Shield Magazine V24 Issue 2 Spring 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

:The Journey

As senior editors of the Shield, we want to share some insights we’ve learned through our own journeys.

We believe that valuing education, experience and enthusiasm is not just a cliché but a mantra for success. We understand that the daily grind of classes, assignments and exams can sometimes feel overwhelming, but education is not just about passing tests or getting good grades. It’s about expanding your knowledge and developing critical thinking skills to serve you in every aspect of life.

You’ll forget the lectures, books and exams you take, but you will remember the experiences you had, the lessons you learned, and the memories you created along the way.

Our experiences shape our perspective, teach valuable lessons and help us grow. Ultimately, it’s

MISSION

… Shield Media is the independent student media of Rochester University. As such, we are committed to engaging in thoughtful dialogue over issues relevant to our culture. Shield Media relates to our audience by providing them with bold stories that are intended to entertain, inform and stimulate.

… Shield Media participates in Rochester University’s faithbased mission, and believes that, as ethically minded journalists, we have a responsibility to engage each story with openmindedness, compassion and nuance.

not about the money or the materials you acquire, but your experiences, particularly with loved ones, that enrich your life. So, seize every opportunity to intern, volunteer or participate in extracurricular activities that align with your interests and goals.

Enthusiasm is contagious and can make a major difference in how you approach your studies, job and interaction with others. When you bring enthusiasm to everything you do, you energize yourself and inspire those around you. Whether in class, at practice, building relationships or attending an event, approach it with enthusiasm and positivity.

Value education, cherish your experiences and be enthusiastic. These qualities will make your time at RU more fulfilling and set you up for success no matter what your journey looks like.

… Along with Rochester University’s Department of Mass Communication, Shield Media prepares young professionals for work in media-related fields by teaching and honing their skills in writing, reporting, graphic design, broadcasting, videography and photography.

… Shield Media is a student and not a college publication. Views expressed are diverse, and of course, do not correspond to all views of RU’s board, administration, faculty, staff, students or other constituency.

Emily Carroll

Danielle Castillo

Alyxander LaBranche

Celeste Mershimer

Emily Carroll

Hannah Traczynski

Emily Carroll

Danielle Castillo

Christian DeBruyn

Alyxander LaBranche

Olivia Pannecouk

Noah Peterson

Emma Saddler

Nickolas Alayan

James Saxinger EDITORS STAFF

Jessica Baysdell

Amelia Calkin

Christian Corey

Khalil Dent

Olivia Duffy

Rena Faranso

Amanda Fraser

James Fisher

Brooklynn Hathcock

Isabela Placencia

Josh Richardson

Nate Stoutermire

Hannah Traczynski

Ali Warzecha

Kei-mon Williams ADVISERS

Dylan Bole

Dr. Carol Cooper

Lora Hutson

Taylor Isenberg

Darren McCullough

EMPOWERING BLACK VOICES

THE RISE OF A BLACK STUDENT UNION

Rochester University has witnessed a growing momentum in advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion on what was a historically traditional and conservative campus.

Students can see this through the establishment of the Black Student Union, an organization dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging among Black students, celebrating Black culture and advocating for the Black community at a predominantly white institution.

ORIGINS AND PURPOSE

BSUs originate from Black students’ collective desire for a space to amplify Black voices, celebrate Black heritage, and address community concerns. Evan Green, staff adviser for the BSU and dean of students, said the inspiration to establish the union was “a desire to have something that exclusively focused on the needs of Black students and the opportunity to center Black history, heritage and culture.”

The BSU has been foundational in creating meaningful experiences for its members and the broader campus community. The club provides a platform for Black students to express their voices, share experiences, engage in dialogue and develop relationships, Green said. BSUs serve as a beacon of empowerment, resilience and unity, fostering a sense of community that enriches the student experience.

