and is awake for 16 hours, then it is as if they have slept for four months of the year, while being awake for only eight. If a person can cut their sleep down by even two hours a day, it would be like adding a month to the year.

Now, what would I do with an extra month? Obviously, the end result I have already stated — world domination. However, I suppose my first concern would be to name my extra month. Obviously it has to end in an “ary” or a “ber” so that other people adopt it quickly.

A Greek god name would be another good option to fall in line with the other months, and I am pretty sure that Poseidon feels a little cheated out of a month. However, I would probably end up naming it after myself. I am

not creative enough to come up with something cool, and “Kentonary” sounds better than “Poseidonber.”

But, back to the point. The second possible reason for my energy drink consumption is that I suppose that I am just a little bit of a masochist. I enjoy a little self-injury, similar to people involved in paintball or heavy weight-lifting at the gym. For some reason we enjoy little pain. This is similar, except instead of physical pain, it is just staying awake. . . for the sake of staying awake.

Most of the people who are around me when I consume energy drinks become concerned about my health; however, I think the long-term health effects of these drinks are unknown. They are problematic for people with heart issues, but as far as I know, I’m safe in that area. Although some of my family members do have a history of heart issues. . . hmm.

Anyway, some of the elements in the drinks (again, according to my Internet research) can actually be good for you. I do know that whatever my reasoning is for drinking these drinks, that I am not alone.

Energy drinks are a fairly recent phenomena. I think most of us remember when Monster Energy drinks suddenly appeared everywhere in 2002. Just before Monster’s success, RedBulls gathered much popularity with their odd animated commercials and pimped out vehicles.

These drinks have since been a cultural phenomenon. Everyone and their mother makes them (at least if their mother works for Rockstar). Although the drinks are new, the concept is not. People have been consuming stimulant-rich beverages since the beginning of time.

Well, perhaps that is a little too far back,

but my grandparents used to need a cup of coffee in the morning to help them wake up, and computer geeks have always had a strange obsession with Mountain Dew, which is a highly caffeinated soft drinks. Actually, this just in from Wikipedia: the first energy drink beverage was created in 1901.

When I analyze my daytime hours carefully, I realize that I am not always as productive as I could be. If I were to simply be more careful with the way that I spend my time, I could probably add several months to my year.

So, in summary, the same time benefits could be achieved by not drinking energy drinks, which would save money, reduce the risk of health issues, and make me more like a normal person. You know what, that sounds like a great thing to consider over my next Monster.

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my day-dreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music.”

Albert EinsteinThis week’s CBU-Tunes is not on a specific

band, brand or genre of music, rather it is on mu-sic itself. What is music? Why does it have such power over us? We cannot see it or touch it, but we can feel it.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines music as: the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.

Music is so much more than this. The great thing about being a musician is that music will never turn its back on you. You may turn your back on music, but music will eventually turn you back around and give you a kiss on the cheek. Bands come and go but a true musician never stops.

It is always nice to hear about a band that is getting back together. Recently, the band Blink-182 announced at the Grammy Awards that they were coming back. I checked out their website and it is confirmed, their message to the world reads:

“This past week there’ve been a lot of ques-tion about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply. We’re back…In the studio writing and re-cording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again.”

It will be good to see what they create.Here are some great music quotes:“If a composer could say what he had to say

in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.” (Gustav Mahler)

“In music the passions enjoy themselves.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the uni-

verse, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

(Plato)“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be

changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.”

(Jimi Hendrix)“Music happens to be an art form that tran-

scends language.” (Herbie Hancock)

CBU-TunesBY DAVE PEARSON

STAFF WRITER

Deep Thoughts on EnergyBY KENTON JACOBSEN

NEWS EDITOR

(Photo by Michael Sampson)

We were first introduced to the book, He’s Just Not That Into You, written by Greg Behrendt, on an episode of “Sex and the City”. After that episode aired, the book flew off the shelves. Women everywhere wanted the answer to why their relationship did not last, why he would not marry them, or why he had cheated on her. Throughout the self-help book, letters were published asking Behrendt what went wrong. What was the common answer? He’s just not that into you.

We do agree this is advice most women need to hear; but we are going to put this book on our “Miss List”. Here are our reasons why: it makes ALL girls seem needy; it makes ALL girls seem stalker-like; it makes ALL girls seem whiney and makes ALL girls seem pathetic. Sure, we know there are plenty of girls out there who are all of the above—and even the normal ones have had their days, but to sum up the entire female sex as desperate? PLEASE.

