2
Bethel College Food Pantry opens
3
Editorial: STEM vs. humanities majors
6
Tattoos of Bethel College faculty
Friday, November 8, 2019 | Volume 108, Issue 5 | North Newton, KS
9
Budget cuts within the atheltic department
11
Wind Ensemble prepares for concert
Rachel Geyer, first-year from Kalona, Iowa, participated in Trick-or-Treat Off the Street by dressing up as Rosie the Riveter to hand out candy from her room in Haury Hall. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel
2 NEWS
Bethel students organize climate strike on campus BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief
Since the beginning of the minor-led climate change movement, as advocated by figures like Greta Thunberg, student-led climate strikes have been held at various schools and universities across the globe. On the campus of Bethel College, a strike was held on October 17. The strike was led by the combined efforts of Campus Ministries, the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) and the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions “I was in a chapel planning committee meeting with Peter
and he said ‘You know, no climate striking has been happening on Bethel’s campus and that makes me a little bit grouchy,’” said Emma Beachy, sophomore from Kalona, Iowa. Beachy is a student chaplain and member of the Campus Ministries team, led by Director of Student Ministries, Peter Goerzen. She worked closely on this event with EAC leader, Adam Sigwing, senior from Halstead. “I’m the student ambassador to the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions and we talk about sustainability efforts on campus and we have to do some kind of event each semester.
When Peter said something, we decided to partner with the EAC to do a strike,” said Beachy. The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions is an organization in Harrisburg, Virginia that recruits students from Mennonite colleges across the nation to act as ambassadors to their school and community. The organization is in conjunction with Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). A about 20-30 students attended the strike and participated in the organized activities. One such activity allowed attendees to engage with the earth through symbolic action.
“We were by the fountain on campus and we had these buckets of dirt around and then you could take water and pour it onto the soil. It was sort of a metaphor for our hardened hearts being softened toward the earth. We talked about sort of the guilt that we here in the United States have and the responsibility that we bear for climate change issues,” said Beachy. There was a space for open discussion in which both students and faculty shared their perspective on the emotional impact of climate change. “We wanted to talk about the emotional impact, because it is a pretty scary issue, so we also
had time for some open sharing where people could talk about the impact of climate change and we had some faculty speak about that,” said Beachy. In addition, Sigwing is heading up some new initiatives for the EAC to take on in the future, involving recycling efforts and an increase in biodiversity on campus. “I think just building awareness for people and thinking about the impact that their actions have is our mindset. We want to make it a part of everyday life to be thinking about this,” said Beachy.
Bethel College Food Pantry opened doors on November 4 KELLY HABEGGER Staff Writer
In close-knit communities, food pantries are a common feature. Despite some confusion on the establishment date, Bethel College’s food pantry will opened on November 4. The idea for the food pantry came from two students from the Student Social Work Organization, Sophia Minder, senior from Lawrence, and Akiyaa Hagen-Depusoir, senior from McPherson, who went to Sam Haynes in the fall of 2018. A roundtable talk was hosted during Black History Month of spring 2019. Haynes and President Jon Goering were invited and students informed them on some of the difficulties that they had paying for college and having enough money to eat. “The President asked me to take this up on behalf of Bethel College and work directly with the group. I love partnering with
students but I never want to take the lead of their projects. I was going to follow Sophia and Akiyaa’s lead,” said Haynes. From there, the process continued to figure out a budget, how many products were needed, scheduling, and many other things in order to ensure the longevity and quality of the food pantry. “The pantry will have open hours daily, including weekends, the hours will be located next to the door. When open, the pantry will operate on an honor system. It is very important that everyone who uses the pantry, take only what they need; you are welcome to return to the pantry if the need arises again.” The Bethel College Food Pantry is now located in the lower level of Haury Hall in the room next to the ground level kitchen. This food pantry is available for all who need it, including commuters. Dillons’ has donated gift cards so that Haynes is able to restock the pantry as needed.
“We don’t want anyone to be hungry, but this pantry is for those who don’t have any means to eat and not because they need a snack or they miss their meal,” said Haynes. In addition, Aladdin, the company that Bethel partners with for meals, has donated one hundred meals to those who do not have meal plans. There is much progress to be made with the food pantry, including the possibility of adding personal hygiene products, and items such as blankets or sheets to ensure that those in need are able to obtain them through the pantry. There is a drop box located directly outside Sam Haynes’ office for donations. Monetary donations should be sent in the name of Bethel College. The memo should be labeled for the food pantry and must be sent to the Bethel College business office. In addition, students and community members are able to
donate food items. Haynes can be contacted for a an official list. Items to avoid include junk food, items with glass or cellophane packaging that can be broken,
and things that need a can opener or special equipment to open. Pop-top cans for veggies, meat or fruit are preferred.
SGA Updates
OCTOBER 27 MEETING - Approved the React Club - Approved Amondre Street as a senator - Discussed advertising elections 2019 Senate meeting schedule (subject to change): November 10 November 24 December 8 *As always, these meetings are open to the student body SGA Number: (316)-804-8234
OPINION 3
Are STEM majors more valuable than humanities majors?
