Andrews University Agenda

Andrews University Agenda http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/ News and Events at Andrews University en-us Copyright 2024, Andrews University Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:14:00 +0000 Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:14:00 +0000 webmaster@andrews.edu webmaster@andrews.edu Vaccinated: Andrews Students Receive First Dose of http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/60199 04.13.2021 The wait is over. On Thursday, Apr. 1, the COVID-19 vaccine became available for individuals 18 and older across the state of Michigan. After months of waiting, college students received the opportunity to get their first dose of the vaccine. Spectrum Health Lakeland in Niles, Michigan, was the closest vaccination center for Andrews students to book appointments. Consequently, over the last week many Andrews students have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and have taken a step closer to normal.         Currently, there are 26 colleges and universities across the state of Michigan serving as vaccination centers for college students. In providing vaccinations to students on Apr. 1, the Michigan Health Department hopes to get students fully vaccinated before they leave for summer break. About 1.8 million individuals have been vaccinated in the state of Michigan. However, as cases continue to rise it has become increasingly important that college students have access to vaccination centers.          Last week many Andrews students booked their appointments at Spectrum Health Lakeland online. Upon arrival, they were quickly checked in, were escorted to vaccine stations, and required to wait 15 minutes after getting the vaccine to make sure there were no problematic side effects.          Several Andrews University students shared their experience getting their vaccine. Nellie Karengo (senior, English) expressed her excitement for finally having access to the vaccine. “Getting the vaccine was an exciting experience for me, largely because it was something I had been looking forward to for many months. I know many have their hesitations, but after doing research I was confident in my decision to go forward with it,” she said. “Given that COVID-19 has majorly obstructed life across the globe for over a year now, I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity offered to me, and I am beyond grateful for the history-making collaborative effort that the scientific community put into it.”          Alex Hess (sophomore, English) also shared his experience. He said, “Getting the first dose of Moderna was like a breath of fresh air—I finally felt like I could relax. It was one less thing I had to worry about. My experience at Lakeland Health was also extremely efficient.  Their ease and confidence honestly were very highly reassuring for me, as someone who does not like shots!”          Additionally, Elianna Srikureja (junior, English) explained how getting the vaccine has helped ensure her ability to safely interact with her family this summer. “Getting my vaccination at the Lakeland clinic was a fun experience. The staff were helpful and overall the process was fast and stress free. Getting the vaccine was a huge relief! Being able to receive it before the end of the school year meant that I could visit with my aging grandmother this summer.”         Claire Fossmeyer (sophomore, pre-physical therapy) also commented on how the opportunity to get vaccinated will contribute to the safety of those around her in addition to her own safety. She explained, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to get the vaccine. As a pre-PT major, being safe is something that I definitely care about, not only for myself, but also for others. I think we should all do our part for the safety of those that may be at a higher risk.”         If you have not received the vaccine yet and would like to set an appointment, Spectrum Lakeland Health still has appointment slots available on their <a href="https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/covid19/covid-19-vaccine-information-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(58, 123, 170); text-decoration-line: none;">website</a>. This is just one more step in ensuring a safer campus and community, and returning to a bit more normalcy.   Sources ABC12 News Staff. “Michigan ramping up COVID-19 vaccine efforts on college college campuses, in Detroit area.”  ABC12, April 8, 2021,  Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:47:51 +0000 https://www.andrews.edu/life/student-movement/issu http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/60198 04.13.2021        On Saturday, Apr. 10, the Southern Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted a celebration entitled “Once Upon a Time in Bollywood.” On the walls of the front of the Newbold Auditorium, various flags represented different countries in the South Asian diaspora, such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Afghanistan. AU students socially distanced in Newbold Auditorium to experience the cultural event.         Steven Injety (junior, data science), the president of SASA for the 2020-2021 school year, thanked the club members, the sponsors for the event and the attendees. He shared that the purpose of SASA cultural night was for South Asian students to partake in joyously expressing their culture so that the audience had the opportunity to get a glimpse of diverse cultures that have existed for roughly 6,000 years. He added that there were around 1.9 billion people in the world who identified as South Asian, which solidifies how diverse the culture truly is.         The SASA members performed various South Asian songs. The first number was the Tamil song “Vaseegara” by Bombay Jayashri, from the movie Minnale. The Tamil culture originates from Tamil Nadu and is present in South India and the north of Sri Lanka. Members accompanied the singing with the flute, cajon, and piano. Another group of SASA members presented the Tamil song entitled “Kolaveri,” which discusses pain and struggle. Various percussion instruments, the trumpet, the guitar, and the piano provided the upbeat background music for the lyrics of the song. Mr. Injety taught the audience the lyrics, and they joined in during the second rendition of the song. The final song was “Tujh mein rabh dikta,” Hindu for “I see God in You.” In this song, the love interest tells the woman he loves that he sees God in her eyes. The two gentlemen who were singing that song gave roses to two individuals in the audience.         