The NCU Northerner Mar. 2011

8/3/2019 The NCU Northerner Mar. 2011

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news lifestyle opinion sportsThe latest news and information,

as well as feature stories by NCUjournalists and writers

The dynamic NCU student

community engages the cultureand entertainment of the Cities

Columnists share points of view

on todays issues from within theNCU community and beyond

The latest on NCU Ram sports,

from the coaches, teams andathletes competing

M a r c h 2 4 , 2 0 1 1 N O R T H C E N T R A L U N I V E R S I T Y M I N N E A P O L I S , M N


2/12

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News

Actors practice their table manners during a rehearsal of the upcoming North Central production of Our Town

The award winning production of Our Town will make

its debut at North Central on Friday, March 25. ThisPulitzer Prize winning play was written by Thornton

Wilder and rst produced in 1938. It won eight Emmynominations for its 1970s television version.

This story contains three acts that are meant to helpviewers take a fresh look at living and the precious

time they have been given to do it. The setting is in a

small New Hampshire town called Grovers Corners,where the story focuses on the lives and families oftwo characters. Sophomore theatre major Hayden

Loven acts as George Gibbs and the character EmilyWebb is played by freshman theatre major HannahJohnston. Twenty three other cast members, including

extras, accompany Loven and Johnston in this produc-

tion.

I love this play because it depicts life in a away I

would have never imagined, said Loven. The cast is

wonderful and the director and crew are amazing. This

play displays love, hate, fear, perseverance, pain, hap-

piness, and a plethora of other emotions, which are

commonly found in our everyday lives. Acting in thisplay, I have made so many friends, all of whom I love

working with.

Through experiences in youth, adulthood and nally

death, the story takes a deeper look at some of lifes

important issues about time, people, and the thingswhich are eternal. It poses the question: what lasts andwhat doesnt?

One of the chief moral lessons of the play comes to-

ward the end, mentioned by the following quote:

There are some things that we all know but we donttake them out and look at them very often. We all

know that something is eternal, and it aint housesand it aint names, and it aint earth, and it aint even

the starseverybody knows in their bones that

something is eternal and that something is human

beings.

Wayne Matthews is the director of this production andis assisted by sophomore theatre major Rebek ah Word.

The spring production will take place in the chapel onthe weekends of March 25-27 and April 1-3. The Friday

and Saturday productions begin at 7:30 p.m. and the

Sunday productions are at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are available through the ne ar ts department

and are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children12 years of age or younger. North Central students,sta, and faculty need only pay $8. Group tickets are

also available at $10 for each member of a group of 10or more.

Matthews suggests that the play will be most enjoyed

by ages 12 and up.

By JESSICA WARDOur Town

MARY BETH OAKS


3/12

News

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Coming soon on April 12-14, North Central will host its

annual three-day relationship seminar.

In years past, the seminar has primarily focused ondating relationships and friendships, but this year it will

turn to loving fellow Christians. This focus came out ofa sermon series on 1 John by Kenny Stokes, pastor at

Bethlehem Baptist Church, who will speak in chapel onTuesday and Wednesday during the seminar.

The relationship seminar planning committee isdirected by Dean of Community Life Jolene Erlacher and

includes various sta and faculty members, as well asstudent representatives.

In preparation for the seminar, the committee discussedthat Christians get into habits of extending an

abundance of grace and love toward non-Christians, but

have a hard time doing so for those within the church.

Beth Nelson, senior youth ministries major, is a student

representative in the planning committee and hasexperienced four relationship seminars.

Since being a part of the committee, I have the

opportunity to share my views as a student [about]what students need and want from a week like this, saidNelson.

On Thursday, April 14, the seminar committee will lead

the chapel service.

Beyond special chapel services, many activities will

happen over the course of these three days, includinglunches with Stokes and an art show. There will also be

an opportunity for students to sign up for dinner at a

sta members home on Thursday night.

The art show will be held Tuesday evening, April 12,

from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Those wanting to submit videosand digital photos for the gallery can do so on The

Northerners website, ncunortherner.com, as well as inthe student life oce.

In addition, Nelson mentioned there will be acommunity blog run through The Northerners website.

