For being new on the music scene, Valley Worship delivers a set of worship music that is well worth the listen. It presents a good mix of vocals, instruments and sounds, offering a fresh take on the mainstream view of Christian music. The band’s members do not give off the impression that they are trying to prove themselves. According to Valley Worship’s website, each of their songs simply finds its roots in their community’s “desire to worship by the Word, worship daily and worship unashamedly.”

The album starts off with “A Rush of Color,” an instrumental track that displays the band’s creativity while purposefully mirroring the theme of divine creativity as seen in Genesis 1:1-3. It leads right into “God of Creation,” which carries an upbeat tune and a readily familiar chorus refrain that emphasizes God’s identity. A later track named “Name Above All Names” takes up the theme of identity again as the lyrics count off numerous titles for God, climaxing with “Jesus” in the chorus. Its use of the synth and steady drumbeats made me think of the oldies, just a little bit.

Valley Worship uses some nice background riffs on the electric guitars, as in “I Will Give Praise” and “We Cry Holy.” In the latter song, a solid beat and smooth work on the keys carries into the guitars at the first chorus and then builds with the drums at the second go-around. The pace lets up for the bridge and picks up right where it left, permeated with recurring praises of God’s holiness and worthiness.

“Eyes Open,” another instrumental — this time inspired by Psalm 119:18 — provides an intro to the following song, “Who Is Like Our God,” setting the stage for the words to come. “Who Is Like Our God” boasts strong vocals from band member Ashley Beckford and powerful lyrics proclaiming God’s exclusive character and extraordinary acts.

The last three songs almost blend right into each other, with the lyrics as well as the sound, with the instrumental acting like a bridge between the two.

“You Came” presents a sincere cry recounting God’s saving deeds — with attention to those past, present and future. The third instrumental track, entitled “Daylight,” consists of an electronic representation of 2 Corinthians 5:17, a statement of complete newness for believers in Christ. The album’s final song goes by the name “Renewed,” and its ending revives some of the sounds from “Daylight,” perhaps to mimic the theme of a constant cycle of freshness in a life lived by faith.

The band’s roster looks like this: Beckford and Jeremiah Mullins with vocals; Joel Ceballos with programming and vocals; Lance Beckford on drums and percussion; Michael Lee on piano; Troy Welstad on keys and programming; Matthew Ferrer on electric and lap steel guitars; Ryan Biermann on electric guitar; Jeff Jansen on acoustic, bass and electric guitars, as well as guitaret; Benjamin Stanton in charge of arranging and conducting the strings; with Susanna Kwon on the cello; Lily Mackay on the viola and Annie Hoffman and David Cano on the violin.

A majority of Valley Worship’s members have roots in APU. Jansen and Biermann are APU alumni, and Lee teaches as a professor in the music department. Mullins, a senior, and Ferrer, a junior, are communication studies majors, while Lance is a senior music education major. Mackay is a freshman violin performance major, Hoffman is a senior church music major, Cano is a sophomore film major and Kwon is a sophomore cello performance major.

Considering the way Valley Worship’s first recording can satisfy cravings of musicians and Christians alike, the team from CCV might just have what it takes to do it again someday

Chick-fil-A COURTESY

Chick-fil-A is the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant in the U.S., right after Kentucky Fried Chicken. The company is known for promoting its founder’s Christian values.

President Dan Cathy spoke at APU on April 29, 2010 at an event hosted by the School of Business and Management. Amelia Huss, then a senior business administration major and an intern at the Office of Asset Management, attended the lecture and came up with the idea of getting a Chick-fil-A to Azusa.

“The company’s moral beliefs definitely align with our university and it seemed like a very natural fit,” Huss said. “There’s also nothing in the area that is like Chick-fil-A. It’s very unique.”

APU owns the southeast corner of Citrus and Alosta as an endowment investment. Pho 777, Chinese Taste, American Christian Credit Union and the new Yogurtland are all in the APU-owned square.

