After growing up in Indonesia with his Japanese missionary parents, living in the international dorm, being an international RA, and living in the Globe, TWU senior Yuhei Taguchi is somewhat of posterchild for international students. The Art major, who’s lived in MacMillan for his last year in Langley, never had to go through an ESL program since he attended international English schools growing up, but nevertheless got his fair share of experience as an International Student at TWU.

“After moving here I spent a year at Columbia Bible College, which was difficult because no one could really relate to me on the level of being from a different part of the world,” says Taguchi. “I then decided on Trinity and just fell in love with the International Student Program and the TWU community in general…it was really welcoming.”

Taguchi lived with a Korean roommate his first year, and then became an International RA. “One of the huge blessings of being in that environment is to hear stories from all over the world. It can get difficult because everyone’s coming from different backgrounds, but that’s the best part at the same time.”

Taguchi believes the school does an excellent job at making an effort for international students to feel connected, but wishes the international dorms could be expanded so more students could have that experience. “When you’re in that environment there’s a lot that can be learned, and compared with other universities, TWU does a great job at trying to connect with international students and trying to connect international students with North American students.”

After graduating this semester, Taguchi will be heading back to Indonesia to teach English and Art at his former high school. His presence as a bridge between the international and North American students will surely leave a vacuum, but is something Taguchi hopes can be filled by future TWU undergrads. – J.H.

For over two months last semester, Jason Vander-Hoek (pronounced Vander-Hawk) lived in the Back 40. The freshman Abbotsford-native was never planning on setting up a tent and a Coleman stove deep in the woods past two bridges behind campus, but a series of unfortunate events afforded him few other options.

After spending three years driving a truck for a living, Vander-Hoek felt convicted to enroll at TWU. Using his savings to enroll, he was planning on spending his weekends truck driving to pay his living expenses. “I came here hoping to work on weekends, but my job wouldn’t let me. They said I could collect EI and make enough money live through that, so that sounded good,” explains Vander-Hoek. After registering for 19 semester hours and deciding to major in Chemistry and Music, Vander-Hoek was living in a condo in Abbotsford in September, waiting to here back about his EI cheques. Add-drop passed, and by October Vander-Hoek learned his EI wasn’t going to come through. Unable to pay rent, Vander-Hoek was caught sleeping in his car on campus by security. He decided the only way to get through the semester was to permanently set up a home amongst the serenity of the forest.

“I had classes Monday-Friday, and I couldn’t drive from Abbotford and pay rent and afford groceries. I decided the only way to get through the semester was to live in the Back 40.”

Using a tent, some tarps, a thermal sleeping bag, and a Swiss Army knife, Vander-Hoek set up his new address after Thanksgiving weekend. He showered in the gym and used his car for a closet, but found the wild path a difficult one to beat.

“I was really tired all the time. I got really sick from a lack of sleep and stress, and was in and out of hospital in December. There’s no internet out there, so doing homework was tough. I was a Collegium member though, and would stay there for as long as possible.”

Though he tried keeping it a secret, the word soon got out that he was living in the forest. “Some people were really upset when they found out, but to me it was the most logical choice. Some people would take pity, some would find it funny.”

When Vander-Hoek started hearing rumours about himself, he was a little humoured, but fearful administration would find out and ‘evict’ him. “There was a rumour that I was living in the catacombs under Northwest, and one that I was sleeping in the closet of the computer lab. The funniest moment was when someone asked me if I had heard of myself.”

All rumours aside, Vander-Hoek, who moved into Robson in January after his student loan application was approved, looks back on his experience with a combination of humility and pride. “It was a cool experience and pretty freeing. I had to trust that I would be provided for, and whenever things got bad there was always provision. In retrospect, it was hell, but it was also kind of badass.” – J.H.

Fourth-year Art major, Jenny Hawkinson, might be found in the art studio on a weekend painting frenzy, or spending her night outside as a demonstration for homeless awareness. While her red hair may make her stand out in a crowd, it is her warm smile and compassionate heart that make an impression on her peers at Trinity.

Her love of art can be traced back to her childhood, when she often illustrated self-written stories. Throughout high school she continued to build her skill at rendering images realistically, but was shocked when she entered the art program at TWU. “The first time I didn’t feel like an artist was my first month at Trinity,” she says. “I couldn’t even draw a blind contour! Apparently in all my years of drawing and painting I had never learned to really see.”

How long ago those days seem to be. Nowadays, Hawkinson’s work revolves around her passion for the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, which was realized during a class trip to the DTE in her second year. An awakening to the “appalling paradoxes” between sections of Vancouver inspired a surge of work.

Hawkinson’s attachment and commitment to her cause is refreshingly honest. The more regular amount of time she spent in the area—often weekly visits—began to shape her work. “I made the transition from stencil posters of rats and protesting against ‘The Man’ to visually recording stories and encounters that I had with the people.”

