THE
COLLEGIAN Friday, April 8, 2022 | Volume 110, Issue 11 | North Newton, KS
Christopher Strecker, junior from Goessel, Jerod Kaufman, senior from Moundridge, and Julianna Schrag, junior from Goessel, act out a scene set in the 1940s, with Kaufman’s character returning home from war. Photo by Chase Dempsey
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González speaks on people, land, immigration
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Editorial: Homage to Ukraine
8
Jazz returns for community performance
10
Nelson preps track team for indoor season
12
Art building haunted by statues
2 NEWS
González presents borderland conflict, biblical view BETHANY POWLS
Editor-in-Chief
On March 21, speaker, writer, and advocate Karen González was invited to speak for a Convocation, her presentation based on one of the selected required books for the senior capstone class, Basic Issues of Faith and Life (BIFL). The book, The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong, was read and analyzed by the entire graduating class as per required by the course syllabus, and the students were thus encouraged to engage with both González’s Convocation and with her previous March 20 presentation as sponsored by the Staley Lectures Endowment. The text was selected for BIFL classes as a result of a few key factors considered by contributing faculty members and those professors who would teach BIFL courses. “We were drawn to how González tells the stories of biblical immigrants in ways that connect with current experiences in immigration. We also liked that she discusses multiple stories from different parts of the Bible, giving us a broader exposure to the Bible than just one book,” said Peter Goerzen, professor of bible and religion and a BIFL instructor. In addition to investigation of biblical texts, which is stressed in BIFL courses, González was considered for her timely topic, the influence of local congregations who support the sheltering of undocumented immigrants, and positive reviews from a variety of
faith-based magazines representing a variety of religious stances, including both Christianity Today and Christian Century. “We generally choose texts first, then invite speakers in connection with them. We first usually try to invite the author of the book (if living) to come and speak, and we’re very grateful to have some endowment resources designated to help us do that kind of thing. González also has received excellent reviews as a presenter - she spoke at Baylor University, for instance - so this was a priority to invite her,” said Goerzen. While González herself has no personal connection to Bethel, as many Convocation speakers often do, quite a few graduated Bethel students work with an immigration task force with the Western District Conference, which engages with ideas discussed by González. During the presentation, González actually emphasized, not necessarily immigration advocacy, but the importance of land in conversations that relate to both immigrants and indigenous populations, introducing the idea that people and land are inherently different but equally of value by her interpretation of the Bible. The Convocation preceded a future text, the narrative of which will focus on “Grace and Truth: Immigration Context,” as per the title of her presentation. She related the commodity of land to its historical context in the Americas and emphasized “living in reciprocity to one another in a mutually beneficial relationship” and a “divine connection between human beings, the Creator, and
the creatures of the land.” This tied to her use of the word “borderlands” instead of “border” for the sake of those who inhabited the land before the border was created. Ultimately, her presentation was engaged by a large audience of students, many of whom were attempting to fulfill
their required Convocation credits, but a significant number who attended on account of their BIFL course and asked relevant questions of González, both during her Monday morning presentation and her Sunday night presentation.
Karen González speaks at the podium in Memorial Hall on March 21 over the importance of land in conversations relating to immigrants and indigenous people. Photo by Chase Dempsey
SGA met on Sunday, March 27 in the Chapel. The Senate of the Student Government Association voted on the following: • Bill to Purchase Reusable To-Go Containers - Passed • Bill to Grant Antonino Mangiapane Funds from the ISR Account - Passed • Bill To Approve Funding For YAWP Printing Expenses - Passed • Pride Flags for Pride Week - Tabled • Election Reformation Act of 2022 - Tabled Students are invited to attend the next senate meeting on April 10 in the Chapel. If you have any questions, comments, concerns or ideas regarding anything you think SGA should address, please feel free to reach out to any SGA member or send comments to sga@bethelks.edu or through the website, bethelsga.wordpress.com
NEWS 3
Corporate gain, consequences for Bethel students JOSUÉ COYDICK Staff Writer
The prices of goods are rising all across America in addition to corporate profits, the more unseen side of inflation. CBS News reported that in the meat industry, the price of pork and beef are up 14% to 20% as compared to a year ago. For example, Tyson, the nation’s largest meat processor, has made over $1 billion in just the last quarter of 2021.by comparison, Tyson’s profits increased 48% from the first quarter of 2021 as compared with the same period in 2022. For another example, perhaps closer to the hearts of college students, Starbucks reported a 31% increase in profits, during the last quarter of 2021, and a revenue increase of almost 20%. This revenue increase adds up to just over $8 billion. Starbucks announced at the same time that it plans to increase the cost
of their goods, even as their revenues increase drastically. Additionally, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson’s pay increased by almost 40% last year to more than $20 million. When it comes to oil and gas, companies like ExxonMobil are reporting tremendous profits. ExxonMobil reported that rising prices could lift third-quarter profits of 2021 by up to $1.5 billion. Those are just a few examples that illustrate the rise in prices all across the country and across the world. As prices continue to rise, real wages for working Americans have dropped 3% according to the Wall Street Journal. Miguel Molina Chavez, first year from Newton, shared his thoughts on the rising prices. “The faux pas of inflation is yet another cover for corporations and the state to increase prices and decrease wages. From proposals to increase
military spending to Applebee’s executive threating to nationally lower pay due to inflation, the issue is felt globally,” said Chavez. Bethel students are feeling the burn of increased prices, particularly when it comes to gas. For Miquel Ruiz Gasull, a first year from Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, the rising price of gas is influencing what car he decides to buy. “[The rising cost of gas] has affected me in buying a car. I just got my license here in the US and I am currently looking for a car. And before the rising price of gas, I was looking for a more sportish kind of car (that would consume more gas) and now I am looking for cars that are still “sport cars,” but with better mileage,” said Gasull. Sophomore from Freeman, S.D., Philip Balzer, also commented on the rising prices.