With Sizzler gone, the prominent “hard corner” was open — the valuable corner spot right at the intersection.

Huss took her Chick-fil-A idea to Dave Reid, director of asset management.

“I said let’s figure out what the number one restaurant is, and Amelia said Chick-fil-A was No. 1,” Reid said. “So we went after them.”

Huss graduated in May 2010, but was still at APU for the Young Executive Master of Business Administration (YEMBA) graduate program. She contacted Chick-fil-A and discussions began in October 2010. By 2011 Chick-fil-A and APU had formed an agreement.

“Dave’s a very good boss and he was great along the process. He let me run with a far-fetched idea and didn’t discourage me at all,” Huss said. “It became a reality pretty quickly. Nothing’s too big or out of reach.”

Contrary to some rumors, students will not be able to use their meal plans at Chick-fil-A. However, APU is considering letting students use Cougar bucks, which is similar to a debit card.

Although Reid had never heard of Chick-fil-A before Huss brought it up, he has a very positive impression of the company.

“From what I understand now, it is one of the finest [restaurants], and the people I’ve worked with are extremely decent people,” Reid said.

He also worked with the city of Azusa, particularly with Mayor Joseph Rocha and new city manager James Makshanoff.

“We’re very fortunate to have the mayor we have, and the new city manager’s just an excellent person,” Reid said.

Junior theater major Hannah Bickley thinks the new Chick-fil-A will provide more jobs for APU students.

She has also participated in Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day several times. For one day every summer, Chick-fil-A restaurants give a free meal to any customer who comes dressed as a cow.

“I always thought it was so cool, because even though I’m vegetarian they’ll give me a free milkshake and fries,” Bickley said. “I also like that they’re closed on Sundays. Not very many businesses nowadays do that.”

Bickley said Chick-fil-A is a well-loved restaurant among college students.

“Everyone who I’ve talked to who has eaten Chick-fil-A absolutely thinks they’re delicious,” Bickley said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything negative about Chick-fil-A.”

Huss now lives in Phoenix and works for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The credit for bringing a Chick-fil-A to Azusa belongs to her as she was the one who came up with the idea and initially contacted them.

“I’m really excited for it. It’s a big deal for APU,” Huss said. “Seeing something from an idea all the way through to its opening is awesome.”

The Friends of Belwop nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting and promoting the Belwop Rescue Center in Kenya. The Friends of Belwop group seeks to provide the rescue center with shelter, food, clothing, medical care and primary school education for the children by covering the costs of school tuition, uniforms and supplies.

According to the Belwop Project’s website, the Belwop Rescue Center exists for a single purpose: “to give a hope and a home to the abused, neglected and orphaned children of Kenya.”

The Belwop Rescue Center was started in 2005 by one woman, Veronica Mumbi, and is still in existence today, but is in need of a new establishment due to the continued debt of a rented facility.

Cultivate Wines, the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company that granted the $50,000 to the Belwop Project, promotes the idea that life is about sharing. Cultivate Wines seeks to share not only bottles of fine wine, but also for this sharing to spread even further to causes people care about. Cultivate Wines claims that, although their business is wine, their “mission is a fuller life for all.”

“Cultivate was started as a company that had at its core a commitment to refreshing others. ‘He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed,’” Cultivate Wines customer support representative Katelynn Sandberg said.

According to a video on YouTube produced by the creators of Cultivate Wines, Charles and Ali Banks, Cultivate Wines is based on an economic model that gives back first. The Banks’ also believe that while making wine from all around the world, they “expect to make a difference all around the world.”

Every quarter Cultivate Wines gives away 10 percent of their sales before profit in what they call the GIVE. The 10 percent of their sales in the GIVE is donated to a nonprofit organization focused on health, safety, education, community and environment. In order to determine what organization will receive the donations from the GIVE, Cultivate Wines hosts an online voting competition between an abundance of organizations that apply to be a part of the running for the $50,000.

