Hosting Christmas parties, pg. 4
Cru football: undefeated season, pg. 6
Art department to sell pottery, pg. 3
Volume 163, Issue 7
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Beloved Baptist Student Ministry director Shawn Shannon retires
Jessica Rodriguez/The Bluebonnet
Above: Dr. Shawn Shannon (left) leads the class of 2021 in the “Watermelon Chant” before the Love CTX portion of Welcome Week in 2017 in front of Luther Memorial. During Love CTX, students volunteer at local nonprofits in the Belton area. Right: Dr. Shawn Shannon holds up a “Wanted” poster at a photo booth at the carnival during Welcome Week in the fall of 2018. Photo courtesy of Randy Yandell
By Thad Imerman Contributing Writer After 18 and a half years of service to UMHB, Dr. Shawn Shannon, Director of the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) is set to retire at the end of this semester. Shannon, a strong spiritual woman, will be following the will of the Lord to Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, where she will be a Minister of Spiritual Formation.
For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing Shannon, there are two words that would describe her passions in life: discipleship and people. Shannon answers questions in such a way that makes it clear that she cares about people first. When interviewed for this article, she would close her eyes and think for several seconds, almost as if she were seeking God’s assistance in answering the question. It was
her love for people, and her desire to always follow the will of God, even as early as her days in college, that transformed her into who she is today. “When I went to school, I knew that I wanted to do something that had to do with people and their souls, the things that matter,” Shannon said. “Really, the things that matter and the things that last are kind of a short list, but they have to do with people, the Word
and the will of God.” Shannon has been involved with campus ministry for the last 38 and a half years. She got her first job at Stephen F. Austin State University in July 1980. Prior to coming to UMHB, she also spent time working in campus ministry at Baylor University and Houston Baptist University. “When I was in my last year of campus ministry at Houston Baptist, I felt like the Lord was loosening my
roots and about to replant me,” Shannon said. Shortly after that, she received the invitation to come to UMHB. She toured campus one weekend with three people whom she said would be most impacted by her decision. “And on the way back, we sensed that the Lord was calling me to whatever was delightful, whatever was difficult and whatever was dutiful here,” she said. Shannon accepted the po-
sition at UMHB in May 2000. In her 18 and a half years at UMHB, Shannon has held the same title. She said the position falls under Texas Baptists, and that she has been “assigned” by that organization to the four universities during her career. In the College of Christian Studies, Shannon taught a class on discipleship and disciple-making from 2015 to 2017. See BSM, pg. 2
Cru advances to quarterfinals By Brenton Martin Contributing Writer
The temperature was perfect for football, not too hot and not too cold. On that beautiful afternoon, the Crusaders kicked off their second playoff game against the Berry College Vikings in round two of the DIII football playoffs at Crusader Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 24. Berry College elected to receive the ball first at noon. The Crusader defense did not fold and UMHB found the end zone first. Senior quarterback De’Nerian Thomas and senior wide receiver T.J. Josey made a connection with a 13-yard touchdown pass. The 5-play, 39-yard drive only took two minutes and 29 seconds, which put UMHB ahead of Berry College 7-0. As the Crusader defense took the field again, Berry could not find a way to move the ball. UMHB forced another three-and-out and Berry elected to punt. Junior quarterback Jase Hammack led the offense down the field for another score. The crowd erupted as Hammack found sophomore wide receiver K.J. Miller on a 34-yard touchdown pass to further the lead to 14-0. The 3-play, 50-yard drive only took one minute and 21 seconds to find the end zone. Just like the previous drives, UMHB stands tall on defense like they have all year and forced another punt. In a 31-second drive, UMHB found the end zone again on
Photo courtesy of UMHB Sports Information
UMHB senior quarterback De’Nerian Thomas carries the ball as junior Blake Phillips of the Berry College Vikings follows in pursuit during the game at Crusader Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 24. a 2-play, 16-yard drive. Senior running back Markeith Miller capped off that drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to expand the lead to 21-0 over Berry College. Shortly afterward, Berry College elected to punt due to the power of the mighty Crusader defense. On a 3-play, 32-yard drive, the Crusaders scored a 7-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Marquis Dun-
can to put UMHB up 28-0 at the end of the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, both teams seemed to struggle to get things going. Berry drove down the field after each team turned the ball over. Just as the Vikings thought they were finally going to put some points on the board, they thought wrong. Berry College went for a field goal, but it was blocked by
senior linebacker Santos Villarreal. The field goal was recovered by senior linebacker Jalen Martin, which helped to spark some energy into the Crusaders. With eight minutes and 41 seconds left in the half, UMHB found the end zone again on a 3-play, 40-yard drive. Markeith Miller punched in a 21-yard touchdown run, which put UMHB ahead 34-0. After another shutout on defense, UMHB was back on offense as they tried to keep the ball rolling. UMHB moved the chains for two minutes and 42 seconds as they put together a 6-play, 72-yard drive. De’Nerian Thomas found the end zone himself with a 2-yard touchdown run, which expanded the difference to 410. Shortly afterward, on just a 4-play, 65-yard drive, Markeith Miller was in the end zone again on a 5-yard run. Right before halftime, UMHB was leading 48-0. At the start of the third quarter, each team struggled to score. UMHB and Berry College each began the quarter with empty possessions. However the struggles ended after Berry College punted the ball away to K.J. Miller, who had an electric 27-yard return. Then UMHB put together a quick 1-play, 46-yard drive. De’Nerian Thomas found junior wide receiver Jonel Reed for a 46-yard touchdown reception. This score furthered the lead to 55-0. See Football, pg. 2
Photo courtesy of Claire Henry
Putt for a purpose By Amy Lucas Staff Writer The event marketing class at UMHB hosted “Putt for a Purpose” on Nov. 12 to benefit Food for Families. For just one can of food as a ticket, students enjoyed a 15-hole, glow-in-the-dark putt-putt golf course in Lord Conference Center inside of the Parker Academic Center. Dr. Mindy Welch’s event marketing class also provided treats for the students, including Shipley’s doughnuts, popcorn and refreshments. Junior public relations major and marketing minor Mary De Acetis provided some background on the event and why it was created. “The purpose of this class was to plan an event,” De Acetis said. “We studied what to do in different situations and then got to execute what we learned.” Students from the class were split up into groups and were assigned different holes to design, using cans of food as obstacles. The class reached out to local businesses, asking them to sponsor one of the 15 holes. The students then decorated each
