Championship celebration, pg. 3
First ONE of the year, pg. 4
Spread the love on campus, pg. 5
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Volume 164, Issue 2
Students prepare for Cru Knights
Photos by Madeline Oden/The Bells
Student Government Association representative Andrew Millhorn (left) and Baptist Student Ministry representative Beau Kemp listen to directions during a Cru Knights rehearsal in Walton Chapel. By Emily Mahan Editor-In-Chief Who doesn’t love Crusader Knights? It’s a fun opportunity to laugh, cheer on your friends and vote for your favorite contestants. Since 1993, Cru Knights has been one of the most popular traditions on campus each spring. Various campus organizations select male students to participate in this lighthearted event.
Sader Belles Amelia Enokian (left) and Eliza Blackley (right) teach the Cru Knights representatives steps to a group dance. Men L-R: Connor Tubbs, CJ Speer, Brett Howell, Logan Aucoin, Dakota Stark, Chris Box and Samuel Kinnin. Cru Knights is often described as a spoof of the Miss Mary Hardin-Baylor pageant, which has been an annual campus tradition since the 1950s. The men even perform the same stroll that the women do in their pageant. This always earns plenty of cheers and laughter from the crowd. Participants create a video skit based on the year’s theme, which is played for the audience during the event. On the night of the event, the men participate in a
group dance and individual walks. After the judges score them in these areas and the audience has submitted their votes, the finalists are announced. They then answer interview questions presented by the reigning Miss Mary Hardin-Baylor. Finally, the judges crown the new Mr. Crusader Knight and announce other awards including Campus Choice, Best Video, Best Spotlight and the Timothy Award.
The reigning Mr. Crusader Knight is alumnus Caleb Fitzwater, who represented McLane Hall in 2018. He will be present at this year’s event to pass on the title. Also present will be Miss Mary Hardin-Baylor, Briana Frederickson, a senior social work major who represented Phi Alpha in this year’s pageant. See Cru Knights, pg. 2
UMHB celebrates Black History Month By Randi Whalon Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Mary Hebison
L to R: Sophomore elementary education major Emma Mathis and sophomore criminal justice and sociology double major Valerie Krauser greet people at The Gathering in Bawcom Student Union.
Baptist Student Ministry’s new home encourages student involvement By Brianna Bullion Staff Writer UMHB’s Baptist Student Ministry has experienced some exciting changes this semester. The BSM has relocated to the second floor of Bawcom Student Union and received a new interim director, UMHB alumna Mary Hebison. Hebison, who graduated in 2014, was involved in several organizations at the BSM during her time as a student, including the Ministry Leadership Council and Drama Ministry. She also served as the co-president of the BSM. Additionally, she was a part of the Texas BSM Lead Team. After she graduated, Hebison began to work as
an oncology nurse at Scott and White Medical Center in Temple. She is continuing to pursue this career while she serves as the interim director of the BSM for the spring 2019 semester. “This is very new for me,” Hebison said “This is a really big adjustment for me because it isn’t anything I’ve ever done. But, when I was a student here I was involved in the BSM, so I’ve been able to see it through several different levels. I’ve seen the BSM through the student side, so seeing this through the office side has been very interesting. Luckily, my boss at the hospital has been very accommodating so I can still work at Scott and White while I work
here.” The BSM has also relocated The Gathering. This event, which allows students to worship and have fellowship with one other in a friendly environment, was originally held in the BSM sanctuary. Now, the event is held in the McLane Great Hall located on the third floor of Bawcom. “This is kind of bittersweet, but there is a lot of sweet with it,” Hebison said. “We are excited to be more centrally located. I love that students can come by here without having to walk all the way to the old building. You don’t really walk by that part of campus, but you walk by this part all the time. We
also like having events like The Gathering in a more central location. We are working on redefining where the BSM is and what the identity of the BSM is. It’s still a work in progress, but there is definitely a lot of progress.” Various specialized ministries within the BSM have also had to relocate to different buildings on campus because the old BSM building is being repurposed as a counseling center. However, even though the ministries and events are being relocated, the BSM is still looking forward to helping students grow in their Christian faith and walk with God during their time at UMHB. See BSM, pg. 2
Diverse cultural backgrounds, ethnicities and mixed races have been a true pride of the UMHB family. As February is Black History month, UMHB is finding unique and inclusive ways to celebrate the historical month. Black History Month is an annual celebration that occurs every February in honor of African-Americans and their past, present and future achievements. It has been 93 years since Black History Month was first recognized as a national holiday in the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. When it first began, it was only a week-long celebration held on the second week of the month, coinciding with the week that Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in 1865. Kicking off the month is an art exhibit held by UMHB’s art department. The “Black to the Future” art exhibit, curated by seniors Chriscina Lampkin and Danielle Demetria, features artwork created by African-American students majoring and minoring in art. The exhibit will be featured in Baugh Center for the Visual Arts on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. Danielle Demetria East, a senior whose artwork will be displayed, is excited that UMHB is putting on this event to honor Black History Month. See Celebrating, pg. 2 Sophomore Randi Whalon addresses her peers at the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference at Texas A&M in January.
