The Clarion Spetmeber 2021 by The Clarion

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Rain or shine Following an unconventional 2020 Welcome Week, this year’s incoming students were greeted with a full line-up of events.

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In this issue

SEPT. 2021

BETHELCLARION.COM

‘Shocked and heartbroken’ After 14 years, Pastor Laurel leaves Bethel

New year, new protocols. How Covid continues to shape our college experience

Meet Dr. Rahn Franklin, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Sept. 2021 1

‘Shocked and heartbroken’

New year, new protocols

Rain or shine: Welcome Week 2021

After 14 years at Bethel, Pastor Laurel Bunker’s departure leaves students, staff and faculty looking for answers.

COVID-19 continues to change, protocols change as well. Here is a guide to what’s new and what’s not with the pandemic.

Following an unconventional 2020 Welcome Week, this year’s incoming students were greeted with a full line-up of events.

Story by Rachel Blood Design by Bryson Rosell Photos by Will Jacott

Story by Soraya Keiser Design by Gretta Nathe Photos by Andrew Wittenburg

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Story by Hannah Hunhoff Design by Alexa Vos Photos by Hannah Hobus

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‘At the end of the day, it’s about love’ Dr. Rahn Franklin begins his first year at Bethel as Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Story by Rachel Blood Design by Bryson Rosell Photos by Bryson Rosell

Royal Stadium gets a new paint job and more

Building an authentic community

Out with highschool, in with college

A new outdoor track means Bethel Royals can host meets.

To enhance diversity initiatives and cultivate unity, Welcome Week implemented a new Cultural Connections event.

Fall 2021 marks a year of expansion for Bethel’s PSEO program.

by Hannah Hunhoff 24 Story Design by Davis McElmurry

Story by Rachel Blood Design by Bryson Rosell Photos by Contributers

Photos by Vanna Contreras

Story by Sarah Bakeman Design by Davis McElmurry

On the cover: Anna Whitcomb carries luggage into freshman dorm Nelson Hall despite the rain. SEPT. 2021

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From the Editor

By Rachel Blood very morning, I wake up after snoozing my alarm three times and stare at the sign hanging next to my dorm room bed, a craft-fair piece of calligraphy scrawled over an outdated map hung with twine on my right side: Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Every morning, I think I’m a bit of a hypocrite. Last August, I sat cross-legged in the corner of my Nelson Hall cubby bed in room 201, a bowl of burnt popcorn in my lap because I was too embarrassed to go downstairs and make another in front of the RA staff. The season two finale of The Umbrella Academy played on the dying laptop at my feet. I didn’t try to stop the tears burning at the corners of my eyes. In a suite meant for six girls, I was alone with the darkness and dust of a long-unlived-in home. I had moved into Bethel a week earlier than planned. A position at the Clarion had opened up and I’d taken it, but it meant a week-long training that began the week prior to classes. There was no Welcome Week crew to help me move in, no roommates to hug, no structured introductions. I cried. My mom cried. My dad cried. Only 45 minutes from home, I felt like I was on another planet. After the credits of the season finale rolled, I called my mom and sobbed. Change was terrifying. This is probably the part where you expect me to tell you that I’ve gotten over it, that I’ve grown as a person and now take changes in stride, that I’m a journalist who rolls with the punches and doesn’t break a sweat over new policies and new spaces and new friends. But that would be a lie. I don’t think I’ll ever get over my inherent fear of change, but in the absolutely haywire craziness of the last year or so, I’ve found that maybe change is the only constant thing. In the process of leading a news staff that is almost entirely new, looking at a lineup of stories encompassing shifts in protocols, organizations and even worldview, it seems the overarching theme of not just this issue, but today’s society is change. That change means losing a pastor we’ve had for 14 years. But it also means gaining

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a man determined to make Bethel a place where everyone can thrive. It means no longer sitting six feet apart in the DC, shouting to hear your roommates on the other side of the table. In the past month, I’ve watched an amazing young staff do in-depth reporting on the trials and triumphs of change in and around the Bethel community. People coming and going, freshmen starting their year off in a flurry of excitement and blue shirts, a football field that isn’t made of dying grass. I’ve watched the gears spin in the minds of a room of brilliant reporters, photographers and designers. Artists. I was afraid to write this letter. Last year’s seniors left pretty big shoes to fill, winning national awards and taking on tough stories. At age 19, I wasn’t sure I could handle it. After all, a certain someone’s size 10 feet are twice the size of my own. But just like everything else in life, the change in position, the new faces, the onslaught of responsibilities, was inevitable. And here’s the first issue. Against all odds, I’ve found myself loving that particular change. I challenge you, in reading these stories of strong individuals, impactful alterations and passionate Mario Kart opinions, to open yourself up to a few changes as well. Take a new situation and make it something familiar. After that, it won’t be so scary anymore.C

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Clarion Staff Editor-in-Chief

News Editor

Section Designer

Managing Editor

Lifestyle Editor

Section Designer & Photographer

Copy Editor

Lifestyle Reporter

Visuals Editor

Sports Editor

Social Media & Web Manager

Section Designer

Rachel Blood

Soraya Keiser Morgan Day

Bryson Rosell

Ariel Dunleavy

Sarah Bakeman

Davis McElmurry

Makenzi Johnson Hannah Hunhoff

Hannah Hobus

Illustrator

Joy Sporleder

Caden Christiansen

Staff Photographer Molly Longtin

Alexa Vos

Molly Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contributing Writer Annessa Ihde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contributing Writer Gretta Nathe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contributing Designer Andrew Wittenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Contributing Photographer Will Jacott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Contributing Photographer Vanna Contreras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Contributing Photographer

Rachel Blood Editor-in-Chief rachel-blood@bethel.edu

Have a response to a story in this issue? Email Editor-in-Chief Rachel Blood at rachelblood@bethel.edu with questions, thoughts or concerns or drop by the Clarion newsroom during community time Tuesdays and Thursdays to speak with a Clarion staff member.

Want to write for the Clarion? Email our Managing Editor Soraya Keiser at sok32884@bethel.edu and she'll get you connected. THE BETHEL UNIVERSITY CLARION

SEPT. 2021

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‘Shocked a hea

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and artbroken’ After 14 years at Bethel, Pastor Laurel Bunker’s departure leaves students, staff and faculty looking for answers.