A stained glass window in the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. RU students and staff visited this church on an intercultural trip in 2023. — photo by Alyxander LaBranche

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

While the BSU has garnered support from students, faculty and administration, it still faces challenges, particularly in funding. Monetary support is needed to enable the BSU to expand its programs and initiatives, Green said. Through its members, the growing recognition of its importance and the RU community, the BSU strives to overcome its challenges and seize opportunities for growth and collaboration with other student initiatives.

The rise of a new BSU at a predominately white institution is a testament to Black students’ resilience, passion, and determination to create spaces where their experiences are valued and they can be unapologetically themselves. As the RU community celebrates the achievements and contributions of the BSU, it also reaffirms its mission to build a more inclusive and equitable campus community where every student can thrive.

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS

The BSU has organized various activities and initiatives, from intercultural events, such as the annual MLK Celebration and the Lift Every Voice and Sing Gospel Music Celebration, to chapel services and game nights.

The BSU has been foundational in creating meaningful experiences for its members and the broader campus community. Most significantly, the 2023 Intercultural Life Spring Break trip to Chicago, although an initiative for BSU, received participation from a diverse group of students and staff, reflecting the inclusive purpose of the organization.

As the organization continues to evolve and flourish, there is a sense of optimism regarding the emergence of new student leaders who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to engage Black students further and advance the BSU’s mission.

In 2023, 28 students and seven employees went on an intercultural life trip to Chicago. Here they take a group photo while visiting the Trinity United Church of Christ.

Singers perform during the Lift Every Voice and Sing Gospel Music Celebration in February 2023.

photo by Olivia Duffy

This environment challenged my beliefs and allowed me to critically evaluate my values.

Until I was 13, I didn’t realize I was blind.

Growing up, I was never treated differently by my sisters or the neighbor kids. I was just part of the group. We rode rollerblades and bikes, went to the library, and played tag. It really never occurred to me that my vision was different. It was just my normal.

I am the middle of three daughters, and my sisters and I were home-schooled. My mother tightly controlled the information we had access to from an early age. We couldn’t learn about the secular world’s science, history and culture, or get information about our own bodies.

I was never told that I was legally blind or that I had albinism, which is a genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, hair and/or eyes. People with albinism have varied vision challenges that are not correctable with glasses.

I didn’t know any of that nor did I meet another blind person until I was a teenager.

Access to diverse viewpoints and technology was limited for most of my life. Our entertainment had to be approved by Mum, which usually consisted only of Christian and classic media. I carried a CD player around everywhere well into 2014 to listen to books. Our views were painted by our carefully curated education, leaving no room for questions or

exploration outside the “correct” perspective, which was a narrow and negative viewpoint about anyone or anything outside my mother’s beliefs.

INFORMATION BUBBLE STARTS TO BURST

After starting high school, since I was visually impaired, my parents saw fit to give me a tablet, set to kid’s mode, so I could access e-books for classes. That tablet included Webster’s Dictionary, Wikipedia and Hoopla, the library app.

My mother trusted me to self-filter any media that she wouldn’t approve of, but I soon figured out how to get around the child settings and access the Internet. As I chugged along in my tween and teenage years, the cracks in the carefully constructed bubble that sheltered my sisters and me from the outside world began to deflate.

It started with Google searches. I would search terms such as: “What does legally blind mean?” “Albinism definition” and “20/200.” I learned more about myself and the resources that were open to me. I found ways to access books, and I learned that I qualified for a guide dog.

At that time, I was too young to apply for one, but I researched every guide dog organization inside

Danielle, age 7, plays Old Maid with her sister Noelle and friend Amber. courtesy of Danielle Castillo

Danielle (right) with her friend, Amber, and sisters, Noelle and Sarah, celebrate their graduation. courtesy of Danielle Castillo

the United States until I knew the ins and outs of the application processes. I could identify which dogs came from which programs by their harnesses.

Four years later, after working with Leader Dogs for the Blind, I received a black Labrador named Dux.

20/200: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

The year 2020 was an eventful year for many because of the coronavirus pandemic, but for me, the shutdown wasn’t any different than my normal life as a home-schooled high schooler.

