The Bells - Volume 163, Issue 1 - August 29, 2018

Season opener looms ahead, pg. 2

Less screen time, more face time,

pg. 3

Dorm room decorating tips, pg. 4

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Zazzle

Volume 163, Issue 1

Welcome Home, Class of 2022

By Haleigh Johnson and Jimmy Boutte Contributing Writer and Staff Writer Welcome Week at The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is a five-day, fun-filled program that includes sessions about spirit and traditions, inflatables, food trucks,

Photo by Madeline Oden/ The Bells

and events that help new students get to know their peers and understand the significance of becoming a Crusader for life. This campus-wide event, established in 1940, continues to evolve every year, and this year, the largest incoming class in UMHB history took part.

See Welcome, pg. 2

Photo by Sarah Ifft/ The Bells

Photo by Madeline Oden/ The Bells

Photo by Bells Staff/ The Bells

Top left: Sophomore pre-med major Will Williams talks to freshman accounting major Nobel Smith about the organization “Some Christians @ UMHB” at the Big Fair on King Street on Thursday, Aug. 16. Bottom left: Sophomore Madison Henry flashes a thumbs up while passing out candles to freshmen for the Dubbing Ceremony outside of Walton Chapel on Sunday, Aug. 19. Top right: Seniors Katie Maniscalo, Ellie Ball, and Allie Walker flash their “C”s in Bawcom Student Union during the Spirit and Traditions Rally on Thursday, Aug. 16. Bottom right: UMHB President Dr. Randy O’Rear unloads a student’s vehicle on Move-In Day outside of Remschel Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 15. Waiting to help move more boxes at left of O’Rear is Jack Phelps, Chairman of the UMHB Board of Trustees.

‘80s Night with the Humanities Department The Humanities Department hosted an ‘80s Night for students in the Lord Conference Center located in the Parker Academic Center on Thursday, Aug. 23. The night included 80’s music and movie trivia, a lip sync battle, and food.

Photo courtesy of Bri Bullion Photo at upper left: Department of Humanities secretary Sandra Rodriguez dips ice-cream for Dr Pepper floats while English Department Chair Laura Bedwell pours the Dr Pepper. Center: Adjunct English professor Maria Martin lip syncs to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer.”

Right: Freshman mass communication major Kylee Myers and Associate Dean of Humanities Dr. Jacky Dumas lip sync to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Photo courtesy of Bri Bullion

Photo by Emily Mahan/ The Bells

2

Wednesday, August 29 2018

The Bells

Campus News

Cru football prepares for Summer break brings the upcoming season changes to campus

By Beau Kemp Staff Writer

The first football game of the season is quickly approaching, and the Crusaders will face the Lions of Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania for their first game on Saturday, Sep. 8, 2018.

Fans are expecting another stellar season from the Crusader football team this year, mainly due to the fact that the team has gone undefeated in their regular season games for the past two seasons, and they have made it to the NCAA Division III Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia for the past two years.

In 2016, the Cru went undefeated all season and defeated the University of WisconsinOshkosh 10-7 in the championship, winning the national title.

In 2017, the Cru had another undefeated season, which brought them back to the Stagg Bowl. Unfortunately, they did not find similar success as they did the previous year, and they lost 12-0 to the University of Mount Union.

There were twelve seniors on last year’s roster, and their presence and skill

on the field will be missed by the team this season.

Among these graduates is defensive tackle Haston Adams, who has reached a rare achievement by signing an NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Last year, Adams recorded 4.5 sacks, 20.5 tack-

“We have each other’s back no matter what.

We will prepare for each week the same way we always have.”

Senior Offensive Lineman Eric Blair

les for loss, three pass deflections and one forced fumble.

These statistics earned him the title of American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He played a pivotal role in last year’s defense, and his loss will be greatly felt by the Crusaders.

However, the loss of Adams and the other seniors will not keep the team from success, as there are several key players that already stand out this season for their talent and abilities.

One standout player to watch

this season is senior wide receiver TJ Josey of Angleton, Texas. Last year, Josey had 930 receiving yards on 41 receptions, eight receiving touchdowns and an average of 62 yards per game.

“He is a gifted athlete, very talented. He has the potential to break every receiving record UMHB has if he matches his stats from last year”, said Wallin.

