The University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper
Fall Issue 2 September 5, 2018
September 5, 2018
Letter from the Managing Editor
Editor-In-Chief Zane Ross Managing Editor Emilee Agee Faculty Adviser Jeremiah Massengale
Dear Readers, Classes have been in session for just a few weeks now and there’s already much to be excited about, most recently with yesterday’s big news of a tuition cut of 57 percent for on-campus undergraduate students starting next fall. While being a senior means barely missing out on the discount, we can take pride in being a part of a university that genuinely cares about doing what they can for future students to better afford their education. Let’s take a week that starts on such a positive note and let that positively carry over into the rest of our week in our studies. Although seniors and alumni might feel left out, there’s something to be said for being happy for the rest of the student body anyway. A good illustration of this is Mudita, which is, in essence, the philosophy of finding joy for people’s success even if there’s nothing in it for you. If you think about it, Mudita and our school’s slogan “One Big Team” can be closely linked, as they both encourage supporting fellow Patriots as they represent the school and to build one another up. If you would like to share your opinion on this or any other topic you feel passionately about, you can always write to us at The Patriot because overall, we value being a voice for the students. In the meantime, go throughout the rest of your week like you were pardoned of 57 percent of your tuition, even if you weren’t.
Sincerely,
Emilee Agee Emilee Agee
Staff Leanne Gregory Mike Krzyston Rebecca Lewter Jessica McFerron Nichole Sharp Dan Williams Hunter West Maranda Young
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 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.
It’s kind of a big deal
Page 3 News
UC announces undergraduate tuition cuts by 57 percent
Dr. Cockrum and the SGA cabinet on the way to the assembly.
Photo Courtesy of UC Communications
BY ZANE ROSS Editor-in-Chief
In Gatliff Chapel on September 4 the University of the Cumberlands President, Dr. Larry Cockrum, made the announcement that would shape the future of UC students: beginning in the fall of 2019 UC will cut tuition for all of its on-campus undergrads by 57 percent. Cockrum was happy to announce to the UC faculty and staff that the university would be adopting a new tuition model that would accommodate student affordability called the Cumberlands Commitment. Under the new model, UC will offer the most affordable tuition among private universities in Kentucky and be comparable to every public university in the state, as well. “College affordability is a central challenge facing a large portion of students,” said Cockrum at the announcement ceremony, “and, further, beginning a career with crippling student debt loans has plagued many of our recent graduates making it impossible for them to make ends meet. The University is making huge strides to remove this burden from its students and we’re doing it because it’s time.” The Cumberlands Commitment will drop tuition from $23,000 a year to $9,875 a year which will put the total cost of attending Cumberlands to $19,175 dollars a year. With the implementation of the new plan, the average incoming Kentucky student is expected to save nearly $3,200. “I’m a student from out of state,” said UC junior Jacob Davis, “and it has been pretty tough on me financially to come here, but I took a step of faith. The timing could not be better because, financially, I was kind of worried about it, but God has helped me be where I need to be.” Cockrum had also mentioned that there would be no cuts to any programs or services offered to UC students, but the college has made the
decision to not add any additional sports-based teams to the athletic roster. In addition, scholarships will scale with the reduction and, although current student scholarships may also decrease by 57 percent, students will lose nothing. In a quote from UC’s official press release, Dr. Jerry Jackson, VicePresident of Enrollment said, “We experienced growth this fall beyond our projections in undergraduate enrollment, and we have grown in that regard for the last five years. With a transparent pricing model that reduces tuition costs, we expect even more students to find Cumberlands the perfect fit for them.” This plan is possible with the stipulation that it attracts a total of 282 students in the fall of 2019. UC announced their commitment to this tuition frame for a total of four consecutive years during their live stream press conference held later in the day. For more information visit www.ucumberlands. edu/commitment.
Page 4 Sports
Strong Start A Q&A with Josiah Robbins
BY DAN WILLI AMS Staff Writer
Photo by Rebecca Lew ter
Josiah Robbins, a UC junior, spends most days in class, on the football field, or in the Hutton Hall office. Robbins is the starting quarterback for UC’s football team but he’s almost a member of the baseball team. On this night he is assisting the residents of Hutton Hall that are checking into open house, while also trying to complete some homework of his own. Robbins has one of the busiest schedules on campus, but he manages to stay sane. In this interview with Robbins, we discuss how he balances his busy schedule, how the season’s first football game went, and what advice he has for the students at UC. DW: Why did you choose to come to UC? JR: After talking with the coaches and I had a teammate from high school that went here. After discussing some things with them I felt like this was the environment that was going to help me move forward and succeed. DW: What is your major and what would you like to do with that major? JR: I’m doing a double major in accounting and business administration. With that major I’m a little undecided, I’m leaning towards financial advising, but I’m going to do a few things in accounting first and see if I like that, but I’d like to be a financial advisor. DW: What do you do here at UC? JR: Here at UC I play football and baseball. I’m a resident assistant. I’m involved with many different things on campus as far as campus activities and something of that nature. I’m a part of Cornerstone. That’s what I do on campus, for the most part. DW: What is it like to be a part of the football team? JR: It’s great building friendship and to bond with the guys on the field. It’s something special. It really helps me grow my relationship with those guys. Just to be in a healthy team environment where everyone loves each other is spectacular to be honest. This year has been great. My teammates are awesome and we have a really good squad this year. It has been a blessing. DW: So, you had your first game. Take me through what is was like before, during, and after the game against Southeastern University. JR: It was a 12-13 hour drive down there. Whenever you have a road trip game your mind’s kind of everywhere. It throws you off a little bit. Getting there to the game field was really nice. They were ranked #11 in the nation.
