BC Collegian_Friday, September 10, 2021_Vol. 110_Issue 1 by Bethel College

THE

COLLEGIAN Friday, September 10, 2021 | Volume 110, Issue 1 | North Newton, KS

Lizzy Schmucker, first-year from Goessel, arrives on campus for Thresher Days with her family. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel

Unique classroom settings explored

Editorial: Nonbinary folks do not owe androgyny

College rebranding through the years

Women’s soccer preps for success

KBCU radio station makes a comeback

2 NEWS

Challenges of pandemic prompt creative classrooms LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer

“The sauna, I mean the Chapel, is not the place to have class,” Trey Palmer, junior from Pearland, Texas, said. Palmer has been frustrated with the unconducive learning environments students and professors are forced to cope with. The sentiment resonates with students and faculty alike. It is no secret that, once again, this semester looks different than previous semesters at Bethel College. Just when students felt as if college life would return to normal in the fall, they were seated in pews, stadium seats and desks in non-traditional classroom settings all around campus. While these learning environments are set up to slow the spread of COVID-19, there is a definite trade off according to students such as Palmer and his roommate, Phillip Williams, sophomore from Houston, Texas, who find it difficult to learn under the effects of heat stroke. “You’re already burned out after taking attendance,” said Williams. Various sites on and around campus now house daily classes of students, and whether or not students and their professors are fans of these settings, they are here to stay. According to Director of Facilities, Adam Akers, many of the traditional classrooms around campus cannot hold the necessary number of students while abiding by these rules. With enrollment numbers up, the task was made even more difficult for the 2021-2022 school year. While it may seem

foolish, these spaces make the in-person classroom experience possible. Due to six foot social distancing guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control and the college’s own COVID-19 task force, Bethel College was forced to get creative if they were to deliver on their promise of in-person learning. Saying goodbye to the Zoom classroom, these spaces provide a new set of challenges. On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, Mark Jantzen’s Witches and Heretics class can be found under the sun out at Memorial Grove. The Grove is located Southeast of the tennis courts, just past the maintenance building. Although there is a firepit, that is not the main source of heat according to his students. “The only thing getting burned in Witches and Heretics are the students,” Hooper Schroeder, junior from Sedgwick, said. And while the witches stray far from this classroom setting, the bugs do not. Students can be found fanning themselves with their notebooks and have even recommended the use of bug spray at the Grove. Equipped with moveable, although heavy, seating, this space allows for adequate social distancing. Yet another unique classroom location on campus is Memorial Hall. Memorial Hall has housed several historic events throughout the years: the Thresher basketball squad defeating the University of Kansas, the world champion Kansas City Chiefs enjoying a game of pickup hoops fresh off of their first Super Bowl victory and even Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr. speaking on the front steps of the building. While Memorial Hall has witnessed all of this, it is now home to several classes throughout the day, including Convocation. Formerly hosted in the Luyken Fine Arts Center and virtually via Moodle, Convocation has moved to accommodate social distancing guidelines, as well. While the Memorial Hall gymnasium seems rather spacious to the classes of 2022 and 2023, freshmen and transfer students never witnessed Convocation in its original form. Ryan Gregg, junior from Edmond, Okla., recalled his Convocation experience in Krehbiel Auditorium. “Convo is an entirely different scene than it was in the auditorium,” Gregg said. On the other end of the spectrum is Lia Groves, sophomore from Valley Center. “The transition from virtual Convocation to it being hosted in Mem Hall was easy, but different from what I expected. I’ve heard stories of what it should look like, and this is not it,” Groves said. Despite Convocation being moved to Memorial Hall for social distancing purposes, there is no actual implementation of social distancing policies. Students have continued to sit in large groups of friends, however, groups are given the space to spread out around the ground level, in the balcony and on the basketball court. For students in isolation and quarantine, Convocation is broadcast via livestream from Mem Hall. Some students find themselves sitting

in pews of the Bethel College Mennonite Church—and it is not for Sunday morning worship. As one of the oddest new classrooms on campus, multiple classes have been forced to spend more time in the presence of the Lord in the absence of desks or a proper place to write and take notes. While these new settings provide many challenges such as the lack of desks, the areas provide ample space for social distancing, again begging the question of what the trade-offs between education and COVID-19 guidelines really are.

Lizzy Schmucker, first-year from Goessel, balances note-taking materials on her lap in the pews in the BCMC COVID classroom. Photo by April Powls

SGA gave Convocation on Monday, August 30 to give information on the following topics: - What SGA does as an organization and where student dues are used - Past SGA projects - The different roles in SGA and how they function - Advertise vacancies in SGA open for election - Discussion on the turf project - Invite students to attend meetings and voice concerns & suggestions 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

Maintenance finds creative solutions to limited budget

JOSUE COY DICK Staff Writer

It is the start of a new school year and Bethel houses over 500 residential students on the campus for the first time in decades. Managing so many students, especially with COVID-19 still present, has been a challenge for a primarily

residential college, particularly in regards to housing and classroom settings. At the head of maintaining Bethel College in these challenging times is the maintenance department. As with many departments on campus, the maintenance department has had to use their ingenuity to devise ways to keep this campus running with limited resources.

As the Maintenance Controller Gregg Dick commented on how the maintenance department is tackling the year’s challenges. “The maintenance department budget is built based on routine and necessary campus maintenance items expected during the fiscal year. They do an excellent job each year of being resourceful and creative at maintaining

all parts of the campus with the limited financial resources they have,” Dick said. Dick declined further comment or specific details on how the Maintenance department manages its budget over concerns of creating public conflicts between departments.