“I am aware that most things are becoming more expensive, especially gas and housing, but it doesn’t really affect me in a significant way because my family is relatively well off,” said Balzer. Isaiah Guydon, a first year social work major, said that he has had to work more hours to pay for the things he wants and needs. Junior Alejandra Martinez who grew up in Newton, said it’s influencing where she decides to work while in college and after graduation. “I work in Wichita but it’s almost not even worth it to work in Wichita anymore because of how high gas prices are,” said Martinez. It seems that for most Bethel students, the price of gas is the primary concern, and although many are not sure about the forces behind the rising prices, they are feeling the impact on their lives.
Amendment introduced to limit abortions in Kansas ARTHUR MAHRER Staff Writer
In January of 2022, the Kansas Legislature introduced a measure against abortion on the ballot for August of this year. The No Right to Abortion Amendment, also referred to as “Value Them Both” by its proponents, would potentially overturn the landmark 2019 protection of abortion rights by the Constitution of the State of Kansas. While said document currently legalizes abortion, the No Right to Abortion Amendement to the state constitution would allow legislators to make laws regarding abortion, possible even banning it if the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade (1973) case were to be overturned. While the motion on the ballot for August 2022 will not possess the power to fully ban abortions in the state of Kansas, the language of the Kansas Constitution would be altered to enable
certain authorities to refuse people access to abortion services in the state. The question of abortion, despite the federal government’s protection of a person’s right to abortion, remains a contentious battleground for members of all political parties. With this bill open, leaving the vote to the citizens of the state of Kansas, the state has become a battleground over party lines on this issue. As a result, Bethel College may also soon reflect the diverging opinions regarding abortion. While religion and gender are key background factory in arguments proposed by proponents or opponents of the amendment, the urgency remains with the people of Kansas. The vote will either ensure Kansas’s identity as a state which protects people’s right to abortion or alter it to a state which limits their access to abortion facilties. To sum up the issue, this vote will either give Kansas a more liberal or conservative reputation.
Proponents of the “ Value Them Both” constitutional amendment argue against the notion of Kansas taxpayer money being misallocated to the perpetuation of an abortion industry. One key feature in the opposition to abortion in Kansas is Republican state senator Molly Baumgardner. She believes that tax dollars being used for abortion is unconscionable. Opponents of the Constitutional Amendment suggest that restrictions on abortions, such as those in Texas, which prevent abortion six weeks into preganancy, will cause a rise in an unsafe abortion black market. A rise in unsafe abortions counters the intent of the federal governement’s protection of abortion rights, as federal funding enables for risk free abortions to be undertaken. If the right of abortion is taken away, many may look to surrounding states to have access to safe abortion procedures. Those that do not have access to adequate transportation or the money to travel will
resort to extremely unsafe options for abortion. Voting “yes” to the No Right to Abortion Amendment would revoke the right to abortion for Kansans and will give the Kansas legislation the authority to pass laws regarding abortion. This would include making laws regarding the regulation of abortion in extreme circumstances, such as rape or incest. Voting “no” maintains the right of abortion under the Kansas Bill of Rights ruled in 2019 in Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt. Ultimately, the citizens of Kansas have the final say over the issue of abortion’s future within its borders. Bethel students, too, will also have a voice in making this decision. Information for this article was gathered from ballotpedia. org, abcnews.go.com, kansasreflector. com, apnews.com, and www.nrp.org.
4 EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL Homage to Ukraine done so knowing full well the consequences that would be visited upon her by all of Europe and the United States of America. She had done so without even so much as a pretext, simply because she could. Ultimately, she understood that there was no power nor entity in all the world willing to stop her. How pathetic it was to watch the United Nations assemble on February 24 to issue its vain declarations and meaningless condemnations. How amusing it must have been for Russian leadership to launch their invasion as the West’s politicians panicked and wrung their hands at their little therapy session in New York. The West, and by that I mean every citizen of the West, and by that I mean every student at this college, must awaken to the reality of this moment. The tired old trope, ARRAN KEARNEY that “this shouldn’t be happening in 2022,” Staff Writer is emblematic of the West’s malaise and weakness. Thus it was, the history books shall say, We do not live in an age of such that the greatest period of peace mankind enlightenment that the mere invocation of had ever known was shattered in February the year can serve as an argument against of 2022. After their long and complacent war. What is so special about this era that we slumber, all the great powers of Europe, should consider ourselves to be resistant to who eighty years previous had stood at such an age-old sin? It takes a special degree the epicenter of the of arrogance to believe worst calamity to that these generations ever overcome the “The West, and by that I ought to be exempt world, were rudely mean every citizen of the from something that awoken by the sound has always plagued the West, and by that I mean human race. of guns in Ukraine. Bewildered and It is time to every student at this dazed, they gathered rid ourselves of this college, must awaken to bear solemn arrogance -- of the to the reality of this witness to the grand notion that we live in a moment.” tragedy unfolding, “post-war” world -- and struggling to believe confront a war that that it really was. A we have brought upon civilized country -- a ourselves. This war did prominent nation in world affairs -- Russia, not appear from nowhere. Consider the had invaded her European neighbor, an act aggression of the Russian state in Chechnya of conquest not seen on that continent since at the turn of the century, and the Russia the close of World War II in 1945. seizure of the Crimea in 2014. She had done so in defiance of the Then look ahead, not to Europe, but to entirety of Western civilization -- she had South-East Asia, where (in defiance of the
