I can honestly say, as cliché as it sounds, that I would be nowhere near where I am today without my church. My involvement within the past 10 years has been a tremendous eye-opener for so many crucial situations. My friendships, family and faith would be completely different if not for my home, my church building. I learned about who I am, and found the greatest relationships in friends, family and in God. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities and love that I experienced … [Read more...]
BROWN’S BREAKDOWN: Huge year in store for Ravens
Every once in a while, I’ll hear a student mutter something like, “Yeah, AU is awesome, but I just wish we had the athletic events that big schools do,” or “there’s just not much to go to on the weekends.” Sure, AU may not have a Kyle Field that seats 102,733 people for an SEC football game. What Anderson does offer is historic O.C. Lewis Gymnasium, a 1,738 seat arena that was renovated this offseason. And if you’re looking for something to do around campus this winter, look no further than … [Read more...]
We are AU’s past, present and future
This past weekend, as per usual for homecoming, campus overflowed with present students, alumni, faculty and staff coming together to celebrate AU. In a lot of ways, it just felt like homecoming. In other ways, though, it seemed much more than that. It is a rare feat to accomplish 100 years of service as any institution, but especially as a place of higher education. As trends change and new colleges and universities spring up, old ones are left with the burden of adjusting, competing and … [Read more...]
‘One giant leap for mankind’: Why America needs to return to the moon
Following the success of Apollo 11 in 1969, there have been ongoing debates about returning to the moon, but recent discoveries indicate that a second moon mission would be the logical next step in the American space voyage. A brief history of the moon mission controversy: In 2004, President George W. Bush requested that NASA—the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—create a program tasked with making a return trip to the moon. In 2005, NASA obliged with the creation of the … [Read more...]
A community, together in mourning
On Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, AU senior Timothy Huarez lost his life—lost his battle with depression. AU has felt the bitter sting of grief since then. For the family who will be forever changed, the Andersonian staff is grieving. For the friends who have experienced great trauma in this loss, the Andersonian staff is grieving. For this campus, a place so dedicated to holding out a hand and saying "come as you are," the Andersonian staff is grieving. Grief, a hazy and harrowing time of … [Read more...]
Brown’s Breakdown: The healing power of sport
Tommy Tomlinson, an ESPN staff writer, penned this in a column on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11: “The sports we love are not a dip into the waters of Lourdes. They’re a bandage, a salve, a plaster cast on a broken arm. They don’t heal us by themselves. They give us protection and time so we can heal on our own. “You know how a great book can consume you so fully that you get lost in the world between the covers? A great game—or even just a great sports moment—can do the same thing. It … [Read more...]
Focus efforts on community activism
When you don't have a true community, you can end up feeling lost and alone. In college, this is all the more important as you start to create a life for yourself away from your family and your hometown. True community takes effort to form because it requires deep and intentional relationships. These relationships don't just spring up into your life; they have to be nurtured. The best relationships are those that challenge us and help us strive to become better, more loving and more kind … [Read more...]
Social media discourse doesn’t work
The last year and a half has seen the worst of humanity on social media. It is not just the beliefs you post about, but also the arguments online that deteriorate real-life relationships. "How the heck can you believe that?" Each side asks the other. Good intentions of trying to inform your friends and followers of the gravity of Charlottesville (or just white supremacy in general) devolve into screaming matches that masquerade as conversation. Facebook and Twitter fights are still fights. No … [Read more...]
Hurricanes are call for climate awareness
Our nation is facing both physical and emotional devastation as high category hurricanes ravage our coastlines. Hurricane Harvey and Irma, as well as Jose and Katia, have resulted in catastrophe in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean islands. Thousands of people are experiencing incredible loss due to these natural disasters. Homes, families and friends have been mercilessly stripped away, leaving those affected to adjust to an entirely new reality. At a college located squarely in the Midwest, … [Read more...]
What is the voice of God really like?
Growing up, I was always fascinated by Christianity and the relationship that people were capable of having with God. People at church would always use cryptic, vague language when talking about their relationship with God. I was particularly curious about the phenomenon of prayer and being able to “speak” with God. I didn’t know where His voice would come from and what His voice would sound like. Infuriatingly, the best information I could gain from adults was that whenever God spoke, it … [Read more...]