The Patriot- Spring 2024 Issue 3

University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper

Some Things Do Not Change

Reevaluating Money Given to Students and Staff For Travel

BY: SUMMER MILLS EDITOR IN CHIEF

University of the Cumberlands students only receive $7.00 a meal while traveling. The Cumberlands has not always offered meal money to students going somewhere with the school. However, over the past few years, they have offered the same amount for every meal, totaling $21.00 daily, which has not changed even though inflation has been at work. Many times, people who are traveling will be sports teams going to games or conferences. Any time a conference takes place, it is typically in a bigger city. For example, the newspaper staff has attended conferences in Washington D.C., New York City, and Atlanta for the past two years.

Going to these big cities, particularly NYC, requires a lot of money, specifically for food. The minimum wage in these metropolitan areas is greater than that of Kentucky. The dollar’s value in the entire state of New York holds less value than that of the currency in Kentucky. Not to mention that $7.00 will not cover the price of most meals in Williamsburg, more or less a big city.

The minimum wage in Kentucky has been $7.25 since 2009. The state of New York has its minimum wage set at $14.20, while the city just increased its wage to $16.00. In this area, the amount given for just one meal is around half of the minimum wage in New York. Since the wages are higher there, the price of food will also be higher. In Kentucky, $7.00 is almost the minimum wage. One person’s suspected hour

No Worries

Worry Free Wednesday’s Impact

Worry-Free Wednesday is a recent initiative at the University of the Cumberlands to relieve students’ mid-week with fun events and activities. Beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, several campus clubs and organizations began hosting events on Wednesday afternoons in the mid-level of the Boswell Campus Center. The

of salary is supposed to pay for an entire meal. It is unlikely that $7.00 will pay for any meal in NYC. On average, most restaurants in Williamsburg cost anywhere from $10.00 to $15.00 for a meal. The classic hamburger, fry, and pop combination is a common American dinner. The cheapest place to obtain a hamburger meal combo in Williamsburg is from Cook Out. The tray dinner costs $6.35 after taxes while the same meal at other restaurants costs around $9.00 before taxes.

One year ago, the last time the newspaper went to NYC, everyone had to use money from their own pockets. In the market at the hotel, bottles of water cost nearly $7.00 apiece. Most places people go to are by walking, which requires people to stay hydrated. Yet, the

Russian Democracy in Peril

Putin’s Political Opponent Dead

BY: CAGE GRUBB PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF DONALD TONG

Alexei Navalny, Vladamir Putin’s most prominent political opponent, died on February 16 at the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District penal colony, IK-3, located north of the Arctic Circle. Navalny, who was serving a 30-year prison sentence for extremism, which many believed stemmed from his criticism of Putin, fell unconscious and died after resuscitation attempts failed. After the announcement of Navalny’s death, comments from world leaders began pouring into news stations around the globe. United States President Joe Biden claims that Navalny’s death falls upon Putin’s regime, saying that this

is “something that Putin and his thugs did.” Russian officials responded by defending the actions of the paramedics and prison personnel who tried to save Navalny’s life. Yet, western officials continue to condemn Putin’s government and treatment of Navalny by calling for an investigation into Navalny’s death. While countries from around the globe petition for a murder investigation, Russian officials continually cite the death as medical-related.

Throughout his time as a public figure, Navalny spoke out against the injustices within Russia and the Soviet corruption that still exists within the political system. To many young Russians, Navalny represented hope for the future of Russia as a valid democratic and free country.

Navalny acted as Putin’s direct opponent throughout his political career. While Putin represented the oppressive forces of the old Soviet Union, Navalny embodied the voices of the younger generation of Russians who wished to break free from Russia’s Soviet past.

The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District penal colony, IK-3, is 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. According to ABC News, the design of the penal colony is to “break inmates physically and mentally.” IK-3 is known as one of the country’s toughest prisons because inmates are subject to beatings and medical neglect while also having to wear improper and wet clothing working in below-freezing temperatures.