The biggest disruption for me came in the fall when Dux and I left home and moved on campus to attend Rochester University. Prior to this, I could count on one hand the number of nights I had been away from home.

Because of my sheltered upbringing, it wasn’t until I came to RU that I noticed people treating me

differently from my peers. This became especially pronounced during my senior year when Dux retired. I now walk around campus with a white cane — my ninja stick — and using this makes me stand out.

Many times, people don’t know how to interact with me or are too nervous to ask directly. I’ve seen everything from people diving away to having adults trying to grab my arm or hand without permission. Mostly, people seem to feel awkward and don’t know how to act or what to say.

Personally, I’m an open large-print e-book. If I have no qualms about my disability, why do ablebodied people? For me, it’s something I try to laugh at. I don’t want to be “fixed” or pitied: disability isn’t a bad word.

RU: AN INSIGHTFUL COMMUNITY

The community I’ve found at RU is small but strong. This environment challenged my beliefs and allowed me to critically evaluate my values. Like “Doubting” Thomas in the Bible, I found myself asking questions and wanting proof for the things I had been taught.

Growing up, this was frowned upon, but at RU, those questions and my community gave me the space to disentangle my inherited ideology.

I’m still working on detangling my belief system. This journey of sifting fact from conspiracy, theory, ignorance and hateful ideology is not fast nor is it easy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow at RU. There’s much I still have to learn.

Now that I am free to explore different perspectives and ask all the questions, curiosity propels me as an aspiring journalist and helps me delve deeper into an understanding of my faith.

Danielle and her now-retired guide dog Dux.

photo by Alyxander LaBranche

WHERE THE JOURNEY BEGAN

My best friend’s brother, a term you might hear in a song or a movie script, was a reality for me last year. I had fallen in love with one of my best friends’ brothers, Nathan Farnsworth.

Once Nathan and I connected, he quickly became my best friend, and just as quickly, I realized he was the love of my life. Nathan brought out the best in me and changed my life forever. He was perfect in my eyes. We never argued and always laughed.

Nathan was effortlessly good at everything he did. He excelled in school, mastered any sport and perfected every recipe he tried. He beat me at any video game, every sport and put me to shame in a 21-1 loss in a game of corn hole. So, I kept him on my team ever since.

HEART OF GOLD

Nathan wasn’t only good at everything, but he was also good to people. He put others before himself, and he loved doing it. Most importantly, he loved Jesus. His faith is what inspires me every day.

Nathan passed away on Nov. 14, 2023, after a year-long battle with a rare stage four cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor sarcoma. Nathan’s fight was one done with immense grace and peace. There was never a day that went by where he worried about what would happen.

LIVE LIKE NATHAN

LEGACY OF FAITH

Despite going through intense chemotherapy and medication for a rare and aggressive cancer, Nathan would say that it was his trust in Jesus and knowing Jesus was in control that brought him so much comfort through his battle.

He always prayed for him and me. He encouraged me to trust in God and to remember that God has a plan for everyone and that it will all make sense one day, even if it doesn’t make sense right now. Being with him as he went to be with Jesus was a very surreal experience. There are things that I felt and saw that I can’t explain.

I am comforted knowing that Nathan is in heaven with no cancer and a full head of hair that he loved so much. I feel heartbroken, missing the man I love, yet I am so blessed for his impact on my life. He showed me what true love was, through his care for me and everyone he knew, despite being the one who needed care the most.

His faithful legacy is what keeps me going every day. His words of comfort during his own battle help me as I now experience life without him. To live like Nathan is to love like Jesus; to live like Nathan is to trust the Lord with faith instead of fear. His legacy will live forever in my heart, and I hope Nathan’s story inspires others to love and live faithfully.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

His family has created a Facebook page called “Something’s Wrong In North Branch” to bring awareness to the disease that has taken so many young lives. Visit the page to learn more about how his community is trying to make a difference.

NAVIGATING EDUCATION DURING A PANDEMIC THE CLASS OF 2024

On March 10, 2020, the State of Michigan announced its first positive cases of the coronavirus, and nine days later, Rochester University went into shutdown.