hole to represent the business that sponsored it. “They were able to give us a check and we created a sponsored hole. Each hole was made out of cans and then those cans will be donated to Food for Families,” De Acetis said. Food for Families is an annual food drive that begins at the start of each holiday season. Canned food is collected by various organizations on the Friday before Thanksgiving and then donated to a local food pantry. The Central Texas drive, made up of nine participating counties, including Bell County, is backed by the Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America, H.E.B. Grocery Company and KWTX News 10. De Acetis shared why their class chose this nonprofit to benefit. “We chose this because we know Food for Families is a big nonprofit for Bell County and we wanted to help families who could not afford food for the holiday season.” If you would like to donate to Food for Families, or would like more information, visit www.foodforfamiliestemple.com.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2018
The Bells
Campus News
Editor-In-Chief bids farewell By Lauren Lum Editor-In-Chief I’m not the same person I was three and a half years ago, when I was welcomed into the UMHB family by overly excited Cru leaders and dozens of students and professors as they unpacked my car and took my stuff into Remschel Hall. I was scared and insecure. I’ve learned several lessons since then, made friends, met some awesome people, and hopefully gained enough knowledge to do well in my chosen career field. Being Editor-In-Chief of The Bells for the past two and a half years has truly been an honor and privilege I will never forget from
my college experience. I believe that journalism is about people and telling their stories. It’s about getting reliable news to the world. I’ve had the great honor to write about a deaf author, a heavyweight champion, a martial artist, a single mother going to school, a group of young men and women preparing to protect our country at all cost, and so many more interesting people doing amazing things. Thank you for letting me tell your stories. They deserve to be told. To inspire others. To learn from. To make others cry or laugh. To give you a voice. I should’ve probably had a cot in Heard Hall, considering the number of hours I’ve spent in the journalism lab. Plus, I’ve watched many UMHB events behind the lens of a camera, trying to get the perfect shot. I want to say thank you to my former and current advisers, Mrs. Jessa McClure, and Dr. Rebecca McEntee. Thank you for telling me
when I could do better. Thank you for encouraging me and helping me grow in my writing, editing and layout abilities. Thank you for the late nights you’ve spent with us in the lab away from your families. To my current and former staff, y’all have truly been a joy to work with. I couldn’t put together a paper by myself. Each of you is so incredibly talented, and seeing your ideas, your designs, your writing on the pages is so awesome. Sometimes I have ideas that I have no clue about how to actually carry out, and you take it and run with it (The Life Board, for instance!). Thank you for your friendship. I’m going to miss spending time in the lab together, going to TIPA (Texas Intercollegiate Press Association) and working on publications with y’all. I want to challenge y’all to continue to move forward. Take beautiful, lasting photographs. Tell more people’s stories. Report the news. But most importantly, stand for truth. God has given you all incredible talents; use them for His glory. I wish you all the best, and I will miss you. Finally, congratulations to the UMHB class of 2018 graduates. “Into the future we will go.”
Photos by Jasmin Ortiz/ The Bells
Editor-In-Chief Lauren Lum is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting. Lum was The Bells editor for two and a half years.
BSM: Shannon leaves big shoes to fill next semester Continued fron pg. 1 It was in that class that she had an impact on many people, two of whom were Bryan Guice and Mike Harrigan. Guice is a senior at UMHB and Harrigan graduated in December 2017 and currently serves as senior pastor at Fairview Community Church in Copperas Cove. “She taught me a lot about how to stick with and how to learn and work with the spiritual disciplines,” Guice said. Harrigan was impressed with the close connection Shannon fostered with students in her classes. “She made it very personal, and we all ended up leaving that class … real close friends, and we all stayed in contact still.” Harrigan also said that Shannon had a big impact on discipleship training, especially at his church, because he still uses what she taught him. UMHB President Randy O’Rear said that Shannon knew how to interact with people in the most helpful
and supportive ways. “She always knew how to say the right thing to offer encouragement when facing difficult challenges,” O’Rear said. It didn’t seem to matter for how long or how little time someone knew Shannon. Take, for example, University Chaplain Dr. George Loutherback and David Alicea. While Loutherback has known Shannon for over 30 years, dating back to their time as colleagues at Baylor University, Alicea is a UMHB student from Killeen and has only known ShanPhoto courtesy of Russell Norman non since the beginning of Dr. Shawn Shannon poses with a friend as he holds a cross this fall semester. Loutherback is grateful for during Beach Reach in 2012 in South Padre. the opportunity he has had to God isn’t very far off, beAlicea was not the only work with Shannon over the cause she is the epitome of student to mention how years. what I consider a spiritu- welcoming she was. Jacob “I feel like after I visit with ally mature individual,” Chesser, a student worker her that I’m a better person. Loutherback added. at the BSM who has known I come away with a sense Alicea discussed her warm, Shannon for 2 and a half of gratitude and a sense of welcoming nature. years, explained that Shanhumility and [a] sense of “She was just so welcom- non was the reason he got a being drawn closer to God, ing, and she made me feel job at the BSM. because I’ve talked with her at home here. Being away “I came and talked to her at and she’s challenged me to from my home church in Cru Camp, and she was just grow spiritually,” he said. Killeen, she made me feel so encouraging and prayed “I’ve always said when like I was part of a new fam- for me … really made me Shawn Shannon is around, ily,” he said. feel at home on campus here
… almost like having a parent on campus watching out for you,” Chesser said. Another student referred to Shannon as a family member. “Well, I call her my UMHB grandma … just being there for me in hard times, especially being away from home,” Katya Jimenez, who is in charge of Church Relations on the BSM’s Lead Team, said. “I remember my freshman year, that being a big thing, too, and that’s how she became my grandma here,” she added. Jimenez also mentioned that Shannon doesn’t always have the words to say in every situation, but will listen and pray when she doesn’t. This was something UMHB’s Vice President of Student Life Dr. Brandon Skaggs experienced. Skaggs was also a student at UMHB and graduated in 2003. “During my time as a student, I can still remember sitting on the steps of the SUB, or Mabee Student Success Center, contemplating why I was here at Mary Hardin-Baylor … and she
just sat and listened, so it was a very meaningful time where she was a great friend and mentor to me,” Skaggs said. Words that constantly rose during interviews with students and faculty were “mentor,” “friend,” “encourage,” “pray,” “disciple” and “family.” Hearing Shannon’s heart when interviewing her directly was beautiful, but to hear multiple words being used frequently by different people was truly something special. To be a bit cliché, if Shannon’s life was an iceberg, this story barely touched the visible portioin of the iceberg above the water. Even if the entire student body and all faculty members were interviewed, it would probably take a while before someone either did not know Dr. Shawn Shannon, or who would say that he or she was not impacted by her. Filling her shoes in the coming years here at UMHB will be a tall order. Meanwhile, Tallowood Baptist in Houston has a real gift coming to its congregation.
