The Crusader Vol. 69 Issue 5

If you’ve been at NNU for the last cou-ple of years you may have noticed some changes in The Dex, our lovely campus cafeteria run by the company Sodexo. Sodexo has been at NNU since 1959, al-though it has been called many different

names over the years — Saga, Marriott, and Sodexho-Marriott, to name a few. And the name is not the only thing that has changed over the years.

When the Student Center underwent some much needed updates to the carpet-ing and furniture, The Dex also took ac-tion. Instead of small, hard-to-read paper signs with listed hours and menu items, Sodexo created black, modern-looking

signs that featured hours, events, and menu items and worked to improve the space they had.

But perhaps most importantly, The Dex started work on a wider and healthier menu.

“Our pizzas are hand-made by staff every day, and we now offer more vegetar-ian friendly options,” said Kayla Davidson, Sodexo’s first marketing intern at NNU. “There have been complaints in the past about the quality of food at The Dex, and that attitude kept getting passed down to incoming freshmen. But with the improvements, we’ve had a lot more positive feedback, and most of the nega-tivity is gone.”

One thing that Andy Chaplin, the Director of Food Services, has done is to offer comment cards. Students can use these cards to offer suggestions for further improvement, and the great part about them is that Chaplin reads every single one and tries his best to address every issue that students raise.

“There were a lot of complaints in the past, but students weren’t really offering

any solutions. But as The Dex has under-gone changes, student complaints have been paired with plausible solutions,” Davidson said.

One of the greatest strengths that The Dex has is enormous amount of team-work. Though there are many new faces this year, there are also plenty of familiar faces.

“Everyone works together like a fam-ily. It’s such a great environment to work in,” Davidson exclaimed.

Sodexo employees’ willingness to work together as a team has paid off, as Sodexo was named “One of the Best Companies for Hourly Workers” in 2013 by Working Mother magazine, and the #1 company for diversity by DiversityInc. Keep in mind that Sodexo is a nationwide company, and we should be very grateful for their continued

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Multicultural Club.................................pg. 2Sodexo Continued................................pg. 3MAF.............................................................pg. 3

Senate..........................................................pg. 4Around the Globe................................pg. 7Islamic State..........................................pg. 8-9

Campus Events.....................................pg. 9Student Highlight..................................pg. 4No Shave November.........................pg. 5Senior King and Queen...................pg. 6

NNU Crusader Newspaper

issuu.com/crusaderonline

Men’s Basketball..................................pg. 10Women’s Basketball...........................pg. 11

Mama Mandy........................................pg. 12Sudoku.......................................................pg. 12

volume 69 issue 5

see Sodexo on pg. 3

The Food We Love: Sodexo at its FinestMarina Rose

assistant editor for The Crusader

Brittany McCarty

Sodexo staff hard at work preparing food for hungry college students.

But with the improvements, we’ve had a lot more positive feedback,

and most of the negativity is gone.”Kayla DavidsonSodexo Marketing Intern

“

2 | Monday, November 17, 2014Volume 69 Issue 5

The Multicultural Club has had a big presence on campus in past years as a way to connect students from diverse backgrounds and provide opportunities for creativity, fun events, and friendship building. Lisah Malika, the club presi-dent, says, “Multicultural club was estab-lished to increase awareness, cooperation and understanding concerning ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity on cam-pus. Our desire was to have multicultural club be a club not just for the internation-al students but all NNU students.”

Unfortunately, this year the club is on a sort of sabbatical after a few key leaders graduated and active participation dwin-dled. However, Joe Wiley, the director of the English Language Institute at NNU, says that international students are still connecting in other ways through The Well. The Well is located on the right as you walk into the Student Center double doors from the direction of Corlett apart-ments. It includes a lounge area where students can hang out, an interactive TV,

a classroom, and Wiley’s office.Wiley previously taught at Korea Naz-

arene University for five years and then found a job at NNU through a former KNU colleague, Julene Tegerstrand. He taught ESL (English as a Second Lan-guage) as an adjunct and then became the ELI Director about a year and half ago. Wiley works mostly with students with visas, and among other things, op-erates summer camps for international students. Last year they had 40 students over a period of six weeks come to NNU for camps.