With the promising talent and great teamwork of the players, the future looks bright for the Cru, and the team is feeling confident about the possibilities for this upcoming season. Senior offensive lineman Eric Blair said, “We have each other’s back no matter what. We will prepare for each week the same way that we always have.”

Wallin also had a positive forecast this team’s season.

“Expectations are high, not only outside but inside the program as well. We have had two championship appearances two years in a row now. I would say the expectation for this year is to make it to the championship as that is what we’re competing for every year.”

Photo by Madeline Oden/ The Bells

Terry Hunt, center, will be dearly missed by many students this fall, who over the years found her to be a warm and special friend while they were away at school. Hunt passed away this summer, after a years-long battle with cancer. During her illness, students sent prayers and made special efforts to help her with fund-raising and events. Hunt leaves lasting memories with everyone who had the opportunity to get to know her over the years on campus. In this photo, she visits with a student while serving at Starbucks in the Bawcom Student Union in 2015. She was Sodexo’s employee at Starbucks on campus for nearly 14 years.

Photo courtesy of Steve Theodore

Photo by Jimmy Boutte/ The Bells

Renovations of the Living Flame were compleated this summer in the same locations near Walton Chapel. The old Living Flame pictured at left and the renovated Living Flame is pictured right.

By Madeline Oden Assistant Editor Over the summer, UMHB made some notable changes to different areas of campus, the most recognizable being the renovation of the Living Flame and the gas lines that power it.

When the flame was renovated, the campus decided to relocate three plaques surrounding the flame to different areas of the school.

Junior Christian studies major Ashley Boutte said that she noticed the renovations to the flame when she returned to campus.

“As a junior, I had the honor of being a part of the first class to go to the newly renovated flame during welcome week.

I think it looks more professional this way.”

Other changes that oc-

curred over the summer include moving the senior bell from the quad to the Musick Alumni Center and Museum, as well as the renovation of Presser Hall’s first and second floors.

Tyler Baker, a senior political science and speech communication double major and UMHB Student Body President, said he was pleased with the changes.

“I think it was a good idea.

I was pleased that it is now all concrete around the flame and I think it represents UMHB well,” Baker said. “Moving the senior bell to the alumni museum makes more sense because that is where we will all end up. It is a way to connect seniors with the alumni community.”

Dr. Steve Theodore is the Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief

Operating Officer of UMHB, and he oversaw all of these projects. “We did everything with the students’ interests in mind,” he said.

Dr. Theodore says that there are a few more projects in the works.

One that is already in action is the expansion and rebuilding of the parking lot in front of Davidson Hall. The new parking lot should be finished by mid-September.

The school also plans to complete an addition to Hardy Hall by next fall. Then, the Mabee Market on the first floor of the Mabee Student Success Center will be moved into Hardy Hall along with a new Moe’s Grill.

The previous location of the Mabee Market will then be converted into an Einstein Bros. bagels, providing another dining option.

Welcome: Students get to know the campus

Organization Spotlight: Third Culture Kid Connect

By Bri Bullion Contributing Writer

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Baptist Student Ministry held an “Aloha Mixer” showcasing its different ministries within the BSM on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. The event provided incoming freshmen and transfer students the opportunity to meet people, get information and find an organization in which they can get involved.

Among these organizations was Third Culture Kid (TCK) Connect. TCK Connect gives American students who grew up overseas the chance to make friends with similar backgrounds when coming to the states for college. The students in this organization all grew up in foreign countries and returned to America for college.

Rebekah Wainwright, junior International Business major and leader of TCK Connect grew up overseas.

“I was born in Cyprus and lived in Uzbekistan, Syria, England and Turkey. It was definitely hard to move away from places I called home. It was also difficult to make new friends because of the language barrier moving to a new country presents,” Wainwright said.

“Even in places where people speak English, I have to work

around people not understanding how multi-cultural I am. I look and sound like I was born and raised in the USA, but there are still several things I don’t understand about the culture.”

Wainwright is not the only student at UMHB who grew up in a foreign country.

Several students at UMHB come from missionary or military families who served overseas. Moving to a different country to attend college can be quite nerveracking and may lead to some severe culture shock.

