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Partners for Progress “Where Heaven and Earth Collide”“Into the Woods” Review, PAGE 5New Face to NCU Tennis, PAGE 11

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The annual Partners for Progress Banquet took place on Oct. 28 at the Historic Depot in downtown Minneapolis to reflect upon the past, present, and future of North Central. Partners and friends of North Central were invited to take part in the banquet celebration to remember what the university was in the past and to look forward to what it will be in the future. The theme for the 2010 Partners for Progress Banquet was “Where Heaven & Earth Collide.” Guests in attendance were able to reconnect with friends and associates, enjoy food and music, and financially invest in the future of the university. Around 500 total guests were present at the banquet, making this year’s banquet one of the largest attended in North Central history. After a time of fellowship with music and appetizers, a corporate prayer of thanksgiving was given by Vice President of Advancement Paul Freitag. During the meal, North Central fine arts adjunct professor Peter Shu performed music. After dinner was served, Artistic Director and Associate Professor of Fine Arts Larry Bach led the Chorale in inspirational music and banquet guests were invited to sing along. A number of special guests, including North Central alumni Reggie Dabbs and Jeff and Kristie Kerr, also shared their vocal and instrumental talent. A time of worship followed, led by Jeff Deyo. “I thought it was really cool to see some of the older alumni and current students and staff celebrating what God has done through North Central. I love the idea of getting together and celebrating the passion of North

Central, which is raising up passionate and talented students for God while giving God all the glory,” said Deyo. The North Central Board of Regents also attended the banquet. The Board meets twice a year to discuss the current events of North Central such as policies, budget approvals, and new majors. According to Bach, the Board strives to maintain the vision and integrity of North Central and retain the school’s purpose for its students, since every decision made affects the college. These members are in place to protect the honor of the institution of North Central. The Board of Regents is composed of 46 members, owned and operated by 11 districts. Members include Chairman Rev. Ron Bontrager, Secretary Rev. Larry Griswold, and Bishop Fred Washington from the Church of God in Christ. Most districts have one district superintendent, one district youth director, one district pastor, and one lay representative. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin/Northern Michigan, Midwest Latin America, At Large, and By Virtue of Office are the districts composing the Board. The Executive Committee of the Board meets four times a year and is made up of eight of the 46 members. “The banquet was great this year, the fine arts was very good and blesses the soul,” said Jun Rogado, Illinois lay representative for the Board of Regents. “We are raising Pentecostal leaders of tomorrow.” This year’s Partners for Progress Banquet focus was on the North Central Fine Arts Endowment. The $1 million goal

of the Endowment will be used to further the quality of education and resources for the Fine Arts Department and to increase the quality of music and ministry. The Fine Arts Endowment was started two years ago by Bach. Expected by this May is the $1 million goal reached through commitments. He expects that by the end of the 2010-2011 school year, $500,000 of this amount will be raised. Bach is excited about the progress. “A lot of people out there really believe in North Central,” he said. “The success of this endowment is evident of that. People don’t give to things they don’t believe in.” The endowment consists of four funds to achieve the ten-year goal of reaching $1 million, and will continue after the goal is reached. The Chair of Worship Fund, named in honor of donator Arvid Kingsriter, is for $350,000 and will provide students with first-rate artists and professors as guest instructors. The Fine Arts Technology Fund of $300,000 will permit the MAC lab and recording studio to be maintained and up-to-date. The Missions Fund, in honor of donators Roger and Ann Lane, is for $200,000 and will allow the Chorale to travel overseas every other year on ministry outreaches. The W.O.V.E.N. Fund, in honor of River Valley Church, is for $150,000 and will help North Central students teach inner city children piano, vocals, guitar or drums. Bach is very passionate about North Central and wants to make sure the Fine Arts Department continues to strive for excellence.

Partners for Progress 2010 “Where Heaven & Earth Collide”By JACLYN TRIEB

continued on pg. 4

NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

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On Oct. 15 and 16, 2010, North Central hosted the Overflow Conference. The topic was equipping people to reach others for Christ. Some featured speakers were Don Piper, William Fay, Lisa Bevere and Reggie Dabbs, with music by Sheila Raye Charles. The conference consisted of workshops, presentations, worship, and hands-on approaches that helped train the attendees how to fearlessly tell others about Jesus. Evangelist Tom Elie, author of One-Minute Witness, and president of Oasis World Ministries, led the conference. Overflow was the first conference focused solely on evangelism sponsored by the Minnesota District Council of the Assemblies of God. “My passion is to help people see sharing their faith as normal New Testament Christianity,” said Elie. Elie’s book features witnessing tools for Christians. He prompts Christians to ask, “What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you?” and “Can I tell you the best thing that’s ever happened to me?” while witnessing. On Friday night Don Piper, author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, spoke about how his memory of Heaven is his motivation to witness. Piper said he died for 90 minutes and went to Heaven in 1989. When he first arrived in Heaven, he was greeted by people in his life that helped bring him to salvation. Piper prompted the audience to think about the people they will greet after they have died and gone to Heaven. “If we greet people at the gates of Heaven that we helped get there, who will you greet? Will you greet anyone?” Piper explained that Christians need to turn their