Although the Multicultural Club is not operational at this time, the Hanban Society Confucius Classroom Network, a Chinese international goodwill or-ganization with a branch at NNU, is an active group that has gone largely under the radar. Currently there are about six-ty visa-holding international students at NNU, and roughly half are Chinese. Many of them are part of the Hanban So-ciety, which was behind the recent “Chi-nese Culture Games in the Dex.” Wiley explains that the Confucius Classroom is not an indoctrination of Confucianism, but a forum “relating Chinese ideals, cul-

ture, and history to the world.” Two NNU professors, Lixia Shen and Jing Chen, teach Chinese classes and also offer lec-tures once a month to the general public in conjunction with the Confucius Class-room. The next lecture will take place in January.

Chinese students have taken advan-tage of The Well and its amenities, but

they are available to all students, even non-international students. Earlier this semester a group of students hosted a Mexican dinner night at the Brick House, and Wiley says he would like to see more of those kinds of activities. Any aspiring student could organize such an event to provide NNU students with fun cultur-al and relational experiences, and Wiley hints he might even be able to provide some funds for such an event. Regarding events like that, and Multicultural Club, Wiley says, ““I’d like to see interest from students, more organically.” He is con-fident that the school will get more in-ternational students and more diversity over time, which will help programs like the Multicultural Club and the Hanban Society grow. However, Malika says that that growth will require interest from non-international students as well. She says, “There is a stigma that to be in the multicultural club you have to be from a different country,” but that simply is not true. So, if you’re interested in planning or being part of something like that, there are plenty of opportunities available- and now you know where to find The Well.

featuresSarah Blum

writer for The Crusader

What Happened to the Multicultural Club?

Brittany McCarty

Joe Wiley director of English Language Institute at NNU

Crusader Staff ContactAvery Russell Editor in Chief [email protected] Rose Assistant Editor [email protected] Wren Design Editor [email protected] Ostyn Writer [email protected] Blum Writer [email protected] Roemhildt Writer [email protected] Monroe Photographer [email protected] McCarty Photographer [email protected] Mostul Business Manager [email protected]

Would you like to guest write for The Crusader next semester?

If so...e-mail the editor for more details!

| 3Monday, November 17, 2014 Volume 69 Issue 5

presence at NNU.The Dex has also been working on

hosting more student events. It is Da-vidson’s job to make sure that NNU stu-dents know about these events. Upcom-ing events aren’t posted in some obscure, dark corner in the Student Center, they are front and center on the board right inside The Dex doors, on Sodexo’s face-book page, Sodexo@NNU, and on www.nnudining.com. Oh, and they’re also floating around in your email inbox, so open up those emails from Davidson and Chaplin! One event you don’t want to miss is the Sweet Things Gourmet Des-serts! Sound delicious? Then head on over to The Dex this evening for some yummy treats!

Some other events that Sodexo has

held are the BBQ Blues and Smokehouse Steaks. These events are catered by So-dexo and outside restaurants, and atten-dance to these events usually only costs a card swipe and a few extra bucks. Not too bad for a deliciously catered meal.

Speaking of catering, did you know that Sodexo not only provides us with delicious and healthy meals every day, they also cater meals for special events on and off campus? They are also in charge of The Bean in the Learning Commons.

The Dex staff is a very busy bunch, but they always manage to keep smiles on their faces. In fact, many NNU students work for Sodexo, and every one that I have talked to always has something pos-itive to say about their work. It is not only a job or a means of income, it is a part of the loving NNU community that we live in and love so very much.

Brittany McCarty

Employees at the new coffee shop, The Bean, in the Leah H. Peterson Learning Commons.

It’s difficult to remember a time before airplanes. They have become just as com-mon for transportation as the car or bicy-cle. Mission Aviation Fellowship [MAF] is using this valuable tool to help bring the gospel of Christ to thousands of peo-ple in the remote corners of the world.

“MAF’s mission statement is using aviation and technology so that isolated people can be physically and spiritual-ly transformed,” said communication officer Dianna Gibney and they are do-ing just that. From their Nampa, Ida-ho headquarters, MAF works with over 600 organizations to help bring Bibles and supplies to secluded communities around the globe. The groups provide the provisions while MAF delivers them to where they need to go. In addition to delivering vital provisions, they also act as a means of transport for the mission-aries, teachers, indigenous pastors, and

anyone that may need serious medical attention, saving many from days worth of walking. The planes MAF uses are not the commercial jets we typically think of. Theirs are much smaller so the plane is able to land on small dirt runways in remote communities of the world. Fif-ty-two airplanes are in the MAF fleet with more being added regularly through generous donations. MAF is completely non-profit, so any and all supplies are do-nated to them and then distributed to the people that need it most. Most recently the group has been helping fight Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

MAF got its start in 1945 by World War II pilots; they had a vision of using their skills in aviation to bring the gospel to secluded countries of the world. Betty Greene was the first pilot to fly with the newly founded group by bringing mis-sionaries to Mexico. The group eventual-ly expanded to the rest of Latin America.

