The Patriot- Fall 2023 Issue 6

Community Service at the Cumberlands In the

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

The University of the Cumberlands’ community service program is more than a requirement; it is a campus-wide attitude. Dr. Jamirae Holbrook, Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of the Cumberlands, stated, “Student Success’ mission and goal is that we grow Cumberlands students to be servant leaders...we go above and beyond.”

Dr. Holbrook has been the Vice President for Student Affairs since January 2022. She has been crucial in initiating Season of Service, the Cumberlands’ community service program. Holbrook said the program “has grown organically, and it is something that I am really proud of.”

Holbrook stated, “We have a community service and leadership program that requires students to complete at least 40 hours of com-

BY: SYDNEY SCHWENKE STAFF WRITER

Season of Giving, Cumberlands Gives Back

munity service as a graduation requirement. Students are registered in an Orientation class until they are of junior or senior status. Outside of that, we have UC Engage, the class where every student has to complete one academic event and one community service event per semester. Student Affairs has been able to grow Season of Service every semester. Last semester, Cumberlands offered over 160 individual service projects. This semester will have a record-breaking Season of Service where over 190 individual service projects have been provided for students to choose from.

Holbrook commented on the change from Pat Serve Day to Season of Service, “[Cumberlands] used to have Pat Serve Day...where there was just one day when students could volunteer to serve. We found that we were not able to meet a lot of our community partners’ needs.”

Part of the problem with Pat Serve Day, Holbrook states, was that “we were telling them when our students would come to help as opposed to asking when they needed help.” Now, Cumberlands offers students many service opportunities that are both flexible to them and beneficial to the needs of local service programs.

Community is a big part of what makes the University of the Cumberlands the school it is today. According to Holbrook, the University of the Cumberlands’ president reflects this value: “It is very important to our president, Dr. Larry Cockrum, to care for the community that surrounds our students. Making that a priority is a priority of the leadership from the top down.”

When asked about the many Corbin and Williamsburg service opportunities, Holbrook said, “Our community partners have always been excited about serving with our students. We have

some programs that we have had a partnership with for years, such as the Corbin Backpack Program and the First Baptist Church food pantry. [Student Affairs] tries to give students as much choice as we can to let you all choose programs that interest them.”

Cumberlands hosted its annual food drive from November 13 to 20. The drive’s proceeds directly benefit local charities like First Baptist Church Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Independent Youth and Family Resource Center, Shiner Church of Christ, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, and the Emergency Christian Ministries Shelter.

“The annual food drive that we just completed was incredibly successful. We have not calculated yet how many pounds of food have been donated. Save-a-Lot alone gave us two large pallets of food. That’s over three thousand pounds of food that are going to serve our partnered food programs.”

For many reasons, the University of the Cumberlands’ emphasis on student leadership through service is admirable. Most notably, Cumberlands provides students with many opportunities to give of their time and effort to make their immediate community a better place.

An Interview With Coach Sowder

Cross Country Successes and Track Season Hopes

Cumberlands’ Cross-Country and Track and Field Head Coach Bradley Sowder reflects on the teams’ values, expectations, and what makes the program the way it is today through a personal interview. When asked about a few of the Cumberlands’ cross-country and track and field program’s values, Coach Sowder said, “We want to help students find the outer edges of their God-given ability, and we want to win. Winning is defined within this program as being better than you were the day before and repeating that every day mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, academically, and athletically.”

Coach Sowder stated that he was “absolutely not” satisfied with how the cross-country season went. He said that “satisfied” was “a very strong word” but that he was pleased with “this step in the direction that the program is going into.” The women’s cross-country team placed ninth overall and accomplished their goal of placing in the top ten at the NAIA National Championship. The men wanted to win but were twenty-one points short of reaching that goal. Sowder commented on the men placing third overall, “As much as we celebrate...we still [recognize] that these men came to me and said, ‘we want to win a national title and were twenty-one points away from doing that. In the future, I am extremely confident that we will achieve that goal, but to say that we are satisfied would be misquoted for sure.”

Sowder stated that he is “proudest of the fact that [the team] executed as well as [they] did. We had a phenomenal day, and I do not want to take away from the fact that we were able to race at the conference with such a dominating force. I am also proud to see the guys and the ladies be able to handle [the race] as well as they did with as many setbacks [as they experienced].”

When asked what makes Cumberlands’ program unique, Sowder responded, “There is something special, but we can’t quite put it

into words. What I would like to think that it is [is that] we are fully committed to helping young men and women take their goals and aspirations and make them come into existence. [We] value [everything] within this, and I think that separates us from a lot of other schools.”