Pastor Laurel Bunker cheers on former President Jay Barnes on his last day in office in the summer of 2020. | Photo by Will Jacott SEPT. 2021

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By Rachel Blood

aurel Bunker often stood on the Benson Great Hall stage at 10:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, preaching about the love of the Lord and spreading the good news, but also actively discussing what social justice issues meant for the Bethel community as followers of Christ. After 14 years in the position of Campus Pastor and Vice President and Dean for Christian Formation and Church Relations, Bunker concluded her service Aug. 6. “It’s hard to describe what 14 years at Bethel has meant in terms of my own growth or how privileged I feel to have served so many students, staff and faculty while there,” she said. President Ross Allen sent an email to the Bethel community July 22 explaining that two Cabinet positions were eliminated in favor of selecting a “single leader to oversee and elevate all aspects of our student experience across the university along with a strong focus on moving our faith commission work ahead.” Bunker and Vice President of Student Experience John Addleman’s positions were the ones cut, and neither of them would be that “single leader.” Bunker also served as Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion between the retirement of Ruben Rivera and the hiring of Dr. Rahn Franklin.

Former Faculty Senate President Amy Dykstra was “shocked and heartbroken” by the news, having worked closely with Bunker over the past several years. “I deeply value her contributions. The Senate was not consulted about the cabinet restructuring, nor was the faculty informed before the announcement came out,” Dykstra said. “Many faculty are expressing shock, outrage, heartbreak and confusion in a faculty discussion email thread.” While Allen said it was inappropriate to discuss individual personnel decisions and conversations, his restructuring decisions were intended to focus on university-wide student spiritual development by merging student life, spiritual formation and athletics under one leader. Dykstra said faculty and staff were unsure of how the change would affect students and were hoping for further clarification from the president’s office. United Cultures of Bethel Executive Director Vanna Contreras met Bunker at the CFCR Office on her first day of college. She dropped in to meet with former CFCR administrative assistant Jackie Bonilla and instead found Bunker, who immediately made the impression of a loving and open woman of God. Bunker worked with and prayed over Contreras in regard to the challenges of being a BIPOC student at Bethel.

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“It [was] so refreshing to see her in the position that she was in at Bethel. And it was different, so I really liked that she didn’t stop, and she always advocated for people.” said Vanna Contreras. | Photo by Will Jacott

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Amy Dykstra Former Faculty Senate President “She was very open to talking about those cultural challenges, and what really helped was just reaffirming me as a student that I can do whatever I put my mind to and that the Lord always has my back,” Contreras said. Even through short hallway interactions, Contreras always walked away from a talk with Bunker feeling motivated and affirmed. “My favorite thing about Pastor Laurel is that she always had a voice of wisdom, almost as if she always knew what to say at the right time,” Contreras said. “It [was] so refreshing to see her in the position that she was in at Bethel. And it was different, so I really liked that she didn’t stop, and she always advocated for people.” Contreras was caught off guard when Bunker’s departure was announced. “My stomach just sank,” she said. “I really thought that she was going to stay another year. It was going to be a great time, and when I heard she wasn’t coming back, I just knew something was wrong … I was very sad, and I reached out and told her how much I missed her.” Senior biology student Alice Hong, last year’s executive director of United Cultures of Bethel, felt the same way. “She was the last BIPOC woman in the Bethel faculty and staff [who I interacted with on a regular basis] that I could look up

to and rely on,” she said. “I felt as though a support system had been taken away from me and answers are still unclear.” Hong met Bunker in the Cultural Connections Center as a PSEO student. “She carried this energy that made me feel joyful,” said Hong. “She affirmed me with her life-giving words and she made me feel heard in my experiences. She is truly an incredible leader, and I'll miss her very much.” “Pastor Bunker provided valuable support to our community, but it cannot be one person’s job to help students of color feel welcome and loved at Bethel,” Allen said. “Our goal is to provide that support broadly across the university. We must all lean into that. This isn’t going to be an overnight change. We have work to do here.” Now, Bunker is ensuring that her two daughters, a freshman and a junior, are adjusting well to life in college. Both attend Christian universities. Bunker is also spending time in prayer, reading and listening to God, waiting for her next calling. “I had an extraordinary team of gifted colleagues, amazing student leaders and wonderful friends to work with during my time to whom I owe so much,” Bunker said. “Suffice it to say, a piece of my heart will always remain at BU.” C

Many faculty are expressing shock, outrage, heartbreak, and confusion in a faculty discussion email thread.

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New year, new protocols As COVID-19 continues to change, protocols change as well. Here is a guide to what’s new and what’s not with the pandemic. By Soraya Keiser ue to fewer COVID-19 guidelines, students are able to receive a more typical college experience than last year, when Bethel operated amid the throes of a pandemic. They can collaborate in person on projects, attend sporting events and take advantage of the make-your-own waffle station in the Monson Dining Center. Although many are overjoyed by this lack of restriction, some are still worried about the spread of the virus, especially with news of the Delta variant, a new strand of COVID-19 that is more infectious and dangerous than previous strands. One group of people desiring more restrictions is Bethel’s Faculty Senate. On Aug. 25, the Senate discussed COVID-19 mitigation on campus and wrote up a motion reading, “Faculty Senate moves to request that the administration follows CDC and MDH guidelines more directly, including clear messaging to students to mask at all times indoors and provide consistent testing for unvaccinated people.” 75% of senators voted in favor of this motion.

Nathan Hoff, Jordan Mugglin and Kayla Brunner studying in the Grill booths. | Photo by Andrew Wittenburg

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Spiritual Formation Chapel and Vespers continued last year in Benson Great Hall with social distancing and masking requirements. This year, social distancing is not required and masks are only recommended within Benson. Another part of spiritual formation at Bethel is Shift, a discipleship experience for freshmen. Due to social distancing protocols last year, freshman floors met with their Shift leaders in classrooms instead of in dorms. “Last year was really hard for Shift. It was almost completely derailed,” Associate Dean of Discipleship Ministries Dale Durie said. “Maintaining momentum was really hard and … that kind of [classroom] environment was very disruptive.” This year, the Shift team is hoping to return to what Shift looks like in a typical pandemic-free year. Meeting in dorm rooms. More events. Deeper connections on the floor. “It’s a gift that these upperclass students are volunteering to come and be present to students in their first year,” Durie said. “That’s a God thing.” On Aug. 29, Benson was packed with students attending Koinonia, the kick-off event for spiritual formation this year. Many Shift leaders and their floors attended. “We were actually able to fellowship together in a way that was close physically but also relationally,” Shift Leader RyleeAnn Andre said. “I think having that shared experience will allow us to make deeper and greater connections.”