military police) hundreds of thousands of to us, to the point that it borders upon Hong Kong residents took to the streets of absurdity. Yet those men are fighting for their city, to resist their subjugation at the ideals we have given them. Is not their hands of the Chinese liberty our own? Do Communist Party. The they not fight for those West was sympathetic same causes, for which “The Ukrainian people and that was all; America and the rest have shown that they now, Hong Kong has of Europe poured out are willing to die for the their blood in the last seen her legislature hollowed out, her century? sake of their country, courts corrupted and Nothing has and all that they believe her rule of law turned changed, except to tyranny. Journalists, their country to be. There for our willingness protesters and remain men in this world to resist. We still politicians are arrested have that same who are willing to give in droves. glorious heritage, Look finally upon their lives in the name of bought through the the West.” the events of just last sacrifice of countless year: the horrendously generations, and there botched withdrawal remain those same from Afghanistan. It evils that would wish was synonymous with all that is frail and to take it from us. But the idea of fighting, rotten in the modern West, a final and of dying, for our country seems absurd to us. damning demonstration of her decline that We do not believe in things strongly enough likely sealed Ukraine’s fate. to risk life and limb for them. These are not Yet, Ukraine has given unto each one the attitudes of an enlightened civilization, of us a glimmer of hope. The Russians were but of a dying one. correct in their assumption that the West The Ukrainian people have shown would not intervene in the invasion itself, that they are willing to die for the sake of but they were wrong in their estimations of their country, and all that they believe their the Ukrainian people. She is a young state, country to be. There remain men in this but she can lay claim to an ancient race of world who are willing to give their lives in men who have suffered so long and hard the name of the West. If we cannot imagine through all their history for the liberty that ourselves doing the same, then the death of they now possess, and who have proven Christian civilization is assuredly sealed. unwilling to surrender it -- even in the face The words of Churchill, spoken in 1938 of death and destruction at the hands of an shortly before the descent into war, will overpowering enemy. suffice as a conclusion. Young men (our age), who but two “We have passed an awful milestone in months ago could never have imagined the our history, when all Europe is deranged, world they now inhabit, have taken up arms and the terrible words have for the time against the invader. What else is a man to being been pronounced against the Western do in his nation’s hour of need? How can democracies -- that thou art weighed in the he stand by and witness the destruction of balance and found wanting.” his homeland? How can he fail to defend the lives of his loved ones -- the women and children? He cannot. And so he must fight, Arran Kearney is a sophomore history major. He to the death if need be. is also a staff writer for the Bethel Collegian. Such a calculation is completely alien
THRESHPECTIVE 5
THRESPECTIVES Student thoughts on Bethel’s future as work college The work college format is isolating Bethel College is already an isolated campus. We’re a Mennonite college with less than five-hundred students located LOGAN DEMOND in North Newton, Staff Writer Kansas that uses an outdated farming implement as a mascot. While these oddities are what make us unique, shifting to a work college format further isolates our already small campus. I’ve heard the spiel. Megan Kershner and President Gering have gotten good at it, too. In fact, each time I hear it, I find myself thinking “this might work.” But for some reason, I just can’t convince myself that it really will. The first time I heard it was in a senate meeting of the Student Government Association. I fired off countless questions. Each time, the dynamic duo eloquently answered them until a fire was sparked in President Gering. His tone and temperature rose as he rattled off institutional statistics until he landed on one area the college could improve: job placement post college. This issue needs to be addressed. Some of my own friends have left here without a plan and are trapped in an endless cycle of temp jobs. But this is not the way our isolated college needs to address this issue, and I’m glad I’m leaving before it takes place. As a student athlete on a campus of roughly 70% athletes, I can say balancing school, sports and work is a necessary challenge. If I were not working two jobs, I’m not sure I could afford medical expenses, gas and extracurricular fun. I also know that my plate is a lot bigger than others’ who don’t work and rely
on mom and dad. So, how attractive is a college that doesn’t give full rides and forces students to work in an already tight schedule? It appears that President Gering and the college have competing visions. I believe education is the crux, and I understand and appreciate the college’s rich academic history. However, the growing class sizes reflect the growing student-athlete population on campus. A work college format complicates recruitment to a college with an already fair share of athletic recruiting handicaps. But this issue goes far beyond sports. I worked three campus jobs during the summer, one of those for maintenance. One of the biggest complaints was the lack of student help. No, I don’t just mean a lack of student workers, but a lack of student work ethic. The first two years students are at Bethel, they’re expected to work campus jobs to gain basic work experience in this format. This is a great pitch, but is it an effective one? Will our campus run on student labor? Will students want to do these jobs? Buckle up, admissions. You’re in for a hard sell. My academic emphasis far exceeds my athletic one, and I value the liberal arts education I am receiving, but I want to return to my alma mater thirty years from now and I fear this will not be an option if the college continues to pursue a work college format. A 500-word limit leaves much room for pessimism with little room for positive solutions, but I hope I’m wrong and that the college putting all their eggs in this basket pays off. Logan DeMond is a junior Communication Arts and History/Political Science major. He is also a staff writer for the Bethel Collegian.
