November 10, 2017
Letter from the Managing Editor
Patriots,
Put away your candy and costumes and take out your Christmas tree! Although it’s sad that Halloween has come and gone, the positive side is that the holidays are rapidly creeping up on us. We have made it to November! That was quick, right? The light at the end of the fall semester tunnel is finally beginning to shine through. I can almost smell the Thanksgiving turkey!
With that being said, I assure you that I am in the same stress realm that you are when it comes to turning in assignments. Professors are cracking their knuckles and throwing out papers, quizzes, and tests quicker than I can write them in my planner. Soon enough we will get to enjoy a long much needed break, but for now, we must finish what we started in August.
Although it may not seem like it now, time is passing tremendously fast. We must learn to appreciate what is around us, pushing aside our anxiety and filling our hearts with joy. College can get
the best of us when we have a lot going on. Be sure to stop what you’re doing and relax as much as you can. Take a deep breath!
The Patriot staff is working diligently to provide the student body with entertaining and informative pieces. Last week was an eventful week with the trip to Dallas, Texas, but the staff was excited to show off the Stranger Things issue.
As always, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us if you have any thoughts, suggestions, or concerns about
The Patriot. We are here with open arms and are willing to expand our staff family to anyone who wants to be involved. We look forward to hearing your reactions on this week’s issue.
Keep pushing, Patriots, and take in the moment because you’ll look back on these days and wish you had them back.
Sincerely,
Megan Willoughby
Editor-In-Chief
Eric Ford Edwards
Managing Editor
Megan Willoughby
Faculty Adviser
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Emilee Agee
Taylor Duke
Kathryn Green
Leanne Gregory
Megan Kelly
Tyler Kohn
Shandi Lindsay
Brian Mahadeo
John McCoy
Megan Muggridge
Nichole Sharp
Zane Ross
Editorial Review Board
Lisa Bartram
Marianne Worthington
Email comments, concerns or tips to: thepatriot@ucumberlands.edu or call us at 606-539-4172
7000 College Station Drive Williamsburg, Kentucky 40769
The Patriot is the weekly student publication of the University of the Cumberlands. Our goal is to provide timely and original content by highlighting campus news and views.
Award-winning member of the Associated Collegiate Press and Kentucky Press Association.
BY ZANE ROSS Staff Writer
UC students react to Szechuan sauce fiasco
Last month on October 7, the McDonald’s restaurant chain made an appeal to the fan base of the popular Adult Swim cartoon series, “Rick and Morty,” when they brought back their 1998 promotional “Mulan” Szechuan dipping sauce for one day only.
On April 1 of this year Adult Swim had aired the first episode of season three of the hit sci-fi comedy show and with it came the internet’s fascination with the sauce. At the end of the episode, titled “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” main character Rick Sanchez goes on a tangent about how his entire purpose was to find more of the sauce. Rick goes as far as to say that it’s his “series arc” and that he won’t stop until he gets the sauce even if it takes “nine more seasons.” With such a compelling monologue it was no wonder that the fan base would express an interest in getting Rick his Szechuan sauce once again. A petition circulated the internet where it received over 45,000 signatures demanding the return of the sauce.
McDonalds heard the cry for the sauce and took action to bring it back for a very limited time, but it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the fans of the show. The Szechuan sauce was only available at select locations and had an extremely minimal supply with about 20 packets of the sauce per location. Fans did not take it well when they came out in droves for the sauce and found out that they had waited to walk away empty handed.
There were many who tweeted about the incident with #szechuansauce and most tweets were less than positive. There were others who didn’t rely on Twitter to express their disappointment, but did so with riots at various McDonald’s locations. Many videos are circulating on YouTube where full McDonald’s lobbies are chanting “We want the sauce,” and in one instance a fan jumps on the counter and begins shouting, “I’m Pickle Rick,” which is a reference to episode three of season three where Rick turns himself into, well, a pickle.
“There is always a toxic side to a fanbase,” says UC senior, and “Rick and Morty” fan, Brett Birnberg, “and it just so happened that the more toxic side of the ‘Rick and Morty’ fan base was showcased on that day.”
Much like Birnberg there are many who don’t necessarily blame the show for the behavior of its fans. The show is a fun, more adultoriented, sci-fi adventure that is well-written and clever, but it seems that its more “meme worthy” jokes are what a lot of people cling to.