mess into their message and their test into their testimony. Christians have to use their unfortunate circumstances and help those in similar situations, instead of getting angry and feeling sorry for themselves. “It’s not what happens to you,” Piper said in an

interview. “It’s what you do with what happens to you

that matters. Heaven is real; Jesus is the way.” Evangelist and author of Share Jesus Without Fear, William Fay taught the audience practical ways to evangelize to anyone they meet. According to Fay, the biggest fear for Christians that prevents them from sharing their faith is rejection. “It’s not about success or failure, it’s about obedience,” said Fay. He said the key to keeping peace in a witnessing conversation is to ask lots of questions and to listen to the response. In his book, Fay has a specific series of questions to present while sharing the Gospel. For example, if the person who is being witnessed to does not want to discuss Jesus any further, he advises dropping the subject. Fay stressed the importance of not forcing your beliefs onto a person. “Jesus never healed anyone who didn’t want to be healed. Love is never forced. If the Holy Spirit can’t convince them, then you sure can’t.” Sheila Ray Charles, the daughter of the late jazz legend Ray Charles and founder of One Way Up Prison Ministry, was the musical guest at the conference. “I would love it if I could make every person realize the importance for evangelism, said Charles during an interview. “There’s no reason why they can’t be telling everyone about God’s Word.” Charles gives God the glory for everything, but life was not always easy. As the daughter of Ray Charles, Sheila had many expectations to live up to. “It was hard to live up to the expectation of who he was,”

she said. “People asked why I wasn’t more like him. This hurt me because I wanted to know too.” Regarding her musical career, Charles said God told her that if she gave her career to Him, He would bless it. As a successful musical artist, Charles believes “the joy and gratification of spreading God’s Word is better than anything.” Lisa Bevere, an international speaker, best-selling author and the host of television program “The Messenger,” spoke on Saturday about topics from her new book, “Lioness Arising.” Bevere said she received a vision from the Lord years ago about a lioness. God told her that the lioness represents the Bride of Christ. “We are the Bride of Christ, but we are not in the wedding yet,” explained Bevere. “We are in a fight. There is nothing more dangerous than lions fully awake. We need to be up and awake to what God is doing. We need to understand why we are waking up.” “It’s time for the Bride of Christ to become the Lioness,” she said in an interview. “We need men, women, young and old to come together.” Bevere told the audience that this is the time for the children of God to pray powerful prayers for people to come to know Him because this is God’s year to act. Each Christian has to realize how much the world and the Body of Christ needs them to obey the Lord and evangelize to the lost. She added that Christians need to be spiritually awake to evangelize. “People with eyes to see don’t see crowds, they see individuals.” National youth speaker and North Central graduate Reggie Dabbs compared Noah and the Ark to the church of today. Dabbs said Christians have to obey the Lord even when it seems impossible and ridiculous. Outside of his family, Noah couldn’t convince one person to go on the ark with him, but his obedience resulted in saving mankind from eternal destruction. Dabbs said obeying the Lord is better than gaining a number of people you helped bring to salvation. “Whatever God puts on your heart, do it,” he said. “Quit asking ‘why’ and just do it. How can God bless you the way He wants to when all you have is a rubber raft when He told you to build an ark?”

By JACLYN TRIEB

North Central’s Elliot Park Ministry team, a branch of the North Central Student Ministries Board, hosted the annual Halloween Outreach on Sunday evening.

According to junior intercultural studies major Sarah Kiiskila, one of the Elliot Park Ministry’s directors, about 350 people from the community attended the outreach.

Many North Central students also attended.“We invited students to come and help, but to also enjoy themselves and make

connections with our neighbors,” said Kiiskila. “I believe the Elliot Park neighborhood is the closest mission field to us. There are so many hurting children, teens, adults, and elderly who need us to befriend them with the love of Christ.”

The compassion and hard work of North Central students did not go unnoticed.“One of the student volunteers told me someone came up to them and said, ‘Thank

you so much for this; if it were not for this, my children and I would have stayed at the shelter all night,’” added Kiiskila. “There were many good comments and thanks from attendees.”

Volunteers from other Student Ministry Board teams and the North Central women’s soccer team assisted the Elliot Park Ministry team in hosting the outreach.

Offering five different games with candy prizes, an inflatable bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, and “Captain Cook’s Kitchen,” the event offered fun activities for both adults and children.

“The children loved the inflatable bounce house, and the adults were very excited about the raffle,” said Kiiskila. “We had Pirates of the Caribbean movies and candy as prizes.”

Kiiskila expressed appreciation for contributions to the outreach. “The candy drive was very successful. Everyone loved the candy! Thank you, North

Central students.”