Football: Cru crushes Vikings, plans to win more Continued from pg. 1 Following that defensive possession, UMHB hauled in an interception from Jalen Martin. Martin pitched the ball back to junior cornerback Keith Gipson, who took it all the way for a 42-yard
touchdown, making the score 62-0. The crowd went wild as the UMHB defense pulled out their bag of tricks for that score. The following UMHB possession was a success as they found the end zone
again on a 3-play, 50-yard drive. Marquis Duncan punched in a 2-yard run to further their lead over Berry College 69-0. On the following drive, Berry College finally got on the board with a 36-yard
touchdown pass from Mason Kinsey to Tate Adcock. That touchdown brought the score to 69-7. As Berry College kicked off, UMHB fumbled the ball as it went out of the back of the end zone, making it a safety. At the end of the third quar-
ter, UMHB was ahead 69-9. As things dwindled down in the fourth, UMHB ran out the clock to get the victory. However, they did it all after finding the end zone again with a 2-yard run from Marquis Duncan. The final score was 75-9 as
the Crusaders put a beating on the Vikings to advance to the third round of the DIII playoffs. UMHB will be hosting the Johnnies of St. John’s University at Crusader Stadium in Belton. Kickoff will be Saturday, Dec. 1 at noon.
11 things you need to know before finals By Bria Schwartz Staff Writer Well, it’s that time of year again when students are bombarded with finals and stress and studying and stress and more stress…. The UMHB Center for Academic Excellence’s Priscilla Foster recommends getting yourself organized. “Use a planner and study, study, study.” Below are some great tips that you can use when you are studying for your finals. 1. Find a clean, quiet place to study that is free of distractions. Maybe your bed is not the best place to study because you know you will be tired. Try studying at the library, Mabee or even the quad. 2. Put away your phone completely. Turn it off. Put it away. Put it on “Do Not Disturb.” Use an app that prevents you from checking social media. Do whatever you need to do, just put it away. 3. Have a study timeline. Know what you will study, when. Prioritize. Know your limits. Have a stop time. Maybe even schedule some time with friends to chill out after a long day of study-
ing. Everyone is drowning and we all need a break. 4. Actually sleep. If you’re cramming everything the night before the exam, chances are you won’t remember it anyways. Sleep is needed in order for your brain to actually remember what you’ve been studying. Set a bedtime and tell yourself to get to bed and stop studying by that time so you won’t feel so groggy the next day. 5. Make study guides. Break down your notes into important topics and then make a study guide based off of that. Try quizzing yourself or getting with friends who have the same class and study with them. 6. Use the Pomodoro Technique. Break down your studying: for every 25 minutes studied, have a five minute break and do some jumping jacks or eat a healthy snack. Another tip: after studying one subject for two hours, switch to another subject. You won’t feel as bored and tired if you keep switching it up. 7. Don’t just memorize the materials. Comprehend them; you are more likely to recall them when the time comes. 8. Reward yourself. If you finish
studying something that you really didn’t like or that you didn’t think you could finish, reward yourself with a sweet, take a walk or watch an episode of your favorite show. 9. While studying, eat healthy snacks. These will keep you and your mind sharp. Don’t abuse caffeine. When abused, it actually has the opposite of its intended effect. Stick to water while studying. And limit your caffeine intake during the final as well. Caffeine can make you jittery and more anxious than you already are, and nobody needs that. 10. Believe in yourself. Relax. Before the test, accept that whatever happens, happens. Don’t beat yourself up afterwards; nothing good ever comes from that. Once you are finished with your exams, go out with friends and celebrate somehow. You deserve it. 11.Don’t forget to go to Finals Frenzy on Nov. 29 from 6-9 p.m. at the CAE. The CAE staff and tutors will be available to help for finals prep. They will be giving out snacks and prizes, and maybe even some scantrons. Come check it out, and good luck on your exams!
