Fine Arts Department Godspell production continues for a second weekend, page 6

Dale Houghton

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D i s c o v e r i n g U p t o w n s Tr e n d y C u l t u r e , 3

Turning Passion into Action , 5

November 17, 2011

N O RT H C E N T R A L U N I V E R S I T Y

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Occupy MN , 7

Editor-in-Chief RUBEN PRIETO News Editor REBEKAH JACOBSON Lifestyle Editor JACLYN LUTHI Opinion Editor JAKE VON ARX Sports Editor ERICA WENIG Online Editor MARY BETH OAKS Online Editor CURTIS WARD Director of Design KAYLA GRELL Director of Photography DALE HOUGHTON Business Manager JESSICA WARD Advisor REUBEN DAVID Online Advisor TODD WOLD Writers BRIAN JONES LISA HAWTHORNE KELSEY MARRIN JESSICA TRAUDT RACHEL KRUK MARK SONNTAG AMY LAMBERT SARAH MACK DEVIN LEHNHOFF STEPHEN KIRST BENJAMIN PIRIE HANNAH ONEY Guest Editor JOHN ROEMHILD North Centrals Student Newspaper Since 1960 910 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404 E-mail: ruben.prieto@mail.northcentral.edu Advisor phone: (612)-343-4727 A member of the Associated Collegiate Press and Association of Christian Collegiate Media

Last Monday, I received a phone call from a friend to join them in attending Tyler Perrys production, The Have and The Have Nots; the performance would occur at the Orpheum Theatre located in downtown Minneapolis. The Have and the Have Nots is a story about two families that experience a variety of difficulty, including family dynamics in struggles, income inequality, and their belief and faith in Christ. The blended dynamic of the families captures the story of a faith journey of the character Rose, and how she remains a woman who keeps faith in God through the weight of difficult circumstances, as well as being a loving support to those surrounding her. Tyler Perry is known for incorporating Christian themes and messages through his production company, as well as his portrayal of the character of Madea throughout most of his productions. I felt the play captured the Christian message in a more compelling way, which left me feeling encouraged while being challenged in my faith. During intermission, I was so moved that I began using my phone to search for dates to purchase tickets for my parents as an early Christmas present. Fortunately, the tour cast was performing in Chicago, IL at the Arie Crown Theater that same weekend, after the show I called my parents to confirm their plans for the weekend, to see if they were able to attend. Later that night I purchased the tickets and talked to them about the If there is one thing I have learned from writing for the Northerner, it is that people appreciate honesty, so let me begin by saying that after two and a half very long, stressed filled years at North Central, I still do not know what to make of you. I consider many of my peers to be my friends; close friends that I hope to keep long after I leave this place. There are sermons from each youth pastor that molds lives in a certain way that a traditional figure of authority does not. Gossip is one of those sermon topics every youth pastor should have in their arsenal of Wednesday nights. While we all know gossip is wrong, we have heard how its ruined a persons life, and more importantly, their social status; there is not a shortage of it going around school. Im no saint. I have struggled with gossip, and on occasion, still do. I know most of the secrets hidden within the walls of North Central, and I know you have heard some things about me. Whether theyre true or not is a different story. It is fairly safe to assume what you have heard about me: inappropriate behavior and language, consumes alcohol, or not a real Christian come to mind. Most of the gossip at North Central finds its way to me one way or another. What you might not have heard about me is exactly what

show, they informed me they both loved it. Tyler Perry typically incorporates original compositions in his productions, and most pieces could be either interpreted as worship or are worship songs. During the production, I gazed over the crowd for reactions to a characters salvation experience that a leading character was experiencing, and a feeling of connectedness rushed over me because a number of spectators began worshiping in their own waythis was the reaction of some audience members a very powerful public experience. Music is powerful and can strike people to evoke a variety of emotions. More importantly, music should be recognized as a gift from God and as an avenue that we are able to utilize to connect to Him. I began thinking of how unexpected and unique this experience was to me. This public experience of Christians worshiping, in a setting that some people would only view as to fill solely entertainment purposes, was an astonishing moment of cohesiveness to experience. Regardless of the setting, we can worship God, with or without music. Being open to have the heart of a worshiper, I believe, includes having the ability to receive and participate in new worship experiences. This is to include when we are worshiping when old or less familiar worship songs are played, when guest speakers that bring a message that you dislike, and regardless of what current season you are in. Worship is ongoing and a life-long learning process should never be assumed as being figured-out, and remaining active in pursuit of new horizons for both personal and corporate settings. This type of behavior is to be expected for all participants of the kingdom of God. My recommendation would be to watch a few of Tylers movies and/or plays. Perrys productions all contain thoughtprovoking Christian messages leaving me challenged with having much more gratitude for my blessings and driven to focus on how I can personally contribute to be more of a blessing to my surroundings.