The penal colony was first built as part of the Gulag system that was a part of the Soviet Union’s labor camps. IK-3 is in the far north because of the isolation that the prison’s location provides. Prison staff utilize the cold weather to torture prisoners by covering them in water before making them walk outside in the below-zero temperature.

While Navalny and others have endured these inhumane treatments for years, Navalny’s wife, Yulia, has emerged as a new voice against Putin’s regime and the poor conditions of Russia’s prison system. Yulia stood firm against Putin, saying, “I want Putin, his entire entourage, Putin’s friends, his government to know that they will bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family, to my husband.”

Although Yulia has lost her husband and Russia has lost a powerful voice for freedom, vocal political opposition to Putin persists. Yulia’s voice is a powerful tool to condemn the actions of Putin’s government while encouraging Russia’s youth to fight against the injustices within their country. By both voicing her opinions and continuing to discuss the legacy of her late husband, Yulia, is continuing Navalny’s mission to free Russia from its oppressive regime and empower young Russians to be proactive in their government.

PHOTO BY SUMMER MILLS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAB

Letter From the Editor in Chief

Dear Patriots,

How are you guys doing? I am ready for spring break so I can become reenergized again. I still stand with an article I wrote last year mentioning how I believe our spring break should be between the terms rather than a couple of weeks into the second term. This time is a clean break between the two periods and would mirror our fall break. I have heard many people agree with me on this issue so I think we should perhaps start bringing it to the attention of the Cumberlands. What is freedom without expressing our beliefs and opinions? However, I digress.

This issue contains many important topics, from the recent Russian uncertainties to the new risks associated with AI. We got to interview a senior wrestler and discover more about him and his student-athlete abilities. We also shared how our staff feels about Cumberlands’ allocation of funds. Simultaneously, we covered events going on on campus and why you should attend them. One article we think you will undoubtedly find fascinating is the focus on space and all the major astronomical events that have happened recently. We hope you enjoy reading and cannot wait to hear your feedback.

Best,

Summer Mills

MEAL MONEY

FROM PAGE A1

Cumberlands only provide students the same amount it costs for one water for an entire meal, thus putting a strain on a student’s finances.

As citizens travel to Northeastern states, the value of the one-dollar bill begins to get lower. Fox Business states that in New York, the dollar is valued at “$0.87.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kentucky has around “$1.14” value in a dollar. The state ranks at the top for holding over the worth of a dollar. Even though money often fluctuates, New York Magazine notes in “The Value of a New York Dollar” that “The Bureau of Labor Statistics says overall prices here are 9.9 percent higher than the rest of the country.” These startling statistics prove that even if $7.00 could pay for a complete meal in Kentucky, it never will in NYC.

WORRIES

FROM PAGE A1

Staff

Editor- in- Chief

Summer Mills

Print Managing Editor

Cage Grubb

Digital Managing Editor

Emilia Martínez Morales

Staff Writers

Ally Kennedy

Amber Simpkins

Emily Sloan

Kamryn Keith

Shayra Calderon

Sydney Schwenke

Staff Photographers

Brittany Smith

Khebrion Puchoon

Faculty Advisor

Jeremiah Massengale

Eastern Kentucky University’s overview of their travel regulations reveals that the substinance per diem is almost twice the amount that Cumberlands students receive. In low rate travel areas students are allotted $36.00 per day and $44.00 in high rate travel areas.

The amount has stayed the same for years, so nobody wants to change it. Before this year, authoritative figures could possibly think people were okay with so little money to eat.

At one time, the $21.00 a day definitely would have covered three meals a day. Since the college approves us to go on these trips and helps to cover costs, everyone should be grateful that the school allots meal money to travelers.

Many students do not expect to spend so much money out of pocket because of the meal money given by the school, but to feed

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Campus Activity Board (CAB), Campus Ministries, the Diversity Leadership Council, the Counseling Center, Student Affairs, and others have given UC students something to look forward to during the day. Emily Couch, director of Student Activities, states, “It’s been a conjoined effort from a lot of different people.”