Work colleges endanger the liberal arts Recently, President Jon Gering, with the help of Megan Kershner and a dedicated committee, are ALLISON WEAVER working tirelessly News Editor to build the future of Bethel College as a federally designated work college, where students enroll in a mandatory program that matches them with a position on or off campus to help them gain experience in their desired field. I believe this program has merit, and a lot of potential on paper! In terms of its implementation, I have a few concerns. First, Bethel’s pre-existing culture of letting students ‘have it all’ is threatened. One of the largest factors in my decision to become a Thresher was the pull of all the activities I could join. From the Environmental Action Club to the Concert Choir to the Collegian, college is a time to try a variety of activities. With 5+ hours of mandatory work on top of my already chaotic schedule, there’s no way I could remain a dedicated student. There’s a reason so many people on campus identify as “burned out”; the socalled ‘Bethel Busy’ is stressful enough when considering activities students are interested in, like coursework, athletics, elective jobs and extracurriculars. Many students at Bethel already work one or more jobs. To adjust and make time in students’ schedules for the Pathway program would have to take from these other important commitments. Is that something we want to sacrifice? I work three campus jobs for a few hours each week: tutoring in the CAD,
giving tours for the admissions office and editing articles for the Collegian. I’d have to give some of that up for the Careers Pathway Program, because a student’s placement can only be in one job. I did ask President Gering about this, and he mentioned that students will have to look at their time differently then they do now, and prioritize different interests. With internship placement programs, getting experience in one’s field is possible without the intense schedule laid out by the Pathway program. Having the power to choose what to take on indicates a certain amount of trust in a student, teaching them how to be responsible for their own lives rather than babying them with mandatory programs. There’s also the critical concern of travel; I believe the final vision for the Pathways program includes placing students as far as Wichita. If I were a student without a car, and wanted to work at a news station in Wichita, how on earth would I be able to complete that placement? Especially with rising gas prices. I came to college to do what should be obvious: be a student. Right now, even with my campus jobs, I prioritize my academic schedule. In my downtime, I’m here to hang out on the Green with my friends and enjoy life before the weight of adulthood rests fully on my shoulders. I have literally the rest of my life to work in my career field. For now, I ask the administration: please, let students remain students. Allison Weaver is a junior English and Communication Arts major. She is also the News Editor for the Bethel Collegian.
6 COMMUNITY
Word on the Street
How do you feel about the threshing stone as our mascot? SENIOR
Kayla Newman
“Most people make fun of the threshing stone as our mascot, but I believe that it is more than just a rock. It is strong, it works hard, it gets beaten down, but still keeps going. The threshing stone is resilient.”
JUNIOR
Christopher Strecker
JUNIOR
Seth Rudeen
“The threshing stone is a time honored emblem of strength, power, and tillage of the soil! We being wheat farmers know it’s crucial to the cultivation of that crop. Build your house on the rock and your education on the stone! I am honored to be a part of this multi-generational establishment. Just as we always have and always will, ROLL ON!”
FIRST-YEAR
Emily Guldner
“From a historical perspective, it’s pretty neat to have the threshing stone as our mascot, because it represents the agricultural Mennonites that founded our college. Some people say that it fails to be intimidating, but I feel that they are missing the point; Mennonites have never really attempted to be intimidating. The threshing stone as our mascot represents our sturdiness and hard work on the path towards success.”
“So, when I first heard the mascot was a threshing stone, I was like ‘uhhh, what?’ I didn’t really get it. The longer I’m here, the more it makes sense. It has sentimental value to the students and alumni, so I have grown to appreciate the threshing stone, even though it is not your typical run-of-the-mill college mascot. Plus, it is always kind of fun to explain it to people that ask ‘What is a thresher and why is it your mascot?’”
Letters to the Editor The Bethel Collegian will accept letters of up to 250 words. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit letters for purposes of clarity, good taste and accuracy and to prevent libel. Letters attacking a private individual will not be permitted. Anonymous letters also will not be accepted. Letters must include a signature, address and phone number.
EMAIL: collegian@bethelks.edu
THE
COLLEGIAN
The Bethel College Collegian is a student-run newspaper published bi-weekly during the fall and spring semesters. The Collegian is funded by advertisement revenue and student fees. The Collegian will be digitally available to Bethel faculty, staff, students and community members for the 2021-2022 academic year. Feedback may be sent to:
collegian@bethelks.edu The Collegian, Bethel College, North Newton, KS, 67117
STAFF
BETHANY POWLS
ALLISON WEAVER
NATHAN GARBER
CHRISTINE CROUSE-DICK
LIZ ALDERFER
CHAR EHRMANN
CHARLES WALKER
JULIANNA SCHRAG
MIKI HARKINS
CAPRI BISOM
SCHYLER ENTZ
EMILY BRANDT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
FACULTY ADVISER
BUSINESS MANAGER
DESIGN/LAYOUT EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR COPY EDITOR
WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR
FEATURES 7
Creative alumnus prompts Bubberts participation JENNA MAHONEY Staff Writer
Herman Bubbert is known on campus as a fictitious perennial Bethel student. He is best known for campus pranks. The Bubbert Awards (affectionately called “Bubberts”), specifically, are a yearly film festival showcasing creative videos that students produce. There are always a wide variety of videos sent in. They range from funny and absurd to dramatic. The films cannot be longer than five minutes. One successful creator of these films would be Austin Regier. Regier, along with his modmates, created one video each of the three years they lived together on campus. “My modmates and I had a successful Bubberts career. Our friend group took home an award about every year,” Regier said. Some of the popular videos that Regier and his modmates created were entitled “Dream Girl,” “Code Regier” and “The Flood.” Participating in this gave Regier and his friends something to look forward to every year. “The best part of participating in it was probably the sheer dominance we had over the videos of our peers. We took home first place five years in a row.
Second was the Pilot Peanut Butter club hats that we won in year three,” Regier said. There are three people that watch and review the videos before the actual awards show. Those people are the SAC secretaries, Brianna Reeves, junior from Derby and Taj Munnings, senior from New Providence, Nassau, as well as Sam Bond, the coordinator of student activities. They look at criteria such as the appropriateness of the subject filmed, language used and common decency. “Part of the reason we review the videos is for appropriateness, but I think the best part about it is being able to plan out fun little skits with the hosts of the show. They perform these in between videos to give the audience a sneak peak of what they are about to see,” Reeves said. After viewing, a panel of judges critiques each video and selects winners for the awards. There are four different award categories. First place receives $250, second place receives $200 and third place receives $150. The People’s Choice award winning video receives $100. “‘The Flood’ was our most successful video as far as the positive impact it had on campus. I think it really helped our community heal after such a devastating event. Of course, we donated all the prize
All participants in the first prize-winning video of the 2021 Bubberts pose for a celebratory picture. Photo courtesy of Allison Weaver
money back to the families of the victims,” Regier said. If you are having a hard time thinking of an idea, the sky is the limit! As long as it is appropriate and will make at least a few people laugh, you are good to go. “As to where our ideas for the videos came from, many people have speculated divine manifestation, but the videos were really just the brainchild of a group of prodigious thinkers and scholars,” Regier said. If you still aren’t sure whether or not you want to participate, just think how awkward the awards ceremony will be if nobody makes a video. The time commitment is daunting, but the rewards are sweet. “There is no greater honor than winning a Bubberts award. I know, for our mod, Bubberts was the highlight of
our lives. It’s really all gone downhill since then,” Regier said. Get a group of friends together, get your phone camera (if you really want to be fancy, you can have someone film it on a real camera), think of a funny idea to make into a video and watch your chances at winning $250 increase at the awards show on Friday, May 6. No more than two films can be submitted by an individual producer. Films need to be sent in by April 28 at 5:00 p.m., and can be sent to sac@bethelks.edu for review, along with any other questions you might have.