I have wanted to keep from you. I dont beg for attention like many that will read this article. In fact, that is the exact reason as to why I do not want myself to be seen in such a light. How many have heard that I donate 60% of every paycheck I receive? What about the two middle school students I talked out of killing themselves this past summer? I do not need that kind of attention. I am the last person you will find standing on a soapbox preaching on the corner of 14th and Elliot, but hopefully this clears the air as to how bad I actually am. Yes, I like bathroom humor, and wearing a cardboard box on my head for Halloween, but that shouldnt put my salvation into question. People gossip around these halls all day. Its not right, but its a part of college life. Talking about the life and times of a friend is different than pulling second hand information about a stranger out of nowhere. I am in no position to call anyone out for their imperfections, or throw Bible verses at an isolated incident, but there is a need to change the way we speak about our peers when they are not around; those we claim to love, even though we do not know anything about them. Before moving to 2 West, I made the typical stereotypes like: vanity, substituting faith for material things, and a overall lack of maturity. After my time with them, I couldnt have been further from the truth. I consider my assumptions a mistake, and consider them brothers. Every one of us has made poor character judgments, whether it is a certain individual, a floor, or an entire building. Simply getting to know each other as brothers and sisters can stop this, and while I rarely give a serious answer when it comes to deep concerns, I will say that stepping out of your personal bubble and meeting a new friend really wont hurt.

The Civil Wars Set the Mood

By KELSEY MARRIN The stage is set with two microphones, three guitars and a piano. The lights dim down, the crowd starts to cheer as two figures make their way onto the stage. As the lights slowly brighten, the light picking of a guitar fills the historical State Theatre. The sweet sound of a females voice dances alongside the picking of the guitar, creating the wonderful beginnings of the Civil Wars concert. A California-to-Nashville based band, created by the musical talents of Joy Williams and John Paul White, The Civil Wars is a unique group due to their lack of a back-up band. They work with only the bare essentials of guitar, vocals, and, if the song calls for it, piano. This duo is full of energy that is fed through their music. While on stage, the music has an effortless pull on Williams. Her body sways to the rhythm of the music, making her emotions overflow into a rhythmic melody flowing from her soul. White and Williams have a connection to each other onstage that; music pulls them together in a flirtatious way; drawing the audience into their world. The light touching and swaying beside each other offered a sneak peek into what they are feeling during their songs. This incredibly talented duo finds themselves silent in between songs, only using their voices to sing. It would be a nice change from the music to hear about who the Civil Wars are behind the music. At times it felt that they were hiding and only interested in playing music. Surprisingly, it has only taken the Civil Wars three years to get to where they are today. This duo has found what works well for them and their voices. However, there is one thing that is lacking from this unbelievably talented group. Civil Wars are in need of an assortment of music. Even though their songs are incredibly beautiful, they sound alike. There are a few reasons why this could be a case: it could be due to their lack of a band, and only featuring guitar in their songs. Another reason could be that every song has the same feel to it. Most of their songs are love songs, and they have the same pattern in which the song is written. Whatever the reason behind it may be, it is something that can be changed, ultimately making the Civil Wars a more versatile band. The Civil Wars are talented musicians, an entertaining act and a band to keep your eyes on. As time continues on, their music will reach the ears of new listeners and will stay in the minds of present listeners.

Opinion
Discovering Uptowns Trendy Culture
By JESSICA TRAUDT As you move into a new city, there are phases in which you explore your surrounding area. You may be content with visiting a place only once, or it could turn into a favorite hangout. There are certain places that just beg to be discovered by the culture-curious college student, and the vibrant; eclectic area of Uptown, Minneapolis is just one of those spots. If you find yourself exploring Uptown for the first time, or have only hit the standard places like Chino Latino or the two-level Urban Outfitters, be excited, because there is so much more to do. Riding bikes around Lake Calhoun, discovering the cheap finds at Heartbreaker clothing, and visiting the numerous coffee shops are some of my favorites. When given my assignment to explore Uptown on a Saturday, I decided to search for new finds to add to my mix of Minneapolis repertoire. In the days leading up to my outing, I did some research on Uptown activities that I had not yet discovered and made a mental list of what I wanted to find and do on my autumn Saturday. I woke up Saturday morning to a brisk but beautiful day and headed off with a friend to French Meadow Bakery and Caf for brunch. The caf was bustling with many trendy Minneapolis citizens starting their day with fresh, organic grub so my friend and I followed suit and ordered one delectable breakfast croissant and one hearty breakfast burrito. After finishing up, we headed off to enjoy the changing leaves around Lake Calhoun and skip rocks into the water. Jessie Traudt The afternoon found us exploring the many thrift stores of Uptown, with Everyday People Clothing being our favorite. The entire store is chock-full of reasonably priced brand name clothing and accessories for both men and women. After we were shopped out, we wandered into Magers and Quinn Booksellers and got lost in our favorite reads until our stomachs reminded us it was dinnertime. Dinner found us at Stellas Fish Caf, a contemporary choice for classic seafood, oysters, sushi, and steak. The decor was a rustic collection of old boating artifacts and high-backed wooden booths, making you feel as if youre on a sea voyage. My day in Uptown was a mixture of enjoying the sites, immersing myself in new foods, and exploring places I had not yet seen before. The hip and trendy culture will always provide a day of fun for those willing to explore all it has to offer. Whether Uptown is old news to you, or a new, exciting experience, there will always be new culture to discover.