When the movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You”, came out we were thinking, “Great! Another chick-flick that is going to make us seem pathetic.” We were wrong. The movie actually turns the tables and puts equal blame on both the sexes. The film follows the lives of nine different people, all somehow intertwined. You watch their relationships unfold, rooting for some to progress, some to survive and some to just end. Everyone we talked to, guys and girls alike, seemed to enjoy it. This film is going on the Hit List, so check it out before it leaves theaters.

HIT OR MISS March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 11

BY JILL WEBSTER AND NICOLE PALMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND STAFF WRITER

DESIGNED BY ANDREW HOCHRADEL

We are switching it up on author Greg Behrendt and putting the shoe on the other foot. Please enjoy our list of ways that you can tell, guys, that SHE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU:

- if she does not text you back- if she never answers her phone- if she is always busy- if she never wants to be seen with you in public- if she will not kiss you in front of people- if she says, “You are a great friend” - if she does not tell her friends she is with you- if she acts like she did not see you when you two were in the same place- if she does not ask you questions about your life- if she does, however, whine and complain about guys and life to you- if she only invites you places so she does not have to go alone- if she introduces you to her parents right away- if she takes you shopping- if she refuses to let you come to her house

We think that everyone (both guys and girls) just need to chill out. If a relationship is meant to happen, it will happen. You cannot fight fate; no matter how many times you screw up or break up, fate always finds its way. We agree there are rules in dating that should ALWAYS be followed, however, there is always an exception to every rule. But please, do not be a stalker.

YES NO

DO YOU LIKE ME?

March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 12PERSPECTIVE

BY CAMILLE CRITESSENIOR WRITER

CAliFOrniA DrEAMinG

Having won the first two races of the season, No. 17 Matt Kenseth tried to make history by becoming the only driver to ever win three races in a row at the beginning of the season. Kenseth blew up under the pressure – or at least his car did, three laps into the Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Luck started the season on Kenseth’s side as he snaked his way through a 10 car pileup before going on to win the rain-shortened Daytona 500, in which he only led one lap. Then again in Fontana with his pit crew consistently getting him out in the lead. However, Lady Luck not being with him in Vegas left Kenseth disappointed and finishing 43rd.

The wreck which Kenseth dodged in the 500 was caused by No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. and No. 83 Brain Vickers. The interesting thing about this wreck which damaged Vicker’s car while Earnhardt Jr. drove on unharmed, was that in 2006 Vickers wrecked then teammate No. 48 Jimmie Johnson and No. 88 on the next-to-last lap and continued on to win the July Daytona race. Earnhardt Jr. was not at fault for this wreck as Vickers had been in 2006 which ruled out retaliation. However, ironically Earnhardt Jr., a normally very calm and courteous driver, admitted to driving a little more aggressively than normal having just been held a lap by NASCAR for pitting with his right front tire barely on the line; the two drivers were battling for the lucky dog position.

Despite Earnhardt Jr.’s good luck in avoiding damage in the wreck with Vickers, Earnhardt Jr. had a poor 500 finish ending up in 27th position. Then in Fontana, Hendrick Motorsports teammates No. 5 Mark Martin, Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson all suffered from engine failure. Hendrick’s team has not been the only one plagued with widespread team engine failure this season. Three Roush Fenway Racing drivers all blew engines in the Shelby 427 – Kenseth, No. 99 Carl Edwards and No. 6 David Ragan.

Anyone that remembers Sunday morning racing knows that this season has been a bit different. The 500 and Auto Club 500 both began later than in pervious years. This meant that instead of being day races they both finished under the lights – drivers and crews had to be prepared for and adapt to changing racetrack conditions. This adds difficultly to the races, which is good, however, the day-to-night change had been the claim-to-fame of other races late in the season.

The presence of drivers like No. 55 Michael Waltrip, No. 42 Juan Montoya, No. 19 Elliott Sadler and No. 00 David Reutimann in the top 12 in points shows that the season has started in an interesting manner. However, given the Chase’s history, it will not be too long until the top 12 points positions will once again belong to more familiar top drivers, who will go on to battling for the championship.

BY SARAH BRITTONSENIOR WRITER

Off & running

There are many beautiful, scenic, exciting beaches in California. At Cali-fornia Baptist University, students love to go on day trips to the beach with their boyfriends, girlfriends, family or friends.

