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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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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Closed Bibles? The Epidemic of Biblical Illiteracy in the 21st Century
Written by Eliza Lee If one decided to start a diet solely on Taco Bell and McDonalds, it would not take long before they ballooned up and died, or at least became seriously ill. No matter how good those quesadillas and fries taste in the moment, they were never made to satisfy. In fact, instead of satisfying, they actually end up doing a lot of damage. What if the same thing is happening in our souls? Instead of filling our souls with the rich Word of God, we fill it with Instagram posts, funny memes, YouTube videos and episodes of “The Bachelor.” Essentially, these things are the digitized equivalent of…