Vol. 134 No.3 Nov. 24, ’20
Messenger Blurb Page 2
Remote Learning Page 4
Lindsborg Holiday Page 6
Going Out With Fire Page 8
A Little Bit of Luck Page 9
Messenger 2
About Messenger / News & Features
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, accurate, 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 workms@bethanylb.edu or ballantyneel@bethanylb.edu. We can be reached via mail at 335 E Swensson St, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
THE MESSENGER STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Miranda Work Managing Editor: Emily Ballantyne Treasurer: Ashley Nightingale News & Features Sydney Walker Opinions Editor: Allison Young Arts & Entertainment Editor: Abigail Rishel-Barnett Sports Editor: Stacey Barron Layout Editor/ Social Media Manager: Gabriella Hernandez Advisors: Rebecca Miller and Frank Ballew Front Page Photo Credit - Emerald McGlashan
Nov. 24, 2020
Messenger Blurb Dear students, faculty, and staff, We did it. We made it to the finish line of the fall semester. Some of us may have stumbled there but we made it. We at the Bethany Messenger just wanted to extend our thanks to everyone that has been on campus this year. It has not been easy, for any of us, during these strange and unfortunate circumstances we find ourselves in. Some of us quarantined quite often, while others made it the entire semester without so much as a cough. It may be difficult to see the lighter and funnier things that happened this semester, like the fact that another season of Schitt’s Creek was uploaded to Netflix or how our fountains mysteriously became a bubble-fest. I enjoy looking at the brighter things in life, like the fact that Christmas is right around the corner. You all are finished with finals (congrats to everyone who passed and condolensces to the grades of those who didn’t). Students, you should be proud of everything you have accomplished this semester, it was an incredible feat, and ya did it. Thank you to the professors. Teaching us already isn’t easy, but to do it in the middle of a pandemic; y’all are rockstars. We’ll send all of you a fruit basket............in spirit, though, because we don’t have the funding for all that fruit :), we hope you understand. To the staff, where would we be without you? Probably still at home learning through a digital screen, not retaining anything, and not having any fun on campus. Thanks for getting us here and making it possible for us to stay here on campus as long as we did! So, hopefully next semester, we here at the Bethany Messenger will have some other content that isn’t COVID-related. Maybe aliens will appear, or maybe Tupac will come back from the dead (that is, if he hasn’t been alive this whole time). At this point, 2021 could have anything in store for us-and I mean that positively. Have a great Thanksgiving, and we will see you all in the spring! Your Editor-in-Chief, Miranda Work
Messenger 3
News & Features
Nov. 24, 2020
Election Results Krystal Washington
washingtonkd@bethanylb.edu
November 3rd, 2020 was Election Day and people across the country went out to vote during this pandemic. As the votes were counted many Americans felt overwhelmed and stressed about the election, many of them stating this was the most stressful time of the year. Businesses in bigger cities even went so far as to board up their windows and increase security. Their fear was that protesters would be angry with the results and start rioting. Several days after the election, there was still no clear winner. But, on November 8th, Joe Biden received 290 electoral college votes making him the soon to be 46th president of the United States. He also received 78,909,204 popular votes, which is the most popular votes in a presidential election. Donald Trump, the current president, did not like that he lost. He believes that Joe Biden and the Democratic Party committed election fraud. He assumed the election was rigged due to the fact that Biden had way more mail in votes, as well as the fact Biden received the most popular votes. Trump has gone to five states to challenge the counting of the ballots. Most of the states disregarded the allegations due to the lack of evidence. Trump
has made many allegations that were dismissed by no evidence or proof that there was no fraud committed. Some of the allegations Trump made was that the voting systems were rigged, the voting count was rigged in certain states, tossing out mail in ballots, and many more. Each of these allegations were proved to be false. The systems were not rigged, neither were the voting counts, and mail ballots were not messed with. Many people believe that Trump simply did not get many mail in ballots because he told his voters not to vote by mail and to instead vote in person. One of the states Trump claims to have not counted the votes right was Georgia, which is still currently recounting the votes. Despite these accusations made by Trump, Biden is still on his way to become the next president. Many Americans across the country believe the election results will cause chaos. A Staten Island man was arrested for severely threatening Democratic supporters and
Black Lives Matter protesters. While we have not seen many threats yet they are still there and happening. There are also people angry over the allegations Trump has made. Trump supporters in cities like Detroit and Phoenix protested outside of voting counting centers. They shouted things such as, “Stop the Count,” and “Stop the Steal”. As stated before, there was no evidence that voting fraud occurred. Trump has spread his allegations onto his supporters causing more issues like this one to arise. Some Americans are worried for the future and what will happen once Biden enters the White House. Will there be several riots? Will people be threatened?
