Letter from the Editor
Dear Patriots,
It snowed the other day! Wow! As a Midwesterner, I was beyond hyped to walk out to my car and scrape the ice off of my windshield before driving to class. I know a lot of you donât necessarily like the cold, but trust me, it builds character.
I was looking at the calendar and it occurred to me that we are only publishing two more issues after this one this semester. Where did the semester go? The fall semester always seems to drag on a little longer than the spring, but this year it was different. With all the change and progress the school has seen in just these past four-ish months, time has flown by.
With that in mind, I hope everyone has been having a successful and busy semester. Thanksgiving is in a weird place this year, meaning finals will be happening only one week after we come home from break. Eyes on the prize, yâall, close out the first half of the academic year strongly!
This issue features a wide range of topics, from the history of a creepy photo the staff stumbled upon in an old year book, to the reunion of the kings of emo, My Chemical Romance. Also in this issue is an interesting read about twins, which is something that I think is fascinating. Can you imagine living with someone that looks exactly like you? Itâs insane to think about.
Remember to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and take some time for yourself as the winter nears. I know this time of year is hard on a lot of people for different reasons, so take care of yourselves Patriots!
Fire it up,
Mike Krzyston, Editor-in-Chief
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Krzyston
Managing Editor
Taylor Duke
Faculty Adviser
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Emilee Agee
Haley Bullock
Whitney Couch
River DePetris
Taylor Duke
Makayla Durham
Abigail Fletcher
Leanne Gregory
Alex Nunn
Jenna Rose
Sara Sherman
Elizabeth Spires
Maranda Young
Front cover by Mike Krzyston
Back cover by Haley Bullock
Email comments, concerns or tips to: thepatriot@ucumberlands.edu or call us at 606-539-4172
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The Patriot is the 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.
The amalgamated order of the Rasperators
A look into a mysterious find from an old UC yearbook
BY LEANNE GREGORY Staff Writer
Legends, stories of fact obscured by hearsay so that their lessons are lost to time. At the University of the Cumberlands, very few legends exist. Everyone knows of the haunted ghost of Gillespie Hall, but does anyone speak of The Amalgamated Order of Rasperators?
The order is featured on page 81 of the 1907 yearbook, the yearbook archive of the University of the Cumberlands can be found online and is a free service for all students, Alumni, staff, faculty and family members to view, then known as The Eglantine, hidden among the other sorties and athletic groups. It contains naught but a photograph of the group members, five individuals in total who are shrouded within heavy, white sheets, the head of which has been twisted into grotesque designs such as spiraled horns or a humanoid sepulcher, a motto, a poem of unknown authorship, though the club poet may have coined it on his own, the clubs emblem of the moon, and the clubs colors of black and white. There is no description given of the clubâs activities, faculty sponsor, or origin as with other clubs, however, on page 118 there is a small blurb in which the yearbook notes that a request by an individual referred to as Prexxy to join the Rasperators in Halloween pranks was blackballed. On page 119 the same Prexxy was said to have questioned the Rasperators about a prank the group was said to have concocted involving placing a goat into Johnson Hall. In the 1910 edition of The Eglantine, on pages 50 through 53, a short story written by Charlotte Whitfield Parks entitled âA Chapel Stuntâ depicts another gaff the group created involving the ventilator shafts within the Gattliff Chapel attic. The group had gathered supplies from the local stores and used them to trap mice within the ventilator tubes, rigging a wire to them that, when pulled, caused them to fall on the womenâs heads during the morning services.
Lieutenant and Musician, âKnowallâ Parks, â09, Quartermaster and Poet, âMitts Upâ Meadors, â10, Sargent and Thief and âKidââ Parks, Prep, Scout and Liar.
The first member Henry Horace Hibbs, found on page 26 of the 1908 Eglantine, hailed from Williamsburg, Kentucky. He was a member of the Gatliffian society, the class treasurer, and the art editor of the Eglantine and went on to earn an B.A. degree from UC. The second member of the club, William Edward Moore, was also from Williamsburg and can be found on page 27 of the 1907 yearbook. He was, alongside being a Rasperator, a member of the Hyperion literature club, the circulation manger of the Eglantine yearbook, a substitute football player and an active member of the baseball team who earned a B.S. degree from UC. The third member was Basil Manly Parks, who can be found on page 22 of the 1909 yearbook, was the president of both the Hyperion literature group and the Gattlifian, the Vice President and Secretary of the Oratorical Association, Captain of the Basket ball Team and a member of the football team, among other functions which could not be recorded due to the page of the yearbook being partially obscured in the scalation. The other two members, âMitts Upâ Meadors and âKidâ Parks, could have been one of several individuals including, A.J. Meadors, G.F. Meadors, B.M. Parks, R.M. Meadors or Charlotte Winfield Parks, but no information could be found in their respective yearbooks to place them within the group.