By AMANDA DAVIS

Elliot Park Ministry Halloween Outreach

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About one year ago, North Central alumnus Perry Dissmore set out to break the record of the “most free throws made in one hour” for the Guinness Book of World Records. The previously held record was 1,663 free throws—about 28 shots per minute and one every 2.16 seconds. Breaking this record would be difficult, but the current pastor of Hartford Assembly of God in Illinois had both the skill and passion to make it happen. Dissmore developed a love for basketball when he was in second grade. He said that he “always had a great shot, but just needed more confidence.” Since he “always loved a challenge,” he practiced regularly. “We didn’t have a television, so I practiced a lot. If I didn’t have anybody to play with, I would make up games by myself,” Dissmore said. This love for the game continued as he played for junior- and high school teams, developing his talent. The basketball player recruited sponsors to support a free throw fundraiser for his church’s renovation project. Shortly after this successful fundraiser Dissmore and his wife went on a mission’s trip with Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC), a missions-focused children’s fundraising

endeavor. It was then that Dissmore accepted the challenge to attempt breaking the world record of free throws to benefit missions. He started practicing in February 2009. About six months later, on October 9, 2009, he made 1926 baskets. This shattered the old record by 263 baskets (averaging one free throw every 1.57 seconds). This new record was entered into the 2010 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. This past fall Dissmore was invited to appear on Live! With Regis and Kelly. On September 14, 2010, on national television with his wife cheering for him and his former North Central basketball coach passing him the rebounds, Dissmore broke his former record. He made 1,968 free throws—42 more baskets than before. Dissmore said through both experiences, he learned he “could not do this without teamwork. My name is in the record books, but everyone who helped me was just as important.” His new record will be confirmed and put into the 2011 edition of Guinness Book of World Records.

Hoops for MissionsBy FAITH HARSHBARGER Google Images

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“Going from good to great means to build endowments. My dream is to see every area of the school build endowments.”

Bach stressed that God spoke to him directly about starting the endowment. Out of obedience he listened to God, and now God is blessing North Central through the funds. He said he gives all the glory to the Lord.

While partners and friends of North Central attended the banquet, student body president Ian Stachowicz and vice president Katrina Schiferl were also in attendance to greet guests.

“The banquet was super neat, it was a really good time to meet people and make connections with alumni and

supporters of North Central,” said Stachowicz. “I was impressed with the level of formality and have a better sense for the bigger picture of North Central.”

“It was a great experience, I’m glad that Ian and I had the opportunity to go to it,” said Schiferl, in reference to the banquet. “It was great to hear the chorale and musicians who came out of North Central and it was a cool opportunity to meet other people who believe in North Central and are willing to support it and the work we do here.”

Stachowicz and Schiferl spoke with previous student body presidents and gathered new vision and inspiration for this year. Bill Svoboda, the 2005-2006 student body president

and creator of North Central event “The Week,” passed his original vision of The Week to Stachowicz and Schiferl.

Along with speakers and music, awards were given throughout the evening to a few honored guests.

The Distinguished Service Award was given to D.H. Mapson, a member of the North Central Administration from 1962 to 1971; Ernest Moen was recognized as the Chair for Pentecostal Preaching; and Arvid Kingsriter was recognized as the Chair for Pentecostal Worship.

To donate to the Fine Arts Endowment, visit www.northcentral.edu/donate. To learn more about the Fine Arts Endowment, please contact the Advancement office at

Partners for Progresscontinued from on pg. 2

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Graduate Bill Svoboda gets down to businessBy JOSH HARSHBARGER

North Central students slowly closing in on graduation may know all too well the stress that comes with figuring out what to do in the “real world” after college. North Central alumnus and business administration major Bill Svoboda offered insight into his journey since graduation in May 2006. He started working with his major in his own dorm room. “Back in college, between sophomore and junior years, I started an online custom T-shirt company –www.coedmonkey.com - and after graduating tried to get a ‘real job’ in marketing and advertising; but when I sat down with one big Twin Cities marketing executive he looked at my resume and saw that I owned my own company. He asked why I wanted to work for him and basically told me that I should keep doing what I was doing with T-shirts, so I did,” Svoboda explained. Svoboda shares a story about his “dorm room business”: “I remember an interesting voicemail that I got one day back in college. It was someone from Augsburg College. It went something like this: ‘Hello, Mr. Svoboda. We’d like to order about 50 Polo shirts embroidered with the Augsburg logo. I know you are very busy, so

please give me a call back at your earliest convenience. Talk to you soon!’ I was a busy man, but my busyness consisted of class, chapel, lunch, floor meetings, and homework. When I called them back, I told them that I had just gotten out of a meeting, which was probably the class that I had just gotten back from.” Since then, his company has been serving people nationwide. Other than running his own business, Svoboda leads a subgroup at Substance Church called “Taste of the Twin Cities.” It draws about 60-100 people together for fun fellowship. He is also working on his first book for small business owners called “I am the Boss,” which he hopes to publish nationally by the first quarter of next year.

After weeks of practice and preparation, the cast members of the fall production, “Into The Woods,” finally get to share what their hard work and dedication has produced. After seeing the production, I can say that the North Central student body is in for a very intriguing story.

The play opens with the narrator introducing some of the story’s main characters: Cinderella, Jack, the Baker and his Wife, the Witch and Little Red Riding Hood. Beyond these, many more classic fairytale characters debut throughout the story, including Rapunzel, Princes, Stepsisters, Giants and a hungry Wolf.