Confetti falls as hosts crown 2021 winners Allison Weaver, junior from Hesston, and Bryce Wilson, junior from Sterling. Photo courtesy of Allison Weaver
THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN
8 FEATURES The jazz combo performs a piece with guest artist Aaron Linschied on April 5 in Krehbiel Auditorium. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel
Spring into swing: Jazz performs for community APRIL POWLS Staff Writer
Jazz is an important part of Bethel College life. It serves as a form of entertainment for the student body, as the Bethel Jazz band and combo have routinely played for events such as Fall Fest, Christmas Gala and Jazz on the Green. The band has competed in jazz competitions, performed with well-known
jazz musicians and enriched campus for years, but this didn’t all happen overnight. It all started with one small jazz combo, formed in 1965, just popular enough to make it into the yearbook. This lit the spark that, in 1968, would result in Dr. George Hitt launching the Bethel Jazz program, kick-starting more than sixty years of jazz tradition at Bethel College. In its humble beginnings in the sixties, the jazz program started with no
jazz professor. A “Jazz Artist in Residence’’ program was set up by the college, which invited a skilled jazz musician to preside over the program for a year, teaching and mentoring the students in the band. After four of these resident jazz artists passed through (including Reed Arvin, Mike Steinel, Lisa Hittle, and native Newtonian Gordon Schrag), a jazz professor was finally established as a position among Music Department faculty.
From there, the Bethel Jazz program collaborated with the local high schools, hosted jazz clinics and performed with famous jazz musicians such as drummer Buddy Rich, who visited the college in 1972. They were able to travel and perform as well. On a few occasions in Bethel Jazz history, the program attracted so many jazz-minded student musicians that it was able to split the jazz students into two separate bands or, at other times,
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022
FEATURES 9
the Wichita Jazz Festival “Despite losing about and the UNC Greeley Jazz two-thirds of our jazz Festival. More important students in the fall of 2019 than awards is the fact that and COVID-19 ruining students at BC are really many performance into jazz and have a deep opportunities, Bethel Jazz commitment to making this is on its way up again kind of music,” Boettger with more students either said. already on campus or Since the start of committed to attend next COVID a few years ago, the year,” Koontz said. jazz program was forced to The second big take it easy, like many other performance will be clubs, organizations and the annual Jazz on the musical groups, opting out Green on May 4, a of a lot of performances. Bethel tradition where For a time, this tradition the community comes of collaborating with together to enjoy, well, professional jazz musicians jazz on the green. was put on hold. These performances However, as the end of spell a revival for the the 2022 spring semester Bethel Jazz program and swings into view, Bethel community, as it had laid Jazz is rising up to chase dormant. Additionally, those winter blues away. Boettger has a few goals Last Tuesday, the jazz in mind going forward. combo and jazz band “I’d like to take the performed for the first time band to festivals again since COVID with a guest and I’d like prospective soloist. students in the area to Guest soloist Aaron understand how good of Linschied solos on the trumpet. Photo by Lindsey Linschied is a native a musical education you Pfannenstiel Newtonian and graduate can get at BC,” Boettger Trumpeters feature in a mid-concert tune, while saxophones of Newton High School. said. a jazz combo paired with a full band. and trombones support. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel “The Bethel Jazz program was great. He graduated from Bethel College I will say that my success in my musical in 2005 along with his younger career so far has a large part to do with the brother Joel Linschied who was whole music faculty at the time I was here. jazz professor at Bethel College I met and learned from all the right people for a time. Linschied now plays that helped give me a broad perspective regularly in Kansas City. “Having Aaron Linscheid of what was possible and also specific education in different styles of music. I got as a guest artist signifies that to do everything at BC and it’s partially Bethel Jazz is starting to get back why I am able to swim in different musical to normal. He is a great trumpet streams effectively,” Joel Boettger, current player, educator, as well as just being a good guy to talk about professor of jazz, said. Boettger himself was instructed under music and life with. He is also a Bethel College alumnus. Bethel his predecessor, Jim Pisano. Bethel Jazz continues this tradition of hasn’t had a guest artist…since excellence today. In the recent past, the Spring 2019,” John Mark Koontz, jazz bands have been invited to perform at first year from Newton, said. Linschied spent Monday, April the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA), a huge honor for any musical 4, coaching student jazz musicians and rehearsed that evening with the group. “The BC jazz program has a long jazz band and jazz combo for the history of excellence from going to KMEA next day’s performance. This was The saxophones and trombones bust out a sick beat in the middle of the jazz concert. Photo by multiple times over the years. The jazz the first of two jazz performances Lindsey Pfannenstiel ensemble has also been highly rated at this spring.