God’s creation of the beach is there for our enjoyment. Here is a sneak peak of the top beaches near Riverside. All beaches have different atmospheres and different activities available.

People have different opinions and personalities. One beach might appeal to one person and not to another. Newport Beach has an everyday-fun atmosphere. It is a great place for couples and young families. It accommodates the younger group with the Balboa Pier as well as the fun zone, which includes a ferris wheel, arcade and a ferry.

Couples can go to a romantic or casu-al dinner overlooking the beach, or even take a bike ride along coast. In the winter Newport is a great place to have a bonfire with a group of close friends. The pos-sibilities are endless.

San Clemente beaches are great for surfing and hanging out. These beaches

are great for surfers, body surfers and skim boarders. The drive to San Clem-ente is beautiful with beautiful houses and views to enjoy. As home to Old Man's and Trestles, two of the West Coast's most famous surfing spots, this beach is a surfer’s paradise. If you do not have a means of transportation, take the train. There is a Metro link train station near CBU as well as in San Clemente.

Laguna Beach is another amazing beach for a date, with many shops, art galleries and fine dining. With a scenic town right by the water and restaurants that are elegant or casual, you can walk for miles and never get bored. Students can also visit places seen in the hit tele-vision show “Laguna Beach”. If entertain-ment and sight-seeing is your thing then Laguna Beach is the perfect place to vis-it.

The Bahamas, Hawaii and Bermuda are known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world but if you are not lucky enough to visit any of those places over Spring break, California beaches are a short drive away.

Many students and even people beyond the gates of California Baptist Universtiy recognize the Alumni Dining Commons as a place that offers superb food.

Brunch. The choice between breafast or lunch; the never ending supply of chocolate chip cookies, overflowing gallons of ice cream, bottomless fries and better yet, it is all-you-can-eat.

The students of CBU are indeed truly blessed in comparison to other universities, but could this blessing also be a curse?

The freshman fifteen is a reality. The food at CBU on a Sunday brunch could turn the freshman fifteen into the freshman forty. There is breakfast, lunch and a dinner foods available, not to mention the sugar department is constantly being refilled. Soft serve ice cream is always available. Its heaven. Or is it? The battle of Brunch: to get an ice cream cone or not to?

Here are seven easy choices to make in the cafeteria while keeping it healthy and still enjoying the luxuries of the ADC.

Number one: Always get at least a few greens with lunch and dinner. The ADC keeps up with the salad bar and the options are pretty good. Dressing? Junior Kristie Mahon, a Kinesiology major said, “fill a small bowl with the dressing of your choice and each bite, dip lightly into the dressing so the salad is not bombarded with calories.” Lower-calorie dressing options, vinegar and olive oil, are available near the soup.

Number Two: Before eating anything, have a tall glass of water. Studies show that drinking more water decreases daily food intake, which helps you stay fit and keeps all body and metabolism levels normal.

Number Three: Less is more. The ADC has made the portions smaller than last year. Instead of looking at it as not getting the full dollar’s worth, think of it as helpful. Try the smaller portion first, having a full glass of water before hand, then reevaluate.

Number Four: Slow down! Take a to-go if you do not have the time to sit and enjoy a meal. Eating too quickly will only promote bad food choices. Eating slower is both more satisfying and filling.

Number Five: Enjoy your food to the fullest by not ending on a “oh-my-goodness-need-to-unbutton-my-pants” full feeling.

Number Six: Eating smaller meals throughout the day is known to keep metabolism high and weight controlled. What to do? After a meal, grab an apple or some type of fruit to snack on later. When you want to reach for a bag of chips, remember that apple you took!

Number Seven: Avert eyes from the sweet tray when leaving the ADC. Its almost sinful how it is placed on the way to the exit. Try a cup of sugar-free pudding or jell-o offered daily in the fridges. Allot two days a week to indulge in a cookie or something delicious from the trays, just try and avoid making it an everyday occurance. After all, everything in moderation, so they say.

This is how the cookie crumbles, it is the icing on the cake, and when it is all said and done, moderation is key. Do not torture yourself, but remember gluttony is a sin . In all reality, remembering any of these seven steps will promote better eating habits and a better attitude towards food and overall health.