Each character has a unique background and motivation. This influences their decisions throughout the story. These desires lead them all into the woods at some point, sometimes separately and sometimes together.

As each character searches out what they are looking for, and seeks the answer to their

wishes, their lives become quickly intertwined, making for a complex story that is not a typical fairy tale. While watching this play, the audience gets to know the characters on a deeper level and understand what makes them unique.

The story is at times fun and lighthearted, and the musical numbers add to this. However, it does not shy away from themes that expose the darker sides of human nature. While audience members will not necessarily leave feeling warm and fuzzy, they will leave with the important reminder that their actions have consequences, and when people are motivated by selfish desires, they will quickly lose sight of the things that truly matter.

This production was well done. I applaud the cast members and the technical crew for all of their hard work and talent. The play continues in the small chapel Nov. 18-21, and I would highly recommend that you go see it if you haven’t already.

A Review of the “Woods”By FAITH HARSHBARGER MARY BETH OAKES

COEDMONKEY.COM

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Lifestyle

Married students suffer judgmentBy CONNIE ZIMMERMAN

“Being married at North Central is almost like having the plague,” stated senior psychology major Tiffany Waskey. She and her husband Jacob Waskey, senior English major, were married this past summer on May 22, 2010. Waskey explains an issue she runs into often as a married woman: “All of your friends who aren’t married think you’ve innately changed and single people you meet for the first time think you’re too different to be friends.” One common judgment Waskey’s encountered at North Central is that people believe she rushed into her marriage. “People tend to think that you rushed into getting married here at North Central. This is very frustrating since I know that I got married for the right reasons.” Waskey and her husband did meet at North Central. They dated for three years before their engagement. Once engaged, the planning began for their wedding several months away. The biggest thing Waskey has learned in her marriage is that “It is the best thing in the world and the most difficult. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” She shares another lesson learned from marriage: “Living together is not like dating or being engaged. It takes a lot of giving….” When asked if she had any advice for dating couples at North Central, she offered this piece: “For the love of all that is good, get off campus to make out. Don’t do it in the atrium; that will haunt you because no matter what you think, someone is watching you. Consider this: maybe you’ll date and get married, but maybe you won’t, so think about what you are doing with your head and not your fantasies. “

Student Senate plans for positive impactBy REBEKAH JACOBSON

The voice of the student body is important at colleges and universities. Without it, the campus environment would lack life and color. At North Central, six individuals in Senate lead the way to improve the quality of living for its students. They attend meetings, work office hours and discuss current issues with faculty. Through this dedication of time and service, changes are made on campus. “We put together improvements around campus and formulate those into projects we can move up the food chain to higher branches of the school,” said Carlson Hall senator and sophomore youth development major Aaron

Biddinger. “Then we take the necessary steps to make [those projects] into

something tangible on campus.” Senate continuously works

on several projects, but they are dispersed to each member by residence hall. Some of the current tasks

senators are tackling include: changing the

piercing policy, creating reserved overnight parking spaces for Zimmerman House residents and providing more fans and tinted screens for the remaining rooms in Carlson Hall. “Everything that we work on is what students want,” said Phillipps Hall senator and sophomore youth development major PeggySue Imihy. “We

either find a solution or we have to explain to [the student] why we can’t do anything about [the issue]. Everyone’s suggestion is valid and we always try to work on whatever we’re given.” Because senators take each project they are handed seriously, they are always 100 percent committed to its completion. However, many students are unaware of the role their senators play. Senate is an organization still emerging from its shadow, but the members are pushing for more notoriety through open houses and floor meetings. “We’re working on getting Senate more well-known,” said Miller Hall senator and junior youth ministries major Caitlyn King. “I definitely feel like we need to thrust ourselves out there, and once that happens we’ll be able to do more for the student body.” Senate is working hard to make a positive difference at North Central. Its goal is to shape a modern environment relevant to the students. Through hours of commitment each week, every senator has been impacted in some way. “[Senate] has helped me learn how to connect the student body with the school better and see both sides of the story,” said Carlson Hall senator and freshman music business major Seth Cunningham. “I’ve also learned you can build off of others’ strengths and weaknesses, no matter what kind of leadership. I’ve seen not only what I needed to improve as a senator, but as a man of God as well.”

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food or tradition?

“My mom’s homemade brownie pecan pie It’s as good as it sounds- maybe

even better.”

Levi KooistraSenior

Pastoral Ministries

“My favorite food is cranberry sauce. My mom gives me a whole can of it cause I don’t

like turkey- it makes me sleepy. Too much tryptophan in it.”

Molly PlautzSophomore

Elementary Education

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition would be watching the Macy’s Day Parade. My

favorite food is mashed potatoes.”

Joel NelsonJunior

Business

“When my sister and I were in sixth grade, we made these turkey napkin

holders. My favorite tradition is that we use those.”

Kristin MindemanSophomoreEvangelism

“I like to stuff the turkey. My favorite thanksgiving food would be the turkey

stuffing that I stuffed.”