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Athletics The MIAC has agreed to follow all NCAA guidelines regarding COVID-19 for the 2021-22 academic year. All sports within the MIAC are planning on having conventional competition, but unvaccinated students must routinely get tested for COVID-19 before competitions and travel. Masks are also still required during indoor events such as team meetings and film practices, but they are not required during training or competition. “It can be a little inconvenient,” Director of Athletics Greg Peterson said, “but it is much better than the alternative of not playing.” Fans are once again allowed to attend sporting events after a year of quiet gyms and livestreamed games. Fan guidelines are determined by the host school of each competition, and Bethel is welcoming spectators to all sporting events. “We have to be intentional about how we re-engage the community,” Peterson said. After a hiatus from sporting events for the past 18 months, the athletic department hopes students are excited to cheer on their classmates from the sidelines.

Vaccination requirements within MIAC

MIAC schools requiring vaccine: Augsburg University Carleton College Gustavus Adolphus College Hamline University Macalester College College of Saint Benedict St. Catherine University Saint John's University Saint Mary's University St. Olaf College

Dining Center Although masks are not required in all parts of campus, Sodexo and student workers in the Dining Center, 3900 Grill and Royal Grounds will continue to follow protocols established last year regarding masks, hand washing and sanitizing high-touch surfaces. “The health and safety of our employees and customers is a core value and our highest priority,” Sodexo General Manager Michele Hamersma said. While these employee protocols remain, students have access to self-serve and made-to-order options, as well as non-socially distanced seating. “Protocols have changed throughout the past 18 months and will continue to change in response to new developments,” Hamersma said. “The Delta variant has driven the recent changes in CDC recommendations and policies of many businesses and schools.”

DC returns to self serve salad bar. | Photo by Andrew Wittenburg

MIAC schools not requiring vaccine: Bethel University The College of St. Scholastica Concordia College University St. Paul

Academics Masks are required in classroom settings where six feet of distance cannot be maintained. “All of the decisions we’ve made related to COVID-19 are intended to balance the student experience with reasonable safety precautions,” Director of COVID-19 Operations Kristi Moline said. “We are prioritizing in-person learning and will make adjustments to our mitigation strategies in order to remain face-to-face.” One way that Bethel is less cautious than other colleges in response to COVID-19 is regarding vaccinations. Only three schools out of the 13 that make up the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference are not requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Bethel is one of them. This decision is not contingent upon FDA approval of any of the vaccines. “Bethel is a place that recognizes that we have each been created with a unique perspective and experience,” Kristi Moline said. “In that light, we want to honor individual and family perspectives regarding COVID-19 vaccination.” Design by Gretta Nathe

SEPT. 2021

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Rain or shine: Welcome Following an unconventional 2020 Welcome Week, this year’s incoming students were greeted with a full line-up of events.

Roy the Lion and Welcome Week staff beam eye-to-eye and clap their hands in front of Getsch as freshmen pull into freshman hill. | Photo by Hannah Hobus 12

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Week 2021

SEPT. 2021

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Gina Miller, senior Welcome Week staff member, and Jordan Krupke, sophomore Student Activities member, dance in the rain on move-in day in front of freshman residence hall, Nelson. | Photo by Hannah Hobus

By Hannah Hunhoff

ehicles made their way up Bethel Drive to freshman halls Aug. 26 and 27, met with the smiling faces and loud cheers from over 80 Welcome Week staff members. The newly arrived students were ushered into their dorms while Welcome Week staff, Bethel Student Government members, the United Worship team, Shift leaders and football players graciously carried box upon box of possessions up numerous flights of stairs. Welcome Week serves as new students’ first taste of Bethel. While COVID-19 halted the previous class’ involvement in several events, all were reinstated into the event line-up that spanned Aug. 26 to 29. “It’s really exciting that due to the availability of the vaccine, our experience with COVID and access to resources like testing allow us to be together in community again,” said Vice President of Student Life and former Welcome Week Coordinator Miranda Powers. “I’m excited for our

community to participate in some of the traditions that we weren’t able to participate in the same way last year.”

Boundless This year, the Welcome Week theme was “boundless” and alluded to Psalm 147:5, which reads, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Reflecting on last year, Welcome Week Coordinator Caitlin Beyer realized students were unable to get the full Welcome Week experience. Her aim this year was to bring a joyful and energetic experience to all students and their families. “We are pushing at the idea that there’s a reason each student is at Bethel and there is a reason that they’re loved by God,” Committee Head of Service Marah Smith said. “We are going to have students coming from many different places, and it’s so important that each student knows how boundless God’s love is for them.” THE CLARION

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Move-in

and moved fifty cars in under fifty minutes,” Community Committee team member Anna Pearson said.

The move-in process kicks off the Welcome Week experience. Unlike last year’s four-day move-in process, this year’s event took place in a two-day period Aug. 25 and 26. New student employees, freshmen in the BUILD program and transfer students were the first to be moved in Aug. 25. Each student group experienced the classic Welcome Week move-in experience as their possessions were quickly moved from car to dorm room. “I was kind of overwhelmed at first,” freshman Getsch resident Garret Schindler said. “When all of my stuff was in my room before I even stepped in the door, I thought that was pretty crazy.” The remaining incoming freshmen and their families arrived on campus on Aug. 26. Welcome Week staff made an effort to intentionally call each student by name, also walking them into their residence halls and introducing them to hall staff. “Often we use the word ‘community’ at Bethel, but I think of it as a community that’s transformative and works hard to be inclusive,” Powers said. “I see examples of that all over our campus and in our student experience.” The Welcome Week team aimed to not only cater the community-building experience to the traditional student group, but also to students enrolled in the PSEO and BUILD programs.

Rain or shine, the Bethel tradition continues.

Events The move-in process built momentum for the rest of the week’s busy schedule. Five primary events were reintroduced this year: a lakeside picnic, a commissioning service, the Show, the Bethel Student Government party and the Day of Service. Previous virtual events, such as a kickoff celebration and Koinonia, were moved to an in-person experience or merged with other events. In total, incoming students participated in nine social events led by the staff, including residence hall parties, Movie on the Lawn and the Cultural Connections Dessert.

Family Parents and other family members were also involved in the welcoming process, taking part in events such as the lakeside picnic. They were also actively involved in the reinstated commissioning service this year, which involved a designated time of prayer and worship. Last year, families didn’t receive the opportunity to participate in a service of this kind and briefly said goodbye to their students.

“I’m excited about the student experience at Bethel,” Edgren resident and BUILD student Nick Christendom said. “I can’t wait to meet new friends and start my classes.”