Photo courtesy of Jasmine Thompson
2
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
The Bells
Campus News
BSM: New central location on campus Continued from pg. 1
Above: Sophomore education major Hannah Walker and junior sociology major Nathan VanDolzer spend time in fellowship with attendees at The Gathering on Jan. 29. Right: BSM Lead Team members gather for a picture with the interim director. Back row: Paul Slack, Hannah Walker, Interim Director Mary Hebison and Hailey Rodgers. Front row: Kaitlyn Anderson and Ally Jordan.
“We’re leaning on some old things that were already established. We want to go back to [our] roots,” Hebison said. “We want to figure out what exactly the mission statement means to the BSM and to UMHB and how we accomplish what the mission statement said. What we have started to figure out is that a lot of the BSM’s purpose is to provide opportunities for students to grow, give and go. A lot of this semester is defining.” The BSM may have a new face and new location, but it will continue to follow the same mission statement it followed prior to the shift in leadership. According to the BSM page on the UMHB website, the mission statement is “to provide ministries and opportunities that allow students to grow in Christ, give in
service, and go into the world to share the love of Jesus.” “I love seeing the changes that are happening in the BSM, and I am so excited to see the students are excited,” Hebison said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Lord working in a really clear way. The Lord has been really faithful in offering clarity. I’m expecting to see the clarity continue throughout the semester. I am really hoping to see students grow in
the Lord, and I am hoping to see students go out and share their faith with others.” To find out where different BSM ministries are meeting after the relocation, visit https://go.umhb. edu/students/bsm/home. If you have any questions about a specific ministry or want to learn more about the BSM’s mission, send an email to bsm@ umhb.edu.
Photos courtesy of Mary Hebison
Celebrating: Black History Month Continued from pg. 1 “I have a sculpture in the show. It’s called ‘She’s Gotta Have It’, East said. “I went around UMHB and got different black women to write on these cement blocks about their perspective as a woman of color.” The English department is also participating in the month’s celebrations by hosting its third annual Black History Month Creative Writing Contest. Students can submit works of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. A panel of writers will deliver their creative pieces in McLane Great Hall on Feb. 13 at 2:30 p.m. In addition to activities at UMHB this February, The Association of Black Students (ABS) attended the 31st Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference, which was held at Texas A&M in College Station from Jan. 17-19. The conference focused on empowerment and leadership. Jason Kontchou, a junior at Texas A&M and the Co-Executive Chair of the SBSLC, attends every year. “I got involved in SBSLC my freshman
process of the conference, so I applied and got onto the executive staff for the 2018 conference. It has truly helped me grow more into the person that I am today. SBSLC has developed me as a leader, a professional and as an individual.” ABS members attended the conference specifically to sharpen their minds, learn how to network with other businesses and to improve their professional skills. This was UMHB’s third year attending, and according to the students, it was the best one thus far. “At this conference, we focused on our self-worth, professionalism, and we practiced with our networking skills,” sophomore Jasmine Thompson said. “EvPhoto courtesy of Jasmine Thompson ery time I attend this conference, I leave Clockwise from left: ABS members Randi Whalon, Mikala Stevens, Khalil HayesReed, ABS adviser Cynthia Tryon, Alisia Boyd, Samantha Ogoh, George Hicks, Ximia feeling empowered and ready to take on anything thrown my way.” Moore, Kalen Chatman and Carter Williams all sit down for breakfast at SBSLC. SBSLC ended with a semiformal banquet hosted for the students. Actor and “It made me feel at home with my year,” Kontchou said. “It was supposed activist Lamman Rucker was the keynote to just be something to put on my re- school,” he added. “I fell in love after exspeaker, delivering a powerful speech sume, something to do for fun. However, periencing my first conference and ever that emphasized not underestimating I quickly realized it was so much more since then I’ve just wanted to be more one’s self and giving one’s all to be sucthan that. I felt like it gave me a purpose. and more involved in the planning and cessful.
Cru Knights
Continued from pg. 1
Senior special education major Jimmy Boutte represented Remschel Hall in Cru Knights during his sophomore year in 2017. “I really enjoyed meeting new people on campus when I was in Crusader Knights,” he said. “I also enjoyed the dance practices. Even though we messed up, we still had a lot of fun.” He is excited to attend the event this year. “I am excited for this year’s Olympic theme, because I always enjoy watching the Olympics.” This year, there are 16 men participating in Cru Knights. The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Walton Chapel. Students are encouraged to come out and support their friends and classmates who are participating in this fun tradition. To keep up with Cru Knights, follow CAB on Twitter (@CAB_UMHB). L-R: Jonah Sizemore, Chris Box, Samuel Kinnin, Richard Rogers, Seth Blankenship and Jaden Napolez strike a pose during rehearsal for Cru Knights. Photos by Madeline Oden/The Bells
What are you most excited about for Cru Knights? Jaden Napolez Association of Texas Professional Educators
CJ Speer Campus Activities Board
Beau Kemp Baptist Student Ministry
Seth Blankenship Search Cru
“I am excited to see the entire show come together as a whole. All of the contestants, film staff, directors, emcees, choreographers and the head of set crew have put countless hours into this year’s production! I really believe the audience will love the show!”