While Jenny finds painting the most enjoyable way to work, she prefers to not stick to one style. “I am more conceptual than process driven,” she says. “I love the personal interaction in public artwork, and I also love the privacy of painting.”

From here, Hawkinson’s path seems endless. Although she says that, ideally, spending a period of time in the Bronx, while creating another body of artwork specific to the area interests her, may be a goal further down the road. Practically, paying off student loans may lead her to Korea to teach English. “Apparently the art scene in Korea thrives,” she says. “That excites me. Whatever happens though, I want to continue creating.”

The Busted String Family isn’t really a band. It’s more like a musicians’ collective, a group of friends who get together because we love music. We mostly met out on the lawn at the beginning of the year when the weather was nice and things just grew from there. Spontaneity became habit, and music the medium of joy. I guess it’s just a family, really. We have our squabbles, our tussles and our triumphs. But like a family, we celebrate the things that bring us together.

“Shows” aren’t really our forte, but they’re fun. Anytime we get a good chance to cut the rug a little, we like to, but we’d rather just sing with friends. Coming from a kaleidoscopic range of musical tastes, trainings and proclivities, we like to keep things simple, acoustic and on the road. Cause in the end it isn’t really about us at all. It’s about the family, music, the joy of coming together to make something boring beautiful. It’s the outrageous joy of a Father that knocks down walls, flings open doors, windows, and hearts alike, can bring together the roughest ramblers and rapscallions to make a choir, and can even catch all the slippery fish and bring the biggest jive-turkeys home to roost.

So the invite is open. Musicians and melody-makers, throat singers, note flingers, toe-tappers and tune-tootlers. Bring whatever you got even if just your voice, hands and heart. We’ll be outside somewhere.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people,” said Kim Bakker, a third year Nursing major and West Coast Collegium Assistant.
From a young age, Bakker wanted to work in medicine. Originally, she studied pre-medicine at the University of Calgary, but she changed her focus to pursue nursing at TWU.

And with that change, Bakker found an alternative for helping and being around people as a collegiums assistant at TWU.
“I really like the atmosphere in the collegiums and that they provide students with a place to feel connected on campus,” said Bakker. “I don’t really know a lot of other schools that cater so well to their commuter students.”

With only a year of experience being a CA, Bakker has already received an award at a retreat for the best CA, called the PAMMY Award. The PAMMY Award stands for “People, Atmosphere and Me” and it’s recognizes collegiums assistants who adopt a mentality to be the best student they can be and create a positive atmosphere in the collegiums. “When I commit to a job like this, I give it my heart,” said Bakker. “It’s a small commitment, with big rewards.”

Working in the West Coast collegiums means that Bakker interacts with first and second year students. “I love to act as a mentor and resource to younger people,” said Bakker. In addition to giving students advice about life or school, Bakker appreciates the flexibility that the collegiums offer. “There are some students I see in there everyday, and others who pop in when they can.”

Her favourite collegium events is Gotcha, but what Bakkers likes even more is when members of the collegiums are proactive and make their own events. “[People] like that step up to make the collegiums better,” said Bakker.

Overall, Bakker has enjoyed her role as a CA, despite how busy her schedule can be as a nursing major. “It’s a really great place to build community and friendships.”

What does the number 18 mean to you? Other than the slight chance that it is your favourite number or that the star athlete you idolize wears it, the number really has no significant value to anyone, in any setting. However, for the past three seasons, TWU fans who have attended Spartan soccer games may have noticed this number on the back of one player’s jersey. This player joined the Spartans in 2007 and began what would be an incredible journey to becoming one of Trinity Western University’s best athletes ever.

Paul Hamilton, who grew up in Calgary, is this year’s sportsman of the year. Hamilton, who also took home the honour of winning the CIS Player of the Year in men’s soccer, has been phenomenal in every way for the Spartans during the past three years. His growth is one that can be measured on the defensive end with an under appreciation for his offensive skill set. Since 2007, Hamilton’s minutes have actually decreased off his rookie campaign, a true testament to this overall efficiency on the pitch while increasing his production. Overall, Hamilton has played more than 4500 minutes in the Spartan white and blue, scoring 2 goals while adding 6 assists over that time. However, it is Hamilton’s defensive specialties that have allowed him to be known as one of the CIS’s most feared defenders. The amount of times Hamilton has saved a goal, cleared the ball from trouble, and made heroic defensive stands has made Hamilton the backbone
of the team.

And while all this has been given to a man that should make any person extra confident, Hamilton manages to accomplish this feat by staying close to his roots. Hamilton notes, “Winning CIS Player of the Year was fantastic. It is always nice to be recognized by the people who you play against, the coaches, and all of the people who watch the games, with an award of this magnitude.”