This blog will give students a chance to anonymouslypost stories about the love and grace they have not

received from the Christians on our campus.

The purpose of this blog will be to shed light on the

truth of what students have experienced at NorthCentral, and it will be discussed in chapel on Friday,

April 14.

By KAYLA GRELL

Love within the four walls

On March 24-25, the North Central campus will swarm withprospective students during College Days.

This annual event gives high school students the opportunity

to visit and tour the campus, and allows them to meet otherpotential and current students and faculty.

This year, North Central will provide the prospective studentswith a chance to experience a chapel service with One Accord

and Je Kennedy. There will also be an evening service withJe Deyo and Eric Samuel Timm.

Visitors may also enjoy a concert with Nicole Serrano, a latenight showing of the movie Imposter, and a dodge ball

tournament. This tournament is a staple of College Days.

Informational sessions about North Central, including nancialaid advice and other pertinent topics, will also be available.

The visiting students will come from all over the country to

experience North Centrals college life by staying in the dormsand eating in the cafeteria. Students interested in studying inthe ne arts department will also have the chance to audition

for a music scholarship during their visit.

North Central students may interact with potential students byinvolving themselves in dierent events and allowing visitors

the chance to spend a night in their dorm.

College Days is a time for prospective students to meet their

possible futures.

By DAVID RISDALL

College Days

northcentral.edu

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4/12

News

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Dr. Richard Shaka recently announced that thisspring semester is his last at North Central after

teaching in the Bible and theology department for14 years.

He came to North Central in Aug. 1996, makingthis his rst full-time job in the U.S. after receiving

his doctoral degree in Sierra Leone. His wife,Farella Shaka, professor in the arts and sciences

department, came in 1998.

Dr. Shaka taught several courses during his time atNorth Central, including hermeneutics, systematic

theology I, II, III, and IV, New Testament theology,contemporary theology, and cross-culturalpreaching and theology. He has also led many

students on mission trips to South Africa, England,Uganda, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone.

I love my discipline, said Shaka. God gave me the

right job at the right place.

Approximately 3,500 students have been impacted

by his teaching, at about 250 students per year for14 years. He has always thanked God for his time

spent at North Central and the chance to share hislife and testimony with the students.

I thank God for the opportunity to better their livesby instilling in them spirituality and theological

knowledge that God has given me, said Dr. Shaka. Irealize the longer I stay at North Central the funnier

I am becoming.

In 2006 Dr. Shaka created a non-prot organizationcalled No Greater Love International. No GreaterLove International places its focus on building

orphanages and youth centers, church planting,and evangelizing across African nations wherever

there is a need for pastoral training.

Im going to be traveling quite a bit from place toplace, including Sierra Leone and America. In thenext ve years I really want to go about building

ten churches, said Dr. Shaka.

The students, faculty, and sta at North Central willmiss Dr. Shaka. His humor and love for God will be

remembered.

Students can be assured Dr. Shaka will keep praying

for them, and he asks that they pray for his health.

I want students, faculty, and sta to know that Iam going to miss them. I will always miss North

Central, said Dr. Shaka.

By JACLYN TRIEB

North Central loses

its Coconut (Dr. Shaka)On February 14, North Central announced that theCarlstrom deaf studies program will be dropped

following the Spring 2012 semester. While NorthCentral appreciates and recognizes the deaf

community, there are pressing nancial needs thatneed to be addressed as well.

Academic Dean Thomas Burkman addresses the issue:

All of the bigger programs have sustained [the

Carlstrom deaf studies] for years. How long can youkeep that up in expense of other programs?

The news has made a lasting impact around the school,beginning with a student led silent protest in chapel onthe day Dr. George Wood, general superintendent of

the Assemblies of God, visited North Central. Multiplepetitions have also been created to try and resurrect

the program from being dropped.

I thought the timing [of the protest] was just right. Itshowed George Wood how united our campus is and

how our deaf students arent alone, said sophomoreAmerican Sign Language major Melissa Genca.

When asked about the lack of time the interpretingprogram was given, Burkman said,

Its never been about previous numbers, but lookingto the future. We felt that there was growth for anumber of years, but it never materialized.

