It is my distinguished honor and pleasure to assume the role of editor-in-chief this semester. As a junior majoring in journalism and a student who’s spent an incredible five semesters working on staff at The Patriot, I’m excited to see what this semester holds as I start this new journey.
Since the second semester of my freshmen year, I held the position of managing editor and have had the privilege of working with some influential and inspirational student journalists who held this position before me; I’ve learned so much from those students and our faculty advisor, Jeremiah Massengale. With the knowledge gained from former editors and the immensely talented staff we have this year, I know this publication will strive to serve our campus and our readers in addition to achieving new milestones this spring.
I’m proud to announce Jillian Carpenter and Trenton Canada will be our assistant editors this semester I know with their ambition, talent and drive we will continue to make our paper the best it can be. Another promotion that was given this spring semester was to Christin Rottenberger, who will take over the role of design editor this semester I feel extremely confident in Christin’s ability to evolve our paper ’s design and have no doubt she will do an incredible job in this position.
Though it may be hard to get back into the swing of things, all of us here at The Patriot are excited to get the semester underway and continue to share stories that serve both our community and our campus!
Sincerely,
Editor-in-chief
Natasha Jones
G i ve, g i ve, a n d g i ve s o m e mo re
Going behind-the-scenes of UC’s blood drive
BY A SH T ON R E C T OR StaffWriter
The Campus Activities Board hosted a blood drive in the Boswell Campus Center at the University of the Cumberlands on January 28. The drive was a part of the annual Big Blue Slam, a competition held between Kentucky and Florida donors, hosted by the Kentucky Blood Center.
CAB hosts three blood drives every year. Lisa Bartram, the director of CAB, said, “usually if we put out there is a need, our college community steps up, and they really do give.”
Donor and UC sophomore Victoria Wylie said, “The people that work here [at KBC] are always really nice and once you get finished you get free food so that’s nice and you’re helping people out ”
Chelsie Duncan, a UC sophomore, suffered a traumatic car accident in her hometown before entering college and benefited from a blood donation Duncan said, “I had a brain injury a couple years ago where I had to have brain surgery. I lost a lot of blood [and] I was given twelve units of blood ” Kentucky Blood Center estimates almost 70
hospitals and clinics in over 60 counties will receive the blood donated, including local Baptist Health Corbin.
Duncan adds, “Always donate. It’s really helpful You wouldn’t think it but when the time comes you definitely want to donate because I didn’t expect it and it saved my life.”
Students filed in the BCC and rolled up their sleeves throughout the school day. Haley Damron, a UC student, said, “I always try to help out as much as I can when I get the chance ”
UC senior Rachel Akins made a double red donation, two units of red blood cells in one visit, and comments, “it’s good to do something for someone else.” She made this decision after hearing about a shortage in her blood type. UC students who made this type of donation also received a $10 Wal-Mart gift card.
All donors received two free T-shirts and were entered in a chance to win tickets to the NCAA men’s basketball second and third round tourna-
ment, a benefit of Big Blue Slam.
CAB will be hosting another blood drive on April 29, 2015 in the BCC. Donation appointments can be scheduled online at kybloodcenter.org or by phone at 800-775-2522
Ma intaining yo ur New Year’s Reso lutio n
How to keep powering through your resoultion
BY CH R IS T I N RO T T EN BERGER Design Editor
It’s the time of year again where people begin thinking “Oh, a day or two off from my resolution won’t hurt I’ve worked really hard this year ” Next thing you know it’s December and the goal you had set from January is nowhere near complete This happens to practically everybody, so there’s no need to feel ashamed Here are some tips to actually achieve your New Year ’s resolution
1. Keep a realistic resolution
From the day we’re born we hear, “Reach for the stars,” which is pretty good advice to follow as long as you have the means to get to the “stars ” Some people have the tendency to make resolutions such as travelling the world. While this is a great resolution, it can’t be done unless you have the time and money for something like this If you make a resolution to travel, maybe make it something like going to a different state during spring break with a few friends so you can split the cost.
2. Have a plan
Occasionally there are people who set a resolution for themselves but don’t have any type of game plan. Nothing comes instantly, so make sure setting a
goal for yourself comes with a good plan A person who wants to become a vegetarian obviously can’t quit eating meat cold turkey They should make a plan that focuses on slowly cutting meat out of their diet and replacing it with something else until they totally eliminate meat from their dining habits
3. Move step by step
Almost everybody wants to push through their resolutions at the speed of light. The key to keeping up with your goals is to take things step by step. For example, if your resolution is to be able to run a 5K by the end of the year, maybe try setting goals on an elliptical and treadmill. Start the first bit of training by going a half a mile. Keep working toward a reasonable time then increase your distance Repeat this until you can successfully run three miles in a time that is good for you.