Taylor MolendaSeniorMath

MARY BETH OAKS

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OpinionRead more opinion stories online by logging on to www.NCUnortherner.com.

As the colorful leaves fall to the ground and the cold begins to creep up the sleeves of our coats it only means that it’s that time of the year again: Thanksgiving. Mom makes a trip to the local convenience store and overloads her shopping cart with the traditional roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and yams. As Thursday afternoon approaches, driveways either become full or empty and the aroma of pumpkin pie drones the air while the grandchildren argue over who gets to crack the wishbone. Once mealtime arrives, families crowd the kitchen and fill their plates with mountains of food—it’s obvious that their eyes are bigger than their stomachs. An hour or so passes by, and then the moms, aunts and grandmas begin the dishwashing process while their husbands watch NFL football on the big screen TV and the children scramble outside to play. The day is complete by the time Eli Manning completes his final touchdown against the Broncos. Thanksgiving is a time when families can reunite and share memories together. Long-distance family members catch up with each other across the dinner table, and board games suddenly become a popular source of entertainment. But rarely do we sit down and think about what Thanksgiving really is about. It’s more than just a holiday; it’s a time to encourage

one another and share what we’re thankful for. This can easily be overlooked by the media thrown on TV, and the stress involved with bringing a family together. But if we just took 10 minutes out of our busy schedule to talk seriously about everything that God has given us, the true purpose of Thanksgiving would be fulfilled. Just three years ago, my parents started a new tradition during Thanksgiving. Before saying “grace” at the dinner table, we go around and list five things we’re thankful for. This could be anything from my stepdad’s excitement for the recent Dallas Cowboys’ win over the Minnesota Vikings, my younger sister’s love for Hershey chocolate bars, or my grandma’s thankfulness for my grandpa after 60 years of marriage. Whatever it may be, it’s important to dedicate time to

focus on everything God has

given us. This Thanksgiving take time to think about everything God has given you. Think about how fortunate and blessed you are compared to others in the world. Then maybe if you do this, you’ll become humbled and discover the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

The Turkey TraditionBy REBEKAH JACOBSON

Go to any campus across the country and you’ll find political views ranging from the apathetic and uninformed to the passionately over-involved. North Central is no exception. Of the many students I spoke with on the issue however, most agreed that it is our duty, not only as citizens, but as Christians, to be involved and informed to some degree. Jeff Whiston, a freshman children’s ministries major, says, “…God places us under the authority of government, but in the system we have set up, we put ourselves over them and we should take advantage of that.” Other students take a much more withdrawn approach. Let’s be honest, being informed takes time and effort, which we as college students don’t always have to spare. For some, the idea of being involved in politics is nice, but unrealistic. Kayla O’Brien, a junior ASL Interpreting major, says, “I just don’t have time to be as informed as I’d like to be.” Still others are disenchanted with the system as a whole. With all the fighting and bickering going on between the two major parties, it seems hopeless that our small voices could actually make a difference. What are we to do then? The first step is being aware. Know what is going on around you. Even if this means just stopping in Carlson Lobby for a few minutes to watch the news after lunch, it’s a small step on the way to becoming more

informed. Check out some of the news articles on Yahoo or CNN.com, or pick up a newspaper and read an article or two as a break between homework

assignments. It’s also important that you do some of your own digging. News sources are biased. This is a fact that we have to deal with. Get your information from

multiple sources and if it is an issue that you find important, do some web research on the topic to find out more about it.

Once you have an idea of current events and what’s going on in politics, start a discussion about it with

someone. Not everyone will agree with your side but that’s because there are different viewpoints to take

into account. Someone else may have more facts about a topic that you were unaware of. Healthy discussion and

debate are both good things. This doesn’t mean resorting to name-calling or base accusations, but

rather really listening to what someone has to say and understanding why they believe what they do.

We have a wonderful privilege of living in a time where getting involved in politics is easier than ever. With all

the social media’s attention placed on politics, you can hardly open up the Internet without being bombarded with it. Take advantage of this. Being informed in what is happening in the world is beneficial and will help make a difference.

By DEBORAH HOPKINS

NCU plus politics

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Opinion

Though politics are very important, it is also my least favorite thing to discuss with people. I can honestly say I have never seen anything positive come out of people discussing politics. Every time I have heard people discussing politics, at least one person ends up hurt, upset, or confused. Another thing that makes me really frustrated is when people do not fully understand what they believe or why the believe it, but yet continue to speak out about it. Though this does not only happen with politics, it is when I notice it most. I think many people tend to stick to the beliefs of the people who influence them- family, friends, teachers, etc. Sometimes we assume the beliefs of these people as our own without evaluating whether or not we truly agree with it. We tend to stay in our comfort zone, assuming it is better than the other options out there, even if we have

not looked at what the other options are. I think it is important for us to figure out what we personally believe. However, that being said, another reason I do not like discussing politics is simply because

I do not understand a lot of what is out there. So, I am just as guilty as the next person when

it comes to knowing what I believe. I know there are general things I believe, and

things I do not believe, but I also know it is important for me to learn more about

politics as I grow up. I do not mean to say politics

are not important. I just think it is really important for each person

to know what they believe, and why they believe what they do before they get too involved with discussing

politics. However, that being said, I still do not

like to discuss politics. Does the word

“politics” sound exciting? I think not.