Couch said the idea originated from Lisa Bartram, the CAB executive director. “CAB had an event last spring that ended up having to be rescheduled to a Wednesday afternoon. [The CAB staff] saw different types of students show up to it. They were commuters and other people who don’t typically show up to CAB events. Bartram thought that there was a

themselves, students must dip into their finances. This setup can be harmful when people go on trips unprepared for this type of financial payout, and some may not have the money to cover the rest of their meals.

To fix this issue, the Cumberlands should give meal money based on the area students travel to. Sports teams may not need more than $7.00 a meal when going to a regular season game, but they need more money when they attend conferences in larger cities. The amount of money given per meal and day should reflect the standard of living in the area. This issue affects professors, staff, and students. The Cumberlands should reevaluate meal money given, especially when considering all the impacted people. This review will alter the norm but lead to a better overall experience for everyone involved.

need for daytime events for students, so she put Worry-Free Wednesdays together this past summer,” Couch explains. With most campus events occurring in the evening, daytime events like Worry-Free Wednesdays are appreciated, especially by commuters and other students who have a break from classes but do not have enough time to return to their dorms. When asked about the vision for Worry-Free Wednesdays, Couch says, “We wanted them to be something chill, relaxed, and that was not super intense.” When asked if she thought that goal had been achieved, Couch said, “Yeah, I think it is definitely allowing students to get to relax and know each other a little more. Last week, they did rock painting, and there were 50 to 75 … who got to sit down and paint together.” Anna Meegan, a University of the Cumberlands sophomore, states, “I think the Worry-Free Wednesdays are impacting the student body as a whole in a really cool way. We get to just come together and de-stress in the middle of the week.” Meegan also commented on the diversity of groups that attend Worry-Free Wednesdays, “I see a lot of different people at Worry-Free Wednesday that maybe I would not see at other events or activities, and I think it’s cool to see how many people from different groups come to them.”

Stephen Flood, a University of the Cumberlands freshman, states, “My favorite Worry-Free Wednesday was definitely the Nintendo one because it was nostalgic for me. Finding a sense of community with people that share the same nostalgia and being able to bond over that and have a healthy sense of competition with that as well made that event my favorite.” Flood also added, “I think having [Worry-Free Wednesdays] towards the end of the school week is a good way to have people take a moment to have fun and a break from homework.” Worry-Free Wednesdays have become a part of many students’ weekly schedules because of the community that the events build and the relaxation that students experience.

PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAB

BY: SUMMER MILLS EDITOR IN CHIEF

Harrison Brooks

An Interview With the Talented Wrestler

Harrison Brooks is a senior here at the University of the Cumberlands. I first met him in an English class on campus. He always seemed very shy and reserved. Whenever he knew an answer to a question though, he would respond quickly and confidently. He is smart and proves that through his various studies on campus. His athletic abilities also show how dedicated Harrison is to anything he does. In an interview with the student-athlete he notes that he prioritizes time management. He understands how important an education is but also how crucial it is to be involved in extracurriculars like sports.

Harrison is from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and says, “As a child, I never imagined myself living in Kentucky. My initial plan was to settle down in Wisconsin permanently, with occasional trips to Florida to escape the harsh winters.” Despite not following through with these initial plans, living in Kentucky has been nothing short of a dream for him. During his time in this Appalachian state, he has gained valuable experiences, made friends, and went down unexpected paths. All of these moments have led to his approaching undergraduate graduation in the spring of this year.

Harrison does not mess around when dealing with his studies. He is currently pursuing a double major in History and Political science and English-Literary Studies. Aside from these academic pursuits, Harrison is taking Business Administration courses as a way to further his education and expand his worldview. Once he graduates with his degree Harrison will take some time off before getting his doctoral degree to save money by working in the roofing industry. Taking on work is a considerable task, especially when one knows that it is not what one wants to do for the rest of one’s life. Harrison will use the money he makes and saves up to get his Juris Doctorate in Sports Law at Marquette University.