Coach Sowder also spoke about the coaches’ expectations for the winter and spring track seasons, stating, “The ultimate expectation is a national title....and full disclosure, I cannot do any of that. I am not [one of the student athletes]. To reach that goal, we are on a constant journey as a coaching staff to find like-minded people who understand and appreciate the expectations and execution of making this come into existence. “

“As the season approaches,” Coach Sowder said, “I do not have trouble sleeping. But man, I am ready to get up and get going. I think there’s nothing cooler than to see a male or female athlete accomplish what they want to. Every single competition and moment that an athlete gets to try to edge that into existence, man, if that does not fire you up, then I do not know. So yes, I’m looking forward to [track season]. I think we are in a great position as a program.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS

GRAPHIC BY SUMMER MILLS

Letter From the Print Managing Editor

PHOTO BY AMANDA GAULT

Happy end of the semester, Patriots!

With the air getting cooler, Christmas decorations glittering across campus, and finals quickly approaching, I find myself anticipating the upcoming break. While the stress of finals is looming across campus, I urge everyone to take time to rest in between study sessions and do something fun. One of my favorite study break options is to order pizza from The Brick Oven and watch a movie with my friends. This helps me to rest my mind so that when I begin studying again, I feel refreshed and energized.

I always enjoy this time of year because of the time I get to spend with my friends and family. Throughout the holiday season, I enjoy getting together with those I hold dear and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps my favorite tradition is my family’s annual “candy night,” when we make various types of candy and snacks.

Even though this is our last issue of the semester, we have plenty of exciting articles to share with you. From learning about Cumberlands’ commitment to giving back to the community to a movie review of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, this issue is full of impactful and entertaining pieces to read. You will even notice several articles relating to Christmas and the holiday season. These articles are informative about the holiday that so many people enjoy celebrating. After reading this issue, you will be well informed on the Christmas holiday, UC’s mission to give back to the community, and today’s popular culture.

I pray you have a restful and blessed Christmas season. I cannot wait to see everyone again in January.

Sincerely,

Cage Grubb

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

Christmas Word Search

Candy Canes

Colorful Lights Gifts Gingerbread

Ugly Sweaters

BY: KAMRYN KEITH STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY LACIE DEGOUGH

The air is getting colder, the weather forecast predicts snow, and Christmas is just around the corner! Halloween and Thanksgiving have gone, and now it is time for the Christmas holiday season. While some people have been ready for Christmas since Halloween, others are just now getting into the spirit. Nevertheless, people will be celebrating Christmas in many unique ways. However you choose to celebrate Christmas, the commonality of spending time with friends and family reigns over most individuals’ festivities. People may buy gifts for each other, and, on Christmas night, Santa may leave more presents. So how did this important holiday originate, and why do people celebrate it?

The Christmas Story

How Christmas Began

The Christmas holiday began as a celebration of Jesus’ birth. Luke 2 tells the story of Jesus’ birth and reveals the importance of many modern-day Christmas traditions, such as giving gifts. Many attribute the tradition of giving gifts to the wise men who brought frankincense, myrrh, and gold. Just as the wise men gave Jesus these gifts in celebration of his birth, individuals throughout the world continue to give gifts to one another in celebration of Christ’s birth. This tradition is found in Christmas celebrations across the world, yet it maintains its biblical origins.

Although many traditions originate in the biblical story of Christ’s birth, other traditions developed from other sources. Christmas trees, for instance, are related to the pagan practice of celebrating the return of the spring. As Christianity spread across the world, specifically through northern Europe, traditions like these were adopted by Christians. Christians, however, use Christmas trees to symbolize Christ’s immortality and to represent the crown of thorns that was placed on Christ later on in his life.

Other traditions, such as the myth of Santa Claus, have origins outside of the biblical context. The Santa Claus story began in the 4th century in the Netherlands and Belgium. A

man named Saint Nicholas saw a woman who was in trouble and needed help. To help the young woman, he threw three bags of gold into her window in an attempt to stay anonymous. Saint Nicholas was later identified and praised. Individuals who received anonymous gifts from then on said that Saint Nicholas gave them the gift. Over the years, this story grew and was adapted. By the twentieth century, the story had evolved into the modern-day version of Santa Claus. People continue to honor Saint Nicholas and his generosity by giving gifts to one another and becoming involved in community service throughout the holiday season.

Christmastime is a time of joy, happiness, love, selflessness, and generosity for many people throughout the world. It is a time to spend with family and friends, as well as to give back to the community. While rushing around to buy presents, make sure you take a step back and remember the real reason for this holiday, the celebration of Christ’s birth. When partaking in the various traditions of the season, remember their origins and reflect on how to best embody what Christmas stands for: generosity, forgiveness, and service.

