Vol. 132 No.6 May 1, ’19
SGA Blurb Page 2
Alumni Spotlight Page 4
Grad Speaker Page 7
Jazz Walk Page 14
Sports Update Page 16
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About Messenger / News & Features
SGA Blurb
ABOUT US The Messenger has been serving Bethany College since 1892 and is an independently run newspaper. The Messenger is entirely produced by Bethany College students who are deeply committed to providing relevant, acurate, and timely information to the Bethany College and Lindsborg communities.
EDITORIAL POLICY The Messenger encourages letters to the editor. Authors should include name, address, and phone number, though names may be withheld from the publication. Letters to the editor can be dropped off at Room 12 in the lower level of Presser Hall or by the mailroom in the Pihlblad Memorial Union. Alternatively, emails can be sent to messenger@bethanylb.edu. The Messenger reserves the right to reject or edit letters. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the signed author. They are not necessarily those of the Bethany College administration, faculty, staff, student body or The Messenger staff.
CONTACT US If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at messenger@bethanylb.edu. To directly contact the head editors, email hennekm@bethanylb.edu or reedsw@bethanylb.edu. We can be reached via mail at 335 E Swensson St, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
THE MESSENGER STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Kerri Henne Managing Editor: Sam Reed Treasurer: Katie Klaassen News & Feature Editor: Emily Ballantyne Opinions Editor: Hannah Imm Arts & Entertainment Editor: Abigail Rishel-Barnett Sports Editor: Dominque Murray Layout Editor: Miranda Work Social Media Manager: Baptiste Chazelas Advisors: Rebecca Miller and Frank Ballew Front Page Photo Credit - Hannah Imm
May 1, 2019
I hope all is going well for each of you as we face the last days of this semester. Don’t give up. Although this tends to be the most stressful time of year, your hard work and dedication will pay off. You have a whole summer ahead of you to work, shadow, hang with friends, and be around family. Until summer does arrive, though, keep to the books and end your year off strong. Your time here and how well you do will affect your future career after you graduate. I wanted to touch base one last time as your student body president before my term ends in the next few weeks. First, I would like to thank you all for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to serve and represent you. Had it not been for your support, I would not be where I am now. I have been happy with SGA’s progress this year, and I hope all of you are equally satisfied with the projects that we completed. As my final pitch, I encourage that, if you desire to make an impact on Bethany and its students, you get involved with student organization leadership or SGA positions in the future. Not only do these organizations help to build the community of Bethany College, but they help with developing your leadership and problem solving skills. I can attest to the fact that in my years at Bethany organizations have played a big part of my college career. As for my final report about SGA, there are a few exciting announcements! To start, I would like to say congratulations to Trevor Kemp and Katie Klaassen for being elected President and Vice President of the student body in the 2019-2020 academic year. Trevor and Katie have been very involved with SGA this year and I am confident that they will continue to push SGA in the right direction. If you see them around campus, make sure to congratulate them. Also, thank you to everyone who came to our Hot Dog Social on April 24th; we hope you enjoyed the free food and particularly the free shirts (brought to you by your friendly neighborhood SGA). If you didn’t get a shirt (as a few students have informed me), look out for future SGA events. Thanks again for your support. I hope you have been pleased with our progress this year and I look forward to seeing the continued growth of SGA in the future. It has been a blast serving you and I will miss it after I graduate.
Signing off, Stephen Klaassen SGA President
May 1, 2019
News & Features
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Kerri Henne
News & Features
May 1, 2019
Alumni Spotlight: Heather Sasse
hennekm@bethanylb.edu
As the 2018/2019 academic year rolls to a halt--with less than a month left until graduation time and summer break--The Messenger is excited to share with you one more amazing alumni. For our final Alumni Spotlight of the year, we are lucky enough to highlight Heather Sasse, a 1997 graduate with double majors in Psychology and Behavioral Science Education and an endorsement in Behavioral Disorders. A heavily involved member of the Bethany community, Sasse is an exemplar of what all current students should strive to achieve. The following is a Question/Answer interview with Sasse, exploring her involvement with Bethany College and how her time as a Swede has shaped her life:
Why did you choose this major? I chose this to be more marketable. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after graduation and wanted as many options as possible.
What clubs/organizations were you involved with? I played volleyball and was on the track team. I was also a member of Student Council and the Psycholo-
gy club. I went on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico over Spring Break my freshman year. My junior year I was an RA in Anna Marm. My senior year I was the student representative to the Bethany Board of Directors.
What is your best memory from Bethany? My boyfriend (now husband) [Darren] proposing to me at the campus sign that ran between the cafeteria and Anna Marm.
What do you wish you had done while at college? I wish I would have looked into more “travel” experiences. I really enjoyed the mission trip my freshman year. I should have gone on more. Other than that - I don’t regret a thing.
What career path have you traveled since your time at Bethany? I started out as a Special Education teacher (9-10) at Alma-Wabaunsee High School my first year after graduation. We then moved back to Darren’s family farm in Smith Center, where I taught Special Education at Smith Center JuniorSenior High School until 2006. I became the Transition Coordinator for the special education cooperative for the next 10 years - working
with students 14 years and older about what they wanted to do after high school.
What job do you currently have and how did you major help you get it?
I am currently the K-12 Library Media Specialist for USD 237 Smith Center, KS. I am also an outreach Psychology/Sociology Instructor for Cloud County Community College. I had no desire to become a teacher when I was a freshman but I loved Psychology. Long talks with my advisor about adding an education major along with the special education minor to be more marketable were invaluable to me. This gave me options after Bethany to go right into a career, go to grad school for school psychology or school counseling, or even to go into teaching (which I did).