Ms. Erica Harris, the Executive Director for Alumni Relations, said âUnfortunately, there is no description of this group that I am aware of in any of the yearbooks; only a picture in the 1907 Eglantine and a reference in the 1910 Eglantine. One could speculate, after reading the story in the 1910 Eglantine, that they were just a group of innocent pranksters.â
Researching the group online reveals that the club has no official affiliation with any national or state organization, which more than likely means that the students came together on their own to form the club and its ideology. The members of the group do not go by their entire given names on their clubâs page; rather each member fashioned a nickname, containing navel militaristic terms and their graduation year, and a title for themselves reminiscent of roles in tabletop or console role playing games. Belonging to the club are âPugâ Hibbs, âO8, Captain and Artist, âCottonâ Moore â07,
The word Rasperators in of itself has no etymological definition as a whole, but separated into thirds as rasp, perato, and tors, the word takes on several meanings. The word rasp either refers, as explained by Merriam Webster, to the wood carving tool utilized in rougher shaping, or speaking to or touching something or someone roughly. The closest words to perato that could be found were perate and perates. Perate, Merriam Webster states, refers both to the Pythagorean and Chaldean number systems, which rate the perate as two and seven respectively. Perates, however, according to William Smith in A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines: Being a Continuation of âThe Dictionary of the Bibleâ, refers exclusively to the Gnostic religious sect created by Euphrates, whose beliefs were chronicled in the writings of Hippolytus, which venerates serpents as an holy entity capable of being the intercessory between God and unformed matter, man, because of the serpents role in giving to men their understanding of morality and planetary divinity. Lastly a tor, Merriam Webster defines, is a rocky outcrop. That their clubs name is so varied in origin ties into the first portion of their organizations naming convention, and their separate identities as club members, for to amalgamate something is to create a whole from myriad parts, and what is order but stability amidst chaos.
Double Take
by Maranda Young Staff Writer
If youâre walking around campus and you believe that youâre seeing doubles, you might want to take a double take. You might be seeing one of UCâs many twins. Although it may be hard to tell the difference, everybody is unique. Here are interviews from three sets of twins about life on campus.
Caleb and Dakota Wells: UC Juniors (Pictured)
Maranda: Whoâs older?
Caleb: Me, by 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Maranda: Yâall are identical, so were people constantly confusing you?
Caleb: Yeah, even our parents did. I heard that they made sure that they always made us wear different colors, like I was always blue, and he was always red. Thatâs funny because thatâs our favorite colors.
Dakota: Caleb had a birthmark on his leg when he was little, so it helped decide.
Maranda: Tell me about your favorite memory with each other?
Dakota: Well, we have always been together so there are so many, I do remember a time when Caleb âwent missingâ, but he had actually fallen asleep on the swings in the back yard, which faced away from the house, and when we called his name he couldnât hear us because he was asleep. For some reason, our parents thought I knew, like we were playing some kind of twin prank. That was probably one of the funniest memories.
Caleb: A lot of people think that since Koty and I are twins, we can read each otherâs minds, like some kind of sixth sense.
Maranda: What is your favorite thing about each other?
Caleb: When we are on the same page, also Koty is goofy.
Dakota: When Caleb isnât in a relationship, because he isnât gone all the time.
Maranda: How would you describe your twin brother?
Dakota: My twin brother Caleb, is eccentric. I have no one else that I can relate to like him.
Caleb: My twin brother Koty, is mostly kind, but kind of hot headed. More outgoing than I am.
Maranda: Have you ever thought about what it would be to not have a twin?
Dakota: We do. I always think, maybe I would have a best friend other than my sibling. Life would be different. We base decisions off of each other, like coming to Cumberlands was more of my decision and before it was UK and that was his decision.
Caleb: Our life would be significantly different. I donât know what its like to be an only child and people like are different because they never had to share anything. My brother and I had to literally share everything. We have a sister too. So, we share the love of our parents.
Dakota: I would want to know what itâs like to not be a union. Thatâs what everyone looks at us like.
Maranda: Have you ever switched spots in a class to take your other twinâs exam?