Moneyball Scores
By DEVIN LEHNOFF Changing the way baseball has been run for hundreds of years. Not an easy task but the new movie Moneyball shows how two men and some crazy ideas have changed modern baseball. Moneyball has received some high praise from moviegoers and high praise from fans of sports and baseball, however this movie is not one for only sports fans. The movie stars Brad Pitt as the main character Billy Beane, a middle-aged failed baseball prospect turned general manager that must deal with assembling a team from scratch. The movie co-stars Jonah Hill as Peter Brand, an assistant with the Cleveland Indians when Beane meets him, who is so impressed with Brand that he hires him and uses his new system of statistical analysis to change the game. Moneyball is the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics when Beane was running the team. The story involves Beanes struggle to try to field a competitive team with the restrictions of running a team with a small budget. Beane and his newly acquired assistant GM Peter Brand attempt to use a different approach to the business of baseball. Beane and Brand use a sophisticated and new statistical analysis approach to scout and analyze players. This new way of approaching the game is met with anger and strong objections from the other scouts. Brand uses an approach based on OBP (on base percentage) to find out what players will fit together. Using this approach, they are able to field a team that is competitive, as well as affordable. The Athletics and Billy Beane changed how scouts and teams look at players that year and started a revolution in the baseball world. I would recommend this movie to all, even if you do not care about baseball. This is an onion movie, constructed purposely to be entertaining on many levels. It can be watched purely as an entertaining account of modern baseball history, or how player statistics became one of the most important factors determining financial success in modern baseball. For the more sentimental audience, it tracks the journey of a man, forced to embrace change and disappointment as he wanders aimlessly through life, etching out an unremarkable career first as a failing professional player, then small-time scout, then washed-out General Manager, only to finally wake up and find himself becoming one of the greatest living innovators of the game. Finally, for the abstract-at-heart, and for those who might not care as much for the baseball story, this is a tale of an industry under irreversible changea documentary of the conflict between innovators who brave the trials and struggles to map out the new ways and the old scouts who go all out to protect their crumbling turf.

News
Beating Vision for This Generation
By REBEKAH JACOBSON Impacting more than 250,000 college students a year, PULSE Ministries is a movement of young adults running after Gods heart for this generation. The ministry has expanded across the Midwest to over 30 campuses. It all began with a simple journal entry: My life exists to put Christ at the pulse of a generation. Nick Hall, the founder and chief communicator of PULSE ministries, scrawled this in his notebook during his freshman year at North Dakota State University. Two years later, in the fall of 2004, he handed in a proposal to his English professor entitled PULSE. It became the boiling point for the ministry. The 15-page assignment outlined a student-led initiative that could positively change campus. The proposal swept across NDSU, and during the next school year students led prayer groups, training events, and outreach gatherings. Students really caught onto the vision. They got excitedand so they took that idea and said, Hey, can you bring PULSE here [to other campuses]? said junior media communications major Camden McAfee, the information technology associate for PULSE Ministries. Since its rapid start in 2005, PULSE has impacted multitudes of young people through a four-step process: Prayer, Meetings, Movement, and Donate. The ministry centers on uniting and empowering young people to proclaim the message of Christ to their peers. Events are typically set up as concerts, where PULSE brings in the most well-known Christian rock bands to a large university venue. Before the headliner, Hall presents a clear message of the Gospel. We want to appeal to this generation and how they are entertained they like loud music, so well be as loud as legally possible, McAfee said. Currently, PULSE has 14 staff and six interns among its many volunteers. Their two most recent events were at universities in Winona, Minn., and Milwaukee, Wis., where over 1,000 students responded to the Gospel message. The PULSE process is similar to that of a pulse in the human body. Like blood in the human body, the body of Christ was not intended to be stagnant. If your blood goes out without returning, it will lose the nutrients that make it useful. If your blood goes in without leaving, it will never serve the purpose it was created for. The pulse of a heart gives evidence that its life-giving mission is being accomplished. As PULSE unfolds, believers are called in and out. The vision of PULSE is still beating strong. This Christmas season, PULSE will be hosting seven presentations of The REASON. Each night will feature music and stories from Sara Groves and Leeland. During the winter of 2012, the ministry will be touring with Winter Jam throughout the United States. PULSE is hosting a massive outreach event at the University of Minnesota Field House on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. U of M students will be given first entrance from 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m., and afterwards students from any college are welcome to attend with a valid student I.D.

StartUp: A Small Business Launching Pad in the Twin Cities

By RACHEL KRUK StartUp is an extension of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference and will be launching this Fall, in partnership with the School of Business at North Central University. In 2010, the need for a resource for the small businesses of Elliot Park neighborhood came to the attention of the North Central Students In Free Enterprise organization. After two successful conferences, the need is only growing. To ensure that our community has the best opportunities for economic growth and small business development, SIFE students have decided to create a year-round resource for small business owners, dreamers and entrepreneurial spirits of the entire Twin Cities area. SIFE provides support, mentorship and guidance entrepreneuers need while enduring tough economic times to make their dreams come true. StartUp Twin Cities was originally the Small Business and Entrepreneurial Conference (SBEC). The North Central SIFE team held this conference for two consecutive years in late spring. Last year, the attendees of SBEC communicated to the SIFE team that they wished the conference would happen more often, and the idea to expand SBEC into a year-round program was born. We had our first event October 6th, with 31 attendees, which was a huge turnout for our first event, said SIFE member, Elisabeth Johnson. The tag line for StartUp Twin Cities, is a community based resource for small business owners and those interested in gaining knowledge about business practices. This includes entrepreneurial spirits, those in the business world who have a vision to expand, and individuals who need an idea of how to make their business ideas a reality. StartUp Twin Cities offers networking opportunities while targeting areas of business knowledge. There was a networking event on Thursday, Nov. 3rd, which had a great turnout. The purpose of these meetings is to share StartUps goal to help make the Twin Cities a thriving community for small Josh Gregory business while giving the owners a resource to grow and network (not be sold to), so at each month we bring in a keynote speaker and instructors to teach breakout sessions related to various aspects of business. Then there are breakout workshops with omit titles such as; Small Business Accounting, Marketing/Brainstorming, and Starting Your Business. Johnson went on to say, It would be great if North Central students could help us, either by promoting the events, liking our Facebook page; StartUp Twin Cities, or if they know of anyone who would be interested in sponsoring or speaking at one of our Thursday events. We would love to have students attend and/or volunteer!

