The Hawkeye (Fall 2022)

Editor

The Hawkeye Staff

The Hawkeye

Dr. Earl Kellett

Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor of Christian Studies

Dr. William Mullen

Chair, Department of Communication Studies

Professor of Communication Studies

Melissa Baskin

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Faculty Advisor

Cover photo credit: Clark Brannon

Staff photos credit: Clark Brannon

Back page photo credit: Andrea Medel-Hernandez

Andrea Medel-Hernandez

Cooper Hunt Staff Writer

Maggie Parker Staff Writer

Clark Brannon Staff Writer

Brayden Williams Staff Writer

International Students Find Welcoming Environment on Shorter’s Campus

Although most Shorter University students come from the United States, the university also hosts international students from around the world. In the fall of 2022, a total of 25 international students were enrolled. These students represent countries ranging from Mexico to Great Britain to China to South Africa. Shorter’s international students get the chance to not only study abroad but to also experience American culture and meet a diverse group of people.

Shorter provides numerous facilities and services for international students such as support from the university, the chance to attend events and trips, legal advising, sports and recreation facilities, and counseling services. Additional services available to international students include career counseling, academic advising, personal tutoring, and writing support as well as health care help and a 24-hour emergency phone line. All these services help

international students as they adapt to a new country and culture.

Among Shorter’s international students are juniors Davide Maiello and Mattia Maiello, twins from Novara, Italy, located in the northern part of that country. Both students are majoring in communication studies with a concentration in organizational leadership and minors in history. Both also received scholarships to play soccer for Shorter. The twins are grateful for their time at Shorter and said, “…they feel very welcomed at Shorter from faculty, staff, classmates, as well as their soccer teammates.”

The brothers confirmed that many adjustments were required of them in coming to a new country. In Italy, for example, schools only require an exam at the end of a course, whereas here more exams are required. Culturally, they had adjustments to food and the English language. The language barrier was harder

to overcome because the brothers speak Italian to each other, and spoken English is much different from the English they learned in school. However, they are adapting quite well.

As for the sport of soccer, in the United States it is less tactical and more physical than in Italy. In Italy soccer is played for clubs, not universities. No scholarships are tied to soccer. In addition, the seasons of play in both countries differ.

Davide said of his post graduation plans, ”I will probably get a master’s degree and then go back to Italy.” Mattia said his plans are the same unless another opportunity arises. The brother's long range dream is to own a business together or work in the communication field.

to see her family has been a challenge for Torres. She said, “It is especially sad after a soccer game since I don’t have anybody to see me play.” Although her family has not been able to visit her, Torres hopes they can come when she graduates. Although there have been many challenges, Torres feels comforted due to the welcoming environment at Shorter. “The people of Shorter University have definitely made me feel very welcome,” she said.

- Juliana Torres junior, marketing major Bogotá, Columbia

Another international student at Shorter is Julianna Torres, a junior from Bogotá, Columbia. Torres plays soccer for Shorter and is majoring in marketing with a minor in graphic design. Like the Maiello brothers, Torres struggled with the language barrier. “The classes were hard for me to understand in the beginning due to the language difference. I did not know that the United States had so many different accents.” As for American food, Torres said it tastes different and seems less healthy compared to the natural foods in Columbia. Loneliness and longing

After graduation, Torres hopes to stay in the United States “because things are better here than in Colombia.” She hopes to obtain a master’s degree in her field and eventually own a business that combines marketing and graphic design.

Although it may be more challenging for international students to adapt to college life, many on Shorter’s campus have adapted well and excelled in all areas of university life. Even though students come from a variety of places, they all have one thing in common and that is they are all part of the Shorter family.

By: Brayden Williams

Photos Credit: Dr. Fabrice Poussin & Jenna VanHoose

Graphic Credit: Andrea Medel-Hernandez

Mattia Maiello is a junior, communication studies major from Novara, Italy.