Welcome Week staff form a tunnel in front of the Getch freshmen residence hall and cheer as a freshman walks in the front doors. | Photo by Hannah Hobus

Alongside the Welcome Week staff, President Ross Allen and his wife, Annie, made their way through a sea of vehicles to welcome families into the Bethel community. “It’s amazing to see all the relationships the staff has formed come together through a bunch of screaming, chanting and being able to be totally comfortable with one another,” Team Committee member Ally Stackhouse said. While the first day of move-in was filled with sunshine, the second day was hit with 55 mph winds and 1 ½ inches of rain. Move-in was halted for an hour as Welcome Week staff members found shelter in Nelson Hall. During this time, students had discussions with new families while some staff members took advantage of the break to nap. “After the delay, we got hype again SEPT. 2021

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“It’s the last thing that parents do before they leave and it’s a really impactful way of launching into the Bethel community,’’ Powers said. Compared to the primarily virtual parent experience last year, increased parent involvement was prioritized. “We have felt very welcomed here and I feel very happy that my daughter will be at Bethel,” Annette Anderson, parent of a freshman student, said. “I feel thrilled to be here.”

The Show Welcome Week’s production, the Show, is directed by the Community Committee and performed in Benson Great Hall for incoming students, family and guests to enjoy. “The Show is a theatrical production created to introduce new students to some of Bethel’s culture and opportunities,” Community team member Micah Smith said.

help students adjust to college life and promote community experiences. “Being on this team is just another part of spreading the love of God to people, hoping they feel at home,” Smith said. “This really is bringing new friends into this community of believers who are processing life and faith.”

“Being on this team is just another part of spreading the love of God to people, hoping they feel at home.”

With students hailing from all over the country, Beyer hopes that each and every one will transition out of Welcome Week feeling “seen, heard, known and loved.” “I really want every single student, no matter who they are or where they come from, to feel like they’re going to be okay here,” Beyer said. “I want them to know that there are people here who support them.”

Micah Smith, senior health and physical education major Design by Alexa Vos

This year’s Show, titled the “Bethelympics,” was an Olympic-themed performance filled with skits and dances. Featuring a combination of pre-filmed and live productions, it offered students a glimpse of the next few years of their lives. Between Core Group tours and beginning classes the following week, the Show met new students exactly where they were at and gave them an amusing introduction to Bethel. “I really liked the beginning. I thought it was really funny and I really enjoyed all the jokes in the show as well,” Nelson resident and PSEO student Brianna Good said. “The guys’ dance was my favorite.”

Junior Welcome Week staff members Olivia Dahl, left, and Madi Stevens, right, build momentum for move-in by dressing up in a lion costume and as Bethel’s mascot, Roy the Lion. | Photo by Hannah Hobus

The Goal Amid the action of Welcome Week, every event exists to 16

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Seniors Carrie Park and Sydney Holloway keep energy high for Welcome Week | Photo by Hannah Hobus

SEPT. 2021

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Royals Stadium gets a new paint job and more A new outdoor track means Bethel Royals can host meets.

Bethel’s Royal Stadium under construction | Photo by Aiden St. George

1947

1952

1983

First football season at Bethel

First track season at Bethel

SRC is built with an indoor track

By Molly Wilson

nnessa Ihde runs to Mounds View High School to use their outdoor track for practice. Ihde, a sophomore international relations and Spanish student, is a middle-distance runner, so the one-mile trek is practically a warm-up. She likes the high school’s 400-meter track better than the 200-meter at Bethel University, so the run over is worth it.

vault and throw areas. Students and coaches were told the project would be finished by fall 2021, but delays and the beginning of football season have pushed the completion date to the spring or summer of 2022, along with a few other updates to the facility.

football back in full swing and cool fall weather approaching, the end product will have to wait. Despite the slow and challenging construction process, the new track will provide a high quality surface for Bethel athletes. Accompanied by a shock-absorption layer underneath, the track will benefit athletes by taking some of the pressure off runner’s joints, helping to prevent injuries.

“I’m really excited for us to have home meets on the new track,” Ihde said. “Our track team is big and incredibly talented, so I’m really grateful that we Bethel announced the “Call to More” will have an outdoor track of our own, campaign in May of 2021, which in- even if it’s a year later than expected.” “I think the throws area will be done cluded the university’s plans to upgrade this fall, so we’ll definitely be using key facilities for its athletes. Soon Beth- The new track surface requires extreme- that, which will be a really nice benefit el’s track and field team will have their ly specific conditions that Minnesota for our throwers,” said Track and Field own outdoor facility, allowing them sometimes has a hard time delivering Head Coach Andrew Rock. “There’ll to host outdoor track and field events on. In order for the polyurethane sur- be the long jump and some stuff we for the first time in school history. The face to set, construction must be un- could potentially use this fall and in the upgrades for track and field include an touched and have six weeks of at least spring.” outdoor track along with new jump, 50 degree Fahrenheit weather. With

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1995 Royals Stadium built Track season starts in January and lasts 24 weeks. Until the track is completed, runners will be practicing either in the Sports and Recreation Center’s smaller indoor track or at Mounds View High School. “We’ve never had a track on campus and we have a really good track program, which seems a little bit weird because they’ve kind of been making do for a long time,” Athletic Director Greg Peterson said. “For our student athletes it’s an opportunity for them to have a facility on site. I think it’s another opportunity for us from a recruiting standpoint, to show our commitment. It’s an opportunity to get other events on campus.” Royal Stadium’s football field was upgraded with new synthetic turf. The team practiced on it Aug. 30 after watching the field’s completion the previous weekend. “The turf looks incredible and the people who have put countless hours into the preparation and construction of the stadium should be applauded. They have done an amazing job,” senior quarterback Jaran Roste said. SEPT. 2021

2001 Royals Stadium renovations

2021 New turf field at Royals Stadium

For the first time in Bethel University football history, home games will be played on a synthetic field that is more adaptable to Minnesota weather and can be played on long after the natural grass would have died.

2022 Bethel’s first outdoor track set to be completed

about what the community and culture is all about,” Roste said.