In order for pilots to join the MAF team, they must first have their pilot’s li-cense. In addition to being able to fly the plane, the pilot is required to be its me-

chanic. It’s imperative to have that knowl-edge in small countries where the nearest supply station takes days to walk to.

There are currently about 200 MAF missionaries stationed in 14 different countries with the focus being in South-ern Africa and Indonesia. A typical mis-sion lasts three years with a six month furlough. Because MAF is non-profit, potential missionaries are responsible for their own funding. If they feel lead to serve God in the remote places of the world, it’s their job to find the money to do it. In order to serve those secluded communities, missionaries must also at-tend formal Bible classes (such as those offered at NNU) and be active in a local church community for at least 2 years.Dianna Gibney encourages everyone with a desire for missionary work to look into MAF. There are plenty of opportu-nities within the organization for people with all different kinds of skill sets includ-ing business, IT, and computer science.

Mission Aviation Fellowship strives to serve the Lord and his people, no matter the distance. They are committed to be-ing a light for those in need as well as a valuable asset to missionaries.

Eric Ostynwriter for The Crusader

On Wings Like Eagles: MAF

Sodexo

Dave Forney, MAF

Two Indonesian men are flown to the hospital by MAF after their truck went off a mountain road and into a ravine.


Kelly Nigro might best be described by her adventurous spirit. A sophomore Communication Science major and track athlete from Woodland, Washington, Nigro is all smiles and all fun.

Coming from a very active family, Nigro is always up for new adventures. She has been running track since the third grade. During elementary school she participat-ed in a private Chris-tian track team; she has run for school teams ever since and is now here at NNU on a track scholarship. However, a college track career was not always certain for Nigro. She sustained an injury during her senior year that cost her potential track schol-arships at many universities. But NNU’s track coach, John Spatz, wasn’t about to give up on her.

“I didn’t commit to NNU until May of my senior year. In spite of my injury, NNU’s track coach was still willing to work with me and still offered me a track scholarship,” Nigro said.

She soon fell in love with the NNU community. She is now part of Journeys Outdoor Club, works in the Admissions Office, and is a Resident Assistant in

Dooley Hall.“I know it sounds cliche, but I’m

totally in love with NNU. I have made lifelong friends here and have had the opportunity to get involved in so many ways. I try everything I can to get my

family down here to visit because it’s just so amazing!”

Nigro and some of her friends have made a col-

lege bucket list, which includes, but is not limited to: climb-ing on roofs, having bonfires, and taking random selfies with Howard the Elk.

“We haven’t writ-ten down everything

on our list yet, but we’re working on it,”

she said.So how does Nigro have

the time to do so many things and still keep a smile on her face?“I learned pretty quickly my fresh-

man year that I couldn’t take myself too seriously,” she said. “Yes, I’m here to gain the skills and knowledge for my future career, but ultimately my career will not define who I am.”

It is the time that Nigro spends with her friends, and the time she spends doing what she loves that truly defines who Nigro is. She is living life to her full-est potential and is an inspiration to us all.

Photo Credit: Brittany McCarty

These past few weeks in Senate, three bills were brought to the table and all three were passed at full amount. SB 14-10-04 “Chinese Club Account Reconciliation,” asked for $78.03 to be moved into their account, which was in the negative said amount. The club had gone into the negative putting on the Chinese Festival event and needed the funds to complete reimbursements. Due to the small amount asked for and simple nature of the bill, at the request of Senator Hassman, Senate “suspended the rules” to vote on the bill at the same date of the first reading. Suspension of

the rules is typically used in time sen-sitive situations, and is usually frowned upon if used too liberally. This case was deemed an appropriate excuse, and the bill passed at full amount.SB 14-11-1 “Funds For The System” asked for $200 that would go towards buying supplies for their main fundraising event - selling chocolate, coffee, and refresh-ments at the Boise Philharmonic. The bill was passed at the full amount.SB 14-11-2 “NNU v C of I” asked that $2,000 be transferred into the Athletic Liaison’s account. This $2,000 would go toward buying 500 tickets to the NNU vs. College of Idaho men’s basketball game on November 11th, and allow NNU students to attend for free. The bill was passed at the full amount.