“It is hard to find people who you can connect with about living overseas because some people don’t understand. Coming to a school in America from a different country is very hard to adjust to,” Wainwright said.

While moving to a different country can be very stressful, TCK Connect provides a fun, love-filled environment for students to adjust to living in America after growing up in a foreign country.

“Freshman year as a TCK (Third Culture Kid) can be extremely rough, primarily because it’s hard to find people who can relate to you about living overseas” Wainwright said.

TCK Connect was established in the spring of 2018 with only eight members and has since grown to have

20 members. TCK Connect is looking forward to welcoming new members as the semester starts, with 15 freshmen who showed interest in joining TCK Connect.

“We are very excited to welcome new members!”, Wainwright said. “Seeing this community of TCKs connecting and growing is awesome because it will make their journey through freshman year a lot easier,”.

“The Mixer was really great; we met at the same time as the International Student Mixer and I talked to eight people who were interested in joining TCK Connect”, Wainwright said. Another event the ministry has is a cookout at the end of the semester for all Third Culture Kids on UMHB’s campus.

“Sometimes we have discussions and sometimes we just hang out and play games or watch movies,” Wainwright said.

“I am really excited to see how much this ministry will grow”, Wainwright said. “It has already grown so much since taking off last semester, and I can’t wait to see where we will go next.”

TCK Connect meets every Friday night at 6 p.m.

Visit the TCK Connect Facebook page or the UMHB BSM for more information.

Photos courtesy of Claire Henry

Students participate in the Clash of Colors at the Rec Fields. The purple team took the win.

Beebe. She graduated from Continued from pg. 1 Freshmen business major UMHB in 1961, later becomJared Poe said, “Welcome ing the Alumni Director in Week was amazing. I connect- 1981 for 21 years, the Director of Alumni Development ed with my Cru group a lot.”

“The dubbing with my Cru for the following seven years, group” is what Poe said was and then she worked part-time his favorite part. “We were as the Alumni Museum Curaso excited to be Crusaders for tor until 2017. As a student, life.”

In 1940, Welcome Week was a nine-day event that consisted of “Teas, dinners and lecture courses” according to a document of the “Freshman Schedule” in the Musick Alumni Museum Library.

By 1979, Welcome Week had come to look like the fun-filled event that today’s students are familiar with.

However, it was called “New Student Orientation” and consisted of a weeklong program that included free movies, sporting events, Samuel Kinnin and Katie placement testing, barbeques Robinson attend the Spirit and swim parties. In the 1980s, and Traditions Rally during the name was changed back to Welcome Week.

Welcome Week and has main- Beebe built lasting friendships with those eventually dubbed tained the title to this day.

One person who truly un- “North End Gang” because derstands the rich history they met in the north end of of Welcome Week and the Stribling Hall. They have since University of Mary Hardin- traveled the world together.

Sophomore Psychology Baylor itself is Ms. Betty Sue

major Naomi Lewis, who was a Cru Leader for Welcome Week 2018 talked about being a Cru Leader for the first time.

“I really liked getting to see how eager the students were when they first came to UMHB,” Lewis said. “I got to settle some of their nerves that they had. I wanted them to have the best Welcome Week experience.”

Senior Christian Studies and Public Relations double major Samuel Kinnin, who was also co-director of Welcome Week 2018, describes the impact of the event in his own life.

“My favorite thing about Welcome Week is seeing the transformation in the lives of new students. They come in shy and nervous about their college experience, but throughout the week, they get outside their comfort zones and make new friends,” Kinnin said.

“It’s so rewarding to watch that process and see how much this event means to new students,” He said.

“Welcome Week is a wonderful start to the new year and a way to welcome in a new class.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 3

The Bells

Opinions

Letter from the President: Welcome back, Crusaders

By Dr. Randy O’Rear University President Welcome to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor!

The fall semester is upon us and it is great to have all our students back on campus.

Whether you are a new student experiencing college life for the first time, a returning upperclassman, or a graduate student back on campus after

summer break, we are glad you are here. Over the summer, our faculty and staff have been praying for you, preparing for you, and anxiously awaiting your arrival. Now that you are here, we are excited to kick off the 2018-2019 school year!