CAPRI STEVENSON-BISOM Design/Layout Editor
There has been a lot of talk recently about the value of certain fields. Many schools and universities are moving away from the humanities and putting more funding into STEM majors. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This term applies to any major or subject that involves any of the aforementioned themes, such as chemistry, mechanical engineering, biology, psychology, natural and computer science. It appears that society values STEM degrees over humanities. There seems to be a shortage of jobs for art graduates. History and English fields are often very specific and few and far between. These fields on their own are important to the betterment of humanity by learning about the history of human interaction to improve our future. Humanities courses will often go into the history of that course topic, creating a broader understanding of the world. The
combination of humanities courses and an understanding of science can only have beneficial outcomes on society. A new term that some schools are adopting is STEAM. The A stands for art, and the new term is used to build up a mentality that art and science are interrelated. At some local schools back home in New Jersey, STEAM classes have been introduced to combine physics, visual art and music. This is very good for the upcoming youth to learn that all fields are important and interdisciplinary. Music is another major that is on the decline. On the East Coast, music programs are being eliminated from most high schools. At my high school, the band program was very small and we didn’t have a pep band or any ensembles. That is a stark contrast to the rural midwest, where many people participate in some sort of ensemble. This shows that the value of certain fields has a regional aspect. The coastal schools seem to be more interested and have an abundance of STEM careers, but lack of passion for the arts. In smaller communities, the humanities are still valued. Many STEM majors and professors will argue that science is more important to society and in providing a greater understanding of the world. However, there is grounds for humanities majors to dispute that and say that their fields are especially crucial to the
comprehension of the past and human influence and interaction. As a STEM and art major, I can say that there is value in both areas of study. Science is just as important as humanities. My two majors are chemistry and art and people will always say: “Wow, those are two opposite areas of study. You must be quite unique.” They are wrong. My majors are very much dependent on one another. My emphasis in art is painting, and paint involves a lot of chemistry, especially in the manufacture process. Chemistry uses art to teach and display concepts that would be nearly impossible to do without the creativity that comes with an art background. My hope for the future is that people won’t think the combination of my majors is unique. I wish the value of incorporating multiple disciplines into a higher education increases and having “opposite” areas of study becomes more common and encouraged. At Bethel, it is slightly more common to incorporate different majors. Some past examples are graduates combining math with music and psychology and ceramics. We have the opportunity here to value fields in both STEM and humanities.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FALL FEST MEMORY? Dante Powell
SENIOR ““My favorite Fall Fest thing this year would have to be serving chili with the diversity council. We got to make something I never had so it was a cool experience.”
Jaylen Randle
JUNIOR “My favorite memory from fall fest was the Hall of Fame Banquet. The best part was watching all of the former Bethel athletes get inducted into Bethel’s Hall of Fame.”
Claira Spurgeon
SOPHOMORE
“I enjoyed the local community interaction and all of the small booths followed by then going to the football game in the evening.”
AJ Dugan
SOPHOMORE “My favorite Fall Fest memory from this year was that the Jazz Ensemble I actually got to play outside because the weather was nice!
Capri Stevenson-Bisom is a sophomore here at Bethel College. She is an Art and Chemistry double major with a minor in Mathematics.
The Collegian is a student-run newspaper published bi-weekly while classes are in session. The Collegian is funded by advertising revenue and student fees. The Collegian is delivered free to Bethel faculty, staff, resident and commuter students. Off-campus subscriptions are available at the rate of $18.00 per school year. Subscriptions may be sent to:
The Collegian, Bethel College, North Newton, KS, 67117
WORD ON THE STREET
BETHANY POWLS
ELIZABETH RATZLAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CHRISTINE CROUSE-DICK FACULTY ADVISER EMILY KONDZIOLA
NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
ZACHARY SHIMA
BUSINESS MANAGER GABE JOHNSON
SPORTS EDITOR
CAPRI STEVENSON-BISOM
CHRISTINE CROUSE-DICK DESIGN/LAYOUT EDITOR ADVISER
SYDNEY JOHNSON
AUSTIN PROUTY NEWS EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR
JADIN KALTENBACH OPINION RILEYEDITOR SCHMIEDER
COPY EDITOR
NATHAN GARBER
FEATURES BAILEYEDITOR STRAUSZ
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
JESSICA LAROCQUE SPORTS ZACHEDITOR SHIMA
BUSINESS MANAGER
STAFF
MADI HARKINS
CALEB ALLEN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR
CHARLOTTE EHRMANN
JADIN KALTENBACH
COPY EDITOR
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
MIKI HARKINS
WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
MADISON HARKINS PHOTO EDITOR
4 OPINION
THRESHPECTIVES : staff writers share their perspectives A reflection on convocation behavior
Respecting the space that is convocation is imperative Convocation listen attentively and quietly. Alas, this is is a long-running not always something that students do. tradition at Bethel. Often when students interrupt For many years speakers, whether it be in class or convo, now, students have their intention is not purposefully been required to harmful. We are students. Often we attend a certain are stressed from classwork, exam number of “convos” preparations, and on-campus jobs so our per semester to brains are muddled. We want to talk to graduate. our friends or check our phones. NOAH LARSON The number While these are okay things to do Staff Writer of convos to attend in our free time or in passing between to get credit for classes, they are not meant to be done in the class is only eighteen per class, and convo is a class. semester, but the number of sessions Yes, students don’t always want to offered is usually between twenty-four be in convo, especially if a certain topic and thirty per semester. doesn’t interest them. Convocation is always Yes, they want to just twice a week, though get our convos done there are sometimes with so they don’t have “Every convo is evening sessions that to go anymore. educational to are available to attend However, we can’t if you don’t have anyone, whether they go around interrupting conflicts such as night the speakers like we think they need the classes. information they hear often do. We need Though every to learn to be polite, or not.” convo session can be especially since these educational, many people were invited to people go simply for the college. We need the credit. They will to be a good example often stop attending for those who visit once their requirement is fulfilled. our campus. What kind of example of However, every semester, there are a a good college do we set if visitors and select few people who continue to go to speakers see us interrupting the session convo until the semester is over. These and being disrespectful? people tend to be genuinely interested in If you are having a bad day, or simply what the convo speaker has to say and don’t want to be in convo, please don’t will attend for the educational benefit. take it to a group setting. Be respectful in Because it is 50 minute session, the unique space which is convocation. convocations are often interrupted by Leave your assignments, commitments internal and external sources. These and stress at the door and be respectful interruptions are not always harmful. for two hours a week. Sometimes it can be difficult for students to sit still and quiet for a long period of time. Noah Larson is a junior staff writer at Convo speakers come to us from all Bethel College and is an English major. around the United States, and even the world, to give their presentations. The best that students can do for them is to