“I’m most excited to get up on stage with the guys and just have a good time, hopefully make some people laugh!”
“I am most excited for the relationship I have built with the guys. We have grown really close during practices, and I have no doubt that we will stay friends after Cru Knights.”
“I’m most excited for seeing what our improv sections will end up looking like and seeing the final result of all the hard work and long hours we’ve been putting in. We’ve got an amazing and hilarious show planned.” Photos by /The Bells Page design by Randi Whalon and Emily Mahan Front page design by Emily Mahan
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 3
The Bells
Features One
Crusaders celebrate 2018 Stagg Bowl victory By Brianna Bullion Assistant Editor
A long line of people snaked around the walls at UMHB’s Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center to celebrate the Crusaders’ Division III championship victory over the University of Mount Union at the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XLVI. Elyssa Childress, a junior nursing major, attended the event to support the Cru. “I didn’t realize that Belton supported UMHB as much as they do. It’s cool,” Childress said. “I’m excited to be here to show my support for the Cru alongside the community.” The UMHB campus store sold national championship merchandise at the celebration to help the community show their love for the purple and gold. “The celebration is great. We are glad to be a part of it,” Debbie Cottrell, manager of the campus store, said. “I think we sell
championship merchandise every day. We feel like we have a vested interest in supporting this victory.” Many alumni attended the celebration to support their alma mater. Among the alumni present was Don Bechtel, who graduated in 2008. “I love this celebration. I think the football team is awesome,” Bechtel said. “One of my favorite memories from my time at UMHB is when the university gave me and my family free tickets to every game. We went to the games and still go to them even though I have graduated.” Bechtel attended the championship game and was excited to see his team win. “Oh my gosh. It was almost like I was a player on the field. Just being at the game and cheering on the Cru was awesome,” Bechtel said. James Stafford, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at UMHB, was
Day in Belton. She concluded her speech with a hearty “Go Cru!” The presentation continued with state Representative Hugh Shine. “Folks, we have the only NCAA championship team in Texas,” Shine said, earning cheers and claps from the audience. “There is no other team in Texas with two national championship titles in three years.” Col. Al Simmons, Commander of the 61st Quartermaster Battalion at Fort Hood, spoke to everyone Photo by Brianna Bullion/ The Bells about Coach Pete FredenCrunk autographs a poster on the floor for a young fan. burg and his achievements at UMHB. among the faculty mem- UMHB’s Sports Informa“Next to faith and famtion Director, began the ily, serving your country is bers present at the event. “It feels fantastic to presentation. the most important thing,” “It is becoming a little Simmons said. “We appresee everyone here,” Stafford said. “These are the bit of a habit to come cele- ciate all the lives you have fans who pushed our team brate a national champion- touched on campus. People throughout the season. ship,” Wallin said before like you, Coach, make the This is very heartwarm- introducing Marion Gray- world go ‘round.” son, Mayor of Belton. ing.” Justin Gaidusek, Presi“I am so proud to be the dent of the UMHB Alumni The celebration included an opportunity for fans to Mayor of Belton, where Association, presented get autographs and a pre- UMHB is,” Grayson said Coach Fredenburg with sentation honoring the Cru before she proclaimed Jan. honorary alumnus status. football team. Jon Wallin, 31, 2019 Crusader Football “You exhibit the quali-
ties of a Crusader,” Gaidusek said. “We would like to bestow you the honor of becoming a Crusader forever.” After accepting the distinction of becoming an honorary alumnus, Coach Fredenburg congratulated his team members on their victory and thanked the university for their support. “Our success is because of the university’s commitment,” Fredenburg said. “You can’t imagine how fun the ups and downs of the season were to culminate it all in the end. Let’s go back in 2019!” Wallin concluded the presentation by congratulating the team and thanking them for their hard work. “We are proud of the players, not just because of what they’ve done but because of who they are.”
See more photos online
Campus opens food pantry in Mabee Student Success Center
Senior Starr Rivers poses next to the Burt Hall sign in the Fall 2018 semester in order to compare it with a photo she took with a similar sign in the fall of 2015 when she first arrived. Since then, Rivers has accumulated multiple awards as a part of the speech team at UMHB.