If we had 30-40 students, we wouldnt be having this

discussion, but were talking about ve, said PresidentGordon Anderson.

Anderson called the loss of the program an awfultragedy, and recognized the value of having a deafcommunity on campus.

This is not the rst time Anderson has dealt with

phasing out a major.

Urban ministries was not producing, said Anderson.We looked at phasing [urban ministries] out, butended up merging them with evangelism. This is not

ideal.

We had to take risks, said JoAnn Smith, department

chair for deaf culture. We talked to the deaf studentsfor about a year about the move.

Although the program will be phased out over the next

year, with the nal deaf-only courses being oered theSpring semester of 2012, the students have not lost

faith in their future.

God is faithful and He is watching over our CDSstudents and has a plan for them and the deafcommunity, said Genca.

By JACOB VON ARX

The exodus of

DCF Program

MARY BETH OAKS


5/12

LifestyleRead more lifestyle stories online

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The jobs are out there. Students just have to look

hard. Jobs can be found all over the city and NorthCentral students can nd employment opportunities

on campus, too. Payment would only be a few stepsfrom the dormitories.

Some, like Hope Sevlie, junior business administrationmajor, would rather work o campus. Sevlie is a sales

associate for T-Mobile. She sells phones, sets up plans,and does customer service as well.

I work ve days a week, and the best times to work,Ive found, are weekdays from 4:00p.m.9:00 p.m. and

anytime on the weekends, she said.

Senior youth ministries major Sean Masopust prefersto work late afternoons.

That way youre done and back at or around dinnertime, he said.

Since Masopust is a part-time teacher at a daycare

center and an intern at his church, he is also busy on

Sundays.Jason Hodges, senior youth ministries major, alsoworks part time at his church.

I work with the youth group program as well aspreach to the youth. Some nights I help out with

worship, too, said Hodges.

He has found from experience that noon to six in theevening is the best time for him to work, so he cansleep in and still have a night life.

Junior psychology major Ian McGuire needs onlyto travel down the hall for his employment at NorthCentral cafeteria.

I like working Saturday mornings because then youare free the rest of the day, said McGuire.

Rachel Lojovich, senior youth development studies

major, shares her thoughts on working while in school.

Not only does a job give you money if you need topay bills, but you also learn about responsibility, anda little bit of how its going to be once you graduate,

she said.

Having a job before entering the big world willbe a great experience for students preparing for

graduation.

Developing good work habits now will only benet

you for your career in the future. The little disciplinesyou learn now will carry on through the rest of your

life, Lojovich said.

Students desire hireBy Curtis Ward

Websters Dictionary denes alumnus as a person

who has attended or graduated from a particularschool, college, or university. North Central considersits alumni the very same, yet is considering a revision

of the term to include only those who have graduated.

With future projects such as renovating dorm roomsin Carlson Hall and Miller Hall, North Central is hopingits alumni will help fund these projects. Five thousand

dollars given by each graduating class is a step forwardwith renovations.

North Central gave me a strong education, a great

spiritual foundation, and provided me with solidpersonal leadership growth and development. I wouldbe more than willing to invest in a place that continues

to do those things for others, said Anna Hoyt, a 2010North Central graduate.

Another curiosity is whether new graduates would

be nancially secure enough to give back to the

university.

Currently I am broke so giving back is hard to do, but

when you look back and realize all that you gainedfrom being at [North Central] you cant help but want

to [give], said AJ Radford of the 2010 North Centralgraduating class.

Text donations may provide an easy way for alumnito donate. With each text sent to a specic number,

a standard amount (usually around $10) is given. Thedonation is then billed to the donors cell phone bill.

Freitag mentioned that text donations are a simpleway to connect nancially with North Central.

You cant buy character and that is one thing [North

Central] gave me, so the least I can do is give back inwhatever way I can, said Radford.

Alumni lives impacted by NCU experiencesBy Bailey Schott

Joshua Olson

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6/12

Lifestyle

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North Central, like any university, educates both in-state andout-of-state students. Both have their upsides and downsides,

as related by current students from various residence halls,classes, and majors.