We need to live out the Golden Rule Convocation Many people sent in comments is not every that were derogatory toward both student’s favorite Littlewolf ’s ethnicity and her gender. To class, but whether abuse this system is absolutely repulsive. they like it or not, Convo, at the very longest, is one hour. everyone has to I know it can be hard to sit still without go. That being talking for an hour, but the behavior said, you think that day was disappointing. some unspoken Everybody at this school is an adult rules would and should know what basic human CHARLOTTE apply. And yet, as decency is. If you hate the convocation EHRMANN demonstrated, these speaker so much that you feel the need Copy Editor rules aren’t always to send in comments anonymously followed. One of the harassing her, then you are not being main purposes of convo is to introduce respectful. She was a guest at our school, students to speakers who come from and I was ashamed that day to be diverse backgrounds associated with anyone and experiences. It is who so blatantly acted then up to the students that way. “The basic golden to listen respectively At the end of the whether or not they rule we are taught in day, we are all adults. agree. basic golden kindergarten of ‘treat The On October 14, rule we are taught in others the way you kindergarten of “treat Erica Littlewolf came want to be treated’ others the way you to Bethel on Indigeous Peoples’ Day to debunk want to be treated” still still stands when and discuss common stands when you are not you’re not five.” stereotypes among five. If you were invited Native people. Many to speak somewhere students are going to and were discussing disagree with speakers, a controversial and that is inevitable, but the way they do it difficult topic, then you would not want is critical. someone to speak over you. If someone Getting out of your comfort zone is calling you out for your privilege and is super important aspect of convo, you have the audacity to speak over but doing so can make some people them, you do not respect them. uncomfortable. When uncomfortable, The main takeaway from this there are two approaches a person conversation is to just be a nice person. can take: A respectful approach or Respect people, and please be a nice a disrespectful one. Unfortunately, human being. The golden rule, people. when Littlewolf came to speak she was If five year olds can handle this, then met with an extremely disrespectful why can’t grown adults do the same? approach. With the new convo coordinators, Doug Siemens and Meredith Lehman, Charlotte Ehrmann is a sophomore an anonymous question link has been at Bethel College and is a double major in introduced. This is a great idea overall, Psychology and History and Political Science. but this was exploited in a disgusting way when Littlewolf spoke.
Bethel’s nursing program: A history of excellence
Bethel College has always been known for its top-notch liberal arts education. Bethel also has an exceptional nursing program to go along with it. Bethel has a premiere nursing program that is rated in Kansas’ top 10 programs according to registerednursing.com. Because of this, the acceptance into the program is a little more strict than some schools. Acceptance for the nursing program is even more strict than other programs that Bethel offers. You must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and have an ACT score of at least 25. Kendall Hiebert, a first-year student from Goessel, is working through the application process to become a part of the nursing program. All freshmen must complete
their general education courses along with their prerequisites before having the opportunity to apply for the program. Hiebert is ahead of the game as he has already completed his geneds and has begun taking classes so that he can apply for the program next fall. The application process is not know for being simple or easy. To start off, the applicant must have already declared their major in the nursing program. Next, a written essay on why you should be accepted and your goals as a nurse must be submitted. A series of rigorous interviews follows the essay application. Finally, the applicant is informed on whether or not they are accepted by May of their sophomore year. Most students at Bethel are accustomed to the routine of 5075 minute class periods, five days a week. The nursing program, however, does not have classes that
high school, Hiebert’s dream was to be a surgical technician and aid in the process of surgery. He changed his mind because of the handson opportunities that nursing provides. “I wanted to be more involved with the everyday healthcare of patients,” Hiebert said. If you are interested in learning more about the program directly from those that are currently in it, the nursing program will be hosting a Nursing Fair on Tuesday, November 12 on campus. Come and learn about what the program has to offer.
FREE for Bethel College Students & Faculty Tues. - Fri. 9:30am - 4:30am, Sat. - Sun. 1:30pm - 4:30pm
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AVERY HAWKINS Staff Writer
“A great way to hold an advantage when coming in, is to be a CNA [certified nurses’ aide],” Hiebert said. “Anything you can do to give yourself a head start is a good idea.” Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a special person with special skills to be able to provide care for those in need, and to do so with a smile on their face. “It brings me joy to see the progress and improvement of a patient’s health,” Hiebert said. “That is why I decided to be apart of the program.” Hiebert has not always been interested in a career in nursing. In
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Nursing students, Payton Walters, junior from Highlands Ranch, Colo. and Ashlyn Troyer, junior from Lyons practice hands-on skills so that they are ready to use them out in the field. Photo by Madi Harkins
short. Nursing classes often run for three or four hours at a time. The nursing students also have to follow a dress code when attending class. Often, nursing students have an incredible course load and are notorious for frequenting the library during their study hours for some extra quiet time. Peyton Uznanski, sophomore from Olympia, Wash. is preparing for her future years in the nursing program. “The grading scale is tough. If you get below a 77%, you automatically fail,” said Uznanski. The most strenuous part of theER COV program is clinicals. StudentsDISwho are working on their clinicals have little to no time to rest. Clinical days usually start out in the lab where students learn the skills and instructions that are to be practiced that day. From there, students go to a nearby nursing home or hospital to practice those skills with hands-on interaction, and aid in the healthcare of patients. They are accompanied by medical professionals.