Outside of the classroom, one can find Harrison on the mat. He is a member of the Uni versity of the Cumberlands wrestling team and has been for the past five years. He mentions that this year he did not reach the goals he would have liked to on the wrestling team, but, through this adversity, Harrison believes that he is more determined. The entire wrestling team has been working hard this year to prepare for a great season. Harrison suffered a concussion at the beginning

of this wrestling season but has since been able to bounce back and win around fifteen matches. Harrison was able to compete at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He did not place; however, it was a huge honor for him to be there. This athlete’s endless work has paid off because he only won one match last year due to a medical forfeit. Harrison came into this season and has won many matches which is something to be proud of especially since his parents got to come and see him compete. As a student-athlete, Harrison is most proud of getting to graduate. He pushed himself this far and wants to continue doing so to see how far working hard will get him. His greatest inspiration is his grandfather. Harrison’s grandfather is committed to working hard for his family. Maybe Harrison is like his grandfather in this way as neither of them gives up and presses on despite tough times to prove that dedication will move mountains.

Thursday Night Live Campus Ministries Hosts Comedy Event

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Thursday Night Live is an event based on NBC’s late-night comedy show “Saturday Night Live”. This Campus Ministries function is student-led and occurs once a semester. Members from the audience enjoy skits and videos made by University of the Cumberlands students. Volunteers also participated in challenges like “Slay it Don’t Spray it”, “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts”, and trying not to laugh at dad jokes told by other students.

Jacob Ratliff, Cumberlands’ very own Campus Minister described the goal of Thursday Night Live as “an opportunity for students to connect more deeply with their friends in a way that leads to meaningful conversations with the hopes of gospel impact. We believe this happens best when students plan and execute TNL.”

University of the Cumberlands Fresh-

man, Canaan McKay organized and directed most of this spring semester’s TNL. McKay, states that he and the rest of his Campus Ministry team “Collaborated and kind of tried to figure out how to make TNL more inclusive of people who were not as familiar with campus ministries.” He added that their overall goal was “To create a space in which the community can relax from the long week they’ve had and just enjoy laughing and smiling together throughout a skit or a game or something.” Canaan McKay also stated,“I think the Christian calling is to be joyous. Just laughing with each other and having joy is fighting whatever may be afflicting you in the moment. And hopefully this positivity and relationship building can indirectly impact people’s lives of and their conceptions about Christianity.” McKay emphasized that they “Wanted [TNL] to be objectively funny for everybody. [They] also wanted to get as many people involved in the planning process who wanted to be.”

Lane Roberts is a UC sophomore who co-hosted this semester’s Thursday Night Live with Lauren Lucas. Roberts reiterated McKay’s point about attempting to make TNL inclusive saying, “Something cool and unique I feel like about Thursday Night Live is that it’s not a heavily like in your face Christian event, it’s more of a comedy-based thing. I think TNL really provides a fun outreach opportunity because it reaches others who wouldn’t normally come to a specific Christian event.”

Celia Brass, a Cumberlands sophomore, who helped plan the structure of Thursday Night Live stated, “I think this event was good for con

necting with people who aren’t in campus ministries because it’s a fun night that anyone can come to and understand. We based it off SNL and other fun skits that anyone would know about, so that we could make connections and people would feel comfortable inviting their friends.”

Thursday Night Live is a wonderful event for students, staff, and faculty members to create a deeper sense of community. By gathering together to laugh and have fun, individuals are able to take a break from their busy schedules and relax with one another. Make sure to not miss the opportunity to attend the next Thursday Night Live event next semester!

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRISON BROOKS

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY SCHWENKE

Celestial Review

One Astronomical Semester

BY: EMILY SLOAN STAFF WRITER

Calling attention to all sky watchers and astronomy enthusiasts! This past fall semester has been an interesting timeline for celestial events that astronomy enthusiasts have enjoyed. In case you missed it, here is a detailed brief that underpins the astronomical events that ended 2023 and kicked off 2024!

Last semester, students on campus and around the community witnessed the annual solar eclipse, visible to most of the southwestern United States in mid-October. This event was a special eclipse because, in various locations, the famed “ring of fire” was visible for up to 20 seconds. During this celestial event, where the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, the alignment projects the illusion of a burning ring in the sky that surrounds the moon.

Winter break was nothing short of active regarding celestial activity. Beginning on

PHOTOS BY EMILY SLOAN

November 19, the Geminid Meteor Shower was present in the Northern atmosphere. This meteor shower is one of the most notable showers due to its longevity and the magnitude of the meteors visible to observers. This event ended 2023 with a bang as the shower peaked in late December while producing, in some areas, over 200 visible meteors per hour. Each year, the celestial calendar always commences with the Quadrantids Meteor shower, which peaks on the third and fourth of every January and receives much public attention. This year’s meteor shower was especially active; some individuals reported seeing between 40 and 150 meteors per hour. This shower is always a great start to the celestial year, especially since this year’s Quadrantids Meteor show was very vibrant.

Some students are probably wondering by now why this topic is relevant. To keep it sim-

Life Imitates Art

ple there are so many benefits to studying astronomy. For one, it increases individual awareness about how the universe operates by raising questions about life and existence itself. By studying the various components of the universe, students can learn about their purpose in life and gain a clear perspective of their place in the world. It is a branch of science that remains unpredictable and exciting to explore because there is still much to discover. Scientists make discoveries daily, meaning students can expect to learn new information continuously. And it allows people to think beyond themselves and to look to something bigger and beyond what is simply understood. Astronomy is a beautiful subject that unites people under the umbrella of self-discovery, curiosity, and personal achievement, allowing individuals to have a deeper perspective on life and humanity. For those interested in amateur astronomy, the best places to stargaze near campus are as follows: Cumberland Falls and parks, the Daniel Boone National Forest, Pickett State Park, Nat ural Bridge State Park, and even the local parks in Williamsburg, Ky. Remember when out past dark it is important to be vigilant of your surroundings and to always bring another person with you as a safety measure.

Is Reality Starting to Look Too Similar to “Black Mirror”?

BY: AMBER SIMPKINS STAFF WRITER

Have you seen the popular Netflix series “Black Mirror”? “Black Mirror” is an anthology series that explores the threats that technology poses to the future and provides social commentary on surrounding issues. The events that occur in “Black Mirror” episodes are concepts one thinks will happen in the future or are too obscure to become reality. However, reality has recently begun to resemble many “Black Mirror” episodes as many issues within the show are appearing in the present day.

People often compare the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to being like a “Black Mirror” episode. One of their most popular episodes about this is “Joan is Awful,” which is about a woman whose life ends up copied into a show that AI solely creates. Today, AI has already begun to cause issues within the entertainment industry. OpenAI recently announced its new application, Sora, which generates videos that resemble reality. The announcement of Sora has gotten lots of people thinking about “Joan is Awful” and “Black Mirror” in general. The main concern with Sora is that it may destroy the entertainment industry as it is today. The application can replace filmmakers, set designers, actors, animation artists, and writers, which has already happened with the writers’ strike fighting against AI.

People are also concerned about others using this technology to generate lies and to spread misinformation. With fake videos that appear realistic, one can make others seem like they are participating in various

actions, even illegal ones. This problem has already been an issue with Deep Fakes, but Sora will just take the concern to another level. When Sora was announced, many people made social media posts with captions like “Me in 20 years watching me do a crime I didn’t commit.” With AI’s power, people within the film industry are fighting to save their jobs.

Other “Black Mirror” concepts are also appearing in modern times. Apple recently announced Apple Vision, a spatial computer headset that blends digital content into your physical space. Many individuals talk about the episodes “Striking Vipers” and “Play Test,” both of which deal with issues about virtual reality (VR) becoming too realistic. Some people are concerned about how VR will blur the lines between physical reality and the fictional, virtual world.

The episode “Nosedive” is a commentary on social media and happens to blur the lines between real and fake. The plot focuses on how an individual’s social media rank determines their quality of life. The episode is an excellent metaphor for how social media is treated today and has shown to be increasingly accurate as time goes on. Technological advancements can be a good thing, but there is a point when they can appear as a threat. Although “Black Mirror” is said to be fiction, it shows how some technologies may affect society.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TARA WINSTEAD