Keep at it. If you love Psychology - you’ll find a fit for it in your career - no matter what your career may be.
What advice would you give to Bethany students, in general? Enjoy your time, talk with your professors, make great friends and have wonderful experiences. Take it all in. College is what YOU make of it. I had high school classmates that went to big colleges (25,000+ students) and their oncampus experiences were so much more impersonal. They didn’t talk to anyone or look at anyone, they just ducked their head and went to their classes. It’s not that way at Bethany. People know you for you - not as number or filling a seat. You have a place on Bethany campus.
What are your future plans? At some point in time we will retire. I’m not ready to think about that yet......there are days I feel like I’m still the new kid on the block.
What advice would you give to students in your major? Courtesy Photo
News & Features
May 1, 2019
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Senior Reflection: Akyva Van
August 15, 2015, I drove 10 hours with my family from Chicago, Illinois to Lindsborg, Kansas to start my 4 year journey at Bethany College. Although everyone in my family was pushing me to go to a historically black college and university (HBCU) because I’m an African American woman, for some reason Bethany felt like it was where I was supposed to be. And, after going through 4 long years here, I am proud that this was the choice I made; without Bethany, I wouldn’t have learned or experienced the things that I have. It seems like yesterday I was moving into my small dorm room in Anna Marm, a.k.a. the Marm Farm. My heart was racing so fast because this was now my new home, and I was excited but also scared to move in. Now, as I am in the process to move to another city, it makes me want to go back to those dorm days where my roommate and I stayed up for hours laughing, crying, watching movies, eating junk food, and talking about home. The memories and moments I have at Bethany are something that I will forever cherish and keep with me--the walks we took to Kaps, the late night drives to Panchos for a California burrito, the Saturday nights at the Muse, The Stuga, and The 317, and let’s not forget the times when everyone from
Bethany drove to Manhattan for Fake Patty’s Day. I truly believe that no other school could have gave me that. Being a Bethany Swede has been an up and down experience; I’ve lost friends, had my heart broken, went into a mild depression, and contemplated giving up numerous of times. But I also met people who started off as strangers, became friends, and turned into family that I know will be with me forever. Bethany gifted me with life long lessons, opportunities, passion, and the ability to truly express my talents for the first time. Graduating means setting goals for your life. One goal that should be held by all of us is
a genuine desire for happiness. Around the beginning of the year, I became depressed and I had little to no motivation to do anything. At first, I was against going to a therapist because I am not one to just open up to anybody, but once I got passed that and went to talk to somebody, I started seeing improvement. I sat down and started to reflect on myself and try to find the happy Akyva I once used to be. Now I can say I am truly happy and it feels pretty bussin. I’m saying all of this to emphasize that the only person in charge of your happiness is you. When you let outside situations or other people make you happy, you take away your own power and control. Just remember to always choose your happiness over eve-
Courtesy Photo
rything else. It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that I am finally done with 6am practices, 8am classes, listening to president Jones sing whatever popular song is out in his speeches, the times when my friends and I had late night study sessions in Gregory Hall, Hyllningsfest weekends, and every other unique thing about this school; it’s time to leave all of that behind. But I can truly say I have left my mark here. Who would’ve thought a big city kid would fall in love with a small town. I’m glad I did. Lindsborg will forever have a place in my heart. Bethany has brought me so much happiness along this four year ride. Now that my time here is up, I want to encourage all the young adults who are either in their first year at Bethany or have been here for three years that, yes, Bethany might not be that big school that you always dreamed of going to and there WILL be times where you just want to go back home and never look back at this place, but this school, this small little town, and everything that comes with it teaches you so much about yourself and once you leave here, you will be able to say “I did it.” Just look at me: I’m doing it.
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Hannah Imm
immhj@bethanylb.edu
Each year, Bethany College’s graduating class presents the campus with a parting gift. These gifts tend to vary greatly in size and form. Past gifts have included recycling bins, benches, and windows for the chapel. This year’s class, led by SGA president Stephen Klaassen, has decided to initiate and assist in the renovations of Nelson Science Center’s main lecture hall. When asked why this project was selected, Klaassen explained that it was more of a need than a want. Bethany’s student population has been
Photo By Hannah Imm
News & Features
May 1, 2019
2019 Senior Class Gift steadily increasing over the last few years, and one can only assume this trend will continue. With a growing number of eager minds, various spaces around our campus will need expanded and updated. Nelson Science Center’s main lecture hall is the largest on campus, and, according to Klaassen, will possibly be used to hold non-science courses, as well as its traditional science courses, in the future. Klaassen and his classmates desired to create a space that could “comfortably” accommodate all students. The remodel of Nelson Science Center’s main lecture hall is not entirely on the seniors’ shoulders. Specifically,
the graduating class is painting the walls and replacing the ceiling tiles in the lecture hall. Bethany’s Student Government Association has allocated funding to purchase new light fixtures and a projector screen with a builtin sound system. Klaassen and his peers have been working closely with the college’s Advancement Team to discuss the options of an air conditioning unit and new carpet for the room. They have also been considering raising funds to obtain new furniture. While these last aspects of the renovation are not yet set in stone, they show the willingness of the various Bethany College parties to work together to provide students with a modern, effective lecture hall. The Student Government Association has been actively cooperating with Director of Maintenance Joel Mai on the projects, and the campus can expect construction efforts to begin immediately after graduation. No current drawings or plans
Photo By Hannah Imm
are available to the public. As the Student Government Association is orchestrating this renovation, they would like to invite and encourage Bethany College’s campus community to share their positive comments and concerns with them. Klaassen hopes that this gift will provide his graduating class with a special legacy and positively impact Bethany’s students for years to come.
