The Patriot- Fall 2023 Issue 5

University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper

BY: ALLY KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

Battle of the Books Are Physical or Online Textbooks Better?

In today’s world, everything has become digitized. There is an app for everything, from sending messages and taking notes to checking the time and weather. Digital advancements have become so normalized that when college textbooks became digital, it did not come as much of a surprise. While there are varied opinions across campus about this adjustment, only some believe that this is a helpful solution.

There are situations where online textbooks can be beneficial to a student. They are weightless and do not have to be carried in a heavy backpack all day as well as their components, which allow students to utilize the book more easily than a physical copy. University of the Cumberlands student Emily Sloan says, “Online textbooks are beneficial because of the “read aloud” option where the textbook platform allows the book to be narrated. This is helpful for auditory learners.”

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Band of Brothers and NOVO are men’s and women’s Bible study groups hosted by Campus Ministries at the University of the Cumberlands. The two groups meet weekly. The men’s group, Band of Brothers, meets early every Thursday morning in the Boswell Campus Center (BCC). NOVO meets almost every other week on Monday nights in the library’s basement or the Bennet building.

Matthew Plementosh is the Associate Campus Minister who leads Band of Brothers. He invites Cumberlands’ faculty and local pastors to lead Bible studies. This semester, leaders have facilitated studies on Biblical men who were heroes of the faith. Some of these men are King David, Joseph, John the Baptist, and King Saul.

After that week’s speaker leads the study, the speaker breaks the students into small-

Online textbooks seek to accommodate learners of all styles, as the programs include audio, visual, and application learning for students. With the diversity in learning styles, online textbooks can diversify their programs and target these different learning styles. However, physical textbooks are limited in diversifying their learning styles.

However, there are times when online textbooks can be more of a burden than a helpful solution. For example, when asked if she has had an instance where online books were more complex than a physical copy, University of the Cumberlands senior Kelsey King replied, “Oh yes! Anytime the internet goes out.”

In college, students must read their textbooks to excel in their classes. Many professors assign specific readings on certain days. If the internet runs slow or goes out completely, how

Growing in Faith

Life Groups at the Cumberlands

er groups to discuss applications, questions, and pray. Something unique about Band of Brothers is how early the group meets. Students can start arriving to help make breakfast at 6 a.m. The study begins at 6:30.

Christian Dingus, one of the members of Band of Brothers, commented on why the group starts so early, “Matt was telling us on the first day that Band of Brothers is so early not just because it’s a time everyone is available, but because it requires discipline. And he doesn’t want it to be easy and something you can stumble upon. Because it helps us to be more intentional when we are there.”

Rachel Lowder is the Associate Campus Minister who leads NOVO alongside Cumberlands’ Graduate Assistant Hannah Baldauff. This semester, NOVO has hosted discussion panels on relationships, mental health, and everyday struggles with sin. Lowder and Baldauff invite women who are Cumberlands’ faculty members and women from local churches to the group meetings. These women sit on a panel so students can learn from them by asking questions and listening to their guidance. The women’s group has also allowed its members to paint, create prayer journals, and write encouraging notes to others.

Community is vital in college. Band of Brothers and NOVO are both beneficial places to gain community. Fostering friendships with people at different stages of life with similar worldviews is one great way to grow in one’s knowledge and expand one’s worldview. When asked

should the students read their assigned readings? With the entire on-campus community reading online textbooks, internet reliability is imperative. Many students, like King, have experienced internet-related problems with their online textbooks.

UC senior Emily Sloan adds her opinion about online books being a burden by saying, “Online textbooks are more difficult to read because of the strain that is induced by the device’s light, which can be a hassle to manage.” College students use their computers for nearly everything. With Blackboard, Microsoft Word, and the student’s school email, getting time off the computer can be difficult. Unfortunately, now that textbooks are digital, even more screen time is added to the typical college student’s day. Being on a computer for that long can be hard. The light from the screen can irritate the student’s eyes and make reading difficult.

There are several strengths and weaknesses to using either online or physical textbooks. Every student across campus has their own opinion, but there are times when physical books are the more reliable option. There are also occurrences when online textbooks can be beneficial, but there are also times when they cause more harm than good. Thankfully, here at the University of the Cumberlands, the bookstore provides free textbooks, and students always have the option to purchase a physical copy. This variety allows students to accommodate themselves to their desired learning mode.

about the connection between Band of Brothers and the community, Cumberlands student Christian Dingus explained, “The community is great when we are at Band of Brothers and just around campus. It gives you this community of people you know are believers and serious about

their faith. And you know that you can connect at least once a week, but they’re there for you anytime.” Cumberlands student Anna Wills said, “At NOVO, I just feel safe with the group of girls. NOVO is like the family that you need on campus. And I’m glad Campus Ministries has provided that for me.”

For those interested in joining either Band of Brothers or NOVO, please contact Matthew Plementosh or Rachel Lowder.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SYDNEY SCHWENKE

PHOTO BY SUMMER MILLS

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SYDNEY SCHWENKE

Lifestyle

Letter From the Editor in Chief

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break and gobbled until you wobbled. I know that I had a great time. I love holidays where you can eat the majority of the time. Eating is one of my favorite pastimes. My favorite dishes at Thanksgiving are casseroles and cranberry sauce. I think turkey is one of the most overrated dishes for this holiday meal, but ham is a much better option. Pumpkin pie is also the superior dessert served on the dinner table. I could eat pumpkin pie year-round because of how good it is.

With Thanksgiving break gone now, we only have around two weeks left until we are out of school for winter break. Many people like to call this Christmas break because the holiday is one of the most significant events that happens during our break. However, the transition between the two breaks can be somewhat difficult. There is a lull in everything. Most people begin to feel rundown and like they just want to finish the semester, so they start just going through the motions of everyday life. This roboticness can be normal for many people but is also a sign of seasonal depression. People should talk about seasonal depression more because it is normal. Everyone should know that others have had similar feelings and there are ways to combat the illusive illness. In this issue, we have an article that focuses on seasonal depression so you can learn about its causes and symptoms and ways to deal with it.

We also have a lineup of articles to inform and entertain you. A sensitive piece touches on the Israel- Palestine conflict in the Middle East. One writer compiled tips from our staff to give to students so that everyone could better educate themselves on how they can improve their writing skills. There is an opinion over textbooks being online at the Cumberlands and in general, which has been a hot topic recently since we made the transition this semester. There are also many fall movie reviews for you to watch with your friends any time or to cuddle up and watch with someone special for a cozy, casual date night.

I hope this week goes by fast for everyone and you can get in the groove of things after being off for a few days. Remember to stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. Staying attentive to your goals will help you reach them and finish the yearstrong.

Love, Summer

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Staff

Editor- in- Chief

Summer Mills

Print Managing Editor

Cage Grubb

Digital Managing Editor

Emilia Martínez Morales

Staff Writers

Ally Kennedy

Kamryn Keith

Shayra Calderon

Sydney Schwenke

Staff Photographers

Brittany Smith

Khebrion Puchoon

Faculty Advisor

Jeremiah Massengale

Write With Us

Newspaper Staff Gives Writing Advice to Students

Writing for an audience as broad as The Patriot newspaper can be challenging. Students and faculty from diverse backgrounds read newspapers for many varied reasons. Some enjoy the newspaper for current sports or world news, while others read the newspaper to get a glimpse of recent events on campus. The Patriot newspaper staff attempts to do their best to bring information that people want while writing creatively and concisely. When asked for three helpful tips while writing, the Patriot newspaper writers responded with beneficial advice.

Cage Grubb, Print Managing Editor for The Patriot, explains, “I would say knowing your audience and doing research ahead of writing is very important. Research helps guide an article or any other piece of writing. Checking for grammatical mistakes and looking at sentence

structure also help polish up a piece you may be working on.”

Patriot volunteer Lacie DeGough answers, “Start with an outline - even if it’s just a bullet point list. Write about the things that interest you - it’s a lot easier to write about things that you find intriguing. Start with a hook - grab people’s attention quickly.” These tips are incredibly beneficial to keep in mind before and during writing.

Kamryn Keith, Patriot writer, encourages aspiring writers to write about their interests, saying, “I would tell them always to find something they would enjoy writing about, or it won’t be fun. If you are interested, you’ll make it an interesting story. I would also tell them to have fun with what they write.”

Digital Managing Editor Emilia Martínez’s advice is to write thoroughly. She states, “The first tip I would tell any young writer is to picture the article in their head. Think and imagine how you want your article to look in your mind, and then put that idea onto paper. Read, research, and ask about the topic you want to write about. The more you know, the easier it is to write about something. My last tip is always to read aloud what you are writing. That helps the writer listen to their words to see if they make sense. Reading aloud also makes the writer see their mistakes. Writing is about imagining crazy ideas and putting them onto paper.”

Ally Kennedy, writer for The Patriot, says, “It is important to be aware of the audience you will be writing to, make sure you understand

the topic enough to inform others about it, and something I do a lot is make notes before I write. I like to make sure I have a checklist of things that I want to say.” Kennedy reiterates Grubb’s state

ment about the importance of knowing one’s audience.

Additionally, Summer Mills, Editor-in-Chief for The Patriot, encourages writers to use more creative liberty with interviews while staying true to life. Mills explains, “Pertaining to journalism, be creative with your writing while keeping the facts. If you do an interview, don’t just randomly insert a quote. Fuse your interviewers’ words with your own. When the interview is in person, make the score come alive by describing what you see, feel, and how the interviewee is acting.”

Anyone can use this beneficial advice from The Patriot newspaper staff in writing and consider it before submitting or finalizing any work.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

PHOTO BY AMANDA GAULT

PHOTO BY LACIE DEGOUGH

What is Happening in the Middle East? Conflict in Israel

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

For centuries, anti-Semitism (hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people) has created an isolated and self-preserving Jewish culture. The mantra “never again” has risen from years of genocide, slaughter, and scapegoating. The trauma Jews have faced after their multiple displacements over the centuries led them to implement the state of Israel in 1948.

Recently, on October 7, at least 1,200 Jews and foreigners were killed (31 of these were U.S. citizens), 1,590 were injured, and 240 Hamas terrorists took 240 hostages. The infiltration from Gaza attacked civilians and soldiers at 21 sites by firing thousands of rockets and massacring people in their homes. Hamas documented much of their atrocities live on social media, horrifying the world.

Israel, determined to eliminate the Hamas regime, began bombing Gaza. Since then, Israel’s military response has resulted in the deaths of over 12,000 Palestinians. Israel has cut off access to Gaza’s water, gas, internet, and electricity. The Israeli military warned Palestinians who were in Gaza to leave, but they became trapped because all Israeli borders were closed. Many tried to escape to Egypt, but the Egyptian government closed the Rafah crossing. This closing has left many Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

When asked for their stance on what is

happening in the Middle East today and how well they think the media portrays the conflict, Lucas Bargo, a UC freshman, responded, “It’s hard to categorize American news as one thing because you have both sides of an issue being extremely presented… as far as how American media is portraying Israel and Palestine, it’s more about political issues than lives being lost and that is a tragedy.” Cumberlands senior Ashton Farmer states, “I just kind of feel like I’m not educated enough on the conflict to have a full opinion or political stance. That’s for the actual activists on the ground who know more than I do. But I do believe that America personally sending billions of dollars to the conflict every year is a bit much, and we should value human life over our own alliances and gains.”

As the conflict continues and more information is released, students at the University of the Cumberlands must stay true to the facts. With opinions streaming in from both sides, students must stay true to the facts.

Dark After Five O’Clock

How to Deal With Seasonal Depression

BY: SHAYRA CALDERON STAFF WRITER

Winter is quickly approaching, and as the sky darkens, depression rises. Seasonal depression is something most college students experience, especially those who are far from home. Seasonal depression is a recurrent depression that happens during the same season every year; for the majority of people, this season is winter. Symptoms of seasonal depression include oversleeping, not sleeping at all, changes in appetite, developing eating disorders, feeling hopeless, having suicidal thoughts, and losing interest in everything. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is typically caused by our bodies producing more melatonin due to the lack of sunlight. Melatonin is a hormone that makes your body react to the darkness, which causes one to fall asleep. During the winter, the body produces a plethora of melatonin.

For college students living in states that have all four seasons, it is essential to find ways and resources to learn how to cope with seasonal depression. Some at-home treatments include exercise, increasing social interactions, having

a set time to sleep and wake up, getting more exposure to lights/sunlight, eating regularly, doing activities you enjoy, or journaling your thoughts. If it progressively gets worse, speaking to a therapist is always recommended. Here at Cumberlands, all students have access to counseling. Therapy is a great way to help find ways to cope and to have someone to talk to.

Most college students exhibit more intense levels of Seasonal depression because of the stress they are under as finals rapidly approach and being so far from their families. During these times, staying in touch with your family and friends is crucial. Although seasonal depression sounds similar to regular depression, there are several differences. Most of the time, those experiencing depression experience it at any point in time. Sometimes it lasts months, and sometimes it never ends. However, seasonal depression typically starts and ends at the same time every year; it isn’t some random occurrence. When sunlight decreases, so does the level of serotonin we produce. As college students,

Dad Jokes

we need serotonin. Serotonin helps our brains retain more information and controls our mood. During the winter season, those who experience SAD in college will have to work twice as hard to regulate their melatonin and serotonin levels. As students, we rely on our ability to remember the things taught and get up and go to class every day. Athletes have jam-packed days and do not often have time to rest. Most athletes have one or more practices a day and have to deal with the stress of not only performing well in their sport but also performing well in school. With so much already on their plate, an athlete who experiences SAD could quickly burn out and not have the desire to do anything. In such cases, speaking to your coach or a teammate who relates to your situation is highly beneficial. Those who struggle with seasonal depression should look into talking to professionals about how to regulate and cope with SAD.

PHOTOBY BRITTANY SMITH

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie Review

BY: ALLY KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

Five Nights at Freddy’s has been extremely popular since the video game debuted in 2014. With its similarity to Chuck E Cheese with both the pizzeria and the animatronics, it was set up for automatic success. Considering multiple games and books have been released about it throughout the years, an instantaneous excitement arose when it was announced that it was coming to the big screen. Young and old fans alike were ready to see Freddy Fazbear and his crew, Foxy, Chica, and Bonnie, come to life.

While many fans enjoyed the movie

for its beloved storyline and excellent casting choices of Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, some of the original fans were disappointed with its lack of horror. Numerous fans entered this movie expecting to feel the same thrilling fear as when playing the video game. Compared to the game, the film was more comical than scary. There were no jump scares or moments when you truly feared for the main character, Mike’s, fate. While there were parts of the film that captured a brief moment of creepiness, there truly is no comparison to the games. However, other than the disappointment of the horror factor, the movie itself was riveting. For past fans, nostalgia alone was a good enough

Fall Films for a Cool Evening Inside

Four Movies to Watch This Season

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

There are many classic fall movies that have been loved by generations. Three of these nostalgic movies are “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “Remember the Titans,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” These movies hold special places in the hearts of many.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is directed by Bill Melendez and Phil Roman and is based on the comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. This 1973 Fall classic is about the animated character, Charlie Brown, who throws a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner for his friends. Besides the fact that Charlie Brown can’t cook and will spend Thanksgiving at his grandmother’s, he still arranges a makeshift feast for his friends.

Charlie Brown enlists help from his dog, Snoopy, and best friend, Linus, to make toast, popcorn, and jellybeans for Peppermint Patty who invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown’s house. This movie honors the true thankful spirit of the holiday, is a wholesome movie that both children and adults can enjoy, shows that doing things for others is rewarding, and teaches that what you do does not matter as much as who you are with.

These themes and lessons present in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” help make the movie a holiday must-see for families across the nation. Generations have continually valued the film because of its fun-loving characters, powerful message, and iconic presence in pop culture.

Another holiday classic is “Remember the Titans.” This film is directed by Boaz Yakim and written by Gregory Allen Howard. This 2000 American biographical sports film is based on the true story of football coach Herman Boone. Coach Boone is tasked with uniting a newly racially integrated high school football team. This true

story took place in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971.

Early in the movie, the team members clash in racially motivated conflicts, especially between captains Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell. But through forceful coaching and a rigorous training camp, the football players come together both as a team and as friends. The Ti tans go through the football season undefeated while fighting racial prejudice and painstakingly gaining the community’s support. “Remember the Titans” deserves a spot on your watchlist because Fall and football naturally go together, the film addresses racial biases that still need to be confronted today, it tells a truly heartwarming story, and it teaches valuable lessons on the importance of diversity and inclusion.

“You’ve Got Mail” is directed by Nora Ephron and written by Nora and Delia Ephron. This 1998 American Romantic Comedy stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks plays Joe Fox who owns a mega bookstore chain that threatens Kathleen Kelly’s independent bookshop. The two fall in love through Joe Fox’s anonymous emails to his online pen pal and real-life rival Kathleen Kelly. Kathleen, however, is blissfully unaware that Joe is trying to shut down her business.

The story unfolds in Autumn in New York as enemies become friends and, eventually, lovers. “You’ve Got Mail” is a comforting classic because it is funny, the characters are relatable, there is old-fashioned romance, and it reminds people that love is not only something that happens but is also a choice.

These movies are excellent films to celebrate Fall and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. However, regardless of what movie you choose to watch, remember to focus on the themes and lessons that each film presents.

reason to watch it, but to those who were not as familiar with the plotline, it was just as exciting. There are multiple times throughout the movie where the audience cannot help but wonder about many things. What really happened to Mike’s brother? Who kidnapped him? Why is Mike seeing these random kids in his dreams? While some of the original fans already knew the answers, it was exciting to watch the movie unravel and see how they were going to adapt it to the movie.

It was interesting to see the plot play out in movie form. The film effectively engrossed the audience by allowing them to see more of Mike’s home life and troubles, rather than just showing him as the security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The viewers see his struggle with keeping a job and raising his younger sister, Abby. Abby is a highly reclusive child who would rather draw with her imaginary friends than be around people. It was intriguing to see how Mike’s terrible track record with jobs caused his aunt to question his guardianship, which ultimately led him to accept the job at the old pizzeria and, when out of babysitting options, bring Abby to work with him. While bringing Abby to work seemed to be the best option, Mike soon realized it was not when the animatronics took a specific liking to Abby. In a vulnerable state, they gave Mike a difficult choice, and in the heat of the moment, he chose wrong, causing the movie to spiral into a nerve-wracking experience for the audience as they watch Mike try to outrun his probable death. As the movie ends, shocking surprises are revealed, and the writers hint at a sequel.

Poetry Corner

The Color of You

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Your mind has a color, Your spirit, Your soul,

It’s the shade of a Robin’s song, It’s the hue of the breeze dancing all day long.

It’s the toy-store-window yearning. The book learning.

The gears turning.

It’s the chocolate drinking on a cold, cold day.

And the last bit of school at the end of May.

This color comes from a palate filled. Like you sipping lemonade that’s chilled, Or helping to clean up what’s been spilled.

It’s a mother singing a lullaby, Like puffy clouds on a blue sky, and a soft contented sigh.

Like a picnic with someone you love, Like noticing the soft coo of a dove.

It’s a kayak paddling nowhere fast, Like a lighthouse beaming for all to see, It’s sighting land from the top of a mast. And exactly like honey from a honeybee.

GRAPHIC BY SUMMER MILLS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITTANY SMITH