By Emily Mahan Editor-In-Cheif
Photo courtesy of Starr Rivers
Starr Rivers awarded place on Texas forensics team By Brianna Bullion Assistant Editor In a room full of college debate students, Starr Rivers stands out. The talented senior film studies major has worked to finesse her forensic speech skills during her college career here at UMHB. Rivers has advanced to the prestigious American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament and the National Forensic Association’s Championship Tournament in the last four years. She is also the first student from UMHB to qualify for AFA every year of her college career. At the recent Texas Intercollegiate Forensic Association State Tournament, Rivers was one of 10 students named to the All-State Forensics Squad. “It has been an amazing four years doing UMHB Forensics,” Rivers said of her time with the speech program. “I have grown so much as a performer and person. Doing speech is a lot of hard work and dedication, and I am proud to have stuck with it. It is such a rewarding experience.” While Rivers’ accomplishments are astounding, she feels that she would not have been able to achieve them without continuous support from her professors and a strong work ethic. “Starr’s work ethic is excellent,” Forensics Director Kathy Owens said. “I never have to worry about her getting her ‘homework’ done. We meet twice weekly, and I give
her tasks to complete before our next meeting. “In addition to her work ethic, though, Starr has quite a bit of natural talent,” Owens added. “She seamlessly moves from character to character in her performances, showing a great deal of empathy in each one. Through her performances, Starr has not only entertained but has been a fierce advocate for racial equality. Her performances are truly inspiring.” The debate circuit that Rivers competes in is very competitive because it includes all of the schools in the area, no matter how big each school’s program is. Among the schools the UMHB debate team competes against is the team from Wiley College, which preforms on a $100,000 budget because they are funded by Denzel Washington, who filmed “The Great Debaters” at their college. “The competition is extremely rigorous,” Rivers said. “The competition is hard and challenging, but so worthwhile and beneficial, because it makes you a better competitor.” While Rivers has accomplished qualifying for these events, she must compete at the tough level of competition against thousands of debate students across the country. “Competing on the national level can be intimidating,” Rivers said. “Nonetheless, I feel so blessed and proud to be able to break some barriers that a small school like UMHB
has not done yet. I take pride in my accomplishments, but at the same time I know there is still work to be done. There’s always new things to learn. I can always do better and be better.” Rivers is thankful for everyone who has helped her achieve her goals in the competitive forensics circuit. “When it comes to support—number one for me is God,” Rivers said. “I couldn’t do the amazing things I do without His grace. Next is Kathy Owens. She has always seen my potential, even before I saw it myself. Old teammates and UMHB alumni Katie Stringer and Carlee Jo Skinner are amazing friends and have always encouraged me. Lastly, my parents, siblings and close friends have always been there for me. I especially want to thank my mother—who is definitely my biggest supporter. I have always had a village of love and support in anything that I do and I am so blessed to have that.” She works for countless hours to make sure her speeches are perfect. “It’s fun putting stuff together for speech,” Rivers said. “I start with a topic that I’m really passionate about and then find literature that I can perform that reflects my argument. I have done poetry interpretation, prose, dramatic interpretation and more,” Rivers said. Rivers will be heading to the University of Alabama and California next, for both national events.
There’s no doubt that college is expensive. After paying for tuition, textbooks and transportation, many students find that there isn’t that much money left over for food. Sometimes, UMHB students can have a hard time getting enough to eat. However, a new resource for students has opened to help alleviate this problem. UMHB Enactus is an organization that focuses on bringing about change through entrepreneurial action. In order to combat food insecurity among UMHB students, the organization founded The Source, an on-campus food pantry specifically for students. The Source opened for the first time on Feb. 4. Dr. Terry Fox, a professor of Business Computer Information Systems, serves as the faculty adviser for Enactus and was instrumental in founding The Source. In 2018, Fox was approached by Dr. James King, another business professor, about opening a food pantry on UMHB’s campus. “He (King) shared with me a newspaper article that was in the Waco paper about Baylor opening up a food pantry on their campus,” Fox said. “We worked with Dr. Skaggs and put together a survey that we sent out last spring to all of our students.” The results showed that over 40 percent of UMHB students have experienced food insecurity in the past year. When they realized the severity of this problem, they knew that something had to be done to fix it. Fox presented the idea to the members of Enactus, who were enthusiastic. “Dr. Skaggs and I worked throughout the summer and last fall putting together what a campus food pantry would look like,” Fox said. “We’ve had a variety of folks across campus that have pitched in and helped with this project.” After plenty of hard work and many generous donations, The Source is officially open. Sadly, food insecurity is a problem on many college
campuses. According to The Source’s page on UMHB’s website, “Food insecurity among college students is a cause of poor academic performance, poor class attendance, lack of proper school supplies, and dropping out of college.” Opening The Source is a major step toward eliminating food insecurity among UMHB students. The Source is located in Mabee 228, and it is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. It is also available by appointment. Students will be asked to show their Cru card upon arriving at The Source, but they will not need to provide their name. Students may also complete an optional questionnaire regarding the food products they need the most. Each student can select up to 15 items per day, and volunteers will be available to answer any questions. With
some smaller food items, such as granola bars, students can take more than one and have it count as one item. Students are asked to bring their own shopping bag or box to carry their food. Fox wants students to know that they shouldn’t feel afraid or ashamed to come to The Source. “Don’t worry about there being a stigma,” he said. “This is simply a perfectly acceptable alternative way of getting the food that you need.” According to their page, “The Source is not intended to meet a student’s entire food needs, but rather be a source wherein students will not need to worry about having to make a tradeoff between school and food, and will not have to go to bed hungry.” The Source is a great resource for students, and a huge step towards eliminating hunger.
Photo by Emily Mahan/ The Bells
One of the student volunteers at The Source, junior public relations major Sarah Fox, stocks the shelves of the food pantry on Monday, Feb. 4.