I love having my laundry done for free! Its nice to go home,

chillax, and go to my home church then drive right on back toschool the next day, said Hayden Loven, sophomore theatremajor.

The words free money will turn nearly every head within

earshot, which is why universities oer it to in-state students.North Central is able to give native Minnesota residents extra

nancial aid. Elsa Aos, senior social work major, loves thatMinnesota oers nancial support, like loans and grants, toin-state students.

Some students, like Alex Geselle, junior elementary education

major, nd that being close to home is a comfort.

Going to school only two hours from home, I can pretty muchhead home whenever I want. I dont really have to deal withthe emotions of living a great distance away from my family,

said Geselle.

A big dierence between in- and out-of-state students is thelatter have a better grasp on both the pros and cons of living

away from home. Mitch Chamberlin, senior business majorfrom Wisconsin, believes that living out of state has taughthim how to be a better long-distance family member.

Since I dont have the convenience of being able to leave

school for a night and spend the night with my parents, I haveto be intentional about calling them and keeping them aware

of whats going on in my life, said Chamberlin.

Rachel Brown, senior drug and alcohol counseling major from

Illinois, thinks one positive aspect of living out of state whileattending college is that it really helps her establish a solid

sense of independence, more than if she was to live at home.

Some cons of living out-of-state are having to pay for laundry[and] not having regular access to a homemade meal, as wellas travel expenses and complications if you want to go home

for even a weekend, said Brown.

David Kamp, sophomore sports management major fromMichigan, shared his opinion about independence and family.

The opportunity to mature is somewhat forced upon you.

There are new friends to make and dierent cultures toexperience while living downtown. A major con with livingaway from home is you miss things in your familys life that

cant be re-experienced, as well as a general lack of family andpre-college friends, he said.

The immediate dierence between in-state and out-of-statestudents is that the former dont seem to understand the

con side of out-of-state living since they live in Minnesota.Life in their home state is all they know, with all they need

surrounding them. Every out-of-state student has leftsomething behind.

In-state, out-of-state ascoBy Kyle Morgan

How much time do you spend on Facebook?

The popular networking site has becomemore than just a trend, but a place to make

connections and to communicate with peoplefrom the past or recently added friends.

Accomplishing simple fteen-minute task for

Zach Mueller, Junior Youth Ministry major canend up taking longer because facebook can

become a distraction.

There are times when being on facebook can

completely shake up my priorities when itcomes to completing homework, said Mueller.

Although Facebook takes up Muellers time, hehas seen a positive outcome of being able to

branch out more in making connections withpeople and keeping in contact with people that

he does not have the luxury to talk to as much.Speaking from experience, he has dealt with

miscommunication issues from dierent postson walls that have caused people to jump toconclusions, which in the end it has changed his

view on how he feels about people.

It is hard to explain things over facebook chat,real life interaction is so much more personal

because you get to see their personality and notjust an icon of their picture, said Mueller.

Teya Burgau, freshman undeclared major, willnot add a friend on facebook if she has never

talked to them in person.

I like to see what is going on with my friendsand family. I will admit, I do creep on people,

said Burgau.

When it comes to being comfortable withtalking to people, Burgau thinks that a

vast majority of people would rather talkto people over facebook than face-to-face

communication.

It is easy to type something to someone, but it

probably means a lot more if it what you weretyping online was said to their face, said Burgau.

According to Devon Inman, sophomore youthstudies major there are better ways to stay

connected and talk with other people like byusing the phone. Coming from a Christian

perspective, Inman believes that people spendten times as much of their time on facebook

than spending time with God.

I know that I am guilty of lling my time online

rather than with God, said Inman.

Inman points out that on facebook people canbe who ever they want to be by creating a fake

life through their prole.

No one really knows what is going on through

your statuss and pictures how your life is reallylike, it is not reality on facebook, said Inman.

Facebook vs. realityBy Kayla Grell

Kayla GrellKayla Grell


7/12

Opinion

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Come springtime something special begins allaround the country. Anticipation and curiosity takeover the hearts/minds of many and big decisions

are made. No, I am not talking about spring break;Im talking about SPRING TRAINING! For those ofwho have absolutely no idea what that is, get with

it. Im talking about the great American pastimebaseball.