Our campus continues to grow and improve with our effort to make UMHB the ideal learning institution for our students. As you walk around campus you will notice a new addition as well as a couple of projects that are currently underway. Lord Hall, the new freshman residence hall is complete and housing many members of the class of 2022.

Hardy Hall is undergoing an expansion to house the new occupational therapy program. This program is scheduled to begin January of 2020.

We are also expanding parking with the addition of a new

parking lot on the corner of College and MLK. This new lot should be complete and ready for vehicles within the next few weeks.

As we start the new semester, I would like to encourage you to get involved in the many activities available to you at UMHB. During the fall, campus is buzzing with activity.

There is always something happening. Go to as many events as you are Photo courtesy of Bri Bullion able, try new activities, enjoy Emily Mahan, a senior double major in English and public relations, speaks to a stuyour classes, and immerse dent about Drama Ministry on campus during the Aloha Mixer on Tuesday, Aug. 21. yourself in the Crusader traditions. It is my hope that when you cross the stage to accept your diploma at the end of your educational journey, you

By Kate Frerich municating through social said “when nothing is ocwill truly have received an Contributing Writer media sites, such as Face- cupying my attention, the education for life and had the book or Instagram. Media first thing I do is reach for experience of a lifetime.

It is hard to remember users are not truly com- my phone.”

I am excited about our fu- what life was like before municating with another Unfortunately, it has ture here at UMHB, and ex- laptops were in our laps, person through the ‘like’ become rare to see people cited that our future is you. cell phones were in our button. Some people are sitting down for a meal toGo Cru! hands and “Google” was more used to seeing their gether without their eyes a mainstream word. Tech- friend’s Bitmoji than their glued to a screen. One time, nology and media are here actual face. an elderly couple paid for to stay, whether we like it Too often at social my meal, as well as my they come home to a small or not. It is accurate to say events, people are busy mom’s, when they noticed dorm room and an unfamiliar that media has made life communicating through that we were engaging in easier in a multitude of social media rather than actual conversation withroommate.

One good way to combat ways. However, has soci- interacting with the people out the use of our phones while at a restaurant. homesickness is to keep in ety succumbed to the con- around them.

The media has not only Afterwards, I found it touch with family and friends venience of and addiction interpersonal upsetting that simply enfrom back home. Additionally, to media to the point that affected by joining a club or organiza- it harms the engagement of communication, but atten- joying my mom’s company tion spans as well. compelled total strangers tion and reaching out to new meaningful relationships?

According to MerriamHave you ever found to pay for our food. It has people, a student can make new friends and gain a sense Webster, the word ‘engage’ yourself in the middle of become dangerously norof belonging in their new en- means “to hold the atten- a conversation, smiling mal for people to sit down tion of” or “to do or take and nodding, yet not really for a meal together, rarely vironment.

Freshman year of college part in.” Therefore, are we knowing what is going on? averting their eyes from can feel overwhelming at engaging with media, or Instead, have you been their screens to engage times, but students should not has it just become mind- thinking about what you with the living, breathing let fear keep them from expe- less scrolling? The major- will name your future lab- being across from them. ity of media users would radoodle and four kids or While technology has riencing new things.

“It amazes me how after most likely agree that the some other topic unrelated proven itself in our society and has many advantages, one week of being here, that first thing they do when to the conversation?

You are not alone. A re- it could be causing longGod’s plan is already so bold they wake up is grab their in my life,” freshman busi- phone and start scrolling. cent study has shown that term damage in the way ness major Jancarlo Rodriguez It is not something that since the digital revolution, people build and maintain said. “With all the wonderful most users have to even it has become increasingly relationships with one anpeople I’ve met and the experi- think about, because it more difficult for people to other. Like anything in ences I’ve been having, I know has become a part of their fight off distractions. Mi- life, there must be a balthat God has great things in morning routines as well as crosoft Corp. uncovered ance. Media consumers store for my life and for all of drinking coffee and brush- that the average attention can maintain this balance ing teeth. span has dropped from by being mindful of what those who attend UMHB.” Many opponents of the twelve to eight seconds type of media they conMaking new friends, getsume as well as how much ting involved on campus, get- social media craze believe since 2000.