The Bells University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - Publisher Dr. Randy O’Rear - President Dr. Rebecca McEntee - Adviser Leadership Team Emily Mahan: Editor-In-Chief Brianna Bullion: Assistant Editor Production staff: Editors/Writers/Designers/Photographers/Artists Beau Kemp Randi Whalon Amy Lucas Kayla Williams Madeline Oden Online Coordinator: Katherine Frerich Contributing Writers: Jimmy Boutte, Brienna Sprinkle
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 Page design by Madeline Oden
4 Wednesday, February 13, 2019
The Bells
Features Two
Students come together for worship at ONE
Photos by Amy Lucas /The Bells
Members of the Temple Bible Church worship band, including pianist Mary Rojo, performed popular contemporary Christian music to lead worship at Walton Chapel on Jan. 30. By Brienna Sprinkle & Kayla Williams Contributing Writers UMHB students from various denominations and backgrounds put the chaos of the new semester on pause for a campuswide worship service called “ONE” in Walton Chapel on Jan. 30. They worshipped and held their arms up high as members of local churches and First Baptist Temple’s college pastor Evan Duncan led the worship. Participating local churches were First Baptist Belton, First Baptist Temple, Vista Community Church and Temple Bible Church. The night started off with a quick meet-andgreet. Then, as the Temple Bible Church band got up to play, the crowd immediately stood up to sing songs of praise. Lead singer and piano player, Mary Rojo, inspired with the songs “Defender,” “Glorious Day” and “Good Good Father.”
This event was an opportunity for students to gather, take their focus off of the stress of a new semester and enjoy a time of worship with people from different churches. The atmosphere of ONE is always very energetic and full of excitement as students from all across campus gather together. Many students refer to the event as the highlight of their semester. “It feels very unified, as it is all the churches coming together,” junior Christian Studies major Hannah Murray said. “It also feels almost electric, as if the students are excited to all be together to worship!” The event kicked off with the passing of the peace, led by Mary Hebison, interim Baptist Student Ministry director. This tradition involves turning to one’s neighbor, grasping hands and speaking the words, “May the peace of God be with you,” and then re-
sponding with, “and also with you.” This tradition set the tone for the event. “I love the passing of the peace because it is ancient and has been done for forever,” Hebison said, “It is a
“It feels very unified, as it is all the churches coming together,” -Hannah Murray symbol of unity, and that is what we are here to do. It is also a fun and simple way to meet new people.” Pastor Duncan spoke to the crowd about discovering God’s will. He also said that people should be focusing on and living out the Word of God each and every day of their lives. One student in particular appreciated what Duncan had to say. “My favorite thing was getting to hear Evan speak
and being able to hear a different college pastor who believes similarly to you,” sophomore marketing major Eunice Michaelson said. “It was cool listening to him preach the word of God and being able to hear what is going on in his church.” Duncan also described how the ONE event originated. “UMHB used to have a Wednesday night service through the BSM,” he explained. “As local college ministries started flourishing, it was a struggle not to compete. The university reached out to the local college ministries about doing something together… something that embodied the idea of unity.” Duncan went on to describe why ONE encourages students to step out of their regular church group in a setting that is outside of the classroom, and why it calls on the inclusion of various denominations. “As a former UMHB student, college ministries
were very tribal and cliquey,” Duncan said. “The goal is for us to model what unity looks like and that we are not in competition. It communicates to students that you do not have to treat others differently because they are from a different church.”
Eunice Michaelson said that she definitely plans to attend the next ONE event, which will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. in Walton Chapel. Organizers reiterate that all students and the local churches are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The energetic music of the Temple Bible Church band at the ONE event at Walton Chapel inspired worshippers.
“The Kid Who Would Be King” conquers box office By Jimmy Boutte Contributing Writer When I first saw this movie trailer, I thought that it was going to be the dumbest movie ever. The graphics looked terrible, and it did not look interesting. I guess it is true what they say… looks can be deceiving. “The Kid Who Would Be King” is about a young boy named Alex and how he pulled the sword Excalibur from the stone. Alex and his friends go on an epic quest to stop an evil enchantress named Morgana. Alex is played by Louis Serkis, and he is the main hero of the movie. I thought that he played a noble character. He is just starting at a new school, and he felt like an outcast with his friend Bedders, played by Dean Chaumoo. He then has to be brave when the sword in the stone picks him. He chooses two other students to help him. The two other students are school yard bullies, Lance and Kaye, played by Tom Taylor and Rhianna Dorris. These
characters see the world as you better be tough or you are going to get stepped on. This is why they bully people like Alex and Bedders. They join Alex on his quest just to benefit themselves. This is a great lesson for all of us. Whenever we only think about ourselves we fail. They soon learn that when they work together with Alex they can succeed. The mighty sorcerer Merlin also helps Alex and his friends on their journey. I like how this character takes a back seat so Alex and his friends can be the main heroes of this great story. There was a scene where Morgana is taking to Merlin and he is telling her that it is the kid’s time to shine and not theirs anymore. This reminds me that the children are the future. Young Merlin is played by Angus Imrie and adult Merlin is played by Sir Patrick Stewart. I liked the introduction in this movie. It shared the original King Arthur story with great animation. The story was that there were corrupt rulers wanting to take the kingdom from Arthur but, he united his enemies and made them allies just
like Alex did in this movie. It shows us that jealousy and corruption have always repeat themselves throughout history. This movie reminded me of the mov-
ies that my mom and dad took my sisters and I to. It was very nostalgic and I am glad that I got to see this movie.
