The Patriot - October 18, 2019

The University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper

Fall Issue 7 October 18, 2019

October 18, 2019

Letter from the Managing Editor

Editor-In-Chief Mike Krzyston Managing Editor Taylor Duke Faculty Adviser Jeremiah Massengale

Dear Patriots, You’ve probably been wondering where I’ve been since issue 4, but I’m still here. Just working behind the scenes.

First, I just wanted to mention how great all the staff and volunteers are for this paper. All the students really help bring different voices into the office and the paper.

I mean this when I say that this paper is one of my proudest accomplishments during my college career but I wouldn’t have become the writer or managing editor I am today without all the people who work in the shadows with me. There were so many people who helped me learn how to write articles, and use Photoshop and InDesign, and I am so thankful for them.

The Patriot is always looking for more people who want their voices to be heard. If you’re interested in helping out at The Patriot by writing, photographing, editing, content creating, or any other way you might want to contribute, message us. We’re always welcoming new volunteers. Even if you’re not an “expert” the rest of the staff is willing to help you out. So, don’t be afraid to try something new.

Speaking of new things, I am pumped for Homecoming Week this year.

Every year CAB always has these amazing spirit boosting events all week. I can’t wait to see what awesome things they do this year.

Going to the Homecoming football game amazes me because I see just how many changes University of the Cumberlands has gone through throughout the years. There are so many alumni who love telling you about their time at UC. Well, I can bet you they will say, “It was Cumberland College in my

day.” One year I remember an alumni telling me that the coolest place to hang out on campus during their tenure here was called the “Wigwam.”

UC is always changing, so take a look around and appreciate the UC you know.

Keep surviving and thriving,

Staff Emilee Agee Haley Bullock Whitney Couch River DePetris Makayla Durham Abigail Fletcher Leanne Gregory Alex Nunn Jenna Rose Sara Sherman Elizabeth Spires Maranda Young Front cover by Mike Krzyston Back cover by Taylor Duke 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.

Taylor Duke, Managing Editor

Page 3 News

What ways do ‘UC’ to serve the community?

A preview of the PatsServe event

BY ABIGAIL FLETCHER AND M AK AYLA DURHAM Staff Writers

University of the Cumberlands has a heart for service. The campus tries to instill this passion into all the incoming and current students. This effort is implicated through the UC Engage credit which requires students to attend a convocation and community service opportunity, like Shoes for the Soul and PatsServe. This year for fall of 2019, students have plenty of options to serve their community of Williamsburg.

Dr. Jamirae H. Holbrook, executive director of extended services, is the organizer behind the scenes of PatsServe. When asked about the goal of PatsServe, Dr. Holbrook, said, “It is to go out and serve those in the community who may be in need of help, so PatsServe marks the beginning of homecoming weekend and it is for us to engage our faculty staff and students in the community and to serve us whatever our core values are faith and action which is serving others and demonstrating our faith. And so PatsServe is a way for us to do that.”

Already for this fall semester some students have participated in Shoes for Soul, which is a successful campus wide activity. While this is a great performance activity, PatsServe provides various opportunities that can fit all personality types. Dr. Holbrook, when talking about the number of opportunities, said, “PatsServe will host a total of 52 projects for students on our campus and in those projects there are a number of 1,327 volunteer spots so we have an opportunity.” Students who are more social and love fellowship can travel to the nursing home for a visitation. If there are students who love animals they can go down to volunteer at the animal shelter. Wherever you feel your heart is at, there is a total of 52 projects to pick from.

University of the Cumberlands uses PatsServe to help the community today, but also to help students’ growth for the future. Some

Photo by Jordyne Carmack UC student washed window as a part of PatsSer ve in 2018

students find the support for the community to have a personal connection to our religious affiliations. Krista Cromer, a UC sophomore, says, “It helps strengthen the community as well as people’s relationship with God. I love how through PatsServe you meet new people whether they will be students at UC or people from Williamsburg or the surrounding cities. I just think it’s a really great opportunity that the Cumberlands provides and I hope it doesn’t go anywhere anytime soon.”

Some students find that it personally resonates and is something that they benefit from as well. Matthew Brock, a UC freshman, says, “I feel it is a great way to serve this community, and it gives so much to us.”

Ambur Trammell, a UC sophomore, says, “I feel that PatsServe is a great way for incoming freshmen and upperclassmen to learn more about their community. It’s a great way to show love and appreciate the community we have. During PatsServe we get to clean and brighten up the community.

Even though it isn’t the greatest experience that I have had at UC it was a great opportunity for us to show our support and encouragement for others to come out and help clean up the day before homecoming!”

Regardless of how personally you feel about PatsServe, the University leaves its lasting impact by going outside of our small campus and making people’s day by just serving for a few hours. Whether it be visiting a nursing home, cleaning up Briar Creek Park, or participating in a service vehicle car wash, the effort to make a difference leaves a forever mark on Whitley County and even yourself.

Page 4 Features

Good Ol’ Copper Top

New establishment coming soon to Williamsburg plans to raise the bar

Much like the name suggests, the majority of the interiro of the bar is covered in copper.