How chaotic will it get? In January, Trump will leave office and Biden will enter. Biden, as well as the Democratic Party, are upset on how Trump is taking the election results. They believe that Trump needs to just accept that he lost and peacefully leave the office. 2020 has been a crazy year for an election and 2021 will be a new year with a new president. Americans just hope that the new changes do not cause issues such as threats, shootings, etc. But only time will tell, for now everyone should stay calm and stay positive about what the future has to offer.
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Messenger 4
News & Features
Nov. 24, 2020
Finishing Remotely...As Close We Can Kristyl Washington
washingtonkd@bethanylb.edu
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things for students this year. From cutting down class size to having a shortened semester many people can agree that it has been a year of adapting and learning new customs. As of November 9th, McPherson County moved back to phase 2 due to an increase of coronavirus cases. This phase includes no mass gatherings, strongly encouraging everyone to wear masks, and higher education facilities to move online when the six feet distance can not be kept.
Photo Credit: Gretchen Norland
This has caused some students to want to finish the semester strictly online. If a student decides to finish the semester online then they must follow the normal rules before leaving Bethany. The dorms at Bethany College require students to check out. There is a list of how you should clean your room and what you need to do. First off you have to talk to your RA or sign up for a date where your RA can check you out. The room must be cleaned thoroughly, as well as the bathrooms. Also, if you have a mini fridge it should be defrosted. If the room is not clean
when your RA checks you out, or you do not check out at all you will be fined. Make sure to check out of your room and turn in your key before leaving. But, checking out of the dorm is not the biggest responsibility that students leaving early have. If a student decides to leave early they first must check in with their professors. The student has to make sure that they are able to take their finals remotely. For most professors this is no problem at all, seeing as they planned ahead in case COVID-19 shut the school down or a student was in isolation. If a student talks to their professors then most likely they will be able
to get everything situated. If a student decides to leave early for the semester then they must follow certain guidelines. They must be able to still interact with their classes and show up remotely. They are still responsible for their attendance in the class and getting all of their work done. As long as the student follows the guidelines, checks with professors, and checks out there should be no problem. As everyone knows, COVID-19 has affected college life in a huge way. No one knows when the virus will end or if it will ever actually end. So for now everyone needs to follow the guidelines and make sure they are staying in touch with their professors. Have a good break everyone, including those that decided to finish up the semester remotely!
Messenger 5
Opinions
Nov. 24, 2020
Shortened Semester you have your own Christmas events or traditions. Say Photo Credit: Emerald McGlashan goodbye to those this year. It seems that our typical holiday activities are being stolen, but not by any Grinch, but instead by a virus. With all these grievances, it is important to point out why Bethany College’s decision to shorten the semester was the right one-- nay, the responsible one. In pre-pandemic years, students have traveled home for Thanksgiving, traveled back to Bethany, and after a couple of weeks, gone home again. Traveling so much not only Generally when we get Among all the other changes brought on by COVID, Bethany back from Thanksgiving break, endangers the students, but also my roommates and I go all out their families and the rest of has shortened its semester. for Christmas. I’m disappointed campus. This means that the term FA The obvious benefit of the that COVID has taken yet 2020 will be finished before shortened semester is having another thing from me: Thanksgiving. When I began no finals in between holidays. holidays with my friends, my school in August, I was aware It was rough coming back chosen family. Don’t get me that the semester was going wrong, I can (and will) keep in from a break just to gear up for to be short. I don’t think I more intense classes and finals. touch with my friends, and understood just how short it Now we get to stay at home maybe even drive to see them would feel. At this point in and relax for the entire holiday over the break, that isn’t a a regular year, we would be season. One would say this is getting ready for Thanksgiving problem. The problem is that a double-edged sword because my roommates and I won’t be break, but we would leave after a couple of weeks, our decorating a tree, making knowing that we would return families may get on our nerves. Christmas cookies or watching within days. Now, we won’t I love my family so much, Christmas movies together, at be on campus until January, least not in our own apartment. but after more than a month meaning that I can’t partake in at home, I’ll be ready to leave my favorite activities during my If you belong to any clubs on with no hesitation. However, favorite time of year: Christmas. campus like I do, chances are Emily Ballantyne
ballantyneel@bethanylb.edu
I would rather be at home safe and losing sanity, than be sick or in quarantine at school instead. It can’t go unnoticed that Bethany College has done a good job with everything this semester has thrown at them. In general, they’ve done an amazing job caring for the students, and while the quarantine meals aren’t perfect, and the process of isolation and quarantine may be inconvenient or even ridiculous, or you think Bethany is being unfair with rules, the school is doing its best to take care of students individually and as a collective. As students, we don’t always understand the gravity of these situations. We want a normal life, but these aren’t normal times. Yes, I’m complaining about my campus Christmas being stolen by the grinch-like virus. The truth is, people are dying: students at school, like us, have died. If a shortened semester, without parties and festivities, is what it takes to keep more of us safe, so be it; I’ll just be a little bit grumpy about it.