Photo Courtesy of TNS
Right to Left:Protagonist Alex played by Louis Serkis, Bedders played by Dean Chaumoo, Kaye played by Rhianna Dorris, and Lance played by Tom Taylor all ride into battle to defeat Morgana.
Photo by Randi Whalon/The Bells
Two teams of UMHB students compete during the Intramural Men’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in Mayborn Campus Center. Players from left to right are senior Federico Cortez, senior Jacob Chesser, senior Anthoni Estrada and junior Ryan Ridley. Page design by Amy Lucas
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 5
The Bells
Life & Arts Graphic by Madeline Oden/ The Bells
Dazzling date ideas
Activities for singles on Valentine’s Day By Madeline Oden Staff Writer Being single on Valentine’s Day can be fun – and nobody needs to feel lonely beause they don’t have a date or significant other for the occasion. There are plenty of things singles can do to have fun on Valentine’s Day. 1. Appreciate the day. First things first, approach Valentine’s Day as another fun special day – not just for couples, but for everyone. For instance, you can see it as special day for love and community. You have the chance to love your neighbors, your friends and family and even yourself. 2. Stay in and pamper yourself Valentine’s Day is all about love, so why not love yourself enough to treat yourself to a DIY spa day or read your favorite book? 3. Host a game night. Invite over other single friends to have a fun night of games and activities. Play board games, charades, video games, you name it. Accompany this with snacks and refreshments and you have the perfect game night.
Photo courtesy of TNS
4. Watch a movie marathon. You can choose to stick with the love theme or choose your own genre. Snuggle up on the couch with some warm, buttery popcorn or other snacks and dim the lights for the perfect movie marathon. You can even invite a friend over to watch it with you. 5. Get out and about with friends. Go out to eat with your single friends or go see that movie you’ve been wanting to watch. Go bowling with your buddies or check out some local shops. Treat yourself to a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant you don’t go to often. Ultimately, Valentine’s Day is a day that you make, so make it how you want it.
By Brianna Bullion Assistant Editor
Valentine’s Day is a day for celebrating love. While many people choose to celebrate using heart-shaped balloons, boxes of chocolate and romantic dinners at expensive restaurants, a unique date is sure to make a lasting impression this year. If you have found yourself scrambling around trying to figure out how to impress that cute person from class who you finally got the nerve to ask out, The Bells has you covered. Here are five fun date ideas to make your Valentine’s Day the best one yet. 1. Bake something together. It’s no secret that everyone loves a tasty treat. Whether you bake brownies, cookies or a decadent chocolate cake, you and your date will end up with delicious sweets that you can both enjoy. To make things even more interesting, make it a competition! To see who can make the best treat, invite some friends to taste your baked goods and make it a double date. Whether you win or lose, this date idea will definitely impress the person you’re spending this Valentine’s Day with.
Spreading the love By Amy Lucas Staff Writer When February 14 is mentioned, shades of pink and heart-shaped candies immediately come to mind. Valentine’s Day is a time when love is celebrated all over the world. While Valentine’s Day is devoted to showing the people around you that you love them, we often get caught up in the commercial side of the holiday. So, in addition to the mass amount of sweets consumed throughout the day, try challenging yourself to share love with others in simple but impactful ways. Here are a few ways to share the love around campus and the community: 1. The small things: Sharing love doesn’t always have to be a large, romantic gesture. Everyone has those days where nothing seems to be going right. Small acts of kindness can turn a person’s day around and lift their spirits. You can hold a door or elevator open for someone, compliment a friend, offer to help someone with their homework or give someone a hug. 2. Write a note: Back in elementary school when it
came time to open valentines, the small card with a simple ‘to’ and ‘from’ written on it was quickly torn away to reveal a sweet treat. If you plan on sharing valentines with your friends, try taking the time to write them a note telling them how much they are loved. Kind words can let people know how much they are appreciated. 3. Donate: A big part of sharing love with others is giving. There are people in every community who struggle daily with providing for themselves and their families. If you have old clothes or coats, donate them to Goodwill or a homeless shelter. Instead of buying that third tub of ice cream, buy a few cans of food to donate to a local food pantry such as The Source at UMHB. 4. Pay it forward: More often than not, people have things they need or want to pay for, but they are not able to because of limited funds. Offering to pay for someone’s meal or coffee can be more beneficial to them than you know. Whether you’re helping a friend or a complete stranger, you could help make someone’s bad
day great. 5. Take a meal: Nothing eases the soul quite like the smell of a homemade meal or a fresh-baked dessert. While at college, students tend to eat out often because it is convenient or because they do not have the time or the means to cook a homemade meal. Make a friend’s day by offering to bake them some fresh cookies or by inviting them over for a homemade meal. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to make an elaborate, fivecourse meal. A warm bowl of spaghetti or oven-baked chicken can please the heart (and stomach) of almost anyone.