Davide Maiello is a junior, communication studies major from Novara, Italy.

Juliana Torres is a junior, marketing major from Bogotá, Columbia.

“The people of Shorter University have definitely made me feel very welcome.”

Delta Sigma Phi Rebuilds Organization

The Delta Sigma Phi fraternity has played an important role in many college students’ lives through the years. At Shorter University this academic year, the fraternity was dedicated to rebuilding through gaining new members and hosting popular events from the past.

Delta Sigma Phi was founded on December 10, 1899, with the intention of creating better men and better lives. In the spring of 2003, Delta Sigma Phi officially formed at Shorter University. Coming into the 2021 school year, Delta Sigma Phi only had one active member.

Bryce Rapson, a junior human services and criminal justice major and Delta Sigma Phi president, saw the great potential of this program for the Shorter campus and jumped into action to help save the fraternity. According to Rapson, “Delta Sigma Phi’s purpose is to create a community of men, to foster new and lasting friendships, and to become better men.” For the students without a group or community on campus, this fraternity provided needed community and helped forge new friendships and support for its members. Logan Boggs, a senior Christian studies major and vice president of membership and development said, “The hardest part of rebuilding the fraternity was the recruitment of new members. Rapson agreed, “It’s harder to get people to join a smaller organization than

a larger one.” In addition to numbers, the fraternity recruits must be men of good character who align with the mission of Delta Sigma Phi.

To generate growth, Delta Sigma Phi shared events on social media. Members also posted events on their own social media accounts to reach a wider audience. They participated in fun events such as the Sailor’s Ball, chapter meetings, a blood drive for the American Red Cross, and 5k race to support Relay for Life, thus drawing attention to the fraternity.

The Delta Sigma Phi fraternity has grown to 13 members. Although small in number, the men gave back to their community in numerous ways. Being involved in the fraternity provided the members with countless opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership. The organization’s goal is to grow the program to be the biggest Greek life group on Shorter’s campus and to create a brotherhood of like-minded men.

The men of Delta Sigma Phi have worked hard to rebuild their organization, and they look forward to the future.

By: Clark Brannon

Photo Credit: Jared Rutledge & Andrea MedelHernandez

Queen’s Death Impacts Shorter Students

Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s (UK) longest reigning monarch, died in September at the age of 96. She had recently celebrated her Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years on the throne and was a constant, comforting presence in a world of change.

Even though the Queen was 96 years old, her death still came as a shock to those in the UK, the Commonwealth, and around the world. Shorter University has several students from the UK who were affected by the Queen’s death. Amelie Fryer, a junior sport management major is from Kent, United Kingdom, while Heidi Ashurst, a sophomore psychology major from Johns Creek, Ga., lived in Yorkshire, United Kingdom as a child. They were both shocked and saddened by the Queen’s death. On the day of the Queen’s death, Fryer was sitting in class when her phone vibrated nonstop with the sad news. Coincidentally, her professor had been talking about the Queen and announced her passing to the class. Fryer’s initial thoughts were “Oh, what do we do now? What happens?” She was in shock. Fryer said, “For a lot of people, she was the only Monarch we have ever known.”

Ashurst’s reaction to the Queen’s passing was very emotional. She heard the news from her dad and was very thankful to have not found out through social media. Ashurst had a difficult time processing the news and decided to call her American friend for comfort. She was shocked as her friend appeared mostly unaffected by the news while Ashurst felt as though the world had stopped spinning. Ashurst said she would never forget how she felt in that moment. She cared deeply for what Queen Elizabeth meant to her and the other citizens of the UK and the Commonwealth. Knowing that the Queen would no longer give her Christmas speeches and the simple fact that she was gone hurt Ashurst in a way she had not felt before. “The Queen was the spirit of my country,” she said. The way the Queen carried herself and the love she showed for her citizens will leave a mark on the country for many years to come.