2018 photo courtesy of Christi Lichota
Professor bids farewell to UMHB after 18 years
George Hogan has been an assistant professor and director of opera/music theater for the music department at UMHB for the past 18 years. Before coming to UMHB, he performed at nearly every opera house in North America, throughout Europe and at the famed Australian Opera House in Sydney. He has also received many awards and high praise for his work. Under his direction since 2005, the Opera Cru has performed for over 70 thousand area stu-
dents. His wife, Penny Hogan will stay as an assistant professor in music at UMHB. “I am really excited for him because he is pursuing something he is excited about.” Penny Hogan said. He is resigning from UMHB to travel to New York twice a month to teach, audition, and pursue voice-over work. He will hold a farewell concert on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. in Baugh Performance Hall in the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 3
The Bells
Special Focus: Christmas
rnament making
Graphic by Sarah Ifft/The Bells
By Madeline Oden Assistant Editor
Students got a chance to create fun Christmas tree ornaments in Bawcom Student Union on Thursday, Nov. 15. Those who participated were given instructions by students who were in the math for elementary teachers and art methods classes. The math class, taught by Dr. John Snow, and the art methods class, taught by Robin McLaurin, combined their class time so that their students could come together for a special hands-on lesson. Instead of spending time in class, students got attendance for working the booth while it was open. Around 60 students from both classes participated in the event, bringing in students, giving instructions and preparing materials. The art methods class made the signs and prepared the materials while the math students gave instructions and essentially taught oth-
ers how to make an ornament. Dr. Snow explained that they held this event because the students in the math for elementary teacher’s class are currently discussing polyhedrons, which are three-dimensional shapes. “[Students] might make shapes like these in their classrooms but they also might make them in elementary art classes as well, so it seemed like a natural thing to come together for this little project,” Dr. Snow said. Many students stopped by and made ornaments. Some students made over 10 and others made one for the road. Everyone appeared to have a great experience decorating and folding their ornaments. Sophomore social work major Soravia Thomas made an ornament at the event. “It looked difficult at first but it turned out to be really easy and fun,” Thomas said. “I definitely want to make some at home too.”
Photo by Madeline Oden/The Bells
Freshman social work major Micki Hutchins (right) and freshman marketing major Jared Poe (left) are instructed by Robin Mclaurin (middle) on how to make Christmas ornaments.
Photo by Madeline Oden/The Bells
Senior special education major Reagan Black hangs the ornament she made on a Christmas tree set up in Bawcom Student Union.
Photo by Madeline Oden/The Bells
Students came to decorate and create their own Christmas ornaments in Bawcom Student Union on Nov. 15.
A Central Texas Christmas By Bri Bullion Contributing Writer Christmas is less than a month away! The most wonderful time of the year calls for some fun activities to do with your friends and family, which means you’ve probably already looked for fun Christmas events in the area. Here is a list of five fun things to do in the area to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with your family and friends.
Photo courtesy of IMDB
“Elf” premiered Nov. 7, 2003 and has an 83 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Tis the season for a movie marathon By Bri Bullion Contributing Writer It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is less than a month away, which means more time spent in front of fireplaces with a mug of hot chocolate and a classic Christmas movie in front of you. The real question is, which movie should you watch? With hundreds of Christmas movies to choose from, your options are endless. While the variety of films may be exciting, many people find the options intimidating. In case you find yourself in a situation that leaves you questioning which movie to watch, here is a countdown of the top five classic Christmas movies to choose from: 5. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” This TV special details a young reindeer’s journey that takes him from being an outcast to a hero. Rudolph was born with a bright red nose, which made him stand out among the other reindeer. Rudolph is treated like an outcast and the other reindeer choose to ignore him until Santa asks Rudolph to guide his sleigh on a foggy evening because of his bright nose. If you’re looking for a fun film that will have
you singing countless refrains of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” for days, this special is right for you! 4. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” This holiday favorite tells the story of Charlie Brown’s struggle with the real meaning of Christmas. Charlie Brown is ambivalent towards Christmas and doesn’t understand why the people around him love it so much until he goes to find a Christmas tree for his group of friends. His friends want a fake Christmas tree that does not resemble a real Christmas tree at all, but Charlie Brown brings back a small tree that disappoints his friends. Charlie Brown’s friend Linus reminds the gang what Christmas is all about when he recites the Christmas story from the Bible. This TV special provides a sweet reminder of what Christmas is really about. 3. “White Christmas” This fun film tells the story of four friends who are putting on a Christmas show in rural Vermont. They run into General Waverly, who tells them that his inn has encountered some financial trouble. The group decides to put on a
1. Christmas on the Chisholm Trail This event features craft vendors, food vendors, holiday music and fun activities for your family and friends to participate in. The event also features a holiday parade. This is an annual Christmas event held by the city of Belton to celebrate Christmas and foster community in Belton and its surrounding cities. The event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1 in downtown Belton. For more information, visit the Christmas on the Chisholm Trail Facebook page.
Christmas production to help raise money to save the inn. If you’re searching for a fun movie full of musical numbers and heartwarming love stories, you will enjoy this film. 2. “It’s a Wonderful Life” This movie details a businessman’s struggle with understanding the importance of his existence. His business is failing during the Christmas season, and he is questioning whether he should end his life. Seconds before he plummets to his death, an angel appears to help him see why his life is important. If you’re looking for a holiday tear-jerker to watch with a box of tissues at your side, this is it. 1.“Elf” This quirky movie tells the story of a man named Buddy who has been raised as an elf in the North Pole. Buddy leaves the North Pole to find his family and spread Christmas cheer with a world of people who can’t seem to grasp the real meaning of Christmas. Buddy’s cheerful nature ultimately saves Christmas. If you’re looking for a funny movie full of quotable lines about Christmas cheer, this movie is perfect for a good laugh.
2. Salado Christmas Stroll This annual event features a live Nativity, carriage rides and a performance of “The Christmas Carol.” Businesses are open late during the stroll, which means you will have more time to do some Christmas shopping in the charming stores lining the streets of Salado. The event starts with a parade on Thursday, Nov. 29 and festivities continue until Dec. 9. For more information, visit the Salado Christmas Stroll Facebook page. 3. Christmas on the Farm This event features several activities for families, including mini hay rides, a country store and the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event costs 50 cents per person and $2 per family. The profits from the event will be donated to AWARE Central Texas, an organization that works to prevent child abuse in Central Texas. Christmas on the Farm will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Bell County Expo Center. For more information, visit the Christmas on the Farm Facebook page. 4. First Friday Santa Fest
This event is used to celebrate the first Friday of December and includes live music and craft vendors. The event also features the opportunity for Christmas shopping with local vendors and merchants. There will also be an opportunity to take a picture with Santa. First Friday Santa Fest has activities for all ages and will be happening on Friday, Dec. 7 in downtown Temple. For more information, visit the First Friday Santa Fest Facebook page. 5. Temple Christmas Parade The city of Temple will be hosting its 72nd annual Christmas parade on Monday, Dec. 3. The theme for this year’s parade is “It’s Christmas! A Time for Peace, Love and Joy.” The parade will follow a tree lighting ceremony in downtown Temple and will introduce Santa to Temple for the Christmas season. This parade is one of the largest lighted parades in Texas and will proceed along Adams Ave. towards North 23rd Street. Spectators will find the perfect view anywhere along Adams Ave. For more information, visit the Temple Christmas Parade Facebook page.