Where are we, Morty? it looks like some kind of campus newspaper
“I don’t think that this reflects well on any fan of the show,” says another “Rick and Morty” fan and UC senior James MacPherson, “When people start rioting that gives a pretty bad name to the entirety of the group and not just those involved in it. You can’t blame the show though because everyone is capable of thinking for themselves. This was a group of people acting immature and just over all dumb about the issue. I think it’s hilarious, but it wasn’t smart or appropriate on their part.”
Aww, geez, rick! I don’t know, but it looks like a pretty cool issue!
Co-creator of the show, Justin Roiland, took to Twitter to inform fans that he and the rest of the “Rick and Morty” team had nothing to do with the Szechuan promotion, but asked that the fans be kind to the workers because it wasn’t their fault. Although Roiland did his best to calm the riots there were still videos of some who believed their actions were due to their “dedication” to the show.
“You have stuff like that in every fandom, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the fandom that should be blamed,” says UC junior Martha West, who says she has only seen a handful of episodes. “It’s the mindset of those that have seen it and take it to that extreme. What happened could have been anybody or any fandom.
There are ‘Star Wars’ fans who would do stuff like that if prompted to. Those people are going to find a reason to act that way and the fandom is just a means to do that.”
The McDonalds public relations team released a statement the following day saying that they had not anticipated the popularity of, or the passion that fans would have for, the sauce. The statement also included an apology for not having provided more of the Szechuan sauce to satisfy the needs of those that came out for it. McDonalds made the decision that they will release the sauce again sometime this winter season as way of apology. In the coming months it seems Rick will finally get what he has been searching the multiverse for.
BY KATHRYN GREEN Staff Writer
Multilingual Benefits
The advantages of speaking several languages
In Gatliff classroom 222 there is a poster that reads, “Speak a new language so that the world will be a new world.” The ability to speak multiple languages is a respected skill, which reaps many benefits. One of the benefits is communicating with others who speak in a different language. UC sophomore Taylor Duke says, “Knowing a different language allows you to be more understanding of different cultures.”
It also helps you connect with different people. Duke speaks both English and Tagalog (a language of the Philippines) as well as understanding Spanish. Multilingual student Tipmana Tanajantaporn made similar comments on the benefits. She said, “I think for now, it just like, makes it easier to communicate with other people from different countries and in the future, it definitely gonna benefit me when I go into the international world.”
Tanajantaporn also said “understanding movies” is a benefit she enjoys. As she said, another benefit is getting to experience art such as novels, poetry, films, and music in other languages. UC junior Ahmed Ghatwary is trilingual in Arabic, English and French. He said, “By spending time mingling with that culture and listening to what kind of words and statements and even old sayings gives you a better understanding of how this culture thinks, what’s valued in it, and what’s valued in it and what’s frowned upon.”
In addition to cultural awareness and insight, speaking multiple languages has health benefits. Processing information in multiple languages keeps the brain active. This can fight against dementia. UC’s
Nicklas Nancke grew up speaking Danish in Denmark. In fourth grade he began learning English and in seventh grade German in school. In his opinion speaking multiple languages not only results in “more social and cultural opportunities” but also those who are bilingual are “proved to be more efficient with processing information.” Nanke brought up additional benefit of being competitive in the job market.
For those seeking profitable benefits, bilingual status looks excellent on a resume for its practical implications. Employees who speak multiple languages are marketable as they can relate to individuals of various cultures, and understand content in multiple languages. Also, those who are bilingual understand the importance of differences in meaning between cultures. These characteristics are appealing to potential employers.
Of course, to experience these benefits you must know or learn a language other than your native tongue. Growing up in a bilingual household is wonderful way to learn. However, not everyone has that luxury. Other ways of learning a language include taking courses in it and independent learning. Apps such as Doulingo or Mango can be used to teach yourself. You can also watch YouTube videos that tutor in languages. Both Tanajantaporn and Duke suggested listening to music as a good way to learn a language.
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Mana Tanajantaporn and Anne Russell have a discussion.
Photo by Taylor Duke
Page 5 News
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Duke said, “Another way is to learn is by listening to music in the language that you want to learn and looking at the transitions. This way also helps you pronounce words correctly. You can then piece together what words mean and then you make cognitive connections, which will help. I think that way is the most enjoyable because you’re listening to the music and learning more about the listening patterns of the places where those languages are spoken.”
UC sophomore Anne Russel, a Spanish and Human Services major, is bilingual in Spanish and English. She says, “It is so powerful to be able to break the language barrier and communicate with different people groups, especially in emergency situations.”