As an athletic director, Peterson knows how important recruiting is. “That’s something we’ve tried to be intentional about. I think Bethel overall “It’s a little bit more resilient. It’s great. has done a great job in recent years, doYou can play in any kind of weather. I ing [projects] in a way that is classy and think that’s probably the biggest differ- shows excellence,” Peterson said. ence,” Head Coach Steve Johnson said. Along with other minor upgrades, such According to Johnson, the Royals can as improving lighting and updating the practice on the turf 240 times during press box at Royal Stadium, comes the the season as opposed to 45 on the old hope of transforming the practice field grass surface. Natural grass gets ripped into turf as well to allow more teams to up with use and does not allow for practice at once. enough drainage. The new turf is designed to drain water as fast as Minne- The first football game on the new field sota weather can pour it down. will be played Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. against The new field will also keep the football the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. team outside longer as weather condi- “Come out and watch,” Peterson said. tions worsen throughout the season. “For the last 18 months, it’s been weird. Without having to worry about slippery I want to really invite students and the grass and ruining the field, coaches can community and anybody to kind of avoid holding practice in the Sports and re-engage. Come out and just have a Recreation Center. ball.” C “Bethel now has a first-rate stadium that will showcase all of what Bethel has to offer and will hopefully draw more and more people to the school to learn BETHELCLARION.COM

Design By Hannah Hobus 19

Dr. Rahn Franklin | Photo by Bryson Rosell Designed by Bryson Rosell 20

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By Rachel Blood

‘At the end R of the day,

ahn Franklin walked into the foyer of his Kansas City church and saw flags from countries representing the diversity of his community. Growing up in Missouri, Franklin says he was surrounded by people from a wide expanse of cultures, languages and lifestyles. He began his role as Bethel University’s new Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Aug. 30, where the College of Arts and Sciences is made up of only 16.9% BIPOC students. “My interest in this work is because of what I was exposed to as a youth through school, sanctuary and sports. Those three S’s were pretty significant for me,” he said. Franklin played basketball and football at Buena Vista University, going on to play arena football professionally. Photographs of his high school sports teams show teammates from Sudan, Mexico, Ghana, the United States and other places. His church foyer served as a stark contrast to the single American flag inside the sanctuary of many Midwestern churches. Franklin’s classrooms were full of students who spoke multiple languages. Franklin’s move to Iowa for college was shocking. The small town agrarian culture was unexpected in comparison to the cities Franklin was used to. At BVU, Franklin studied sports and fitness management. The school of about 2,000 undergraduate students is located in Storm Lake, Iowa, which Franklin said is the most diverse city in

the state. According to the 2020 Census, 90.02% of Iowa consists of white residents. Franklin also earned a master’s degree in counseling from BVU before getting a PhD in Education and Organizational Leadership from North Central University in Minneapolis. Franklin was in class during his counseling program with a woman named Chelsea Town, who was applying for the Director of Multicultural Student Development at Northwestern College in Orange City. The two got to know each other very well. Town realized the position was perfect to Franklin. She withdrew her application and gave Franklin’s name to the university. “[A] tremendous sacrifice,” Franklin said. “She changed my trajectory.” When he landed the position, Franklin did work similar to his work at Bethel but operating at a higher level of the institution. He served there starting in 2011, ending a full 10-year stint with his move to Bethel. “We learned a whole lot of things about life and how to do cross-cultural, intercultural work in a biblical perspective in that space,” Franklin said. Northwestern College President Greg Christy, who will complete his 14th year at the university in December, was present for the entirety of Franklin’s 10 years as Director of Multicultural Student Development. “Rahn was just a wonderful support for all of our students, but in particular our students of

it’s about love’ Dr. Rahn Franklin begins his first year at Bethel as Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Percent of student body represented by students of color

CAS 16.9% CAPS 33% GS 16.6% SEM 28.7% Source: VP of DE&I Search Profile College of Arts and Sciences College of Adult and Professional Studies Graduate School Bethel Seminary

color,” Christy said. “He is a people person with a glasshalf-full type of attitude and just a joy to be around and to work with.” In Franklin’s time at Northwestern, he and Christy pioneered a program called Bridge Scholars, which focuses on leadership development for multicultural students. Franklin worked closely with those students and helped them grow and develop leadership, reconciliation and cultural intelligence skills. According to Christy, Northwestern’s diversity rate has stayed between 13 and 15% for the last few years. Bethel is only slightly more diverse. “I’ll always be grateful for the work that he did in helping us to develop that vision for diversity and help us live it out,” Christy said. “Our loss is your gain.” Franklin’s brother, Stephen Franklin, coaches football at Bethel, one of the many connections that drew Franklin to the role. The brothers, along with Franklin’s wife, Rachel and current BUILD Internship Supervisor Ryan Anderson, had lived together in 2014. “The three of us together now working in the same place is unreal,” Franklin said. Among a host of other Bethel connections, Franklin knew Frogtown’s Assistant Director of Community Engagement Tanden Brekke through a North Minneapolis leadership development program and former Campus Pastor Laurel Bunker through the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Development Institute through the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. “[Laurel and my] relationship is really what kind of

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sparked the chain to make this application process happen,” Franklin said. “God was telling me ... to come, and I kept saying no. And then as the numbers kept stacking up, I was like, alright, maybe I should respond. And that’s a lot of connections.” After witnessing last summer’s murder of George Floyd, Franklin began asking himself, “What does proximity look like for me?” He was used to doing the best he could with what he had down in Orange City. “It’s kind of fascinating that this opportunity opened up not too long after asking that question,” Franklin said. Vice President of People and Culture Cara Wald co-chaired the search with President Ross Allen, partnering with a national higher education search and evaluation company to find an individual focused on Christ, skilled in leadership and an excellent communicator. “His unique giftings of collaboration, careful listening and genuine relationship development with and for all students and employees will advance us toward our mission in this work,” she said. Franklin summarized his goals for Bethel in two words: “inclusive excellence,” the three areas of that excellence being scholastic, social and personal. Franklin plans to focus his energy on four main areas, the first of which is access and equity. “This isn’t just about the thriving of our students of color,” Franklin said. “The world will continue to change, which means we need to increase our capacities to function effectively in spaces characterized by cultural difference. And I think

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that speaks volumes to who God is.” Access and equity involves not only looking at who is at Bethel, but who is able to get to Bethel. “If Bethel is excellent, then everybody should be able to experience that excellence,” Franklin said. The second element is learning and diversity, which Franklin aims to expand on to expose students to content by diverse speakers, authors and other educational figures. Franklin explained that a large part of the Reformed tradition argues that “all truth is God’s truth,” meaning that exploring varying ideas and perspectives should not be looked down upon and instead be embraced, as the practice gives a more whole vision of God and His world. The third aspect, research and scholarship, involves scientific contribution to the world. “We can contribute to the world not only from a Christian worldview and perspective regarding our research, but we can be helping enhance and make the world a better place through using our minds and producing research and scholarship that enhances God’s redemptive work,” he said. Diversity, equity and inclusion can connect to any field of study, he added. The final aspect Franklin plans to focus on is a multicultural and inclusive campus climate. “What does it feel like to be here, and what’s the climate like for people who are different than ourselves?” Franklin asked. “This is a really important question to be asking as a community.” Franklin is beginning by