During the month of March, announcements from members of the Belwop Project were made about Friends of Belwop’s entry in the competition at Kaleo, as well as in classrooms and on Cougar Walk by APU alums working with the Belwop Project. The announcements made at Kaleo urged students to take a minute to vote for Friends of Belwop on Cultivate Wines’ voting page so that the organization could win $50,000 for its incredible cause.

Sophomore graphic design major Davin Lindwall was among many students at Kaleo who happily voted for the Belwop Project.

“There was a mysterious peace that I had never felt before at Kaleo,” Lindwall said. “It was such a practical way to love your neighbor as yourself and to watch out for the orphan. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t have voted.”

The first-quarter voting ended on March 31, and 10 percent of Cultivate Wines’ sales were donated to the first place winner of the voting contest: The Friends of Belwop. The Friends of Belwop received more votes on Cultivate Wines’ voting page than any of the 29 other causes and won by nearly 3,000 votes.

Though the Friends of Belwop may have been awarded the $50,000, other organizations were also awarded for being among the top-five runners-up in the voting. The top-five runners-up received $10,000 from Cultivate Wines, and they included Sole Hope in North Carolina, The Peace Project in California, Playing for Change Foundation in California, Community Development International in New York and the Anna Julia Cooper School in Virginia. The remaining 24 nonprofit organizations that participated in the voting process are eligible to apply again as long as they did not win any money in the previous round of voting.

“Every organization that is part of the GIVE process is doing great things and worthy of the money. We are happy at every chance to GIVE, and certainly happy about this $50,000 going to Friends of Belwop,” Sandberg said. “Because of our wine sales last quarter, 100 needy children in Kenya are going to have a new home. That is why we do this.”
After receiving such a large donation from Cultivate Wines, the Friends of Belwop will use the money to purchase a larger facility for the orphanage to give up to 100 children food and shelter each day.

According to Associate Vice President of Student Life Willie Hamlett, Haven’s request to utilize Seven Palms arrived during Spring Break and the two committees in charge of responding to these types of requests were unable to meet in time to make a decision.

“We value, respect and most importantly love all people. I look
forward to continued dialogue with students about our mission and its
impact on culture,” Hamlett said.
Christmas lights outlined a makeshift stage that sat on Citrus’ parking lot. The backdrop consisted of a long piece of red fabric draped across two trees holding two striped flags. The Haven memory kite, created at the group’s inception, hung from the stage. It held articles and letters written in the past, relating to the group.
People slowly trickled in and found a spot on a blanket, chair, couch, beanbag, cushion, or seat in the backseat of a car. Some slowly walked around the area looking at the art surrounding the stage with cups of tea in hand. The size of the group increased as time passed and eventually there were nearly 200 people lingering around the stage.
At 8:30 p.m., the show began. The night was introduced with a reading of a statement created by those in Haven, a support network of LGBTQ students and supporters, a group that is not currently recognized as a club by APU. Next, Rev. Susan Russell, an open lesbian priest from All Saints Church in Pasadena, opened in prayer.
The Art of Discovery was planned as a celebration; an evening of music, art, dance and poetry, while exploring the topics of gender, sexual orientation and sexual identity.
“People don’t really realize how much students with different sexual orientations have similar life to them and so there are similar struggles that they go through and it’s just good to have a small group to deal with those,” APU alum Dara Glanzer said.
The night was filled with music, dancing, poetry, comedy and short skits. Although many of the performers were APU students, many came from Citrus, Mount Sac, Biola and neighboring churches. APU alum Melissa Dorman recited a poem about her time at APU. She arrived as a heterosexual and eventually fell in love with another heterosexual girl.
“And as you walk down the halls of every classroom — no better, every dorm — the music grows louder still until the melody thunders like a storm. Soon the celebration of all sexual orientations will be the campus norm. And may tonight, my story, just add another note to the music we will form. As we leave here tonight free from the pressures to conform,” Dorman recited from her poem.
An APU professor, who preferred to be kept anonymous, attended the event as a supporter.
“A lot of these kids are my students and I just wanted them to know that they have the support and love from at least one of their professors. I know that a lot of professors do support this group and this movement, but unfortunately most of them can’t come to these things because they will get in big trouble. The perception among the faculty is that you really cannot touch this subject, unless you’re going to condemn it completely,” the APU professor said.
The Rev. Susan Russell has been married to her wife for seven years, and her church has been openly blessing homosexual marriages for over 20 years.
“I think that it’s important because I am an out lesbian and an Episcopal priest. It’s important to stand up and speak out when I can, to be a role model and to show a sense that there certainly are places where being authentic about who you are is not a barrier to living a full and productive life,” Russell said.
Russell is also a contributor for the Huffington Post’s Gay Voices column, in which she wrote about Haven’s event in an article entitled “Voices from a Parking Lot,” published Monday.
The anonymous professor does not see the policy or culture that APU has in place ever changing.
“Parents aren’t going to send their kids here if they think that there’s a ‘gay club,’ that’s just the bottom line,” the APU professor said.
Junior sociology major Glenda McDannell helped plan the event and felt that it panned out perfectly.
“I know that APU policy has changed and that LBGT students are now allowed to identify with their sexual orientations, but they aren’t allowed to be in relationships or act on it or romanticize. [Haven] is to create a space for people to be safe and to be free, to be whom they were made to be,” McDannell said.