campusStudent Highlight Senate Says ‘Yes’Kelly Nigro

Marina Roseassistant editor for The Crusader

William Roemhildtwriter for The Crusader

MODERNITY

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NOVEMBER 20TH7PMEMERSON AUDITORIUMSUGGESTED ADMISSION $3 DONATION


The time of year has descended upon us once again, when boys prove they have what it takes to leave their innocence behind and show the world just how manly they can be. I am, of course, referring to No-shave Novem-ber, the hairiest season of all.

For those that have been sheltered by your mother’s teachings, allow me to enlighten you. The month of Novem-ber is reserved for one thing and one thing only: growing the manliest beard a guy can. Forget Thanksgiving; this is what the focus should be on. Stuffing yourself with stuffing is child’s play; growing a macho stache takes some se-rious class.

Before you decide to take part in this most masculine of months, it’s im-portant to know if No-shave November is right for you. If all the facial hair you can grow is on your neck, aka neck-beard, do not participate. Neckbeards are creepy and gross and kinda disgust-ing so please refrain from making ev-eryone else see it for an entire month.

Ask yourself why you want to take part in No-shave November in the first place. Is it to impress a pretty girl? A friendly competition between you and your friends? Have you not discovered modern shaving tools yet? All are ac-ceptable reasons for letting it grow like an untamed jungle. Besides, a little competition never hurt anyone, right?

You are now ready to let your razor collect dust this month as you neglect to clean your face in an effort to prove your manliness to the world. Just keep in mind that this craze only lasts until the end of the month, so don’t forget to start with a clean slate for December. Your girlfriend will thank you.

Photo Credit: Angela Monroe

Eric Ostynwriter for The Crusader

Lord of the Beards: No Shave November

Who’s Who: Beard TalkCan you guess who these dapper young men are?

LET T HE GAMES BEGIN, MEN.MAY T HE ODDS BE EVER IN

YOUR RAZOR.


Seniors Shaun Hall and Saman-tha Lundberg took center stage as their names were announced for King and Queen at the recent Homecoming Cor-onation Ceremony. Sorry Lorde, they didn’t have “jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash,” but they were most definite-ly the Royals of the night, along with the rest of the Senior Homecoming Court: Brandt Bullock, Elisa Rau, Jordan Dyk, and Erin Thomas.

Both Hall and Lundberg, Washington natives, plan to graduate in the spring with the rest of the class of 2015. Hall, a social work major, hopes to pursue a masters in social work upon graduation before moving to an urban setting where he can put his years of hard work to use.

While reflecting on how NNU has impacted his life this far, this is what he had to say: “NNU has given me the op-portunities to grow as a person and dis-cover my passions. It has given me the chance to succeed both in my four years here and hopefully in the years to come. NNU has invested so much in me.”

Lundberg, a Psychology major, plans to start grad school in the fall and even-tually become a high school counselor, she jokingly adds, “Probably. We’ll see”! When asked about the impact NNU has had on her life, she said, “I appreciate NNU for teaching me how to think, not just what to think, and for encouraging me to view my life and my education ho-listically. When I graduate in six months I think I’ll feel prepared not just to get a

job, but to better embody those traits of service, community, truth, and trans-formation that NNU has emphasized throughout my time here.”

As graduation isn’t too far around the corner, Lundberg knows she will miss the class she has spent the majority of her time with. “Oh man. I love our class. I love our camaraderie and goofiness, the way we have supported one another through the years, the way we have stepped up as leaders for the campus,” she said.

She reminisced on the past: “I will never forget walking into the guy’s side of Corlett to see 15 people in hammocks fastened 20 feet above the courtyard! The class of 2015 has a lot of zeal for life and I love it dearly.”

The King and Queen of the evening had some words of wisdom for prospec-tive students in regards to making the decision to spend the next four years (or more) at NNU. Hall wants everyone to know that there is an abundance of things to love about NNU and Nampa.

“The people are genuine and the com-munity is small—small enough that each person matters,” Hall exclaimed. If you’re looking to be more than just a number on campus and have a desire for a personal

relationship with other stu-dents and professors, Hall believes NNU may be just the place for you.

If you know a female prospective student looking for a place to stay while vis-iting NNU, you may want to send them Lundberg’s way, “You can stay with my roommates and me. We’ll

make you brownies and listen to Taylor Swift.”

Lundberg says it’s vital to invest during your time at NNU; “You are in full control of your college experience and you will reap what you sow. So get to know professors, attend campus events, and jump in!”

As another Homecoming Court is crowned and first semester is quickly coming to an end, Hall leaves us with one

last thought, “If you’re looking to become a better version of yourself, NNU is the place for you.”

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Senior Homecoming King & QueenAvery Russell

editor for The Crusader

NNU Archives

Sam Lundberg and Shaun Hall crowned Senior Homecoming Queen and King at the pre-game coronation.

You are in full control of your college experience and you will

reap what you sow. So get to know professors, attend campus events, and jump in!”Samantha Lundberg2014 Senior Homecoming Queen

“

2014 HOMECOMING COURTPrincessesSydni Morales, FreshmanAlexandra Zickefoose, SophomoreCassidy Ball, Junior

PrincesKorte Zickefoose, FreshmanKris Stenson, SophomoreBrent Conrad, Junior


world newsMexico Protests over missing students, corruption in Guerrero.All across Mexico protesters are march-ing in outrage over the disappearance of 43 students in the state of Guerrero, who have been missing for over seven weeks. On the night of September 26th, a group of 46 students from a nearby college took buses to Iguala, Guerrero to protest the corruption of the local government. Somewhere between their protest and re-turning to their college, they were halted by local police and three were killed in a crossfire. The rest were taken into custo-dy and handed over to a local drug gang, Guerreros Unidos. Three of the gang member recently confessed to have grue-somely discarded the bodies in a local river. Evidence has not been procured to confirmed their claims. Over 53 persons in question have been detained in the

case, and on the 4th (of November) the mayor of Iguala and his wife were arrest-ed without a fight. The mayor allegedly ordered that the protesters be stopped, and fled the town four days after their disappearance. U.S. ElectionsRepublicans took control of the Senate, gaining 7 seats, and holding a 52-43 ad-vantage over the Democratic Party, in what many are calling a thrashing. In the House, Republicans now hold their largest lead in seats since the Truman ad-ministration. Speaker of the House John Boehner has pledged getting the Keystone Pipeline approved, as well as tax cuts, and a reduction in government regulation. The main point of Republican pressure will come on repealing “Obamacare.” Boehner says of the Affordable Care Act, “it should be repealed and it should be replaced by common sense reforms that respect the [doctor-patient] relationship. Now, whether that can pass the Senate, I don’t know.” The Republican success

in the election makes Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell the incoming Senate Majority Leader. McConnell has been known to have an iron will and compro-mise is not one of his strong suits. Some of his critics have given him the name “the king of grid-lock.” Chemical WeaponsIn a review ordered by Secretary of De-fense, Chuck Hagel, it has been found that more than 600 US soldiers (629 to be exact) reported being exposed to chemi-cal weapons while stationed in occupied Iraq. The internal review came after an investigation by The New York Times last month, which revealed many US soldiers encountered chemical weapons in Iraq, which begged the question of chemical exposure. After combat tours soldiers are required to fill out post-deployment health assessments, on which 629 re-ported chemical exposure. It seems that these were simply filed for later consid-eration. Veterans across the country are outraged over the Defense Department’s lack of thorough procedure. In response the Department of Defense has reached out to veteran organizations and opened a hotline for vets to notify the Pentagon if

they believe they were exposed to chem-ical weapons. Independence for Catalonia?This last week the region of Catalonia, in Northeast Spain, held an independence referendum, despite Spanish courts strik-ing down the referendum over a month ago. After word of the court ruling, Cat-alonian leader Artur Mas (who the Cat-alans are calling their President) said, “There is no plan B. There is no plan B because the only plan is to vote. There are different ways to vote, but the plan is to vote.” Catalonia has undoubtedly been spurred on by the Scots who held an unsuccessful, but not unprofitable, refer-endum in September. The results of the vote have been a resounding “Yes!” for independence, with over 80% of voters in favor. Artur Mas called the poll a “great success” and thinks it will be a stepping stone toward a legitimate independence referendum. Catalonians have long been in struggle with the Spanish state. Catal-onia has its own distinct language (Cat-alan) and culture; and since the Spanish economy plunged, Catalonia has been contributing more than it gets in return.