At the first sign of an they consume, all while ting enough sleep, focusing on that people are not really schoolwork, and focusing on engaging with friends and awkward silence, many balancing it with human one’s relationship with God family when communicat- people instinctively fum- interactions. In the end, are all important things for a ing via text message or ble for their phones to relationships with living, new student to do during their tagging/posting on social avoid silence’s piercing breathing human beings media. For the most part, I scream. are what connect us and first year at UMHB. According to a survey by truly enriches our lives in With a little focus and a lot do not believe that people of trust in God, any student are really engaged with Time, 77 percent of people profound and meaningful one another while com- between the ages of 18-24 ways. can succeed.

Engaging with people

Freshman year: Overcoming hardships

By Emily Mahan Staff Writer

Freshman year of college is one of the most unique times in a young person’s life. For the first time, they are able to leave high school, move away from home and experience a sense of independence unlike ever before. However, this transition is not complete without its own set of challenges. Mental Health America addresses some of the top issues that college students face in their first year, including schoolwork, roommates, sleep issues and homesickness.

It is no secret that college is harder than high school. The classes are more intense and the course material is more indepth. Many students find that the pressure of college classes are unbearable at times compared to high school.

Sophomore criminal justice major Benjamin McCauley says that college is more challenging because “it involves teaching yourself a lot of material, while in high school, a lot more is just given to you.”

Before college, most students lived at home with their parents, and may have not had any experience living with a roommate. Sharing a small space with another person can

be difficult, and in order to avoid conflict and maintain a good relationship, it is important for a student to establish rules and expectations for their dorm with their roommate.

Mental Health America recommends that college students get at least eight or nine hours of sleep each night. For a student that wakes up at 8 a.m., this means going to bed at midnight or earlier, which many students find difficult when they need to finish homework or are spending time with friends.

“The amount of sleep I get now is much less than what I got before…it has definitely affected me negatively because I wake up more tired,” sophomore finance major Steven Neaves said. By getting enough sleep, freshmen are able to boost their energy levels, stay healthy, maintain good grades, succeed in classes and participate in extracurricular activities.

One of the most common issues that freshmen experience when starting college is homesickness. For most students living on campus, going to college means that they will be living away from home for the first time. Instead of coming home at the end of the day to their house, family and pets,

Photo by Madeline Oden/The Bells

Freshmen gathered at Luther Memorial for the candlelight Dubbing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 19. Since 1995, the ceremony has begun by the current Crusader Knight (this year’s Crusader Knight is Caleb Fitzwater) taking a part of the living flame and distributing it among faculty and students. Faculty traditionally place swords over the shoulders of freshmen, dubbing them Crusaders for Life.

The Bells University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - Publisher Dr. Randy O’Rear - President Dr. Rebecca McEntee - Adviser Leadership Team Lauren Lum- Editor-In-Chief Madeline Oden- Assistant Editor Sarah Ifft- Opinions Editor Jasmin Ortiz- Contributing Writer Emily Mahan- Staff Writer Bri Bullion- Contributing Writer

Jimmy Boutte- Staff Writer Beau Kemp- Staff Writer Amy Lucas- Staff Writer Bria Schwartz- Staff Writer

The Bells newspaper is a biweekly publication, owned and published by UMHB. Editorials express the opinion of the author; opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, staff and/or the university. Feedback from various points of view is encouraged.

Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, email address and phone number. The Bells reserves the right to edit grammar, punctuation, length and relevance.

The Bells mission is to represent the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor community through print and electronic media. The Bells strives to serve the campus and community through reporting fair, accurate and relevant news. The Bells adheres to the standards, policies and procedures established by UMHB. Email: thebells.umhb@gmail.com

Campus Phone: 4598

4

Wednesday, August 29 2018

The Bells

Life & Arts

While campus offers us a good selection of food, sometimes students want to get around to explore area eateries. But because It can be daunting to figure out an area’s dining options when you first arrive at your new school,

we have compiled a short list of some of the restaurants here from a huge selection actually available in the area. These restaurants offer a bit of variety in types of food from some of our nearby restaurants, and can offer

By Madeline Oden, Bria Schwartz and Jasmin Ortiz Assistant Editor, Staff Writer, and Contributing Writer 1. B Town Burgers- A juicy burger joint located at 508 Sparta Rd near Belton High School. This burger joint offers both dine in and drive through options. The food here is wellpriced and sure to please many low-budget college students with big appetites. It is rated 4.6 stars on Yelp and 3.5/5 by our own Cru Crunch writer.

