Friday, October 22, 2021_Vol. 110_Issue 4 by Bethel College

THE

COLLEGIAN Friday, October 22, 2021 | Volume 110, Issue 4 | North Newton, KS

Students attending the Bethel College Fiesta, as hosted by the Diversity Council, cheer for guest dancers in front of the Administration Building. Photo by Schyler Entz

Bethel hires new student life personnel

Editorial: Leaving a Thresher Legacy

Exploring the costume loft, a hidden gem

Football breaks records on Fall Fest weekend

Student Life hosts Halloween for campus

2 NEWS

October greets new staff, shifts for existing staff ARRAN KEARNEY Staff Writer

October has seen the administration announce two key changes to its staff. One of these changes is the addition of Heidi Hoskinson, who began working for Bethel in February of this year as the Vice President for Enrollment Management, and will expand her role into that which was previously held by the Vice President for Admissions. This role had been filled on an interim basis by Eric Preheim. It was announced on October 3 that Hoskinson would be taking his place on the administrative cabinet, with a view towards making “retention equal in importance to recruitment.” A second staff change this month also seems to reflect a concentrated effort towards student engagement and retention on the part of the college; Samantha Bond began life at Bethel on the week of October 11 as the coordinator of student activities and engagements. This appointment followed an extensive search by a committee of staff and students, following the resignation of the incumbent, Ana Parra, in June. Bond has already determined that a large amount of her immediate work will lie in helping the student body recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has felt some of the repercussions that the virus has had on college life first hand, describing how she “graduated in May 2020 from my home.”

This was an underwhelming end to a college career that saw Bond study first at the University of Central Methodist in Missouri, before obtaining her masters degree in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri. Bond is a native to Central Kansas, however, living only a little over an hour away from Bethel in Emporia. Though this is, as Bond said herself, “the first job in my chosen career,” she already has a clear idea of what it is that the student body might require from her. “I want to provide a safe place for students – and to give them all the support that they need,” Bond said. In her oversight of Bethel’s student organizations, the Student Activities Council, the Student Government Association and the Diversity Council, Bond said that she was determined to “administer and push the agenda of the students.” Given that she’s only been in place for a few days, Bond admitted that she didn’t have too much of an idea what this agenda might be, but she is willing to listen to ideas and suggestions from the entire campus. Certainly, Bond has said that she can “see a lot of potential.” She even went so far as to say that Bethel “has to be the most welcoming campus that I’ve ever been to.” Indeed, it was the small size of both the campus and the student body that drew her to Bethel in the first place. “Bethel reminds me of my old

college,” Bond said, referring to Central Methodists, which is itself a small, fouryear Liberal Arts Institution. This prior experience with Bethelesque institutions, together with her own recent experiences as a student, ought to stand Bond in good stead, and help her

(in the words of Sam Haynes) “fit in well with the Student Life team and Bethel community.”

Newly hired Coordinator of Student Activities and Engagements Samantha Bond poses before the Administration Building. Photo courtesy of the Bethel College website

SGA rescheduled its meeting to Sunday, October 24 as a result of Fall Break. Check back in the next issue for information on that meeting and the following October 31 meeting!

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 through the email or website.

WEBSITE: https://bethelsga.com

EMAIL: sga@bethelks.edu

NEWS 3

Trespasser at BCMC sparks security questions

ARTHUR MAHRER Staff Writer

On September 24, Bethel students were made aware of an incident that occurred on the grounds of the Bethel College Mennonite Church (BCMC). Information about the incident was made available to students three days after its occurrence. In the early morning of September 21, a man described as wearing a pair of nylon shorts and holding a dark stick was caught by BCMC cameras inside the church. What he was doing, who he was, and why he was there are questions yet unresolved or without clear answers. Who the perpetrator was remains unclear to Bethel students as the college has not been informed of the developments

to the case. Despite this, it has been whispered on campus that a white male who fits the somewhat odd description of the culprit was mistaken for the trespasser and spent a night in jail. Again, there have been additional whispers suggesting that the man in question was an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, although this is mere gossip. Nonetheless the description given to students about the man who entered the holy grounds of the church, can only lead to meaningless speculation, as it does not provide enough details for busy college students to accurately identify and confidently make the 911 call to intercept the infiltrator of BCMC. This was the description passed on to students via email: “he was not wearing a

shirt and attired in what appeared to be black nylon shorts and tennis shoes. A shirt was on the male’s head.” A problem which emerges from this is that, since faculty and staff of Bethel College have not heard about the case for almost a full month now, this issue could end up being brushed aside as a bizarre case of a bored man attempting in vain to cause a stir. However, the more pressing side of this revolves around whether or not campus security need to be reevaluated. It may be more pertinent to ask both how and why this so-called unidentified male trespassed on BCMC property. The cause of this incident may remain hidden to the Bethel community forever. However it is important to note that the doors of the church, which were

usually locked, were somehow unlocked on the morning of the incident. Despite this, as the act (per the description passed on to the Bethel community) involved a man taking his clothes off in a church while waving a stick, it may be assumed that the purpose of it was some kind of bad joke or a dare. Finally, regardless of the nature of this incident and how distanced the students may feel from this issue, it is important to keep in mind that no matter how minor this may seem, there remains a sense that much more serious incidents may occur on Bethel’s campus. Thus, it may be time to readdress the protective measures that Bethel College employs on campus to best ensure the safety of the students.