Caleb: This is funny, Koty asked me in college to take one of his math tests, which we didnât do. In high school it kind of worked. We switched classes as a joke and no one would know until a friend of ours would giggle and try to make it obvious, like, âOh, hey Koty. How are you doing Koty?â
He is funny though and smart. He has no shame, which can be annoying sometimes, but fun.
Sjoerd: Max is very outgoing, but not as much as me. Very arrogant, but in a good, funny way. He is smart but can be very lazy too.
Maranda: Have you ever felt jealous of your twin brother?
Max: Not really, my twin, he is my best friend. I wish him the best in life. So, when he has good results in.
Sjoerd: I also wish him all the best and when he achieves something good, I am happy for him. When he gets a really good-looking girl, you know, Iâm kind of jealous.
Maranda: Who is closer to their mom and their dad?
Max: Iâm closer to my mom and my brother is closer to my dad.
Sjoerd: Iâm also closer to our sister.
Maranda: Have you ever thought about what it would be like to not have a twin?
Max: Yes, a lot. Itâs so different being a twin. Moving from the Netherlands to here, Iâm comfortable. I have my best friend. If I didnât it would be scary.
Sjoerd: I wonder how I wouldâve felt if I wasnât a twin, especially in the younger days. The loneliness and the anxiety, I dint really feel that cause I have my brother. I wonder where I would be at in life.
Katie and Kenzi Isom: UC Freshmen (Pictured)
Maranda: Who is older?
Kenzi: Iâm older by a minute.
Maranda: Who takes longer to get ready in the morning?
Katie: Kenzi.
Katie: I do not!
Maranda: Do you guy have the same personality?
Kenzi: No, I think Iâm quiet and she is more, like, extraverted.
Maranda: Have you ever thought what it would be like to not be a twin?
Kenzi: I feel like I would be really lonely. It would be so different.
Maranda: what is something you really like about your twin sister?
Katie: HmmâŠ
Kenzi: Donât act like you have to think so hard!
Katie: No, itâs just that Iâm thinking, I like that she is willing to do things for me.
Kenzi: I like how accepting she is of people.
Maranda: Are you the only twins in your family?
Sjoerd and Max Nijssen: UC Freshman
Maranda: Whoâs older?
Max: Iâm older by a minute.
Maranda: How would you describe your twin brother?
Max: My twin brother is very outgoing, very patient in his sport. Also, arrogant.
Katie: Our pawpaw is a twin. So it skips a generation.
Maranda: Do you ever get jealous of your twin?
Kenzi: Not really, maybe when we were younger.
Katie: When we were little she would get awards for her knowledge and I felt like people were more proud of her.
Lyrical Lydia Season 7 Spotlight contestant Lydia Barbour releases two singles this year
By MAKAYLA DURHAM Staff Writer
University of the Cumberlands sophomore Lydia Barbour has debuted two original singles, âIndestructibleâ and âFlatline,â within the year of 2019. Her first song, âIndestructible,â was released on July 26 under the YouTube channel âLydia Barbourâ and on Spotify under the artist name âBarbour.â Barbour explained in an interview that the song âIndestructibleâ was written in the spring semester of college but recording for the song didnât start until the past summer because of all the hoops it had to go through in order to be published. The song itself is about the guilt that she felt from having to distance herself from loved ones in order to feel safer. Her other song, âFlatline,â came out earlier this month on the 1st of November, adding to her other single on her YouTube and Spotify channels. Barbour explained this single as âWanting somebody to love me, not just care, but knowing that pushing for love could also lose me that person.â UC senior, Rachel Meadors, gives us her reaction of the song Flatline saying âItâs a more upbeat dance melody that I added to my playlist and havenât stopped listening to since November started.â
Barbour started to write songs at an early age as a way for her to cope with feeling sad or even scared. Writing happy songs or lullabies would be a way to help her to get through the day. She continues to write about emotions
and anything she is feeling deeply about to help give a sense of true feeling in her music.
While her producer, Colby Starkel, says her style of music is more of an indie or folk-pop and her father, Steve Barbour, says she writes with a jazz feel, Barbour describes her music as âhedge music âbecause of the way she uses a lot of words to give images of the outdoors. Barbour says, âIâm sure my style sounds quite different from production versus just me and my piano.â
Growing up Barbour listened to Dixieland and Gaelic music that has influenced her to write in a folksier way but has been recently inspired by artists such as Regina Spekter and Dodie Clark who also produce indie music with a pop style.
When asked where she would see herself in the next five years, she states that she hopes to be able to do gigs on the regular by the time she finishes school and is even looking to do a tour in the future. Her goal for her music is to get onto the top 40 on the radio. Make sure to be on the lookout for more unique and uplifting music from Barbour on her YouTube and Spotify channels.