Next, club members participated in the Bhangra Challenge, a Punjabi dance from the Sikh-influenced culture. First, SASA showed a Bhangra Challenge TikTok, then informed the three audience-member participants that the winner would receive a monetary prize. There were four different dances of various difficulty levels. The audience voted on who the winner of the challenge would be. The audience actively supported the dancers by enthusiastically clapping and cheering.         Following the challenge, various TikTok videos highlighted the beauty of South Asian culture touched on topics such as weddings, clothing and makeup, Desi snacks, dances and differences between Bhangra and Bollywood dances. SASA club members also created their own Tiktok videos to share with the audience as well.         During the intermission, SASA members handed out pre-packaged warm samosas, chai and mango lassi. After the intermission, the next item of the program was the fashion show. It was complete with vibrant multicolored stage lights and music. Then Timmy Duado (junior, marketing) shared information about the models, where they were from, and cultural facts about the clothing they were wearing. The audience clapped in support.         Joya Dean (freshman, biochemistry) was one of the models in the fashion show. She expressed, “I enjoyed my experience in the fashion show. I thought it was fun and a good experience even though it was out of my comfort zone. I was thankful that my friends told me to do it. My friend picked [my outfit] out for me, and I thought the colours were alluring.” She wore an elegant blue and white sari, with an embellished skirt, separate skirt, and scarf.         Two dance numbers were performed at the event. The first dance was presented by Solana Campbell (freshman, business administration). She wore an exquisite outfit with a swirling skirt. The final dance number was a choreographed upbeat number involving various partners. The ladies wore black shirts and brightly colored skirts, while the gentlemen wore crisp white dress shirts and black pants. The audience cheerfully clapped to the music while the partners danced across the stage.         Michael Brodis (sophomore, computer science) was an attendee at the event. He commented, “I thoroughly enjoyed the event. The dancing was invigorating, and the place exuded great vibes. I was glad that the event could happen despite COVID-19.”         Rithesh Ram (junior, speech-language pathology) is the current assistant event coordinator of SASA for 2020-2021. He declared, “I love being a part of SASA and bringing awareness to the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, and I desire to show that we are more than a stereotype. We must come together for a bigger cause and for people to show their support for our community.”         For more information about upcoming SASA events, follow the SASA Instagram page @au.sasa_.  Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:45:18 +0000 Texas Winter Storm Impacts Families of Students at http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/60183 03.03.21 On Feb. 12, a light, freezing drizzle began to fall on various counties throughout the state of Texas. As the week progressed that drizzle would turn into one of the coldest and snowiest weeks in Texas in decades. Texas governor Greg Abbot issued a disaster declaration in all 254 counties after roads became unsafe and temperatures continued to drop. By Feb. 15, the state’s average temperature was only 11.8 degrees and much colder in certain counties. This left many families and towns unprepared to handle this rare cold front. Some Andrews students have family in Texas who were subjected to these harsh conditions.         As temperatures dropped, Texas’s power plants were unprepared, leading to power outages and loss of heat for many homes and businesses. Natural gas pipelines froze, preventing the transport of gas, leading to shortages at power plants needing the gas to produce electricity. Ultimately, this left four million Texans without power during that week. People were not only left without power and ways to heat their homes, but also dealt with frozen and burst pipes, flooding, and food shortages. Frozen and burst pipes left many families without water for drinking, bathing, and the ability to use toilets. In total, over 14 million people lacked access to clean water. To prevent the consumption of contaminated water, the CDC advocated for individuals to boil their water. Additionally, the icy and snow covered roads made it difficult for shipments to reach their destinations, leaving many stores empty and food scarce.          Throughout the week families had to find creative ways to stay warm and cover their basic needs. The families of several Andrews students were impacted during this difficult week. Grecia Castillo (junior, spanish, psychology) said that some of her relatives endured the freezing temperatures without electricity. Ms. Castillo explained, “My family had never experienced below zero weather before, and we were definitely not prepared as a state.  Some of the ways they dealt with the snow storm was through lots of cuddling and sleeping together with lots of layers, cooking on backpacking stoves, and using an old backup generator. They were without electricity and running water for 43 hours.”         Another Andrews student, Elizabeth Cisneros (junior, speech language pathology), also shared her family’s experience. Ms. Cisneros stated, “It is a blessing to say that my family made it through without any pipe or heater issues, but that was not the same for many people including some of my relatives and family friends. Some of them had pipes burst and water leaking throughout their home causing a lot of chaos and many things that will need repaired. On top of that they went days without electricity just having to do their best to stay warm and healthy.”          