2. Have a game night. Board games are always fun, especially if you play them with loved ones. You and your date could play some fun card games, or you could make it a double date and play endless rounds of Trivial Pursuit with your date and friends. This date would also save you money on that expensive Valentine’s Day dinner, because everyone knows board games and pizza delivery make the best team.
3. Try a new dinner recipe. If you’re trying to plan a nice dinner on a tight budget, you can surprise your date with a new recipe that you can prepare together. Pick a few recipes for your date to choose from and head to the grocery store together to grab the ingredients you need. After you’re done preparing and enjoying your meal, you can package your leftovers and deliver them to people in need this Valentine’s Day to help spread the love. 4. Have a movie night. Everyone loves a good movie. This Valentine’s Day, you and your date can visit a local theater to watch a good movie together. If you want to save money, you can make a list of your favorite movies and watch them together with a
Photo courtesy of TNS
bowl of popcorn and some hot chocolate. You could even invite some friends over for a fun double date or watch some classic musicals for a singalong. 5. Write a cheesy love poem. If you want to make your date laugh this Valentine’s Day, you can take turns writing cheesy love poems for each other. Pick some classic love songs and create your own poem using lines from different songs, even if they don’t completely make sense. You can also make a list of your date’s features, like their eye color, hair color or favorite color and create your own mad-libs using an old love song. Remember, the cheesier the better!
Spending this Valentine’s Day with your pet? By Kayla Williams Staff Writer Many people on Valentine’s Day don’t always have a special someone to spend their time with. Instead, many choose to enjoy it with their pets. Statistics show that American households this year alone will spend about $647.9 million on gifts for their cats and dogs (finder. com). However, whether it’s spoiling them with a treat, hitting the outdoors, or just watching a movie together, pets will always enjoy getting the attention from their owners. After all, Valentine’s Day is about spending it with the ones you love, even the furry ones!
6. Sponsoring: If public gestures are not your cup of tea, an alternative option could be to sponsor someone who has a financial goal they are trying to reach, including support for hospital bills, schools, new church buildings or mission trips. In addition, sponsoring a person who is in need or someone who is trying to reach the needy can be a blessing to those who give and receive. Whether you are giving to a friend or to someone you have never met, every little bit truly does count.
Love across campus
Photo courtesy of Kathy Owens
Photo courtesy of Rebekah Proctor
Photo courtesy of Thad Imerman
Photo courtesy of Sarah Ifft
L-R: Dr. Kerry and Kathy Owens celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on a cruise to Alaska. Junior international business major Rebekah Proctor and her husband, Jeffrey Proctor, who is earning his Master of Arts in Counseling at UMHB, embrace at their wedding ceremony on Dec. 15, 2018. Senior journalism major Thad Imerman snaps a selfie with his fiancee Enid Burgos. They got engaged on Dec. 23, 2018 in Boone, Iowa. Junior public relations major Sarah Ifft smiles with her boyfriend Andrew Ortega. They have been dating since Feb. 10, 2018.
Page design by Brianna Bullion
6 Wednesday, February 13, 2019
The Bells
Sports
UMHB baseball hopes to bounce back after difficult season By Beau Kemp Staff Writer
The weather is warming up and it is starting to feel like spring. This can only mean one thing: UMHB baseball is back. As a fan, I am feeling optimistic about this season. Head coach Ben Shipp shares this point of view. “I am optimistic. I am excited to see what this year’s roster does. Looking at them during practice I can tell they are hungry. They want this season.” Shipp has been impressed by the team’s commitment to practice, great work ethic and determination. One of the team’s strengths last season
was their fielding percentage. Out of the 36 players on last season’s roster, 12 of them had a perfect fielding percentage, and 10 others had a fielding percentage of above .900. When asked how he plans to attain the same success this year, Shipp said, “We had a great season defensively, and a few of the players this year are returners. We felt as if we were lacking at shortstop last year. We had a shortstop last year that left us after 15 games, and this year we have a committed freshman shortstop. We also signed a great defensive freshman first baseman from Round Rock. We have great speed in the outfield, and with the returners, we always hope to see improvement.”
Practice makes perfect. This is a saying that still holds true because practice does produce good results. As Shipp stated, the returners are expected to have a great season defensively. The new players can look up to the strong team leaders who have experience and wisdom to share. This year’s roster has seen a large number of freshmen joining the team. When asked if he thinks this could be a detriment to the team, he stated, “No, I don’t feel like it does. Most of the freshmen we have joining us this year are pitchers, and that happens sometimes. They are very talented, and I am confident that they can get the job done.” The Cru kicked off their season on Fri-
day, Feb. 8, in Grand Prairie against the Bulldogs of Texas Lutheran University. Although the team started off strong, earning two runs in the first inning, they were ultimately defeated 9-5. On Saturday, Feb. 9, the Cru played the Tornados of Concordia University at the same location. It was a tough game for UMHB, and the team ultimately lost 10-1. This past Sunday, the Cru faced Hendrix College in Grand Prairie. It was a hard-fought battle all the way to the end, but ultimately, Hendrix got the upper hand and defeated the Cru 6-4. This weekend, the team will face Schreiner University in Kerrville. To keep up with the team, go to cruathletics.com.