May 1, 2019
News & Features/Opinions
Messenger Advice Column & Cheese: The Potholes are Back
Alright, it’s time. Let’s talk about the potholes. The New Hall parking lot has been looking, and feeling, a little rough around the edges lately. The potholes were filled in the fall, but the fix proved to be temporary, as they have now almost returned to their previous size. After listening to several concerns about multiple parking lots around campus, the Student Government Association (SGA) allocated the funds to make repairs. Due to unexpected inclimate weather shortly after the maintenance took place, though, the potholes in the New Hall parking lot returned within a few months. First of all, I think that we can all agree that between our classes, sports, part-time jobs, and everything else, none of us spend any significant portion of our day worrying about the New Hall parking lot. In fact, the majority of those reading this never have nor will park there. So, anonymous Bethany Messenger journalist, why are you writing about this? Let me tell ya. We are all aware (I hope) of the difference between making the easy choice and making the correct choice. It is so terribly easy to mope around and complain about the various issues we face on campus: wifi speeds, the new off-campus
living requirements, limited cafeteria hours, the cavernous craters in the New Hall parking lot, et cetera. You get the picture. What we fail to realize is that, with each of those issues, there is a list of names attached names of employees or fellow students that are personally invested in trying to fix the dayto-day issues we face as Bethany Swedes. It truly is easy to ignore all of the laborious rustling behind the curtain, and simply complaining about how often Netflix buffers. Decisions aren’t randomly made here, and there is a lot of serious thought behind the work done by our dedicated staff. So, if the easy choice is to complain, what is the hard choice? First, give our school and staff the benefit of the doubt. Solutions can’t be found or afforded instantaneously. If you’ve come across a problem, odds are, someone else has also been in a similar situation, and some form of a fix is in the works. Secondly, go to the SGA forums. That is the best, most-appropriate place to complain, so do it there. Nearly all SGA members, along with various faculty members, are in attendance and would love to wholeheartedly hear you out. Most likely, they’ll explain what the school is doing to address the issue you’ve brought forth.
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Commencement Speaker: Avery Holmes
Hannah Imm
immhj@bethanylb.edu
Graduation is just around the corner. For most students, this time of year is one of immense stress. While many students are busy studying for and completing final exams and essays, senior Avery Holmes is penning, perfecting, and rehearsing a very special group of words. A month ago, emails and flyers circulated around Bethany College seeking graduating seniors with a desire to deliver a memorable speech during this year’s graduation ceremony. The judging panel was comprised of faculty from around the college and of various disciplines with public speaking and language expertise. Holmes is majoring in communications and theatre with a minor in English. His knowledge and hours of practice with words helped to prepare him for the audition. During the tryout process, he admitted he felt very “intimidated.” Although the experience was rather nerve-wracking for Holmes, he received “helpful and encouraging advice” and was pleased with his efforts. Upon receiving the news of his selection, Holmes felt very excited and “deeply
honored.” Being chosen to speak at Bethany College’s commencement ceremony is a huge accomplishment. He looks forward to articulating his thoughts with clarity and charisma to his peers and the public. For Holmes, this opportunity feels like proof that he can and has “overcome massive hurdles” in his college career and life. During his time in college, Holmes has learned many complicated and valuable lessons that have prepared him for his future. Holmes has struggled with his mental illnesses and academics, but is now proudly a “representative” for his class and an emblem of success for others facing challenges. Holmes aims to use his speech to reflect upon all the incredible opportunities he has had during his time at Bethany College. He also hopes to mention some of his favorite memories and their lasting impact. He will leave his audience and fellow classmates with one, large piece of advice. The Messenger would like to congratulate Avery Holmes on his appointment and invite our readers to attend Bethany’s graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 19th.
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Avery Holmes
holmasaj@bethanylb.edu
If you saw Get Out in 2017, you’d know that Jordan Peele is a promising horror director. He went from absurd, yet relevant comedy, to thrilling social horror in the span of two projects. Although it did fall to a few of the cliché horror tropes and a few jittered moments of misplaced comedy, it still hit hard in all the right places. I was so invested, that I was screaming in the theater. I was most certainly excited to see Us,
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Opinions
Us Review
but as a natural cynic I was scared that it wouldn’t live up to my high expectations. Us is a story about a family who takes a vacation to a beach that is uncomfortably familiar to the protagonist Adelaide, portrayed by the fantastic Lupita Nyong’o. At the first night in their beach house, they are terrorized by masked figures who turn out to be their doppelgangers. They torture them and play games with them that prey on their deepest fears. They come to realize that these doppelgangers are there for everyone, and everyone’s about to realize what’s going on in the worst way. It’s important to let you know that the story and writing do not touch Get Out in the slightest. If you’re looking for a poignant social commentary, this movie won’t deliver. The major twist in the end is predictable from the beginning, and the ethos behind the character’s motivation flip-flops between obnoxiously obscure and way too in-yourface with the political commentary. The humor, while it flows
more than the sudden cuts between Get Out, comes at random, awkward moments that don’t really make sense. The whole message of the movie is both vague and overbearing. Us’s strongest characteristic is its design. Everything about the way this movie looks, sounds, and feels is so enrapturing. There are gorgeous shots of haunting landscapes. One such example of this is the scene of the family watching the beach. As the camera goes overhead, you see their long, drawn out shadows following their every step. This movie is very colorful, with plenty of sharp reds and blues, and plays with dichotomy like a more digestible David Lynch film. The dark shots, where the environment really crushes the characters, and then balances them with gorgeous lights and slow, panning pieces, is astounding. The sound is also wonderful. The brutality of any damage is emphasized by sounds of whacks and crunches. The soundtrack, for the most part, really fits. You get songs that lead to genuinely touching family moments and others that are haunting orchestral pieces. There was one point during the final confrontation where the soundtrack didn’t really fit, but it was still a nice orchestration of Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It.” That song has been a big part of my life since I was eleven, so it certainly pulled me into the
May 1, 2019
family dynamic. You also get bitter moments of silence that shut down everything and force you to focus on the screen. The acting… the acting is fantastic. Despite awkward writing, the actors sell the work as realistically as possible. Even the kids, especially the little boy, are convincing actors. For the most part, they’re all consistent characters, and their doppelganger forms are as creepy as one could imagine. Lupita Nyong’o steals the show as both the hero and antagonist. When she’s first really introduced, she moves in this stilted manner that feels like a Marionette puppet. The way she speaks in the movie is sickening, with this slow, raspy delivery that strings you along. Tim Heidecker, typically known for his comedic roles, makes a great appearance in the film as well and sells the disgruntled, rich dad. Everyone in this movie did a fantastic job with what they were given. Overall, Us didn’t touch me as deeply as Get Out did. The politics of the movie feel cloudy, and you could tell that Jordan Peele was trying to take a more subtle approach. With that, he ended up jumbling his message entirely. However, what it lacks in depth is made up for in strides with directorial ambition. Us is a striking and effective horror that paints a beautiful, if somewhat muddy picture.