The people of the UK cared so deeply for their monarch that it was truly something to behold. Ashurst stated that to be “a part of a country whose citizens were proud of their monarch was

incredible.” People in the UK lined up for miles and waited for hours to pay their respects to a woman whose dedication and service to her people was unprecedented.

At the age of 21, then Princess Elizabeth promised the citizens of the UK and the Commonwealth that she would serve them her whole life. “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” said Princess Elizabeth. She fulfilled that promise until the very end of her life. Citizens of the UK, like Fryer and Ashurst, are thankful for the impact the Queen had on their lives and for her commitment and service to her people.

By: Maggie Parker Photo Credit: Stock Photo

Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, served her people for 70 years.

The Heartbeat of the Hill

The Edith Lester Harbin Department of Music has been an integral part of higher education on the Hill for decades, offering a conservatorylike liberal arts experience for all students with one-on-one mentoring from department faculty. The department’s newest addition is Dr. Bryan McDonald in the role of Director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of Music and Worship Leadership, and he has quickly solidified himself as a force for positive change for the future of the department and its role in ministering to Shorter and its community.

McDonald’s arrival has been defined by his unique approach to leadership and his vision for what the ensembles can provide to the students’ education and the school’s ministry. “I’m working to develop a culture that is open to all styles of choral music,” McDonald said. “The Shorter Chorus is morphing into a worship ensemble because we need that. We need a choir that sings worship music. We are a Christian university; we should be proclaiming the name of Jesus in everything we do, and we should be doing that in different styles. The Chorale is still this ensemble that is dedicated to choral excellence and artistry. My goal is to show that this is still a place of empathy. It’s still a good place for students to learn

to be a musician, a teacher, a scholar, but we’re going to have to do that with a Biblical worldview. The world is going to encroach in, and we have to make sure that we stay true to the Gospel in everything we do because the Gospel is what our lives are based on.”

One of the most crucial areas of study in the Department of Music is that of Worship Leadership for students pursuing music ministry as a career, and it is an area that McDonald himself holds very dearly because of his own testimony. “All of this begins with a call to ministry. I was saved out of a broken home; my mother had been divorced many times. I started going to church in high school. I had been in choir because singing was the one thing I learned I could do well. The guitarist of the youth worship team came to me, shared the Gospel, and I was saved that night. From that point on, I’ve been leading worship and felt a desire and call to train worship pastors.” With such a personal connection to his profession, it’s no wonder that McDonald has such a passion for the future of Music and Worship Leadership at Shorter. He went on to add, “One of the things that I’m working on this year is retooling the worship curriculum so that there’s ministry excellence and practical ministry abilities. Our curriculum is good with theology, but it needs

some of the more practical elements like music technology. Part of that curriculum will include a worship ensemble that is a praise/worship band that will go out to churches two or three times a semester to minister and lead, giving encouragement to churches and letting them know that Shorter is here for training their worship ministers.”

When reorganizing the system of leadership for Shorter’s vocal ensembles, McDonald was intentional in enhancing the role of student section leaders, encouraging greater accountability and responsibility among the students. One of the section leaders for the Shorter Chorale sopranos, junior music education major Lauryn Roland, has been very pleased with McDonald’s new direction for studying music. “Dr. McDonald wants to create a culture where there is a place for Elevation Worship, and there’s a place for Mozart, and we do both! It’s been so exciting that the people who only know how to sing contemporary music are learning how to sing in Latin. We’re able to worship so freely in so many different styles in a way that will connect with our audiences in ways that I haven’t seen since I’ve been here. People want to be in Chorale, and I want them to be in Chorale. I also want them to be proud of the work we’re doing in Chorus because that’s just as important,” said Roland.