By AMANDA DAVIS

Not my cup of tea

In the Old Testament, the Bible is very clear about the laws the Israelites needed to adhere by and the political philosophy which the government is supposed to be built upon. However, the New Testament moves on from the theocracy that God created in the Old Testament and changes the focus of salvation less from national identity and more towards individual conviction. This change of focus leaves a void in religious governmental structure and a relative freedom in regards to forms of government.

Because of multiple trials and ultimately failures of government in history, our country uses a form of democracy, a valid and free form of government which, at its best, adheres to the wishes of the majority of the people. This form of government leaves room for multiple philosophies which serve as the foundations to the way a nation functions.

The basest philosophy of Social Conservatism is that the government has two purposes in society: to protect its citizens and to provide infrastructure for society. Beyond that, personal conviction, social establishments, and the free market are the governing factors in society.

In other words, the government should provide a police force and a military to protect its people from inside and outside threats; and roads, dams, bridges, etc. for infrastructure. These types of services are essential to a properly working economy and government and provide multiple positive externalities (benefits that affect everyone.)

This list of services and programs is a far cry from what the United States government is currently doing for its citizens. One would think that a nation could not survive on this small of a government. What about welfare? Don’t we need the Federal Drug Administration? Can a person even retire without Social Security? Does Social Conservatism simply ignore the needs that those programs address? Yes and no. Social Conservatism affirms that hunger, drug safety, and geriatric needs do exist and that those needs do need to be met. However, Social Conservatism denies that the government can address those needs best and instead offers the solution of individual choice and the free market as more efficient and quicker acting competitors.

New Ideas

Lately, people have been on my mind. Not a person or a group of people, but people in general—peo-ples’ personalities, interests, cultural background, family dynamics and so on. The thought of how unique we are as in-dividuals has become so apparent to me these last couple of weeks. Each day, I focus on the different people I interact with and try to understand each individual for who they are. For example, consider each individual: my roommate, mentor, and professor. Each one has a specific role they fill and vary in their relationship to me. During my time with each of them, I constantly think of how much I can learn from them. The experiences they have encountered all differ and they are all in various stages of life. Each time I interact

with them individually, I try to view my time with them as an opportunity to learn, to be

enriched. I honestly feel privileged to

develop relationships with each of them, because I know God has

a plan for my life and is using these relationships to develop me for my future

in ministry. But it can be tough to navigate through college without a precise plan. Last spring I found myself uncertain with my major. I was finishing my third year as a music major and only had seven credits left to finish my program. I began to seek the Lord through that uncertainty, and allowed myself to be more receptive to God’s will.

Near the end of the semester, God revealed to me that my major was going to change from music to pastoral studies. Immediately, I thought, “how can this be, I’m almost done?” I asked God for some confirmation because I needed—or perhaps wanted—to be certain. He clearly confirmed it and I fully believe in the new direction my life will be heading toward. Even though it was a difficult decision, I know that being obedient to God is more important than the number of years I will be in school. I truly believe God strategically places people in our lives, and with those relationships we have the ability to grow and develop our relationship with God. I am confident in those relationships, because they are playing a vital role in my pursuit of my calling. My thought for you is this: how valuable are your rela-tionships, and how much do they further your intimacy with God?

By RUBEN PRIETO • editor-in-chief

Life with people

By MITCHELL CHAMBERLIN

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Opinion

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North Central’s Student Newspaper Since 1960910 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

E-mail:reuben.prieto@mail.northcentral.eduAdvisor phone: (612)-343-4727

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RUBEN PRIETO

DARRELL DAVIS

BRITTANY BRAZIL

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AIMEE CORNELIUS

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DALE HOUGHTON

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MARY BETH OAKS

BRIANNA ARNESON

DEBORAH HOPKINS

CASSIE KICKERT

JACLYN TRIEB

STEPHEN KRIST

FAITH HARSHBARGER

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REUBEN DAVID

TODD WOLD

Quirky. Strange. Exotic. Disco. Schlocky. Hole-in-the-wall.

These are words that will enter the mind as one steps into the interesting hideaway located a mere block from the North Central campus—East Village Grill. Or at least the exact words that entered my mind as I entered this quaint

site.

Strong words. Fighting words.

There is a reason that these words jump into my mind--the decoration of the venue alone is enough to reason that something exploded in the style department. Picture this scenario--perhaps you really love grape soda, turkey dinner, chocolate cake, French fries, mushrooms, apples, milkshakes, and goulash. One day you decide to put all of your favorite things into a blender (what a great idea--all of your favorite things together in one spot) and drink the resulting mush. Not the best idea you ever had.