BY ELENA ZANONESENIOR WRITER

Food Consumption:Be Smart

San Clemente is a prime Spring break destination for college students looking to get away. (Photo by Kristin Vaughn)

CALENDAR March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 13

THE BANNER 08-09

Editor-In-ChiefJill Webster

Managing EditorAmanda Tredinnick

Design EditorEric McFarland

Photo EditorKyle Meyer

News EditorKenton Jacobsen

Culture & Perspective EditorAlyssa Isgett

Features EditorJustine Holguin

Special Projects EditorBreanna Armstrong

Sports EditorAndy Doyle

Copy EditorsDanielle le Roux

Web MasterKenton Jacobsen

Graduate AssistantTawny Burgess

AdviserMary Ann Pearson

Staff Writers: Brittany Arvilla, Sarah Britton, Jacob Breems, Abby Broyles, Camille Crites, Jessica Culbertson, Mark Graham, Carissa Gonzales, Joshua Harris, Kelli Keigwin, Lisa

Luna, Monica Martinez, Nicole Palmer, Jesse Parker, Dave Pearson, Samantha Shaw, Samantha Stewart, Colleen Sweeney, Victoria

Taylor, Kristin Vaughan, Elena Zanone

Staff Photographers: Cayla Ames, Kenton Jacobsen, Enoch Kim, Eric McFarland, Reina

Mendez, Kyle Meyer, Danielle Morgan, Michael Ring, Michael Sampson, Kristin

Vaughan

The Banner is produced bi-weekly by the students of

California Baptist University8432 Magnolia Avenue

Riverside, California 92504

The views expressed in the Culture and Perspective section of The Banner do not

necessarily represent the views of this publication or California Baptist University.

Readers can send letters to the editor or contributions for consideration to: BannerMail@calbaptist.edu

orCampus Box 1121

inlAnD EMPirEFriday, March 6 (6 p.m.-11 p.m.)Fellowship Night at Mulligan Family FunCenter24950 Madison Ave., Murrieta$12.99-$15.99 (951) 696-9696

Saturday, March 7 (6:30 p.m.)Southwest Gospel Concert With Don & JoNel Christenson and Gospel Truth QuartetSouth West Christian Church, 28030 Del Rio Rd., Temecula Free (951) 308-1888

Saturday, March 7 (6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)Rallys for Christ, 8th Annual Banquet, “Part-ner Night”Uplifting Christian Center, 4445 Riverside Dr., Chino(909) 988-1564

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 (7:30 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.) A Merchant Summit – Bad Check Recovery Program Learn more about bad checks, fraud, identity theft, and counterfeit! Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, 3649 Mission Inn Ave Contact: Christine Rasmussen 866-894-7604

Thursday, March 12, 2009 (5:30 p.m.) Mt. Rubidoux Exhibit Opening Presentation by Glenn Wenzel in the Galleria Mt. Rubidoux 951-788-9556

Friday-Saturday, March 13,14 (Fri. 7-10 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)“Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage,” with Mark GungorFriends Church, 5141 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, $35-$89(714) 777-7373, LaughYourWay.com/events

Friday, March 20 (7:00 p.m.)Newsboys Live, Join the Tribute TourThe Packinghouse, 27165 San Bernardino Ave., Redlands$15-$55 ticketforce.com

Friday-Saturday, March 20-21 (Fri. 4-10 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-10 p.m.)Mission Expo: Declaring His Glory to the Na-tionsWith Speakers from Open Doors, Sat 7and Voice of Martyrs.Downey First Baptist Church of Downey, 8348 East Third St., DowneyFree (562) 923-1261

CBU EVEnTsFriday, March 6 Midterm Exams End

Monday, March 9 (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)“RE-FOCUS” Resume Workshop

Tuesday, March 10 (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)“RE-FOCUS” Interview Skills Workshop

Wednesday, March 10 (11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)Blood Drive (Stamps Courtyard)

Thursday, March 11Spring USP & ISP Trips Depart

Monday, March 16Spring Break begins (No Trad/Grad classes)

Sunday, March 22Spring USP & ISP Trips Return

Monday, March 23Classes Resume

sPOrTsWednesday, March 11 (7:00 p.m.) Rec. Sports Basketball Championship Games (Van Dyne Gym)

MUsiCSaturday, March 7, (10:50 a.m.)UCO Concert (Camelback Seventh Day Adventist Church, Phoenix)

ArT/THEATrEWednesday, March 4-Friday, March 13Senior Exhibit: “Sacred Passage”An Illustration by Courtney Lokken

The Third Annual California Baptist Uni-versity Student Film Competition is here! $950 in cash awards will be presented to the top three student-produced films.