While the coronavirus had an effect on everyone, the high school class of 2020 faced unprecedented challenges and transitions. Students missed out on canceled proms, had to hop on Zoom, and they were uncertain about when school would resume. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Then, they had to transition into life as a college student—still under the safety protocols.

Some of today’s RU seniors were already on campus prior to the shutdown, and they experienced a different transition.

Georgii Reshotka, a senior information systems/ programming major who is an international student, said, “Going to RU during the pandemic was a weird experience. During the lockdown, there were only around 20 people living on campus. We were not allowed to sit together in the cafeteria, did

not have access to the arena or the weight room. We had to have our temperature checked every morning to get a wristband in order to be able to go to eat. In general, it was an interesting experience and definitely not a good way to start your college journey.”

As the world began to gradually emerge from the pandemic, the class of 2020 then had to endure another transition, and that was going back to “normal.”

Aleah Dymond, a senior nursing major, said, “With COVID we were used to having extensions with projects and papers, and tentative deadlines. It was easy to sit in on an online lecture and not be actively participating. Once we were fully back in person, you have to be more engaged, which for me was hard to focus in class for long periods of time.”

The 2024 RU graduating class had their high school senior years disrupted and their first years in college were completed wearing masks, distancing themselves from others, and doing required daily health screening checkins. It was definitely unusual times.

With the transitions they had to endure over the past few years, they are now ready to step out of the university setting and into their professional lives.

AMANDA FRASER

AMANDA FRASER

SHIELD GRADUATES SHARE THEIR MOST MEMORABLE RU MOMENTS

My most memorable experience at RU was being a part of Sigma Phi Delta Nu. It was a short-lived Greek club, but the people I met, our shared experiences, and our friendships greatly impacted my experience at RU.

My most memorable moment was being a part of Sigma Phi Delta Nu and chanting at Midnight Breakfast.

My most memorable moment from RU is participating in Warriors Serve. I really enjoyed spending the day with friends and doing something meaningful with my time.

My most memorable moment at RU would have to be hanging out with all of my friends together at once. There was no certain place, but when we were all together it made me appreciate the people I had around me.

My favorite moment at RU is generally my time with cross country and track. My time here not only helped me gain education and identity, but impacted me as an athlete.

My most memorable moment from my time at RU is traveling with my volleyball team and seeing my bonds grow with each teammate.

ALYXANDER LABRANCHE

AMANDA FRASER

AMELIA CALKIN

JOSH RICHARDSON

OLIVIA PANNECOUK

NOAH PETERSON

ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY CHANGES NAME TO ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

After settling a trademark lawsuit filed by the University of Rochester in New York, Rochester University agreed to add the word “Christian” into its name, which took effect in spring 2024.

President Brian Stogner said changing the name “brings a resolution to the University of Rochester’s concerns, but also provides our institution with a wonderful opportunity to clarify and communicate our mission, values and purpose.”

“We realized that our status as a Christian institution is not widely known or well understood.

Thus, we will be publicly expressing this identity by putting the name ‘Christian’ back into our name,” he said.

Stogner also said he wants to clarify what Christian means to this university community. “In today’s world, significant challenges can result from calling yourself ‘Christian’ because some have used that word to exclude rather than to include. But not at Rochester Christian University. Following the example of Jesus, we are committed to loving and valuing every human as a bearer of the image of God. We are dedicated to standing with the oppressed and marginalized, contending for justice, and doing all in our power to create a welcoming, loving, and peaceful space for all of God’s children. ALL are welcome here.”

The name change was announced publicly on March 8, and on the same day, the website and digital assets were changed to reflect the new name. Changes to other assets, such as signage, will be made throughout the next year.

President Brian Stogner announces the name change to the campus community in chapel on March 8.

STUDENTS SHARE THOUGHTS ABOUT NAME CHANGE

“I don’t mind the name change, I think it’s actually a good way for people to know we are a Christian school. The only thing I would say is that I wish they focused on this name before having to change it because of a lawsuit.”