News

Turning Passion into Action

By BEN PIRIE Last spring, a new student organization created specifically for social work majors was launched at North Central. The new organization is known as S.W.A.T. or Social Workers Actively Training. S.W.A.T. was formed out of a classroom project in Generalist Practice II, a social work class. Although it is the result of the collaboration of senior social work majors, it is open to students in any major. S.W.A.T.s purpose is to educate North Central students on these various organizations that are right outside our doors and in the very community we live in, said Director and senior social work major Gabe Olson. This year S.W.A.T. will be offering volunteer opportunities within North Central as well as outside of campus. These opportunities will revolve around educating students and providing resources to the community. We feel that there are many students who have a heart for the outside community but who may lack the knowledge of how or where to get involved. They may feel that there is just too much they do not know about the community surrounding North Central and/ or the people living in it. My prayer is that S.W.A.T would help to create this knowledge for students and enable them to share their passions with the outside community, said Olson. Although nothing has been announced yet, the members of S.W.A.T are working on events that they will offer for the entire student body. Their goal is to give students multiple volunteer opportunities with various organizations in the community. Volunteering opportunities will most likely be group-oriented, although students will be able to

volunteer on their own if they choose to. Our plan is to bring further educational encounters beyond the classroom through volunteer opportunities, guest speakers, and collaboration with other organizations on campus and in our community, said Treasurer and senior social work major Harmonee Wampler. Some organizations that S.W.A.T. will partner with could include: Hennepin County Medical Center, Augustana Health Care Center, Project for Pride in Living, Urban Ventures, Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, Feed My Starving Children, Salvation Army, etc. Many of these agencies rely heavily on their volunteer support and would not be able to provide their services if it were not for volunteers. Our goal for this year and for the future is to bridge the gap between students in social work classes and experiences found outside the classroom setting We want to make ourselves known to students here on campus as well as organizations outside of North Central, said Wampler.

Real Life Training Grounds

By AMY LAMBERT Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an organization that strives to see a measurable impact on community. They do that by impacting three areas: people, planet, and profit. SIFE gives students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real life. Some of the benefits of being involved in SIFE includes building your resume, networking with business professionals, participating in projects to reach the campus and community for business, learning how to become a leader, attending career fairs, and opportunities to secure internships and jobs, said Executive Director and senior business administration major Jamie Welsh. Bill Tibbetts, assistant professor of business and Sam Walton Fellow of SIFE, added, It also gives students opportunities to fulfill Gods calling on their lives by making an impact on the Kingdom through our local community. Last year, the North Central SIFE team was successful at both the Regional and National Competition. As the first runnerup in the first round at Nationals, North Central is one of the top 30 schools. This year SIFE started out strong with Elliot Parks Night to Unite bringing in 1,640 people. SIFE partnered with local non-profits to begin organizing the event a year in advance. They provided free food and medical testing including: STD, HIV, cholesterol, and lead testing. SIFE is the organization behind Operation Lunch, where students can donate lunch on Fridays to charity. Through Operation Lunch, SIFE helps lower the operational costs of nonprofits. NCU Green is also through SIFE. Their motto is the three Rs: Repurpose, Reuse, and Recycle. The recycling bins throughout campus are there because of SIFE. One of the main focuses of SIFE is Project SOS. There are multiple activities included in this, such as Limbo Luau, Financial Challenge, Ring By Spring, and other events. The main goal of Project SOS is to reduce students debt before they graduate, as well as increase resume building and interviewing skills. SIFE also does multiple other projects throughout the year including: StartUp Twin Cities, Interview Me, Net Caf, and Clothe the Community. New students, as well as new ideas, are welcome yearround.

News
(Far left) Freshman Music Business major Matt Allen portrays John The Baptist in Godspell. (Center) Characters range from the jock and the prom queen to the odd girl and the hillbilly. (Left) North Centrals production of Godspell is filled with many humorous moments.