Several other Chorale leaders had very high praise for McDonald’s approach to the future of the department, specifically relating to his focus on Worship Leadership and on fostering a culture of appreciating diverse music styles and forming relationships. Junior musical theatre major Daniel Easter said, “One of the most important things

about the choir at Shorter is that it’s so worship focused. We aren’t here to sing just for the sake of sounding good; we’re here to use our talents to glorify God in a way that is more focused because we’re challenged as Christians to pursue excellence in everything that we do. Music is no exception to that.” Sophomore music education major Trystan Chastain stated how “the School of Fine and Performing Arts uniquely achieves Shorter’s goal of Transforming Lives Through Christ by providing a liberal arts education that produces well-rounded individuals who are outstanding musicians but also sincerely Christlike people.”

McDonald himself reiterates these ideas, saying “Whenever a music department is functioning well in a small Christian university, it has the potential to be the heartbeat of the university, to be the place where culture sits and rests. Whenever you see music students leading in different areas on campus, it ends up becoming the heartbeat of an institution. If the students can come in and buy into this culture that is accepting of all different styles of music, accepting the responsibility of leading out in the university’s life, this place will be different.”

In one semester, McDonald has already found a home on the Hill, encouraging and inspiring his students to use their gifts to glorify God and laying the foundation for the Department of Music to grow in its ministry, equipping young musicians to reinvigorate their school and community as the heartbeat of Shorter.

By: Cooper Hunt Photo Credit: Clark Brannon

Shorter Students Share Christ with Citizens of Peru and Uganda

Many Shorter students and alumni have served as missionaries, and this current group of students is no exception. Jesus commands his followers in the Gospels to go and make disciples, and several current students obeyed the Lord by spreading Christ’s love overseas. Bailey Lane, a sophomore psychology major from McDonough, Ga., served in Peru last summer. Marissa Clark, a junior history education major from Hampton, Ga., Julia Hilzley, a sophomore criminal justice major from Slinger, Wis., and Brooke McDonald, a sophomore Christian studies major from Rome, Ga., spent 12 days last summer ministering to the people of Uganda.

Clark, Hilzley, and McDonald traveled to Uganda with Akote Edeke Ministries (AEM). Akote Edeke means “God’s will” in the dialect of Ateso. According to McDonald, the purpose of their trip “was to spread the Gospel by showing love to individuals and teaching Bible studies in Ateso Land.”

The culture in the area was vastly different than the United States. From living arrangements to clothing styles, all three students experienced the primitive

culture of the country. The students slept in mud huts with thin, foam mattresses. They were luckier than many villagers as some did not have mattresses. Others did not even have a hut. Clark remarked on this aspect of everyday life for the people and mentioned how startling it was to see how different everyday life can be for people in different countries. There was no electricity or running water in the village. The girls had to walk half a mile and carry gallons of water from the well to get drinkable water. The bathroom was nothing more than a hole in the ground. The dress code for women and girls was more conservative than Western culture. For example, women were required to wear dresses or shirts that covered most or all of their shoulders, and skirts had to be below the knee. While in Uganda, Clark, Hilzley, and McDonald ministered to the local people in a variety of ways. For example, the team set up a health clinic to treat the sick and injured. The team also shared the Gospel with those who were being treated. In addition, the team held Bible studies, a vacation Bible school camp, and participated in door-to-door outreach. Clark and

Brooke McDonald (left), a sophomore Christian studies major, and Marissa Clark, a junior history education major, led worship during a vacation Bible school program in Uganda.

Bailey Lane, a sophomore psychology major, loved her time in Peru where she ministered to children and shared the Gospel with them.

McDonald also visited an unreached people’s group that had a 100 percent Muslim population.

The outreach the AEM missionaries accomplished helped both the Ugandans and the Americans grow stronger in their faith. Each girl came home realizing that they take many things for granted in America. All the girls agreed that the experience made their lives better no matter the difficulties.

Bailey Lane, a sophomore psychology major from McDonough, Ga., also served the Lord on the mission field last summer. Lane served the people of Peru with a group called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The program involved three months of both in-class technical training and field experience. The specialized training was done in Hawaii, and Lane could have been sent to any one of several places around the world. However, God answered her prayers and sent her to a place that fit her skill set perfectly, Peru.