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looking at Bethel’s recruitment and hiring practices, making sure the candidates in question span a wide range of backgrounds and inviting people to be members of the Bethel community who can contribute their gifts to both Bethel and the greater world. Franklin believes there is room to grow in terms of faculty, staff and student diversity. Franklin explained that research shows random groupings of people who do not share a culture can actually have a difficult time working together. Building cultural intelligence in students can help combat this and help diverse groups live in harmony. “Some of that starts also with changing the way that we look,” Franklin said. “If heaven is going to look and be and feel diverse, then our operations need to function in that way as well.” Franklin wants to push the Bethel community members to love one another as brothers and sisters. “At the end of the day, it’s about love and love is about shalom,” Franklin said,” and it’s the thriving and well being of all of creation.” C

Dr. Rahn Franklin now serves as Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and foremost, he’s just a great person, a great man of faith and a family man,” s Northwestern College President Greg Christy. “We’re definitely going to miss Ra Photo by Bryson Rosell

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Building an authentic community To enhance diversity initiatives and cultivate unity, Welcome Week implemented a new Cultural Connections event. By Hannah Hunhoff

mong a host of other Welcome Week events, the brand new Cultural Connections Dessert was held Aug. 27 in the Underground. With the goal of enhancing diversity and inclusion efforts, Associate Dean for Campus Engagement and head of Welcome Week Caitlin Beyer created this event in collaboration with the Cultural Connections Center and Christian Formations and Church Relations teams.

us, it makes it a lot easier to deal with.” The panel discussion time shedded light on that very goal. In a Q&A format, juniors Elijah Barlue, Grace Bianchi and Phil Norris reflected on their time at Bethel and offered their best pieces of advice about finding community on campus. “I challenged everybody to make the uncomfortable, comfortable,” said Barlue. “I think sometimes when we find our comfort zone, we like to stay in it.”

“It’s specifically an event to encourage and celebrate our incoming and returning students, who are students of color,” Beyer said.

The night concluded with an opportunity for students to step out of their own comfort zones and try something new. Senior Karla Bonilla taught the attendees a Bachata dance. She explained that this dance originated in the Dominican Republic and is performed all over the world.

The night included encouragement from student leaders, celebratory dancing and dessert. This year, Welcome Week was committed to amplifying diverse voices, forging community and promoting unity within Bethel’s incoming class. The event was hosted by Bethel alumnus Duvonchez Kadrian Chambers and began with President Ross Allen’s opening remarks. Next, the event transitioned to a dynamic panel discussion.

“It was so much fun to see my fellow students of color and also other supporters of the Bethel community celebrate what it is to dance,” said Bonilla. “It was such an honor to share part of my culture, part of where I come from and my roots with the Bethel community.” The dance was an exciting part of the event for many in the student body, as they attempted to learn and embrace the art of the Bachata dance.

“Honestly, the biggest thing that I want to leave with students is that they are not alone,” said Chambers. We are all going to go through fear, stress and anxiety, but when we know that we have people there with

“Not everybody knew how to dance, but everybody tried, ‘’ said Barlue. ‘’It was real and authentic.”oo0 Duvonchez Kadrian Chambers speaks at the Cultural Connections Dessert. | Photo by Vanna Contreras

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Out with high school, in with college Fall 2021 marks a year of expansion for Bethel’s PSEO program.

By Sarah Bakeman

reg Maloney sat quietly observing the Community Life Center on August 12 as the PSEO Summer Kickoff unfolded around him. The lofty walls of the CLC filled with a reverberating hum from hundreds of little conversations, snaking lines of high school juniors and seniors and doting parents whose hands clutched boxes filled to the brim with loaned textbooks. In June, Bethel University announced the expansion of its Postsecondary Enrollment Option program, previously only available to high school seniors. Starting in Fall 2021, high school juniors and online courses will be incorporated into the program, offering a chance for a broader scope of students to get ahead on earning college credits through Bethel courses. For Maloney, a 16-year-old Saint Agnes School student, this change meant the ability to experience college head-on and expand his education beyond the limits of high school. “Saint Agnes didn’t have any math classes beyond calc 2,” he said. “I think using math in my career would be kinda fun.” Dr. Julie Finnern, the Associate Provost for the College of Arts and Sciences, says she aims to keep students at the heart of every decision she makes. That means providing the strong academic experience and support that students require. With students like Maloney needing assistance from postsecondary institutions, Finnern was met with clear requests from juniors to expand the reach of Bethel’s program. This move, however, does not come without some caution. “We wanted to make sure that we also had a support system in place,” she said. “That’s why we have a smaller number. We are welcoming up to 24 juniors this year, and then we’ll see how that goes and plan on expanding.” Fall 2021 enrollment anticipates 154 seniors, making 24 juniors a comparatively small number. Even so, the precautions don’t stop there. Juniors are required to go through an interview process before securing a spot at Bethel. While face-to-face in-

terviews may seem cruel and intimidating for student applicants, Finnern explained how this hurdle is set in place for the benefit of juniors seeking rigorous college courses. “Their high school graduation could be on the line. If they fail a class, then they’re not getting what they need to graduate high school,” she said. “So, we take our responsibility seriously that it needs to be a good fit, and we set students up for success.” Sophia Najarian, a junior at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, was individually interviewed by admissions staff. Going in, Najarian had nervous thoughts. As COVID-19 guidelines increased, the opportunity for a normal high school experience diminished. Full-time PSEO appeared as a chance to leap ahead to college, especially as leaving high school became less of a sacrifice. Ul-

“

They may not consider themselves someone that is going to go on to college, and then they try a PSEO class, and they think ‘oh, I can do this.’

”

– Julie Finnern, Associate Provost for the College of Arts and Sciences

timately, Najarian’s nerves settled as the interview commenced, and she realized it was not even the worst part of the application process. “I got through it,” she said. “The biggest thing was getting recommendation letters.” Now, with her spot secured, Najarian’s eyes are focused on the fall semester. Like many other 17-year-olds, Najarian faces uncertainty regarding how she will direct her future. PSEO allows students to dabble in a variety of college classes at the expense of the Minnesota Department of Education, permitting high schoolers like Najarian to decide if a particular major, or college itself, is a good fit for them. Finnern describes the opportunity for students to experiment with college with less financial risk as one of the main appeals of PSEO. “For some PSEO students, it can be an important bridge to give college a try,” she

said. “They may not consider themselves someone who is going to go on to college, and then they try a PSEO class, and they think ‘oh, I can do this.’” While the introduction of high school juniors to college classes is well on its way, Bethel is looking to broaden its impact in high schools even further. Fall 2021 fosters the beginnings of online options for PSEO students, but this will expand even further in Fall 2022 to include typical high school graduation requirements. Many students live too far away to commute to Bethel, and juniors are unable to live on campus, so the development of online courses may present itself as an alternative for PSEO students in the coming years. Dual enrollment is another expanding offer extended to high school students. This allows qualified high school instructors to teach Bethel courses in their own classrooms with help from Bethel faculty. Students are able to get both high school and college credits without jumping between two campuses. Finnern outlined the broadening of Bethel’s interaction with highschool students. “We are continuing to increase the number of schools with whom we have that kind of partnership,” she said. “For example, this year… we’re offering a couple of Spanish classes at Stillwater High School.” While Finnern welcomes the incoming commuter juniors with excitement, the future of early college education looks to be a decreasingly committal decision. This blending of college and high school could be a welcome change to prospective PSEO students in positions like Maloney’s. “I like the education at Saint Agnes,” said Maloney. “But it’s just that they don’t have certain classes that I want or need.” For those who do not want to say goodbye to their high schools just yet, the possibility of expanded dual enrollment and online options is enticing. Going into Fall 2021, however, the focus largely remains on welcoming the incoming junior PSEO students. Designed by Davis McElmurry