Messenger 6
Arts & Entertainment
Nov. 24, 2020.
Lindsborg’s COVID-Safe Holiday Abigail Rishel-Barnett
rishelbarnettak@bethanylb.edu
Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for most everyone, and especially for downtown Lindsborg. The calendar of events for the Lindsborg holiday season is typically a mile long with an event almost every weekend, but COVID-19 has put a damper on the holiday cheer. Especially with Lindsborg’s most recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the downtown businesses are working their hardest to operate with utmost safety in mind for themselves and their customers. In order to do this, the businesses and the city bureau have planned events and online sales to bring the cheer home to the shoppers. While most of the large, crowd bringing events have been cancelled or postponed, i.e. St. Lucia, Snowflake Parade, and Old Fashioned Christmas, the downtown merchants have put together new ways of sending home the holiday cheer. The typical Art Walk, or Makers Street, has been on hold since COVID-19 hit, but most recently they have brought in the artists yet again to downtown shops, but their work was available both in person online. This gave everyone the opportunity to view and shop their artistic works. Over the past few years, the Holiday open house downtown
has become a great kick-off for the holiday season downtown, but the merchants were leary of the large crowds being drawn in this year, so they put together the Downtown Holiday Kick-off. Many of the local merchants were still open for business, but the main attraction was the schedule of online sales that each merchant put together. Online live sales have been a lifesaver for the downtown businesses during shutdown and quarantine periods, so it only made sense to put together a virtual shopping experience for their holiday shoppers all on one day. Both live sale experts and newbies participated in the Holiday Kick-off schedule. According to Molly Johnson, Bethany alumna and owner of The Good Merchant, the Holiday Kick-off went very well considering the downtown businesses really wanted to offer a safer shopping experience for all. The holiday season is a huge part of what keeps downtown Lindsborg in business, and without the heavy schedule of events, merchants will be getting creative with live sales, online
shopping, and other options for their customers to continue to shop with them, but from a distance. Many shops like The Good Merchant, Connected, and Small World Gallery have built online Live Sales into their weekly schedule. When the world was shut down, their online live sales kept their business going, but it also offered safe shopping for all, and many of their best customers are now online friends from miles away. While many of the shops are opening their doors with many safety precautions set into place, many merchants have built an online following and
have found a new way to share their stores with the world. While the holiday season may not look the same this year, Lindsborg is determined to keep the spirit alive. Downtown Lindsborg is dolled up for the holiday season, the stores are prepared with safety measures, and the internet is ready to provide an online option for shoppers across the country. Remember that COVID-19 may prevent the season from appearing “normal,” but shoppers can still support local businesses this holiday season. Happy Holidays Lindsborg!
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Sports
Messenger 7
Nov. 24, 2020
And It’s...Quarantine? Stacey Barron
barronam@bethanylb.edu
Bethany Football has been on hold since their scheduled game on November 7, 2020 against the McPherson College Bulldogs. They have not been able to compete in their last three competitions due to the whole team being in quarantine. During this time, we have seen multiple members of the Swedes’ football team hang up their cleats for the moment until their season continues into the spring, or in some cases, we have also seen several of these Swedes’ players hang up their blue and yellow uniforms for good. Despite the fate of Swedes’ football being up in the air and a spring season yet to be confirmed at this point, let’s take the time to reflect on the positives the Swedes’ had for their last two games this season.