Opinions
May 1, 2019
Michaela Wren
wrenmn@bethanylb.edu
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Khalid: Free Spirit Review
How do I even begin this album review? I should probably start by saying Khalid is a pure soul and his voice is angelic. Khalid released his first album “American Teen” back in 2017, and it quickly reached the top of the charts. This new album is completely different from his first album. “Free Spirit” is genreless, which makes it appealing to listeners of all ages. In his first release, he kept rather silent about his struggles with anxiety and depression. In this sophomore album, though, he opens up about his mental health. He sings his heart out about love, his experiences throughout adolescence, and entering his adult years. He always speaks his mind, but his music is safe and appropriate. His work has little to no vulgar words, and I believe that is why everyone loves this music. Khalid avoids crossing lines with his lyrics. The first song on the album is named, who would have thought, “Intro” and,
from what I’ve seen of people talking about this song on social media, it’s very relatable. It speaks deeply about a relationship that is not working out anymore and how the singer must put himself first in order to discover his own self-value. One of the more popular songs on this album is titled “My Bad.” This song is about a girl the singer gave their time and effort, but the girl was following all the wrong signs. This
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caused a breakup between the two individuals. This song is catchy, and you’ll easily catch yourself dancing and vibing to this song and the following song titled “Better.” As he transitions into the more reflective and doubting lyrics, Khalid’s songs “Alive,” “Self,” and “Heaven” examine some of the more complex and challenging thoughts that pass through his mind. The song
“Alive” contains words that resonate with many people. In “Alive,” Khalid calls out to the figurative Grim Reaper and begs for one more night to say goodbye. He laments that he shouldn’t have to die to feel alive. I think these lyrics are extremely powerful, beautiful, and saddening. “Self” focuses on Khalid’s desire to run away from certain, negative parts of himself that he does not like. No matter how far he attempts to flee, he constantly finds himself in the same positions. This section of songs closes with the understanding that he must practice selfreflection to change what he doesn’t like about his life and himself. “Free Spirit” is one of the most beautiful albums. Listeners can easily create mental images and connect with Khalid’s rhythms and words. For “Free Spirit,” I have nothing but praise and positive comments. I would highly recommend listening to this album. This music is powerful and relatable for all people, but especially for young adults.
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I enter the classroom and slide into my normal seat in the first row. I take my laptop from my backpack and place it on my desk. I patiently sip from my coffee mug and wait for class to start. I’ve been awake for several hours, but I know caffeine is my only hope here. One by one, my peers enter the classroom. As I glance around, most of my classmates are opening their computers. A select few are arranging their binders, notebooks, and rainbows of pens for the session. The professor enters the classroom, turns on the projector, takes attendance, and directs our attention to the black words on the white screen. For over an hour, the professor will read the slideshow, nearly word for word, as he spews the exact same material found in the chapter we were all expected to read before class. I want to take a moment to thank the professors who, truly, make lecture instruction effective. When you ask your students a question, you are genuinely interested in their answers. Whenever possible, you bring humor into the classroom. Instead of hiding behind the podium, you constantly move around. Sometimes, you sit in the “audience” with your students. Your attempts to make the content relevant and intriguing are essential
Opinions
May 1, 2019
Ineffective Education
to your students’ learning. You have taken the time to know each student by name and can identify something they are passionate about. You create activities and assignments that challenge students’ minds. And, when it comes time for exams, most of your students will do well. Although there are few professors that fit this description, those of you who do are deeply and irrevocably appreciated. Now, let us return to the lecture-based and slideshowdependent professor. For the first few minutes of this class, keyboards click frantically and pens fly across paper. The instructor seems pleased that their speech is being recorded with such attention. Then, slowly but surely, one by one, the students become disinterested. I find myself scrolling through Facebook, filling my online shopping cart with clothes, and growing my Pinterest collection of dinner recipes. I glance up periodically, make eye contact with the professor,
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and then continue entertaining myself in an effort to avoid falling asleep. The student next to me has taken to doodling on her paper. The student behind me has put his headphones on and is enjoying a serenade of 2000s Disney music. Several students leave the classroom to wander throughout the building. It seems extremely clear to me, an Education major, that very little learning is occurring in this environment. My theory is confirmed when the professor brags that the highest grade awarded on the most recent quiz was a C. All of the blame cannot fall on the professor’s shoul-
ders. As college-aged students, my peers and I are responsible for our own behaviors and learning. We are trying, but the sad truth is that not even the best students can retain information from this kind of learning environment. I am not arguing that these professors are incapable of effective instruction, just that intentional change is needed. Acknowledging the ineffectiveness of one’s teaching style may be painful, but the improvements made from this understanding will lead to a better experience for professors and students alike.