Dr. Rachel Epp Buller awarded second Fulbright

ARTHUR MAHRER Staff Writer

Dr. Rachel Epp Buller, professor of visual arts and design at Bethel has recently been awarded a second Fulbright scholarship. Epp Buller was awarded her first Fulbright research grant in 2011 and was stationed in Berlin. “My Fulbright is a 4-month research stay, January-May, at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where I’ll be working with other artists and scholars in an interdisciplinary institute called the Research-Creation and Social Justice CoLABoratory,” Epp Buller said. Other than the achievements of Epp Buller, Fulbright winners are not unknown to Bethel College, with John McCabe-Juhnke, former professor of theater and communication arts, being sent to Ukraine in 2016, and Kathryn Kasper, former vocal instructor, going to Paraguay in the early 2000’s. The Bethel community, while thrilled for Dr. Epp Buller’s achievements, may have questions about what this scholarship entails, how this award is linked to visual art and design, and the significance of this award to its recipient. The Fulbright award was established in 1946 as a result of Senator J. William Fulbright’s bill to enhance international cooperation in education through an exchange program between the US and other nations. According to the Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Press Office, “since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study,

teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.” Thus, Dr. Epp Buller finds herself in a clique of globally impactful thinkers who conduct research through a variety of disciplines. A key feature of the award is that it offers a variety of opportunities to teachers and students to connect internationally as a form of people-to-people diplomacy. More specifically, the Fulbright was awarded to Dr. Epp Buller in the field of Visual Art and Design. The grant is related to her research project titled, Slow Practices for Speculative Futures: Embodied Listening through Contemporary Art. The project explores a set of art forms, including letter writing, embroidery, durational performances and walking projects. According to the Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Press Release, “part of her early research for this project involved developing and teaching a class on Slow Art for Fast Times at Bethel College in Spring 2021.” One of the perks of receiving this award is being a part of a list of individuals who have gone above and beyond, such as Nobel Prize laureates and Pulitzer Prize recipients. Despite the prestigiousness of this award, it was not handed to Epp Buller on a silver platter. It required a rigorous selection process that could not be completed without a significant amount of effort to apply. The award is significant in that it provides the opportunity for individuals

to focus on their discipline of interest without the trappings of financial requirements. “My first Fulbright allowed our family to move abroad for a time and experience that shift in cultures together. It validated my research at a time when I had finished grad school but hadn’t yet started full-time teaching. And it gave me the gift of paid time to do research, a luxury not usually afforded to professors at small liberal arts colleges.” Epp Buller said.

Giving students and professors alike a chance to zone in on a particular area of study with the intricacies of intercultural experiences is invaluable. As a result of her award, Epp Buller will not be present on campus for the spring semester, as her trip to Canada will take her from the normal class schedule. The Bethel community recently congratulated Epp Buller on her recent award through an email sent by Bob Milliman, dean of academic affairs.

Dr. Epp Buller works with artists in Berlin about the ways knowledge is shared through hands and bodies in a workshop titled “Patterns in our Hands” from her first Fulbright research term. Photo provided by Dr. Epp Buller

4 EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Nonbinary folks do not owe you androgyny I use she/her/hers and they/them/theirs pronouns. This can go the opposite way with demiboy, or someone assigned male at birth (amab) who feels like they do not fully identify with being a man. Please note, when talking about someone’s gender identity, the terms ‘biologically male’ or ‘biologically female’ are transphobic and outdated. Terms like those two have been used in the past to try to deny the importance of gender expression by claiming science does not support it, which is totally not true. Now you may look at me and think, ‘Charlotte, you are clearly very feminine in the way you present, how could you not be fully a woman?’ And my answer to that is simply: I do not owe you androgyny. Androgyny is defined by Merriam CHARLOTTE EHRMANN Webster dictionary as “the quality or state Copy Editor of being neither specifically feminine or masculine.” My identity, as with most everyone, is Just because I wear a dress or skirt extremely important to me. My sexuality does not mean I feel feminine that day, it and my gender expression are two aspects just means I look hot and feel confident in of this that are held what I am wearing. Just close to my heart. because someone wears I feel a suit does not mean my identity they necessarily identify is something as masculine. important to Clothing is “I should be allowed to express for the genderless. Wear what wear whatever I want to sake of this article. makes you comfortable. I identify as without someone feeling Do not let anyone that it invalidates my both bisexual and tell you what you can as a demigirl. or cannot wear based gender identity.” If you have on something as silly as questions about societal expectations. bisexuality, feel Life is supposed to be free to reach out about what makes you and I can probably happy, not abiding by clear up any confusion. some made up outdated rules. As for demigirl, this is something Nonbinary folks, or enbys as the much more confusing. Demigirl means LGBTQ+ commonly calls them, often feel someone who was assigned female at birth invalidated because some of them do not (afab) but does not fully identify with dress in a way which differentiates them being a woman. from their assigned gender at birth. What it boils down to for me, is that

But also understand not every So I came out as a demigirl. What nonbinary person accepts the term enby, does this change for me? and it is completely up For starters, this to each individual. changes my identity. That being said, I am longer a I should be allowed cisgenered individual. to wear whatever Cisgendered can be “I am more than a I want to without defined as identifying woman, and it is someone feeling that as the gender you were it invalidates my important to understand born as. gender identity. If you are not that when someone I love makeup, cisgendered then you gives you two or more and I feel that is are automatically pronouns to switch an amazing way enveloped as a to express myself between, please do so! It transgendered artistically. Trans is so invalidating to come individual. Yet, makeup in just simply means out as a demigirl and still someone who does general is often seen only be called by she/ as only feminine. not feel their gender Societal ideals have identity fits with her/hers pronouns.” changed somewhat their sex at birth. on this topic, but any Nonbinary therefore individual who wears fits under the trans makeup is often seen umbrella. automatically as Just remember feminine. when meeting new people there is more I feel most comfortable wearing than meets the eye. clothing that is typically associated with Ask pronouns! femininity. That does not make my Normalize it. identity any less valid! Even if your pronouns align with The worst part of using she/they the gender you were assigned at birth, pronouns is that as someone who does feel normalize giving them when asked. more comfortable dressing feminine, I will This helps us trans individuals feel more almost always have she/her pronouns used comfortable and valid when giving our with me exclusively. Which is fine, I guess. pronouns. But it’s not my full identity. I am more than a woman, and it is important to understand that when someone gives you two or more pronouns Charlotte is a senior psychology and history to switch between, please do so! It is so and political science double major. They are also invalidating to come out as a demigirl the Copy Editor for the Bethel Collegian. and still only be called by she/her/hers pronouns. On the contrary, there are people who see I am nonbinary and only use they/them/theirs pronouns. Part of being a demigirl is the fact I use both sets of pronouns. Please use them all when talking about me.

THRESHPECTIVE 5

Threspective: Pros and cons of First Year Seminar FYS needs to have clearer objectives First Year ambitious. Surely it is better to focus on Seminar (FYS) some topics, perhaps those that would was one of my be most valuable to a student at that favorite classes moment, than to simply reference a my freshman year, huge number of topics, to such a small because it offered degree that very little information is me a very welcome conveyed, but a great deal of frustration break from the is generated. ARRAN KEARNEY demands of my Instead, I think FYS should focus Staff Writer more academic on helping a student find their place subjects. The at Bethel. There should be a focus on literature was in the most part engaging Bethel’s traditions, values and history. and original, and the discussions we had All of these first-years have, after all, in class were open and engaging. decided to attend this college. It would However, while I can acknowledge be beneficial to them to be educated the value of the class in its present in the life and times of this institution, state, and I certainly which stands as one acknowledge there is of the most unique a need for this type and remarkable of class for freshmen, establishments in the I can still see ways in “I can still see ways in state of Kansas. Indeed, which FYS could be put which the First Year I think a student would to better use. more likely to find Seminar could be put be Firstly, I wonder purpose and direction to better use.” whether the aims of in their life through the class are a little too this focused and smallambitious. Ambition scale approach than in a college course is through the current not necessarily a bad class. thing, but it can be Students, damaging if it means the course has to through their in-depth knowledge and be rushed because it’s attempting to pack appreciation of Bethel’s achievements too much material into too short a time. and opportunities, will feel more The concepts we were dealing with in inclined to take up the mantle of their my own class covered the most current predecessors, and add to that history, social issues and tensions, including such perhaps even in the hope that their name things as inner city housing problems, might be referenced to a future class of rural displacement, religious conflicts, freshmen. crime and its causes, the roots and cycles Responsibility for education about of poverty, the liberation of women, the wider social issues, and the vast multitude place of government, the difficult choices of difficulties that students must confront between civic liberty and public duty, the in life, does not fall on the shoulders psychology of pandemics, the nature of of a single class, but must be borne by human beings, the principles of the law, the entire college curriculum. Indeed, I the social order, the primacy of personal would venture to say young first-years, responsibility, the economic structure of at the outset of their college careers, are society and the list goes on. those who should be least concerned None of these topics were covered about such things. in any great detail, but all were touched upon. The present aim of the FYS is to Arran Kearney is a sophomore history major. He help a student find their place within is also a staff writer for the Bethel Collegian. society. I would suggest this is overly

FYS promotes socialization First Year With FYS being a bit slower paced Seminar (FYS) is and at a lower difficulty level, students a class required can gain comfort by easing into the for incoming transition from high school to college. students. I and This class may help prevent possibly many students from the overwhelming others have feeling that they are being thrown into viewed this class something they can’t handle. The first MIKI HARKINS as something couple of days, students are likely to Web Editor to not take so be expected to share about themselves seriously because in front of the class. These classes are the workload is so light and simple. typically very small, so there is no need However, while this class may seem to get too worked up about speaking in like an unnecessary workload, it is front of them. beneficial to students both socially and Every FYS class is required to write academically. a few essays and read a book together. Coming into The book is chosen college, students do with the intent to not always know many open students’ minds of their peers. Bethel to a new perspective. “First Year Seminar This is important to consists of a large group of student athletes and Bethel because the provides a sense these students may students and staff of comfort and tend to socialize within here all come from a their team rather than belongingness to new different background students.” branching out and or culture and each meeting others. FYS have their own provides a way for new story. At the end of students to branch out. the semester, each Meeting new people FYS instructor is and making new friends is a great allowed to pick a topic of their choice way for students to not only enjoy the to dig into. This allows for students to college experience, but it also helps be exposed to something they maybe them in future classes because they hadn’t considered before. Not only can help to keep each other on top of could this potentially broaden their their assignments. It is really important idea of what they may want to study, to make these connections early in but it also allows them to get to know one’s college career so student’s have their instructor to a higher level because accountability and partners in difficult professors typically choose a topic they classes. are really passionate about. One’s classmates in FYS do FYS provides a sense of comfort not need to be their best friend, but and belongingness to new students. sometimes it’s just good to see a friendly Whether it’s going to a Student Activity face around campus. I did not become Council event with a classmate or very close to any of my classmates, but working on some tough homework I learned a lot about them. Getting to together, the relationships formed from know others outside of my soccer team this class will help to improve one’s made me feel more like I belonged on college experience. campus. It was a comforting feeling to receive a smile or wave when walking Miki Harkins is a junior forensics science past a fellow peer on my way to class or major. She is also the Web Editor for the practice. Bethel Collegian.

6 COMMUNITY

Word on the Street How do students feel about status protocol (color changes based on infection rates, percentages, quarantines) and the current guidelines presented? SENIOR

Kendra Gooden

“I think we’re doing a lot better than last year in terms of getting on top of the status protocols, but a lot of responsibility falls on the students to do what they know is right. The college does a good job of giving protocol but not as good of a job with making sure those protocols are followed. People still walk around as if COVID doesn’t exist.”

JUNIOR

Sebastian Formento

JUNIOR

Bryce Wilson

“I feel the college’s status protocol is a good system. It establishes criteria for the stages. I feel safe in Bethel’s academic and administrative buildings, but I have to say there is too much blatant disregard for COVID safety in the residential parts of campus. People continue to gather in large numbers with no masks. As such, I don’t always feel comfortable or safe in the dorms.”

SOPHOMORE

Jesse McMichael

“I think the protocols are a good way to handle a tough situation. They may not be perfect but they are good enough. I feel very safe on campus. The protocols do a good job of adjusting to the current COVID situation on campus.”

“Some things can be reevaluated just based on the status changing with such a small percentage of the entire school. I understand we are a small school but that’s every two people for a group of 10. Bethel is doing a good job at keeping some people safe, but I feel as though we need to do better at holding people accountable about exposure.”

Letters to the Editor The Bethel Collegian will accept letters of up to 250 words. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit letters for purposes of clarity, good taste and accuracy and to prevent libel. Letters attacking a private individual will not be permitted. Anonymous letters also will not be accepted. Letters must include a signature, address and phone number.

EMAIL: collegian@bethelks.edu

THE

COLLEGIAN

The Bethel College Collegian is a student-run newspaper published bi-weekly during the fall and spring semesters. The Collegian is funded by advertisement revenue and student fees. The Collegian will be digitally available to Bethel faculty, staff, students and community members for the 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 ADVISOR

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

Getting to know Jon Gering: A chat with the president ARRAN KEARNEY Staff Writer

Jon Gering, the fifteenth president of Bethel College, may appear to be quite a mysterious figure to many in the student body. Though he is often seen around campus and never fails to muster up a smile or a kind word, the nature of his work almost inevitably gives him a certain detachment from the rest of the college. However, the president was very forthcoming about his life when asked, and hopefully our findings will dispel some of that obscurity which surrounds him. President Gering is, of course, a graduate of Bethel College, where he majored in biology. His love for ecology, which he described as the “defining course” of his life, began at a much earlier age. He grew up on a farm in rural eastern Washington, surrounded by both domesticated and wild animals. Gering was initially drawn to one specific animal, the desert short-horned lizard, which, to many might seem an unremarkable creature, but was an object of endless fascination for Gering. He described how this dust colored, tiny lizard survived in an area of the state that only received around eight inches of rainfall every year. His boyhood self went so far as to build a terrarium to house his lizards, and he soon discovered that they required almost no water at all in order to live. Gering carried his love for ecology, which he defined as being the study of almost everything you see on earth, with him into high school. During his junior year, thanks to a particularly excellent teacher, Gering decided to pursue biology in higher education at Bethel. Gering recalled one particularly formative assignment, undertaken in a combined English and science class, where he was asked to write a paper on current world problems. Gering wrote at length on the issue of deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest. Gering went on from Bethel to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He later became a professor at Truman State University, Missouri, where he

served as Biology Department Chair and, in 2009, became a founding Dean of the University’s School of Science and Mathematics. Gering continued at Truman until 2017, his passion for ecology remaining ever constant. Gering’s hobbies were not limited to ecology (though he did swap his lizard terrarium for a more respectable moth collection). His time at Truman also saw him become a self-described “foodie.” Indeed, it was not so long ago that our president was traveling from place to place across Missouri as a qualified barbecue judge. His interest in athletics, especially at the collegiate level, has continued unabated for much of his life. “Football is probably the sport I know the most about, [though] I would prefer to watch college basketball,” Gering said. One more unlikely passion of his is for the Tour de France; a road cycling race that travels across France every year. However, even this appears somewhat mainstream next to the president’s admitted passion for curling. The pandemic has unfortunately stifled one of Gering’s other passions: travel. He and his family had been planning a vacation to France, which was rendered impossible by the European Union’s travel restrictions, though they were able to get away to Albania in June of this year. The departure of President Perry White in 2017 offered an exciting transition for Gering and the family. “[It was] one of those opportunities in life that you don’t get very often.” Gering said. It was an opportunity that he seized with both hands; his commendable academic career and his Bethel and Mennonite background made him a perfect fit for the position. Thus it was that Gering and his wife and children were installed at Goerz House in 2018. Aside from his inauguration as President, Gering has witnessed several other momentous occasions over the past few years. He and his wife (Bethel’s First Lady, Deborah), also a Bethel graduate, marked their 25th wedding anniversary in 2020. This year they sent their eldest, Benjamin (18), off to college, to study architecture at The University of Virginia.

“[Benjamin’s] social life might have become quite stilted once the students found out he was the President’s son!” Gering said. Gering has three children in total: Benjamin (18), Emma (14) and Emerson (12), along with two cats and a Siamese Fighting Fish. Gering certainly believes that his background gives him a unique perspective on the role of president. He described himself as a cultural Mennonite. “Every Bethel student ought to articulate and own their own faith,” Gering said. This is just one of the many principles that Gering is hoping to promote and instill within the college throughout his five-year term.

President Jon Gering gave a speech during his inauguration in 2018. Photo courtesy of Rosa Barrera

President Jon Gering holds a lamb from an agricultural science department that he headed in the past. Photo by Tim Barcus

THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

8 FEATURES

50 shades of maroon: Chronicling college branding LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer

Remember the awkward transitional years between middle school and high school? Your body is changing, nothing fits quite right and looking back, something just seems a little off. This is the best way to describe where Bethel College sits in the midst of its marketing shakeup. Rebranding an institution never comes easily, especially for one rooted deep in tradition. Change is difficult.

This is evident based on the reaction to the color and logo change Bethel College has undergone since the Fall 2020 semester. Prior Bethel students have received a variety of t-shirts, all different shades of maroon. Maroon, burgundy, purple, even bright red colors are scattered around campus; on athletic uniforms, in the Thresher Shop and in the stands. Various logos dating to different decades can be seen, each representing a different time in Bethel’s rich history. The legacy logo can be found inside the Will Academic

Family Center. The traditional stamp of Bethel College Athletics sits proudly at the 50 yard line of Thresher Stadium, and variations of the iconic rolling stone are scattered about, even in Thresher Gymnasium. Bethel College seems to be experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. Not for long. Tricia Clark, director for communications and institutional marketing, was hired in April of 2019 to tackle these issues. Clark’s initial goal was to establish an identity for the college. In doing so, a set of official logos were essential, and graphic designer

Erin Myrtle of Fort Collins, Colo., was the one for the job. Upon searching the campus for inspiration, Myrtle stumbled upon an advertisement for the former Bethel College Folk Festival, which featured stalks of wheat. The concept of students as wheat, their Bethel College education separating the wheat from the chaff just as a threshing stone does, was too appealing for Myrtle to omit from the logo. “We wanted to present to the world that, as a graduate of Bethel College, you’re a part of a special community,”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 Clark said. Since then, several logos have been designed and implemented. The 2D stone was created to represent Bethel College Athletics and the 3D rolling stone represents the college as a whole. New fonts were unveiled and are featured throughout the many logos in an effort to create a brand recognizable by those outside of the college. What about the supposed color change? From Thresher Stadium to the new softball clubhouse, nothing looks the same. To some, it appears the college has shifted to a bright red theme similar to that of Friends University or McPherson College. According to Clark, this is simply false. The change in color from a deep maroon to a brighter shade went into effect in 2016, prior to her arrival. The issue, she said, lies within minimal enforcement from her predecessors. While this color change

FEATURES 9 was made official ten years ago, nobody policed it, resulting in fifty shades of maroon across campus. As for the debate on whether or not the college color looks more red, Clark assures the Bethel College community that the pantone level, 202, is just one level away from its previous code. This raises an interesting question about the college’s history: why maroon? According to John Thiesen, director of the Mennonite Library and Archives (MLA), maroon and gray resembled that of Chicago University, a prestigious academic institution, in 1907, when the official colors were chosen. Thus came our first mascot, the Graymaroons. Before 1907, Thiesen says the unofficial logo of the college was an etching of the Administration Building. This image could be found on letterhead until November 16, 1934, when an event was held declaring the threshing stone as

the official symbol of Bethel College. Variations of the threshing stone can be seen on artifacts available for viewing in the MLA. It was not until 1960, under interim president Joseph Winfield Fretz, that Bethel College kicked the Graymaroons to the curb and recognized the potential behind the term “threshers,” coining it the new mascot. While athletics and other organizations on campus sported the stone, the college accepted a new official logo designed by Bob Regehr in 1966, representing a stack of books atop the threshing stone in a connected BC design. By the mid 1980s, Regehr’s logo phased out, and, once again, variations of the threshing stone took its place. From the advent of graphic design in the ‘80s, until 2000, the college lacked an official logo and no clear threshing stone was in place. Graphic designer and Bethel College graduate, Ken Hiebert,

1957

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2000 1934

soon changed that. In 2000, Hiebert’s Legacy Logo was created and can still be seen around campus today. The threshing stone is surrounded by swirls, dots and smaller stones. Oftentimes, it is accompanied by the BC logo known as the “pregnant lady”; the C resembling a baby in the womb of the B. While each of these logos has run its course at Bethel, Clark is sure that the latest rebranding is here to stay. Perhaps in another twenty years, everything on campus will be pantone 202, and the college community will be at peace once again.

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2001

THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

8 FEATURES

50 shades of maroon: Chronicling college branding LOGAN DEMOND Staff Writer

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1930

2020

2016

2000 1934

1970

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10 SPORTS

Women’s soccer team jumps KCAC rankings

Hagan talks with the team during one of their games. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel ANNA RANZINGER Staff Writer

Students returned to campus this year with the expectation that safety protocol would still be in place. In order to meet the demands of the pandemic, professor had to restructure their courses and athletes had to adjust to new protocol to stay as safe as possible. Some teams struggled more than others when it came to meeting pandemic expectations. One group in particular was the women’s soccer team. Going into their season last year, the Threshers were predicted to be twelfth in the conference, which was second to last. The season started out rocky

as few games were successes for the team. The situation became worse when games were forfeited as a result of multiple players contracting the virus and/or quarantining. The women’s soccer team went into a month-long quarantine at one point. The upside of this was that, following their quarantine, the team went on to win six of their seven last games. These victories led them to the playoffs for the first time in ten years. The Bethel women’s soccer team was predicted to be fifth in their conference as a result of last year’s successes. This was a large jump after just one season of play.

MEN’S SOCCER SEPT. 11 . . . . 7:30 PM . . . . . AWAY

“Last year our team went through a lot of adversity, but came out stronger than ever once they returned. They were dedicated and worked hard and I am thrilled that they were able to see some good results. I think that seeing success and results became contagious for them,” said Head Coach Alex Hagan. Hagan also mentioned that some changes are being made this year and he is very confident in those changes. “We have a lot of new freshmen that fit the dynamic of our team very well. They are eager to learn and they have an amazing work ethic. Their ability to contribute and add depth to our already established team is something I am very excited about. We are also trying out a new formation that I believe will give us an advantage when attacking,” said Hagan. Hagan acknowledged that the team has come a long way since last season, but he is always looking to keep growing and improving. Sydney Brown, junior from Keller, Texas, also had some encouraging words about the dynamic of the team this year. “We just keep getting better every year. I think this has to do with the fact that we are connecting way better now than we ever have in the past. We are all able to put everything aside

Cheyenne Lisle, junior from Valley Center, is playing her third year with the women’s soccer team. Photo by Lindsey Pfannenstiel

and focus on our one common goal: winning,” said Brown. On August 19, the Threshers opened their season against Oklahoma Panhandle State University and came out on top

UPCOMING EVENTS

with a 2-0 win. Everyone is very optimistic about the season ahead and one thing for sure is that the Threshers do not plan on letting off the gas anytime soon.

WOMEN’S SOCCER SEPT. 11 . . . . 5:30 PM . . . . . AWAY

at CENTRAL

VOLLEYBALL

GOLF

SEPT. 14 . . . . 7:00 PM . . . . . HOME

SEPT. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AWAY

SEPT. 13, 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AWAY

SEPT. 14 . . . . 5:00 PM . . . . . HOME

vs ECCLESIA

TBD

OTTAWA INVITATIONAL

vs MANHATTAN

SEPT. 17 . . . . 7:30 PM . . . . . HOME

SEPT. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AWAY

SEPT. 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOME

SEPT. 16 . . . . 7:00 PM . . . . . HOME

vs YORK

TBD

HASKELL

vs STEPHENS

at CENTRAL

New volleyball coach brings enthusiasm JENNA MAHONEY Staff Writer

After Head Volleyball Coach Stacy Middleton was promoted to Athletic Operations Administrator this past year, Bethel was on the hunt for a new head volleyball coach. Adriana Leake was hired for the position before summer break began. Before becoming head coach, she played volleyball and attended Sterling College. During her college career, she became the record-holder for assists there. After graduating from Sterling, she joined the coaching staff there while spending one year at Friends University. For the past two KCAC seasons, she was the head coach for volleyball at Wichita Northwest and, during her time there, she was named the Wichita Co-Coach of the Year. “I didn’t come in with a ton of expectations and really didn’t try to get any info on the team

so that I could establish my own opinions. I knew early on that the Bethel community takes a lot of pride in the volleyball program and that there were high hopes, but that was about it. I was really excited to take this on,” said Leake. Middleton was busy recruiting prior to the end of the 2020-2021 school year and prior to the hiring of Leake. Coming into this season, Leake had a total of 13 incoming freshmen. “I am so grateful to be following Stacy Middleton. Before taking on a new position she brought in some great talent and left other aspects of the program in great shape as well, like our budget and scholarships,” said Leake. Leake personally believes that a considerable amount of the team’s success is due to the intense recruitment process. “I was extremely excited about the number of freshmen coming in because it really

symbolized a fresh start,” said Leake. After competing in the KCAC as a player and becoming a head coach at the high school level, Coach Leake has displayed quite a bit of experience. “After having my son and spending some time as a stay at home mom, God really just grabbed me and said ‘this is for you.’ My husband first found out about the opening and expressed that he felt like I should go for it,” said Leake. When the position opened, Leake felt as though everything lined up. “We live in the community, my husband works at Newton High School as a counselor and basketball coach, I have a passion for coaching and specifically building team culture and teaching leadership through volleyball. It felt so right and I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” Leake said. Leake will also have to overcome the losses from past

seasons as the team looks toward future successes. In the 2020-2021 season they finished 3-27 as a whole and 3-21 in the KCAC conference. However, Leake plans to build upon the skills of returning players as well. “I expect us to surprise a few teams this season. We were picked to finish second to last in the preseason polls and rightly so, based on the past. I think we’ve shown already that we’re young and talented, but we also have so much heart and joy in our game, I believe we’re on the road to being unstoppable,” Leake said. After seven games this season, the Threshers are 4-3, taking wins from Peru State College, University of the Southwest, Central Christian College and Bethany College.

Athletes take summer for recooperation CYRUS GREEN Staff Writer

Being a college athlete is a difficult practice, particularly when season successes and achievements are separated by vacations. Students are required to attend classes, then attend workouts, followed by practices. Then students are required to repeat the entire process, effectively making college a full time job. Stress comes from both the athletic side of things (playing time, whether or not you have lifted as much as required, and

other responsibilities) and the academic side of things (whether or not you have forgotten homework). Since many student athletes are also on scholarship for their sport, they must meet the requirements of both professors and coaches. According to many student athletes, summer is important for taking time away from said stress and the mental drain of college. Coaches often ask student athletes to stay in shape over the summer, which means that athletes have to self-motivate their own workouts.

“Staying in shape over the summer is super important because it will help you reach higher goals for yourself when your sport starts back up, you do not have to start at the complete bottom and build your way back up to where you were because you will already be there,” said an anonymous source. Because summer training is mostly self-motivated, athletes often have to set goals for themselves in order to accomplish what their coaches will require of them during the next season. For an athlete, pushing the body to its physical limits

can make seasonal goals more achievable. Ultimately, while summer vacation can be rough for team progress, it is also important for both athlete recovery and personal athletic development. Both aspects contribute to overall team success.

SPORTS 11

The Sideline

SCHYLER ENTZ Sports Editor

CLAIRE HEDLUND WOMENS SOCCER What are you most looking forward to for this season? I’m looking forward to seeing our new and improved team compete with the teams in our conference. I’m also excited to see our new incomers compete with us.

Do you have any goals for this season? If so, what are they? My goals this season are to come back stronger as an individual player and support my team at what we do best… (playing a good game of soccer.)

What has been your favorite moment with your teammates so far this year? My favorite moment with the team this year was going to Chicken&Pickle where Izzy and I beat coach and Lexia at a game of pickle ball.

12 ENTERTAINMENT

KBCU radio is connecting to community BRETT ESCH Staff Writer

Over the past calendar year, KBCU — the flagship radio station of Bethel College — has seen its radio booth become a ghost town. Under normal circumstances, the room would be filled with energy from students creating content and broadcasting it for all listeners in the North Newton and Newton area to hear. Instead, due to COVID-19 restrictions, radio programs have been recorded remotely and uploaded to an automation system. While the in-person hosting of individual radio shows had been a signature feature and primary selling point of the station, that format has now returned for the fall semester. “It’s really a game changer. You just can’t compare recording a show on your laptop to sitting in that booth. Surrounded by the soundproofing, the old CDs and all the equipment in the rack. Those microphones and headsets, talking to the

public live without any chance to redo it. That’s the true experience,” said General Manager of KBCU-FM Damon Klassen. The return to live broadcasting has a plethora of positive effects. This includes a jolt of energy that has sparked Klassen’s desire to create a true connection between the station and its listeners, and there’s no shortage of ways to go about that. “I’ve had various ideas and talked with various people about different things throughout the years. President Jon Gering is really excited about launching the Thresher Media Network, and we’re excited to see what that’ll look like for us,” said Klassen. Klassen hopes that, with the Thresher Media Network, the station can really tie together Bethel students, faculty, staff, and community. “I’ve also discussed a potential setup where we have either guest alumni DJs host shows or conduct interviews with the school’s alumni — tying what’s happening on campus now to the experiences of people who used to be here,” Klassen said.

Kendra Gooden, senior from Wichita, prepares to host her radio show fondly called “Kendra’s Corner.” Much of what she chooses to play on the show depends on what kind of a mood she is in, so listeners are in for a surprise treat when they tune in. Photos by Bethany Powls

Jessie Thomas, senior from Halstead, plays any music genre that fits her mood. From electroswing to instrumental study music, the as yet to be named show is always great to pop onto to see what Thomas’ mood is that day. Photo by Bethany Powls

While Klassen has many of his own ideas on how to improve the station, he is always looking for new and unique perspectives from students. “I always look forward to meeting new students and the energy they might bring. I try to keep doors open for any possibilities that folks are interested in,” Klassen said. The first step Klassen is taking in making this connection a reality is participating in this year’s edition of the annual Fall Festival. It’s been quite a while since KBCU has graced a booth on the Green, but the first weekend of October will mark a new era for the station. “I hope it really does create some new engagement [for KBCU]. It’s been a long time since we’ve been out there. It’s my understanding that there were some sort of technical difficulties many years ago, and it just never got back into the regular program,” said Klassen. Klassen himself used to participate in live broadcasts as a student at Bethel and remembers a time when passersby were

invited to talk live on air. “That was always fun. So, yeah, just making it a part of Fall Fest, putting it back in people’s eyes and ears — hopefully they’ll tune in more often and help grow the station,” Klassen said. The biggest potential for growth to come out of this campaign for engagement, though, is student participation in KBCU’s production. Trends in radio participation suggest that selling the pitch to today’s college students to join (or even listen) to the radio is tough. However, Klassen isn’t deterred. “KBCU is a place where you can express yourself and you can find your own expression: whether it be music, sports, current issues, news, or whatever it is that you’re passionate about. You can bring that message to the airwaves and explore that message with other people. In the spirit of liberal arts education, you can explore all the things that are important to us — and in doing so, learn more about who we are as a society,” said Klassen.

ENTERTAINMENT 13

New SAC leadership rises to meet fall challenges BETHANY POWLS Editor-in-Chief

The Student Activities Council (SAC) on campus has a history of robust and creative leadership, lending to a variety of events and activities that color the college experience for new and returning students. However, SAC started the 2021 fall semester with a primarily student-based leadership and an almost immediate shift from blue status to orange status, cutting short many campus events. “The protocol for changes in color is to coordinate more events outside, which we have tried to plan for ahead of time. We try not to cancel events but reschedule them if possible,” Taj Munnings, senior from Nassau, New Providence, said. If an even is scheduled outside, then SAC simply makes the proper social distancing adjustments. “Because we like to utilize outside spaces like the green and the campfire more often than not, I would say most of our events can be categorized as ‘covid

year events.’ We just enjoy having the ability to space our events out as much as possible,” said Munnings. Munnings and fellow SAC leader Brianna Reeves, junior from Derby, have taken on leadership roles within the organization. “After gaining some experience last semester, Taj and I are feeling more prepared and ready to take on the challenge. There is definitely a big learning curve, but we are confident that we will be able to make this year one of the best for SAC,” Reeves said. However, the two of them are taking on more work this year as a result of a greater number of SAC events planned. “The students that are involved with SAC will be taking on more work and responsibility… These responsibilities will include assisting with event planning, setting up and tearing down, and being instrumental in student outreach during/ outside of events,” Reeves said. Additionally, in line with Bethel’s values as an institution, SAC is doing

its best to represent a diverse group of students in order to have a well-rounded perspective. “Our SAC team this year looks quite different than it has in past years. Including new and returning members, we will have fourteen people joining our team this semester… We have student representation from all four academic classes, including some students who have transferred in from other colleges bringing new ideas and perspectives to the group,” Reeves said. As a whole, they are pleased with student representation this year. “We also have students who are involved in various athletic teams, social groups and other clubs/organizations around campus. One other thing that makes our group stronger in my perspective is the fact that we have both on-campus representatives and commuters. We would love to get more student commuters involved in our events this coming year,” Reeves said. The group is still looking to add

more members, particularly from first year students who may or may not have experienced SAC events. “As of right now, we have one first year liaison in the SAC group; however, we would love to get more first year students involved! It is very important to us that we have at least one voice from each academic class so that we can get a feel for the events and activities that everyone would like to see this coming year,” Reeves said. Beginning soon, and since the transition back to blue status, SAC is planning to reinstate some of their usual campus events. “We’ve pretty much found a solid rotation of popular events like tie-dye, dine @ 9, block parties, craft nights, etc., but we definitely plan to do some new events that we’ve never done before. Dances have not been something we really talked about, just because of… the complications with hosting the event,” said Munnings.

A lobe-blow: Exploring Allen Jantz’s new look ALLISON WEAVER News Editor

With students returning to campus for a new school year, there are many changes to welcome them. Some of them are discussed more than others; for example, the fresh paint and decals in the Administration building, and the fountain on the Green running on days other than Fall Fest. However, it seems that one of the largest changes has passed, under the radar of the campus community. I am, of course, referring to none other than the right earlobe of Allen Jantz, professor of education. After seeing the charming alteration myself but being unable to find any information on it from students or coworkers, the mystery of the missing ear lobe became much more exciting. First, the facts: the injury was likely sustained in the early months of summer,

as it appears to have entirely healed by mid-August (at the time of first sighting). Other than that, we know little. While the campus still thirsts for the origin of this quirk, the Collegian offers a look at the most likely explanations, ranked from least to most likely. 5. Ear Piercing Gone Wrong Because this accident occurred early in the summer months, it’s possible that this is an incident of “Hot Professor Summer” gone horribly awry. Allen, in anticipation of the chance to cut loose after a long year, perhaps went to his local piercing shop and got a nice big hoop, or maybe an ear gauge, put into his right ear. Maybe at one of the numerous parties he attended, it got caught and was yanked clean out. Far out, Allen! 4. Misguided Emulation of Vincent Van Gough As an education professor, Allen is a fan of the finer things in life; wine, cheese and pretentious paintings. Perhaps one

night, as he reflected on how he could inspire his students to have the same drive for the classics, he came to the conclusion that they needed an example. Overcome by his love for Van Gough artwork, and driven by the fire of teaching, he snipped a chunk off and called it a night. 3. Argument with Doug Finally Pushed Him to the Breaking Point With the education offices in the same wing, and countless hours spent with end-of-year grading, it’s entirely possible tensions rose to the boiling point. Who knows what the argument was about - a misplaced highlighter, a student’s grade but Doug snapped. In a frenzy, he clawed out a chunk of Allen’s ear and had to be pulled apart by adjacent faculty. Luckily, they had all summer to cool off. 2. Crocodile Wrestling Everybody knows that Allen is Bethel’s, and perhaps Kansas’, most

enthusiastic crocodile wrestling fan. (Or, as he insists it be called, crocodile wrasslin’). Perhaps his summer got dull and he decided to give it a whirl! Maybe, while ‘wrasslin’ Bongo, the meanest Midwest croc, Bongo snipped his earlobe clean off! Good thing Allen is a fighter, and gave as good as he got. 1. Feral Education Student Sick of 8 a.m.s Finally, the most likely explanation for the missing lobe is some exhausted education student, pushed to the brink of insanity by finals week and fed up with early mornings. Perhaps this student, equipped with nothing but a pair of safety scissors and using their elementary ed cutting skills, arrived at Allen’s door and sought revenge for years of sleepless nights.

14 GAMES

Thresher Days

Autumn is spooky season

Z X F C E M Y Y T I R Z A G V H T X Y T WM K Y N A P J I WW H V M R I N E L E A A D R U K E B M I J T MR D E F NHM G B R E OU N S Q J B O OM Z M S PWH L X I D WD Z E T H F I Y Q E S U I AM Y U S NH V L G U T K GHH C G P OD R Y MO R S B S S I T G P N K E OH R V T R H V P F R Q V A E C O L GW I D HWE T C U NM S A P C UOO J I Y E F H C E A P K V V J MMC C S A X P P F K I F F H X K Z E XMB E T H E L B U S X S V A Y FWP S P UQ Y Y S A D C NG KWP L

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 how people (people like Thomas) often treat the autumn season as just several months of Halloween, with the decorating process beginning on September 1. If you would like to contribute a piece of artwork to a future issue of The Bethel Collegian, email us at collegian@bethelks.edu!

T P I J O N G E R I N G C Y A F O Y V I

T H E G R E E N D O N C A F H A C K S D

K W A GWM Z V O B A D U HH C R C N A WM K V H UD C E R E R P B N X R Y C L T E M J I O I P A Q F C N E NO Y K B J B K S P E X U N V A P O B S R R J J B D S T V C E Q Y Y Q T R U RW J O T F A N L I V J J P A L L H O Y DW T B I N P L

ThreshingStone

BethelBusy

HermanBubbert

BlockParty

Warkentin

JonGering

Krehbiel

MemGrove

CafHacks

Haury

Voth

Mods

Amos

TheGreen

BCMC

WAC

AD LISTINGS 15

Job Listings Off-Campus Opportunities

Sports Information Assistant

Back Alley Pizza

Sports Information Videographer

USD 373

Sports Information Statistics

Carriage Factory Art Gallery

Sports Information Photographer

Fair Chiropractic

Football Ball Handler

Hesston Pharmacy/Harvey Drug

Ticket Taker

Mid- Kansas Coop

Volleyball Line Judge

Newton Pizza Hut

Volleyball Volleywrite Scorer

Newton Walgreens

Softball Office Assistant

Newton Dillons

Track Office Assistant

Moxies

Gallery Assistant

Hesston Golf Course

Health & Physical Education Department Assistant Intramural Facilitator

On-Campus Opportunities

Men’s Basketball Office Assistant

Mennonite Library Archives (MLA) Student Assistant

Maintenance Department Assistant

Helpdesk Technician

Student Groundskeeper

Cafeteria Utility Worker

Student Custodian

Museum Prairie Assistant

Sand Creek Trail Groundskeeper

AV Student Assistant

Student Life Office Assistant

Athletic Training Aide

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THE BETHEL COLLEGE COLLEGIAN

New students get ready to roll First-year and transfer students moved into dorms and began orientation week, known as Thresher Days, on Aug. 13. Returning students functioned as orientation leaders and faculty helped welcome the new students. Students participated in orientation seminars and welcoming activities throughout Thresher Days as sponsored by Student Life. Photos by Chase Dempsey

PHOTO FEATURE 16