What Makes You Beautiful An Increase in Social Media Pressure to Define Beauty

BY: SARAH GARRISON STAFF WRITER

For a society that claims to value natural beauty and body positivity, our attitudes towards them reflect a much different sentiment. From “body positive” influencers being exposed for editing their bodies on Instagram (i.e., Alexandra Rodriguez and Karina Irby) to the almost weekly “beauty checking” trends being posted all over TikTok, it is obvious that our relationship with beauty is not what we claim it is.

History does, in fact, repeat itself. A quick look back at the early 2000s obsession with thinness and the 90s “heroin chic” craze might seem a tad dramatic compared to what we see today, but is it? Many would say that a significant difference between today’s beauty standards compared to 20 years ago is that today, the focus is more on health. Many wellness influencers who advocate for health over aesthetics have been caught editing their photos and even accused of promoting eating disorders. Through late 2021-2022, social media apps saw a resurgence in “thinspo” content, much like what was circulating on Tumblr in 2012. Most of this content was thinly veiled as “coquette” or “girl blogger” content, but the façade did not last long. Instagram began removing girl blogger posts and even banning some accounts, causing the trend to die down, but TikTok and thinspo still seem to have a close relationship. “What I eat in a day” videos and various tiny waist trends all contribute to TikTok’s continuous problem with thinspo content.

The real obsession with beauty begins to shine through in the overflow of “beauty checking” trends. A few of the most notable beauty checking trends are the “Face Ratio Test,” where users test the proportions of their face by lining them up with red lines that appear on their screen; the multiple symmetry test trends where users flip their cameras back and forth using a symmetry filter to compare the sides of their faces, and the “What pretty am I?” trend where users compare themselves to various celebrities that are labeled as being bunny pretty, fox pretty, cat pretty, fox pretty, etc. There have been a myriad of tests and trends like these on TikTok that all point to the same issue.

Glow-up content has been around for years. It can be found on X, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and even YouTube. Although “glow-ups” are meant to be empowering, in recent years, the content surrounding them has added pressure that was not there before. If you search “glow-up” on YouTube, you will find videos titled “How to become more beautiful,” “EXTREME 24 HOUR GLOW UP TRANSFORMATION TO MEET A

MILLS

BOY...”, “glow up for HOT GIRL SUMMER *in 4 hours* (p.s. it’s not actually hot girl summer),” and “blind dating 6 girls based on glow ups | versus 1.” Wanting to improve yourself is not a bad thing; however, social media emphasizes external beauty over internal beauty. There is little to no discourse on “glowing up” mentally or spiritually. Often, whoever has undergone a “glow-up” has only made themselves more appealing in a conventional sense, or rather, according to whatever look is currently trending. The desire to be gorgeous overnight is only fueled by the growing normalization of cosmetic surgery because it makes such a feat almost attainable (if you discount the weeks to months of healing time). Although cosmetic surgery is not wrong, social media has made it something that can do more harm than good. In 2018, Dr. Tijion Esho reported that clients were beginning to request procedures to make them look like their filtered faces on Snapchat. This phenomenon was given the term “Snapchat Dysmorphia.” Although most people affected by the push for beauty and perfection are women, social media is beginning to direct more attention to men. “Looksmaxxing” is the latest trend sweeping across TikTok, Instagram, and X at alarming rates. Although looksmaxxing content can be as innocent as giving hygiene tips or style advice, there is an extreme side to it that includes “starvemaxxing,” which is a term that is exactly what it sounds like. The terms associated with looksmaxxing, such as mewing and mogging, are thrown around on the internet as jokes; the sentiment behind them is real. Teenage boys are being made to feel as though they must compete with male models who have openly had cosmetic surgery or admitted to unhealthy eating habits.

As we navigate a world that focuses on social media and the external value of people, it is important to recognize when wanting to look our best is turning into something harmful. When we notice that insecurity creeping in, we can combat it by taking a break from social media and reframing our self-criticism into something positive. After all, true beauty is not what we look like but who we are.