Opinions
May 1, 2019
Avery Holmes
holmesaj@bethanylb.edu
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My 2018-19 Soundtrack
This is a collection of songs I discovered this year that really spoke to me. They were majorly involved in my life in one way or another and really defined the perspective I had on the year. Not all of these were released during the 2018-19 school year, but that’s when they meant the most to me. I won’t get into detail about how they affected me – this will be nothing more than my typical music reviews.
1. IC3PEAK – CKA3KA (FAIRYTALE) I’ve already talked about this, but it deserves extra love. Hailing from across the Pacific, the Russian duo dropped a stellar album last year with the same name. This song is emblematic of their style: Nick’s hard hitting, emo rap beats under Nastya’s ghastly shouts, all balanced out with soft interludes featuring her signature enchanting ballerina singing. There is this aggressive, metal-influenced bass and tight cymbal-snare pattern complement her filthy, panicked delivery, and then it all calms down with the ambiance. Low, vibrating synths give way to the creepy melody that makes you feel like you’re in a haunted house. The perfect blend of modern alternative rap and the ever so atmospheric witch house sound. I’ve listened to plenty of witchy beats this year, but this is the song that has stuck with me the longest.
2. SeeYouSpaceCowboy – SelfHelp Specialist Ends Own Life
4. Daughters – Guest House
This is Myspace metal to its core. Dubbed “scenecore revivalists,” SeeYouSpaceCowboy burst onto the scene this year with short, crushing metal tracks that sound like “Rawr means I love you in dinosaur” actualized. Whiny shouts and flavorful licks quickly give way to crushing, syncopated chugs and deep roars that punch you in the face with their sludgy bass and hard snares. If you had an emo phase like me, this track will take you WAY back. It’s twenty-nine-scene, baby!
This track is madness born from inescapable hellfire. It blasts you with these sick, noisy guitars and these rumbling tom fills. The repetition beats you over the head as the vocalist howls about his brutal misery. You get these droning licks that feel like someone’s chasing you in the night, but you look back and realize it’s yourself, and you’re actually sitting in your room, and you’ve been crying for the past hour, and you’re coming to terms with just how broken you are. The 6/8 beat almost makes it danceable, but it’s too harsh to do that. It comes to an end with these loud, overwhelming horns that take you to the bottom of your own worst nightmare. It’s a very pretty song.
3. Zheani – Lie and Look I really hated this song a lot when I first listened to it. It has this grating hippie vibe that reminds me of all my least favorite people, and the music video is equally obnoxious. She’s not even a good rapper. Her lyrics are trashy and obnoxious. But, for some reason, I kept going back to it. The more I listen, the harder it becomes to resist. It has this soft guitar backing and ethereal backing synths that paint a vivid picture. She also does have a very enchanting voice, and she knows her way around a melody. It reminds me of being eleven years old and watching Windows Movie Maker slideshows of different anime couples. It’s awful. I love it.
5. Doja Cat & Rico Nasty – Tia Tamera These two alternative rap powerhouses come together to make a raunchy, braggadocious rap that blows most of the rap that came
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out in the past year out of the water. We’re introduced to the track with this eerie, warped synth that sounds like it’s sampled from a horror soundtrack; it’s oddly reminiscent of “Gimme Some More” by Busta Rhymes. Doja comes in with this sensual, sassy delivery and a flow that grooves perfectly over the beat. The way she uses parallelism to punctuate her bars is, well, unparalleled. Rico follows with her signature grating, choppy style. She sticks to a more consistent flow and rhyme scheme, but delivers bar after bar in the aggressive manner for which she’s known best. A solid track that shows hip-hop is no longer a man’s game.
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Opinions
May 1, 2019
2018-19 Soundtrack (Cont’d)
6. Baby Jayy – Hard Way
This song is very special. The 17-year-old Ohio rapper has the world’s most unique delivery, and it absolutely shows in this song. The song opens up with these muddled chime synths and lowkey bass. When the beat drops, you might not know exactly what you’re listening to. He sings in this jarring falsetto, but he HITS those notes. He does this little riff during the chorus where he descends, and it feels like an Evanescence track. That’s when he comes in with another jarring transition as he hits these aggressive triplet flows. The song is mostly dominated by his unique melody, but he knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s worth a listen.
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7. Dog Fashion Disco – Siddhis I’ve loved this band for YEARS. It makes me so happy that they’ve come back. They have such a unique take on metal music. You get little bits of ska and acid jazz thrown into the mix, with some musical interludes that are just as ridiculous as their music. With this track, they really refined their sound into a nuanced piece. It still has the hokey ska feel of previous sounds, but with grander orchestration. You get these fun trumpet accentuations and a groovy backing organ under some sick riffs and sweeping vocal melodies. Not to mention the breakdown is SICK! The orchestration takes over, and you get this jazzy little riff that goes into these hard snares and this super dancey woodwind punctuation. It’s everything I like about this band, woven into a fun, mature piece.