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No internship, loads of New Girl By Soraya Keiser

ooming down I-94 in my family’s 2010 blue Toyota, I hadn’t felt so happy in months. Lake Michigan to my left. The Port of Milwaukee to my right. “Social Cues” by Cage The Elephant blaring from the speakers. This was my first dose of independence in five weeks. The summer that was supposed to be my dip into the adult world had unexpectedly become a regression back to middle school sick days. Waited on. Driven everywhere. Meals brought to me in bed. And there was always this underlying feeling of I should be doing more. Because for those five weeks, it felt like I wasn’t living—I was merely existing. At the beginning of the summer I was supposed to take a flight south to Fort Myers, FL for an internship writing stories on a nonprofit’s tropical farm. I would be exploring a new state with my friend Makenzi, eating ripe lychee and taking a trip down to the Everglades. In other words, it was supposed to be the Summer of Soraya.

So when the only things to fill my days were physical therapy exercises and petting my dog, I felt horrible. Depressed. Like I was wasting my potential. And while my body stopped, my brain seemed to go double time. What classes should I take in the spring? I should start applying for summer 2022 internships now. What 10 hobbies can I become an expert in while I sit here in this bed all day? I should learn how to do winged eyeliner like I’ve always wanted to do. The kind that extends out in a line so smooth it seems not humanly possible to make. Should I finally master Adobe Premiere? Or what about Adobe Photoshop? I guess I could always redownload Candy Crush if I get really desperate. I think our society connects busyness with self worth, and that’s why I felt worthless. The more things we have going on, the more important we seem. Stress is hurting our bodies, and we take pride in that. “I only got four hours of sleep last night.” “I didn’t have time to eat lunch today.”

A week before I was set to leave, I felt a twinge in my bad knee and got an MRI. The day before my flight, I was told I had to get surgery right away or I would have early onset arthritis by age 25. I would have to have a total ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair and let my torn MCL supposedly heal on its own. At first I said I would take the arthritis, but once Dr. Lester talked some sense into me and I wiped my tears, we set the surgery date.

“I cried while writing my paper and then turned it in on Moodle two minutes before it was due.”

Instead of tanning on the beach, wrangling crocodiles and whatever else people do in Florida, I was high on hydrocodone and ibuprofen, watching “Downton Abbey” and attempting to hop up stairs backwards with the help of my crutches. Each night, I colored my mood tracker orange. Orange means a very bad day.

One day, I made a collage from old magazines and rewatched 12 episodes of “New Girl.” Another day, I sat in the sand by Lake Michigan and read my book on the anthropocene extinction until the clouds turned pink and the light faded. Another day, my physical therapy appointment was exciting because I was finally able to bend my knee.

I'm the type of person who thrives off of being busy. That’s all I’ve ever known. Within my first year at Bethel I quickly racked up five different jobs, 17 credits each semester and the desire to meet everyone. I thought this was success.

A friend of mine said this could have been a sign from God telling me to slow down. I think she was right. C

I took a twisted sort of pride in these complaints. So I had to teach myself how to rest. And once I accepted that I couldn’t do anything about the bionic knee brace strapped to my leg, I started enjoying my summer.

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Opinion This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Clarion, its staff or the institution. If you would like to submit a response or an opinion piece of your own, please contact Editor-in-Chief Rachel Blood at rachel-blood@bethel.edu

Illustration By Joy Sporleder SEPT. 2021

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“Me gustan tus zapatos” By Annessa Ihde

“

o tengo esperanza.” I have no hope.

I watched and listened as a middle-aged, petite woman broke down crying in front of me, repeating the words, “No tengo esperanza.” She spoke quietly and twisted her hands in her lap. Melissa, a legal consultant at a small nonprofit in Neenah, WI asked me to grab some tissues and reassured the client that she understood her situation. That she wanted to help. The meeting went on for a couple hours as Melissa tried to piece together the full picture, but the case kept circling back to details that the woman could not remember. More and more questions were answered with a whispered “No recuerdo, lo siento.” I don’t remember, I’m sorry. This summer I worked as an intern for a local nonprofit organization in Neenah, WI that provides financial aid and legal advice to immigrant families in the area. Casa Esther is a two-woman operation run by Francisca, an immigrant from Spain, who started the nonprofit and Melissa, an immigrant from Canada, who is in charge of the organization’s legal clinic. Both women are bilingual. Francisca is fluent in English and Spanish while Melissa speaks English and French. Almost all of their clients speak Spanish as their first and/or only language, so Francisca is in charge of communicating with the clients and sometimes translating for legal meetings.

Our conversations covered everything from practical advice about law school to heartbreaking stories about labor trafficking in Wisconsin dairy farms. I asked a lot of questions. She told me about the challenges of running a nonprofit, the neverending demand for more funds and the overwhelming feeling of not being able to provide for some of the families who come to Casa Esther. She told me 90% of their cases are domestic abuse cases. Most victims of domestic violence are afraid to say anything because their partners threaten to expose their illegal status; however, Melissa did tell me about one case that was brought to the police. The policemen showed up to the house, but when the wife tried to explain that her husband was drunk, the officers only saw a woman pointing to beer bottles and nodding her head to their question, “Was there any alcohol involved?” Without a translator, the misunderstanding was recorded, and no further action was pursued. The other 10% of Casa Esther’s cases are connected to labor trafficking abuses. Their biggest case involved a family-owned dairy farm that was withholding medical treatment and abusing its workers who were all undocumented immigrants. The owner has yet to be charged even though it’s been over a year since the case was brought to court. Most of their clients fall under U-visa, which allows victims of certain crimes

As a volunteer intern most of my hours were spent scanning documents and legal paperwork in a stuffy office on the second floor of an old church. Sometimes I was alone, but most of the time I shared the space with Melissa.

