Life at PUC

On May 18, 2008, at 7 p.m., REVO PUC, a student-organized fundraiser for social justice, will be held on the Pacific Union College campus. It will feature a fashion show, a poetry slam, a flea market and a live concert. REVO (short for revolution) started in Hilo, Hawaii, in 2007 and has since become a chain of awareness-rasing events geared towards different causes of injustice around the globe. REVO PUC is directed towards increasing awareness and funds to stop human trafficking. Event organizer Rachael Thompson says that the inspiration for the event came to her after activist and entrepreneur David Batstone visited the campus and talked about the “Not for Sale” campaign to stop human trafficking. Thompson said, “Our hope for REVO, as it relates to the community, is that people will understand PUC to be a place where people are stirred to action in place of apathy. I've seen people's lives transformed as they learn about the truths of modern day slavery, and the idea that they can do something practical to abolish it.” The flea market will sell items collected from PUC faculty, students, and staff. Donors were asked to give careful consideration to their gifts. “[This is]...

At a May 5 meeting at the Angwin Fire Department, Napa County Sheriff deputy Jon Thompson awarded PUC student Scott Roberts and Angwin resident Mike Real with a Sheriff’s medallion in honor of emergency service they provided. Late on April 19, Roberts and Real, who had met just the day before, were headed back from Safeway when they saw an orange glow in the road near Beringer Vineyards. They were the first car to happen on a collision involving two patrol cars, one of which was burning. Roberts, a firefighter with the Angwin Fire Department and an EMT, had his EMT pack. Real, who had emergency training from the Navy, joined Roberts in doing an initial assessment of the situation and of injured Napa County Sheriff deputy Steve Paris. When ammunition rounds started going off from the burning patrol car, Roberts and Real moved Paris away from the car and continued medical attention. With a nurse who also stopped, and blankets from people at the nearby apartments, the two kept charge of the medical situation for around 20 minutes until emergency personnel showed up in force. As they talked with Paris to make sure he was conscious, he amazed them...

During the 2008 Homecoming Weekend, PUC celebrated the opening of a room in the library that’s rich with history, heritage, and childhood memories. The Maxwell Reading Room is the result of a gift from the Maxwell family, including material given by the late Malcolm Maxwell, a beloved former president of PUC. The collection of material celebrates the legacy of Malcolm’s father, Arthur S. Maxwell, and especially his contribution to Adventist children’s literature. Arthur Maxwell — or “Uncle Arthur” — served as editor of the Signs of the Times for 34 years and wrote over 100 volumes. His work is well known in the worldwide Adventist community, especially his books for children. Generations of Adventists have childhood memories of Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories and The Bible Story. These books, and others from Arthur Maxwell’s collection, became popular across countries and denominations and continue to sell today. The collection in the Maxwell Reading Room gives people an opportunity for nostalgia with first editions of Uncle Arthur’s volumes, as well as the original hand-written and typed manuscripts. The collection is not yet complete, and more material will still be added to the room over time. At Homecoming, the Reading Room was packed full...

“Our job as teachers is to make ourselves obsolete — to point you in the right direction and get out of the way.” The words of Cynthia Westerbeck, English professor and 2007-2008 Educator of the Year, opened the annual faculty awards program at Pacific Union College on April 24. At this program, faculty were honored for achievements and service that made them part of what Westerbeck described as “all simultaneously engaged in the quest for knowledge.” She told students, “The greatest reward we can receive as teachers is to be replaced by you.” Faculty members received awards for original work, grants for upcoming research, and Meritorious Service Awards. Awards for original work are given each year to professors who, in addition to maintaining their focus on undergraduate students, have also published, presented, or researched work, outside of Angwin, in their discipline. Twenty-four faculty members received awards for work ranging from solo art shows to poster sessions at professional conventions. Seven faculty members received Herber Grants, which are funded by the Herber Family Endowment, established in 2006 to facilitate teachers in their quest to achieve and sustain innovative, quality instruction. Herber Grants were awarded to biology professor Floyd Hayes for a...

April 17-22 marked Pacific Union College’s first Green Week. For six days PUC students and community members enjoyed activities that informed, entertained and provided opportunities to care for our local and global community. The week started with a special colloquy on April 17, including the PUC elementary choir and praise band’s boisterous performance of “With my Own Two Hands” and “The Three R’s.” Things got serious when Dr. Matthew Sleeth, a full-time minister in environmental conservation, shared his journey towards Christianity and environmental awareness. Once an ER doctor and secular humanist, he now devotes himself exclusively to promoting ecological awareness and serving Christ. His book title sums up his philosophy: Serve God, Save the Planet. Throughout Green Week, the campus continued to host events geared to educate and inspire students and the community to care for the earth. Events included an art contest for PUC elementary student and the films A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash, FernGully, and Who Killed the Electric Car? Freshman Tyler Mccullch took a break to watch A Crude Awakening. “It made me aware of what is actually happening with our current energy sources,” he said. Environmentalists new and old put their knowledge to practical use...

