The HSU Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 7, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 25, 1999 Page: 3 of 16
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M Soirtra UMlffeiPftiiMg M
Do you got sick at the same time?
Do you wear the same clothes? Do
you got along? Do you look exactly
alike?
II you haven't figured It out yot the
above questions load to an
inevitable end: What is it like being
a twin? Well the answer to that
question Is not a simple one to
arrive at. Having beon a twin for
the last 23 years I hope to possibly shed some light on the subject.
Amanda and I are completely different yet exactly alike if that makes any
sense at alii Growing up we shared many of the samo experiences but from com-
pletely different perspectives.
To Illustrate I can't holp but think back to our sixth grade birthdayslumber
party. If we can all think back to the 80's for a moment we can recall a popular
(although really ridiculous) movie Tho Karate Kid. Woll after watching the movie
with 20 other goofy sixth grade girls and as a tribute to Ralph Macchlo Amanda and
I thought we would practice our "crane." Before I knew it Amanda's foot was up my
nostrils and I was running to tell Mom and Dad. Needless to say the experience
wasn't quite as glorious as Ralph and Mr. Miagi's was. Amanda ended up getting
spanked whilo I was sulking like a baby the rest of the night.
Going back to the statement I made about sharing experiences but from
different perspectives well that about sums up that point. Amanda's backside was
about as sore as my pride. That In a strange sort of way Is what it's like being a
twin. Nothing quite like it right? That's right! Twinshlp" is In essence sharing one
life's experiences with two different lives.
I can also remember a time back in high school that was similar. A guy
Amanda had been dating if I can even qualify him as human had really hurt her
feelings. When she told me about It I was already scheming ways to get back at
him. After school one day while Amanda was sitting In the car not knowing what the
heck I was doing I marched right up to him. I then took it upon myself to quite force-
fully point my finger to the tip of his nose and "tell" him if he ever came near my sis-
ter again he would pay a heavy price! He Just stared at me. I can just imagine what
he was thinking. No I really don't want to imagine. Feeling like I had Just bicycled up
Mt. Everest I turned around and saw Amanda sitting in the car laughing hysterically.
After getting in the car and high fiving each other the only thing I can remember past
that point is actually having felt Just as she felt when ho hurt her. Her experience
with him became my own and I wanted to handle itl
Whether I did or not Isn't the point. I was feeling what she was feeling Just
like it was back In sixth grade. Even though we are Individuals we feel this intense
responsiblity for each other. The bond we share Is literally indescribable. That's why
I can only shed some light on it through experiences wo shared.
Amanda and I are different pooplo who have beon blessed with the gift of
sharing. She knows truths about myself that I'm not even aware of yet. She talks to
me without saying a word.
Does that answer the question? Amy
Above: Amanda Mullins and Amy Miles
l
u
S
8
i
Unity and acceptance seom to bo
hot topics though I think they have always
been issues merely clouded by time. I have
only one relationship that Is complete accep-
tance love and understanding that is with
my twin brother Landon.
I will refrain from stories of differ-
ences such as when Landon sent me Into
cardiac stress in the womb necessitating
immediate delivery because I have observed
that moments of brief disunity are normal and sometimes necessary. Yet there is something
unique about the twin relationship that in my opinion is the best example of unity.
When we were young Landon had speech problems. Everyone would always ask
me "What did ho say?" "What did ho want?" Later I could rattle of my ABCs whilo Landon
fumbled through "A..B..D..D..Z." Yet I can truthfully say I NEVER thought of him as dumb or
slow even though others may have. My "rose-colored spectacles" saw him in only a positive
light probably because I refused and refuse to remove them. Granted not everyone can be
optimistic but everyone can find their own "rose-colored-spocs" and start seeing others in a
more positive manner. It's not about specs or at least my specs being color-blind; it Is about
"rose-colored specs" that from Above open the heart and allow Love to flow In and out to oth-
ers. This past summer I was in my 7 a.m. Oceanography class with Dr. Bammol when
my right arm went numb. I could pinpoint no reason or cause yet my arm was numb all morn-
ing. At noon I called home and talked to Landon. He informed me that he gashed open his
right arm deeply with sheet metal. I asked what time the accident happened and he said
"8:30 a.m." It occurred to me then that wo havo this wonderfully strange connection that allows
us to know what the other is going through. I do not think that soul connection this "life line" is
limited only to twins. In fact if we all had a "life line" to others the nature of society might
improve. I also think this "life line" is an overwhelming Love from Above that penetrates even
our relationships.
One more idoalistic Idea to note from my twin I only recently understood. For several
reasons last month It was necessary for mo to share a bed or room with other girls. On those
nights I "slept like a baby." I believe it is bocause I spent 9 months of natal development
always beside someone several months in the same crib and even during stages of Junior
high and high school Landon would sleep on my trundle in my room. There is a need in me to
be with people and then part of my soul Is filled. Inside each of us there is a need for others.