FEATURES 5
THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN
6 FEATURES
Bethel faculty members share rich experiences through tattoos NOAH LARSON Staff Writer
For the past few decades, tattoos have become more and more mainstream, and thus, are more widely accepted, in America and around the world. Tattoos, while meaningful, have presented a negative stigma for decades. In an article published by the National Public Radio (NPR) a study conducted found that 21 percent of adults have at least one tattoo. A more recent study by
Bethel faculty member Megan Kershner has a couple of different tattoos. One of her tattoos (above) says ‘and we dance’ that represents fond memories that she has shared with her best friends. The other one (right) represents her passion for music. Photos coutesy of Megan Kershner
the Pew Research Center indicated that the number was closer to 40 percent for young adults. Tattoos have long had their own sense of culture connected with them. It can involve a sense of accomplishment, nostalgia, or sentiment. Even here at Bethel, a small college in the middle-of-nowhere Kansas, tattoos have their own sense of culture. It is common to have tattoos in places that can be easily covered, because tattoos are still frowned upon in many places of employment. Some students will get tattoos with friends, and even a few have gotten tattoos with their modmates. Whether they have a lot of tattoos or just one, people often get tattoos for a reason, with stories behind them. At Bethel, many of the faculty have tattoos, though you usually can not see them, as they often don’t flaunt them on a regular basis.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019
The Clinical Instructor of Nursing, Miranda Soriano, has just one tattoo relating to mental health. “It celebrates my freedom from a struggle with mental health,” said Soriano. Soriano’s tattoo features the words ‘peace faith hope love’ on the outside of her left foot. The Director of Student Success and Retention, Amber Celestin, has a couple tattoos that connect to her past and to her grandparents. “I have a lot of scars that remind me of falls and accidents I’ve endured; my tattoos are my most meaningful scars because they were intentional, carefully considered, and represent things that were important in shaping who I am. I designed them both myself and got them at points in my life where I felt drawn to mark an experience that impacted me,” said Celestin. While she has those tattoos that are connected to certain times and experiences in her life, she also has a tattoo for her grandma and grandpa who greatly impacted her life. “When my grandfather died in 2011, I wanted to do something to honor the impact he and my grandmother have had on my life. My grandfather was a musician and my grandmother is a seamstress and crafter. Both of these things are part of who I am, so I designed a tattoo that could combine music and crafting. My tattoo is a needle and thread in the form of a treble clef. Granny went to the tattoo shop with me to get it done. She sat in the chair next to me, her hands folded atop her cane, watching with interest. At one point, she pulled a Werther’s
FEATURES 7
Original out of her purse and gave it to me to help distract me from the pain,” said Celestin. Doug Siemens, Bethel College’s Associate Professor and Director of Elementary Teacher Education, has a tattoo that he got with his daughter Zoe Siemens, a Bethel sophomore from Newton. “Water is important to me and my family. We spend time whitewater rafting and floating western rivers. My daughter has the same tattoo. We got them together on her eighteenth birthday,” said Siemens. Having a matching tattoo is often fun and exciting, because it creates a physical and permanent connection between you and whomever you got the tattoo with. Associate Professor of Business and Economics, Meredith Lehman shared that she has just one tattoo, relating to her time at Bethel College. “It is related to an inside joke among my former modmates,” said Lehman. The Director of Career Services, Megan Kershner, has a couple tattoos of her own that she shared. “My first tattoo was the treble clef on my foot. This one signifies my love of music. I was a music major during my time here at Bethel. My other tattoo in white ink is on the underside of my arm. I chose white ink because it is different and is not incredibly visible. My best friend was the one who suggested getting matching tattoos with the words, ‘and we danced.’ It comes from a song that we unofficially declared our theme song for the adventures we have had together,” said Kershner. While many people who get tattoos want to share the stories behind them, there are some who get them just for private experiences and want to keep their stories close to their hearts. An anonymous Bethel College faculty member has gotten tattoos to remind them of certain sayings or
experiences over their life time and their loved ones. The anonymous faculty member said that they got the tattoos for them and not for anyone else. “They all have some meaning to me or remind me of something,” they said. Because of this, they choose to keep them private. Tattoos can be a representation of something important to the recipient, or simply a work of art. In the case of many of Bethel’s faculty members, their tattoos are unique to them and their life.
Clinical Instructor of Nursing, Miranda Soriano, got a tattoo to celebrate freedom from the struggle with mental health. Photo courtesy of Miranda Soriano
THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN
6 FEATURES
Bethel faculty members share rich experiences through tattoos NOAH LARSON Staff Writer
For the past few decades, tattoos have become more and more mainstream, and thus, are more widely accepted, in America and around the world. Tattoos, while meaningful, have presented a negative stigma for decades. In an article published by the National Public Radio (NPR) a study conducted found that 21 percent of adults have at least one tattoo. A more recent study by
Bethel faculty member Megan Kershner has a couple of different tattoos. One of her tattoos (above) says ‘and we dance’ that represents fond memories that she has shared with her best friends. The other one (right) represents her passion for music. Photos coutesy of Megan Kershner
the Pew Research Center indicated that the number was closer to 40 percent for young adults. Tattoos have long had their own sense of culture connected with them. It can involve a sense of accomplishment, nostalgia, or sentiment. Even here at Bethel, a small college in the middle-of-nowhere Kansas, tattoos have their own sense of culture. It is common to have tattoos in places that can be easily covered, because tattoos are still frowned upon in many places of employment. Some students will get tattoos with friends, and even a few have gotten tattoos with their modmates. Whether they have a lot of tattoos or just one, people often get tattoos for a reason, with stories behind them. At Bethel, many of the faculty have tattoos, though you usually can not see them, as they often don’t flaunt them on a regular basis.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019
The Clinical Instructor of Nursing, Miranda Soriano, has just one tattoo relating to mental health. “It celebrates my freedom from a struggle with mental health,” said Soriano. Soriano’s tattoo features the words ‘peace faith hope love’ on the outside of her left foot. The Director of Student Success and Retention, Amber Celestin, has a couple tattoos that connect to her past and to her grandparents. “I have a lot of scars that remind me of falls and accidents I’ve endured; my tattoos are my most meaningful scars because they were intentional, carefully considered, and represent things that were important in shaping who I am. I designed them both myself and got them at points in my life where I felt drawn to mark an experience that impacted me,” said Celestin. While she has those tattoos that are connected to certain times and experiences in her life, she also has a tattoo for her grandma and grandpa who greatly impacted her life. “When my grandfather died in 2011, I wanted to do something to honor the impact he and my grandmother have had on my life. My grandfather was a musician and my grandmother is a seamstress and crafter. Both of these things are part of who I am, so I designed a tattoo that could combine music and crafting. My tattoo is a needle and thread in the form of a treble clef. Granny went to the tattoo shop with me to get it done. She sat in the chair next to me, her hands folded atop her cane, watching with interest. At one point, she pulled a Werther’s
FEATURES 7
Original out of her purse and gave it to me to help distract me from the pain,” said Celestin. Doug Siemens, Bethel College’s Associate Professor and Director of Elementary Teacher Education, has a tattoo that he got with his daughter Zoe Siemens, a Bethel sophomore from Newton. “Water is important to me and my family. We spend time whitewater rafting and floating western rivers. My daughter has the same tattoo. We got them together on her eighteenth birthday,” said Siemens. Having a matching tattoo is often fun and exciting, because it creates a physical and permanent connection between you and whomever you got the tattoo with. Associate Professor of Business and Economics, Meredith Lehman shared that she has just one tattoo, relating to her time at Bethel College. “It is related to an inside joke among my former modmates,” said Lehman. The Director of Career Services, Megan Kershner, has a couple tattoos of her own that she shared. “My first tattoo was the treble clef on my foot. This one signifies my love of music. I was a music major during my time here at Bethel. My other tattoo in white ink is on the underside of my arm. I chose white ink because it is different and is not incredibly visible. My best friend was the one who suggested getting matching tattoos with the words, ‘and we danced.’ It comes from a song that we unofficially declared our theme song for the adventures we have had together,” said Kershner. While many people who get tattoos want to share the stories behind them, there are some who get them just for private experiences and want to keep their stories close to their hearts. An anonymous Bethel College faculty member has gotten tattoos to remind them of certain sayings or
experiences over their life time and their loved ones. The anonymous faculty member said that they got the tattoos for them and not for anyone else. “They all have some meaning to me or remind me of something,” they said. Because of this, they choose to keep them private. Tattoos can be a representation of something important to the recipient, or simply a work of art. In the case of many of Bethel’s faculty members, their tattoos are unique to them and their life.
Clinical Instructor of Nursing, Miranda Soriano, got a tattoo to celebrate freedom from the struggle with mental health. Photo courtesy of Miranda Soriano
8 SPORTS
Volleyball program hopes to break “hump” JOHN HANSBERRY Staff Writer
After having six-win seasons in each of her first two years as the head volleyball coach of the Bethel College Threshers, Stacy Middleton and her team are trying to ‘get over that hump’ as they enter the final three games. They have a total of six wins and are trying to reach the first seven-win season for the Threshers since 2014 (17-17). “It would be huge to get over the hump. We are a better team this year, but unfortunately our record does not show that. Growth doesn’t always show up in the [win/ loss] column. We are winning in different ways, both on and off the court,” Middleton said. Part of the lack of immediate success could have something to do with the youth of this Thresher volleyball team, as they will only be losing two seniors from their entire roster. Having to play with this youth can be a blessing in disguise f o r Middleton and her staff as they are trying to continue to build the program back to its winning traditions. “They gained so much more experience this season. They grew as athletes, as women and as leaders. We played a lot
of underclassmen and this will only help them in the future,” Middleton said. With the Threshers having to face this adversity so early in their careers, they have handled it well. Middleton is optimistic moving forward because of what these ladies have shown in their determination and grit. “I am very encouraged with this group. Their work ethic is strong and despite our record, they have never quit. They continue to fight each practice and match” Middleton said. Headed into this upcoming spring season, there are some things that the Threshers are needing to iron out in order to be successful moving forward. Consistency is one of the major things Middleton discussed that the team needs to focus and work on. “We need to work on some small details this spring to become more consistent. We commit too many unforced errors and that also leads to some mental toughness issues,” said Middleton. Jordyn Allen, senior from Wichita, has been a key contributor for this program from the middle hitter position and will be missed in both her position on the team and her contribution toward the sport.
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VOLLEYBALL 7:00 p.m. AWAY at TABOR COLLEGE NOV. 9 7:00 p.m. HOME vs. BETHANY COLLEGE
As for returners coming back for next year’s squad, Middleton said, “JUCO transfers Gabby Valdez, junior from Pueblo West, Colo., and Jade Gleason, junior from Brush, Colo., have been a strong addition to this team. They have brought leadership and a consistency that we have been missing.” The influx in first-year players bodes well for the future. “We’ve also had some freshman step up and play some big roles for us as well. Stephany Meyer, first-year from Goessel, and Katey Wilhelm, first-year from Meade, have been starters all year and will only improve as they get older,” said Middleton.
FOOTBALL
NOV. 2
NOV. 2
5:00 p.m. AWAY at TEXAS COLLEGE NOV. 9 1:00 p.m. HOME vs. UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY NOV. 16 1:00 p.m. AWAY at KANSAS WESLEYAN
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NOV. 13 6:00 p.m. HOME vs. SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY NOV. 14 7:00 p.m. AWAY at WASHBURN UNIVERSITY NOV. 16 5:00 p.m. AWAY at UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY
MEN’S BASKETBALL NOV. 9 1:00 p.m. AWAY at OKLAHOMA CITY UNVERSITY NOV. 13 8:00 p.m. HOME vs. WESTERN COLLEGE NOV. 16 7:00 p.m. AWAY vs, UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY
Cross country looks to the season finish line DANEN KISTNER Staff Writer
The Bethel College Cross Country is in full swing during the fall months. The five athletes, Angus Siemens, senior from Newton, Nick Morgan, first-year from Tulsa, Caleb Gaede, junior from Klamath Falls, Ore., Cailin Grame, first-year from Harveyville, and Natalie Graber, sophomore from Divide, Colo. have been practicing and competing in meets this fall. The Cross Country team has competed in five meets so far. They kicked off the season with the JK Gold Classic race in Augusta. Next, they competed in the Muthama-Rogers Invite in Newton, the Emporia State Invite in Emporia and the Chile Pepper Cross Country race in Fayetteville,
Ark., all within a three week period. Most recently, they competed in the Mid-States Classic in Winfield. “The season is going great so far,” said head coach Kelly Parsley. Coach Parsley is new to Bethel and to Kansas in general. His most recent coaching stint was at Point Park University. During his time there, Point Park was able to win five individual NAIA national championships. “I look forward to watching him grow our program in ways in which he did at Point Park and other institutions,” said athletic director Tony Hoops regarding Parsley before the season started. “It has been a lot easier than I expected,” said coach Parsley. “Everyone here is so nice!” His adjustment to the people of Kansas has been a good one. He
is also pleased with the members of his team. “The best part of the season so far was when Natalie Graber and Angus Siemens opened the season with a personal best,” said Coach Parsley. Angus Siemens, who is in his second year at Bethel, has been improving his speed all year long. He started out the season with a personal record and has just turned in his best time yet. He hit his PR at the Mid-States classic, with a time of 27:59.05 in the 8K, just four seconds off his previous best earlier this season. Cailin Grame Nick Morgan both had great meets in the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival. They both improved on their PRs on the 8k by over 2 minutes each. Natalie Graber, sophomore
from Divide, Colo., has also had her own performance highlights for this year as well. Being the only girl on the team, she has had to take on the entire Bethel women’s cross country team on her own. Given her record, she has been representing well. She had a PR in the Muthama-Rogers Invitational, posting a time of 21:25 in a 5k. Her previous best was 21:47, showing that she shaved off over 20 seconds of her time. The next meet is the conference meet on November 9th. The Conference meet will be held in Wichita and is hosted by Friends University. It is a four-mile course. “You can support us by wishing us luck and praying for good results,” Coach Parsley said.
Budget cuts impact athletic programs JOHN HANSBERRY Staff Writer
Bethel College has been taking a big hit by the recent budget cuts that have been implemented during the October meetings. “Everybody has been affected,” said athletic director Tony Hoops. “Athletics has decreased their budget for their daily operational expenses. Overall, we have about 25% less of a budget to work with over the course of cuts over the past two years with 72 more athletes on campus in that time frame.” Bethel College athletics have two different types of expenses. One type, variable expenses, include things like gear, meals, supplies and transportation. These expenses can change and more money can be put into one area rather than another. Non-variable expenses are the other type of expense, which athletics must pay no matter what. These expenses include membership fees, subscriptions
and officiating. Every athletic program gets an allotted amount of money and they must pay for their nonvariable expenses. They then get to decide how they will use their money on non-variable expenses. The problem with nonvariable expenses affecting teams is that officiating fees have consistently risen over the last two years, while athletic budgets have been cut. This puts strain on the teams’ athletic budgets. Other non-variable expenses that must be paid for by athletics are NAIA and KCAC membership fees, as well as Co-SIDA and film exchange programs like Synergy/ Hudl. With these cuts taking place, athletic programs have to make a decision. “Programs have to talk and find out what they need vs. what they want,” said Hoops. “For instance, when I coached basketball here at Bethel, I would ask my players whether they
wanted to eat good food when on road trips or to get more gear. This is the principle of finding out what players value and being able to structure our budget accordingly.” Athletic programs also get funding on a “per-athlete” basis. This creates a better balance for athletic departments. For instance, Bethel’s football team has over 100 players. Bethel’s golf team has six players. The team with 100 players will be granted more funding thant the team with six players. Each program will be allotted a certain amount of money per athlete that they have. With this in mind, all program budgets are getting shorted due to budget cuts. This makes fundraising that much more important. Athletic programs are increasing fundraising efforts to beat the cuts. In response to budget cuts, Bethel’s football team fully funded their trip to Texas, which took place recently on November 2.
All the lodging, food, etc. was all covered by their fundraising efforts, which shows a great deal of initiative on the part of the Bethel College football program. Bethel’s Booster club has also helped a great deal with covering expenses. Corporate sponsors have also played their part in helping Bethel athletics. For example, the ESPN 3 t-shirts given out this year were completely sponsored by Pizza Hut. Also, the all-athlete T-shirts were completely covered by corporate sponsors. “Budget cuts never affect scholarships nor will we allow it to affect the overall athletic experience here at Bethel,” said Tony Hoops. “Budget cuts don’t affect recruiting dollars because Bethel will not sacrifice its recruitment. We will continue to invest in building a winning culture here, allocating money is just a part of the process but not the difference in wins and losses.”