Being from South Dakota, where there are no

professional sports teams whatsoever, I have beengiven the freedom to be a fan of whichever team

I want. Turns out I have good judgment becauseI picked a real baseball team to be a fan of, theMinnesota Twins!

Over the years the Twins, and Joe Mauer, have

earned a very special place in my heart. The Twinsmay not be a big money team, but they have earnedthe respect they deserve. Unlike those pinstriped-

overpaid-cheatin athletes, they play for the love ofthe game not to collect a paycheck.

The Twins have sometimes earned the reputation

for being a farm team for the big markets; however,they are not a team to be overlooked. But Id liketo pause and take the time to congratulate the

Twins very own Bert Blyleven for FINALLY beingrecognized for his contribution to baseball andbeing inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. You go

Bert!

Okay, back to what I was saying. The Twins are not ateam to be downplayed. With this seasons roster I

have high hopes.

Coming o of the DL (not Discipleship Leader butthe Disabled List) Justin Morneau and Joe Nathanare expected for great things. We also have a new

member, Tsuyoshi Nishioka (say that ten times fast),who also has high expectations.

All in all, Im thinking a World Series title is in orderfor my boys this season after they take another

American League Central Division title. Amen?AMEN! Tune in on April 1 when Pavano and the boys

take on Toronto!

By BAILEY SCHOTT

The great american spring fever

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8/12

Opinion

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Most people dont believe me when I reveal this part of mylife, mostly because its ridiculous on the face of it, but its truenonethelessIm allergic to the cold.

The technical term for it is cold ur ticaria and its a real thing no matterwhat my friends say. Of course, the way Im describing it makes me

sound like the kid from Little Giants that came to practice in foampadding and blew bubbles with his snot. Its not that serious.

It has to be a fairly extreme circumstance and it usually just makesme itchy. However, the doctor who discovered it after I passed out

on the shore of nippy Lake Michigan recommended that I carry anEpiPen just in casebut what does he know? I can use WebMD.com

too.

Sometimes, when Im feeling extra crazy, I wont even wear asweatshirt under my coat, just to stick it to him and everyone elsewho looks at me like a medical reject.

However, as spring arrives, I shed my medical mysteries and focus on

what lies aheadmore snow. Is it just me or is the Midwest the mostinconsistent geographic region on the planet?

Its like our climate is a dad whos coaching his sons baseball teamand hes trying his best to give the crappy one as much playing time

as the good one. The crappy one had his three strikes. He ruinedour lives, making us walk out at 6 AM to move our cars back after we

spent eight hours shoveling them out the night before. Doesnt thatinconsiderate jerk k now that I have cold urticaria?

Strange, meaningless analogies aside, Im nding myself moreexcited for spring and summer than I have been in previous years.

Maybe its the prospect of my last summer break or maybe its thethought of getting to wear my Toms again without losing another

toe.

Either way I wish everyone a very happy Spring and I pray none of

us lose sight of what the ensuing time of year is all about: that Jesuscame to give life and life more abundantthats why the bunny

brings us candy.

By STEPHEN KRIST

Allergic to the cold

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9/12

Opinion

North Centrals Student Newspaper Since 1960

910 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404E-mail: [email protected]

Advisor phone: (612)-343-4727

A member of the Associated Collegiate Press

and Association of Christian Collegiate Media

Editor-in-Chief

Assistant Editor

News Editor

Lifestyle Editor

Opinion Editor

Sports Editor

Online Editor

Online Media Editor

Director of Design

Director of Photography

Business Manager

RUBEN PRIETO

ERICA FULGHUM

FAITH HARSHBARGER

KAYLA GRELL

AIMEE CORNELIUS

REBEKAH JACKOBSON

DALE HOUGHTON

JOSH HARSHBARGER

DANIEL PETERSON

MARY BETH OAKS

BRIANNA ARNESON

DAVID RISDALL

BAILEY SCHOTT

JACOB VON ARX

JESSICA WARD

CURTIS WARD

STEPHEN KRIST

KYLE MORGAN

JACLYN TRIEB

MITCHELL CHAMBERLIN

Advisor

Online Advisor

Writers

REUBEN DAVID

TODD WOLD

9

Sometimes, I absolutely HATE walking through Phillipps

hall. I loathe it. Why? Because walking through the hallcan sometimes be a painful task.