2. Dead Fish Grill- This lakeside seafood joint meets all your seafood cravings. Everything from catfish, to Cajun, to pasta all at an affordable price. Make sure to swing by on the weekends for live music and an amazing view. With 4 stars on Google, home-style comfort food is only a 10 minute drive from campus, located at 2207 Lake Road by Belton Lake.

Feel free to sit inside to soak up the A/C or sit on the patio and enjoy the nice lake breeze.

3 Schoepf’s Bar-B-Que- This classic barbeque restaurant features customizable dining options. It is rated 3 stars on Yelp and 4.3 stars on Google. There is plenty of room for large groups and it offers carry out options. It is located at 702 Central Avenue and is open seven days a week.

Graphic by Sarah Ifft, Madeline Oden/ The Bells

Cru Crunch: a freshman’s guide to hidden treats in the area

a start in new students’ exploration of enjoyable and delicious food experiences while attending UMHB. To find more available restaurant options, continue to follow the Cru Crunch series or check out your local Yelp.

4. The Gin- Open daily for lunch and dinner, this steakhouse is set in a 1920’s building with a menu filled with delicious Texas-style meals. With sandwiches, burgers, chicken and tacos, you can’t go wrong when ordering from The Gin. Conveniently located at 219 S East Street beside Nolan Creek, foodies can enjoy a variety of good food in the center of town. This Gin is just a short 4 minute drive from the heart of campus. It is rated with 4.2 stars on Google and 3.5 on Yelp.

5. Sweet Confections- Located at 2449 N Main St., this little café has sweets and sandwiches galore. Although they specialize in homemade desserts, the sandwiches are also a yummy treat. This is a sweet stop for those looking for a quick sweet tooth fix and it is conveniently close to campus. It has a 4-star rating on Yelp and a 3.2/5 by our own Cru Crunch writer.

6. Jersey Mikes- Located off of Main street in the Walmart shopping center and across from Taco Bell, Jersey Mikes is a delicious sub shop that’s fast and takes Cru cash.

7. JNeely’s Burrito Bar- Want Mexican food but don’t want to go to a formal restaurant? Then the Burrito Bar is the place for you. Here you can build your own tacos, bur-

ritos, bowls or quesadillas or munch on delicious appetizers like queso tots, fries or taquitos. Located at 127 Lake Road, JNeely’s is the place to go to chill out with some friends and eat some affordable Mexican food. It has 3.9 stars on Google and 3.4 stars on Yelp.

8. Coronas De Oro- This Mexican restaurant is located in the same plaza as the Gin. Many forget it is there because it sits in the Gin’s shadow, but don’t let that fool you. It has many diverse and delicious dishes. A perk of its location is that after you eat, you can get frozen yogurt across the plaza to cool down from the spice. It is rated 4 stars on Google and its address is 219 S East St. 9. Luigi’s- This Italian restaurant is located on 2805 TX121 Loop and is highly recommended by both students and local Beltonians. Students can buy savory pasta dishes or a big plate of lasagna. You get a lot food for what you pay. It is rated 4.1 stars on Google.

10. Popeyes- There are many fast food restaurants in Belton but many forget we have this fast food restaurant because it is hidden on the other side of I-35. Don’t forget about this restaurant, because it has good meals at a cheap price. It’s quick, easy and affordable for college students.

Dorm room cooking 5-10 minute mug meals

By Bri Bullion Contributing Writer Here are five quick, easy, and affordable microwavable mug recipes to make in your dorm this semester. don’t forget to cover your mug to reduce overflow.

1. Microwavable Mac and Cheese in a Mug For this yummy treat, you need 1/3 cups of pasta, 1/4 cups of water, two tablespoons of milk and 3/4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.

Combine the water and pasta in a large mug and microwave on high for two minutes.

Repeat this process twice, stirring between two minute intervals.

Remove your mug from the microwave and stir in milk and cheese.