Photo by: Jim Turner
On October 31, the Bethany football team had their senior night for our 2020-2021 graduating class. However, although festivities were special on this day for our beloved Swedes, the score board did not reflect that same feeling. The Swedes fell to the Bethel College Threshers 38 to 0. Bethel tacked on a touchdown at the end of the first quarter, bringing it 7 to 0. They then were able to make the score 21 to 0 by halftime. The Threshers then pounded one more in right into the third making the score 28 to 0 by the time they were heading into the fourth quarter. Then into the fourth quarter, the Threshers tacked on a field goal before registering a final touchdown to get us to a final score of 38 to 0. However, Bethany’s own offensive attack was led by J.J. Allen and Colione Evans, as they rushed for a combined 85 yards. Allen also added a 9-yard catch which added on to give
him 71 total yards alone. Freshman quarterback Daniel Jackson had his first career start as a Swede with a completed 6 passes for 31-yards. Trevin Chandler led the Swedes with 3 receptions for 17-yards. Darren Rittwage had quite a punting game for himself totaling 398 yards off of 11 punts. Defensively, Swedes’ senior Devariej Criss had himself a game getting a career high of 17 tackles in one game. Juniors Larry Hall and Gary Smith added a collective 23 tackles. Then freshmen Taylor Clagg and Dylan Mahan each registered their own 7 tackles for the Swedes. A proud defensive stat for the Swedes today was their ability to recover 3 of the 4 fumbles from the Threshers. Sadly, the Swedes were never able to capitalize and get their own. The weekend before this, the Swedes played an away contest against Tabor College. However, they sadly fell to the Blue Jays 27 to 21 despite a very
competitive comeback for the Swedes. Tabor College was able to tack on 3 touchdowns in the first quarter making the score a quick 21 to 0 against the Swedes. However, at the end of the first quarter the Swedes’ senior quarterback Austin Denson connected a 7-yard pass to sophomore Darren Rittwage to give Bethany their own touchdown after a 53-yard drive. A defensive highlight for Bethany was when freshman Taylor Clagg made an interception in the second to redirect the momentum back to the Swedes. This interception led to the Swedes quarterback, Austin Denson, to complete a 52-yard touchdown pass, making the score 21 to 12. However, after this the Blue Jays were able to come back and get a field goal before the end of the half, making the score 24 to 12 by half time. The third quarter score remained the same as the Swedes and Blue Jays went back and forth, however, both coming out scoreless. When the fourth quarter came around, Tabor added on another field goal with 10 minutes left in the game giving them a 27 to 12 lead. However, the Swedes’ own J.J. Allen then answered back for the Swedes getting his own touchdown and making the score 27 to 18. Following this, kicker Dylan Friedman made the score 27 to 21 when he made a 26-yard field goal. Sadly, the Swedes could not get another one on the board. Nonetheless, between Willie Page, Devante Scott, and Devariej Criss, the Swedes defense acquired 14 successful tackles on the day, and Larry Hall registered a fumble recovery.
Messenger 8
Sports
Nov. 24, 2020
Going Out With Fire Emily Ballantyne
ballantyneel@bethanylb.edu
The Bethany College volleyball team has seen their last game for the fall season. Due to COVID concerns, the rest of the games scheduled for the FA 2020 term have been canceled and will be rescheduled in the spring season. However, that hasn’t stopped the team and coaching staff from reflecting on the small amount of normalcy and abundance of joy this fall season gave them. The Lady Swedes wrapped up the fall half of their season with a record of 7-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Of those 7 wins, unanimously the team and coaches are most proud of their defeat of rivals, the Kansas Wesleyan Lady Coyotes. “Our girls played with fire, found ways to fight back after adversity, and was a fun way to get the win with all odds stacked against us. Last year was the first time Bethany volleyball had beat KWU in over 9 years, so continuing that trend we built last year and make it three wins against them in two years is always a great thing,” said head coach Brandi Stewart. With moments of victory also come challenges, and this season has been nothing but challenging for the Lady Swede. Games being canceled, of which there were many, meant more practice and less competition for the team. It also meant that at any moment, games could be canceled
“Going into every week or even day, we never know what is going to happen. We could be playing 3 games in a week or we could get all our games cancelled, we never know what to expect,” Jordan Valentine, senior middle hitter/blocker continued. “When you keep getting games taken away, the motivation to come to practice and keep pushing gets harder and harder, but I think we did an amazing job as a team working through those challenges and being there for each other during this time. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, the team’s resilience seems to be the characteristic the team is relying on to help them through such unique circumstances. In fact, according to senior libero, Haley Reifsteck, the challenges of this season helped to humble the Lady Swedes. “I think we have handled this challenge as well as we could. When we do actually step on the court, we don’t take the moment for granted,” Reifsteck said. Stewart said that she is proud of how her players have handled and responded to the challenges of COVID in order to have their season. “From our first days on campus in August when we went through all the new rules and protocols, the girls decided that if this is what it takes to keep us on campus and playing, then it is worth the extra work. They have remained true to
Photo by: Emerald McGlashan
that commitment and I’m excited to get started again this spring,” Stewart said. The players and coaches are looking forward to the spring season, when competition can resume. While it’s not optimal for the players to not have a long off-season to work on skills, the players and coaching staff are more than happy to have a second half of the season. “Knowing that we still get an opportunity to play those games come spring is very reassuring. I know that this year has been crazy in so many ways, but being able to go out on the court and play allows for some normality, and so we are truly blessed that we still get the opportunity to go out and play, no matter what time of year,” Valentine said.