Even if you didn’t make a New Year ’s resolution right at the start of the New Year, it’s not too late to make one Be sure to follow these tips to have a successful year of change or improvement, whatever it may be.
N ew Semester? Fo rget I t!
How to beat the second semester blues
BY J I L L I A N CA R PEN T ER AssistantEditor
Ah, the spring semester. It has that new semester smell, but with all the exhaustion that you felt at the end of fall semester finals. It is a new semester, and in theory, we should all be refreshed and ready for a new set of classes, but weeks of holiday traveling, uncomfortable visits with distant relatives, maybe a little bit of rest probably didn't leave you feeling very recharged Don't worry; the new semester isn't a lost cause just yet. Try to take use some of these tactics and your semester will feel brand new in no time!
Get new school supplies. It sounds really simple, doesn't it? Well, it is, but it could have an enormous impact on how you feel about
the semester. At the beginning of the school year, we all purchase new notebooks, pencils, pens, and occasionally, backpacks. Being able to have all these new supplies is part of what makes the semester feel new. So, at the beginning of this semester, buy new pens and pencils, try a different brand of notebook. If your supplies are new, the semester will start to feel new
Take the time to go to new places or do new activities with friends. At the beginning of fall semester, we haven't seen our friends in months, and so we skip off to new places to spend time with them As the year progresses, however, we get back into our regular routine with our
friends. Doing some of the things that you did at the beginning of last semester with your friends will help this semester feel just as new.
Work full force on your school work. Your parents no doubt drilled this one into your head by the time you were in middle school Mom and Dad were right on this one, for more than one reason. Working tirelessly on your class work ensures that you will get the best grade you can But, it also helps recreate that nose to the books feeling you had at the beginning of fall semester, before you remembered how to procrastinate. Throw away that policy you have of letting an assignment sit a minimum of 24 hours and hit the books just as
hard as you did when the school year started
The key to starting the spring semester just as strongly as you did fall semester is to recreate how new the fall semester felt. These are just a few suggestions, and there are several more things you can do to make the semester feel new again. If the semester feels new, you'll be ready to do just as well as you did in the fall semester Don't let the semester feeling tired keep you from doing well!
I do, do U ?
BY T R EN T ON CA N A DA AssistantEditor
Spring semester is well underway, and with it, students are once again being asked to juggle classes, course work, and extracurricular activities. Each new semester brings about new obligations and pressures. That’s true for any student, but what about those with certain added responsibilities?
When one thinks of the average college life, nuptials don’t seem to make the cut. Yet, eighteen percent of undergraduates surveyed by the National Center for Education Statistics reported that they were married While there are many reasons for this, it seems that the life of a married college student is anything but average.
“I don’t get to do a lot of the normal college things None of the stereotypical things,” said Melissa Bundy, a junior at the University of the Cumberlands. Bundy married her husband John in July of 2014. “I don’t really get to go out and hang out with friends every time I want,” she said
Bundy’s remarks bring about a thought when considering married students Holy matrimony has the potential to get in the way of a typical college experience It’s a tug-o-war between social life and domestic duty. While others are cheering on the basketball team, those who are wedded are more likely to be at home with their beloved or at work
“I have bills to pay, groceries, home modifications That all has to come ahead of the fun stuff,” said Bundy.
Therein lays another aspect of a college marriage: the added expense. Not only do married students have to pay for tuition, campus fees, and textbooks, but there are also house payments, utility bills, and joint taxes to think about. That’s a fiscal burden that most undergraduates don’t have to consider, so how do those who are married make ends meet? One answer is financial aid.
As stated by Karen McKinney, assistant director for Student Financial Planning at UC, “We do not offer any scholarships that are designated for married students only. There are students who bring in scholarships from an outside source to help fund their education. We
most certainly accept outside scholarship assistance to help with the students’ costs ”
Many private organizations offer grants and scholarships to students fitting a wide array of criteria, including those reserved for married students only, according to CollegeScholarships org Another source of financial assistance comes from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which outlines any government grants or scholarships available for an eligible student Even though there doesn’t appear to be a source of federal aid that is specifically offered on the basis of marital status, there are other grants for which a married student may qualify.