Dale Houghton

Godspell Puts a Creative Spin on the Gospel

By LISA HAWTHORNE Moments before Godspell began, sophomore youth ministry major Dave Ritter surveyed the set with excitement. Its going to be awesome, he said, predicting the characters would unite and evolve, connecting with the audience like never before. As the cast opened with a song and launched the audience into the world of Grant High School, Ritters predictions came true. For opening night, they really started off on a great note, said freshman English major Jamie Hollins. North Central alumna Hannah Peyton echoed Hollins sentiments, calling the production fabulous due to the variety of talent throughout the musical, mentioning the acting, singing, and dancing. Godspell presents the parables from the Gospel of Matthew in a modern-day setting of a high school. A large contributing factor to the favorable feedback from the audience is the connection between the characters. Director and Assistant Fine Arts Professor Wayne Matthews commented that one of the main focuses for this years production was character development and how Jesus really knew the characters stories. In the early days of rehearsals, a cast member suggested that to truly get into the minds of their characters, they should each come up with their own back-story. In addition, each cast member individually met with Jesus, portrayed by junior secondary education major Ben Schrade. Only Jesus knows the full story of each character on the stage, said Matthews, a 2003 North Central alumnus. This has changed the way the cast interacts with each other. They have become closer and more invested in the musical as they connect more with each of the characters. Freshman music business major Matt Allen agrees with this assessment, saying that the innovation and bonding has really helped the cast make Godspell their own unique production. We have so many creative people and we have really been able to make it our own, said Allen. The parable of the prodigal son, as told in the style of comedian Bill Cosby, showcases the unique, high-spun energy. Allen mentions this as his favorite part of the musical, stating that it was fun to do and represents much of the creative process of the cast and crew. Based on the reaction from opening night, the extra work paid off. Various audience members repeatedly stated that the cast chemistry truly made the story come to life, while one also added it made for a high energy show from beginning to end. Although the musical is full of many playful and humorous moments, it is also filled with moments that provoke thought and deep emotion. Senior secondary education major Riley OBrien expressed this in describing his favorite part during the Sermon on the Mount scene. I dont want to give it away, said OBrien, but there is this poignant moment where the truth of what theyre saying suddenly hits you and you walk away with something to think about. Godspell is well worth the time and money, according to sophomore youth ministries major Kymberli Tufte. She summed up many of the cast and audience members opinions. Its not at all what I expected it to be like, but it was a pleasant surprise. I thought the best part was how they interpreted the characters. It really came to life for me, said Tufte. The cast has four more performances in the North Central Small Chapel. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 Saturday, Nov. 19 and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20. Tickets are available for North Central students for $10, seniors and children under 12 for $12, and adults for $15.

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Feature

Kayla Grell

OccupyMN: Wall Street Protests Invade Downtown Minneapolis

By MARK SONNTAG Protests are appearing all over America in many major cities. New York, Cincinnati, Madison, St. Louis and Oakland are a few of the dozens of cities that have banded together to occupy their cities main streets and major parks. Since Oct. 5th, Minneapolis has joined the ranks of protesters, coming together in solidarity for the 99 percent. Dozenssometimes hundredsof people can be seen rallying together for the 99 percent in the government plaza downtown Minneapolis. In Minneapolis the protests cover a large spectrum of social issues. According to http://www.occupymn. org/about, Occupy Minneapolis webpage, the issues range from privacy rights to every conceivable form of oppression. Most of the Occupy Together movement agrees on one large issue: major changes need to be made to the banking industry and the stock marketthe one percent. Whoor whatexactly is this 99 percent? According to the Congressional Budget Office, from 1979 to 2007 there was an uneven gain in income (based on salary raises and inflation rates) among six income brackets. The gain is almost 100 percent for the richest quintile of the nation, but somehow, the top one percent has gained a nearly 300 percent increase in their annual salary. The remaining 99 percent are left in the dust in comparisonhence the 99 percent. Why is this important to North Central students? The data provided by the CBO (and the above graph) only date to 2007. In the past four years this gap has grown larger and shows no sign of stopping without change. Some sources, like Vanity Fair magazine, who published an article four months before the Occupy Wall Street protests, say this is a very big deal for any person living in America. An economy in which most citizens are doing worse year after yearan economy like Americasis not likely to do well over the long haul, said Vanity Fair. A common voice against the protests urges the Occupiers to look past their world and view the issue from a global perspective. By comparison, America embodies the top one percent of the world. By default, if someone makes more than $34,000 a year, they fit in the top one percent of the income bracket of the world. However, some financial experts worry. If the income gap continues to grow at the rate it has been over the last 20 years then America could soon find itself below the one percent line on a global scale. As the rich get richer the poor get poorer, and if the income gap increases, the value of the dollar will decrease because the majority of Americas money will remain dormant in bank accounts and investments rather than being circulated through America. While there are many other factors to this concept, it may make a large impact in the decline of America. Occupy Minneapolis is just one small piece to a greater picture as America clamors for reform. For many this may be an opportunity to join in and exercise their First Amendment rights. For others it may just serve as a constant awareness of the world outside of North Central. For all, the Occupy Together protests will serve as a landmark in history as they watch America choose which turn to make at this proverbial fork in the road.

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Ryan Leak

North Central Alumnus Ryan Leak is Connecting and Consulting

By STEPHEN KIRST In the spring of 2009, North Central had to send off into the world one of its best and brightestRyan Leak. For those who dont know him personally, they might still recognize him as the face of Alumni and Friends on North Centrals home page at www.northcentral.edu. For those that have had the pleasure of knowing him, they know what a legacy he left behind. After graduation, Leak stayed in Minneapolis for several months trying to figure out what God had for the next step of his life. What opened up was a perfect fitHelp Staff Me. Help Staff Me is a company in Dallas, Texas that seeks to set up great churches and ministries with the right person for the job. Being the natural networker that he is, Leak thrived at Help Staff Me by connecting people from all across the country (including many North Central students) with great ministry opportunities. When the time came to transition out of Help Staff Me, Leak chose to do what he loves: church consulting and entrepreneurialism. Nonetheless, he still utilizes his large address book of a mind and links churches looking for new personnel with suitable candidates that hes met over many years and from many states. In January of 2011, Leak started Park Bench Productions, a company dedicated to creating relevant messages directed at the average consumer. We work with many secular companies, non-profit corporations, churches, and ministries to create engaging visual media that illustrates the necessary message, said Leak. The pieces theyve been hired to make have been aired for all sorts of events and purposesfrom websites to youth conventionsincluding a piece for North Centrals website. On top of the steady stream of clients flowing through the Park Bench inbox, Leak still finds time to do what he does best: connecting and consulting. He does creative church consulting for a number of ministries. His knack and insight into modern church culture helps churches all around grow their potential. I specifically consult with stage design, service production, video, and lighting encouraging church ministries in ways to engage an ever-distracted contemporary audience, said Leak. Leak has also spent a little more than a year as one of the creative directors at The Oaks Fellowship in South Dallas, led by Senior Pastor Scott Wilson. Leaks job is to facilitate live production during services. This means that he is in charge of everything that the camera and live switching teams are doing. Every part of The Oaks online experience has had Leaks hand on it. As if that werent enough, Leak also teaches video production and scriptwriting at Christ for the Nations regularly, travels and speaks to churches and youth groups on occasion, and blogs. When asked what else he possibly has time for, his response was, Im trying to get in the NBA right now but theres a lock-out. Leak is clearly a man who does it all.

