Clarion 2007-04-19 Vol. 82 No. 20

              News
Steps for Airband
performances
-page 2
Culture
Guide to proper cell
phone use
-page 4
Sports
Softball sets sights
on remaining teams
-page 10
UNIVERSITY
Thursday, April 19,2007
Volume 82 • Number 20
33
dead in
Virginia
Tech
killings
By Cory Streeter
The nation was shocked on
Monday by news of the deadliest mass shooting in modern
U.S. history on the Virginia Tech
campus in Blacksburg, Va., leaving 33 dead, including the gunman, 23-year-old student Cho
Seung-Hui, who took his own
life as police closed in, according to authorities.
Details continue to unfold
in the case, depicting Cho as a
loner who may have been taking
medication for depression, according to news sources. Though
there is no definite cause for the
killings at this time, authorities
found a note in his dorm room
following the massacre that denounced "rich kids," "debauchery," and "deceitful charlatans"
at Virginia Tech, according to
the Chicago Tribune.
ABC reported that authorities also said the note included
the phrase, "You caused me to
do this."
The senior English major
left many blood-laden writings
behind from a creative writing
class, including original screenplays full of violence, gore and
death that former classmate Ian
McFarlane described as "something out of a nightmare."
Clip's English professors
referred him to the counseling
department after reading his
graphic writings.
Because of Cho's reclusive-
ness, "we're having difficulty
finding infonnation about him,"
said Larry Hincker, a Virginia
Tech spokesman.
In the aftermath, the country now mourns the 32 victims
killed. At the time of publication, only 16 names of the dead
had been released.
Look for more on this
tragedy in next week's Clarion,
looking at siudent responses on
Bethel's campus.
Lo resigns as campus pastor
Provost Jay Barnes relates the surprise and disappointment of departure following the end of the school year
By Marie Hansen
After a year of stability, Campus Ministries entered into another
period of transition last week.
Bethel's community received an email from Provost jay Barnes
on April 10 statingjim (Umf) Lo, campus pastor, was resigning for
personal reasons following his first year at Bethel.
Members of Bethel's community were surprised by the news.
"It was ar shock to me. I was extremely disappointed," Bames said.
Barnes heard the news when he was with family in Arkansas a
few weeks ago. "I almost threw up in the kitchen. I felt like someone had belted me in the gut. It was completely out of left field,"
he said.
"1 can understand why a lot of people were shocked because I
certainly was."
Lo was hired for a long-term commitment at Beihel.
"We essentially waited a year for him to come," Barnes said.
"We thought he could be a good change agent at Bethel."
"It is a huge blow io the Campus Ministries team because
they've been ihrough so many transitions in the last five years. We
were hoping for a longtime leader. It's disappointing to nol be in
that place," Barnes said.
"I think it was easier for Umf to see the places we were not
living up to his hopes than for him to see that places were being
changed by his ministry," Bames said.
"In my view, [Lo is] leaving with a job undone, but he hears
God's voice telling him it's time to go," Bames said. "The fact that I
don't hear God's voice telling me that doesn't count."
Lo declined to comment for this article.
Barnes reminds Bethel to" remember Los positive impact on
campus during his year here.  .
Lo helped increase chapel attendance, deepen commitments in
the Bethel community and forge stronger partnerships with Baptist
General Conference churches, according to Barnes.
Bethel's leadership is divided into the three areas of academics,
Student Life and Campus Ministries. "We are in transition with two
of the major divisions with Judy Moseman's retirement in Student
Life and Umf's resignation in Campus Ministries," Barnes said.
Bethel's administration now looks ahead toward searching for a
new campus pastor. "We'll see what woman or man God brings us
to be the right leader in this division as well as student life," Bames
said.
Barnes said it is most important that a new campus pastor can
connect with students, as well as have good teamwork and leadership skills, commitment to Bethel's seven core values and passion
for deepening commitments.
Bames said the search process includes a national search by a
committee. Then, he and President Brushaber will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
"It's not a quick process," Barnes said. "Someone could be in
place by [next] September, but that would be a pleasant surprise."
Bames advises Bethel students to "remember all the things Umf
taught us about the importance of prayer, and that we [should]
make this a matter of fervent prayer in the search process for the
right person. I hope we can appreciate what |Lo has) done (at Bethel], even if we might be shocked or even ticked that he's leaving."
'hoto by Danica Myers
Umf-i- Jim Lo illustrates with students during chapel.
"It is a huge blow to the Campus Ministries
team because they've been through so many
transitions in the last five years. We were
hoping for a long time leader. It's
disappointing to not be in that place."
-Jay Barnes
Mr. BU raises funds for South African AIDS home
Photo by Nathan Thorp
Twenty freshman guys perform and compete for Mr. BU last Saturday night in Bensen. Chris Luedemann won the contest.
By Angela Wilson
Acting on AIDS hosted Mr. BU, a male beauty pageant, on April
14 in Benson Great Hall.
From the moment the lights dimmed and the introductory act
began, an energetic rap and dance, the audience—mostly female
freshmen—was riveted on the 20 freshmen males competing for
this years' Mr. BU title.
The event, which showcased lhe talent of freshmen selected by
their dorms, was a fundraiser to benefit Beth Uriel, a boys' home in
Cape Town, South Africa, that is home to 24 boys who have been
affected by HIV/AIDS.
Members of Acting on Aids have visited Beth Uriel and formed
relationships with the family members there. AOA co-president
Allison Rougas said the boys "come from backgrounds of extreme
poverty, troubled families, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and life
on the streets. Bul, they stay at the house voluntarily and have chosen to work hard at making something of their lives."
Half of lhe money from the event will go directly to the living
costs of the boys' home, and the other half will fund the boys' local
clothing line, called Me'Kasi, which means "My location, My Place,
My Style." The clothing, screen printed by the boys, is selling well
in Cape Town. AOA plans to bring the clothing line to the United
States next year.
Mr. BU was pure fun, featuring acts like a "Fever Chair" dance,
a provocative roller ballet, an opera performed on a scooter, magic
Mr Bu continued on page 8