8. Freddie Dredd – Evil Fantasy
This song is raw ignorance from a sound that not enough people are hearing. It’s a great introduction to the phonk sound. It flips the opening theme of Bob Ross’ (RIP) Joy of Painting series with this punchy, hollow snare. Freddie Dredd rides the beat with this punctual, syncopated flow that makes it feel straight from the early 90s. It’s rude, profane, and all sorts of fun. The phrase “oh my God, you’se a b***h motherf**ker/Why you try to play me like a b***h, motherf**ker?” is the most infectious flow I’ve ever heard in a song. It makes me move every time I hear it. If you want to get dumb, listen to this.
9. Denzel Curry – The Blackest Balloon Now, I need to add a few qualifiers: this is another track I’ve talked about previously, and I’ve already written about it as well. But I don’t think a day has gone by where I don’t play this song at least once. It’s SO GOOD. You get these soft, sickly bells and this intense rumbling to open up the track. A second of silence, and the Florida rapper hits you with the iconic “OOH! OOH! Feel like a horror movie!” You get this dark, overwhelming, melodic bass to carry the track. You get these icy and venomous cymbals that sound like hissing. The whole track feels like you’re in a nightmare,
where you’re stuck on a street in the bad part of town that never ends. It’s quite reminiscent of 90s horrorcore like Brotha Lynch Hung and Kool Keith. Denzel punctuates his frightened bars with these blasting, hollow screams. The track fades out with this monologue of the sick reality that is fame, and this cold laugh to let you know that he’s stuck in the ride like everyone else. This is an amazing track that does so much with so little, and it might be one of my favorite rap songs of all time.
10. Gizmo & Saphir – Catastrophic If I could sum up the majority of what I listened to this year, this song would be it. I still love all sorts of sounds and styles, but the alternative hip-hop scene has put out some of the most original and competent music of the past few years. In particular, this track is Hot Topic for a new generation. It opens up with this sickly organ that immediately establishes this haunting tone for the rest of the song. Gizmo comes in with these barked, simplistic lyrics over a tight, snappy beat with a juicy bass. He flips it into a cool delivery to make way for the guest vocalist, Saphir, who provides an off-kilter hook that is vaguely reminiscent of “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger. Anyone? Just me? Cool. A stellar track that I’ve never stopped playing.
Opinions
May 1, 2019
Michaela Wren
wrenmn@bethanylb.edu
Messenger 13
Billie Eilish: Debut Album
Who is Billie Eilish? She is a seventeen-year-old girl who has rapidly become highly praised and played in the music industry. You will find Billie’s music listed under the genre “Alternative.” She’s described by some as the “demon spawn of Lana Del Ray,” and I’ve never heard anything more accurate. Her voice and rhythms are unlike anything you may have heard before. Each song has a distinct sound and her voice is somewhat soothing. It’s hard to believe someone so young could have this much musical power. Her lyrics often display her mental health issues, as well as an attempt to
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normalize the notions of sadness and depression. In one interview, Billie explained that she wants her music to help people create or focus their attention on situations in their lives. She hopes that her music will guide her listeners to think deeply about life itself. Billie debuted her first single in the year 2016. One year later, she released her first album titled “dont smile at me.” Many people who are unfamiliar with her have heard her collaboration with wellknown musician Khalid in the song “Lovely.” Enough about the young sensation’s past, let’s get into her newest album called “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” Billie’s intro song for this album is titled “!!!!!!!,” and begins with autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) slurping noises. In this track, Billie is explaining how she removes her invisalign so she can start the recording process of her album. Unusual, yes, but I’m here for it. The first real song of the album is “bad guy.” The song makes you want to jump around and dance while singing your heart out. Billie has a menacing voice throughout the song while she taunts a crush. Next on the album is “xanny,” and it’s all about questioning people’s drug use and the ways they are slowly killing themselves. She explores her concern that she is missing out on something good by avoiding drugs, because everyone
Downloaded From: Consequence of Sound surrounding her uses them. She then observes these drugs also lead people to miss out on life’s experiences. This album really gives you all the vibes. By that, I mean you feel sadness, regret, excitement, anger, and much more. I’m not going to lie, if you are ever feeling down in the dumps and need a good song to cry to, “When the party’s over” is the perfect song. She describes her feelings of worthlessness and how the people she loves always leave because she’s not enough. This song ends with the lyrics “once we’ve both said our goodbyes, let’s just let it go, let me let you go” and it’s almost too relatable. In a few of Billie’s songs, she incorporates demonic noises and voices throughout the tracks. These sounds send shivers down my spine listening to them. A word of advice? They sound even better with headphones because you get the full effect. The song “bury a
friend” is meant to communicate Billie’s constant night terrors and lucid dreams. If you watch the accompanying music video, it plays like a peek into Billie’s mind whilst sleeping. Another song, “listen before i go,” features a very slow tempo. This makes the song calming and relaxing for her audience. Although there are several other songs on this album that I could rave about, I’ll conclude my review with the song that closes her album, “goodbye.” In my opinion, this is one of the best and most unique ways to finish an album. The only lyrics included in this song are phrases from her twelve other songs. That is completely genius and purely artistic. Billie’s album hit the top of the charts within mere days of its release, and I believe her music and fame is only beginning. I believe we can all look forward to more unique and challenging music from this young artist.