One of the skills that set her apart was Lane’s ability to speak Spanish, which helped her communicate with the people of Peru. While she firmly believed that God could bridge the gap between language barriers, it was still nice to fully grasp the nuances of what was said and be able to converse in the Peruvians’ native tongue.

and serving the people and communities around us,” said Lane. Through ministry and interactions with the people, Lane truly fell in love with the citizens and the country of Peru by “...loving them with the love of the Lord. It was such an honor and a joy,” she said. Overall, all of the Shorter students were greatly impacted through their work in ministry. They were able to spread the Gospel and see God’s love move within the people of Uganda and Peru. When asked what they would say to anyone considering missions, McDonald spoke for the group and encouraged others to pray and strongly consider serving. “It isn’t about what you can do for them, but what they can do for you,” she said.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

The Lord Jesus commanded his followers to go and make disciples. Because of Clark, Hilzley, Lane, and McDonald’s obedience to go and share the good news of Christ’s saving love, the people they encountered have the hope of salvation and the promise of heaven with their Savior.

By: Maggie Parker Photo Credits: Addie Townsend & Gloria Alter

Like the students who served in Uganda, Lane experienced the differences in culture while living in Peru. The living conditions in Peru were primitive. There was no running water and no electricity. Lane and her team members slept in tents in the jungle. They had to “shower and do laundry in buckets of water from the Amazon River.” In this society, much like Uganda, the dress code for women was similar. However, in Peru, there was less concern for skirt length modesty. Lane, like the other students, believed that all of the hardships were “worth it for the sake of the Gospel.”

While in Peru, Lane loved sharing the Gospel and had the opportunity to do this daily with the YWAM organization. There were many ways she was able to spread God’s love, such as “serving in kids’ ministry, preaching, going house to house for evangelism, conducting discipleship and church Bible studies,

Julia

Hilzley, a sophomore criminal justice major, worked with children while on mission in Uganda.

Blair Named Semi-Finalist for Film Script

Katherine Dudley Blair, associate professor of communication studies, was named a semi-finalist in the ScreenCraft scriptwriting competition for her short film script Something Magical with the working title, Kids Just Wanna Fun. Her script was one of 288 chosen out of 1400 submissions for the quarterfinals in the animation genre category. Then, it was chosen as one out of 73 for the semi-finals. In addition, Blair’s script received accolades for being ranked number six out of the top 20 for adventure short films entered in competitions for the month of September and in the top 35% overall for short films entered. In October, the script moved up to number three and in the top 10% overall. The winner of the ScreenCraft competition has the option of having his/her script made into a film. When asked about the success of her script, Blair said, “I am extremely proud of this script and am honored that it has won so many awards.” Even though her script did not win the ScreenCraft competition, Blair still plans to make it into a short-animated film.

This is the not the first time The Something Magical/ Kids Just Wanna Have Fun script has received awards. In 2022, Blair’s script won for the best short film script at the Media Content Film Festival and Media Summit and was an official finalist for the 2021 Texas Film Festival.

Something Magical/Kids Just Wanna Have Fun is a family friendly adventure film about a group of kids trying to find forever fun. “It is based on three kids that must face their fears and follow a mysterious little person with big promises on a magical adventure, but the journey may be too much for them to endure,” said Blair.

Blair’s favorite film genre is adventure. She especially likes working with children on film sets. Her inspiration for Something Magical was inspired by the films The Goonies and National Treasure

Blair, in her sixth year at Shorter, teaches courses for the digital production concentration in the Department of Communication Studies as well as core communication classes. Blair has worked in education for decades in addition to being an award-winning filmmaker. Her true passion is bringing stories to life through video and that begins with scriptwriting. Blair enjoys writing scripts in her free time; she uses other movies and her favorite things for inspiration. She is

a firm believer that “the foundation of all good movies is the script. It’s exciting to see your written pages come to life within the art of visual storytelling, and I look forward to seeing how my script comes to life on the screen,” said Blair.