Bethel has some things available, but mainly that comes from Brad Shores himself. Many of our school owned instruments have some ‘kinks’ to them. Literally,” Newman said. Based on this, it seems as though a budget for general maintenance should be considered as well. “Money should be spent on the pep

band! Yes, supporting the pep band would be supporting the fine arts,” Millie Benavides, first-year from Stockton, said. Community volunteer from Walton, AJ Dugan, offered an outside perspective. “I think the pep band could be funded better to attract more students to join. About on third of the group is community member and/or high

schoolers. The collaboration is great, but having a bigger pep band would be great as well. Equipment-wise, I think some stuff could be updated, but nothing is falling apart. Most of us have our own instruments, so equipment doesn’t seem to be much of a problem,” Dugan said.

Threshold pep band considers financial changes ALLISON WEAVER News Editor

Fall wouldn’t be complete without crunching leaves, football season, and of course the sounds of the Threshold pep band. The band, like Loren Ruesser, is a fixture at sporting events, most commonly for football and basketball games. Previously, the band has been funded mainly by the leader of the band Brad Shores. In the past, players were paid cash at the game and Shores fed the crew out of his own pocket. This often meant that pep band members were given the leftovers of whatever meal (usually pizza) Shores provided them as part of the payment. This year, the band has had several notable developments as far as budget matters go. The players are now employed through the college, meaning they filled out an employment contract where they never have before. Senior pep band member and music major Kayla Newman, from Halstead, offered some insight on this area. “As far as budget, we do get paid to do pep band as if it was a campus job. Members of Threshold pep band play for both the football and basketball games and now receive official paychecks from the school for their As far as materials and things we need, work. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel

4 EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL Leaving a legacy: What it means to be a Thresher as a school or fraternal order) who is given special status because of a familial relationship to a member.” I find this definition problematic and the reason for this is two-fold. The two aspects of this definition which I find most troubling are the phrases “special status” and “familial relationship.” My parents graduated from Bethel College in ‘98, my paternal grandfather in ‘69 (my grandmother also attended Bethel) and my maternal grandparents in ‘67. Several of my aunts and uncles are alumni. According to Merriam-Webster, as a result of this, I hold “special status” as a member of Bethel College. I received a $3,000 legacy scholarship toward my tuition. While I would never turn down free financial aid, it makes me to ponder those who are first-generation college students, JULIANNA SCHRAG Features Editor those whose parents or grandparents would have given anything to attend Hello, Threshers. Happy fall! As Bethel College and receive a quality this is my first editorial, I will take this education. opportunity to formally introduce myself. Why should I receive a grant for a My name is legacy I had no part in Julianna Schrag creating? What does it and I am the mean if I, as a legacy Features Editor student, receive “special for The Collegian. status” for a legacy that I am a junior by all means may have “I would propose that, communication arts been unsatisfactory major from Goessel, as Threshers, students, (though I am confident KS and I am a faculty, staff and alumni, that is not the case)? multi-generational I think this is we are all ‘legacies.’” legacy student at worth chewing on. Bethel College. In my experience, It is safe to say being a legacy student my roots at Bethel is a double-edged run deep. sword. Legacy: noun. On the one hand, According to the Merriam-Webster I take great pride in the fact that my dictionary, the definition of the word family has a rich history at Bethel and legacy, in this context, is “a candidate several members are still affiliated with for membership in an organization (such the College. I am excited and privileged to

attend an institution so beloved by those I holistic wellness, peace and justice, love most. community with global consciousness However, the idea of a legacy student, and upholding high standards and I have observed, is expectations. somewhat stigmatized. A liberal arts Throughout the education wellprocess of selecting equips students to a college to attend, uphold a legacy many mentors and of success and “My point, if perchance excellence. friends reminded me lost in a sea of that I had a choice of My point, if institutions; I need perchance lost in a convoluted text, is that not attend one merely sea of convoluted as a legacy student at because the majority text, is that as a Bethel College, I find of my family has. legacy student at that my value is far Yet, here I am Bethel College, I find attending the same that my value is far more connected to my institution that connected to Thresher family than my more the majority of my my Thresher family blood relatives.” family attended, even than my blood majoring in the same relatives. field as my parents. When I walk Occasionally, I across the stage feel those same eyes and accept a on me. I have digested diploma for a B.A. the pressure to pave of Communication my own way, to prove why I chose to Arts in Spring of 2023 (God willing), I become a Thresher. hope I have made my family proud. Yet, I do believe there is value in learning further, I hope to have made my own and living a legacy. I would propose that, individual mark, to have successfully as Threshers, students, faculty, staff and helped to uphold our collective Thresher alumni, we are all “legacies.” legacy. My wonderful Concert Choir director, This is my wish for all current students Professor and Chair of Music and Director and future generations of Threshers. May of Choral Activities, Dr. William Eash, it be so. Roll on. frequently reminds the Concert Choir that we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. Julianna Schrag is a junior communication arts This statement I firmly believe to be major. She is also the Features Editor for the true, and not solely in the context of a Bethel Collegian. musical ensemble. We each hold an individual responsibility, whatever our role at the College, to uphold the Thresher legacy, to learn and live the Thresher values: exploring creative approaches, practicing vocational discernment, engaging in dialogue,

THRESHPECTIVE 5

THRESPECTIVES How do you feel about the commercialization of holidays? Original integrity of holidays is important With Halloween coming up, people are spending money left and right on candy, costumes and decorations. CAPRI STEVENSONHowever, not BISOM many Americans Design/Layout Editor know about or bother to celebrate the original origin of the holiday. Samhain, pronounced sah-win, is a harvest festival traditionally celebrated in Ireland to commemorate the end of the harvest season and honor the dead. While the Gaelic festival was also celebrated with costumes and decorations, the intentions behind Samhain and today’s Halloween are vastly different. Samhain is about respect for ancestors and the changing of the seasons. Halloween is about spending money on the most extravagant tricks and treats. Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday akin to Halloween, has similar traditions with Samhain. While the festivities are primarily celebrated with candy, costumes and decorations, the honoring of ancestors is the most important aspect of this yearly celebration. Holiday celebrations with roots in very old traditions are more meaningful than the more common modern tradition of celebration through spending money. Likewise, Christmas, the most financially draining holiday, has origins in the pagan feast of Yule which celebrates the winter solstice and seasonal transitions. Traditionally, Yule is celebrated in a similar manner to Christmas with feasts, nature based decorations and gifts, gathering around a hearth and honoring nature and the