We were anxious to get out there and perform well. We performed very well and it got tight at the end. It was awesome our team pulled together. It was a really tight atmosphere and everyone was ecstatic. It was an all-around good atmosphere to play in. DW: What is your favorite part about the football team? JR: My favorite part is the comradeship. We all love each other and we hang out with each other. It’s a lot of good times out there. There’s never a dull moment. A lot of times in the past years there was a split between the offense side of the ball and the defense side of the ball. Defense would hang out with the defense, and offence would hang out with offence. This team we have is a really close knit group. Its special to be playing with these guys. DW: Besides sports, what else do you do for fun around campus? JR: Well when I have time, I like to play euchre with my staff, play little card games stuff like that. Sometimes I’ll go out to Lexington or Knoxville with some friends I have from back home. Around Williamsburg, I’ll go to the driving range sometimes. We’ll do some odds and ends things; got to make things happen here. DW: How do you balance being a RA, sports, social life, and school? JR: I try not to think about it too much. I try not to over exhaust myself. My schedules already crazy and I have a lot of outside sources telling me where I need to be. Football tells me I have to be here at this time; RA at this time. I don’t overwhelm myself with that. I just do it, take it day by day. I just get it done. I just try not to overthink it and make myself stressed out. It is difficult sometimes. Just don’t even think about it; just do it. DW: What advice do you have for the students here at UC? JR: The advice I have is to get out. My freshman year her, especially in the fall, I spent a lot of my free time just chilling in my room just watching Netflix, stuff like that. My friendships didn’t grow that semester. Now I have a lot of friendships on campus. I know a lot of people and its fun, but it never happened until I got out and meet and greet people. People on this campus are really good and awesome, so getting out and getting to know them is something special. Definitely get out and get involved somewhere and just plug in with people.
Page 5 Photos
No Competition Patriots shut out CCU 65-0
Photos By Rebecca Lew ter
Left: Josiah Robbins prepares to throw a pass in UC’s recent game against Cincinnati Christian University. Robbins would finish the night with passing 133 yards and a touchdown. Top: The Patriot football team carried a plenty of momentum into their home opener on Saturday as they hosted the Eagles of Cincinnati Christian University. Middle: As a unit, UC tallied eight tackles for loss with one sack. Right: The Patriots posted the first shutout of the Matt R hymer era with a convincing 65-0 win over the Eagles.
Page 6 Features
New and improved
UC Student Government Association discusses new changes and future improvements
New SGA members swearing in.
Photo By Emilee Agee
BY ZANE ROSS Editor-in-Chief
The University of the Cumberlands’ Student Government Association held its first meeting Wednesday, August 29 to touch base on the changes that the group is undergoing as well as welcome new members to the organization. SGA recently called for a revamped structure of how they spend their budget as well as how they will better encompass a diverse chorus of student opinions and ideas. “We are moving more toward campus improvement as opposed to the last couple of years where we’ve done student activities such as smoothie nights and study breaks at the end of the year,” said Nichole Ceausu, SGA vice president, “CAB (the Campus Activities Board) has absorbed all of that and SGA is solely focused on campus improvement. We’ll be meeting with different departments throughout the year to discuss ways we can make new improvements.” The ways in which SGA plan to make an impact on campus doesn’t stop with their departmental meetings but continues with four new positions that have been added to their executive cabinet. “We’re trying make a concentrated effort to reach more students through our student government,” said Dr. Emily Coleman, “The SGA cabinet thought it would be a good idea to have representatives from different organizations on campus. They’ve included a representative from Baptist Campus Ministries, a campus housing representative, a freshman orientation leader and, in addition, a representative from The Patriot newspaper. It’s another way for us to increase the student voice.” The additions to the cabinet cover a wide variety of student values and opinions from the needs of freshman students, to the needs of students living in the dorms, to those involved with BCM and all areas that overlap. When asked if he thinks the additional cabinet members will
influence changes on campus, Cameron George, SGA’s residential housing representative, said, “It is my hope that the additions to the cabinet will make a difference. I hope we can have a positive impact on student life here at the Cumberlands and that we can follow through with our mission of wanting to improve campus.” Only time will tell if the new cabinet additions and budgeting changes will make a big enough impact on campus life while also thoroughly representing the collective voice of UC students. SGA president, Carl Rogne, looked back on the most recent meeting with pride. “This past meeting was great,” mentioned Rogne, “We had a wide variety of students turn out which is different from what it has been like in the past. It wasn’t just the swim team which is what we want. SGA is open for everyone, not just one group. Our next meeting will be with Dr. Coleman to discuss ways we can make improvements on campus,” Rogne added. “We encourage anyone to attend.” SGA’s next meeting will be held in the Correll Science Building Lecture Hall on Wednesday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Page 7 Entertainment
Comics with Caitlyn By Mike Krzyston
.
We got our mind on the money and the money on our mind.
SONG
ARTIST
Just Got Paid
*NSYNC
Money
Pink Floyd
Money Trees
Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock
Don’t Take The Money
Bleachers
Find Ya Wealth
Nas
All About the Benjamins
Diddy, Lil’ Kim, The Lox, The Notorious B.I.G
C. R. E. A. M.
Wu-Tang Clan
Got Money
Lil Wayne, T-Pain
I Need A Dollar
Aloe Blacc
Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Wanz
Money For Nothing
Dire Straits, Sting
American Money
BORNS
If I Had $1,000,000
Barenaked Ladies
Gold Digger
Kanye West, Jamie Foxx
Mo Money, Mo Problems
The Notorious B.I.G, Mase, Diddy