By: Clark Brannon

Photo Credit: Jaime Blair

Poster Credit: Katherine Dudley Blair

O’Neal Publishes Poetry Collection

Dr. Angela O’Neal, Chair of the Department of English, Modern Languages, & Liberal Arts and Professor of English, has always loved literature and poetry. In 2015, she began writing her own poems and published a small collection in 2017. Now, she is publishing a full-length poetry collection entitled This Persistent Gravity. These poems… “chronicle what it means to live and lose and what exists in the wake of our losses. It’s about waiting, surrendering, and rediscovering joy and awe in the midst of a fallen world,” said O’Neal.

“I can look at my work as a literature professor and see that it’s all inspired by literature and by romanticism, with an emphasis on nature,” said O’Neal. “My love of the natural world started when I was in college. One summer I worked at Glacier National Park in Montana in 1991. A lot of my poems are about my childhood, my family, and particularly my dad. The collection is dedicated to my father, who died in 2021, so a lot of the poems were about him. He was a reader, and fostered in me this love for reading and the love of word. It’s a collection about what it means to live in a broken world where even good relationships are a part of this framework of fallenness. The fact that, even as lovers of Jesus, life doesn’t always match our expectations. It’s just this nexus of sinfulness and brokenness. As a poet, I’m trying to explore that in a truthful way that is also hopeful. God is good, but life is hard.”

It is this same natural weight of sin and brokenness that led O’Neal to pick the title of this collection to describe the world’s consistent fallen state. Even through life’s joys and God’s wonders, there is an inevitable pull against fulfillment since we, as humans created by God, are not in our original harmony with the Creator. Humanity longs to be reunited with God as we were first intended to be and many will one day be again, but this temporary mortal world will often feel disappointing by comparison.

This Persistent Gravity has received glowing reviews from readers such as Graham Hillard, Editor of Cumberland River Review, who said “[O’Neal’s] superb new collection contains multitudes and rewards numerous careful readings. These are poems to fall into and wander, as many-roomed as heavenly mansions. Together, they comprise what will surely be

among the year’s most auspicious debuts.” Renee Emerson, a former assistant professor of English at Shorter and the author of Church Ladies, said that “[O’Neal] guides us with a sensitive hand through the difficulties and fears of single motherhood and the joys and losses time brings. These poems contain the mundane and small – laundry, mayflies, playing in the hose in the summer – alongside the philosophies of Milton, Hopkins, and the Holy Bible, and lead us “Back to paying attention as we listen for the lonesome shrill of a night train in the distance, its promise of going home.”

The greatest difficulty for O’Neal in putting pen to paper has been insecurity, lacking confidence in her artistry. She challenges others now as she challenged herself, “If you have this desire to be a writer, chances are, you can do it! But it’s just that voice in our head that keeps us from doing it, that self-doubt.” O’Neal’s work is an example of how the Lord shows His beauty as the Creator through His Creation, allowing us to make art that overcomes the persistent pull of our sinful weight in order to take flight and reach new heights of living and loving.

By: Cooper Hunt Photo Credit: Dr. Fabrice Poussin

Political Science Major Interns for Arkansas Gubernatorial Candidate

The political world is nothing short of a turbulent landscape. It requires strong, outspoken individuals who believe in the power of their voices. Anyone involved cannot be timid about his/her beliefs and values. To some, this may seem daunting, but to others, it is alluring. For those students interested in a political career, Shorter University prepares them well.

Carly Smith, a sophomore political science major from Lafayette, Ga., aspires to have a career in politics. Smith’s coursework at Shorter and her involvement in campus organizations have provided valuable leadership experience. Smith’s ultimate career goal is to become the press secretary for a President of the United States. One might think that type of career aspiration would be far out of reach. For Smith, however, an internship opportunity came in the form of someone who had personal experience as a presidential press secretary.