Stefan Eiles, a senior marketing major, has been wearing a shirt declaring that he is buying drinks for minors. The shocking statement has garnered many confused reactions, but few have actually been vocal about what is written on his shirt.

“With such a shocking statement being advertised, I honestly expected more of a reaction from people. No one has really said anything in outrage or who are visibly offended by it,” Eiles said.

Upon first glance, Eiles’ shirt seems to be an endorsement for underage drinking, but it is actually a campaign to raise money to provide clean water for those without it.  One’s twenty-first birthday is stereotypically a day for wild partying and drinking copious amount of alcohol, but Eiles is making his 21st birthday a chance to do good and make a difference.

“All children should have access to drinking [water].  I already have all I need to live a wonderful life; I don’t need any more gifts for myself.  Instead, if I have the power to give this gift to others, then that’s what I choose,” Eiles said.

Eiles is working with the non-profit organization Charity Water to provide clean, fresh drinking water for children all around the world, where 100 percent of all donations directly fund clean water projects in 19 different developing countries.

Though campaign has already raised over $600 and has provided clean water for over thirty people so far, it is not because of his outrageous titled tee shirt.

“As it turns out, wearing a t-shirt with a message that suggests future illegal activity is not bold enough to break through the clutter of people’s everyday lives.  That, or APU students do not believe that I intend to buy alcoholic beverages for underage drinkers.  Or worse, they don’t care,” Eiles said. “ In any case, those who have donated have mostly been those people who know me personally.”

Access to clean and fresh water prevents disease, helps economies and communities and improves the lives of women and children who are normally forced to walk several miles to get clean water. Ninety percent of the 30,000 deaths that occur each week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are of children under five years old. Furthermore, in Africa alone, people spend 40 billion hours every year just walking for water. In areas where gathering water is impossible, small-scale private water distributors charge full market prices, forcing the poorest households to spend up to 11 percent of their already limited income on life’s most basic need.

Eiles’ goal is to raise $2,100 to give to the organization.

“If my birthday campaign reaches my goal, we will have given clean water to 105 people, and that is something worth celebrating,” Eiles said.

To learn more about the clean water crisis in developing nations, the organization Charity Water and how to get involved, students can visit their website, www.charitywater.org. Additionally, students can go to mycharitywater.org/stefan21birthday to track the progress of the fundraiser, post comments and make a donation to the cause.