Around the GlobeWilliam Roemhildtwriter for The Crusader

Public Domain

Scene of chemical warfare in occupied Iraq in 2014.Public Domain

Friends and family protesting after 43 students go missing in the state of Guerrero.


To say that the Middle East is in disar-ray is an understatement. To say that the issues can be resolved internally is des-perately wishful thinking. To say that the United States and their allies are helping the situation is entirely debatable. To lis-ten and to learn of the peculiar complexi-ties of this situation is a difficult endeavor in itself; and one that we wish to bring to the very forefront of your attention, for the which supply, admit us Chorus to this history; who, Prologue-like, your humble patience pray, gently to hear, kindly to judge this abstraction. The Players

In the first installment of this two part series, we will analyze the local players in this multi-faceted conflict. To understand the full scope of the situation, take special note of sectarian differences, i.e. Shia, Sun-ni, jihadi, moderate, and secular.

In center stage, if you will, stands ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], also referred to as ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant], or just IS [Islamic State - emphasizing its global pretensions]. This group fundamentally consists of radical Sunni jihadis, who are pursuing an agen-da of hard line political Islam and fanati-cal Sunni jihad (Islamic holy war against nonbelievers). “ISIS was the result of a brutal process of ‘combat Darwinism,’ by which only the strongest, most fanatical fighters survived the American onslaught in 2006 and 2007, when Al Qaeda in Iraq was nearly destroyed,” said an unnamed US official, quoted in an article by Dexter Filkins for The New Yorker, “[t]hese are the guys we didn’t kill.” Though al-Qaeda is also Sunni and bent on jihad, ISIS sees them as more of a rival than an ally.

Stage left is the embattled country of Syria, which has been in a civil war since

2011. President Bashar al-Assad, of the Ba’ath Party, is a Shi’ite Muslim who has ruled the country brutally since 2000 and has imposed a system of Shia political Is-lam on the republic. The UN and the In-ternational Criminal Court have indicted Assad for war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated with “unspeak-able brutality” upon his own people. Assad has also been a supporter of Hez-bollah (the Lebanese Shia jihadist sect), and has tried to nuclearize - all of which make him a natural enemy of democracy and the West. The Iranian Revolutionary

Guard Corps [IRGC] are also present in Syria fighting alongside Assad. Iran and Syria have been strategic allies since the late 70’s. Logistically Syria serves as a buf-fer state between the West and Iran and they both share politically Shia Islamic states.

The internal opposition to the Assad regime is fragmented upon both sectari-an and ideological lines. The most notable of these rebel groups—besides al-Nusra and ISIS—are the Syrian Revolutionary Front, the Syrian Free Army and Harakat Hazm. These groups are moderate Sunni

and hopefully democratic in their align-ment, and this places them in opposition to the radical, anti-democratic agenda of the IS. At times these more moderate rebels collaborate with Jabhat al-Nusra, a Sunni jihad faction in southern Syria which has been described as the al-Qae-da “franchise” in Syria. The discord and disunity among the Syrian “rebels” frag-ments the anti-Assad opposition on the ground and complicates international efforts to support a moderate/liberally democratic alternative to Assad.

To further complicate things, the

Islamic State: Just Another PlayerWilliam Roemhildtwriter for The Crusader

Benjamin Millerguest writer for The Crusader

Public Domain


Kurdish PYD [Democratic Union Par-ty] and their forces (the YPG [People’s Protection Units]) reside de facto auton-omously in three northern Syrian states. The PYD has been effective in repelling the forces of Assad, the IS, and Syrian rebels. Though democratic, the PYD is backed by the militant Kurdish PKK in Turkey, who are the age-old rival of the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government]. The embattled city of Kobani (also spelled Kobane) is the capital of the centermost PYD state.

Offstage left, Israel, Lebanon and Jor-dan wait in the wings. The Shia jihad sect Hezbollah has a strong presence in Leba-non and often clashes with Israel over the strategic Golan Heights.