SPORTS 9
the
Sideline AVERY HAWKINS Staff Writer
Photo by
NATALIE GRABER CROSS COUNTRY When did you first start running cross country? “I started running cross country my Junior year of high school, but I have run track since elementary school.
What is the most rewarding part of running? “The most rewarding part of running is definitely seeing your progress over the course of a season. Cross Country is a unique sport because it takes time to get into shape and a lot of miles. So looking back on the beginning of the season when you’re at the end of the season is my favorite part.
What is your favorite memory from running either cross country or track? “My all time favorite memory from Cross Country was placing in the top 10 at my league meet in high school my first year running cross and my favorite memory from last year in track was placing in the 800 at the indoor KCAC conference meet.
10 ENTERTAINMENT
How to prepare for yet another Kansas autumn CHARLOTTE EHRMANN Copy Editor
The sun shines through your window, and you think to yourself “oh wow, it looks really nice outside.” You then proceed to check the weather app just to be sure, and sure enough it’s 55 outside and sunny. You eagerly grab your shorts and get dressed before heading out the door. As soon as you step outside you freeze. Literally. You fool! You didn’t check the wind chill to see that although it says it’s 55 outside, it feels like 33. As we enter the last two months of the year, us native Kansans know what to sort of expect, but to those who are brand new to the middle of the U.S.,
strap yourself in because fall is a bumpy ride. Kansas weather in one word: Fickle. If you’re new to Kansas weather I’m going to teach one simple trick to this wonderful season we tentatively call fall. Layers. Lots of layers. Have you ever seen an onion? Even more layers than that. Kansas weather is unpredictable. If you want a nearly impossible job, try becoming a meteorologist and predicting the weather for Kansas. The weather app/predictions could very easily say that it is supposed to be warm and sunny, but then it rains all day, or vice versa. You don’t want to be the one person who walks around with an umbrella on a beautiful and sunny day.
So why wear layers? Well a typical “fall” day in Kansas consists of a few different temperatures in just a few hours. Morning? 35 and cloudy. It’s best to wear at least a hoodie and maybe even something on top of that outside. Noon? 55 and windy. Better keep that hoodie on. Kansas wind can cut through glass. If you’re not prepared for the wind one gust can blow you away. We’ve lost many good people to the wind. They just up and blew away. Never to be seen again. Have some really nice knit sweaters that you so desperately want to wear? That sounds good and all, but I would highly suggest getting yourself something with less holes. The more holes in the fabric, the more the wind can cut in. And it will cut in, down to the
bone. It can be nearly 80 outside but if the wind is strong enough it will be freezing. Night? Back to being cold all over again. You just can’t win. Oh, and don’t forget that inside will be boiling hot. So you may be asking yourself, how exactly do I prepare for a Kansas fall? The short answer is that you don’t. The long answer is that you need to expect the unexpected. Read the weather app closely. ALWAYS look at the wind chill. That will save you some grief. Take the weather app with a grain of salt. Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s terribly wrong. Either way, layer up. Double up those socks if you have to. Huddle for warmth. Do whatever it takes to survive, but don’t forget. Be prepared for those winds.
Eduardo Lòpez Argueta, transfer from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico braces to face the 50 degree weather. Photo by Charlotte Ehrmann
Forensics team updates on their ongoing season AKIA JONES Staff Writer
Bethel College has a long history of having great and competitive forensics teams. For example, they qualified for nationals back in 2017 and also won state that same year. Forensics is a major part of a lot of lives here at Bethel College, and many students have found success and enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and the many rewards it brings. “Forensics is essentially a competitive activity that centers around both speech and drama,” said Nathaniel Schmucker, sophomore from Goessel. For those who don’t know, Bethel just recently hosted a tournament the weekend of October 19th and 20th. “Imagine a track meet, except it’s indoors, everyone is wearing a suit, and instead of the events measuring how fast you can run
or how high you can jump they are measuring how well you can speak or act in front of people,” Schmucker said. Schmucker, as well as Bethel student Jessie Thomas, sophomore from Halstead, who mainly does interpretive pieces, have been on the team for two years. “I have to begin by finding literature. I have to pick a topic that is relevant to speak about (bonus points if it’s something that not many people know about.) I cut my literature down until it is about seven or eight minutes long when read aloud. Then I write an introduction, arrange my piece and work on memorization,” Thomas said. “Even though interp events allow performers to hold binders with their literature in them, pieces are still expected to be memorized.” Thomas claims that memorization and intro writing are her least favorite parts, but
enjoys looking for literature. In fact, the forensics team just recently had a home meet that Thomas thinks went well. “I was asked to run extemp draw (extemporaneous speaking which is a speech event where performers have 30 minutes to prepare a speech over a topic they draw from an envelope) which I had never done before. I was very nervous about it,” Thomas said. “The first round on Sunday morning was my first time running it alone, and I forgot the list that had everyone’s codes and groups on it, so I was completely lost! I ended up floundering around and asking my poor extemp performers for help and got the round started twenty minutes late. It was horribly embarrassing when it happened, but every round after that went smoother than the last, and I got the hang of it eventually!” This year, the forensics team
is adjusting to the addition of Communication Arts faculty member and coach, Justin Helmley. “His coaching style is more of a hands-on style. When he listens to the piece you are doing, he tends to be very precise, he likes to focus on every little detail to make sure your piece is the best that it can be,” Schmucker said. Despite all of the embarrassing moments, memorization required and intro writing, Thomas still really enjoys forensics. There is one thing in particular though that she finds the most exciting. “The best part about competing at the collegiate level is the dress code, honestly. In collegiate forensics, you’re expected to dress in business clothing. It’s so fun to see the cool power suits and colored blazers that come out on forensics weekends,” Thomas said. “Before my first meet last year, I thought for sure that I
would look ridiculous in my teal skirt and matching suit jacket, (as well as the giant handbag I was told to carry that had everything I could possibly need for the meet in it) but when I arrived, I felt right at home! Everyone else was wearing similar outfits, and we all looked fantastic! Complimenting someone on their suit or fancy cuff links is a great way to start conversations and make friends as well.” Forensics is a unique kind of competition as it combines both speech and theater and allows students to express their creativity in different ways. “If you like to speak in front of people or like to act, and you are interested in forensics, you should email Justin or stop by his office in the FAC to talk to him about joining the team,” Schmucker said.