The numbers of players that played last year added up to around 500 out of the 600 that signed up. This year, the total number of students who signed up added up to around 300. Within the first four days, 100 participants had dropped out. The numbers continued to drop.

According to Director of Communiversity Chuck Strawn, there are a number of factors that have caused the drop in students participating this year.

“One [factor] is that this is the fourth year [of the game],” Strawn said. “It could very well be that the energy and the excitement of the group of students who started the game has run its course, this [being] their senior year.”

Strawn’s point proves to be a valid one. Senior cinema arts major Joey Banasihan feels that after playing three years, another would simply be too much.

“For the most part, four years would be a lot,” Banasihan said. “As far as I know, the people who stopped, as well as myself, felt that three years was good enough.”

However, this does not mean they want to take a step away from the game entirely. Many of the people who stopped playing the game still want to enjoy it.

“A lot of the people who have stopped are now a part of facilitating,” Banasihan said. “So, they still are within the actual game, they just take a new role. It’s been really fun, but I think we all just want a new role in the whole thing; whether it be spectating or facilitating.”

Another factor for the decrease in students playing this year could be because the freshmen involvement does not match those of previous years. The freshmen are normally more enthusiastic about not only the game, but everything in general, Strawn said.

“The students last year were saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be involved in everything and I want to do everything,’ and there was just a lot of energy with that class,” Strawn said. “This year, I haven’t seen that same level. Not that it’s been bad … on a scale of one to 10, last year’s group was a 27 while this year’s group was a 12, so it just creates a different dynamic.”

The third factor Strawn mentioned that many students have agreed with is the timing of the game. After spring break is the time of year when everyone is busy and there are many events to go to.

“We’ve got tons of music concerts and performance pieces and projects and papers and all that stuff that I think when people may have initially signed up for it before spring break, they didn’t realize coming back that, ‘Oh my goodness, this is going to be a real squeeze,’” Strawn said.

For the students playing Humans vs. Zombies this year, their schedules do not stop them from enjoying the game. Sophomore business administration major Sameer Sedam juggles being on the track team and being a student, while still managing to play the game.

“It was fun last year and it’s only a week and a half, so it doesn’t take too much out of your life,” Sedam said. “You get to meet a lot of new people, new friends.”

Even though it may be known why certain people are playing again and why others are not, it is still unknown as to why many people will sign up and drop out, especially this year.

Strawn performed statistical research to try and find out more about this situation. He asked students about their class and chapel attendance.

“What was interesting was in looking at the statistics from our post game survey, a number of students said that the game impacted their class attendance. I initially assumed that this was a negative impact; that they didn’t go to chapel as much and they didn’t go to class as much,” Strawn said. “But, when I gave them another question, which was more ‘report your experience,’ there, I saw people saying, ‘Yeah, absolutely. I stayed in class, it was a lot more safe. I found a good rhythm. I knew that I wasn’t going to be bothered so I did go to class more frequently.’”

With these results, it becomes difficult to determine exactly which participants were going to class and chapel and which participants were not going. The ones who stay involved in the game may be the ones that attend class and chapel more frequently while the ones who do not stay involved with the game may stick to their original schedule. These numbers are hard to measure.

While participation with Humans vs. Zombies seems to be slightly falling out, Strawn has plans for the future to make the HvZ experience easier to be a part of.

One plan includes doing the game before spring break so things are not hectic like they are when the game takes place after spring break.

Another plan includes doing something in the fall. Strawn revealed an idea that he is trying to make happen within the next few years: a church camp between four to five Christian universities, such as Concordia and Vanguard, that would take place during the weekend.

“We get there Friday, we do a meet-and-greet, we get to know each other. Saturday, we divide into teams and play a huge game [of Capture the Flag] all day Saturday. Sunday morning, we can get up and do some worship together and go back to our respective campuses,” Strawn said.

Humans vs. Zombies might have lost many participants, but this is due to many different factors that seem to be temporary. There are many plans for the game and there are still many ideas floating around. The future for the game looks bright.