10 SPORTS
New track coach reaching new season goals LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer
The Bethel College track and field program has seen a lot of turnover in the last few seasons, but Coach Mark Nelson might be the perfect fit. “I came here from Fayette, Missouri, where I spent one year as an assistant track coach and 9 years as the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Central Methodist University (CMU). I have been coaching track and field since the spring of 1997,” said Nelson. Not only is this Nelson’s first season coaching the Threshers, but his first season back from a brief hiatus from coaching. “The most exciting aspect has been the opportunity to return to coaching after having decided to ‘retire’ and work in business for a little over a year. I am very excited to be back coaching!” Nelson is the second coach in just three seasons for a squad that has seen several AllAmerican performances the past two seasons. As for the team’s response to another change in leadership, Nelson says the buy-in from his athletes has been positive and that he has “really enjoyed” his time with the team this year.
Looking ahead, Nelson outlined his recruitment plan for years to come. “This program needs to grow, especially on the women’s side, but also our event groups overall. My last team at CMU was more than double this team’s size,” said Nelson. In mid-March, Nelson and Thresher track and field hosted their first home meet of the season and competed against seven other squads. “Trey Palmer had excellent early times in the 100 and 200; Isaiah Bartel had a good win in the 800. On the women’s side, Karsen Dunham had excellent early season performances in the long jump and triple jump, Mia Roman and Stephany Meyer had great early season times in the 400, and a great 4x400 relay split by Laiya Palmer. Overall, I was very happy with how we competed,” Nelson said. Not only was this Nelson’s first home meet, but he was forced to fly solo with both athletic directors in Kansas City supporting men’s basketball at the national tournament most of the week. However, other programs stepped in to fill the void. “I had some great help from the coaching staff who helped directly with the meet and helped provide needed volunteers from their programs to help this meet
SOFTBALL APR. 9 . . . 1:00 & 3:00 PM . . AWAY
go off without a hitch,” said Nelson. When asked about the outpouring of community support and proper track etiquette, Nelson said, “we loved
the crowd at our first home meet” and encouraged students to “come in large numbers and get loud.” Both students and community members will have
another chance to support the track and field athletes at home on Friday, April 15. Nelson is sure to have his squad ready once again.
Nelson observes from the sideline at an indoor track and field meet. Photo by Andrew Graber
UPCOMING EVENTS
TENNIS APR. 9 . . . . . 10:00 AM. . . . . AWAY
at YORK
GOLF
MEN’S TENNIS
APR. 12 . . 5:00 & 7:00 PM . . HOME
APR. 18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . AWAY
APR. 13 . . . . 11:00 AM. . . . . HOME
APR. 13. . . . . 3:00 PM . . . . . HOME
vs AVILA
KCAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
vs KANSAS WESLEYAN
vs KANSAS WESLEYAN
APR. 16 . . 1:00 & 3:00 PM . . AWAY
APR. 16 . . . . 12:30 PM. . . . . AWAY
APR. 23. . . . . 10:00 AM . . . . HOME
at KANSAS WESLEYAN
at OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN
vs FRIENDS
at STERLING
NCAA promotes gender equality in basketball BRETT ESCH Staff Writer
This spring, with March Madness season in full swing, the NCAA Basketball tournaments have taken center stage in the sports media landscape – just as they have every year. However, many viewers have taken note of a stark difference in this year’s media coverage of the tournaments from the past: an uptick in focus on the women’s tournament. And while this shift is empowering for so many, it means even more for those that can relate to the women’s tournament players better than anyone. “The increase in exposure for the women’s tournament is great. When videos were going viral about the lack of equipment and difference in food quality [between the men’s and women’s tournaments], it was really disappointing,” junior Troi Lucas
from Allen, Texas said. The videos Lucas references were taken during last year’s Final Four portions of the men’s and women’s tournaments – and highlighted the disheartening discrepancies between their respective facilities. Since then, a year-long push for equality in NCAA sports has ensued. And now, fans of women’s basketball are starting to see their efforts pay dividends. “To see others enjoy the sport that you play is such a cool thing to see. I hope this trend continues and even grows in the future, and I think the presence of social media sparked an interest in women’s sports as a whole. I also believe now that college athletes are able to make money off their names that more female athletes are able to be recognized,” senior Kendall Michalski of Topeka said. In addition to the grassroots movement, many notable public figures chimed in on the
importance of shining a light on women’s college basketball. “I think celebrities like LeBron James, Jimmy Fallon and even President Joe Biden posting their women’s March Madness brackets for the whole world to see has helped to promote the interest in the sport,” sophomore Jaycee Freshour of Mustang, Okla. said. Michalski added, “Kobe Bryant was one of the first celebrities to start supporting women’s sports, I do think that by him showing support, it influenced others to show support.” Now, the key is to keep the NCAA women’s basketball tournament where it belongs: on the same plane as the men’s tournament. “I hope the casual fan learns that women’s basketball takes the blood, sweat, and tears like any other men’s sport. The same amount of time and effort is put in and female athletes deserve
that respect,” Michalski said. Despite the differences in the competition, audiences are starting to view both as valuable in their own right. “Obviously, women’s basketball is much different than men’s basketball as not a lot of women can dunk, they don’t play as fast as men do, but they focus on the fundamentals of basketball. And for a casual sports fan, I think it’s fun for them to see a different type of basketball and to study what works for certain teams and what doesn’t,” Freshour said. Technology has made it possible for a lot of this change to take place. “Continuing to put games on bigger platforms, posting highlights on social media, and having the NIL deals continue will not only advance the game but completely change the way women’s sport is looked at in general. And it still has a lot more growing to do,” Lucas said.