Women’s basketball expected to finish season strong
After the game against Concordia University on Saturday, Feb. 9 at UMHB, both the Crusaders and the Tornados gathered at midcourt to pray together. By Madeline Oden Staff Writer The women’s basketball team is victorious again after winning their home game against Concordia University on Saturday, Feb. 9. During the first half of the game, both teams had great form and strategy, each fighting to keep the lead. The Tornados quickly took the lead during the first quarter, but the Cru gave them little time to celebrate as they quickly edged ahead In the second quarter, the Cru kept the lead, and the Tornados only managed to get within fifteen points of the Cru. By the end of the first half, the score was 39-22. As the second half started, the Cru didn’t let the Tornados breathe before scoring within the first few minutes of the quarter. They continued to grip tightly to the lead for the rest of the game. UMHB won 7250 and earned the right to host the American Southwest Conference Championship. The Cru’s teamwork was impressive. Excellent footwork, great passing skills and great aim helped secure their win. Senior criminal justice major Antania Newton complimented the team’s efforts. “It was great,” Newton said. “They played like a team and played with a lot of patience and poise.” This is the team’s second consecutive ASC division championship. “It was a good win,” head women’s coach Mark Morefield said. “After having five games on the road it was good to come back home and get back into the winning streak.” UMHB will close out the regular season with home games against Sul Ross on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. Then, the Cru will play Howard Payne on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. Both games will be held in the Mayborn Campus Center arena. The ASC Championship Tournament will be played Feb. 2123 at Mayborn. This will be the first time the Crusaders have hosted this event. The team is looking forward to a strong season finish and a victory in the championship tournament.
Photos by Madeline Oden/ The Bells
Left: Junior guard Alicia Blackwell dribbles in between junior guards Kaycie Duncerley (front) and Leigh Westbrook (back). Right: Sophomore guard Madison McCoy dodges junior guard Alyssa Marquez as she drives to score for the Crusaders. See more photos online
UMHB softball anticipates a successful season By Beau Kemp Staff Writer
Cru softball is in full swing, and fans are excited to see what the team has in store this season. Last season, the team finished with a record of 10-29. The Cru advanced to the American Southwest Conference Championship tournament and finished the championship series 3-1. Despite this loss, the softball team still had an outstanding season, finishing with a 21-8 record in their conference games. They started the season off hot, not allowing more than four runs until the seventh game, when they lost by a margin of two points. One of the team’s great-
est strengths was their offensive power. The team’s overall batting average was .307, and they had 34 home runs and 225 RBIs. Key pitching and solid defense led the team to a 2.54 ERA, 118 strikeouts and a .964 fielding percentage for the season. Head Coach Larry Hennig, who has coached softball at UMHB since 2010, said, “We’re pretty optimistic every year. We have a good blend of experience and new talent on the roster. I feel like we have the opportunity to do very well this year talentwise. [It] doesn’t look like we have any shortages. The scrimmages looked very well. Our pitchers did great, and the defense also did well.
Photo courtesy of Cru Athletics
Crusader head softball coach Larry Hennig is entering his ninth season in this position. Our offense was a bit up and down during the scrimmage, but that was due to it being the first at bats of the season. Many people don’t realize we had a good
reputation for home runs and we stole over 80-something bases last season. Hopefully, we find the right combination of power and speed this season.” It is hard to gauge whether this year’s team will have similar statistics because the roster has a large number of freshmen. There are 22 players on the roster, 10 of whom are freshmen. However, Hennig does not feel as if this will be a detriment because the upperclassmen have stepped up to guide them. He said “The upperclassmen understand that this is the first [time] in a while that they have freshmen that can step up and fill these roles. In previous years, we had only one or
two freshmen, and this year we have several. All they lack is experience. They are great athletes and are very talented. It brought the team much closer with the older players stepping up and guiding the freshmen.” In most sports teams, a leader emerges quickly in the beginning of the season. When asked if there were any particular players that have stepped into a leadership role, Hennig said “There are two, actually. Emily Bounds, our senior catcher, has stepped up to lead the team, and that’s what catchers do. Another player that has stepped up is Courtney Cummings. In the four years she has been with us, she has played three differ-
ent positions, and we have asked her to go back to the outfield. She has stepped in and made everyone feel comfortable and has been instrumental in bringing the team together.” The Crusader softball team kicked off this season with a doubleheader on Feb. 7 at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. Although they played well, they lost the first game 6-5 and the second 8-5. On Feb. 8, the Cru played Pacific University in a doubleheader at the same location. They lost 10-0 and 6-5. Despite the slow start to this season, there is still plenty to look forward to from this promising team.
Page design by Madeline Oden and Beau Kemp