Russel encouraged taking a class if possible. She said, “Being able to receive feedback from an instructor is very helpful to start off.” She emphasized the importance of a tool that “allows you to listen, speak, read and write” and also that “you need to be able to converse with native speakers to help solidify your skills and grow.” Immersion is one of the most effective methods. Take advantage of opportunities to go on mission trips, vacations or study abroad internationally to learn a language in another culture. Whether driven by individual motives--to better self or collective motives--relate to others the ability to converse in multiple languages is worth of pursuing. Regardless, download an app, open YouTube, or visit a country and begin to see the world differently.
House of psychos
Psi Chi hosts haunted house of psychos
BY SHANDI LINDSAY Staff Writer
Psychology’s honor society, Psi Chi, hosted a haunted house fundraiser October 20 from 7 p.m. to 12 p.m. on the second floor of Lueker Annex. The haunted house had different rooms fitting the theme for the “house of psychos.” Each room became increasingly more sinister, from an observation room to an experimental room; and these are just some of what the house had to offer. The “psychos” of the house included a variety of volunteers like UC psychology professor Jane Whitaker.
University of the Cumberlands student Sierra Riley said, “It was a great setup and really creative, it stuck with the theme well.”
The turnout was deemed a success by the organizers; many UC students and also community members went through the “house of psychos.” UC psychology professor, and host of the haunted
house, Kiersten Baughman said that she wants this to become a yearly fundraiser. Baughman said, “We made so much; the students had so much fun with it, if they had help they would do it again this month!” Baughman said the most rewarding moment for her was when she found out how enthusiastic the Psi Chi members were about doing the event again in the future. Baughman added, “When I asked the 25 people that had been helping if they would come back next year and every hand shot up.”
Admission to the “House of Psychos” was $5 but was discounted if the visitor brought in a can of food to donate. Psi Chi raised $500 for their single night opening. Baughman said, “Psi Chi raises money to help traveling psychology students present at conferences, and to the Psych Bowl that students participate in in the spring.”
Photo Submitted
Photo by Katherine Greene
Memories and missed flights
BY MORGAN HUFF Staff Writer
We missed one flight and numerous public transportation options, which would typically make a pretty miserable trip. But that wasn't the case for this year’s National College Media Convention. The six of us took on Dallas with an open mind and a positive attitude. We turned missed trains into memories that'll last us forever.
Most of us hadn't been to the conference before (or Dallas) and didn't have a clue as to what to expect. The NCMC is a gathering hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association of college media’s best and brightest to learn from industry experts. Were there going to be snobby journalists telling us how lousy we are the whole time? Were cowboys going to wrangle us up? We didn't know. But to my surprise the conference had more of a “you rock and let's help you keep rocking” feel.
The keynote speakers like Bob Schieffer and Dale Hansen were fiery and honest but gave us hope. They started out just like us, they even failed a handful of times. They all mentioned how we were the future and no matter how trivial some perceive our prospective career it's an important part of the American way. Schieffer left us with a resonating quote, “You get one trip on planet Earth so don’t leave it saying you wish you would’ve.”
Zane Ross, a journalism student who attended the trip, highlighted what he took from the NCMC saying, “I attended various sessions that promoted the importance of utilizing and recognizing the limitations of our first amendment rights as United States citizens. I loved hearing about all the ways that we could make a difference on our campus when it comes to educating students and giving a voice to those
Attending the National College Media Convention
on campus who may feel that they don't have one.”
I, however, found comfort in being in such an open uncensored space. One the sessions I attended was called “Sex, Faith, and Race.” It was about everything you shouldn’t talk about at a dinner party. Another one of my sessions was about being a national correspondent. Ed Lavandera, a national correspondent for CNN, spoke on the trials of his job. He detailed being attacked at a Charlotte riot and said, “I love my job but I’m not dying for it.”
We got to experience the conference and network with professionals in our prospective field but we also got to get a real look at Dallas. Ford Edwards, editor-in-chief of The Patriot, recalled, “Not only did we get to learn from other in the field of journalism, but we also got to explore Dallas and the surrounding areas”. We ate a different genre of food every night and Jordyne Carmack, faculty chaperone for the trip, pushed us out of our comfort zone. Ross now has a sushi craving he won’t be able to cinch in Williamsburg to deal with. From going to the JFK museum, to running after trains we managed to miss, to sitting on a steer at The Stockyards, to experiencing a rally, we got a real taste of Texas.