Athletes spring into spring workout schedules ANNA RANZINGER Staff Writer
As the spring semester continues, as do spring workouts and conditioning for all offseason athletes. A lot of the athletes have experienced many changes in schedules, and with these changes come some pros and cons. The women’s soccer team has gone through a few changes in their schedule thus far. Before spring break, they were lifting weights twice a week and training at 4 p.m. every week day. Now that they are coming up on some spring games, this schedule has been adjusted. “We train at 6 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, lift on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11
a.m., train at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. We have Thursdays off as a recovery day,” junior Jazlyn Reese from Garland, Texas, said. Reese and her teammates have found both positive and negative things to say about the schedule. “It’s hard waking up super early for training but I like getting it out of the way so that I have the rest of the day to focus on my personal goals and my schoolwork. Having weights at 11 can be challenging because it’s in the middle of the day, but I really enjoy having Thursdays off to let my body recover,” Reese said. Reese also said that she is very excited for the upcoming spring games because of the growth of the team.
“We have been working very hard. I am excited to see how that work has paid off in our spring games. We have started doing team bonding activities and I think that is going to show on the field when we get back out there,” Reese said. Another sport that has been working very hard this semester is football. Their schedule was not an easy one to adjust to but all of the players battled the adversity and made it out on the other side. Junior Bryan Parker from Dallas, Texas, answered some questions about football’s spring schedule and what he likes and dislikes about it. “Our schedule has been a little crazy. We have weights at 6 a.m. everyday except for Wednesday and we train
on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This type of schedule was very hard at first because none of us were used to waking up so early but I really like it because I find it to be very balanced. We work hard and we are rewarded with a lot of time to recover,” Parker said. Bryan also said, “we have one spring game coming up at the end of April. I know that we are all looking forward to getting out on the field again. This semester we started doing competition days which were very fun. It was meant to just be a friendly competition between groups of us and I know that we all really enjoyed it. We have a better bond and we have worked hard and I think it will show when we get back out there.”
SPORTS 11
The Sideline
SCHYLER ENTZ Sports Editor
DANIELA HERRERA FIRST-YEAR WOMEN’S TENNIS How has the beginning of the season been? “It has been hard to be honest, I didn’t play so many for like a year, but I feel good playing so overall not that bad.”
What are your personal and team goals this season? “My personal goal is to play my best tennis all the time and do not give up when I have a hard time. I think that for the team goal is to qualify for the KCAC Tournament.”
What is your favorite memory with the team? “I think I have a lot of good memories but my favorite memory with the team is when we went to St. Louis. It was a crazy weekend.”
12 ENTERTAINMENT
Art building host to haunted ceramics graveyard APRIL POWLS Staff Writer
Bethel College has an incredible amount of domesticated squirrels, a massive wheat stalk fountain, an ancient administration building that is currently sinking into the ground and … a graveyard? Yes, Bethel college has a graveyard; or, more specifically, the art building does. “No one believes me when I say we have bodies in the kiln yard,” said junior art major, Rachel Geyer, from Kalona, Iowa. Geyer is not lying. There are bodies behind the art room. Fifteen or so discarded and abandoned statues, rejects from past 3-Dimensional art classes, live eternally in this final resting place. They are stashed in between the air conditioning units and buried among the dead leaves, collecting dust and forgotten by their creators. Art students have sworn that they have seen them move out of the corners of their eyes, only to find that they are perfectly still when they look back. “The amount of times those heads scared me isn’t all that impressive. Maybe once or twice?” Geyer said.
Aside from being wildly creepy late at night -- as their dead eyes follow you and their headless bodies lie suspended in their disproportionate state -- these statues do have some positive uses. Most recently, the on-campus literary magazine YAWP! somehow acquired express (and difficult to obtain) permission to use a few of the discarded heads as promotional material for their submission deadline. Though the deadline is long past, the statues remain in the library, Haury Hub, the Luyken Fine Arts Center and a few other locations, passively watching students as they go about their day. Perhaps they appreciate the change in scenery. These heads can also be used as a threat -- gift -- for close friends and enemies. They are cheap and homemade, the perfect combination from the heart. “Sometimes I ask David for a ceramic head or two … they make great white elephant gifts,” Geyer said. However, it should be noted that the bodies are never to be taken without the absolute approval of the art department. This is, of course, for the safety of the students.
If you hear the disembodied heads wail at night, do not check on them. They are fine. Do not feed the heads. Photo by Bethany Powls
Additionally, the pieces are undoubtedly of historical significance to the students who made them, making their disappearance a true shame should it ever be discovered. Plus, the stray cats that take shelter next to the warm kilns in the winter would miss the company of their rather haunting friends. “The kiln yard of the art department is one of the most undervalued areas on campus. Where else can you make pottery and appreciate the work of local artists for free?” said Geyer.
If you ever find yourself alone and in the vicinity of the art department “graveyard,” do not let the headless bodies or bodiless heads (fondly nicknamed Eduardo after one of the models) fool you with their stoic behavior. It is widely believed that Bethel’s campus hosts many haunted locations; the art building graveyard is not one to rule out.
Above is pictured an almost full body piece. What happened to its legs and feet? Some have said that they can be found at the bottom of the Sand Creek. If one were to walk to the bridge and lean over the side, they might just see them along with countless other pairs of hands and feet. Photo by Bethany Powls
ENTERTAINMENT 13
Local trails accessible to students contribute to health BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief
In January of 2020, just before the effects of the pandemic reached the United States, a research team out of Cornell collected data that suggested just ten minutes of intentional time spent outdoors or in a natural setting drastically helped reduce the negative effects of stress in college students, with the potential of making them happier and healthier. Along with this research, I recall reading a short piece in the Magnolia Journal published last fall. The writer talked about how she had spent the last few decades of her life walking nearly every morning, exploring the locations around her and using it as her excuse to stay healthy and get outside regularly. I found myself inspired. With Bethel being a primarily rural campus — the small community of North Newton to the west and a field to the east — it is relatively easy for students to spend time outdoors. However, with busy schedules, even taking ten minutes to be outside without the burden of school or work is difficult. The Sand Creek Trail is a more obvious option and one that many students take advantage of during their stay at Bethel. It is one of the more secluded locations and features many native trees, birds and, of course, plenty of squirrels.
