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This Valentine's weekend, instead of a fancy night of roses and chocolates, a group of college students opted for a romantic evening of . . . babysitting.Faculty, staff, and married students of Pacific Union College dropped off their children for a free night of babysitting at the Student-Association-sponsored "Couple's Night Out." Starting at five on Saturday evening, twenty children, ranging from six weeks to two years old, arrived at the college's Campus Center, where they were greeted by student volunteers, loaded up with games and movies for the long night ahead.With roughly two kids per volunteer, the S.A. started out smart by appeasing future hunger pangs first. Each child was handed a bag of snacks, which included crackers and juices, to sustain any sort of cravings during the next few hours. They then introduced the children to several games. A separate room with a big screen television and plenty of couches was also set up to show various g-rated movies throughout the night."Everyone paid attention during the first movie," says Janis Chang, student association president. "But by the middle of the second one, we had a lot of kids running all over the place. Thank goodness we had volunteers who...

The time has come to fan those latent sparks of creative genius that have been smoldering quietly ever since you discovered, whether in high school or in English 101, that you really could write. Even though you know you have talent, you still haven't done anything about it. Maybe you thought you weren't good enough for publication, or maybe you didn't think any magazines would be interested in your work. But, in fact, there are magazines actually begging for young writers to submit quality stories and articles. Your time has come. Why write for a magazine? Besides the intrinsic exhilaration you experience when your work is published, there are practical reasons to share your ingenious gift with the printing press. First of all, whether or not we like to admit it, we all have a little mercenary streak. For indigent college students, the money the magazine will give for a story is a definite advantage. But even if you already enjoy the benefits of affluence, there are still reasons to start submitting your writing. If you are published, then you have the start of a great writing portfolio. This is an advantage, even if you don't plan to be the...

Pacific Union College's Fine Art Series is proud to present Maurita Phillips Thornburgh, a soprano soloist, in concert on February 27. Phillips-Thornburgh is renowned throughout the West Coast area for her exquisite musicianship and artistry and has an impressive repertoire, ranging from fourteenth century works to the latest compositions. She has considerable experience, having performed extensively in the U.S., and internationally in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. She has also recorded several albums and has participated in recording sound-tracks for television and film, including Beauty and the Beast and Amistad. Besides her impressive and much admired standing as a soloist, Maurita Phillips Thornburgh has extended her talents to conducting and serving as an artistic director for several programs. She founded and conducts the group CANTORI DOMINO, a multi-faceted group of artists that strives to perform and educate in many of the fine arts; and she participates in several other programs as well....

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, has grown into a national phenomenon in recent years. Even passive Shakespeare fans make the pilgrimage and leave as die-hard enthusiasts, with visions of iambic pentameter dancing in their heads. The experience, however, can be even more meaningful, educational-and fun-when enjoyed on a stimulating study tour with a knowledgeable guide and a whole group of fellow devotees. This summer, Pacific Union College will offer individuals the chance to visit the festival with just such a tour. For students and others continuing their education, the trip will supply the perfect opportunity to meld scholarship, merriment, and college credit. Those who don't need the credit but still wish to experience the fantastic festival are also welcome. The Shakespeare in Ashland study tour provides a unique chance to experience Shakespeare in an immediate and colorful way: through authenPe reproductions of his plays. In addition, there will be seminars, a backstage tour, and a meeting with an actor. This year's festival will feature the plays Much Ado About Nothing, a comic favorite; Pericles, a magical romance; Othello, the classic tragedy; and Henry IV, Part II, which will be performed in the Elizabethan tradition-with an all-male cast. The...

On the terrace level of Clark Hall, the recently rebuilt biology department building at Pacific Union College, there is a special room in which visitors come within inches of over 40 species of wild animals. Protected only by a velvet rope, viewers can gaze into the gentle eyes of a cape buffalo, a black wildebeest, or a sable antelope, or can stand beneath the monumental head of a real elephant. The adventurous can even find themselves face to face with a prowling mountain lion, a snarling tiger, or a roaring bear - Oh my! This unique experience is contained in the Hansen Collection, a special collection of stuffed game animals from around the world now on permanent display at PUC. The Hansen Collection is a rare gathering of large animals from North America, Africa, and Asia. Kodiak and polar bears stand as silent sentinels at the doors of the exhibit, and a leopard, tiger, and mountain lion, lurk about the corners of the room, anticipating the coming arrival of a jaguar from South America. The museum boasts a prized "grand slam" of the four North American mountain sheep - the Rocky Mountain bighorn, the desert bighorn, the Dall sheep, and...

On Saturday, May 8, Pacific Union College presents renowned singer Ullanda Innocent in concert. Ullanda has had a successful and diverse singing career, performing as a backup singer in groups such as The Honeycomb and with the singing/recording duo Ashford and Simpson. Ullanda was also well known as the "Queen of Jingles" and was the composer and voice of commercials for many companies, including Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Snickers. She has made television appearances on Saturday Night Live and The David Letterman Show and has recorded with artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. Ullanda has now dedicated her many talents to Christian ministry. She and her husband, Patrick, have developed "Second Advent Ministries," a successful evangelism organization, and are also involved in other evangelistic outreach programs such as "The Breath of Life" and "It Is Written."...

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.On March 4th, PUC students fasted for a day in response to the incredible devastation suffered in Honduras in the wake of the tremendous hurricane that hammered the country last year. Their project, entitled "Let-it-Growl," set out to raise money for the hurricane victims. However, for many it helped to create an awareness of this disaster, as well as to establish the role of Christians as active ministers in a world of suffering.When hurricane Mitch hit the Central American country of Honduras last November, the death toll reached into the thousands and is growing every day as the waters recede and more bodies are discovered. Homes, neighborhoods, and entire cities were destroyed in the hurricane's floods and mudslides. Seventy percent of the nation's agricultural sector was destroyed by water, as well as seventy percent of its roads, bridges, and water supplies. Millions have been left without food, water, shelter, or medical resources, and the problem is only exacerbated by the fact that Honduras' major population centers are cut off from both Pacific and Caribbean ports. Many regions are still only accessible by air.Against such a backdrop of devastation, PUC students began to search for...

Ileana Douglas has accepted the position of academic dean and vice president for academic administration at Pacific Union College. Ms. Douglas is currently a professor of history at Atlantic Union College, and also has had experience in administration. She and her husband Marvin will arrive at PUC after she has finished defending her dissertation in Spain this April. Beginning next school year, Ms. Douglas will be assuming the duties of Dr. Charles Bell, who has requested a return to teaching after 15 years of dedicated service as PUC's academic dean....

The 2000 Longo Lecture Series will feature Phillip E. Johnson, professor of law at the University of California, Berekely. Dr. Johnson, called "our age's clearest thinker on evolution" and the "principal lay critic of Darwinism," is the author of numerous best selling books, essays, and articles. One of his more famous works, Darwin on Trial, examines the scientific evidence for and against Darwinistic evolution, arguing that the hotly debated theory is based more on faith than on evidence. The Longo Lecture, made possible by a generous grant from by Dr. Lawrence D. Longo, is scheduled for February 2000....

As part of their campaign to beautify the campus, the Student Association held a student auction at the annual Spring Festival on May 4. More than 40 local businesses donated certificates, services, and gifts to be sold to the highest bidder. Several students were able to purchase fine dining opportunities at a lower cost, but the bargain of the night was a $270-valued teeth-whitening procedure, donated by Dr. Darleene Hemmerlin, sold for only $150. The event raised more than $2000. The proceeds will go toward picnic tables to be placed outside the Campus Center, a popular hangout for the students....