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One Voice Energizing the Neighborhood
By SARAH MACK Out of the array of campus organizations and programs at North Central, WOVEN is one of the least known. Not many students know about it, except for music majors. WOVEN stands for With One Voice Energizing the Neighborhood, and provides opportunities for successful music literacy and performance for the children of downtown Minneapolis. The children are able to build self-esteem in developing their artistic gifts. The program also facilitates the leadership of North Central students through the mentoring and teaching involved during lessons. It is WOVENs vision to see the artistic gifts of children in the downtown Minneapolis community developed. This program is ultimately designed to teach music with the sole purpose of demonstrating success through music, said co-director of WOVEN and 2009 alumna Phebe Yeo. Along with teaching children, this program also has an amazing vision. WOVEN believes people are born with a desire to be the best they can be to bring glory to the Lord. Through the discipline and determination of learning music, long-term and short-term musical goals can be achieved. Amanda Densieski, junior worship leading major, has participated in the program and says it gives music majors a great experience to teach students. [WOVEN] reaches out and gives to the community, allowing inner city students free lessons and also introduces them to music and an instrument as well as theory, said Densieski. WOVENs theme verse is Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving. The program and its directors truly desire to see a change for the good in this community and believe that by sharing the gifts God has blessed his people with, they can bless others. Rebekah Rogado, junior music performance major, got more out of it than she thought she would. When I would look through my students books, I would think of ways ahead of time how I would teach the lesson differently from what the book said. I would think of my own ways of teaching it to her. Now that I teach piano, I definitely can see that WOVEN has helped and influenced me in that area, said Rogado. Kids ranging from ages 7-14 from all neighborhoods are welcomed and encouraged to participate. WOVEN is always looking for and in need of more teachers. Currently there are 25 students and 23 teachers. If you are interested in learning more about the program or have any questions, e-mail Phebe Yeo at phebe12@hotmail. com.

Dale Houghton (Above)The students practicing for their Christmas choir performance. (Left) Alumnus Phebe Yeo teaches her student, Immanuel, how to play piano. Im very excited for our recital coming up in a few weeks. Everyone is practicing really hard. -Phebe Yeo

Dale Houghton

A Cafeteria Thanksgiving With a Side of Job Opportunties

By HANNAH J. ONEY For most students who live on campus, a necessary part of their day-today life involves a meal plan which means frequenting the cafeteria. With Thanksgiving coming up, Greg Andrews, the Director of Pioneer Catering Food Service, plans to add new and special items. Students can experience a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 17. Ideas for the dishes served in the cafeteria come from a wide variety of sources. Pioneer has a recipe catalogue, and students and faculty have ideas, said Andrews. Some of our best come from employees; we make a small batch, and if people like it, we turn it into production. Andrews personal favorite dish is turkey a la king over rice.A seasoned turkey and gravy dish over rice, with chopped vegetables. Andrews also has suggestions for students trying to eat healthy in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The salad bar is always a good place to starteven the deli bar is pretty good too, said Andrew. At lunch, Monday through Friday, we usually have a vegetarian dish, but that doesnt necessarily mean healthy. We try to have one entre as a healthy alternative to the others. For students searching for a job in preparation for next semester, Andrews offered advice for these students. Usually two to three weeks before the end of semester [would be an ideal time to apply], but jobs can be available any other time, said Andrews. Andrews is pleased with the work ethic of many students who currently employed in the cafeteria, this reflects well on North Central. When asked if there were any North Central student who worked in the cafeteria or deli that he would like to recognize for an outstanding effort and a job well done, Andrews replied, There are a lot of them. Andrews mentioned the support of students and their direct impact to accomplish set goals for the cafeteria. Andrews notes that employed students, make what we do possible.