Courtesy of Salado Christmas Stroll Facebook page
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
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Wednesday, November 28, 2018
The Bells
Special Focus: Christmas
Top 10 Christmas Songs by Amy Lucas Staff Writer
How to host a Christmas Party by Sarah Ifft Staff Writer
Music will always be a big part of the holiday season. If you are like me, the minute that cold weather hits, the Christmas decorations come out and the holiday playlist is put on repeat. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Christmas songs: 1. “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix This song immediately puts me in the Christmas mood because it reminds me of sitting in front of a warm fireplace and drinking hot cocoa with family. For that reason, it has been my all-time favorite song for Christmas. 2. “Winter Wonderland/ Here Comes Santa Claus” by Snoop Dogg (Pitch Perfect 2 Soundtrack) This is a fun and energetic mashup of two classic Christmas melodies that can put anyone in the holiday mood. 3. “Little Drummer Boy” by Pentatonix Pentatonix does an amazing job with this song, using their voices to mimic the sound of old-fashioned drums. 4. “What Child is This” by 98 Degrees Although it is the standard arrangement for this song, this 90s boy band creates a pleasant mood through their harmonies. 5. “Mary, Did You Know?” by Pentatonix This is another stunning performance by the acapella group Pentatonix. One of their most well-known covers, the band delivers a moving performance of the emotional story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. 6. “Mis Deseos /Feliz Navidad” (Duet with Thalia) by Michael Bublé This Spanish track brings some flavor to a normal Christmas playlist, combining a love story with the well-known Spanish Christmas anthem. 7. “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by Pentatonix A modern spin on this classic hymn makes this song pleasing and enjoyable for every generation. 8. “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber Ever since this song came out, it has been on every Christmas playlist, because it is a sweet Christmas love story with a catchy tune. 9. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” by the Jackson 5 Young Michael Jackson shined in all genres of music, but this cover of a staple Christmas hit gets everyone moving along with the beat and singing along. 10. “White Christmas” (Duet with Shania Twain) by Michael Bublé When the king of Christmas music meets a vocal powerhouse, the product is bound to be great. This classic duet is melodically smooth with a fun jazzy twist.
Pottery Sale Preview
Photos by Sarah Ifft/The Bells
Left: Junior studio art major Anjelica Cavazos molds a piece using the throwing wheel. This is a complicated task that takes a lot of practice. Right: Senior psychology major Clayton Dockery shows off his piece while adding the finishing touches to it. By Sarah Ifft Staff Writer Looking to get something unique and creative for the holiday season? Or maybe you just want to support local artists? Then you should check out the Christmas Pottery Sale, which will be located in Baugh Center for the Visual Arts on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The sixth annual Christmas Pottery Sale offers a chance to see and purchase some beautiful pottery made by students and faculty at UMHB. According to the campus website, the items for sale include mugs, bowls, vases and other useful pottery and art pieces. Professor David Hill has been teaching ceramics at UMHB for the past seven years. He is also the coordinator for the event. “After a year of teaching, [I] started the Christmas Pottery Sale in the fall of 2013,” Hill said. “It has grown every year since, and I’m very grateful for the support of our campus community each year.” Senior art education major Jessica Theilacker will participate in this event for the first time. Some of her work includes elegantly designed mugs and teapots, which she made using a tape resist
glazing method. “I’m looking forward to all the people who will come to appreciate these functional pieces and hopefully purchase a few things,” Theilacker said. “A piece that is handcrafted with love and patience and used in someone’s everyday life is what the ultimate goal of making pottery is for me.” Hill also expressed what he appreciates most about the event, which allows for the community to be able to experience and witness the wonderful art the students and faculty have worked on. “My favorite aspect of the sale is getting a chance to share a little of what we do in the art department with the rest of UMHB’s students, faculty, staff and the Belton/Temple community at large,” Hill said. “If it weren’t for the sale, the unfortunate reality is that much of what the students make in class would end up in a dusty box in a closet or attic. We’d much rather these handmade artworks to be treasured and used by someone.” “Students should come to the Christmas Pottery Sale to see what their friends and peers are making in the art department as well as what they would have a chance to learn if they took one of our classes,” Hill said. “It is also a great opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts for friends and family.”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With Christmas only about five weeks away, it’s not too early to begin thinking about what to do for the season. To add a little pumpkin spice to your holly jolly Christmas, have you thought about having a party? Why not throw a Christmas party in your dorm or apartment? Because we’re college students and we have to be wary about spending money, it is important to make a budget. One way to be realistic about your budget and still create a jolly atmosphere is to “start with what’s most important when it comes to hosting a Christmas party: paper goods, main dishes, appetizers, desserts, (UMHB appropriate) drinks, decorations, and tablecloths” (daveramsey.com). The blog goes on to say that if you run out of money as you buy the items, you can avoid buying the decorations that don’t matter as much as the main attractions. For decorations, you can get a small Christmas tree that can fit inside your apartment. Make sure you check with your RA or RD about what kind of lights you can hang, but if you can, Christmas tree lights will really make your living room stand out. One source suggests that a fun and cheap way to get decorations is to make your own. Including your friends in the decoration process is another sure way to start a fun and successful Christmas party. Another suggestion is to plan classic holiday activities such as stringing popcorn and cranberry garlands, or