Actors, Writers, Directors – the time is now. Pick up an entry form from the ASCBU office and return it by March 13 along with $15 committal fee to reserve an entry posi-tion. Forms are also available online at calbap-tist.edu/cbufilms.

For a chance to win the first place prize of $500, submit film by March 27 at 5 p.m. Second and third place will receive $250 and

$125 respectively.Entries need to be 3-5 minutes in length

and reflect this year’s “Behind the Kugel” theme. The involvement of at least one CBU student is required in the production of the film to be considered. All submissions must be in DVD or mini-DVD format.

Judging will take place March 31 by a panel of four student and four professors. Top films will be screened and winners announced on April 7 at a “red-carpet” premiere and awards ceremony in the Wallace Theatre.

Additional honors will be presented at the premier for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Digital/Visual Effects and Best Music.

lights, Camera, Action! DOn’T Miss THE DEADlinE

BY BRITTANY ARVILLASTAFF WRITER

SPORTS March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 14

There is a new name in men’s volleyball at California Baptist University. His name is Levi Cabral.

New to America, arriving on Jan. 8, he admits that the hardest thing is the language barrier, but jokes that the sunny California weather keeps him optimistic.

“It gets easier and my teammates are always willing to help me with my English,” Cabral said.

Cabral started playing volleyball when he was seven years old. Before coming to America, he played for many club teams. He spent several years playing for a top side club team, Fluminse, before eventually moving to Banespa in 2007, along with playing the Brazilian National team from 2006-2007.

Before choosing CBU, Cabral was set to play at BYU, but due to complications, the BYU coach suggested CBU. After meeting the team and the coaching staff, Cabral was excited to play in California.

The transition from all Brazilian teammates to a team with mixed cultures

was easy due to the welcoming Lancers. “Micah [Tokuda] and Whilly [Tiedjop] made it fun for me to go to practice everyday,” Cabral said.

In his first match as a Lancer against Pepperdine University, Cabral broke the school record in kills with 38 off 63 attempts and became an instant fan favorite.

“I was so excited to be in America and I wanted every set,” Cabral said, regarding his debut.

Since his arrival, fans and coaches alike have begun to take notice of what this tall Brazilian can do and what he brings to the team.

“Levi is an impact player for sure. Although he is young, he is extremely athletic and smart at the same time,” Trevor Johnson, assistant coach, said. “He makes a difference on the team, not just on the court, but off the court as well, the guys really respect him.”

The 19-year-old has many goals for the future, one is to lead the Lancers to a National Title. Cabral hopes to complete a major in business studies and eventually play professional volleyball in Europe.

Coming to America

BY COLLEEN SWEENEYSTAFF WRITER

She looks like a typical California girl; blonde hair, tanned skin and a summer outfit. Some may look at her and think she is a native, or that she belongs on a beach somewhere. They say “home is where the heart is,” and for Malin Thorberg home is in Sweden; but in California, the golf course is her home.

Thorberg started playing golf when she was 12; her father and brother introduced her to the game.

“When I was 12 I would play for fun with my dad, brother and friends. I didn’t practice, it was more of just a hobby. When I was 14, I started to play in the

tournaments in Sweden,” Thorberg said.Living in Sweden, Thorberg knew she

wanted to go to college. She was introduced to Mimi Dymling, who became Thorberg’s agent, and helped her apply to schools in the States. Thorberg’s first visit was to southern Alabama. When things did not fall into place there, Dymling mentioned California Baptist University.

“Mimi told me about it [CBU], and said it was in California. I was interested because there is nice weather all year round, which meant I could play all the time,” Thorberg said.

Thorberg and her family shared excitement about her move to California. They made a trip here last year to see her compete.

“Last year my Dad and brother came. My brother really liked it here and now wants to come here,” Thorberg said.

Thorberg has been a part of the golf program for two seasons. At the age of 22,

she has no regrets.“I left Sweden when I was 20, and I

knew I would regret it if I didn’t come. If I didn’t like it, I could always go home,” Thorberg said.

She won her first tournament and was named NAIA All-American her freshman year. This season, her sophomore year, Thorberg has won her second tournament in Hawaii and beat the school record by shooting a -3 while there. Not only was it the school’s best score, it was Thorberg’s best round in her career.

Thorberg will go back to Sweden May 19, following the National Tournament. She will participate in the Swedish golf tour, Sas Masters.