Rebekah Wilson

Feature
Branching Out in the Theatre World Tom Brokaw Speaks at Town Hall Forum
By SARAH MACK Senior vocal performance major Alan Bach has participated in many shows and church musicals throughout his life, performing in his first production in first grade at the age of six. His most recent role as a boy named Leaf Coneybear in the production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee of Theater Latt Da at the Ordway Theatre has taken his theater career to an exciting new place. The Tony Award-winning show is about an odd, yet charming group of outsiders that are brought together by a spelling bee the only place where they can truly stand out and fit in at the same time. As the show goes on, the audience soon realizes there is a lot more taking place besides the competition for the title of spelling bee champion. One of the challenges Bach and the other actors encountered during each show was having three volunteer participants from the audience on stage competing in the spelling bee. These volunteers were chosen half an hour before show time and the actors had to be ready at all times if one of the participants would get out when they werent suppose to or if they turned out to be better spellers than anticipated. Founded in 1994 by Peter Rothstein and Denise Prosek, Theater Latt Da is a professional theater company based out of Minneapolis. Bach auditioned in June for the company and received a callback in July for Spelling Bee. A month later, he found out he had been chosen for the role of Leaf Coneybear. I have always loved performing, whether it be singing a concert to my parents on my impromptu coffee table stage, using a turkey baster for a microphone, or being in real staged productions, said Bach. Since first grade, Bach has performed in various church musicals and community theatre. In middle school, he played a role in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater and was also a part of a company called Youth Performance based in Minneapolis. Bach attended Apple Valley High School and was involved in music and theatre there, while also gaining training in dance. For the past five summers, he had the opportunity to sing in a variety of shows at Valleyfair Amusement Park. Since being at North Central, Bach has performed in a number of productions including: The Secret Garden, The Fantasticks, Into the Woods, and Our Town. Two years ago, North Centrals Chorale traveled to New York City and spent time serving while also using their talent to sing. There, Bach had the opportunity to meet Laura Kelly, who recently played the role of Mary Poppins in the Broadway musical, Mary Poppins. She was such an inspiration to me, and is a Christian working in the musical theater world. It was then that I knew that I had to pursue my dream to perform in professional theater, said Bach. Once he graduates from North Central in December, Bach hopes to land a job as a production singer on a cruise line. After that, he plans to use the money he saves from the ship and audition in New York. His advice for students who have a heart for theater and are looking to go into it professionally is simple: audition. The only way to get better at it is to do it as frequently as possible. Work hard and really do the most you can with the talent that God has given you. If we want to be a light for the Lord, it is so important that we are ready to be great at what we do, otherwise we will have no respect from our colleagues. That, I think, is essential in being able to show the love of Jesus, said Bach. By KELSEY MARRIN In a building that has stood in significance for nearly 150 years, Westminster Presbyterian Church has been working on fulfilling its mission of becoming a telling presence in the city. This church that now has a large congregation started with a gathering of only eight people in 1857. Bi-weekly town hall forums are held at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Their forums are a way to get the publics view on certain current issues from an ethical perspective. On Nov. 8, the church had the honor of having Tom Brokaw as their main speaker. The evening started with a beautiful halfhour of worship before Brokaw took the stage. After the band stepped off the stage, attention shifted to the podium as elderly Tom Brokaw took the stage. Tom Brokaw is best known for his years of being the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He has received numerous awards and honors and is the only person who has hosted all three major NBC news programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Meet the Press. Brokaw sparked his presence on stage by bringing humor to the forum by talking about his mother. This is the fulfillment of my mothers lifelong dream; her son is standing in front of a pulpit with a full congregation, said Brokaw. After sharing a good laugh with everyone, Brokaw switched topics to America. He stated that America as a country works best when everyone is working together. The different religions, jobs, or cultures dont matter. Its that fact that we are a country and that at one point and time the United States use to work together, said Brokaw. Brokaw stated that we have lost the American Dream and we are now searching for possible solutions to this by looking back to earlier generations. Brokaw spent a good part of the evening talking about his new book, The Time of Our Lives: Past, Present, Promise. The book is the newest addition to his five bestsellers and is an examination of changes in American life since the Great Depression and is a reflection on Americas future. Brokaw took the audience through different stories included in the book. Many of the stories dealt with different veterans that he has come into contact with throughout the years. One of the stories was about a U.S. Marine that he met at a convention. The solider had served in three tours during the War on Terror. During his last tour, the solider and his unit were ambushed. When the heroic marine realized that three of his soldiers were missing, he went out looking for them. While searching for his comrades, he was hit by an explosive and shot eight times. After two-and-a-half years of rehab, therapy, and absence from his wife, the marine set out on a new mission. His next assignment was not to go back to the Middle East, but to help fellow wounded comrades continue the fight in the United States. After this story was told, Brokaw gave his final thoughts for the night. One hundred years from now people are going to make a judgment about how we [Americans] acted towards our troops, said Brokaw. He continued to state that Americans do not show enough respect for their troops and everything that they do for the American people. Stand up and let them know that youre thankful for them risking their lives for you, your family, and your country, said Brokaw.

(Left) Alan Bach (center), senior Vocal Performance major, performs in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Ordway Theatre. Star Tribune Tom Brokaw visited Minneapolis in 1999. During his visit in 2011, he spoke to a packed house about his upcoming book. Ordway Theatre

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ncurams.edu

Volleyball: Graduating Seniors

By AMY LAMBERT Andrea Grandstrand, senior english-writing major Grandstrand, originally from Karlstad, MN, began playing volleyball her junior year in high school. The North Central team is different, because while we like to tease each other and have fun, at the end of the day were solely there to support each other on and off the court. Grandstrand feels like she has learned valuable lessons through her four years on the North Central team. Ive learned to push myself farther than I ever thought imaginable. Ive learned to rely fully on God for my strength when I know my body has no more strength. Ive learned how to be a verbal leader, rather than just leading by example. Ive also learned that some people are in your lives for just a short period of time, but they can have a huge effect on who you are today. And yet others will stay in your life forever.