cutting paper snowflakes (voices.dyouville.edu). After the decoration portion is done, next you would need to plan either to cook or buy food. Naomi Michaelson is a junior education major who has hosted a few Christmas parties on campus with her friends, and she agrees that food is an essential ingredient in planning a party. “I think we all know that, especially in college, the main way to get anyone to go to anything is food,” Michaelson said. “Food is a very important part of a party. I personally love themed snacks, especially for holiday parties.” Cookie decorating is always a good idea for a Christmas party. Allowing your guests to be a part of the experience is even better. Also, you can never go wrong with hot chocolate. Providing these kinds of traditional treats is a sure way to keep your guests in a cheerful mood. Now that the party is well under way and your guests have settled in, you should plan to bring out some more activities. Some ideas are: having a holiday movie marathon, holiday karaoke, and secret Santa or white elephant (hercampus.com). You can use YouTube to pull up the lyrics for karaoke if you don’t have a karaoke machine. Emily Mahan, a senior English and public relations major, is the treasurer for the Student Event Planners Association. She is currently planning a Christmas party for Drama Ministry. “I’m focusing on coming up with delicious snacks and fun activities for everyone. I want everyone to have a great time,” Mahan said. Naomi Michaelson explains the mindset that one needs to be in in order to host a Christmas party. First, you need to think about what you’re going to do to make this party special,” Michaelson said. “Especially in college, we have a lot of “hangouts” with people, so what are you going to do to make this more than just another hangout? Secondly, you need to think about how to get people to come. What makes people want to go to a party? It could be the fun and games or it could be the friends and photo opportunities.” Mahan says that the best way to prepare for planning a Christmas party is to start as soon as possible. “If you’re planning a party, start early,” Mahan said. “You don’t want to put off preparations until the last minute and find yourself scrambling to get everything done. Starting early ensures that your party will be great.” Michaelson lists some ways to make sure you have a perfect holiday party: • Photo booths are always a hit. • Invite a lot of people. • Plan ice breakers for new guests. • Plan games and activities that are simple to explain. • Do gift exchanges. • Make a music playlist. • Decorate sugar cookies. • Get others’ ideas/collaborate. Like the saying goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” And what a great way to finish off the semester than by cherishing the holiday spirit with friends, and even new faces.
TNS
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 5
The Bells
Life & Arts
ABS talent show showcases students
Photo by Emily Mahan/The Bells
Decorated by accounting major and Editor-InChief Lauren Lum.
A peek at 2018 grad caps Decorating your graduation cap can be a great way to showcase your personality and style. We reached out to the December graduates to see how they have decorated their caps before the big day on Dec. 7, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Crusader Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Melinda Hernandez
Photo by Madeline Oden/The Bells
Decorated by business management major Leah Williamson.
Decorated by accounting major Melinda Hernandez.
Airbnb: a costeffective hotel alternative
Logo courtesy of Airbnb
By Lauren Lum Editor-In-Chief The holiday season is a popular time for college students to travel. Maybe you are flying to Colorado to go skiing, or headed to spend time with your family in Wisconsin for Christmas. Maybe you just want to take a good ole’ fashioned road trip with all your friends to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park to see the famous snow-covered peaks. You might even want to spend New Year’s Eve in the Caribbean on a warm, sandy beach. Whatever your reason to travel may be, finding hotels can be difficult and expensive. But there’s another, more affordable option: Airbnb. I recently stayed at an Airbnb property, and I never want to stay in a hotel again. Airbnb is a hospitality company that allows you to rent someone’s house, apartment, lighthouse, hut, treehouse, boat, castle, spare room, glamping tent, etc. instead of going to a hotel. According to their website, a vacationer can choose from 5 million places to stay in over 81,000 cities and 191 countries.
The site offers several filters to help you refine your search. These filters include destination, dates, property type, price, house rules and amenities. You must make a profile on the website or app in order to make a reservation. What I liked most about Airbnb was their prices, which are often much less expensive than hotels. For example, I was looking at hotels in Conroe where I could spend one night for a conference. The event coordinators provided a list of hotels that were offering discounted rates for attendees of the event, but the cheapest hotel rate was still $95. I logged into my Airbnb app, where I found a Conroe resident that was renting out two rooms (enough room for three people) for $40. This included kitchen privileges if I wanted to cook, Wi-Fi, a family room with a TV and exercise equipment, and a clean bathroom with towels and shampoo. Before renting the room, I read the hostess’ reviews to make sure that I would be staying in a safe neighborhood with a trustworthy family. I would recommend staying with someone that has many reviews instead of only a
few. Airbnb is a great website to use if you want to take a trip with friends but do not want to pay hotel prices. A condo that accommodates up to seven guests, located approximately seven minutes from the south entrance of Grand Teton National Park, can be rented on Airbnb for $88 per night. If someone were to get a group of friends together and split the cost, each person would only have to pay $13 per night. Another neat aspect of Airbnb is all the different types of spaces you can rent. I have never stayed in a treehouse, but Airbnb gives me that option. I’ve never been glamping, but I might go now that I can do so with Airbnb. A new feature of the company is Airbnb Plus. These spaces receive a special badge from Airbnb for having 4.8+ star reviews, and each space is inspected by Airbnb employees to ensure quality. As the holiday break approaches, plan a trip with friends and make memories that will last a lifetime. Airbnb will offer you a cost-friendly and unique alternative to a hotel.