One day, Smith was scrolling through Instagram as most college students do. This time, she saw something different. She found a post by Sarah Huckabee Sanders wanting interns for her gubernatorial campaign. Smith immediately knew that an internship with Sanders, a former White House press secretary, could be the key to getting her foot in the door of the vast political sphere. After she applied, Smith prayed about it. Eventually, Smith got a call asking if she wanted to move to Little Rock, Ark., to intern with Sanders’ gubernatorial campaign.

Smith loved working on the campaign because “you never knew what you were going to do, and that’s why it was fun. Every day was different,” she said. As a field intern for the Sanders campaign, she had a variety of different jobs. Smith would often go door to door, giving out pamphlets. Her job was to talk to the citizens of Arkansas about the election and what Sanders stood for. Smith noted that some people did not want to give her the time of day, but there were also many friendly people to compensate for the lack of warmth and hospitality.

Phone banking was another skill that Smith learned on the campaign trail. There was an automated app that would call people, and she had to inform them about Sanders’ positions and the election in general. This campaign tactic is like door-knocking but on

the phone. Again, she encountered the same types of people and learned how to deal with them.

On weekends, the campaign used different events to spread its message. Sometimes there were parades, and other times they attended festivals throughout the state. Smith’s favorite was the Bradley County Tomato Festival, where she watched a tomato eating contest between citizens of Bradley County and campaign workers.

Another popular event were town hall meetings. Sometimes, Sanders’ staff would send interns to answer questions and inform the public about the election. Arkansans in the town hall meetings sometimes had business to discuss about their local elections.

Working with Sanders helped Smith gain meaningful connections to other prominent figures in the political world. Throughout the campaign, Sanders brought in many different people such as Tom Cotton, a United States senator from Arkansas, with experience in election campaigns. They would go to lunch every Wednesday where Sanders would bring in different people. Smith got to meet each of them. One person she met was Mike Huckabee, Sanders’ father and a former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate. Working with Sanders and hearing about her experiences helped Smith learn what it takes to become a press secretary.

Now that Smith is back on Shorter’s campus, she connects what she learned to her political science classes. For example, Smith is currently enrolled in a class about campaigns and elections. The practical knowledge Smith gained from her internship allows her to further examine what she knows, what she will learn, and how it all works together to help create a successful campaign.

Smith is aiming for one of the most high-profile jobs in the country. With increased visibility comes increased scrutiny. She is aware of the difficulties facing White House press secretaries and that they typically do not last long in the role. Working with Sanders, Smith learned more of what it took to be a press secretary through stories of her experiences. These stories and Smith’s own experiences helped her better understand the nature of the people she spoke

to and that they may or may not have the same attitudes, outlooks, or opinions. If Smith were to be press secretary today, she would pray and let God guide her in dealing with the public. Because of the complex nature of this job, she would remind herself of the support from her family and friends and stay true to herself.

Looking back, Smith reminisced on her experiences with people. She traveled across the state of Arkansas and met many people. Smith believed that while meeting people with different perspectives was interesting, a vast majority shared her same beliefs. While moving away from home and being on her own was difficult for Smith, she enjoyed meeting people and talking politics. As her friends at home do not typically talk about politics, she found it refreshing to talk and learn more about the thoughts of people she met. Through her experiences, she now feels she knows more about Arkansas than her home state of Georgia.

Moving so far away for two months was a daunting task, but this is typical for people who work on campaigns. Smith knew this would prepare her for the future because unless she has a specific job with a person running for office, she will not be in the same place all the time. This is just the nature of the campaign trail.

One aspect of her internship that stood out to Smith was how little some people knew about elections. Some people did not even know who Sanders was or much about her, while others did not know that Arkansas was having an election for a new governor. Others even said they would vote for the incumbent governor, but this was impossible because of term limits. People like the ones she met who do not follow politics are the ones that made Smith so intrigued by the field. Smith wants to educate her fellow citizens about the election process and to help spark change in the world.