Microwave the pasta for one minute and enjoy your treat. (recipe courtesy of babble.com, Kelsey Banfield) 2. French Toast in a Mug Every lazy Saturday morning needs a classy brunch to set the mood for endless hours of mindless cartoon watching.

For this tasty treat, you need 1 1/2 to two slices of bread, one egg, three tablespoons milk and a dash of cinnamon.

Tear the bread into small pieces and place them in your mug.

Combine the egg, milk

and cinnamon in a separate mug or small bowl. Pour the egg mixture into the mug with bread and press the bread down with a fork so it can absorb the liquid. Microwave for one minute or until fully cooked.

Remove your mug from the microwave and enjoy your brunch. (recipe courtesy of spoonuniversity.com) 3. Omelet in a Mug For this tasty breakfast on the go you need two eggs, one tablespoon of milk and your favorite omelet toppings.

Crack the eggs into your mug and add milk. Combine the milk and eggs by beating them together with a fork and microwave them for one minute.

Add your favorite omelet toppings and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.

Remove your mug from the microwave and enjoy a tasty breakfast while you head to class. (recipe courtesy of spoonuniversity.com) 4. Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole in a Mug This simple recipe requires two broccoli florets, five tablespoons rice, 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, a pinch of salt, four tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese, three tablespoons of milk and 2/3 cups of water.

Combine the rice, broccoli and water in a mug and microwave for four minutes.

When the rice is fully

cooked, add cornstarch, milk, grated cheese and a pinch of salt.

Place the mug back in the microwave and heat for one minute and 30 seconds.

Remove the mug from the microwave and enjoy your personal casserole. (recipe courtesy of biggerbolderbaking.com) 5. Brownie in a Mug Every great meal needs a great dessert, and this delicious brownie recipe is the perfect ending to any Friday night meal with friends.

To make this fun dessert, you need 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, two tablespoons unsalted butter (melted), 1/4 cup milk and chocolate chips.

Combine all-purpose flour, light brown sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder in a mug.

Stir the mixture with a fork until smooth. In a separate mug or small bowl, melt the butter.

Combine the cocoa powder mixture, butter, and milk and microwave for one minute.

Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until there is no liquid left at the top of the mug.

Remove your mug from the microwave and arrange chocolate chips on top.

Enjoy your tasty, chocolatey dessert. (recipe courtesy of eugeniekitchen.com)

Photo courtesy of Addie Cadmus

This is how freshman Christian studies major Addie Cadmus’ decorated her dorm room with fun decorations that surround her space.

Tips and tricks to decorate your college dorm room

By Sarah Ifft Staff Writer

Freshman year can be scary and exciting all at once.

Making new friends, finding out where all of your classes are, staying on top of your college courses, getting involved in the community and finding a church home are all new things to juggle.

What better way to prepare for the year than to spruce up your living environment?

Decorating and organizing your dorm room will help build your feng shui and ease you into the year ahead. While you’re doing your homework, you want to have a nice and relaxing environment to do so.

Some ways to create a calming atmosphere in a small space are: •Succulents (on a window sill or desk) •Wallflowers fragrance plugs •Carpet/rug

•Posters/wall art •Standing lamp •White board/cork board calendar Feeling home sick?

Here are some remedies: Make sure to bring reminders of your friends and family to keep them close, even if they aren’t physically present.

•A photo wall mural on a bulletin board •Photos on the wall with washi tape borders •Picture frame of family/friends •Knick-knacks from family and friends, or items reminding you of your town Dorm rooms are tiny, so when friends or guests come over, the living space becomes even more cramped.

Here are some ways to add more seating: •Fold up chairs with cute cushions •Beanbag chairs •Inflatable chairs Want to stay organized?

There are many thrifty and

creative ways to store your belongings in your dorm room.

•Colorful plastic bins to stack on top of each other •Mason jars for pencils and pens •Hanging closet organizer (for snacks, larger items or shoes) In addition, make sure you check your dorm’s guidelines to see what you can and cannot decorate with.

For instance, some living spaces with sheetrock walls require you to use picture hanging nails and thumb tacks instead of command strips.

Talk to your RA if you have any questions regarding what you can use.

Remember, it is important to make your living space as welcoming as possible so you can relax, socialize and study in an appealing environment.

This is now your new home, therefore it is essential to love where you live.