Stage right, of course, is Iraq and the unrecognized state of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Iraq is—in theory—dem-

ocratic and secular with a moderate Shia majority. For the past ten plus years the United States has been attempting to es-tablish a self-sufficient democratic state in Iraq, but as results have shown, to lit-tle avail. As American influence has re-ceded, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has become increasingly tyrannical and sectarian. In the simplest terms the situ-ation in Iraq can be described as corrupt. Stories of military exploitation abound. Kurdistan on the other hand, led by the KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government], has been a model state that runs de facto autonomously in northern Iraq. For some time the Kurds have been working their way towards separation from Iraq, and current tensions have not done anything to help that cause. Kurdistan is effectively secular in government, which has been reflected in its history. The US “One Iraq

Policy” is committed to the coherence of the Iraqi state upon 20th century lines, which places Kurdish independence out of the question.

Offstage right is Iran, outspoken in its an-ti-Western bias and a regional powerhouse seeking nu-clearization. G ov e r n e d by a theocratic version of politicized Shia Islam, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shares executive power with President Hasan Rouhani. The dis-connection between Iran and the West can be summed up in a recent quote by

their Supreme Leader: “America, Zion-ism, and especially the veteran expert of spreading divisions—the wicked govern-ment of Britain—have sharply increased

their efforts of creating divisions be-tween Sunnis and Shiites… They creat-ed al-Qaeda and [Islamic State] in or-der to create divisions and

to fight against the Islamic Republic, but today, they have turned on them.” As mentioned before, Iran is also an ally of the Assad regime of Syria, as well as the Lebanese Hezbollah.

They created al-Qaeda and [Is-lamic State] in order to create

divisions and to fight against the Is-lamic Republic, but today, they have turned on them.”Ayatollah Ali KhameneiSupreme Leader

“

Campus EventsWeekly EventsTimeout in the Sader Dome at 9pm (Weds.)Brickhouse at 8:30pm (Thurs.)

Music & ArtsNov 17th and 18th Canyon County Honor Meet at Brandt Center, all dayNov 19th and 20th Treasure Valley Honor meet at Brandt Center, all dayNov 20th Sigma Tau Delta Plays in Emerson Auditorium at 7pmNov 23rd Cru Choir and Orchestra Concert at Eagle First ChurchNov 25th NNU Jazz Revival Invitational in Little Theatre

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November26th-28th!

If you would like your event to be posted in the Campus Events box please contact Avery Russell or Marina Rose.


sportsLooking at the roster of the NNU

men’s basketball team, the most blatant characteristic is the unfamiliarity. The team fields only three returning let-ter-winners, and adds six transfers and six freshmen. Head Coach Dave Dan-iels, in his fourth year at NNU, brought in three Division 1 transfers, including 6’4” forward Erik Kinney from Cal State Bakersfield, 6’7” forward Parris Massey from University of Massachusetts Low-ell, and 6’3” guard Aubrey Ball from Central Arkansas.

Ball, who played in 28 of 29 games at Central Arkansas and was third on the team in 3-point field-goal percentage (41.8 percent), says of his decision to come to NNU: “The coaching staff is one of a kind, they really want the best for their players and have a winning mind-set.”

Kevin Rima, a 6’7” senior guard and one of two returning starters, was a unanimous selection to the GNAC Pre-season All-Conference Men’s Basketball Team, and one of only four players in the league to be picked two years in a row. He is also a two-time honoree for regular season All-Conference honors. Last year he was No. 4 in the GNAC in blocked shots per game (1.2) and rebounds per game (7.7), and second on the team in scoring (14.4ppg). Matyas Hering, who averaged 6.1 points and 2 assists per game last season, and Pol Olivier, with 3.3 ppg, 41 rebounds, and 39 assists, round out the returners.

The Crusaders finished last season ninth in the GNAC and were ranked to finish eighth in a preseason poll this year, but Ball says, “It just gives us a sense of urgency as a team. We know how good we are and want the polls to motivate us into reaching our potential.”

Sarah Blumwriter for The Crusader

Men’s Basketball Preview

Angela Monroe

Kevin Rima takes a shot from the free throw line at the homecoming game against George Fox University.

Angela Monroe

NNU students wearing their ‘sixth man’ shirts for a white out at the homecoming game.

HomeNov. 21: Men’s Bball vs. MSU-Northern @ 7pmNov. 22: Men’s Bball vs. Westminster College (Utah) @ 5pmNov. 24: Men’s Bball vs. C of I @ 7pm

AwayNov. 28: Men’s Bball at Texas A&M University @ 5pm CTNov. 29: Men’s Bball at Tarleton State University @ 7pm CT

Men’s Basketball Schedule


Last year the women’s basketball team made a record best NCAA DII ranking of No. 17 in the nation, and fin-ished with an overall record of 15-11. They said goodbye to four irreplaceable seniors, including Megan Hingston, a two-time All-Conference pick as well as 2nd in all-time scoring for NNU. This year the team is down to one senior and six total returners compared with five new players.