Before she returns home, Thorberg and her teammates will compete next on March 6. It will be the half-way mark for the CBU Women’s Golf season. The Lancer’s will take on three schools in Riverside, California.

The Green is Where the Heart isBY NICOLE PALMER

STAFF WRITER

Levi Cabral looks to have a successful college career with the hope of turning professional. (Photo by Kristin Vaughan)

Sweden native Malin Thornberg has enjoyed great success since becoming a Lancer. (Photo by Kenton Jacobsen)

SPORTS March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 15

As baseball fans all over the world wait for their favorite players to take the field this April, they are in for a rare pre-season treat. The World Baseball Classic is set to begin, the competition is stiffer than ever and each player is given the unique opportunity to suit up and represent their countries on a big stage.

Upon hearing that baseball was elected to be removed from the Olympics, effective in 2012, baseball officials were determined to provide fans with a competitive showcase of the world’s top athletes. In 2006, that became reality when the inaugural World Baseball Classic took place; the second Classic to occur this year, and each additional event to take place every four years.

The biggest slight in the Olympic baseball event was that the professional teams were always in mid-season when the Games took place and not able to partake – making the competition weak. Olympic hockey and basketball, however, were able to have all of their elite athletes eligible for competition. This provides viewers with much more memorable and exciting performances.

With the World Baseball Classic now in effect, and not interfering with any professional seasons, “star power” has become a non-factor. The USA and Dominican Republic now resemble all-star teams, and showcase names like Derek Jeter, David Wright, David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez to name a few. The Classic creates an event that offers unparalleled talent and is catching the eye of baseball fans around the globe.

Another positive about the event is that it substitutes for training camp for many of the players involved. This provides those athletes with much stiffer competition than would be faced in training camp.

As a result, when the real baseball season begins, the athletes are in better competitive

shape, which allows for better and more competitive games to be played earlier in the season.

The threat of injuries is an issue, however. Many clubs do not want to risk losing a top player before the regular season even starts, especially not pitchers who have greater impact and typically suffer the most serious injuries.

In response, those who oversee the World Baseball Classic have instituted several rules designed to prevent injuries specific to pitchers as much as possible. For example, there are designated numbers for days of rest a pitcher must have, as well as designated pitch-counts which pertain to the number of pitches a player may throw in any given outing.

North American action begins on Saturday, March 7 at 11:00 a.m., when Canada and the USA square off north of the border. Both teams hope for a chance to meet up with the defending champions from Japan when the tournament finals take place beginning March 21 in Los Angeles. Check local listings to catch all of the action.

BY JESSE PARKERSENIOR WRITER

Best in Baseball set to Face Off

Ichiro Suziki hopes to successfuly defend his World Baseball Classic title. (Photo by Associated Press)

Criticism of Bob Bradley expressed by fans of the US Men’s National Soccer Team makes it seem as though the man was lead-ing the nation’s team to ruin. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Bradley has lead the US National Team to a 22-8-3 record since he took over from coach Bruce Arena. Nevertheless, Bradley has been a magnet for criticism for what fans see as his lack of charisma and willing-ness to give up-and -coming young Ameri-cans, such as Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu, prominent spots in the starting lineup.

As the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying began last week for the US in Columbus, they faced off against their rivals, Mexico,

in a game of strong contrasts. Since Hugo Sanchez was fired in 2008 Swed-ish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired, Mexico strug-gled, getting out of the third round of World Cup qualify-ing.

M e a n w h i l e , Bradley faces a dif-ferent set of prob-lems, stemming from a new generation of players emerging in the pool of eligible players. They are more technically gifted than the pre-vious generation and attract atten-

tion. Case in point is former youth standout at Major League Soccer club DC United, Freddy Adu. Debuting at age 14 for United, he quickly attracted attention of overseas clubs, going on trial and famed English club Manchester United. Transferring to Portu-guese club Benfica, he failed to earn a starting spot and was loaned out to French club AS Mo-naco at the beginning of this season. He strug-gled again to find play-ing time, and as a result was left out of the squad against Mexico.

The previous gen-eration of players, some

already retired from international play such as Chicago Fire striker Brian McBride, are not as technically gifted, but have played together for an extended period of time and are well-known for their high fitness levels and industry. Bradley has been reli-ant on this generation of players, and as a result lost several players to call-ups from other countries, including Italian Giuese-ppe Rossi and Serbian defender Neven Subotic.