ENTERTAINMENT 11
Innovative ensemble concert and classroom prep KELLY HABEGGER Staff Writer
On Bethel’s campus, fall and winter are busy seasons for on-campus ensembles and performing groups, as many will have concerts and local performances. In preparation for these concerts in the classroom setting, the Wind Ensemble meets several days a week under the direction of Dr. Adam Fontana. “We usually practice twice a week for an hour and a half or two hours, and sometimes we’ll do sectionals,” said Tara Schwartz, senior from Pretty Prairie. When looking at a new piece of music, the players take the preparation in steps in order to tackle the challenge. “Preparation for concerts typically involves chipping away at the music selections piece-bypiece in rehearsals. We start off with a day of simply sight-reading
all of the pieces. Right before the concert, we have a day of finetuning and running through the pieces in concert order. Everything in between is working on the little aspects: notes, rhythms, blend, expression, etc. All of these aspects that we work on in rehearsals twice a week are essential to the outcome of our concerts,” said Julianna Schrag, first-year from Hillsboro. The three students all agree on how Dr. Fontana is a wonderful director to work with. How he eases his students and ensure not to stress them out too much. “He values independent work and respect for professionalism. But he is also gracious and will make you feel at ease. He knows we’re human and will treat us as such. He’s one of the most empathetic, humorous, and attentive people I know!” said Schwartz. The Wind Ensemble likes to feature performances of different styles or themes. During the fall of 2018, they featured a concert celebrating Leonard Berstein’s
Wind Ensemble practicing for their concert on November 15th. Photo by Madi Harkins.
100th birthday. In October of 2019, they featured an Italian themed joint concert with the orchestra. “We love making music with him and with each other. He always picks good music. He also enjoys breaking typical concert traditions and trying to make it so that people don’t know what to expect when they come to a concert,” said Trae Gering, sophomore from Pretty Prairie.
(Left) Julianna Schrag, first-year from Hillsboro, plays the french horn during rehearsal. (Right) Members of the Wind Ensemble rehearse for their upcoming “Star Wars” themed concert. Photos by Madi Harkins.
For first-year students, joining a group like the Wind Ensemble can be an intimidating experience. “To be completely honest, I did not know what to expect going in and was not expecting to enjoy rehearsals as much as I have. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised daily, and I have enjoyed picking up my instrument and playing Mondays and Wednesdays,” said Schrag. Several students expressed high gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Fontana, especially for his encouragement, his patience, and his teaching ability. “What I enjoy most about the group is the energy and laughter that is brought to every rehearsal. Dr. Fontana is an energetic and witty director and allows us to have fun in rehearsals. We can laugh off our mistakes and still improve. Nothing is overly structured or serious. I think I speak for most of the ensemble members when I say that it is the most fun to play in a welcoming, relaxed environment,” said Schrag.
Trae Gehring, sophomore from Pretty Prairie, plays the tuba during rehearsal. Photo by Madi Harkins.
“He knows we’re human and will treat us as such. He’s one of the most empathetic, humorous, and attentive people I know!” said Schwartz. This upcoming week, the Wind Ensemble is preparing for their November concert. It’s theme is a pop-culture favorite: Star Wars. “Our upcoming concert should be a memorable one as we are playing a Star Wars themed concert! We will be playing three well-known selections from the Star Wars soundtrack, as well as one other piece. We also have a few “chamber pieces,” or small ensembles from the larger ensemble performing separate pieces. It should be quite a crowd-pleaser. I would encourage all students, especially Star Wars fans, to come out and join us next Friday, November 15th, at 7:30 P.M. in Krehbiel Auditorium!” said Schrag.
12 PHOTO FEATURE
THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN
Trick or Treat Off the Street and pumpkin painting Students help out at the Halloween event on campus and participate in the craft night event hosted by SAC. Photos by Lindsey Pfannenstiel
(Above Left) Jessica LaRocque, junior from Cawker City, Jayde Blain, junior from Cawker City, and Courtney Simpson, senior from Aubrey, TX, volunteer to help out with Trick or Treat Off the Street. (Above Middle) Lil Padro, senior from Miami, Fla., paints a picture at the Craft Night: Halloween Edition event hosted by SAC. (Above Right) John Henson, first-year from Fort Worth, TX, Jarrod Foster, first-year from Yale, Okla., and Justin Foster, first-year from Yale, Okla., hand out candy for the trick or treaters. (Below Left) Ashlyn Troyer, junior from Lyons, painting her pumpkin at one of the October SAC events. (Below Right) Karellys Porras, first-year from Haltom City, TX, Abigail Walker, first-year from Roanoke, TX, James Shelton, first-year from Galena, Krystal Castorena, first-year from Wichita, and Kailey Gonzalez, first-year from Fort Worth, TX, hand out candy in Haury Hall.