When you enter East Village Grill there is a disco ball hanging from the ceiling, a water feature on your immediate right, a partition to separate women from men (if that’s your religion--it shouldn’t be a problem for North Central students), a countrified wallpaper border that lines the room, a vibrant red zigzag wall feature, and an anchor that might once have been a clock but instead is home to a really random patriotic picture.

Good thing we don’t judge books by their covers. Cough.

Whether you wait to be seated or blindly walk in and seat yourself, just know that the staff will quietly and unassumingly wait on you. Not that this is a bad thing--just be sure to speak up if you want something. Also, on a side note, if you want salt bring your own shaker.

The biggest thing to remember when embarking on this little adventure is to be prepared to be surprised. Despite all of its festivity and ridiculous decorations, despite its very quiet wait staff, and despite the fact that you will be forced to experience another culture, the food is delicious.

Their gyros are amazing and they offer fries as a side (for those who are feeling less adventurous) and they also have a delicious rice side. Each meal also gets a precursor appetizer of soup at no extra charge. Just make sure you ask for it! This is the key--ask for things!

So really it all boils down to whether you feel like immersing yourself in an entirely different eating experience or walking further to go to Chipotle. On a scale of one to magical leprechauns I’d give this about a six.

By MO HENKELMAN

East Village Grill Thrill

If you haven’t heard all the buzz about Juan Williams, of National Public Radio (NPR), getting fired because of his feelings being said on Fox News, then you’re missing out.

Let me give you a quick run down of what happened. Basically, Williams went on Fox News’ Bill O’Riely and got into a heated debate. As most of O’Riely’s guests do. Williams ended up saying that he would still feel uncomfortable if he was on a plane and saw a Muslim on the plane. Soon after NPR fired him. NPR is supposed to be a “fair” news source. They stated it was opinions being thrown out there.

However, Juan Williams had been a guest on Fox News many a times. He has definitely said some pretty liberal statements, and not once a threat or warning of being fired. But once he deviates from NPR’s political correctness, he gets fired. Ridiculous? Definitely.

Let’s not forget to mention how Williams was fired. The CEO called him up and fired him over the phone. It’s not like he at least deserved the decency of it being in person. Then the CEO says over an interview a week later that Williams needs a “psychiatrist” because of the way he feels about post 9-11. Are we so sensitive that we can’t even say how we feel? Just so all of you know, feelings are NOT opinions.

America is supposed to stand on Freedom of Speech. Yet something like this happens? Where does it stop now? Are we never going to be allowed to say how we feel about certain, real, issues still going on?

This may not concern you as much as it does me, however, just think about it. When does this stop? When will it not be okay for all of us not to share our feelings? Just a food for thought.

Free Speech By AIMEE CORNELIUS

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Sports

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Read more sports stories online by logging on to www.NCUnortherner.com.

The North Central volleyball season is wrapping up and Regionals are just around the corner. The team started the season with a full batch of freshmen and just three return-ing players. Another addition to the team this year is new assistant Coach Alaina Klein. Klein’s spunk and ambition compli-ment third year Head Coach Ryan Schlangen’s vision for the team. The season’s games and practices quickly brought them together as a tight-knit team, thanks largely to the return-ing captains, senior psychology major Lindsay Larson, ju-nior ICS major Danielle Anderson and junior English major

Andrea Grandstrand. “I also see (sophomore worship leading major) Mariah Simonson as a leader in her skill level,” said Grandstrand.Grandstand was also impressed with the team’s persever-ance. “I have been encouraged by the work ethic of this year’s team, especially with the challenging game schedule we have endured,” said Grandstrand. Ankeny, Iowa hosted the NCCAA Regionals this year on Oct. 29 & 30. On Friday, the Rams played the home team, the Faith Eagles, and the game went back and forth all five sets. North Central pulled out a tough win, giving them-

selves a competitive edge against their next opponent, Canadian Providence Freemen. The tough fight yielded a loss, however, and the team ended the day with a record of 1-1. Saturday brought a new day and a win against the Faith Eagles once again, making the record 2-1. The girls couldn’t pull out a win against two time National contend-ers, Providence Freemen. North Central took second place in the region, with awards for the All Regional Team going to Lindsay Larson and Mariah Simonson, and Coach of the Year going to Ryan Schlangen.

Volleyball RecapBy Kyle Morgan

This year’s cross country team is the fastest in North Central History, a fact that Head coach Trey Meadows shared with a sense of pride. North Central cross country has performed well in all their meets this season. The last update on the Runnin’ Rams was before one of their biggest meets of the year, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championship. For the past several years, North Central has fared well at the UMAC Championship and this year the teams did not disappoint. Going into the UMAC run, Coach Meadow’s expectations were that “the teams will run hard, and compete well.” Run hard and compete well is exactly what the Runnin’ Rams did at the UMAC Championships. The women’s team ran right into third place. North Central placed with three runners in the top ten. Senior intercultural studies major Catherine Mead placed highest for the Rams in fourth place. Sophomore elementary education major, Michelle Hubbell ran in right behind her for a fifth place finish. Freshmen urban studies major, Kara Montanez finished in eighth place. All of these women were named to the UMAC All-Conference team. The men’s team also placed third at the UMAC Championships. One of the men placed in the top ten—senior business major David Calhoun, in seventh place. Freshmen worship leading major, Josiah Miller ran in for an 11th place finish with Junior youth ministries