Photos by Jimmy Boutte/The Bells and Natalie Blanco/The Bells
Left: Sophomore business management major Dale Gunlock sings and plays guitar at the ABS talent show on Nov. 13. Right: Sophomore Madison Henry, a health science major with a concentration in occupational therapy, performs a spoken word piece at the talent show. mance, and some people even said they felt emotional during his rendition of the Phelps song. Lip sync battles, songs, “The night went very well, poems, the spoken word, and everyone had fun,” and even poetry mixed Morrow said. with dance were all part of Along with the talent the Association of Black show, the organizations Students’ talent show in Churches Touching Lives McLane Great Hall on for Christ and Helping Tuesday, Nov. 13. Hands were there to accept One of these performers donations of winter clothes. was sophomore psychology Jackets, scarves, gloves major Caleb Morrow, who and other winter clothing performed as a member of items were collected for One Voice. He performed those who do not have them “Better than I” from the for the upcoming colder movie “Joseph: King of temperatures. The service Dreams” and “No More organizations were also acNight” by David Phelps. cepting non-perishable food It was a wonderful perfor- items for the approaching By Beau Kemp Staff Writer
Thanksgiving holiday. Overall, this event was a lot of fun and a great way to combine having a good time while still serving the community. This was a nopressure, fun event that you do not want to miss next year. “I think it’s great that the ABS was collecting donations to help people in need this holiday season,” senior education major Jimmy Boutte said. “I was impressed by the singing. I thought everyone did really well, but Caleb’s singing really touched me, because it was about God saying that everything is going to be okay.”
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” By Jimmy Boutte Staff Writer “Riddikulus.” If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will recognize this word and its meaning. It means to cast a spell on something or somebody while thinking of something silly – or to turn something that is scary to something silly. I thought this movie was “riddikulus.” This film, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” is the second in the new “Fantastic Beast” series. The film is directed by David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter movies and the first Fantastic Beasts movie. J.K. Rowling, who wrote all of the Harry Potter books, wrote the screenplay. This movie is about a wizard named Grindelwald and his quest to put wizards above muggles, a word used to designate normal people. He wants a very powerful wizard named Credence to do his bidding. It is up to a wizard named Newt Scamander and his friends to stop Grindelwald before it’s too late. Johnny Depp plays Grindelwald. His tactics were ruthless in this movie. If someone did not join his cause, then he would kill them. I thought that he played a great villain. I always like seeing Johnny
Depp on the big screen. Eddie Redmayne plays Scamander. This character had to struggle with picking a side. He did not like the Ministry of Magic and their extreme policies against Grindelwald. His brother was on their side. His name was Theseus and was played by Callum Turner, who also did a great job in his role. Ezra Miller plays Credence, who has a huge identity problem. He wants to know who he is, since in the first movie, we find out he is an orphan. I liked his acting. I felt like he was in one mode for the whole movie, which is lost. His girlfriend Nagini was played by Claudia Kim. Jude Law played a much younger Albus Dumbledore. He gave Newt the quest to find Credence. He was not on the side of the Ministry of Magic but he wanted Grindelwald stopped. They were friends previously, but he choose a different path. I think that people are going to relate to this character in the movie, because audience members probably have someone they love who chose a different path than they have. My favorite couple in the movie was Jacob Kowalski and Queenie Goldstein. They were played by Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol.
Their problem was that they were not the same. She was a wizard and he was a muggle. They could not be together because of the world’s prejudice. They both played their parts well. Queenie’s sister Tina was played by Katherine Waterston, who was also good in her role. What I liked most about this movie was the special effects. I also liked all of the characters’ powers. Every time I watch one of these movies, I always momentarily feel that I can do the things that they do. I also liked the darker tone that this one had. The thing I did not like about the movie was that it had too many subplots. There were so many things happening at once. It was hard to keep up with everything. The characters just go from one scene to the next without even explaining everything. I also did not like the transformation of Newt. In the beginning of the movie, he is one person, but he is someone else by the end of the movie. I also think that his character did absolutely nothing to further the plot. Even though the movie had a lot of flaws, I thought that it was entertaining. I am still left wondering what will happen next in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” was released on Nov. 16, 2018. It grossed $439.7 million in the box office.
6 Wednesday, November 28, 2018
The Bells
Sports
An undefeated season Crusaders end regular season 10-0 By Beau Kemp Staff Writer On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Crusaders traveled to Marshall, Texas to compete against the East Texas Baptist Tigers in Ornelas Stadium. The Tigers have had a pretty good season, sitting at 6-3 going into Saturday’s game. However, the Cru had been holding onto an undefeated season going into Saturday, and they were striving to keep a zero in the loss column. The Crusaders started the game with great field position on their first drive, only 11 yards away from the end zone. This drive was capped off in 40 seconds with two plays, one of which was a 3-yard rushing touchdown, another great performance by Markeith Miller. He was ultimately responsible for three Crusader touchdowns on the ground. Other Crusaders stepped up to the occasion and added to the Cru’s total score. Freshman wide receiver Aaron Sims from Cameron, Texas was one of those players. Aaron Sims received a punt from the Tigers and brought the ball back 40 yards for the score. This did not phase the Tigers. In the second half, East Texas Baptist started to show that they still had some fight in them. After a 29-yard field goal from the Cru’s freshman kicker Anthony Avila, the East Texas Tigers traveled 80 yards to reach the end zone, capping off the drive with a 10-yard rush by junior quarterback Brian Baca. The drive did not end there.
The East Texas Tigers attempted a twopoint conversion with a rush by senior wide receiver Tarek Beaugard. They were successful and put up eight points on the drive against the crusaders. The next drive by the Cru was led by senior quarterback De’Nerian Thomas. Led by Thomas, the Cru finished the quarter strong with a 69-yard drive to the end zone. The play that led to the score was a 45-yard pass from Thomas to senior wide receiver T.J. Josey. The Cru then tried to match the Tigers with a two-point conversion with a pass by Thomas, but the pass was incomplete. This was a busy game for freshman kicker Anthony Avila. He was called onto the field three times to try and tack on three points for the Cru. Each of these attempts were 29 yards or longer. He was successful on all three attempts. He even kicked his longest field goal of the regular season at 43 yards. The East Texas Baptist Tigers had the last score of the game. They drove the ball 81 yards on 10 plays finishing the drive with a 2-yard run by junior running back Jeremiah Robertson. This was an impressive drive by the Tigers, but it was not enough to come out of the game with a victory. The Crusaders finished the regular season with an undefeated record and another playoff appearance. Their first playoff game was then Saturday, Nov. 17 at Crusader Stadium, when they beat Hardin-Simmons for the second time this year.