Nichole Sharp, a UC student and avid photographer, explained, “Dallas was an amazing experience full of all sorts of different ethnic foods, culture and city life. We were all so lucky to get this opportunity.”
Sadly we didn’t miss our flight departing Texas. It was a group consensus that there were many more adventures to be had in Dallas but we needed to return and deliver our newfound knowledge.
Review: ‘Colors’ by Beck
On Friday, Oct. 13, Beck released his new album titled “Colors” which follows his last album “Morning Phase” from 2014, which won him a Grammy for album of the year. The album as a whole relies heavily on catchy hooks and repetitive lyrics like any pop album would, but with fresh melodies and obscure lyrics are still true to Beck’s quirky style, while “Morning Phase” is more orchestral, acoustic and heartfelt. These songs carry very different feelings compared to “Colors” which is just as sensitive but not as heavy. Beck echoes an cheerful message of independence and hope. When he sings of going through hard times, he never fails to circle back to living free and to use life as a way to grow.
The album starts strong with “Colors”, an upbeat and infectious track that is an instant hit. Despite it not being lyrically complex, it is energetic and fun. The second song “Seventh Heaven” is more mellow but serves up off-the-wall lines such as “I want to see you with the pharaoh’s curse the apple flower doggerel” while maintaining a dreamy melody. Songs like “Dreams”, “Dreams - Colors Mix”, “Wow”, “Dear Life” and “Up all Night” are all featured on the album after already being released as singles months prior, so fans would know the lyrics and have a glimpse into his different sound before the rest of the album was released. The only downside to this is that these songs make up almost half of the album, leaving audiences with just six truly new tunes, and as singles are typically the best from the album, it had the potential to fall flat.
The themes of optimism and freedom are a strong main focus throughout
Patriot Highlight HHHII
BY EMILEE AGEE Staff Writer
the album as “Dear Life” features lyrics that say “I’m holding on,” and the track “I’m So Free” has a hard-hitting electric guitar riff accompanied by Beck’s joy at breaking out of a rut. “No Distraction” is a classic inner conflict that comes from deciding whether to investing in relationships when it comes with an array of negatives as well as positives. Although this song has deeper lyrics, it remains high tempo as all the other songs have. Beck underlines the classic idea that we should accept the good and bad in life because everything is going to be alright and we might as well have fun. The best example is in “Square One” where he sings, “Cause this is life and it’s alright”. There is room for critics to disapprove of the lack of profundity in the album, but the artistry is not compromised in the instrumental composition, and Beck still finds ways to tap into something unique.
“Fix Me” is the one song that is slower and refers to “dark skies”. He says, “Nothing’s going to do you harm except yourself” meaning we have the power of choice. The words “I’m set free” also circles back to the song “I’m so Free” in the way that it is inspirational. This is important because it creates a bittersweet sound that allows listeners to feel sad for a moment before transitioning into the last song “Dreams” and bringing them back to life.
“Colors” proves that Beck is still unpredictable and does not shy away from transforming his sound. As some might say his transition to pop was inevitable or selling-out, he has not yet lost his rebellious charm and the essence of his cool.
Get to know UC athlete Nick Boys
BY TAYLOR DUKE AND MEGAN MUGGRIDGE Staff Writers
From the land “Down Under,” Nick Boys is University of the Cumberlands’ newest outfielder. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Boys got involved in a lot of sports. Growing up he played soccer, cricket, and baseball, but stuck with baseball because it was something he and his dad bonded over.
Boys transferred to UC from Iowa Central Community College. Boys says he appreciates the winning culture and great facilities that UC has to offer. His goal for this season is to help the Patriots make it to the NAIA World Series and compete for a national championship.
When asked which MLB team was his favorite Boys said, “The New York Yankees have always been my team. They are the first team
you hear about being from a different country.”
Boys continued to say, “Charlie Blackmon is my all time favorite player. He plays for the Colorado Rockies and is left-handed like me.”
Boys has many memories of playing baseball but his favorite memory is a walk off base hit last spring in the conference tournament at his previous school. Boys said, “One of my most memorable times at bat helped my teammate who was on base score the winning run.”
“Baseball is definitely more laid back in Australia,” Boys continued. “It is far more cutthroat because of the large amount of players here. Teams in the U.S. practice more often and the schedule is a lot more hectic here.” Page 7 Features
Photo by Taylor Duke
Best Costume: Jessica Rodriguez