Photos by Mike Krzyston Mindy Morgan, co-owner of Copper Top, poses against the signature bar comprised entirely of pennies.

BY MIKE KR Z YSTON Editor-In-Chief

As the University of the Cumberlands continuously progresses to transform itself into a bigger and more advanced university, the town of Williamsburg is looking to do the same. While students of UC are fairly limited to the meal plan and the fast food restaurants off of the interstate exit, local shops such as Milly’s on Main or Highland Park Drive-In thrive off of the business of students who are craving something different. Soon, a brand new eating experience will be introduced in downtown Williamsburg and they are ready to embrace the students as a fresh, new hangout spot.

Copper Top Tap, located on 3rd Street in downtown Williamsburg, is an upcoming restaurant and craft bar, which will feature locally-sourced food and drinks from Kentucky-based breweries and distilleries. “This is a dream of mine, to open a restaurant and bar,” says Mindy Morgan, co-owner of Copper Top. “This is somewhere you can come on date night, come to chill out, come to do homework even. I mean, I installed USB ports below the bar knowing people will want to hang out here for a long time.”

The push to open this new establishment is synonymous with the push to make downtown Williamsburg a place where more students of the university want to hang out.

“It’s great for the city. Once this one opens it’s only a matter of time until the whole downtown strip is filled with local restaurants and other places for students to hang out at,” says senior Sebastian Calmes.

With Whitley County dropping its “dry” status a few years ago, the installment of a bar in the middle of the city has plenty of opportunity for

growth. The craft brewing scene is strong and popular not only in Kentucky, but throughout America as well—restaurants like the Wrigley Taproom in Corbin profit off of the popularity of craft beer as its main niche.

The potential impact that the opening of Copper Top Tap has on the city is enormous, possibly being able to bring in strong and consistent usual crowds to downtown and opening up employment opportunities for the students of the college.

“Williamsburg doesn’t really have anything like this. You have your burger joints, your fast food joints and your Mexican joints. You don’t have a location that looks like this, feels like this, there’s a whole aesthetic in here,” says Morgan, speaking about the copper-based interior, which includes a bar top created out of pennies.

“It’s a small, quiet, comfortable eating environment in here, and that is important to colleges nowadays, so I think it can be important here,” says Morgan.

Page 5 Features

Rise of VSCO The very criticized stereotype explained

BY HALEY BULLOCK Staff Writer

Scrunchies. Hydro Flasks. Long, oversized t-shirts. Crocs. Birkenstocks. Nike shorts. Has tried the ukulele. Probably has or likes Jeeps.

Most likely says phrases like “Sksksks” or “And I oop-.” These are all the stereotypical and the most common descriptions of what a person, that is considered to be included in Generation Z, would recognize as a “VSCO girl.” Stereotypes are an aspect of almost every educational and workplace society. There’s the preps, the jocks, the try-hards, the slackers. Most people know someone who fits the mold of a commonly-known stereotype.

The thing about VSCO girls is that they have been the subject of a lot of memes on Twitter and, in some opinions, slightly cringey TikToks.

With most of the other stereotypes, there hasn’t been as much concentrated negative criticism as there has been with the VSCO girls. Some people love the general vibe and aesthetic that comes with being a VSCO girl and, of course, some people are not huge fans of this new trend. Emily Loredo, a UC sophomore, says, “It randomly appeared out of basically nowhere, like [how] ‘And I oop-’ appeared. But like the scrunchies and the metal straw stuff I get, it’s cute and whatever. But they need to ‘sksksksk’ stop. It’s too much sometimes.”

While some people don’t like or understand the concept behind the VSCO girls, others may think that at this point the trend is a bit over the top. Sarah Mayberry, a UC junior, says, “The VSCO girls are overrated. I thought that to begin with the reason they wanted to be a thing was to save the wildlife but now it’s just a memeful joke because of who does it. It’s just another meme that has it’s go around.” Memes do tend to fade as quickly as they come, however, stereotypes are everlasting in high school and college culture. The

Photo by Mike Krzyston Scrunchies and Hydro Flasks are two of the more popular items associated with the VSCO craze.

only rhetorical question is to decide if VSCO girls are considered a lasting stereotype or a meme that will be forgotten in a month or so.

While opinions can be radical from one end to another, some people feel indifferent or have no dislike towards the popular, yet highly unliked, trend that is the VSCO girls. Ambur Trammell, a UC sophomore, says, “I think VSCO girls are an interesting trend. I say this because it came out of nowhere and it seems to be one of the biggest trends of 2019. Who knew wearing an extra large T-shirt, shorts and a scrunchie would make someone a VSCO girl? Like I thought it was an everyday thing for girls until it got that name. I think it’s super cute and that people have many different ways of expressing themselves.”

Expression is one of the most crucial things that make up who you are in today’s culture. People don’t like tight restrictions that limit their creativity and self-expression. With that being said, at the end of the day, does it really matter what someone else likes and wears? If having big shirts, some sandals and an abundant amount of scrunchies makes someone happy, who are people to be judgemental about it and try to discourage them?

Some aspects may be “cringey” or something that people aren’t very fond of, but if people aren’t fond of this specific stereotype, they are not forced to be around them for very long. The impact that a supposed VSCO girl would have on someone’s day is little to none. Censorship, in any form, including one’s self-expression, is wrong and is usually not warranted or necessary.

Page 6 Features

A glimpse at Hope A feature on UC student Hope Siler

Photos by Elizabeth Spires Hope Siler practices her ukelele at the entrance to campus .

Siler practices her ukelele as she connects with nature .

BY ELIZABETH SPIRES Staff Writer

Stand still.

Close your eyes.

Feel the sand between your toes, the warm sun beating down, and the cool ocean waves rushing around your feet. The salty sea breeze carries the relaxing tune of a local’s ukulele and you feel all your cares melt away – until someone shoves their way past you in the line at the Red, White, and Brew, snapping you out of your daydream. Somewhere on the floor, however, that soft, sweet tune remains, pulling you back to that state of peace.

This is exactly what UC junior Hope Siler hopes to accomplish through her music.

Siler has been singing in church since she was a toddler. Her father, Kenny Siler, a mathematics professor on UC’s campus, is in a local bluegrass gospel group, so she has been involved with music and performing for as long as she can remember. What sets her apart from all the other local groups, and soloists, around her is her choice of instrument: the ukulele.

When asked about why she chose the ukulele, Siler says she was introduced to the instrument when she attended the 2017 Governor’s Scholar Program at Morehead University. Some of her friends there could play, and they taught her a little bit. She came back home, got her own ukulele, and began to learn.

Fast-forward two years and Siler has a CD of her own titled “Casting All Your Care,” featuring nothing but her beautiful voice and her beloved ukulele. Siler got the idea of creating a solo CD once she learned some songs and began to play at her home church in Corbin, Kentucky. Every time she performed, members would approach her with adoration, wishing they could hear more. “I thought a CD would be a good way for people to hear more and

have access,” Siler explained.

Producing the CD was no walk in the park. Siler originally planned to record the songs at White Oak Missionary Baptist Church – her home church – but the equipment caused all sorts of issues. On top of that, the discs they purchased never seemed to be the right type. “It was really discouraging,” Siler said, “I was like ‘maybe God doesn’t want me to do this.’”

Before throwing in the towel, she and her family decided to contact a friend who was more familiar with sound recording. They visited his church and recorded all ten songs without an issue. They sent the recording, photos, and other information to Dove Multimedia to be produced.

Now Siler’s CD is being broadcast from coast-to-coast in Central America, potentially reaching millions of people through the Good Samaritan Baptist Mission Radio Station. She hopes her music can “give people a moment of peace…pop in the CD, give God all your troubles, and just let go.”

For students and faculty interested in listening to the CD, Siler can be contacted via UC’s email directory. CD’s are $10 a piece.

“All the money goes back into the ministry, so I can make another CD someday,” Siler noted, “maybe even with some original songs!”

An Unbelievable review A review of the Netflix series ‘Unbeliveable’

Page 7 Entertainment

Haley’s Mixtape

This week’s playlist was brought to you by our staff writer Haley. May it motivate you as much as she is always doing her best to motivate and encourage us.

Photo courtesy of CBS Television Studios

BY ABIGAIL FLETCHER Staff Writer

On September 13, 2019 Netflix released a limited series entitled “Unbelievable.” The show is about a young woman named Marie Adler, portrayed by the actress Kaitlyn Dever, who reports a rape and the two detectives who find evidence to reveal the truth. This article does not have spoilers but gives a general review of the series.

The series itself is very suspenseful and has a dark undertone of mystery. Although the series is suspenseful and mysterious, it follows a dark and possibly triggering topic for some people. If the mature themes of sexual assault are too much for you, then this series will not be for you. The writers of the film provide a very informative look into the struggles and trauma that follow sexual assault. It also goes into the criminal justice side of the investigative process of rape cases. Maybe you have seen “Unbelievable” marinating in your suggested list on Netflix, and maybe you are unsure of it, but if you like a grim, true-crime series then this show is perfect for you.

The use of colors throughout the series is remarkable. The directors really paid heavy attention to lighting, aesthetics, and camera work to set the tone of the series for viewers. The actress Kaitlyn Dever

gave raw emotions in her scenes.

Viewers will really feel the pain and sorrow of Marie Adler. Merrit Wever and Toni Collette, who play the detectives, gave a strong insight into the lives of detectives. If these actors and actresses do not partake in method acting they should because of the emotions portrayed in scenes.

When thinking about the series as a whole I think everyone should watch this series. Not only because it is an amazing series, but because of its informative nature. I really found myself learning more and more about victimization and the criminal justice aspect. The only critique I have for the series is the pace. Although it is a limited series, meaning it is not to be renewed and has a predetermined number of episodes, it felt like it was very slow moving. It gave a lot of exposition and took a while to really get moving. This is merely my own opinion about the series. If I had to give a rating I would give a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very strong series and I enjoyed it a lot but it was not perfect.

If you really enjoy tv crime shows and mature themes then you will find this show to be unbelievably good.