Photo by Beau Kemp/The Bells
Cru victorious in 1st round rematch Above: Junior quarterback Jase Hammack evades a sack from the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Crusader Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Cru was victorious against the Cowboys, defeating them 27-6. This allowed the Cru to advance to the second round of playoffs and compete against the Berry College Vikings. Read about this game on pg. 1.
UMHB cross country athlete runs in regional meet By Lauren Lum Editor-In-Chief Determined. Athletic. Driven. These are just a few words that can be used to describe junior nursing major Caroline Vining. Vining was the only Crusader to run at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Oct. 10 in Mount Berry, Georgia. She finished the 6K course in 83rd place with a time of 25:27.28. “I finished in the top 25 percent,” Vining said. “It was a really good experience. I’m really glad I got to go.” Along with Vining’s family, President Randy O’Rear made the trip to Georgia to see Vining compete. “I was very honored that he’d come watch,” she said. “I was kind of nervous, but it was good.” To qualify for the regional meet, Vining earned 2nd place at the American Southwest Championship meet in Abilene, Texas, with a time of 24:14.00. Vining earned a spot on the ASC All-Conference Team, and the ASC head coaches named her the ASC Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year. Vining got her start in cross country in
high school, when she competed on her school’s cross country team. When Vining got to UMHB, there wasn’t a cross country team; however, she did join UMHB’s Army ROTC program. Then, in December 2017, UMHB Athletics announced the reinstatement of a cross country program after 17 years, with Alex Aldaco joining the staff as head coach. “We have a PT test every month [in ROTC] that measures runnings, pushups, and sit-ups. That got me started with the basics of running, then I just realized I was pretty good at it, and I started enjoying it,” Vining said. “I realized that I could still do ROTC and do a sport, so then I decided to do [cross country], so I could help my running improve even more, and because I love it. I saw it as an opportunity.” Vining and her teammates competed in six cross country meets this year. “The biggest meet was the regional one. That was a big change because the meets around here are just Texas schools, so you pretty much see the same people at each meet. The regional meet was like every school from Texas to Virginia,” Vining said. Vining believes this season has been a
year of growth. “It’s been a building year for sure,” Vining said. “I’m one of the older ones on the team, so it’s been a good opportunity to be in leadership.” Vining said that this is the first formal cross country training she’s had, since she just trained herself before. “It was nice to have a coach tell me what to do, and I saw my time speed up a lot.” Vining said that due to good time management she is able to juggle nursing school, Army ROTC, and cross country. She even studied while she was Georgia for the regional meet. “I was studying nonstop when I was in Georgia. Whenever we had downtime, I’d just be in my hotel room doing my paperwork or studying for the test I had when I got back.” After graduation in December 2019, Vining will be an Army nurse. She and her husband hope to be stationed together in Maryland. Until then, Vining has one more season of cross country ahead of her, and she has big goals. “The last semester [of nursing school] I’ve heard is a lot more chill, so I think I’ll be able to apply myself more, and hopefully I’ll be able to go to Nationals.”
Photo courtesy of Cru Athletics
Junior nursing major Caroline Vining maintains a steady pace at the American Southwest Conference Championship Meet in Abilene, Texas.
Men’s basketball continues to win By Madeline Oden Assistant Editor The UMHB’s men’s basketball team took the lead over Trinity University with a score of 79-68 on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in San Antonio. The game left the Cru at 3-0 in the open season and the Tigers at 0-1. The game was neck and neck as each team fought over the claim for victory. The Cru opened the game with a score of 7-2, but Trinity was close on their heels and took a 26-21 lead. The teams continued to trade leads before the Tigers tied the game at 30 with 4:52 left in the
opening half. Junior Byrale Carter hit four straight free throws to start UMHB’s 11-0 run and capped the stretch with a three-pointer to push the lead into double figures. Trinity closed to within 4134 at halftime. The second half started in the Cru’s favor as they scored 12 of the first points in the second half. Senior Demarius Cress sliced through the Trinity defense to hit a layup with 12:01 left to give UMHB a 20-point cushion at 6343. Sophomore Sam Moore topped UMHB with 21 points and he also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
Photo courtesy of Cru Athletics
Sophomore general studies major Sam Moore aims his shot carefully in the game against the Trinity University Tigers on Nov. 14th, 2018.
Cress had 20 points as he hit 4-6 from three-point range and Carter also reached double figures with 11 points. Nine different players scored for the Cru and the team shot 51 percent from the field. UMHB also outrebounded Trinity 39-35 in the victory. Trinity’s Isaiah Specks led the Tigers with 18 points. Trinity’s Brook Mays (14) hit all three of his three-point attempts to finish with 17 points while Karthik Reddy came off the bench to pull down a game-high 10 rebounds. Trinity shot just 39 percent from the field and went 9-32 from the three-point range. The Cru’s next game was Saturday, Nov. 24 against Southwestern University at UMHB. At this game, the Cru crushed Southwestern University 107-80 on Saturday Nov. 24, in the Mayborn Campus Center. This win brought the cru to 4-0. The Cru scored the game’s first six points and opened the game with 18-8 points. By halftime UMHB held the lead with 65-38. The Cru coninuted to score throughout the second half of the game, leading to the 107-80 ending score. UMHB then played against Schreiner University on Monday Nov. 26. The Cru also won this game with a 103-80 final score. This win moved UMHB to 5-0 over-all in the season.
Photo courtesy of Cru Athletics
Junior marketing major Byrale Carter dribbles down the court during the game against the Southwestern Pirates on Nov. 24th, 2018. Throughout the game, the Cru held a steady lead over the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers put up a good fight and even tied the Cru during the game. Ultimately, the Cru pulled through by the end of the game
and got another win. The Cru will open American Southwest Conference play with home games against East Texas Baptist on Thursday, Nov. 29 and LeTourneau University on Saturday, Nov. 29.