Jose Silva (sophomore, graphic design) from Houston, Texas, said that his family was able to share generators with those in need. He explained, “My parent’s power was cut off for about a day and a half, and my grandparents who live outside the city went without power for over 3 days. Fortunately, my dad has power generators that provided enough power for their basic needs. Our next door neighbors had a baby, so my dad shared generators with them as well.”         As Texas’s power grid begins to get back online and temperatures continue to rise, people in the state of Texas are still facing difficulties in recovering from this storm. Many suggest that this snow storm could be one of the costliest disasters in state history, reaching over $125 billion in damage. As a result, U.S. president Joe Biden visited Houston on Feb. 26, where he met with state officials, surveyed the damage, and made plans for the state’s recovery. Currently, local food banks and organizations continue to provide relief for the people of Texas. President Biden stated that he is, “Ready to mobilize other federal agencies to bring additional support to the people of Texas and ensure that any critical needs are met.” While the road to recovery may be long, the goodwill that businesses and individuals are showing one another during this hard time reveals the power of  human resiliency and community in order to overcome challenging times.   Works Cited Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas. “Texas Winter Storm: What to Know.” nytimes.com, The New York Times, 20 February 2021, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-winter-storm-explainer.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(58, 123, 170); text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-winter-storm-explainer.html</a>. Accessed 28 February 2021. Freedman, Andrew. “Central States’ Arctic plunge: The historic cold snap and snow by the numbers.” washingtonpost.com, The Washington Post, 24 February 2021, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/24/texas-winter-storm-temperature-records/?arc404=true" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(58, 123, 170); text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/24/texas-winter-storm-temperature- records/?arc404=true</a>, Accessed 28 February 2021. Salinas, Rebecca. “Timeline: How the historic winter storm, Texas blackout cold-stunned the San Antonio area.” KSAT.com, 25 February 2021, <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/02/25/timeline-how-the-historic-winter-storm-texas-blackout-cold-stunned-the-san-antonio-area/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(58, 123, 170); text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/02/25/timeline-how-the-historic-winter- storm-texas-blackout-cold-stunned-the-san-antonio-area/</a>. Accessed 28 February 2021. Thomas, Ken. “Biden Declares Texas Winter Storm a Major Disaster.” wsj.com, The Wall Street Journal, 20 February 2021, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-issues-major-disaster-declaration-for-texas-winter-storm-" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(58, 123, 170); text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-issues-major-disaster-declaration-for-texas-winter-storm- 11613834499</a>. Accessed 28 February 2021. Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:21:55 +0000 New Life Hosts Black Like Me: Growing Up Black http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/60182 03.03.2021  On Saturday, Feb. 27, New Life hosted the Black Like Me: Growing Up Black comedy story slam in the Newbold Auditorium. Individuals practiced social distancing. The hosts of this event were Prince Asante (senior, medical lab sciences) and John-Michael Stovall (senior, theology, mathematics). This event was for black individuals to share stories about their culture with others and laugh and learn. On the screen, slides introduced the speakers with information such as their major and an interesting fact.         Many of the shared stories had practical applications. These include ‘do not share your toothbrush,’ ‘don’t do something grandmother would not approve of’ and ‘don’t get into a car with someone who does not understand your parents' rules.’ Many of these speakers engaged with the audience, asking them how they were doing or having them repeat the phrase “growing up black.”         Besides stories, there were numerous other amusing activities. During the break, the hosts presented an entertaining Kahoot game for all the attendees to play. There were questions such as "if you go to a buffet with your mother, how old do you tell them you are” and “true or false, are doors allowed to be slammed?" The questions discussed some of the cultural and societal norms that many black people adhered to. Audience members discussed the answers during the answer period. There was also a double-dutch competition and a hula-hoop competition where the hosts selected people from the audience to a friendly competition in those activities. The audience cheered on the selected participants.         Jonathan Woolford-Hunt (sophomore, sociology) was a participant in the hula-hoop competition. He commented on the competition, as well as his favorite story. “The hula-hoop competition was a great way to interact with the audience, and it was a clever social distance activity. I enjoyed the last story from Chap D (Chaplain Danielle Pilgram) because I have a Caribbean family, and I could relate to the experiences of discipline.”         Dehkontee Reeves (freshman, pre-physical therapy) was another attendee of the comedy story slam. She enjoyed the close-knit atmosphere which the story slam provided. “I enjoyed that people could relate to the stories, and the comments such as “yeah me too” uttered from the audience solidified that. This event had the audience feeling very nostalgic and cheerful, and there was an overall great mood.”         Mr. Stovall was one of the hosts of the events. He shared, “The experience was amazing and I was happy that they allowed me to be a part of it. The team is full of love, energy, and great ideas. I felt like I was not putting on a performance, but hanging out with my brothers and sisters.”         At the end of the event, the hosts thanked Chaplain Pilgrim, New Life, the technical team, and members of the Black Student Christian Fellowship (BSCF) for organizing the event. To end off this celebration of black culture, there was a joyous 15 minute dance party where everyone could dance to upbeat music.  Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:20:13 +0000 The Red Cross Blood Drive Reveals Growing Shortage http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/60181  03.03.2021   It’s time to roll up your sleeves and give back to the community. The Red Cross, working with the Center for Faith Engagement, held a blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at the Pioneer Memorial Church Commons. Students were able to sign up for the blood drive either to donate or volunteer using the UFaith app. All 70 of the available donation slots were filled.         Blood donations from volunteers is a necessity to keep hospitals running smoothly. However, due to the pandemic, there has been a shortage of  donations as many donors don’t feel safe donating. In response, the Red Cross has taken many precautions and developed a new system to ensure the safety of their donors as well as their staff during these uncertain times. Some of these precautions include sanitizing between each donor, having appropriate social distancing, and separating tasks to prevent cross-contact.         Kristin Ferrer (senior, biology, public health) commented, “The blood drive made donating blood as easy and comfortable as possible! Checking in and the actual blood donation was really efficient and I felt safe the whole time thanks to the warm and friendly staff.”         Teachers and staff provided incentives such as extra credit to students who were willing to donate and volunteer. While donation is essential, volunteers also play a role during registration to allow nurses to attend to more donors. Many students felt the need to donate after witnessing first hand just how precious these donations are.         Jonathan Castiglioni (sophomore, biology) said, “During the last two months of last year, I was working at a local hospital in the ICU and TCU units, and you can see a drastic need for blood especially during this pandemic. Every unit is so precious and this is what inspires me to keep on donating.”         Although there was a good turnout at the blood drive, we still need to do as much as we can as a community. This can include clubs hosting their own blood drives to encourage more students on campus to donate, or even going off campus to participate in other local blood drive events. Regardless of how you choose to serve, there is an ongoing need in our community that we have the opportunity to alleviate.         Teela Ruehle (director of Student Missions & Service Projects for the Center for Faith Engagement) shared, “We could only have 70 people donate for the whole day, so if another club wanted to host the event, we would be happy to help them do it on campus.”         Information regarding the next blood drive and any other service projects such as the currently running Route 2 Raise can be found on the UFaith App. If you or your club are interested in hosting a blood drive or any other service project, you can stop by the Center for Faith Engagement in the Campus Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email them at engagefaith@andrews.edu. Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:17:07 +0000 Dr. Kizzmekia Shanta Corbett Gives Lecture on the http://www.andrews.edu/agenda/59135 <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Thursday, Jan. 28th, the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry hosted Dr. Kizzmekia Shanta Corbett, an immunologist who helped spearhead the creation of the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Corbett gave a lecture through Zoom webinar addressing the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and explained that the threat of a coronavirus pandemic has existed for many years. Janae Mitchell (junior, biology) commented, “I learned that the family of viruses that includes COVID-19 has 7 ‘members,’ and all of them are known to affect humans.” Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are members of the coronavirus family and proved their contagiosity earlier in the 21st century.  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Corbett shared the reason why a vaccine is needed now more than ever due to the record high third wave of COVID-19 cases in the United States. She explained the concept of “herd immunity,” which states that as more people receive vaccinations, the number of COVID-19 infections will decrease. However, while the FDA approved the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in late 2020, many individuals remain fearful due to their swift creation and approval.  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Corbett’s lecture impressed students to look at the facts. Lael Agard (junior, nutrition) said, “Prior to this webinar, I would say that I was slightly skeptical about the vaccine. There are still several unknowns about viruses, especially this one. Additionally, there is no guarantee that one will be protected from the variants that exist or may develop. My feelings about the vaccine have not really changed since the webinar, but I think that is because I simply need to do more research about it for myself.”  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Ms. Agard left the webinar convicted to research the facts for herself, Alyssa Henriquez (senior, biochemistry, English) felt reassured about the vaccine’s safety. She said, “I trusted the vaccine before, and I trust it now. I am so impressed by the efforts that were taken to provide a safe, effective vaccine to the public in such little time.”  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Corbett’s lecture on the safety and efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine told the story of the many scientists who have worked laboriously on behalf of the public to prevent the deaths of many.  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a recording of the webinar,  please visit the Andrews University YouTube page at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJu_lvP09k&t=3s" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJu_lvP09k&t=3s</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.  Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:59:05 +0000