major, Jeff Winkelman finishing on Miller’s heels for a 12th place overall finish, giving North Central the necessary points to finish in third. With the UMAC Championships finished, the Runnin’ Rams have been focused on training for the National Christian College Athletic Association Nationals which were held this past weekend in Cedarville, Ohio. All their hard work paid off at NCCAA Nationals where the men and women’s teams both took first place. All seven of the women who ran placed in the top ten. While five of the seven runners for the men placed in the top ten. Mead was the overall winner of the women’s race, with Hubbell about 40 seconds behind her. Montanez was not far behind coming in at fourth place. The women rams went on to take sixth, seventh, ninth, and tenth place. All of the women ran within four minutes of each other. For the men, Winkelman running hard to place first for the men, beating Calhoun in second place by a mere nine seconds. The men also took third place with Miller right behind Calhoun. The top three were all seconds apart. The Runnin’ Rams are now done for the season, but have once again brought back the coveted National’s Banner. Now we look towards the future of this great team at North Central.

Cross Country Amazes AgainBy Connie Zimmerman

NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

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Sports

At the beginning of August this year, the North Central men and women’s tennis program received a new head coach, Jessica Tonder. She returned to North Central’s athletics department as head coach this year following her season as assistant coach under Brian Pingel last spring.

Tonder loves the sport of tennis for many reasons, such as its aspect of individuality combined with its intense team collectivity. What was

surprising to her, however, was her immediate love for coaching. “Being able to coach has been so much more rewarding than

I ever would have guessed. I credit all of this to my team though,” said Tonder. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share this experience with. This is definitely a learning process for me as well, and they have been very patient with me.” Tonder is also very enthusiastic about the growth of the North Central tennis program as a whole. “This is our third season as an official team at North Central,” explained Tonder. “Because tennis is a relatively new program here, I feel that each year will bring more interest from prospective players.“ “We have players with quite a bit more experience, so we are really expecting to compete and surprise a lot of

our competition,” said junior youth ministry major and men’s tennis captain Josiah Tonder. “We want to

make it a competitive program that draws players to us in the future as well.” The teams plan to begin practicing early February and have its first match in March. It is clear that there is a new excitement in the tennis program with Coach Tonder’s love for the game at the helm.

New face to North Central TennisBy Stephen Krist

The name Jake Smith is quite common around this campus. Most often it is in reference to our Dean of Residence Life or in reference to the professor of Leadership Development I. However, the same Jake Smith is also the Head coach of both North Central’s Men and Women’s soccer teams. Smith has been the Head coach of the women’s team since fall 2006, and two years later took over the men’s team as well. Since 2006 when Smith took over, the teams have grown and competed better each year. Under Smiths coaching, the women’s team has won the National Christian College Athletic Association Regional tournament the past three years. With regional tournament win, Smith has been named the NCCAA Coach of the Year as well. This year Smith led the Women’s team to a fifth place finish at the NCCAA National tournament in Kissimmee, FL.

Coach Profile: Jake SmithBy Connie Zimmerman

NCURAMS.COM

NCURAMS.COM

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Sports

LIFE GIVINGPOSITIVECHURCH CULTURE

WHAT YOU’LL FIND AT RIVER VALLEY CHURCH IS A

WHERE PEOPLE WORSHIP GOD, CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FIND PURPOSE IN LIFE. YOU’LL ALSO FIND A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. JOIN US!

For maps, service times, weekly events and moreinformation, check out our website or Facebook page.

www.rivervalleychurch.org username: rivervalleychurch

CAMPUS LOCATIONSApple Valley | Faribault | Minnetrista | Savage

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Minnetrista

The college basketball season got off to its official start at North Central on Oct. 15 with Midnight Madness, a late night event where the men’s and women’s teams participated in their first practices. This will be the first time that both teams enter the season as NCAA Division III programs. Coaches Jon High (men) and Matt Callahan (women) each discussed their goals for their teams. “Obviously we want to win as many games as possible, and now that we’re D3 this year we want to compete well

against other D3 schools,” said coach High. “Our goal is to continue the foundation laid by last year’s team to become a solid NCAA D3 basketball program and to represent ourselves, NCU, and our Savior to the utmost of our ability,” commented coach Matt Callahan. Both teams are young this year. The men have four returning players while the women have only two. When asked about how this might affect the men, Coach High responded, “I think we’ll be somewhat at a disadvantage because of experience, but we have good

talent in the new freshman. They should be able to contribute right away.” Coach Callahan expressed similar optimism for the women. “They are playing together extremely well for it being their first year together. They are unselfish, and our focus is about serving each other and making each other better on a daily basis.” Students can support the Rams on Nov. 16 as both teams host University of Minnesota-Morris to kick off the season.

Midnight Madness Kicks off Basketball SeasonBy Josh Harshbarger

MARY BETH OAKS