If Im in a hurry, it never ever fails that there are twopeople walking side-by-side taking their time to go

down the hallway. This sometimes drives me crazy,Ill try to pass them when we get to a doorway, but of

course that never actually works.

Another thing that constantly happens are three peoplewalk side-by-side down the hallway, and none of themtake the initiative to move over so I can pass by. How

rude! I have to attempt to atten myself against the wallso that they can get by, or I have to duck into one of the

classroom doorways, which can be awkward if there is aclass in session at the time.

My ultimate favorite though is later in the evening asIm walking to my apartment I now have to be careful

that I do not TRIP over couples watching a movie in a

doorway of an empty classroom. That is just ridiculous.Hallways are for walking, holding a quick casualconversation, but not for movie watching with your

signicant other. That is what the atrium is for.

This rant about the hallways is more than that. Its a

message to North Central students that manners area good thing. And it s time that we all learned some of

them.

The next time you are in the Phillipps hallway and oneof these things happens to you; just know that you arenot alone in this frustration.

By CONNIE ZIMMERMANPersonal bubble

AhThe smell of the freshly cut grassand people barbequing just soothesmy nostrils. Springtime is upon us.

The scent of life with owers and treesblossoming, and the sounds of children

playing gives me a boost of energy tobe a new person.

Weve all been cooped up in the housesand apartments all winter long and

now its time to run, bike and enjoy lifeonce again. It is time to loose all of that

winter-weight and go for a run aroundtown.

Being able to go for walks with friends,camping, shing, being outdoors is

what makes this time of the year great.Life could not get any better.

Spring is my favorite season of the

year. Springtime puts an extra spring

in my step. I cannot wait to be out onthe course playing golf, while being

exposed to Gods beauty. Getting toexperience the sights, the sounds, and

have all of my senses becomes a bit ofa surreal experience because I get to

enjoy all the vast creation again.

This part of the year teases you that

summer is just around the corner. Haveno fear; spring will make your spirits

brighter. The warm sunny days with the

cool evening breezes are just aroundthe corner.

Hold rm and think of your past spring

memories because new ones are a fewweeks away.

By CURTIS WORDSpring is in the air

Retraction: The article Charlie Mac is back in the Feb. 17 issue of The Northerner mistakingly

stated that Charlie McElveen has taken a full-time position with North Central. AlthoughMcElveen has been rehired by North Central, it as a part-time professor. The Northerner

would like to apologize for any confusion that this may have caused.

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10/12

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By JACOB VON ARX

Building onto a season that marks one of the greatestimprovements in North Central Rams history is never

easy. Considering that the baseball team made theNCCAA Div. II National Tournament in Cincinnatiand had two All-American inelders, all after a

miserable losing season prior, expectations seeminsurmountable. Losing four starters, including an

NCCAA World Series All-Tournament pitcher, have onlyencouraged the current players to step up and ll the

gaps left behind.

Head Coach Tim Beasley heads the ship as they try to

build o of a colossal year. Beasley is in his fourth yearas head coach, and has made strides in expanding the

program.

When asked about the upcoming season, Beasley said,I have very big expectations if things go right, andby going right I mean staying healthy and getting our

games in.

One of the additions made is the partnership with

Mizuno and The Game. Thanks to the partnership, twonew sets of uniforms, along with team pullovers, andbags were provided.

They allow our guys the opportunity to get to get

top notch apparel and equipment at a very aordableprice, Beasley said.

Two Ram pitchers also have high expectations forthe season. Junior youth ministries major Jon Tolbert

and sophomore media communications major DevinLehnho both expect a return to Prasco Park for the

2011 NCCAA Div. II World Series. The incoming playersonly strengthen the team, and they expect to reach the

semi-nals of the tournament.

I would be very disappointed if we, as a team, nish

under .500, Lehnho said. We should have a good

shot. We should be amongst the top four teams inNCCAA Div. II.