changing of seasons. Christmas might have most of these elements as part of its traditions, but the thing at the forefront of everyone’s mind during the winter season is money struggles. We all remember the Charlie Brown Easter special when they go into the store and express exasperation at the fact there are already Christmas decorations and merchandise out on Easter. This is what happens when financial profit is the goal of holiday seasons, spending money becomes the primary way to celebrate. That is why recently I have not been celebrating modern holidays. People often view them as excuses to spend money, get drunk and party. I would rather spend the day observing the original integrity and intentions behind the celebration than use the time to follow the more modern traditions. I do think it is important to acknowledge the original origins of the festivities. I would also like to point out that I am talking primarily about American methods of celebrating these holidays. While I may not celebrate holidays in my adult life, I am not trying to say that all modern holidays do not have merit. Some more modern holidays are needed and have not fallen victim to overt commercialization yet. For example, Indigenous Peoples Day, Juneteenth and Disability Pride Month are much appreciated newer holidays that celebrate important historical and social issues similar to the original intentions of the more popular holidays. Bring back the respectful intentions behind holidays. Capri is a senior art and chemistry double major. They are also the Design/layout Editor for the Bethel Collegian.

Classism does not take a holiday The incoming holiday season brings joy to many, but to others this time of year simply highlights their financial CHARLOTTE insecurity. ERHMANN While the Copy Editor holidays are supposed to bring us closer together and give us space to celebrate, it can be difficult to do when someone is not financially secure. Each holiday brings a different financial challenge: With Halloween it’s being able to afford candy or a costume, food is expensive especially for a feast that happens with Thanksgiving and gifts can be expensive to pay for during the winter holiday of either Christmas or even Hanukkah. I grew up in two families with two very different financial backgrounds, so holidays in both houses looked different. On Thanksgiving, my family just normally had a big mass gathering at one of the grandparents’ houses on both sides of the family. Everyone would bring one dish in a potluck sort of style while spending time together. Christmas was a different story. At my mom’s we were never rich, we fluctuated from lower middle class to true middle class throughout my childhood. My mom and step-dad did their best to make the holidays the best they could for us, but some Christmases were smaller than others. At my dad’s we were never even considered lower middle class, just lower class. There were some Christmases he would not give us gifts, but instead he gave us stockings full of candy. Celebrating the holiday season

from two different financial standpoints helped me see the holidays for one of their dark meanings, the monetization of happiness is inherently classist. Big corporations have taken holidays meant to be about community and family and turned them into ways to make money. One of the biggest examples of this is Black Friday shopping. It used to be the day after Thanksgiving, but some sales now start as early as 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving! Capitalism in America has started to change the meaning of holidays from community and joy to spending money. I remember going over to my stepdad’s family celebration for Christmas and comparing Christmas gifts. My cousins would have received the newest iPhone or other device from Santa while my siblings and I received toys and clothing. I was at an old enough age to realize it was not Santa giving me gifts but rather my parents. My brothers on the other hand were not. They never said anything to my parents, but by watching their faces I saw their confusion and jealousy towards my cousins and their expensive gifts. I’m not saying well off families should not be able to celebrate to the best of their financial ability. Instead, make the expensive gifts not from Santa but rather from yourself to your kids. That way children of lower income families do not think Santa is the one stiffing them. Class is a hard enough concept for children to understand without having to bring fictional holiday characters into the mix. Charlotte is a senior psychology and history and political science double major. They are also the Copy Editor for the Bethel Collegian.

6 COMMUNITY

Word on the Street

How do Kansas autumns compare to the season in your home state? SENIOR

Antonino Mangiapane

“The fall here in Kansas appears to vary a lot. There are days where it is warm and sunny, and then there are days where it is cold, gusty, and gloomy outside. In Germany, it is more consistent. It rains a lot and it is cold. One should have an umbrella in their backpacks because one can never know when it starts raining.”

JUNIOR

Caleb Cushman

SENIOR

Peyton Uznanski

“In my home state of Washington, the temperature drop is more dramatic compared to here in Kansas. Typically, the fall season is also a lot drier. The leaves on trees change color later but fall earlier than Kansas.”

SOPHOMORE

Josie Epp

“Fall in Kansas shows an actual change in season for me. Florida on it’s own has a majority of evergreens so the seasons don’t really change slowly. Instead, suddenly the heat disappears and the cold arrives, signalling the winter has mainly arrived.”

“Kansas fall is very delayed compared to my home state. In South Dakota, it turns fall with colder weather, frosts almost every night and leaves change color by mid-September. The season itself is more present than it is in Kansas because it is more colorful and lasts longer.”

Individual liberties can compromise community wellness: In response to “On the ethics of liberty & safety” After reading the editorial in Issue 2, I want to challenge the viewpoint that our individual liberties have been compromised and instead provide evidence to suggest that, when we hold too tightly to our own individual liberty, we fail to achieve community wellness. The concept of vaccination is rooted in achieving public safety through reducing individual susceptibility via scientific technologies that allow us to do so effectively and safely. For example, in the winter of 1777, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington issued an order for all troops to be inoculated for smallpox due to the staggering death toll it was causing through the region.* The fundamental concept of vaccination stems from the injection of an inactivated component in order to stimulate an immune response.** COVID-19 vaccines were engineered slightly differently (mRNA/Viral Vector) but trigger the immune response in our bodies that produces antibodies.*** Vaccination dramatically reduces the risk of not only contracting COVID-19, but also the risk of hospitalization if COVID-19 is contracted.*** The COVID-19 vaccine joins an established cohort of esteemed vaccines mandatory in many settings across the country. For example, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lists requirements for ten immunizations with an additional three that are strongly recommended for children attending school.**** These vaccines were developed with care via advanced scientific technology that grants protection to communities through individuals from serious disease and illness. Community protection can only be achieved when individuals contribute to the greater purpose that is the wellness of their fellow neighbor. Natalie Graber, senior from Divide, Colo. *https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/GW&smallpoxinoculation.html. **https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730064/ *** https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html. ****https://pediatricpartnerskc.com/Education/Vaccines-Immunizations/KANSAS-IMMUNIZATION-REQUIREMENTS

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 2020-2021 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

CHARLOTTE EHRMANN

KYLE BELVIN

JULIANNA SCHRAG

MIKI HARKINS

CAPRI STEVENSON-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

Mark McCormick speaks for peace at Fall Festival JOSUE COY DICK Staff Writer

Mark McCormick took the Memorial Hall stage on Thursday, September 30 to give the Fall Fest Peace Lecture, where he spoke on the need to expand our understanding and definition of violence. His most recent book is entitled Some Were Paupers, Some were Kings: Dispatches from Kansas and is a collection of columns from his career as a journalist. In his lecture, McCormick pointed out the ways in which violence is ingrained into our culture in many ways, including through our language, economics and government. “Stopping violence will entail more than gun bans and background checks. We have to address the full continuum of violence which means stopping economic violence, stopping economic exclusion, and stopping economic injustice,” McCormick said. “We must stop denying people the help they need to survive and recognize that the impulse to deny people what they need is every bit as vicious as the back alley beat down that kill[s] [a gang member],” McCormick said. McCormick’s most recent book is a collection of some of his columns that largely focus on the lives of everyday people of Kansas: their struggles, successes, pains and joys. “Newspapers, as I learned about them and worked at them, were considered history’s first draft and what I wanted to do is not just reflect the doings of the people who were prominent, but the amazing nature of everyday people,” McCormick said. The columns collected in the book span a couple decades, going back to the mid 1990’s, up to recent years. After publishing one of his pieces titled “When Colleagues Count You Out” in 1997, The Eagle temporarily removed him as a writer because of the challenging content of the piece where he calls out his colleagues for the racist nature of their undercounting the attendance of the Million Man March, attended largely by Black Americans. When reflecting on the incident,

McCormick shows no regret, perhaps even some pride. “I was really undeterred. I thought the reaction that I got really spoke to fragility and ignorance and I felt that I was in the vanguard on some of the issues and time has proven me right… Here is 2021, a lot of those issues that I raised way back then are mainstream ideas now,” McCormick said. McCormick began his career as a journalist at the Louisville Courier Journal, right after graduating from KU. After five years at the Louisville Courier Journal, he took a job at The Wichita Eagle to be closer to his aging parents. While writing for The Eagle, he also worked as an adjunct professor at Wichita State, gaining some familiarity with the university paper, The Sunflower. He then worked for a time as the executive director of the Kansas African American Museum before becoming the communications director for the ACLU of Kansas, his current position. From his many years of experience, McCormick has gained a sophisticated understanding of journalism. One important discussion surrounding journalism is whether or not it is a journalist’s responsibility to be a part of the solution, in addition to pointing out the problems. Buzz Merritt, editor of The Wichita Eagle, introduced McCormick to the term that includes both pointing out the problem and being a part of the solution: civic journalism. According to McCormick, civic journalism is necessary today for several reasons. “Journalists have done such a good job of presenting people with problems that overwhelmed them and they started retreating from public life,” McCormick said. In an effort to curb the “loss of faith in media,” “media [has] an obligation to present solutions as well as problems.” This is what Buzz Merritt refers to as “civic” or “public” journalism. McCormick believes that newspapers and journalists must have a space in every healthy community.

“Newspapers are crucial to how communities’ function. In fact, I believe that communities that don’t have papers are probably not holding public officials sufficiently accountable”. McCormick emphasized that journalists have to tell the story even when people don’t want to hear it, especially when it relates to public officials, even if the story creates some conflict or disjunction within the community. “Our job as [journalists] is to tell the part of the story that nobody wants told, so there will be inherent conflicts,” McCormick said. He emphasized that in journalism, the fundamental question is not what makes the biggest roar or upsets the most people.

“Is it truthful, is it accurate, is it fair and is it of public interest? If you meet those tests, then that’s journalism,” said McCormick. As we continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination reluctance, these ideas must remain central to how we write and report on the pandemic. This is especially as so many disregard scientific truth and advocate against public interest by rejecting vaccinations that keep people alive and out of hospitals.

Mark McCormick speaks in Memorial Hall as part of the Fall Fest Peace Lecture. Photo courtesy of Sheryl Wilson

THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

8 FEATURES

The costume loft: Exploring one of Bethel’s hidden gems BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief

One of the lesser known (but infinitely exciting) spaces on Bethel’s campus is the props/costume loft of the theater department. This portal to the past has been explored by many a student and houses a collection of one of the most interesting types of prop: costumes.

Rachel Geyer shows her regal side, wearing a crimson tulle gown and ivory 1920s wedding hat. Photo by April Powls

Between September and March of the 2020-2021 school year, Kaci Wilson, 2020 Bethel graduate and aspiring medical student, took on the task of organizing the theater department’s extensive costume stash. “After I graduated, I was costuming for Karen [Robu], and I was very frustrated by the organization upstairs in the loft… I just couldn’t find anything that I wanted, there were labels to things as to where they were supposed to go, but none of that stuff was actually in those categories… I am a stress organizer and an enjoyment organizer, so I really enjoy putting things in order... I had a great time going through everything. It was fun, so it didn’t feel like work. Once I went through everything and saw what we had, I was better able to decide where everything should be placed,” Wilson said. Because climate alters older clothing, Wilson had to sort out costumes that could not be maintained by the department. “If there was benefit to keeping them, or if they could be repaired and putting the time into repairing it was worth it, then we kept them. We weeded out anything that couldn’t be used. So a lot of the time, if it’s hot in the loft… the older stuff will start to fall apart. That’s not fun to wear as an actor, it’s not useful to have it taking up space. So we

took out stuff that couldn’t be repaired and anything we have now is in good condition,” Wilson said. Quite a few costumes were likely donated by community members based on their condition and the time period. Some costumes were specifically made for Bethel productions. “Many of them were donated. I found some with tags that said, like ‘Mom’s blouse from 1909’ or things like that. And they’re very tiny. I found a lot that looked like they had been made when we were doing big production operas. Being a seamstress myself, I can sort of just tell when things were made specifically for us,” Wilson said. One of the oldest pieces that Bethel has maintained is a legitimate Old Order Mennonite bonnet that likely predates the 1910s. Its origin is unknown, but it

is suspected that the bonnet and other similar items were found among a family member’s things and passed on to the college. Traditionally-made bonnets and similarly specific pieces (like old Bethel graduation robes) are kept on the ground floor, where they can be kept climatecontrolled. “On the ground level we have a lot of our vintage stuff that needs to be more climate-controlled, so you’ll find our 1950s wedding dress and stuff like that here, whereas everything 1970s and newer is upstairs because the polyester doesn’t need as much climate control. Then we also have our vintage military uniforms in here and our men’s hats, some of the things that need to be more delicately treated… There’s one uniform in here that looks exactly like my grandfather’s Vietnam uniform from the Navy, so that

Kaci Wilson arranges the clothes in the costume loft in the FAC. Photo by April Powls

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 was really fun to find,” Wilson said. Thanks to Wilson, there are now labels inside closet doors and each closet section is color coded to a decade, as productions typically have a sort of color theme.

FEATURES 9 “The 1950s are probably my favorite because that’s just my personal style, but then the 1920s things that I found that were legitimately from a hundred years ago were just really fun to touch. In the 1980s, a lot of styles started to come

Kaci Wilson holds up a chartreuse fairy tale gown from the 1950s that, no doubt, has a perfect place in the newly-organized closets. Photo by April Powls

back… so Bethel would incorporate them into their costumes. [My mom and I] went through and we dated where we thought [items] would be most appropriate. So, if you’re ever costuming, and you can’t find something from the 1920s, look in the 80s. Pro tip,” Wilson said. In addition to the ground floor closets, costumes are kept in the theater’s props loft, the location of which remains a mystery for most of the campus. “Anything 1960s and newer, in addition to “old costumes” made during modern times are kept in the props loft. A lot of the 60s and 70s costumes were contemporary when they were added to the collection, so they’ve aged regularly. The main floor of the props loft houses women’s, 1960s-modern. The upstairs portion of the props loft houses… shoes, hats, uniforms and a men’s wing. The 70s section is … the biggest section. There’s also a pretty big 80s prom dress section,” Wilson said. Bethel also has a vast supply of vintage hats. “We have a hat that’s literally a hundred years old… it’s a genuine 1920s cloche hat that you would see a flapper wear. And if you look inside, you can really tell because a lot of items past the 1940s don’t typically have tags that say ‘Made in Germany’ (like this one) because of the World War. So style, wear, and context clues really helped date this hat,” Wilson said. Like the other sections, hats are also organized by decade and by color. They range from 1900 to the 1960s. They also happen to be Wilson’s favorite section. “I love all the hats. I just had too much fun finding all these. I would try them all on and take pictures in them. It was really a blast to be up here,” Wilson said. As a theater kid herself, Wilson was well-prepared for the task. I felt very honored to be able to touch all of this stuff… people wore these for real too, for all sorts of life events,” Wilson said.

Rachel Geyer models an elegant women’s headpiece from the 1950s, featuring fur and a silk bow. Photo by April Powls

Jessie Thomas, senior from Sedgwick, grins, showcasing a tailored plaid dress and navy overcoat from the 1970s. Photo by April

THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

8 FEATURES

The costume loft: Exploring one of Bethel’s hidden gems BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Geyer shows her regal side, wearing a crimson tulle gown and ivory 1920s wedding hat. Photo by April Powls

Kaci Wilson arranges the clothes in the costume loft in the FAC. Photo by April Powls

Kaci Wilson holds up a chartreuse fairy tale gown from the 1950s that, no doubt, has a perfect place in the newly-organized closets. Photo by April Powls

Rachel Geyer models an elegant women’s headpiece from the 1950s, featuring fur and a silk bow. Photo by April Powls

Jessie Thomas, senior from Sedgwick, grins, showcasing a tailored plaid dress and navy overcoat from the 1970s. Photo by April

10 SPORTS

Football team smashes records at Fall Fest game

Bethel won against Bethany College during a historic Fall Festival game. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel ANNA RANZINGER Staff Writer

Fall Fest was memorable for many reasons this year, one of the biggest being football’s historic game against Bethany College. The boys had a record night that accompanied their 69-6 victory over the Swedes. One of the two records that they broke was the record for rushing yards with a whopping 618 yards, surpassing the last record that was set last year. The other record was for overall offensive yardage. They reached a total of 697 yards of offense compared to the previous record that was held at 629 yards in 1998.