It’s a good sign, however, that junior guard Taylor Simmons was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball Preseason All-Con-ference team. After all, she averaged 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game and had 131 assists and 153 steals in her first two years, and anyone watching can see that she’s a juggernaut for the Crusaders. Simmons and Kayla Schumann are the only returning starters for the Saders. Schumann, the sole senior on the team, ranked ninth in the conference for three-point shooting in the 2013-14 season.

Along with the six returning players, the Crusaders have added two junior transfers and three freshmen, includ-ing Ellie Logan from Fossil, Oregon, who joins the Saders after topping her high school career with East Oregonian All-Area Player of the Year. The diffi-culty of integrating new players into the team’s dynamic could be a challenge the

Crusaders will have to meet in order to succeed this season, but Schumann says, “The newcomers are extremely talented and great athletes! They fit in perfectly with our style of play.”

The GNAC is a very competitive con-ference in which any team could win on any given day, which means there is nev-er an easy day for these girls. “Our obvi-ous goals are to win,” says Simmons, and the challenge for these leaders will be “determining what’s going to make that happen.” Schumann says that as a senior, her goal is to be a an approachable lead-er, to facilitate good team chemistry, and help make the year fun and memorable for everyone.

The Saders post some impressive stats from last year. They earned their national ranking early in the season after an eight-game winning streak, and were ranked second in the league in steals and turnover margin and fourth in the country for percentage of free throws made (79). Considering that it is only Head Coach Ryan Bragdon’s second year in the position, the Crusaders have a lot of potential for their upcoming season. Although the Saders have been picked to finish 7th in a preseason coach’s poll, Simmons says that doesn’t phase the team at all. “We have a lot of potential with new and old talent. If we’re seen as the underdog, we’ll use that to our advantage and hopefully surprise some teams.”

Sarah Blumwriter for The Crusader

Women’s Basketball Preview

NNU Athletics

NNU junior Taylor Simmons goes up for the shot, out-jumping her opponent.

NNU Athletics

NNU Senior guard Kayla Schumann breaks through her opponents on the way to the basket.

HomeNov. 29: Women’s Bball vs. Carroll College @ 2pm

AwayNov. 19: Women’s Bball at C of I @ 7pmNov. 24: Women’s Bball at Idaho State University @ 2pm

Women’s Basketball Schedule


a&e

Mama Mandy,I like this guy but he doesn’t seem to un-derstand that. I’ve sent him cards and love letters and hinted a lot but he still doesn’t get it. OK, I didn’t actually sign the letters, but we’ve known each other a while now so he should be able to pick up what I’m putting down, right? I feel like a carrier pigeon whose message is never read. What should I do to make him real-ize the way I feel about him? Unlucky Ducky Dear Ducky,The problem with sending love letters is that the best way to build a relationship is face to face. If you haven’t made any overt professions of your affection toward this guy, it’s possible he really doesn’t know that you like him. Guys can be kind of oblivious. You need to stop the creepy letter writing STAT and talk to him in person. Try building your relationship

with him that way, and you’ll be able to tell if he reciprocates your love sooner or later. It is possible that he knows how you feel and he fakes naivete to avoid hurting you. You probably feel protected by an-onymity, but if you really want this guy to like you, there is an inevitable risk that requires you to be forthright with him. If you’ve been watching the Super-lative Show, you’ll have heard about the bizarre and slightly obsessive love letters late-night host Brent Conrad has been receiv-ing. Don’t be that girl.

There is a story from well-known litera-ture in which a lovesick lass writes poetry for her oblivious beloved, who is in love with someone else. What you can learn from this example is that Drew is an idiot for not dating Taylor Swift when he had the chance. But seriously, if you really like him that much, tell him in person. Mama Mandy

Need advice? Email your friendly advice columnist at [email protected] for answers to your most trying questions, from relationships and dating to cetology! Mama’s got the answers.

Mama Mandy: Teardrops on my Guitar Quote of the issue

Sudoku: easy

“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion.

You must set yourself on fire.” –Arnold H. Glasow

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The Crusader Vol. 69 Issue 5