The ineld features potentially three new starters:freshman pastoral studies major Isaac Gross and

undeclared freshman Ian Andrews will compete forcorner ineld spots, and junior sports management

major Matt Farland will compete for second base.

Much of the excitement for the upcoming year stems

from these fresh faces, along with junior mediacommunications major Josh Bellers looking to get time

catching. The team hopes to improve defensively inareas where they lacked last year.

I expect everyone who came in as a freshman or a

transfer to make big improvements, said Lehnho.With the dome collapse, theres a lot of time toimprove our cannons, and we want to put as many

cannons on that ship as we can and bring it home.

Righting the shipnorthcentral.edu


11/12

Sports

11

Small numbers, great dedicationBy REBEKAH JACOBSON

Just as the sun begins to rise, running shoes

round the corners of Elliot Park. It is a typical5 a.m. practice for the track and eld teamconsisting of sprints and intervals.

The track and eld team began its season

this year with a smaller roster than previousseasons. Several former members did not

return, and only a few new faces stepped up toll in their shoes.

Despite the drop in numbers on the team, HeadTrack and Field Coach Trey Meadows explained

that, we do have some solid returners andgood new talent including freshman biblical

studies major Josiah Miller and junior youthministries major Joshua Rouser.

The biggest challenge will be overcoming thedrop in numbers while keeping a consistent

performance all the way across the board.

This year will be a year where we have toevaluate who we are as a team, said Meadows.

Athletes will be competing in several eventsthat might be out of their usual range, and the

larger workload can cause fatigue quickly. Inorder to maintain energy and focus, the team

will rely on their support and encouragementfrom one another.

I want to see the guys and girls teams growand really become a big family and take pride

in their sport and their teammates, said junior

youth ministries major Jerey Winkelman.

One of the ways the team bonds is through the

5 a.m. practices during the week.

Something about sharing that hatred ofgetting up so early and working so hard

gives us something much more than physicalstrength, but also mental strength and asense of pride in our accomplishments, said

Winkelman.

This dedication drives the team to growstronger both physically and relationally. Each

member is part of something bigger than theirindividual events and goals, and this is reectedthrough the tight-knit community they have

developed.

Even though there is a lack in numbers,the team is determined to give their best

performance. At the 2011 Upper MidwestAthletic Conference Indoor Track & FieldChampionships in February, senior intercultural

studies major Catherine Mead gave a strongperformance in the 1600m relay by capturing

the conference title.

I hadnt expected to do so well, said Mead.These races removed a lot of the limits Ihad on myself. Ive done what I didnt think

was possibly, so why not keep going for theimpossible and seeing what happens?

After nishing with an 11-14 record in 2010, the NorthCentral Rams softball season nished with something

left to be desired for the players.

Second year Head Coach Allison Murphy looks forwardto denite all-around improvement, claiming a growthin abilities and a hunger to progress as a team as key

factors for their improvement.

We have a good talent base, but there was a need forsome reorganization, said Murphy. Last year wasnt

necessarily a rebuilding year, but more of a reorganizingyear. It was my rst year as head coach, and we had had

four head coaches in the past four years.

Junior business administration major and utility player

Bethany Bostron also claims high expectations for theseason.

I expect the team to compete at a higher level than

last year and pick up wins against tough competitionfrom Martin Luther College, Northwestern College, andMount Mary College, said Bostron.

A challenging schedule could hamper the Rams

chances to make the post-season.

Murphy said, Id say our schedule is pretty balanced. Westart by hosting a six game tournament in two days, andthough that may not be the most dicult tournament,

it tests our abilities because it is so long.

Although the supplemented season will help the Ramschances for post-season play, there is only one problem.

Theres no NCCAA Div. II national tournament, butyou have the opportunity to gain in at large bid for the

NCCAA Div. I tournament, said Murphy.

The Div. I tournament would give the players acompetitive edge in the long run, but it will not be easy

to make. A successful season turnaround capped with anational tournament bid will test the athletes.

While something is lost by being unable to play againstdivision rivals, the chance to play at a higher level could

inspire players to improve from last years mediocrity.

Softball strives

for improvementBy JACOB VON ARX

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12/1212

Sports

Levi Kooistra, senior pastoral studies major, plays asa forward on North Central mens basketball team. This

is Kooistras second year on the basketball team aftertransferring from Oral Roberts University.

Kooistra has been playing basketball since 4thgrade, when he played in his backyard.

I probably played more in the backyard with my

mom than my dad, said Kooistra.Throughout junior high and high school, Kooistra

kept up his basketball career by playing on his schoolsteams.

In the summer, Kooistra works with an organizationcalled News Release Basketball. The organization runskids camps during the day, semi-pro games at night,

and missions trips to Europe to play basketball. Duringthe games halftime, one of the basketball players

shares a testimony to the crowds.The organization is a great way to connect kids and

families, said Kooistra.Last summer, Kooistra was on one of the basketball

teams in Europe. This summer he will coach a team of

high school boys.For the past two summers, Kooistra also put on

basketball camps for kids ages 12 to 16 at his churchin Chicago.

It was amazing to see God use sports as a tool toimpact kids lives, said Kooistra.

At North Central, Kooistra helped reinvent andreconstruct intramural basketball. He assisted in

enforcing rule changes, elongating the season, addingmid-week games, and getting more money to pay forsta, referees, and equipment. He contributed in the

eorts made to make intramurals more appealing tothe student body.

Besides playing basketball, Kooistra has plentyof other hobbies. He enjoys spending time with

girlfriend Morgan Valley, North Central alumna, andhanging out with roommate John Benson, seniorbiblical studies major. Hes also found playing guitar or

enjoying a lot of reading.In the future, Kooistra wants to coach either

basketball or football while pastoring a church.I want to be a pastor. Ill do anything the church

wants me to do, said Kooistra.Kooistras willingness to honor God in all that he

does and his competitive spirit keeps him passionate

about basketball.Im a very competitive person, said Kooistra. I love

to win. And I try to play in a way that brings worship toGod. I want to honor God in the way I play basketball.

Honoring God with hoopsBy JACLYN TRIEB

Head Cross-Country and Track And Field Coach Trey

Meadows has been part of the North Central familysince his freshman year of college. He has becomethe person he is today because of the way his

coaches molded him as an athlete.As a child, Meadows was a pastors kid and moved

12 times. Eventually, his family settled in Hudson,Mich., where he began to run for his high school.

Meadows continued his running career at NorthCentral.

When I came to NCU, there was no cross-

country or track programs until Athletics DirectorGreg Hayton started a program in the fall of 2000,

said Meadows. I fell in love with cross-country, andit motivated me to work harder than I ever had.

Meadows topped o his running career withan All-Conference award his senior year in trackand eld. The following year, Meadows remained

a student at North Central but was unable tocompete as an athlete because his four years of

eligibility had expired. However, this limitation onlylaunched the beginning of his coaching career.

Coach Hayton asked me to stick around andbe a student assistant and I totally fell in love withcoaching, said Meadows.

After two years of taking on the role of assistant

coach, Coach Hayton asked Meadows if he was

interesting in transitioning into the head coachposition.

I was excited and nervous to take over, but

God was faithful and things seem to have gone wellve years later, said Meadows.

As the head coach for both the cross-countryand track and eld teams, Meadows strives to build

personal relationships with each of his athletes.We are a family and I really love working to createan environment where each member is known and

loved for who they are as individuals away fromrunning, said Meadows.

He describes his position as being similar to thatof a pastors. Not only does he help his players

improve as runners, but he also encourages them towork hard as people so they can receive from Godwhat they are intended to while at North Central.

You cant just sit by and watch people like them[his athletes] train so hard, work so much, love

so much, give so much an bless one another sofaithfully the way they do and not be moved and

challenged, said Meadows.Meadows future plans include continuing to coachat North Central, while nishing his masters degree

at the University of Minnesota.

By REBEKAH JACOBSON

Pastoring a team

MARY BETH OAKS

MARY BETH OAKS

The NCU Northerner Mar. 2011

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Transcript of The NCU Northerner Mar. 2011