Hamilton grew up playing soccer in a level of competition well beyond his years, a likely factor in why his talent succeeds many others he plays against. “My father was a soccer player, so naturally growing up watching him play made me want to play. I grew up in Calgary so growing up I played youth soccer and when I became a little older I started to play in the men’s league” adds Hamilton, who decided on TWU because of the reputation that the Spartans possessed within the soccer community on and off the pitch.

In any event, Hamilton does not seem satisfied with his current achievements. “I have been in contact with [the Vancouver Whitecaps] about playing again this summer, but I am also exploring other opportunities to further my career as a player. My dream from a young boy has always been to be a professional soccer player, and I am still working toward that goal. As of yet I have not been able to reach that but I have no intentions of giving up yet”.

The only question remaining now is not if, but when.

The first time I met President Raymond was just about a year and a half ago, nearing the end of Fall semester in 2008. On our way to a concert downtown, my friend Ryan and I began to critique TWU and brainstorm ways it could improve. Ideas that got thrown out ranged from opening a law school and revolutionizing the campus architecture to replacing all the cement walkways on campus with cobblestone. Being the enterprising undergraduates we were, Ryan and I decided to make an appointment with Raymond to pitch him our ideas. We were on our way to the LLC the next semester, and figured we’d take our ideas to the top before we left Langley.

While neither of us had met Raymond and had no idea how our ideas would go over, he listened intently to a pair of 21 year-olds pitch him ideas on what should be done with the school. He provided a warm response, gave us some thoughtful feedback and his appreciation, and wished us the best of luck in Ottawa.

As I walk into President Raymond’s office for this interview 17 months later, he offers me a diet Coke before we each take a seat on two adjacent green leather couches, with my diet Coke and textbooks resting on the coffee table between us. Like our first meeting, Raymond carries a nervous excitement for the future, covered in a thin layer of executive calmness.

Sitting at the top of an organization can be a strange position to be in, particularly for the president of a university. Raymond, however, has found his niche in the spectrum of ways he could be spending his time and energy.

“I’m the guy at the top of the mountain that has the best view,” Raymond explains. “The presidency here is a job of being chief statesman and diplomat. My job is to help people see they’re on a particular side of the mountain at a particular altitude – whether that’s academic, financial, with student life, etcetera – but it’s impossible for everyone to see what everyone else sees.”

On a close examination, it’s easy to tell he carries a PhD by the words he’ll throw out. Words like ‘cathedra’ and ‘efficacy’ are as common to him as ‘LC’ and ‘worldview’ are for students.

As Raymond nears completion of his fourth year as president, he’s proud of what he and his team in Reimer have accomplished, but mindful of the amount of work it will take to get TWU to where he wants it. “I feel very good that our leadership team has positioned the university on higher ground financially in an economy that has been rocking universities,” says Raymond. “We have navigated tough waters and tough territories…and I feel good about the significant financial aid we have been raising to bring the sticker price for tuition down.” Additionally, Raymond has also improved TWU’s academic standing since taking over, as the school has received strong ratings in the Globe and Mail and MacLean’s since beginning his tenure.

For the future, Raymond has two top priorities. “My plan is to make this university even more Christ-centred and missional, and to make it whoppingly endowed and capitalized, so that it becomes affordable for any student in the future who merits studying here.”
As I leave Raymond’s office, I’m convinced he is the right man to lead this university in the direction of academic excellence while remaining Christ-centred.

While he could’ve been derisive at our first meeting a year and a half ago, Raymond decided to listen to what two young punks had to tell him about the organization he oversees. His willingness to listen and dialogue demonstrated he truly is intent on listening to TWU’s students, and his high goals for the school depict a man who is humble enough to listen, but qualified and confident enough he can achieve them. – J.H.

For anyone who’s attended a men’s basketball game in the last few years, you’re probably familiar with Dan Reynolds and Peter Bengtsson. The two can be found sitting courtside at every home game, many away games, and a few other sports events dotted around the calendar.
For Bengtsson, who credits Space Jam for the birth of his love of hoops, and Reynolds, who’s favourite pre-game hobby is talking up opposing players with the hopes of getting into their heads, the superfan badge is worn proudly.

“I could say flippantly that there’s nothing better to do on a Friday night, and that’s why we’re at every game” explains religious studies major Reynolds, “but we have a very successful athletic program, and student athletes that are worth cheering for.”

Though their job can be a controversial one, Bengtsson, a business major, says his criticism of opposing players is all based in fact. “I only make comments on things like statistics, or how well siblings are doing in comparison – some people just sit there quietly and observe the game. But true fans are those that are paying attention and voice their observations.”

For both, the secret to a great chirp is to tailor it specifically for that player. “It’s about doing your research before the game – finding embarrassing facebook photos, or getting actual cell phone numbers and calling them,” says Bengtsson. Reynolds likes to read opposing players’ online bios to give him some personal ammunition.