Illustration By Joy Sporleder 28

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such as sexual assault, to apply for legal status, or T-visa, which provides temporary immigration benefits to victims of human trafficking. I learned the heartbreaking reality of immigrant experiences in America when I sat in on the consultation meeting of the crying woman. Before we met her, Melissa told me she hoped this woman would qualify for a U-visa, but she wasn’t sure how her illegal border crossing would affect the case. When the woman entered the office, she seemed reserved and a little apprehensive as she took a seat at the white table. It became clear within the first few seconds of conversation that she only spoke Spanish, but she came with an advocate from a different nonprofit who acted as her translator.

her. Taking small steps in order to stay behind, I followed the woman out of the office. Up until that moment, I had been the observer, silently watching and listening to this woman’s story. I hadn’t said anything to this woman. She didn’t even think I could understand her. After everything she had shared, the moment felt heavy with emotion, but I wanted to say something. I noticed her gray and pink Hoka tennis shoes. “Me gustan tus zapatos,” I said. I like your shoes. Her eyes lit up, “Ah, gracias! Y hablas español?” Thank you! You speak Spanish?

“Sí, pero entiendo más que puedo hablar.” I listened as Melissa explained that she was here Yes, but I understand more than I can speak. to offer any help she could but that she could not promise anything. The first twenShe smiled and said, “Que herty minutes were spent reviewing mosa.” It was surfacebiographical information as How beautiful. Melissa flipped through the thick level small packet of forms, double checkI laughed a little, and she nodded, talk. Nothing ing names and asking questions repeating the words again. “Que special. But it felt hermosa.” about birthdays, marriages and children. important to me Her car was parked right outside that she could After the initial interview, Melissa the church, so our conversation started asking broader, more was short. It was surface-level understand me open-ended questions, inviting small talk. Nothing special. But in that moment, the woman to share her story. In a it felt important to me that she quiet voice she told us about marcould understand me in that and more rying young and moving to Texas moment, and more importantly, importantly, with her new husband. She told that she felt understood. us that he started hitting her. That that she felt her mother-in-law watched but This small interaction made understood. said nothing. That she was forced me think about the significance to work at the family business but of language and our ability to was never paid. She told us about her regret, her understand each other, even if our stories are very daughter, finally moving to Wisconsin and being different. Understanding is the foundation of any unable to divorce the man who had caused so real connection, and language is the starting point. much pain. That was when she started crying, and For me, speaking another language is about those my heart broke listening to her say these words. moments of connection, of understanding. I haven’t experienced the obstacles and hardships that “No tengo esperanza.” our clients have faced. I don’t know what it’s like to I have no hope. feel unprotected by the law, unseen and unheard. But if I can speak their language and listen to their The client told us that she had left some of her stories, then I can try to understand. It’s a place to papers in her car, so Melissa suggested that she start. C grab those to see if there was any other important information to uncover. I offered to walk with This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Clarion, its staff or the institution. If you would like to submit a response or an opinion piece of your own, please contact Editor-in-Chief Rachel Blood at rachel-blood@bethel.edu SEPT. 2021

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Rainbow Road is overrated

Society is ready to hear the truth about Mario Kart.

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By Sarah Bakeman

’m clutching a white rectangular Wii remote while sitting in a friend’s basement. It’s a Friday night and the room is gaining humidity, sweat permeating from palms gripping controllers too tightly. Most importantly, an escalating Mario Kart race flashes on the screen. I’m on the third lap. The cries of my friends become distant and the soundtrack doubles in tempo to match my racing heart. A first-place finish seems guaranteed until... the dreaded blue shell hits my kart harder than tuition hits a bank account. This is a universal childhood experience for Generation Z. The atrocities committed by blue shells, bananas and ink spills, however, pale in comparison to one infamous track: Rainbow Road. This psychedelic route twists through the desolate landscape of space, leaving just the players and the void around them. There is no harder level than this. At least, that’s what popular culture has told us to believe. Call me a heretic, but I disagree with the preachings of 8-year-olds. After hundreds of races, the only track to evoke fear in me is Moonview Highway, and here’s why:

The traffic The course is packed with computer-generated cars that will not even tap the brakes before they run you over. It’s like parking in the East Lot on steroids. All of my defensive driving instincts come from this level, and I’m convinced that DMVs across the nation could streamline the driving test process by putting a Wii in their lobbies. Anybody who can get first place on this track should be able to operate an F-16 Jet.

The LEFT-SIDED traffic Nintendo is based in Japan, so it makes sense that the game’s traffic rides on the left side of the road. That being said, I object. The Revolutionary War was not won for us Americans to be driving like the tea-drinking British. Henry Ford would roll in his grave if he saw us stoop so low. Plus, sometimes I forget and accidentally drive into oncoming traffic.

It’s nighttime Anybody who has driven a car at night knows it can be risky. For me, Moonview Highway is a reminder of the hours 15-yearold me spent fulfilling my night driving requirements. While I tilt my Wii remote, I can practically see my mom in the passenger seat slamming her foot on an imaginary brake and yelling “for Pete’s sake, slow down!” as she death-grips the safety handle. This thought alone makes the track nearly impossible. Sure, I might fall into the vacuum of space on Rainbow Road, but at least I don’t have to listen to my mother.

Weaving between cars The traffic on Moonview Highway goes startlingly slow. That means if you want to get first, you not only need to go fast, but you also need to weave through traffic. For me, this means abandoning my values. I see myself transform into those aggressive dudes who go double the freeway speed limit while wildly switching lanes in a souped-up pickup truck. I guess there is one thing worse than driving like a Brit.

The music When making the soundtrack for Rainbow Road, the composer was probably given the task of perfectly uniting magic, satisfaction and fun into just one song. Luckily for the composer of Moonview Highway, their assignment was a little easier: create the musical embodiment of stress. And, oh boy, that composer really outdid themself. Just hearing it reminds me of every time I’ve lost important papers, forgot to set an alarm or driven down a poorly-regulated highway. At the end of the day, there are two types of people in this world: those who set aside real responsibilities to play Mario Kart and those who wish they could. But hey, no matter what, I’ll always cherish those careless Friday nights spent in a friend’s basement, regardless of which race I was getting last place in.C

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Clarion, its staff or the institution. If you would like to submit a response or an opinion piece of your own, please contact Editor-in-Chief Rachel Blood at rachel-blood@bethel.edu Illustration By Joy Sporleder SEPT. 2021

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Spotify Playlist: Minnesota made Check out a playlist of Minnesota-based artists for some state pride. By Soraya Keiser

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