The sixth annual SONscreen Film Festival was kicked off on April 10 and ran through April 12 to an audience of young filmmakers from all over the country. The festival was once again held at its host location, the Adventist Media Center in Simi Valley, Calif. The three-day event provided attendees with an eclectic showcase of quality independent Christian filmmaking and a variety of workshops led by industry professionals highlighting screenwriting, cinematography and animation. PUC film instructor and one of the festival organizers, Stephen Eyer, said, “The mission of the SONscreen Film Festival is to nurture Christian filmmakers in their craft, career development and spiritual lives. Although the festival screens films from working professionals, the focus of the festival is on student filmmakers.” Several entries from PUC students were screened at this year’s festival, and Uly Mostrales’ short film “The Green Light” took home an award. Mostrales’ film, about finding inner strength when overcoming loss, received “Best Drama” and was the second award-winning short he’s taken to SONscreen. He won “Best Music Video” at the 2007 ceremony for his visual take of Emery’s “So Cold I Could See My Breath.” The ceremonies also provided a group of PUC students with...

Sacrifice and freedom are not things people typically pair in the same sentence. But surgeon Scott Nelson, '92, wants his life experience to inspire people to just that — “to make sacrifices and live with freedom.” His story is, in some ways, straightforward. At the age of 8, he felt the first tug of destiny when he visited his grandfather Olavi Rouhe, a surgeon who spent 25 years of his career in central Zaire (and also a 1929 graduate of PUC). That visit sparked Nelson’s ongoing interest in medicine and, he says, “With a sense of adventure and a desire to serve it was only sensible that I would follow in his footsteps.” Other influences were added to his grandfather’s. “I owe a great deal of thanks to Pacific Union College, Adventist education and a heritage of sacrifice and mission which we can proudly share with the world,” Scott says. At the PUC dining commons, Scott met one person who would be a big part of that influence: Marni Miller, ’91. After their PUC graduations, Scott and Marni married. “It is largely because of her sacrifices and encouragement that we have been led to do the work we do,” Scott...

On Monday, April 14, the PUC community received a special opportunity to experience the California premiere of Chinese filmmaker Jian Yi’s documentary, “Super, Girls!” PUC resident artist Mei Ann Teo introduced the screening to a full audience and hosted a Q & A session with the director after the screening. As part of a brief U.S. tour for the film, Yi’s visit to PUC was preceded by a packed screening at NYU and followed a day later by a stop at UCLA. The event presented students and faculty with a chance to experience world-class independent filmmaking.The film, “Super, Girls!” is a provocative and private glimpse into the world of the media machine and how it permeates the most personal depths of Chinese society. It begins by introducing the “Supergirls” singing contest, an anyone-can-win singing game show structured in the tradition of “American Idol.” “Supergirls” quickly became the most popular television show in the nation’s history, garnering nearly 450 million viewers during its peak of recognition in the latter half of its two-year run. The show wasn’t just a sensation, it was a movement. At the height of its popularity, it was banned by the Chinese government on accusations of being...

On April 10-13 in Irvine, California, thousands of people attended the Western Psychological Association’s 88th annual convention. Twenty-three of the attendees were from PUC. Twenty students and three teachers traveled to Southern California to take part in this annual convention where cutting-edge research is presented and world-renowned psychologists present lectures. It is an opportunity for students to be exposed to the professional world of psychology and allows them the opportunity to interact with professionals who have worked or are working in specialized fields of psychology, as well as make valuable academic and professional contacts. But PUC students did not go simply to absorb information; they also shared their own research. Every year a few PUC students spend a great deal of the school year working closely with professors to develop professional papers to present at the convention. Paper topics emerge out of personal interests, labs or previous projects that have gone very well. Students must submit proposals to the convention in November. Once accepted the real work begins. They must refine the work they’ve already done by doing further research and further developing their ideas. Students meet with a professor for at least an hour each week to work on...

Soloists and small ensembles in strings, handbells and chorale will perform a spring concert featuring Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings and works by Walton, Bruch, Chopin, Saint-Saens, Schubert, and others. The Octet for Strings is “a beautiful and exciting work that is not performed frequently because it requires eight very fine string players,” says Rachelle Berthelsen-Davis, PUC professor and orchestra director, “so it is a privilege to have the personnel to do so.” Tickets are $20 for general admission and $18 for members. A portion of the proceeds benefits the PUC music department. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone or at the ticket window at COPIA. Doors open for the concert at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call (707) 259-1600 or go to www.copia.org...