The record-breaking night for the Threshers had the team excited for many days following the game. “It was such a good night! Everyone did their part to be able to set these records and we all had a great time doing it. I had a hit on their quarterback that took him out of the game. I was pretty stoked about that,” Linebacker Kade Miller, junior from Osborne, said. Fall Festival has a place in everyone’s heart at Bethel. It means many different things to everyone, but quarterback Landon Barnes, senior from Ashland City, Tenn., had some special words about what it means to him.

MEN’S SOCCER OCT. 27 . . . . 7:30 PM . . . . . HOME

“Fall Fest is everyone’s chance to make their way back to Bethel. Alumni get to see how everything has changed since their time here. On this particular weekend, we all get to be involved in something more. We get to reach out and meet others in such a genuine community,” Barnes said. The boys were very happy that some football alumni were able to witness their record breaking night. They all agreed that it was very special for them to all get to be together on such a night. Another thing the boys agreed on was their determination to continue

heading in a positive direction as a team and as individuals. “I always hold myself accountable to taking the opportunities that I have been given. That applies to anything, on and off the field. I never want to regret anything. As a team, I know that our goal is to make it to the playoffs and hopefully make it farther than we did in the past,” Miller said. “Everyday my goal is to be a better teammate than I was the day before, it doesn’t matter if I am playing or not. Since joining Bethel College football, I have learned so much about myself. One of those things being that it is more than just football. Not

only do I strive to be a better teammate each day, but I also try to be a better person in the meantime,” Barnes said. Football and Fall Fest are very important to the overall community at Bethel and the weekend game against Bethany was a great example of that. Being a part of football means a lot to the players who put in the work day in and day out to achieve all of their goals. When asking Kade Miller if he had any other comments about the weekend as a whole, he had only one thing left to say. “Roll on Threshers!”

The team storms the field at the beginning of every game, usually to the sound of cheering fans. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel

UPCOMING EVENTS

WOMEN’S SOCCER OCT. 27 . . . . 5:00 PM . . . . . . HOME

vs TABOR

VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

OCT. 30 . . . . . . TBD . . . . . . . AWAY

OCT. 26 . . . . 7:00 PM . . . . HOME

OCT. 27 . . . . . 8:00 PM . . . . . HOME

OCT. 30 . . . . . . TBD . . . . . . . AWAY

at ST. MARY

vs OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN

vs CENTRAL CHRISTIAN

at ST. MARY

NOV. 3 . . . . . 6:00 PM . . . . AWAY

OCT. 29 . . . . . 2:00 PM . . . . . HOME

at MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN

vs MISSOURI VALLEY

vs TABOR

Hoops speaks on staffing Athletic Trainers BRETT ESCH Staff Writer

If you were to ask a number of sports coaches at all levels what the number one ability of an athlete is, they’ll all likely give you the same answer: Availability. This coveted skill is ensured by a specific crew: Athletic trainers. And at Bethel College — which houses a student body that is roughly 75-percent studentathletes — athletic trainers play a vital role in the well-being of not only the school’s population, but the institution itself as well. This has led to a growing interest among the student body in the Bethel Athletic Training department’s staffing, including its ratio of full-time trainers to student-athletes. “The NATA provides a recommended number of athletics trainers that’s computed based upon overall total athletes

along with what sports a school offers and how many athletes compete in specific sports... A high risk sport such as football requires more than a low risk sport such as golf,” Bethel College Athletic Director Tony Hoops said. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association, or NATA, is the nationwide leader in athletic training resources. It’s Bethel’s go-to for guidance and assistance in the field. “The suggested number the NATA provides is 4.5 to 5 total athletic trainers for Bethel College,” Hoops said. However, the school currently employs just three full-time athletic trainers: Chris Ibach, Brooke Powers, and Kati Pineda, who serves in a graduate assistant capacity that typically sees fast turnover on a yearly basis. “This falls in line with other

KCAC schools, but it varies from school to school. The full-time range in the conference is 2-5 total. We have the fewest total athletes in the KCAC but not the fewest full-time athletic trainers in the conference,” Hoops said. Hoops has his own wishlist for the Athletic Training department. “I’d like to see more personnel... As well as a new weight room for rehabilitation purposes,” Hoops said. With a new weight room by Thresher Stadium on the way and talks of a new on-campus recreation center, Hoops might be able to scratch that one off his list fairly soon. Selecting these athletic trainers is arguably the most important part of the equation, especially at a school of Bethel’s size. Like any other hiring, finding the right fit is key. Hoops

had a list of criteria for selecting athletic trainers. “The type of sports we offer, the availability of [athletic trainers], scheduling at Bethel with facilities we have, NATA recommendation, budget allocation, availability of [graduate assistants], and cost of [pro re nata] coverage,” Hoops said. As Bethel College continues to grow, it’s no secret that its departments — including Athletic Training — will have to grow with it. Hoops understands this, and is ready to face that challenge headon. When asked about his overarching goals for the Bethel Athletic Training department, Hoops simply stated, “We work with our athletic trainers and administration to strategically staff our [Athletic Training] department both now and in the future.”

Athletes reveal pre-game rituals, superstitions LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer

With a student body predominantly consisting of student-athletes, nearly every day is game day at Bethel College. Whether it’s at Thresher Stadium, in Thresher Gymnasium, or on the road, athletes put on the maroon and gray to represent Bethel - but not without participating in some pregame rituals first. For a college rooted in tradition, the athletics representing it are no different. With Thresher Dance in its third year of existence, fans in the stands might assume dancing consists of a short halftime routine. Sophomore Meya Green from Newton, however, outlined the Threshers’ rather lengthy game day schedule. “We usually do our hair and makeup in our rooms, get dressed

and pack our dance bags, which takes about one to two hours. Then we head over to Thresher Stadium and perform the fight song with the cheerleaders at the tailgate,” said Green. Looking ahead at her first season running track for the Threshers, sophomore Laiya Palmer from Houston, Texas, laid out a more personal, superstitious approach leading up to competition. “Before a race I always listen to Gospel music and pray. I don’t even eat before a race. The nerves are too much,” said Palmer. Speaking to her superstition, Palmer claimed she “can’t warm up or run in any lane that isn’t the lane I’m going to run in.” Keegan Martin, junior from Yale, Okla., starting center for the Thresher football team, follows a strict pregame routine himself. Listening to a mix of

red dirt country and rap songs by Polo G, Martin said he listens to music privately in his locker while “closing my eyes and manifesting what I’m about to do on the field.” Brianna Reeves, junior from Derby, offered a team perspective. Reeves claimed that the Thresher Softball squad’s pregame routine is Christ-centered, with assistant coach Stacy Middleton leading the charge. After a team prayer, Middleton “speaks about how great it is that we all get to step out onto the field and play the game we love. This helps us to remember who we play for and gets us in the mindset to play at the best of our ability together,” said Reeves. But just as the athletes get ready to take the field, the Thresher faithful are equally excited to watch their Bethel

College student-athletes in action. That’s right, parents have pregame rituals, too. Travis Francis, father of Brayden Francis, senior from Sedgwick, broke down his near-religious Thresher Football game day routine. “We have to be at the tailgate area at least two and a half hours before kickoff. The grill is set up and turned on, then we set up the tables and chairs. Dogs and brats are first, because they cook faster, then burgers. We walk into the stadium forty-five to fifty minutes before kickoff, and never clean up until after the game,” said Travis. Each of Francis’ steps must be followed to a tee on a week-toweek basis, and the same goes for Thresher athletes in the locker room. While these practices might not have a direct impact on the field, they do in the minds of Thresher Nation.

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The Sideline

SCHYLER ENTZ Sports Editor

DJ CIERS FOOTBALL What has been the best part of playing college football?? “Best part about playing football is making new friends and having different connections with everyone.”

What were your goals going into this season? “The goal going into the season was to just learn the offense, really, and if I got to play, then try to get Freshman of the Year.”

How has your transition been from high school to college football? “My transition from high school to college has been smooth. I feel like football is the main reason why it’s been so smooth, just making new friends that help me around campus and in the classroom.”

12 ENTERTAINMENT

Student Life brings back Halloween on campus LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer

With Halloween just days away, evenings filled with festivities lie ahead. If Bethel College does one thing right, it’s celebrating the holidays, and Halloween is no exception. Prior to the pandemic, Community Assistants would decorate the residence halls in preparation for a night of trick-ortreating on campus. Bethel College students who were interested could pick up a bag of candy from the Student Life Office to hand out to children who came knocking on their dorm room door dressed in costumes on Halloween night. Children would hop door to door, from residence hall to residence hall, filling their bags with candy as they filled

students’ bittersweet void from missing home. However (round of applause for COVID-19), all of that has changed. There are still a handful of activities to fill your Halloween weekend with oncampus activities. To kick things off, on October 28, Coordinator of Residence Life Larry Rice and his team of Community Assistants will once again be decorating the residence halls for Halloween. This time, however, it’s all about the students. “Along with each residence hall being decorated for the holiday, each hall will host a different food and craft or activity,” said Rice. With the race to Halloween beginning with this event at 7 PM, the Community Assistants are excited to once again host a campus-wide Halloween event, not only

resembling the past, but revving it up for the future. CA Aubry Grame, junior from Kalispell, Mont. detailed her enthusiasm: “I’m excited to start building community once again through such a popular holiday. Having never experienced normal holidays on-campus before, I’m thrilled to be a part of starting new traditions at Bethel College,” said Grame. An event like this would not be complete without costumes, and although they are not required to attend, the Community Assistant staff encourages students to dress up. After all, you’re never too old to dress up for Halloween. Speaking of costumes, downtown Newton has its own Halloween store, promoting big savings on the most popular looks.

Grame’s residents on the third floor of Haury Hall have taken their door-decorating competition seriously this year. Photo by April Powls

If Newton doesn’t have what you’re after, however, Wichita has what you’re looking for. Spirit Halloween, everyone’s favorite Halloween store - notorious for occupying abandoned grocery stores - is located at 4600 W Kellogg Drive. Spirit Halloween is open daily until 8 PM, and Sundays until 6 PM. Thursday night isn’t the only night to get spooky. On Halloween night, Sunday, October 31, the Student Activities Council will be hosting a costume fashion show at 8 PM. Throw on your costume once again or show off a new look for a chance to win prizes in Memorial Hall in front of all your friends.

ENTERTAINMENT 13

Snack hacks that add cheap spice to your life MIKI HARKINS Web/Social Media Editor

Being a college student can basically be summed up into four words: tired, stressed, hungry and broke. The last two of these will be the main focus for this article, as I introduce you to some easy and affordable snack hacks. Living on campus, students are basically confined to cooking all their meals and snacks in a microwave (when the Caf isn’t open). As weather becomes cooler, it can seem like quite a chore to leave the warmth of your dorm room for a meal in the Caf, especially if you are feeling snacky. This can make it difficult to eat different snacks each day, but with a little creativity, students can enjoy a variety of snacks. To keep things cheap and simple I have picked two snacks that I love, using ramen! The first ramen dorm recipe is a

lettuce wrap! The only two ingredients are a head of lettuce and a pack (or more) of ramen. My favorite flavor is the chili one, but feel free to use or mix any flavors. Crush the ramen in the packet then dump it in a bowl with some water, putting it in the microwave for two minutes. Drain the water then mix in the seasoning packets and it is ready to be spooned into a leaf of lettuce! The second ramen dorm recipe is alfredo! This one can be done a few different ways. First, put the ramen in a bowl with water and microwave it for two minutes. Put a couple spoonfuls of sour cream into a separate bowl and dump the drained ramen on top of it, stirring it together. Cream cheese can be added along with the sour cream if desired. Then add the seasoning packet and enjoy! Heat up some chicken or vegetables for a little extra flavor and top it off with some cheese.

For those that live off campus and are not restricted to only a microwave for a quick snack, take advantage of your air fryer or consider buying one! It is perfect for reheating almost any leftover meal and there are hundreds of creative and simple recipes to cook in the air fryer. You could make baked potatoes, cinnamon rolls, or even meals such as chicken parmesan! One really simple and cheap snack that Jazlyn Reese, junior from Garland, Texas, enjoys making in her air fryer is tortilla chips! “I love making homemade tortilla chips. I just cut up some tortillas into triangles and toss them in the air fryer for about 5-7 minutes. Then you have to add some salt because that makes them even better. I usually eat them with some guacamole or salsa,” Reese said. The tortillas can be cut into any shape, but some shapes work better for scooping up dips. The tortilla chips are ready when they are a light golden brown,

so make sure to check on them while they are frying! With your newfound snack knowledge, consider testing out any of the aforementioned suggestions for a truly college-level snack experience.

Kansas weather dress code requires layers JENNA MAHONEY Staff Writer

With many students on campus never having experienced a Kansas fall or winter, there are many people who do not know how to dress and do not even know what to expect for the upcoming seasons. This is especially for true for students that are new to the Midwest in general and have only heard rumors about Kansas’ notoriously turbulent weather. There is one word for the best preparation: layers. “I am nervous for the cold weather because I’ve never experienced temperatures that are so low and never experienced the snow and I do not know what to wear or when to go out or not and honestly I just don’t know how to handle it overall. It is also scary if the roads are frozen if it snows a lot,” said Fatima Nemi, first-year from Peru. Nemi’s only experience of the

colder seasons is from Peru where the temperatures do not drop to more than 65 degrees and do not get above 80, which made coming here a big change for her. Having never experienced the snow or even the cold weather has some international students in for a rude awakening. One helpful piece of advice for the students is knowing how to dress. A pro tip for this is as follows: do not look to the boys that wear shorts in the snow for your fall and winter clothing advice. “I just like to wear shorts in the cold because walking outside and feeling the breeze on your skin is nice,” said Dominique Copeland, senior from LaGrange, Ga. A few layered fashion trends for boys would be wearing hoodies with a flannel, wearing turtlenecks and wearing hoodies underneath t-shirts. Some boys on campus also wear a long sleeved shirt with a puffer vest over it.

“I love wearing a hoodie or a flannel with my denim jacket because that is a few heavy layers and it still looks good,” said Isaiah Gayden, first-year from Maize. One fall fashion trend for girls that became popular last fall would be the wearing of turtlenecks or shirts with long sleeves under t-shirts when it gets colder outside, which utilizes layers effectively. “I like wearing turtlenecks because they are really warm and you can wear them by themselves or put another shirt over them to change it up. Necklaces also look really good over turtlenecks,” said Halle Krehbiel, sophomore from Hesston. Another layered fashion trend for girls would be to basically top off any shirt with a cardigan. Some people on campus have extensive cardigan collections. Additionally, chunky sweatshirts have become a go-to fall fashion statement for many girls on campus. This is an especially easy tip for those who already have to deal with random practice

schedules throughout the day. If you need a quick and easy outfit post midday practice, chunky sweatshirts have you covered. “Chunky sweatshirts are the best because you can style them with almost anything. You can put a collared shirt under it and it can be like a big dress. You can wear a chunky sweatshirt with just some jeans and still look cute. You can also just be lazy and comfortable with it too,” said Kiara Ashurst, first-year from Independence, Mo. For those who are worried about Kansas weather, fear not! With all this advice, in the cold weather, you can never go wrong with too many layers, especially when the outfit looks good as well. And when in doubt, ask a Midwesterner to point you in the right direction.

14 GAMES

Happy Fall, Y’all! Jessie Thomas is a senior from Halstead. Her aspiring major is English secondary education. She has a passion for art, with a love of digital media and creating characters like Amos. This comic, featuring Amos, was inspired by the rejuvenating effects of Bethel College’s recent fall break, in addition to the general enthusiasm around campus for the changing of leaves and all things autumn-related. Soak up the season! 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

THRESHER CLASSIFIED Direct all inquires to Megan Kershner in WAC 215 or check out Handshake to learn more about these job opportunities On-Campus Jobs

Off-Campus Jobs

Mennonite Library Archives (MLA) Student Assistant

Volleyball Volleywrite Scorer

Back Alley Pizza

Helpdesk Technician

Softball Office Assistant

USD 373

Cafeteria Utility Worker

Track Office Assistant

Carriage Factory Art Gallery

Museum Prairie Assistant

Gallery Assistant

Fair Chiropractic

AV Student Assistant

Health & Physical Education Department Assistant

Hesston Pharmacy/Harvey Drug

Athletic Training Aide

Intramural Facilitator

Mid- Kansas Coop

Sports Information Assistant

Men’s Basketball Office Assistant

Newton Pizza Hut

Sports Information Videographer

Maintenance Department Assistant

Newton Walgreens

Sports Information Statistics

Student Groundskeeper

Newton Dillons

Sports Information Photographer

Student Custodian

Moxies

Football Ball Handler

Sand Creek Trail Groundskeeper

Hesston Golf Course

Ticket Taker

Student Life Office Assistant

Volleyball Line Judge

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THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

Fiesta!

Students and faculty/staff enjoyed an evening of festivities on October 8 as the Bethel College Diversity Council hosted its annual fiesta, complete with dancers, food and lovely weather! Photos by Schyler Entz and Emily Brandt

PHOTO FEATURE 16