Though they’ve got their fair share of detractors, Reynolds revels in the fact that through some well-timed and well-worded jeers, the sixth man can enter the game. “It’s always a victory when the opposing player acknowledges you and starts focusing on you and not the job. That’s when I know I’ve done my job. And then you start the ‘We’re In Your Head’ chants.” – J.H.

After moving from Hampshire, England to Calgary as a nine-year old, third-year History major Thomas Hunt dreamed of returning to his father’s homeland where he also held citizenship. Last semester, Hunt was fortunate enough to be one of three TWU students to attend Oxford University, in partnership with TWU’s membership with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

Along with Betsy Byers and Tanjya Johnsson, Hunt attended the “Scholars’ Semester in Oxford,” a semester-long program where students study Classics, history, and theology among others at the oldest English-speaking university in the world. Boasting twenty-five British Prime Ministers, forty-seven Nobel laureates, not to mention C.S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot and J.R.R. Tolkien as alumni, the academics at Oxford were unsurprisingly rigorous.

“The program is a grind,” describes Hunt as we sit and talk in his stuffy Fraser dorm. “In 17 weeks you write 17 papers, give oral defenses, and could spend 15 hours a day in the library if you wanted.”

As a boy, attending Oxford in some capacity was always a dream for Hunt, but upon reaching the hallowed ground, reality set in. “I had this utopia in my head of what it was. After getting there, I had to shed those ideas.” Those ideas included giving up on meeting every expectation and coming to terms with his own abilities in comparisons to his own expectations.

“When you go there everyone has academic dreams, but you realize that with what you’ve got there’s only so much you can do. I could have spent 16 hours a day working, but at one point you have to say that rather than getting an A, I’ll spent 12 hours working and be content and try to enjoy myself.”

Though settling for something below an A did not come natural to Hunt, it did afford him the time to experience Oxford outside of the library. “It was great to get involved in some of the Oxford life – going to pubs, jazz clubs, smoking pipes, and getting a chance to see history all around you, rather than in just the books you read.”

While taking to English life was nice for a time, for now Hunt is back in Langley before attending the LLC in the fall.

“I think Oxford is similar to Trinity in the respect that, while I’ve learn a lot, I’ve forgotten a lot. It did, however, teach me to think rigorously, and though in one way it’s a ticket to some future things, it also taught me some lessons – like when expectations meet reality.” – J.H.

The Pillar yearbook has long been a staple of Trinity Western. Though having a yearbook for a university is rare, Trinity’s modest size and close community made the Pillar a nice way to put the whole year together.

In the fall of the 2009-10 year, Pillar was in a crisis. TWUSA, which oversees Pillar, could not find a candidate qualified enough to take on the large project. A meeting was held to decide what should be done with the funds that were supposed to be allotted to Pillar, since it was looking like there would not be one this year. Just when things looked their bleakest, in stepped Samantha Lowe.

“I didn’t even know they didn’t have an editor,” explains Lowe as we sit munching on dry cheerios in her Walnut Grove townhouse which she shares with four roommates. “It was my fifth year and I wasn’t planning on being involved with the school, and then people approached me to apply for the position.” This was all happening after classes had began, much later than the Pillar editor is normally hired, which is usually in April. “When I found out there was no one else I didn’t want the yearbook to die – it’s a good medium for showing the school, and it captivates the essence of campus,” says Lowe.

After a quick application process, Lowe was thrown into the fire, given the task of completing work that should have been done over the four months of summer into a few weeks.

“It was overwhelming and terrifying,” says Lowe of her attempt at catching up. “I was bogged down instantly with so much work. I hadn’t had the usual four months to prepare, and there were already looming deadlines.”

After a week of brainstorming a theme, Lowe had to contact printers, photographers, hire her assistants, and work out a budget. Fortunately, Lowe, an Honours student in International Studies, was able to lay the groundwork by October. After the bumpy start, Lowe had to start putting the Pillar together.

“Essentially I made a book…it took about four months with an extra month to put the finishing touches on. It was terrifying and exhilarating.”

With the finished product set to come out this week, Lowe believes some systemic changes need to occur for next year. “The project needs more accountability and continuity – the companies that are used to put it together need to be examined,” says Lowe. While this year’s version of the yearbook is safe, many students were questioning its use to students at the beginning of the year – something that is likely to continue given its large cost. For many, the student fees charged for the project, which amount to over $50,000 a year, could be better spent in other areas. Lowe, however, holds to the sentiment that Pillar captures the year that was, and is great for showcasing the school to potential students.

“The yearbook can’t continue to be complacent, because people are questioning its integrity and use. Future efforts need to be made to have it be structurally sound, not only artistically sound.”

For now, Samantha Lowe saved Pillar. Time and future students will tell if its use is outdated, or if it’s a throwback worth keeping. – J.H.