Photo by Makayla Durham
The game we made
An opinion on the popular dating app Tinder
BY ABIGAIL FLETCHER Staff Writer
The app Tinder has become a focal point of many college students for years. It has lost its original intent and been twisted into a confidence booster, hook up app, and some think itâs just a game. When thinking about the app Tinder, can we really blame the app or just blame ourselves?
Personally, I have found myself on the so-called âdating app.â Did I have true intentions of trying to find my one true love or soulmate? Absolutely not. What I found was a way to keep myself busy and to pass the time. Even though this is true for me, some have even furthered my point like Briona Pollard, UC sophomore, who says, âI use Tinder for study breaks, honestly, itâs just a game. I play Tinder, not use it.â The creators of Tinder, Sean Rad and Justin Mateen, were only college students when they created Tinder for fellow college students and others for dating purposes. The goal of the app was to alleviate the stress of meeting new people. The âdouble opt-inâ system in which both parties must swipe right to match, or chat, has prevented people from talking or matching with someone they didnât swipe on. As of now, the app has been made into a âhookup appâ where users can easily find hookups near them.
On the campus of the University of the Cumberlands, students are not ignorant to the whims of Tinder. My question is can we really blame the app? I have heard several students on UCâs campus, and I wouldnât doubt on other campuses, calling the app stupid or a dud. I think if we really thought
about it the veil of ignorance would be revealed. How can Tinder be âstupidâ or ânot workâ if in order to function, it needs people to use it for it to actually work. The app was created to help people mutually match, but everyone has worked together to make it the game it is today.
Besides the app being a way to hook up with people, a lot of people use it as a way to get compliments and âgas themselves up.â Personally, I donât understand how getting a compliment from a complete stranger could make you feel better. I think it makes me feel worse, because they would say absolutely anything to get their way. It may work for some but in the end, it can become addictive looking for strangers to make yourself feel better. Now with saying all of this will I stop using the app? Absolutely not because it truly is a passtime to keep me busy.
The app itself could be fully functional and work to bring people together, the appâs creatorsâ original intent, but even then, is it sustainable? The stigma around online dating is something of disbelief. In my day to day life people that I know have matched on tinder and began dating. Do I think it will last because they met on an app? Nope, I think it will not work out. I only think that because I donât think you can meet your soulmate on an app. I think Tinder is whatever you want Tinder to be. Hower you decide to spend your time on the app I say: live your life. Just donât blame the app for not working, when it would only be able to work if you used it.
Three Cheers for a Sweet Return
My Chemical Romance announces reunion concerts after split
BY HALEY BULLOCK Staff Writer
We are not okay. I repeat, we are not okay (I promise). All My Chemical Romance, MCR, title puns aside, the thing that all the âemo kidsâ (whether they admit it or not) have all been waiting for since about 2013 has finally happened. On Halloween, MCR announced a reunion concert in Los Angeles for Dec. 20, 2019, then, as of Nov. 5, MCR announced two more reunion shows that are going to take place in Australia in March 2020. This is big news for long-time fans of the band because their last show took place in 2012, just a few months before announcing their split that next year in March.
Across the board, there arenât many complaints when it comes to this bandâs long-awaited reunion. It seems like the internet, especially Twitter, wreaked havoc as soon as the news was released. Many fans have expressed their happiness and excitement, including UC students as well. Donovan Rhodes, a UC freshman, says, âMy Chemical Romance getting back together makes me extremely happy due to the fact that their music related so much to me when I was going through hard times. It was amazing that someone understood what I was going through when no one else did.â
When MCR made their Instagram post announcing their return, it made a lot of fans think back to when they saw their announcement when they broke the news about their split a few years back. Sarah Mayberry, a UC junior, says, âWhen I first heard that the band was breaking up, I kind of got sad but then I understood, you know, they got their own life that they want to start. I can still enjoy their music even though they arenât going to be performing or creating any more music.â The old saying goes âDistance makes the heart grow fonderâ and maybe thatâs the case with MCR as well in terms of the six year break that has kept the band apart until the end of last month.
There has been hardly any negative press or response to the news of the reunion, which is a rare occurrence because on most issues or events, people can usually be found at odds on either side of the spectrum. This is stereotypical, but considering many people got bullied in high school and/or middle school for liking MCR or similar bands, this is definitely good, yet surprising, news. One thing is sure though, MCR hasnât said their Famous Last Words yet.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros
