The 2012-2013 Chimes Staff

Elizabeth Sallie

Position: Editor-in-Chief
Year: Senior
Major: Journalism

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Sallie, and I'm the editor-in-chief here at the Chimes. My job is to oversee the many crucial parts that come together to create the newspaper. Some of the things I get to be involved with include the staff, the structure and the overall production of the Chimes. One of my favorite parts of the job, though, is interacting with readers, whether through text messages, emails or office hours. This is my third year at the Chimes and my second as editor-in-chief. The Chimes staff is much like my second family.

When I'm not at the Chimes, I love reading great books, drinking coffee, and bluegrass. I'm a senior with a passion for journalistic integration with the Internet, and would love to continue pursuing that once I graduate. I'm honored to be able to lead the amazing staff below through this year of seeking out journalistic truth, Christian integrity and a holistic mindset for the Chimes. As you have questions, concerns, story ideas or anything else, feel free to shoot me an email, tweet at me or swing by the office!

Robert Hoffman

Position: Business Manager
Year: Junior
Major: Business Administration

Hey! My name is Robert and I am the business manager of the Chimes. My role is to take care of the financial state of the Chimes, whether this may involve taking care of the financial control (cash flow) of accounts, budgeting, making sure we have proof of invoices and receipts for the internal and external transactions, and communicating with the Editor-in-chief the financial state of the Chimes. I also take care of Purchasing Orders, Cash Advance and reimbursements for the staff and freelance writers.

I'm excited to be a part of the Chimes this year because I know that we are going to make a difference each and every week giving students, faculty, and stake-holders what they want to read in a Godly manner. The Chimes has always reflected Christ-like behavior in staff and community in the past, and I'm eager to finally be a part of it.

Activities I enjoy in my free time include skateboarding and playing baseball.

In the words a late great wise man once told me.. HONEYDIP!

Sarah Sjoberg

Position: Advertising Manager
Year: Sophomore
Major: Business Administration

Hey there! My name is Sarah Sjoberg and I will be the Advertising Manager for the Chimes. My job this year is to help advertisers connect to the Biola community by means of the Chimes. 

I am a sophomore studying International Business with the hopes of one day using my education to empower those who could not otherwise help themselves. I enjoy reading memoirs, gawking over weddings, and creamy cappuccinos. I absolutely love the Biola University experience and am overjoyed to be working at the Chimes this upcoming year!

Joseph DeClercq

Position: Office Manager
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Studies

This is my third year working for the Chimes newspaper. Previously, I worked as a sports writer and as editor of the sports section. Currently my role is defined as Office Manager and what that means is I get to do a variety of jobs that improve the functionality of the Chimes as well as office culture.

I am a senior Communication Studies major but I don't know where I will go after I graduate in May. I am passionate about sports and media. I can be reached on Twitter at @JosephThomasD or by email at joseph.t.declercq@biola.edu.

Jeff Koch

Position: Managing Production Editor
Year: Senior
Major: Journalism

Sup, Holmes!

(This greeting is only funny if your last name is actually "Holmes." So please pretend.)

I'm the managing production editor of the Chimes. I'm charged with putting together the lovely print edition of the Chimes you can pick up most every Thursday.

I also enjoy writing about music, film, video games and anything artistic or creative. If you bump into me on campus — I'll be the slightly skinny, blond, white fellow — I'm always up for a discussion about art. I enjoy Cezanne, Brand New, They Might Be Giants, mewithoutYou among scores of others. Come say hi!

Christine Chan

Position: Managing Web Editor
Year: Junior
Major: Journalism

I'm Christine, the managing web editor. Last year, I freelanced and then served as a staff writer, and now I'll be working with everything and anything related to the web and social media! I'm super excited to see the Chimes transform from print-first to web-first, and I think you guys will love it too!

I'm a junior, majoring in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. I'm half Japanese, half Chinese and I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area — so the 49ers are my favorite team. I'm a book purist, and I get cold easily. I'm probably the only one at the Chimes who doesn't drink coffee. But I like looking at food on Pinterest and listening to music, especially 80s rock. I'm also quickly growing to love Gregorian chants. Stop by and say hi anytime! :)

Katie Nelson

Position: Senior News Editor
Year: Sophomore
Major: Journalism

My name is Katie Nelson and I am the senior news editor for the Chimes. I would be lost without my supportive roommate, Julia, and my wonderful news apprentice, Anna. I cover the weekly print crime log and its daily counterpart, the crime blog, as well as breaking news around campus. I am passionate about searching out interesting news stories, asking too many questions, getting hung up on the details and copy editing obsessively.

I am a sophomore journalism major with an emphasis in writing and publishing. I am also a native of Seattle, which I guess explains my white mocha americano addiction. My goal for the year is to make the Chimes news writers better in terms of style, content and sniffing out stories.

Heather Leith

Position: Features Editor
Year: Sophomore
Major: Journalism

I am a Canadian with a lingering accent, and I frequently force myself to try new things and like them. Examples: almonds ("They're supes good for you," I said), boba ("Sucking little tapiocas through a fatty straw can't be that bad"), improv comedy ("Maybe others will find my jokes as funny as I do"), tea ("People who drink it seem to have more enjoyable lives"), and now, Features Editing. I have loved writing ever since I wrote my first book (a stapled Word doc in Curlz MT font) about two twin girls with two twin puppies. With that compelling subject, where can a girl go wrong? After taking merely one journalism class and writing two stories for the Chimes, I somehow landed in this position. I am thrilled and humbled (thrumbled) to be a story-gatherer this year and would love to hear yours. And put it in ink for thousands to read. You down? I'm down.

I am kind of obsessed with Biola and often swoon when I think about it. Other things that make me swoon: tiny animals, TSwift's new singles, inexpensive clothing, getting mail, good magazine layouts, #goodhastags, Trader Joe's mac 'n cheese, and finding the perfect synonym. Or the flawless synonym. Or the impeccable synonym. Do you get it? I'm using synonyms. I've come a long way since my twin girls/twin puppies novel.

Mack Hayden

Position: Arts & Entertainment Editor
Year: Sophomore
Major: English

My name is Mack Hayden, and I'm happy to be joining the Chimes staff as Arts & Entertainment editor this year. I’m excited to be able to bring some new artistic information to an already cultured school. If I'm not blasting Pavement or The Magnetic Fields, you can perk my ears up by saying you like Anderson (of the Paul Thomas or Wes variety) movies, books by Steinbeck or Cormac McCarthy or The Big Lebowski. Also, I am more than ready to quote Back to the Future or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with you any time you like.

Shaefer Bagwell

Position: Opinions Editor
Year: Sophomore
Major: Political Science

Shaefer Lewis Bagwell. I was born December 27, 1992, in Sacramento, CA. I have loved politics since listening to the Bush/Gore debates with my dad on the radio. I am a life-long lover of coffee. I have worked at Starbucks in the past. I would love to run political campaigns for a living, and have so far been an intern and a deputy field organizer for a congressional race in my hometown.

As the Chimes Opinions Editor, it is my job to stay current with the things that people are talking about. I view my role to be that of a facilitator, greasing the wheels of civil, public debate. Intellectual stimulation through Opinions Editorials is a time honored tradition that I am looking forward to perpetuating. In a more "nuts and bolts" sense, I hire and recruit writers, edit their pieces, and aid them in producing quality articles.

Anders Corey

Position: Sports Editor
Year: Sophomore
Major: English

I am a sophomore English major with an emphasis in writing. I am originally from Boston but moved to Southern California five years ago. I LOVE all Boston sports. Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins. Follow me on Twitter @anderscorey.

I was also a baby model.

Olivia Blinn

Position: Photo Editor
Year: Junior
Major: Journalism

Hello all, my name is Olivia Blinn and I'm in the Photo Editor at the Chimes. My job is to shoot photos for stories, oversee the staff photographers, and prepare photos for print. My desire is for the Chimes to consistently display creative and compelling images. I'm a Journalism major with an emphasis in Visual Media, but I also have a minor in Mathematics (bizarre, I know). My passion for photography began at a young age, having received my first camera at eight years old. I love how a photo can tell a story in ways that words can't.

If I don't have a camera in my hand, I probably have a cup of coffee. I'm a self-proclaimed coffee snob and completely partial to Caribou Coffee. I hail from the land of hockey and Bob Dylan—northern Minnesota. Nearly every day I get made fun of for my Midwestern accent. While at home, I spend my time camping and fishing, as well as at the archery and rifle ranges. I also enjoy traveling, reading, and listening to folk music, preferably on vinyl.

Emily Arnold

Position: Web Photo Editor
Year: Senior
Major: Journalism

Here's the thing — I am still tripping out on the fact that I am a senior at Biola University, but knowing I only have one year left makes me want to dive as deeply as possible into the community here. This desire is a huge reason I'm so thrilled to be a part of the Chimes this year. I can't wait to get plugged in through photography, and serve this community by capturing many of the moments that make these years at Biola so incredible. I love that photography provides me with an opportunity to connect with so many of the wonderful people here. People are my favorite.

And now for some fun facts: I fully embrace Hey Arnold jokes and have incorporated this 90s hit show into all my social media outlets. Like Olivia, I too am partial to Caribou Coffee, (but living in Orange County for 21 years has made it quite difficult to enjoy their exquisite menu as often as I'd like to). I'm a big fan of Chicago, youth ministry, the nighttime, and knowing fun facts about Disneyland. I have pens, paper, and chapstick on me at all times. I love road trips, museums, and airports -- if I didn't have to deal with security, I'd hang out in terminals all. the. time. I may or may not have broken the  sad news to Biola that Bieber is not coming to our school, and I may or may not have nominated myself as Chimes DJ.

#hotjamzferdayz

Trenton Ahern

Position: Multimedia Producer
Year: Junior
Major: Cinema and Media Arts

Hey there. I'm Trent.....or Trenton if you're fancy. I am the Multimedia Producer at the Chimes and a Film major at our fine university. It is my mission to provide this campus with videos that are visually informative while also being aesthetically gratifying. My life's joy is to serve others and working for the Chimes allows me to do that.  I want to build relationships and give everyone glimpses into what Biola life is like. Please feel free to approach me whenever I'm shooting segments for our latest project. I love getting to know people and who knows!? Maybe, you'll get interviewed! (If you don't want to, that's cool too. I guess.)

Go Dodgers!

Lauralyn Koontz

Position: Senior Copy Editor
Year: Senior
Major: English

This is my first year as the senior copy editor, my second year on the Chimes staff, and my last year at Biola. Our three-person copy desk is responsible for fact checking, proofreading and learning to recite the AP Stylebook backwards in our sleep. Consistency and accuracy are the hallmarks of effective journalism; we help our writers publish their best work.

As an English major, I began my journalism journey feeling more prepared to write an 10-page dissection of The Brothers Karamazov than improve a hard news brief. But there is beauty in communication and all truth is God’s truth — journalism is just an alternate form of literature. I love fostering communication on campus in a way that integrates with everyday life.

Tim Buchanan

Position: Assistant Copy Editor
Year: Senior
Major: Humanities

Most days I can be found wearing corduroy, leaning jauntily back in my armchair, postulating about goodness, truth and beauty. But every Tuesday and Wednesday I can be found wearing corduroy, leaning jauntily back in my swivel chair, pondering commas and assorted battles of grammar. As a copy editor, I am called to lay down my copy of Hamlet and seize my AP Stylebook.

I stand for accuracy. I stand for correctness. I stand for joy. I am a copy editor.

Trevor Gerdes

Position: Assistant Copy Editor
Year: Junior
Major: Journalism

I'm Trevor, the new copy editor here at the Chimes. I rebel against the college mainstream by choosing not to be caffeine-dependent (at least most of the time), and by filling that occasional need with iced tea rather than coffee. Growing up, I always wanted to travel, be adventurous, and explore. Fulfilling those dreams as some kind of journalist would be awesome.

As a copy editor, I help stories earn respect and readership. If you've ever stopped reading something because it was so darn confusing, messy, or wordy, you know what it looks like when editors fail. We believe in a writer's right to creativity, but we never forget a reader's right to readability. Yeah, we copy editors are a big deal!

Kristy Lee

Position: Design Editor
Year: Senior
Major: Art

Hi! My name is Kristy and I am majoring in art with an emphasis in design. I was born in Singapore but grew up in fog city, San Francisco. I am the design editor at the Chimes and my job is to make our newspaper look awesome. I am more than thrilled to have this opportunity to serve our community at Biola! I also have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate and I would love to meet Taylor Swift.

Conner Penfold

Position: Staff Writer
Year: Senior
Major: Journalism

My name is Conner Penfold and I'm a senior Journalism major with an emphasis in Writing and Publishing. I take on the duties of a staff writer, mostly covering sports, writing the weekly "Athlete of the Week" column as well as covering the baseball team in the spring. I also play golf for Biola. Yes, Biola has a golf team.

Caleb Wheeler

Position: Staff Writer
Year: Senior
Major: Cinema and Media Arts

After freelancing all of last year, it's great to be on Chimes staff now. As a film production major, my passion is in the movies, and it is my job to provide campus readers with objective and honest reviews of what’s killing or being killed at the box office. I write these articles not just as someone who knows how to carefully exegete a film, but also as an average college student and Christ-follower. Hollywood is dishing out plenty to see these days, and I do my best to distinguish the good, the bad and the ugly with you in mind.

When I’m not being a film snob, I love to hang out with friends, go to the beach, write screenplays, swim, hike, read, and spend time in the Word. Since age five, it’s been my dream to someday write and direct major motion picture, and I plan on moving into LA after graduation. God has helped me realize Hollywood is as good a missions field as any.

Feel free to email me any thoughts, suggestions or concerns in regards to my articles. 
God bless!

Grant Walter

Position: Staff Photographer
Year: Sophomore
Major: Humanities

A Portland native, I’ve always been interested in bold creative moves in a culture that has normalized the outrageous. I immerse myself in the creative process, spending time engaging crazy ideas to put out something thoughtful. Though I’ve always been curious about the world and interested in creativity and culture, I’ve only recently began using the medium of photography. My photographs allow me to express myself and share my life with the world. Right now, my life includes studying the humanities with an emphasis in history as a sophomore at Biola University, where I’ll also receive a Bible minor. In my spare time, I play basketball and observe the work of other photographers.

Ashleigh Fox

Position: Staff Photographer
Year: Sophomore
Major: Journalism

Hello all! I am Colorado born and raised. I am A. Fox. Literally. My calling in life is to allocate truthful hope in the world through photography and the written word. Having the opportunity to be part of the Chimes photo staff is improving my skills and continues to reassure me of my passion of telling people’s stories through a photograph.

Sports always strike my fancy, and shooting the summer Olympics is my dream.

I am America. This is due to the fact that my favorite things are the defining elements of America: Sweet Home Alabama, red, white and blue, country music, the 4th of July, drive-in movies, writing letters, and apple pie.

I am thrilled to have the pleasure of getting to know many of the classy characters of Biola, and hope to make this a year of creativity, truth, and impact.

Austin Champion

Position: Distributor
Year: Sophomore
Major: Intercultural Studies

Austin Champion, a native of Santa Barbara, Calif., is a sophomore Intercultural Studies major at Biola. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, scuba diving (basically anything outdoorsy) and listening to U2. His life goal is to do as the Lord pleases. Austin is very excited to be a freelance writer and distribute for the Chimes this year.