Messenger 14
Mya Acosta
Arts & Entertainment
May 1, 2019
Jazz Walk: Lindsborg Lets Loose
acostamr@bethanylb.edu
If you walked past the downtown strip of Lindsborg on April 12th, you were swept from shop to shop by the lively sound of jazz. That is, if you were able to squeeze into the small shops, many of them opened late for an evening of jazz and art appreciation. At one point in the evening, the Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery was filled from wall to wall with eager listeners packed inside like a can of sardines. Around 8:30 pm, all those on Main Street, poured out of shops and restaurants and huddled together in front of the Blacksmith, eagerly waiting for the musicians to emerge and begin their march.
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Mardi Gras beads were handed out and listeners were ready to fully embrace the jazz that the night would bring. The parade began suddenly, and, for a brief moment, Little Sweden was transformed into Little New Orleans. This lovely scene marked Lindsborg’s third annual Jazz Walk. Bethany College alumni Brandon Draper and Mike Drier created this event to share talent from Lindsborg and elsewhere for the whole town to enjoy. Following the monthly Makers Street activities, the Jazz Walk featured two small concerts at Connected Fair Trade and the Blacksmith, later convening with all musicians and attendees parading down Main Street for the final concert
at the J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center. The Jazz Walk kicked off this year’s Messiah Festival with a bang, bringing a new flair to the event with featured musician, Miles Bonny, a trumpeter, vocalist, and producer. The exciting and surprising compositions by the musicians set the tone for the Messiah Festival, following the festival’s mission to “honor the traditions, explore the new, embrace the excellent.” Miles Bonny brought his unique style and approaches to Lindsborg, fitting in perfectly, as would be expected from a descendant of Emory Lindquist, former president of Bethany College. Miles, Brandon, and other talented musicians performed a wide array of compositions for the night, from creative originals to a reggae-influenced version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. The performance captivated listeners young and old, even providing a place for young listeners to draw and color what the music made them see/feel at the feet of the band. The musicians skillfully provided listeners with a taste of just about everything jazz-related. From calm and soothing, to upbeat and exhilarant, the performance was well rounded and accommodated all music tastes. Drummer Brandon Draper
confused and amazed the crowd with his implementation of the hand pan, a ufo-shape percussion instrument that sparked a sensational moment of improvisation with the band. The night was properly ended with a spooky, electrifying original by Miles that captured the sound of voodoo jazz and what one might expect to hear in the swamps of Louisiana. This final song was reminiscent of a New Orleans funeral march, joyful and intense, celebrating life in a way that was the perfect end to Lindsborg’s evening of jazz. For the past few years, Mike Drier and Brandon Draper have successfully recruited impressively talented musicians from all over the country to share their abilities with art-loving Lindsborg. Whether it be artists from Lindsborg or visiting artists, this town has a powerful effect on creators due, in large part, to our community that is so active and passionate towards the arts. As a Lindsborg native, Brandon Draper shared his experience of how he “wouldn’t have such a worldview despite coming from such a small place if it weren’t for the people who nurtured the arts.” The Jazz Walk epitomizes all of what this community finds so important: the old and the new, shared with everyone--Lindsborg native or Lindsborg lover.
Sports
May 1, 2019
Michaela Wren
Messenger 15
Softball Still Swinging Strong
wrenmn@bethanylb.edu
The Swedes had a strong month this April. On Tuesday the 23rd, they played one of the biggest series of the season. The Swedes HAD to sweep their series with The University of Saint Mary to even have a chance of making it into the conference tournament. The girls made the games nail biting and stressful, but exciting. In game one against Saint Mary, the Spires had a 3-0 lead throughout the game until the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder, Hannah Price, singled to second, followed up by a double to left by Ellie Endsley, scoring Hannah Price. Freshman DH, Briana Rodriguez, came up huge with a double to deep left scoring pinch runner, Millenni Lucero. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Swedes knew it was critical to score two more runs to take game one. Sophomore infielder, Ciera Flores, started the inning off with a hard shot single to left-center, followed by an error by the Saint Mary’s shortstop for Tannah Colson to reach base. Senior, Alexis Martinez, also hit a single to center, scoring the equalizer for the Swedes. Rodriguez came up to bat with one out, and came in clutch singling to first base,
scoring the winning run. Swedes took game one 4-3 over Saint Mary. In game two, Saint Mary started out on top in the beginning of the first inning, scoring one run. Swedes did not answer back until the second inning. Alexis Martinez lead off with a walk, followed by a Hannah Price single, advancing Martinez to third base. Endsley came up with a single to center, scoring Martinez, and advancing Price to third. Senior, Lexie Valentine, singled to second, advancing Endsley to third, and Rodriguez to second. With one out, senior infielder, Courtney Fudge, doubled to deep rightcenter scoring Endsley and Rodriguez. Junior Emma Wager then entered the batter’s box and grounded out to second base, but scored Valentine. The Spires were quiet through the third inning, but the Swedes were not. Hannah Price doubled to deep right-center, followed by a two-run bomb by Ellie Endsley, giving the Swedes a 6-1 lead. The top of the fourth, the Spires answered back with one run, but that was all they could come up with in that inning. Bottom of the fourth was another fun inning for the Swedes. Fudge doubled to left, followed by a single from
Photo By Lauren Mcleod
Wager, scoring Fudge. Flores then came up and hit a double to right-center, scoring Wager from second. Colson then singled, scoring Flores. Colson advanced to second base on the throw home. With a runner on third, Hannah Price hit a sac fly to left field, scoring the runner on third and giving the Swedes a 10-2 lead through four innings. Top of the fifth, Saint Mary came up with one more run, but that was all they could do. In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Courtney
Fudge reached first base, and then advanced to second on a misplayed grounder. Ciera Flores came up big and singled down the left field line scoring Fudge, causing the Swedes to run rule the Saint Mary Spires 11-3. One of the most important series of the season, and the Swedes were able to come up clutch with the sweep. Next up after the last series on the 27th: conference tournament in Great Bend, KS.