As a senior, this is a bittersweet moment for Reifsteck. As of now she gets to finish out her final season of collegiate volleyball in the spring. With the uncertainty that the pandemic brings, she fears that could change. Still, she finds herself reflecting on her time as a Bethany Swede volleyball player. “Looking back, I am so glad I made the decision to play volleyball for Bethany College. First, I have met some of my very best friends for life on this team. Second, I have learned so many life lessons through volleyball that has made me a stronger and better person. Finally, I am so happy to be a part of the turnaround this program has made in my four years here, “Reifsteck continued. “It truly has been an honor and a dream fulfilled to have been the Swedes Libero.”
Sports
Messenger 9
Nov. 24, 2020
A Little Bit of Luck Stacey Barron
barronam@bethanylb.edu
The Swedes’ soccer programs have been some of the luckier teams in terms of COVID quarantines, being able to play the majority of their fall season this year. However, there was still some games that had to be missed – whether it be by opposing teams or our own. The men’s team has been luckier this year than the women’s in terms of missing games - the men only had to miss one game, whereas the women had to miss three. This weekend of November 14th was one of those weekends where the women were not able to play due to being “locked up”. However, our men’s team was still able to take on the Tabor College Blue Jays for their last game of the fall season. This game was very back and forth, both teams being able to get their own shots off, as well as being equally aggressive with each other. There was constant competition from the start, however, the Swedes’ own senior forward and captain Lisandro Nunez was able to put a goal in within the first ten minutes of the game. After this goal, the Swedes continued their offensive pressure. After another 20 minutes of back and forth play the Swedes were able to put another one on the board thanks to senior midfielder and other captain Eric Niyonzima. The game remained 2 to 0 through the rest of the half and into the second half. At around the half-way point of the second half of
the game the Blue Jays were able to put on into the goal for themselves in an effort to try and reclaim the game. However, the Bethany Swedes’ defense was able to hold them off for the remainder of the game with special thanks to Diego Perez Gonzalez, Cesar Flores Bravo, Austin Stone, Abraham Lozano, Mauricio Palomino, Luis Toro, and freshman goalkeeper Angel Aguilar. The weekend previous, November 7th, was a regularly scheduled game day for both the men’s and women’s team; however, by quarantine regulations, both of our Swede teams were unable to partake in their games. This resulted in an unexpected off weekend for the Swedes’ soccer programs. The day of October 30th was the last time we were able to see our two soccer programs
Photo by: Emerald McGlashan
play on one day, just so happening to be the two teams Senior Day against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. The Lady Swedes kicked off the day with a 2:00 pm start. This was a competitive game per usual for these two teams, however, Southwestern was able to get themselves on the board just after the 20-minute mark in the first half. The Swedes’ defense, led by senior goalie Jordan Wells, was able to help prevent another one from going in before half time. Going into the second half, the two teams remained competitive with one another, both drawing their own fouls and getting their own shots off. However, junior defender Pearl Navarro was able to capitalize on one of these moments when she was able to score a goal for herself and the Swedes due to a foul about 30-yards out from the
goal – she tied the game 1 to 1. With the Swedes gaining momentum, more shots were getting off in our favor, nonetheless, 10 minutes later the Moundbuilders were able to put another one in the net and sealing the win for them to go up 2 to 1. Following the women’s game and the senior day festivities, the men kicked off to participate in their own game against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. The Swedes and Moundbuilders again were competitive, each having their own offensive attacks with each teams’ defense having to step up and compete. However, near the end of the first half, Southwestern was able to get one on the board making it 1 to 0 at the end of the first half. However, right away in the second half the Moundbuilders were able to put another one on the board making it 2 to 0. After this the Swedes defense really stepped up, sadly around the 75th minute mark, the Moundbuilders were able to put their last goal in to put them up 3 to 0 against the Swedes and ending the game as such. Despite the 3 to 0 loss the Swedes goalkeeper Juan Pablo Diaz was able to register 7 successful saves for the night. Both the men’s and women’s teams are done for the fall, but they will start back up again in the spring, schedule to be announced.