Smith traveled to Arkansas to be with the Sanders campaign on election night. Smith was thrilled as Sanders made history by being elected the first woman governor of Arkansas. Sanders and her father are the first father and daughter in United States history to both hold the office of governor.

Throughout her experience, Smith learned about the diverse types of outreach and events it

takes to make a campaign successful. Sanders was the perfect mentor because she worked in the exact position Smith aspires to hold one day. Smith was able to observe and gain information about the inner workings of a campaign that will help her better understand her coursework and future career.

In the end, Sanders taught the interns one fundamental lesson Smith plans to take with her wherever she goes: stand for what you believe and be able to back it up.

By: Maggie Parker

Photo Credit: Submitted by Carly Smith

Sarah Sanders (left), a gubernatorial candidate in Arkansas, and Carly Smith, a sophomore political science major, attended the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival where Sanders addressed Arkansans about election issues. In November, Sanders won the general election and was elected the first female governor of Arkansas.

Campaign interns passed out stickers and candy at the Mountain Home Red, White, and Blue Parade last summer.

The

Students Explore

Comic books are a unique way of storytelling that have been popular for decades. The narratives in these books also have literary value. Shorter students learned about those connections through the Reinventing the Graphic Novel course offered in the fall semester.

The course was taught by Dr. Fabrice Poussin, professor of French. Poussin has a reputation for making his courses challenging, yet fun. On day one, he came to class dressed as Batman. His syllabus was designed as a comic book and detailed course content in a cartoon format.

Reinventing the Graphic Novel was designed as an honors class. However, any student was welcome to take the class. The course was offered to anyone who needed an elective or to English majors needing an upper-level English credit. Isabel Borgers, a senior English major, said she took the class because she needed both English and Honors credits. Also, as a fan of graphic novels, she was intrigued by the course content. Another student Hayley Arthur, a sophomore English major, said that Poussin suggested that she take the class simply because she would love the content. Arthur said, “This class sounded very interesting, and I don’t think it’s a course you could take at most colleges.” Borgers agreed. “It was definitely a unique class.”

Poussin said the purpose of the class was to show that comics have literary value and to show how deeply philosophical comics and graphic novels can be. He also said that comics can teach us our place in the world. Poussin said that “we should learn to read comics as if we were reading a major novel since they say so much.” He also stated that the words and images complement each other. Poussin was initially inspired to create the course because of his admiration for the Calvin and Hobbs comic strip. In addition, a former student who loves comics also inspired his creation of the course and assisted with ideas for class content. Finally, books critiquing comics helped with preparation for the class.

Course assignments included reading weekly comics as well as the textbook. The comics the students studied ranged from Marvel and DC comics to Japanese manga to comic strips from the past.

Dr. Fabrice Poussin, professor of French, saved the first day of class as Batman. Poussin used creativity to engage students in the course, and students said he made learning enjoyable.

course syllabus was designed like a comic book.

Explore the Value of Comic Books

Each week, students read a different genre of comics from various countries. The genre ranged from horror to superheroes. Some titles students studied were The Watchmen, Sandman, Garfield, Demon Slayer, Blackjack, Calvin and Hobbs, The Walking Dead, and many more. Each comic contained literary themes, and students analyzed them for literary value.

The Reinventing the Graphic Novel course showed how comics have literary value that people rarely see. Students saw the value of studying comic narratives and were grateful to have a professor like Poussin whose commitment to students and passion for teaching impacted their lives.

By: Brayden Williams

Photos Credit: Isabel Borgers

Graphics Credit: Dr. Fabrice Poussin & Stock Photo

Students from a variety of majors took the Reinventing the Graphic Novel honors course where they analyzed comic narratives for literary value. Students said the course was creative, challenging, and allowed them to see comic books in a whole new way.