Additionally, the trail has a variety of options for length: a longer walk includes the full loop by the interstate, but a shorter walk might take you as far as the trail break, or to the Mennonite Central Committee building just south of the cross country course. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can always explore the course itself, though it is generally less maintained in the off-season. Northwest of the North Newton community is a relatively new trail that was established for the community. While it is more residential and far less wild than the Sand Creek Trail, it is one of the longer local trails. A walk on this one will take considerably more than ten minutes, and should be reserved for longer stretches of time — if you need to get away for more than thirty minutes, this is the trail for you. My favorite place to walk, however, would be the general residential areas of North Newton. With the Strava app in hand, documenting the winding miles around sidewalks (and roads, when the sidewalk ends), stopping occasionally for a quick conversation with one of the locals or to pet someone’s dog, I traverse various pathways to the small pond at the west end of town on a near daily basis. It tends to be less scenic, but one has the opportunity to engage with the broader community at a more leisurely pace and survey some local gardens. If you are feeling extra
adventurous, you might just stumble upon Hidden Stems Greenhouse in North Newton on one of these walks. For those of us with busy schedules and little to no time to 1) be off on our own off campus, 2) be outside and free
Batman series. DC fans thought the movie did a spectacular job as far as who the directors and producers casted. “The cast was perfectly picked in my opinion. I liked the way that it was comic book accurate with a good representation of how Bruce Wayne actually is,” said Arianna Gomez, a junior from Whittier, Cali. Everyone who has seen the movie agrees that Robert Pattinson fulfilled his new role as Batman. Along with other big changes, the new Batman movie is a three hour movie, which can either be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing. Even though this was another fear for those who wanted to go see the movie, all three hours were
able to accurately portray the amount of plot that needed to be covered. One of the best scenes in the movie begins within the first five minutes. The movie starts off with a preview of a crimeridden Gotham city that is cold and rainy. “The vibe to Gotham felt unique, dark, and mysterious. The cinematography was incredible and the movie looked and sounded great,” said Adalsteinn Kristinsson, a first year student from Kópavogur, Iceland. After seeing this new view of Gotham City, the return of the Riddler is a major point for the movie. It is an overall agreed opinion that the return of the Riddler was a great addition to this Batman.
of responsibility and 3) appreciate the community just next to campus, taking a walk on one of these trails can be an easy, manageable way to maintain our health and appreciate the beginning of spring.
The Sand Creek Trail head is incredibly close to campus, well within access of students, just beyond the art building. Photo by April Powls
The Batman viewership satisfied with franchise reboot
LAUREN MCCREARY Staff Writer
The newest addition to the Batman franchise has stirred up quite a bit of conversation and controversy. Discussions about whether Robert Pattinson is a better Batman or vampire have circulated, as he is now the lead in the new Batman movie. Though many DC Comic fans were skeptical about how the movie might turn out due to the casting and the pressure to meet the many expectations set by older Batman movies, the film did not disappoint. The cast did a phenomenal job of bringing a new style to the beloved
“I loved how the director focused more on Batman solving the Riddler than actually fighting people,” said Kristinsson. In addition to all the positive feedback from Bethel students, some fans might point out that some of the fight scenes seemed incomplete or rushed. It is even noted that many of the scenes are too poorly lit to be enjoyed properly. Others think the movie was too long and complicated for the allotted time. Even though there have been complaints from fans, many were pleased after the film. In the end, viewers will not regret choosing to see The Batman. It will leave you satisfied and wanting more.
14 GAMES
Congrats, Grad!
Jessie Thomas is a senior from Halstead and her intended major is English secondary education. She has a passion for art, with a love of digital media and creating characters like Amos, who has featured in The Bethel Collegian for two years. This comic, featuring Amos, is inspired by the approaching end of the semester, as well as the end of a four year career for many Bethel College students who will soon be saying their good byes to the campus and community. This also happens to be Thomas’s final comic for The Bethel Collegian, as she will be joining those who walk across the stage to receive their diplomas on May 15. Roll on, Thresher graduates! If you would like to contribute a piece of artwork to a future issue of The Bethel Collegian, email us at collegian@bethelks.edu!
LISTINGS 15
CAREER PATHWAYS
THRESHER CLASSIFIED Direct all inquires to Megan Kershner in WAC 215 or check out Handshake to learn more about these job opportunities
Opportunities Available - Event Staff Coordinator
- Social Media Strategist
On-Campus Jobs
Off-Campus Jobs
- Game Day Atmosphere Coordinator
- Bibal & Religion Assistant
- Sports Information - Photographer
- AV Student assistant
- Student Custodian
- YMCA Lifeguard
- Sports Information - Videographer
- Student Life Office Assistant
- AV Student Assistant
- Entry Level Production Worker
- Sports Information - Statistics
- Student Advancement Ambassador
- Orientation Leader
- Dillon’s Associate
- Student Chaplain
- Goodwill Associate
- BIO140 Assistant
- Seasonal Worker for Newton
- Summer Student Life Assistant
- Aflac Summer Internship
- Sports Journalist - Livestream Video Production - Athletics Graphic Design - Career Center Assistant
Steps to Take - Complete and save a program application provided by Megan Kershner - Select Apply within the position page on Handshake - Upload a resume, Program Application and your 2022-2023 schedule - Email Megan Kershner at mkershner@bethelks.edu with any questions * YOU MUST BE ENROLLED FULL TIME AND LIVE ON CAMPUS *
THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN
‘Bright Star’ Musical
PHOTO FEATURE 16
The musical ‘Bright Star’ premiered at Bethel College on March 25 and showings commenced throughout the weekend. The story, harkening back to the early-mid twentieth century and reflecting on a heart-wrenching Appalachian tale, captured community audiences with its portrayal of loss, love and hope restored. Photos by Chase Dempsey