North Central Volleyball team won five games in their regular season, which qualified them for regionals, but did not make it to nationals this season. Danielle Anderson, senior ICS major Anderson, originally from Aurora, MN, was 7-years-old when she began playing volleyball and she has been playing ever since. What makes the North Central team different is the Christian influence. Weve talked a lot about how our source is found in Christ. Its been an amazing four years being a part of a team that strives to glorify God on and off the court. She also loves softball and has been a pitcher since she was 6-years-old. After she graduates, Anderson hopes to still be involved in both sports. Softball is my first love and I hope to play for years to come and possibly become a coach just like my dad. Due to knee problems, Anderson is unsure of how much longer she will be able to play volleyball. Her years of playing volleyball for North Central are valuable to her and she feels that she has learned a lot.

She hopes to stay involved in sports in the future. She is involved with her three younger siblings athletic careers, even if its just to cheer them on. Grandstrand would love the opportunity to be a coach someday. We had a great season this year and I am so proud of the girls. Im excited to see what the team does next year and they better bring their A-game for the alumni game next year, because Ill be there. Grandstrand is graduating in May and is getting married in her hometown on June 9. She hopes to work at one of the local universities and eventually teach English at the college level. My dreams include: going to grad school, traveling to England, Norway, and Sweden with my soon-to-be hubby, buying a home, starting a family, and loving my job (whatever that may be in the end).

Ive learned that no matter how many obstacles and challenges we face, Gods love never fails. We have faced so many hardships, and a lot of teams would just give up, but not this team. We have continued to pray for each player and Im always amazed at how faithful God is to us. As an intercultural studies major, Andersons ultimate dream is to work with kids overseas or in Minneapolis. To her, being a graduating senior feels surreal. I feel like I just came to NCU last year and now Im about to leave. Im sad about being done with my volleyball career, but I am at peace with it because I know all good things must come to an end. Over the past four years I have had the chance to be a part of such a great group of teammates and coaches who love the Lord. Its going to feel weird not playing volleyball in the fall, something Ive done every year since second grade.

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(Left) The soccer team loads the bus for the long drive to Florida for nationals. The best part about the drive was when it was over. You had to choose your seatmate wisely, because you were going to be sitting next to them for the next 30 hours. -Jordan Brokaw, forward (Below) Excited for Nationals. (Right) Mens soccer captains Cheddar (Kaleb Graham, left) and Jolly (Zach Claussen, right) helped the Mens team make their first ever appearance at the NCCAA National Championships this year.

Mens Soccer Makes it to Nationals

By ERICA WENIG It was two losses and a win for the North Central mens soccer team at this last weekends NCCAA DII National tournament in Flordia. At the beginning of the season head coach Jake Smith made a Dale Houghton statement more prescient than he realized when he spoke to the Northerner two weeks ago - a few days before district finals in Canada, and before knowing the team would advance to nationals after an 8-year dry spell. Our past disappointments are behind us. We are now set to begin a new era in NCU mens soccer, said Smith. When asked if this still rang true, Smith said the team started stronger than they had finished. Not exactly receding but not dubbing it literal truth either, Smith explained that injuries and tougher competition had made a difference. According to Smith, a couple of the injuries included a torn ACL and broken jaw - the circumstances of the latter seeming a bit hazy. All this contributed to the teams then record of 2-11-2. We had some very disappointing losses, said Smith, [But] I still think its the best team weve had in four years. No matter the outcome, the teams theology of soccer is that God is omnipresent. We try to play a game that Jesus Christ would like to watch. But we dont play sissy soccer, said Smith. According to Smith, team captains Zach Claussen Jolly and Kaleb Graham Cheddar, have led well. The team had a few compliments for their coach as well. Junior pastoral studies major, Nevin Alexander, calls Smith the man. He definitely adds spice to my life, said sophomore pastoral studies major, Alex Sanjari. Although we are very different, he always aims to pull the best out of me no matter how uncomfortable it makes me. He has never given up on me and Im thankful beyond words for that, said Sanjari. Freshman worship leading major, Braden Dressel, says the entire team respects Smith and thinks he is definitely the man for the job. As it was his first year on the team, senior children and family ministry major Jordan Brokaw says he appreciates how much time Smith spent helping him improve. With five players graduating and more games scheduled in next years season, Smith welcomes prospective players to the team the best one in the region.

Mark Sonntag

Mark Sonntag

Golfing to Glorify God

By BRIAN JONES For the past five years, North Central has had a mens golf team. Out of those five, this is the second year being an official NCAA sport. There are currently seven members of the team. The team practices twice a week at Mississippi Dunes in Cottage Grove, as well as individual practices on their own time. The team has been doing well this year. Coach Spencer Hutton says that the scoring average is the lowest since hes been on the team. They have been in some tournaments this year, and competed in the U-Mac conference. The team hopes to win a Conference Championship, and then move on to compete, and hopefully someday win a National Championship. Aside from playing the game well, the team also has a unique goal that is not always the case in sporting events, which is to glorify God through their skills. We play as a team, not for our own glory, but for Gods, which is what sets us apart from how golf is normally played, said Hutton. This philosophy was also held by the teams previous coach, Todd Monger. The team ncurams.edu looks forward to continuing in upcoming years, with the hope of recruiting athletes who not only have a love for the game, but who also share the teams mindset of using their athletic skills as an act of worship.

Northwestern College is helping me to develop and master the skills I need to be a leader. Peter, MOL Student

Believe. Learn. Master.

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Online or on site graduate programs.

Master of Arts in Human Services Master of Arts in Theological Studies Master of Divinity Master of Organizational Leadership 888-362-8715 nwc.edu/gradstudies

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