It takes two to talk three to make a crowd and four Aggies to screw In a light bulb
go ahead and laugh. There Is a song by Julie Stein that says 'People who need people are
the luckiest people In the world." I think we have blinded ourselves to that need. Why do we
walk around with our hands in our pockets and our smiles locked inside because wo need
excuses need to fear need to be safe? There is no easy answer to unity only progressive
steps taken by Individuals that "Open up their heart and let the Son shine In."
Having a twin has taught me more about life love and unity than I can ever realize.
I haven't been harmed by any of its lessons or trials. Ok except for maybe that time Landon
accidentally....
May your heart be open to Love from Above and your life changed for others. Laine
Above: Laine and Landon Walker
Dear Editor
"Respect" means to express consideration for others andor to avoid violation of oth
ers. By these definitions I have been completely disrespected two times while at Hardin-
Simmons University. Not only have I been disrespected but my race and heritage as well.
Allow me to explain how. To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday January 18
1999 1 made a sign for my office door saying "Remember the Dream on Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Day." This sign also Included his picture a brief history of how and why this day became a
holiday and a small Insert from Dr. King s famous I Have a Dream speech. On Wednesday .
when I returned to my offico I lookod at tho sign on my door and someone had written in black
Ink "Old News" on the sign. This really upsot me. The sign was on my offico door which means
it was my personal property; which also means I can keep the sign up all year long if I want to.
That is my right. However someone violated that right
Some of you reading this might think this is petty but this means a groat deal to mo
bocause I am that proud of my heritage. Also this Is not the first time something like this has
happened. Last year for February Black History Month I put up a Black History display of peo-
ple who paved tho way for African-Americans today In education sports politics civil rights
etc. I took a lot of time on this display bocause I wanted it to look nice but most Importantly
because I wanted people walking by tho display to look at It and hopefully read tho material. I
was vory proud of my work. To my surprise when I rotumod to my office after the weekend tho
entire display was ripped down. This really smacked me in tho face. Tho reality that there Is till
prejudice In this world and even more surprising there is prejudice at this so-callod Christian
university; and I experienced it first hand.
Both of these incidents woro so completely DISRESPECTFUL that I cannot even put
it Into words. Let mo just say I understand why there are so few black students attending HSU.
While I am on tho RESPECT issue I should mention this as well. To the administra
tion of HSU you should show the samo respect to all of your faculty and staff members. I am
an adjunct Instructor in tho physical education department. Consequently Just because I do not
havo "Dr." in front of my name does that mean I should receive less rospoct. I think not
because I am providing an education for your students Just like any other faculty membor Is.
The following are some examples of how I know I am not respected tho same:
1. 1 cannot teach my 8 am aerobics class on the wooden gym floor; my class must
use tho side floor which is very hard. Never mind the fact that the wooden floor Is a rebound
floor which means less Injuries (Knee ankle etc.) for my students and less stress on my
already bad knees. All the administration is worried about are their precious basketball teams
who uso the gym. So let me ask this are my students and myself less Important than the bas-
ketball players?
2. Last semester I taught an aerobics instructor training class which was a P.E. cred-
ited class and scheduled for 5 p.m. in tho Marston Gym. Howevor when my class went to the
gym the Spurs (dance team) were there. I called administration to report their mistako of over-
booking the gym but they did nothing about it. Therefore I compromised and taught my class
in the weight room. Can you imagine teaching an aerobics class in that small weight room at
HSU?
3. 1 was responsible for tho Pepsi One Training and Fitness Program which was a
national program sponsored by Pepsi and Campus Concepts. HSU was one of throe small
schools Included In this program. When the regional director of the program visited HSU there
were some problems. The Pepsi One sign that was supposed to go up In front of the student
contor had to bo taken down because administration said it could not go there. Also adminis-
tration had some problems with me giving out free Pepsi's t-shirts keychalns etc. because it
was taking away from HSU business (Aramark food services and tho bookstore). All of the
above was said in front of the regional director of the program who later made the comment "I
thought we would havo problems with big schools such as Nebraska who havo multi-million
dollar contracts with various corporations but I never Imagined that a small school would be
like this." Neodless to say I was so embarrassed not for mo but for HSU as a whole. This real-
ly made tho school look bad.
Well I could go on with more examples but I am tired and what is the point; things
are not going to change because of this letter. I Just wanted to give you some Information about
your groat Christian university.
Sophia Y. Jordan
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The HSU Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 7, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 25, 1999, newspaper, February 25, 1999; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth97672/m1/3/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.