Messenger 16
Dominque Murray murraydc@bethanylb.edu
Golf
The men’s and women’s golf teams competed in the William Woods Spring Invitational on the first and second of April and finished fourth and third respectively. Sophomore Savannah Pinson tied for fourth on the women’s side with scores of 79 and 80. Sophomore Ger’Kayla Tunley tied for twelfth and shot an 85 the first day, only to bounce back the second day with a score of 80. On the men’s side, sophomore Jose Maria Cunha tied for ninth with scores of 73 and 71. Sophomore Birgir Magnusson followed him up tying for twelfth shooting 71 and 75. The women’s team later competed in the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic a week later where they
Photo By Tracy Adams
Sports
May 1, 2019
Spring Sports Update placed 11th out of 19 teams. The first day they set a school record for lowest combined team score shooting 317 as a team. Junior transfer Allison Weiderman had the standout performance for the Lady Swedes, tying for 19th with scores of 77 and 76. On the 15th and 16th, the men’s team traveled to Baldwin City to compete in the Baker Invitational with 7 other teams. The guys placed 4th out of the 8 total teams and were led by Cunha and Magnusson, who placed third and eighth respectively. Cunha shot a 71 and a 73 while Magnusson shot 76 and a 71. Magnusson’s 71 was also the lowest score on the second day of the tournament. The men’s team picked up action again in the second part of the KCAC Tournament Monday the 29th and Tuesday the 30th at Buffalo Dunes in Garden City.
Photo By Tracy Adams
Baseball
It’s been a rough year for the Swedes on the baseball field. Coming into April, they were 8-24, and before their final five games they have a record of 22-28 (11-19 in KCAC). The Swedes went 14-4 (8-4 in KCAC) in the month of April, including two wins over NCAA Division 2 opponents. On the 9th, the Swedes took on Fort Hays State for a night game and destroyed the Tigers 17-6 in 9 innings. A week later they took on Rogers State in Oklahoma and beat them 4-2. The Swedes have won all 3 of their series against conference opponents this month, including 2 big wins against McPherson College who is currently receiving votes. This was the
last home series of the year for the Swedes and they went out in style. Saturday was senior day for the Swedes, and they split the games with McPherson, winning the official senior game 7-1. Sr. Edwar Melendez pitched another spectacular game, throwing all 7 innings and recording 9 strikeouts on 6 hits and 1 unearned run. This performance earned Melendez his 3rd KCAC Pitcher of the Week award. The week before, senior Tyler Horchem earned KCAC Player of the Week honors batting .444 with 12 hits, 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in. The baseball team wrapped up conference play on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of April down in Wichita.
May 1, 2019
Sports
Messenger 17
Track & Field: Good Things are Coming Fast
Katie Klaassen
klaassenks@bethanylb.edu
As the end of the semester approaches, so do many conference matches and meets for the Spring athletes of Bethany College. And, on May 3rd & 4th, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to journey to the enemy lands of Kansas Wesleyan University and cheer on our track stars in the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Coaches Aaron Yoder and Eric Hoke have been hard at work, pushing their athletes to perform at their
Photo By Cassidy Kuel
peak levels in practice and in their events at meets. This year’s Track and Field team promises continued success, as seen through their eventful Indoor Season (no pun intended) and ever-growing and improving list of Personal Records. The month of April has been busy. The Swedes Track and Field team triumphed at the Bethel College Invitational on April 13th. The Women’s team took first place out of six teams, and the Men’s team took second out of seven teams. This meet was a strong marker for the Swedes, as the Women’s team brought home five event champions: Arriana Benjamin, NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American, in Shot Put (12.82m); Jasmine Youngquist in High Jump (1.50m); Camisha Stevenson in Triple Jump (10.16m); the 4x100 Relay, composed of Sarah Bartel, Molly Achterberg, Destiny Spurlock, and Danesha Kendrick (4:47); and the 4x400 Relay, composed of Bartel, Achterberg, Youngquist, and Stevenson (43:85). The Men’s team followed with three event champions: Bryce Carmack, NAIA
Indoor Track and Field All-American, in Pole Vault (4.25m); Blaine Israel in the 400m (52.16); and the 4x100 Relay, composed of Terrell Rodriguez, Isaac Rodriguez, Blaine Israel, and Dalton Williams (43.85). Along with the Invitational Success and event champions, individuals on the team showed growth and achieved 27 personal bests. At the Tabor College Invitational on April 20th, one of the last meets before conferences, the Swede Men’s and Women’s Track and Field team raised the bar for their competition. Individual’s improved their times and distances, achieving 29 total personal bests, including two National qualifying marks. Benjamin threw a personal best in Shot-Put with 14.01m, winning the event and pushing her forward to be a Nationals qualifier again for the Outdoor Season. Also qualifying for Nationals, freshman Gareth Pettijohn threw a Personal Record of 57.36m in Javelin. While all Bethany teams seek the support of their fellow students, few Conferences take place within an easy driving
Photo By Cassidy Kuel
distance. The opportunity to support the continuously growing Swedes Outdoor Track and Field, with two national-qualifiers, for conferences is one that should not be missed. So, mark your calendar and gather together to journey to Kansas Wesleyan University on Thursday May 3rd and Friday May 4th for the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships! Good luck to our Swedes competing for the Track and Field team; may they throw far, jump high, jump far, and run fast!