In the match on Feb. 11, the US domi-nated Mexico, and despite a few nervy mo-ments at the back, were able to secure a 2-0 victory, thanks to two goals from standout midfielder Michael Bradley.

With Mexico in turmoil, and rumors of the departure of their embattled manager Eriksson to English Premier League club Portsmouth, the road looks set for the US to advance to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, facing minimal opposition from the rest of the group.

BY MARK GRAHAM STAFF WRITER

Us Faces Easy road Ahead

Michael Bradley’s two goals were the difference as the US defeated Mexico on the road to the 2010 World Cup (Photo by Associated Press)

The game starts by gathering in a circle, each member of the circle looks down at another person’s shoes and in unison all involved look up at the face belonging to the shoes in sight. If two people are looking at each other they are out and the circle shrinks. This continues until the last person stands.

This game is just one way the CBU softball team stays loose before getting down to the business of sweeping a double header against Grand View University on a sunny Friday afternoon. The Lancers took both games 8-0.

The seemingly innocuous observation of the “foot game” really serves as a microcosm for the attitude and approach taken by the highly successful Lancer softball team this season.

“We’ve got great team chemistry, our girls really love playing the game [softball],” Mike Smith, head coach, said. “I think it makes it a lot easier, when you have been successful as much as we have been this year, to play real loose and have that care free attitude.”

“The little games are just a way to stay close,” pitcher Melanie Ahumada said. “To stay focused, but not get too wrapped up in

everything.”The Lancers are currently ranked no.3 in

the NAIA and have yet to lose a game. They have a team ERA of 0.35 and have outscored opponents 150-10 this season. The team and coaching staff are not satisfied with the current run of success, however. Since Smith took over the program in 2004 the team has been to the national tournament every year and have two runner-up finishes.

“Our ultimate goal always is to win the national tournament,” Smith said. “Especially with where we’ve been the last five years. The team chemistry, believing in each other is going to be a big part of that. I think in previous years that may have been a question mark, but right now as a team we are definitely headed in the right direction.”

As stated earlier the girls stay loose, but that term really does not do justice to the level-headed approach of this year’s squad. Saying they need to stay loose implies that nervousness is something which needs to be combated on a daily basis, yet it is evident that this carefree attitude is who they are as a unit, through and through. On the other hand, seeing the team as carefree paints the picture of a group lacking competitive drive, and just getting by on superior talent, also a misnomer.

In the first game of the aforementioned double header third basemen Sarah Strong struck out swinging to end the second inning, leaving two runners in scoring

position. Visibly frustrated she struck the ground with her bat and headed for the dugout. Teammates immediately encouraged Strong and she picked up her glove and headed for the field where she would make a solid defensive play to end the inning. Then in her very next at bat in the fourth inning, Strong laid down a beautiful bunt to score the runner from third, and in turn sparked a four run inning, the Lancers largest offensive output in the game.

“Even when the game does get close or does get a little bit stressful, these girls don’t change their demeanor, they don’t change their tone,” Smith said. “They’ve got that quiet confidence about them, like they’re going to go out and win the ball game.”

This is a team that does those little things, like lay down a bunt to spark a big inning. They are a squad in which each player has embraced her roll and does it well, something Smith repeatedly praises his team for. The depth and unity make this years’ Lancer softball team into an extremely formidable foe with the highest aspirations.

Even though they take one game at a time this years’ season is all about winning the last game of the year.

“We talk about it (the national championship) all the time,” catcher Nicole Shoemaker said, smiling as soon as the topic was brought up. “We can taste it, we know what it’s like to lose out and we don’t want to feel that again.”

SPORTS March 6, 2009 · Volume 56 · Issue 10 PAGE 16

nothing but Fun During Title run

BY JACOB BREEMSSENIOR WRITER

The best team you may not have heard of, Lancer softball has been dominant of late.Staying focused and loose, the team is on track for unprecedented success (Photo by Eric McFarland)

Name: Melissa Shepardson

Year: Junior

Team: Women’s water polo

Major: Kinesiology

Favorite sports team: San Diego Chargers

Favorite Food: Macaroni and cheese

Favorite music: Feel good music

Heroes: My mom

Best CBU memory: Freshmen retreat this yearas a Focus leader.

Best advice ever recieved: play for the name on yourcap, not the number.

Bible Verse: 1 Timothy 1:15 By Colleen Sweeney

LANCER ONE ON ONE

Photo courtesy of CBU Sports Information.