Anthony Faranso Senior Business Major

“I think the RU Name change is a way to go. It really shows the great approach the university is taking towards giving students both quality education and core christian values!”

Ivan Djuricic Junior Information Systems

“I think Rochester Hills University would have been a better fit. I know we are a Christian university, but with Christian in the name, it feels like we are trying to single groups out now.”

MaCayla Lane Sophomore Associate of Arts Major

“As someone who has been at this school and seen it go through many name changes, I feel that it takes away from the credibility of the school. If these are our morals and what we stand by, then why wouldn’t this be thought of as a name from the beginning.”

Mckeighla Saxinger Senior Theatre Management Major

“Personally, I do not like the name change. I think they should have done Rochester Hills University, and I believe that they could have taken this as an opportunity to branch out and try new design ideas as well as logos.”

Maranda Page Freshman Education Major

“While RU provides a good education, the connotation behind attending a Christian university could affect how potential employers treat graduates during the hiring process. The idea of “Christianity first, university second,” however untrue that may be, could ring in the heads of those hiring graduates and affect their prospects once finished with their degrees.”

Anthony Filkins Senior Education Major

“We’ve always been a Christian-based college. With that being said, I, unfortunately, am under the impression that when people see “Christian” in the name of our school, a lot of them might assume we’re going to “force” Christian beliefs onto people. I think admission and athletic recruiters will have to put an extra emphasis on what going to RCU entails, such as our values, beliefs, and what going to a Christian university means.”

Katrina Kline, Senior Nursing Major

BENCH PRESSED

The Shield Media team produced an article and infographics about RU Athletics, which was published on its website in March. Scan the QR code to read the full article and learn more.

Athletics excel but resources make it challenging

Rochester University has a proud history of academic and athletic excellence, but its sports teams are struggling to keep up with other universities in terms of atmosphere and infrastructure.

Warrior Athletics is home to 10 female sports, 10 male sports, and two co-ed sports. Garth Pleasant Arena hosts basketball and volleyball competitions and practices. Bill Shinsky Baseball Field is another on-campus athletic facility where the baseball team practices and competes.

Men’s and women’s wrestling and competitive cheer practice and compete on campus. They utilize the Warrior Center for practices and use the Arena

for home competitions. In addition, the esports team has an esports arena in the Richardson Center.

The remaining teams rent facilities around the region for practices and games. The student-athletes on these teams are juggling classes, jobs, and commuting to practices and home games. It can be hard for RU’s more than 400 student-athletes to manage all these responsibilities.

STUDENT-ATHLETES JUGGLE COMMITMENTS

The lack of on-campus athletic facilities can cause financial challenges for athletes. Gadiel Herrera, a sophomore men’s soccer player, said, “It is hard to not have the facilities on campus, which means spending gas money to get to the training sessions and games. Also, it is really time consuming. In my case, I have to travel 30-40 minutes to get where we have practices. I hope we get facilities on campus for the sports ASAP.”

Athletic Director Clayton Bissett said, “When it comes to facilities, we are extremely lacking. We have two facilities on campus — a baseball field and the arena — that serve a very small portion of our athletic teams.”

Bissett said the university is working on raising money for a new facility. “It is vital that we get that built and get

by Emma Saddler

other sports on campus.” To do that, RU has created a fundraising campaign to build an artificial turf field that will be home to men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, softball and women’s lacrosse.

IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY

Shield Media also examined the broader landscape of the athletic department’s operations. Traditionally, basketball has dominated this landscape, receiving a larger budget, better facilities, and more extensive marketing efforts.

