Throughout this year, a tiny-but-mighty team of students took responsibility for informing the Point Loma Nazarene University community about everything from breaking news to campus events, and local and global sports. The year flew by, and with story after story written, edited and published, it is easy to lose track of all of them. If you missed some of our stories (or all of them), that’s OK. The Point’s graduating editors compiled a list of what they thought were the most impactful stories they told this year.
Rising Iran tension affects PLNU students
By Ava Bailey-Klugh
“Even if you don’t agree with what is going on in the world [or] with the military actions being taken against Iran, the service members, they are still people, and their spouses are still people, and their families are still people,” Krachmer said. “This is not just a headline … they’re not just numbers; they’re not just soldiers; they’re human beings with lives outside of this.”
I think this story was most impactful because of how open the people I interviewed for the article were to talking about their struggles and overall emotions surrounding such a sensitive topic. The reporting process for this one truly was a challenge but it created an article that I think humanized and localized something that was happening thousands of miles away. Since all of the people I interviewed said something different from each other, I think the article was able to create a conversation about empathy and understanding both perspectives.
By Olivia Robers
“When we reached the end of the trail we had helped carve, knee-deep in fresh snow, Half Dome stared at us empty, covered only by a soft layer of snow and left untouched for a few quiet months each year.”
This story was one of my favorites from the semester because it was written after a transformational experience for me. Visiting Yosemite for the first time in the snow, and as calm as it was, was an opportunity not many people get, and I truly wanted to take advantage of it. This was one of the few stories of the semester where I tapped into a different tone, one that was more poetic and tried to embody the beauty of the sights I was seeing. I simply love reading this story back and feeling like I am reliving the moment time and time again.
Government shutdown leaves PLNU military students in limbo
By Sydney Brammer
“A lot of active-duty military members live paycheck to paycheck,” Gunnery Sergeant Domonick Sena, a fourth-year marketing major, said. “How do you navigate a time where you don’t get paid and you can’t make a payment during the government shutdown … because you know it’s awkward being a grown adult and saying, ‘Sorry, I can’t pay my bill.’ It’s challenging.”
I believe this was the most impactful story I wrote this year because PLNU’s military students didn’t feel they had a voice. To be able to have sat down with students and military staff to talk about the lack of communication from administration officers and tell their story, was not only rewarding, but I also think it provided awareness to how the government shutdown was affecting our community.
Book Review: ‘Project Hail Mary’ turns complex science into a page-turner
By Adee Tulcan
“Project Hail Mary” speaks deeply to me, with biology and physics gracefully highlighted throughout each chapter. I felt like I was transported to Grace’s lab bench as I breezed through the pages, and it made me appreciate the work that I and many others infatuated with science do on a daily basis.”
This year has been tremendous for those interested in science, with countless events providing an opportunity for all people to engage in biology, chemistry and physics. As a scientist, I found great enjoyment in reading Andy Weir’s novel and newfound appreciation when watching the project come to life on the big screen. My hope with my simple review is that people become more interested in science, even through the means of a science-fiction novel. Art and science are not meant to be separate, and I feel that this year has provided glimpses of a positive future in which the two disciplines are intertwined.
A look at the past: PLNU athletes and where they’re at now
By Cade Michaelson
“Initially, there was a huge culture shock,” Walton said. “It was a lot of adjusting to the system and even just learning about Christianity. But my freshman year, I gave my life to the Lord and became a Christian. Everything just went up from there.”
I think it’s important to shine a light on the people who’ve been here before us and helped shape the school to be what it is now. It was also just a very cool experience getting to talk to two very kind, enthusiastic people who enjoyed reminiscing on their PLNU experiences.
Rethinking chemistry with Ariane Jansma
By Milla Kuiper
My favorite story I wrote this semester is a profile I wrote about Ariane Jansma. It was really interesting to me because it wasn’t easy — I wanted to challenge myself and write about her research in a way that was understandable to someone who hadn’t read it, but in order to do so, I had to spend a lot of time learning about new topics I’d never even heard of. I’m interested in a career in science communication, and writing this article ended up being really fun, and I learned a lot, even if much of what I learned didn’t end up in the final article.
Olivia Roberts 
Cade Michaelson 
Sydney Brammer