GRAPHIC BY SUMMER

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Movie Review

BY: ALLY KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

Suzanne Collins is a name that all Hunger Games fans are familiar with. She is the brilliant mind behind the books that inspired the iconic movie franchise. On May 19, 2020, Collins released a prequel book to “The Hunger Games” called “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Fans were ecstatic to receive another story within “The Hunger Games” universe. Not too long after the book was released, there were talks about a movie coming, and soon enough, it was confirmed. On November 17, 2023, the film of the same name hit the big

screen, causing a nationwide phenomenon. While many know the story about the girl on fire, Katniss Everdeen, this movie shows the unique perspective of a character nobody expected: President Snow. In this movie, however, he is not yet the President of Panem; instead, he is a young adult trying to navigate his way in the Capitol. As an orphan with little money and a high ego, Snow had nothing but his wits to rely on throughout the movie. While, at first, Snow believed that his overachieving personality and his academic record would win him a scholarship to attend university, he was proven wrong. The game maker announced a new ask that uprooted Snow’s life: mentor

PHOTO BY LACIE DEGOUGH

Holiday Craze

The Over- Commercialization of the Holiday Season

BY: ALLY KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

In America, many holidays have evolved beyond their initial meanings. In the past, loved ones would gather to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Today, however, with the advanced work of advertising, holidays have become heavily commercialized. Instead of emphasizing family and togetherness, the modern world focuses more on buying. Corporations seek to maximize profits through holiday shopping.

In the United States, many holidays are observed throughout the calendar year. From New Year’s to Christmas, there are multiple holidays taking place throughout the year. When a holiday grows nearer, people are made to anticipate it, not necessarily because of the date but because of the commercials on television and the special aisles set up in stores.

In the case of Christmas, stores begin to advertise and sell items early in the year. Before Halloween ends, stores begin to set up their aisles dedicated to Christmas gifts and decorations. At first, businesses set out items like Christmas trees and ornaments, but as time goes on and the holiday gets closer, they start to release

gift items. On commercials and the radio, Christmas deals are often advertised for months before the holiday season begins.

Another example is Easter, a holiday dedicated to celebrating Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is a holiday where Christians get together and celebrate Christ through worship, feasts, and other activities. However, corporations have turned Easter into a holiday with its own purchasing expectations.

It is extremely unusual not to see kids participating in Easter egg hunts. While we have normalized this activity, it is a great example to show just how commercialized holidays have become. Parents go out and buy baskets, candy, and plastic eggs so that their kids can partake in Easter egg hunts. The inclusion of the Easter Bunny, a figure who has no ties to the biblical origin of Easter, shows how commercialized this holiday is in America. Despite the religious context of the holiday, corporations have convinced consumers to spend large sums of money in the name of the Easter season.

As holidays have become more commercialized, many businesses have dedicat-

a tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games.

As the odds do not seem to be in his favor, he gets stuck with Lucy Gray, an underfed girl from District 12, the poorest district. Throughout the movie, the audience sees the uncommon bond the two form and continuously wonders how everything will work out. As Snow tries to help Gray navigate this terrifying obstacle, the watchers see a new side of Snow. While fans got used to seeing the evil president who enjoys pitting children against each other, it was a shock to see him question the games and fight to get his tribute out safely.

Seeing a villain origin story is always interesting, but seeing what turned Snow from an innocent young man into a ruthless killer was riveting. The movie does such an excellent job of portraying Snow as a misunderstood character that it is difficult to see when he gradually becomes the monster he truly is. The movie begins with him as a teenager, so it is only natural to see a certain innocence in him. Still, from the very beginning, he has a cunning ambition that could easily reveal his true colors.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is a wonderful fit in “The Hunger Games” saga. The original movies mention some background knowledge about the war that caused tension between the districts and the capitol; this movie goes into more detail about the creation of the Hunger Games. It allows the audience to see a different perspective of the same story and understand why some things occur as they do.

Poetry Corner

i have stopped making my bed

BY: SARAH GARRISON STAFF WRITER

ed specific days to shopping in between holidays. The Friday after Thanksgiving is marketed as “Black Friday.” Stores typically open their doors early and have a discount on everything in the store. The Monday after that is called “Cyber Monday.” On this day, stores have online deals that consumers can take advantage of.

The emphasis on shopping and purchasing gifts for others has erased some of the deeper meaning of holidays such as Christmas from the public eye. Corporations have persuaded individuals to focus on the monetary aspect of the holiday season instead of focusing on family, friends, and the idea of giving back to the community.

While it can be nice to give and receive gifts, partake in fun traditions like Easter egg hunts, and shop during the holiday, over-commercialization has taken away the themes of many holidays. Holidays are not supposed to be a burden. These days are supposed to be enjoyable, but with the commercialization that goes along with them, sometimes it can be difficult to find joy and relaxation.

the same feet that walk over still-hot ash the legs that carry me through cheaply prophesied battle-scenes the arms that hold my enemies near, dagger and all and the very chest that locks away memories as matters-of-fact all burn brightly beneath my torn quilt writhing in their toil; i saved none my head is freezing up here.

in mornings after the blood-dust settles the dogs find me in my ruse and sink blunt teeth into my arms, pulling me from my void

i will forget this part by noon.

GRAPHIC BY SUMMER MILLS