Sports, such as basketball, receive more funding due to their popularity and revenue potential from ticket sales, sponsorships and merchandise. Yet, prioritizing basketball leaves less mainstream sports, like wrestling, soccer, cheer, and track and cross country struggling for resources.

by Alyxander LaBranche

While it’s understandable that funding often aligns with a sport’s popularity or revenue-generating potential, disparities can arise. Bissett said it is important to remember the EADA report also includes money that is fundraised by each sport

ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

While RU Athletics strives to be successful in competition, their No. 1 goal is to “work with athletes so that they go on to be outstanding men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. If our coaches are doing that, we are happy. If a coach goes to a national championship but they are not doing that, we are going to make a change. That’s what we want from the coaches on our coaching staff,” Bissett said.

by Emily Carroll, Danielle Castillo & Alyxander LaBranche

A senior sport management major, Celeste Mershimer competes for RU women’s basketball. Here is her story in her own words.

FAMILY FOUNDATION

Looking back on the past five years of my college journey, I can confidently say that God has been present through it all. I am from Amanda, Ohio, a small town about 45 minutes southeast of Columbus.

My mom and dad, Nikki and Gerald Mershimer, are my role models. They have been living examples of what it means to love God and others. The rest of my family includes my older brother, Caleb; my younger sister, Chasidy; and my younger brother, Christopher; who are all so important to me. I am eager to celebrate my graduation with them in April.

COLLEGE HOOPS

I started my collegiate athletic journey at Ohio Dominican University in 2019. I was a part of the women’s basketball team there for two-and-a-half years before deciding to leave.

While I did learn many things and built friendships, I had no joy in what I loved doing most: playing basketball. I was at a point when I would accomplish success and feel nothing. I experienced some of the lowest points of my life while there.

Mentally, I was in a place that started to make me question who God created me to be. I kept trying to force myself into an environment where I wasn’t comfortable enough to be myself. Halfway into the 2021-2022 season, I knew I needed to transfer. I wanted to make the most of my basketball career while I still had the time. I had trust in God and excitement for what was to come.

WHERE I BELONG

I contacted Brent Wichtner, Rochester University’s women’s basketball head coach at the time, to visit campus and practice with the team.

From the moment I met the team, I felt a strong sense of belonging, more than I could imagine at ODU. The girls made me feel like family. I felt open enough to be myself on-and-off the floor. I could finally enjoy playing the sport that I love without fear and anxiety.

At Rochester, I surrounded myself with coaches and teammates who had patience and faith in me.

They were able to help me work through my struggles and let go of any negativity.

My first season at RU was the 2022-2023 season. Becoming WHAC champions that year is a highlight of my career and a moment I will never forget. I am grateful that I returned to RU for my senior season because it was an opportunity to play for Coach Jared Ocampo, create new friendships, lead the team, and mature as a player and a person.

MY JOURNEY

Each year in my college career has looked different: different teammates, different coaches and different levels of success. Now that this year is ending, I am grateful that I get to finish my college education and athletic career at a place where I am a part of something bigger than myself or any sport.

RU has given me a place to grow. I have shared my faith, played basketball, built lifelong friendships, created memories, and received a quality education. I am graduating this spring with my bachelor’s degree in sport management. I look forward to seeing all my hard work come full circle when I walk across the stage and get my degree.

I thank God for how far He has brought me, where I am now, and where He will guide me in the future. God, I give you the glory and trust your plan for my life. Order my steps!

MORSELS

TV SHOWS MOVIES

Howl’s Moving Castle

MAX | AMAZON

Avatar: The Last Airbender

NETFLIX | PARAMOUNT+

La La Land

HULU | SLING TV

NETFLIX

Stranger Things

MAX | AMAZON

Millennium Actress

TUBI | CRUNCHYROLL

Fullmetal

Alchemist: Brotherhood

HULU | CRUNCHYROLL

JOURNEY THROUGH MEDIA

VIDEO GAMES BOOKS

Person 3

Reloaded

XBOX/SERIES X

PLAYSTATION 4/5

STEAM & WINDOWS

Resident Evil 7

XBOX/SERIES X

PLAYSTATION 4/5

STEAM

The Hobbit

J. R. R. TOLKIEN

A Court of Thorns and Roses

SARAH J. MAAS

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

NINTENDO SWITCH

Akira V1-V6

KATSUHIRO OTOMO

“It’s not the Destination. It’s the Journey.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson