Written by Jenna Wirtz, photographed by Natalia Hernandez With about a week to get their bearings, Biola University athletes were invited to live on campus before school began this fall. Since the invitation/announcement came after Biola decided to close campus for the semester to the general student body, many athletes jumped at the special opportunity as they longed for a somewhat normal college experience. But with social-distancing protocols in full-swing, including wearing a mask during practices, students have begun to feel the strain. The closest one can get to another student is sharing a meal together. “It still feels like we’re quarantined,” said freshman track athlete and psychology major Sophia…
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From Behind the Screen
Written by Charlotte Snyder, photographed by Jalin Cerillo Eight out of 10 students report experiencing increased stress due to the switch to online schooling, and they are not alone. Professors face a multitude of challenges as they adjust their class content to an online format. The American Council of Education found that professors across the country are struggling in many of the same ways that students are. “Many [professors] are trying to keep a sense of normalcy despite experiencing their own uncertainties, fears, and anxieties,” ACE wrote. “[Professors] are quickly adapting to new ways to do business, juggling work-life balance, and addressing the new and varying academic and student life…
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The New Freshman Experience: Beginning College During a Pandemic
Written and edited by Lily Journey and Hannah Dilanchyan, photographed by Kate Bomar, designed by Tabby Bernardus (Contributions by: Gretchen Ferguson) Less than a year ago Biola University’s sunny campus buzzed with the constant activity of students living and learning in community. Daily traditions like studying with friends at Common Grounds, passing the well-known Jesus mural or grabbing breakfast before attending a chapel service were normal parts of the Biola experience. But now the ringing of the Biola bells is just a faint memory replaced by the chime of a computer notification. COLLEGE COMMITMENTS: A LEAP OF FAITH Because COVID-19 swept through our nation during the peak of college tours…
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Online Chapels: finding faith and community in a time of social-distancing
Written by Rebecca Schwind, edited by Addison Freiheit, Photos by Julianne Foster, Designs by Phoebe Han Biola student Hannah Fodera is a chapel scanner. At least, she was until late last semester when students got sent home following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. After landing back home in various places around the globe, students have had to cope with all sorts of transitions. For Biolans, one of those transitions was going from in-person to online chapels. While this can be considered less-than-ideal, the transition also provides students with a chance to focus on their relationships with God. Fodera, a sophomore Christian ministries major, loved greeting people and welcoming them…
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Managing Finances
Written by Alyssa Minney So now you are a college student who is trying to navigate life after your parents dropped you off and gave you a tearful goodbye. Chief among those concerns is how to manage finances well and avoid the ‘broke college student’ stereotype. There are living expenses to think about, such as food, books, gas, social activities and coffee runs. It is a challenge balancing all the expenses; if you prioritize food too much, you will not have enough money to buy the books you might need for your classes. Unexpected plans occur all the time; the book you thought you got right from Thriftbooks is the…
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7 Dorms, 7 Personalities
Written by Dahlys Ang \Alpha, Blackstone, Hart, Hope, Horton, Sigma, Stewart: the faces of Biola’s housing options. While together they compile what 65 percent of Biola’s undergraduate students call home, according to Best Colleges U.S. News Rankings, each dorm has a different personality and aura surrounding its walls. The differences in community life, campus location and overall atmosphere of each dorm are what makes the seven choices of residential life at Biola so unique. Alpha The only all-girls dorm on campus, Alpha is located on upper campus in between Horton and Sigma. Built in 1966, Alpha was recently renovated and includes several unique amenities such as the rooftop sundeck as…
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Hospitable for the Holidays
Written by Kendall Jarboe On the eve of the holidays, our minds naturally turn toward traditions, family, friends, food, music and company. For some, the thought of gathering with their loved ones around the dinner table brings great joy. For others, the thought of an overcrowded kitchen and a house full of family members elicits fear. Whether one is feeling ecstatic or wary about the holidays, consider Biola student Michelle Nunez’s three reminders about a universal value one can foster this Christmas season: hospitality. IT’S ABOUT THE LOVE “Hospitality means to open up your home to people in a very gracious and welcoming way, to do it with love and…
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Four Tools to Lower Finals Week Stress
Written by Jehn Kubiak You have stared blankly at a textbook for the last hour and feel even more stressed than when you started, thinking “I can’t remember anything.” Tears pour down your tired face, and it seems like the whole world could crash and burn at any given moment. This scenario is a prime example of an overly anxious student. Although some anxiety or stress is normal, too much can lead to significant health risks and poor academic performance according to Learn Psychology. Wishing anxiety or stress away isn’t enough sometimes, so psychologists and organizations have developed tools that can help reduce stress. Beat finals week insanity with these…
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A Cure for Study Time Blues
Written by Hailey Zendejas We know what you’re thinking—what can I do to cure my study time blues? Well luckily, we have two perfect ways: forming a rocking playlist and grabbing some delicious snacks. Here are some tips to help ensure you find the best tunes for a night of studying. Picking songs that you don’t have memorized is best. It’s hard to study when you want to sing along with Yoncé or weep while belting out Adele, since you already know all of the words. Don’t worry—we have plenty of suggestions. Some of the bands you can’t help but fall in love with are The 1975, The Lumineers and Duran…
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Studying abroad: one of the most beneficial things for college students
Written by Claire Zasso She was backpacking through Iceland with a couple friends. They rented a car to visit the Northern part of the country and stopped for dinner in a small town off the highway. At the restaurant, they began talking with a local and asked if she had any tips for seeing the Northern Lights. The woman said to look before they got back to the city because the light pollution would be too strong. Abby Conrad and her friends got back on the road, searching the night sky for stars to see if the clouds were clearing. When they finally spotted some, Conrad pulled the car over.…
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Part-Time Postgrad
Written by Morgan Mitchell Have you ever thought about your future beyond Biola and quickly decided not to because of the sudden wave of anxiety that washes over you? It’s easy to panic over what exactly God’s plan is. Everyone’s heard phrases like “Give it to God” or “God will provide and open doors,” but as you prepare to enter the world you should prepare a wise response to them.Have you ever thought about your future beyond Biola and quickly decided not to because of the sudden wave of anxiety that washes over you? It’s easy to panic over what exactly God’s plan is. Everyone’s heard phrases like “Give it…
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Freshman Foresight
Written by Jennifer Wenzel Forget Ring by Spring. James Zapata, a human biology major, puts this stereotype into perspective. “There are so many people here that you can build a genuine friendship with. That should be the point of dating: to get to know people genuinely without that agenda,” he says. “We fall into the trap of pursuing the goal above the person…which is a huge mistake. Pursue people for who they are and seek to love them as who they are.” Pursue People. Brian Glaze, a biblical and theological studies major, emphasizes the importance of developing friendships. “The number one enemy to any relationship is complacency. Relationships require consistent…