Yet, for many students, the burden still remains, as Bundy points out “There are quite a bit of financial difficulties, especially when gas prices are higher. It’s hard for us to drive back and forth to school and work plus convocations ”
Promising to be there for better or worse while still in college isn’t all hardships, though. There are advantages to tying the knot. In a time of stress and confusion, having a familiar face to come home to everyday can be comforting
“It’s actually helped me stay more focused,” Bundy said. “You get to go home and be with the person you love every day I know he’ll be there when I get done In my case, my husband offers a lot of support and always helps to make sure I’m where I need to be when it comes to my education.”
When it comes to the demands and stresses of the college experience, an extra pillar of support certainly couldn’t hurt.
BY AU T U M N CO ON E Y StaffWriter
E ver ybo dy loves R amen
As college students we experience a number of things Things like: 8 a.m classes, all-nighters, roommates, exams, finals, sweatpants all day every day, but the most important would be the discovery of Ramen noodles. At some point in time within a college student’s life they will cross paths with this dish. The pure rubber texture of the noodles, the beautiful wrapper they’re packaged in, the smell of goodness that escapes the microwave Sounds pretty great right? Well, ask yourself, “How delicious would microwaved cooked noodles taste?” It’s truly not that appetizing But as college students know, you do what you must in order to survive And if your tummy is growling loud enough, Ramen is truly delicious But what if someone told you that Ramen didn’t have to be gross and boring, that it could actually taste delicious? The world would probably come to an end But don’t wait for the end just yet because it is possible After talking to students and getting advice and recipes, along with a little research, I was able to find five delicious, easy-to-make Ramen recipes!
(As a reminder there’s so specific amount of ingredients for each recipe, it all depends on the chef ’s preference!)
1. It’s not Olive Garden but’s better than the Original: Ramen Alfredo
• Ramen noodles
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic
- Melt the cheese and the garlic together
- Mix with noodles
(If you like chicken with your Alfredo you can add chicken at your desire, or you can just order chicken at The Grill.)
2. It’s Not Just for a Cold: Ramen Chicken Noodle Soup
• Ramen noodles
• Chicken broth
• Carrots
• Green beans (or whatever veggies you like in your soup)
- Mix all the vegetables in the broth
- Then mix in the noodles
3. Lady and the Tramp have Nothing on this One: Ramen Spaghetti
• Ramen noodles
• Spaghetti sauce
• Garlic
• Parmesan cheese
- Mix it all together and magnifico!
4. Ever heard of Skyline or Goldstar?: Ramen Chili
• Ramen noodles
• Chili sauce
• Beans
• Onions
• Cheddar cheese
-Mix it together and you almost have Skyline or Goldstar; but not exactly.
5. Well it’s not Fried Rice but Similar: Fried Vegetarian Ramen
• Ramen noodles
• Scrambled eggs
• Peas
• Carrots
• Corn
• Soy Sauce
- Mix it all together
There are so many other creative recipes you could make; this is just a sample. Even though we are college students, it doesn’t mean we fully have to eat like the “typical college student ” In reality, everyone loves Ramen, sometimes it just needs something extra.
Th e Power o f Hope
BY LY DI A JA Y StaffWriter
A devotional
Do you realize how important it is to have hope? Do you realize how having, and not having hope affects you in every aspect of your life? Well, based on my experience I can tell you that having hope is an important factor we all should activate in our lives.
I say this because I know firsthand what life is like without having hope Those who have dealt with going through life without hope may be able to relate. I can tell you that people who lack hope in their lives tend to become miserable and depressed This can cause a person to feel as though they are at a stand still in their lives. Holding them back from moving ahead in their lives. It is like a person standing outside a door trying put a different set of keys in to get inside Except they cannot get in because, they are using the wrong keys instead of using the right key.
The wrong keys that people use when they are hopeless include depression, a negative attitude, fear, circumstances, frustrations, unbelief, the past, etc But instead of allowing them to go inside the door they remained locked out. Once I was that person who was standing outside that door using those very keys, thinking that I would unlock that door all the while I still remained locked out Until I discovered the right key to getting inside that door The key to unlocking the door is hope. Because I am no longer hopeless I have experienced and witnessed having a life with hope And going through that door has allowed me to continue my life in a righteous way that is leading me to my future
I have discovered that in order to restore your hope, and to get through that door in my life and lead me to my future, I have to continue to first get rid of
all of all those other keys that did not fit. I have to get ride of all of those things that hindered me from having hope and getting to that next place in my life Replacing depression for happiness, a negative attitude for positive attitude, fear for faith, frustrations for perseverance, unbelief for belief and the past for letting go of the past To do this I had to start reading the Bible and spend time with God to regain my trust and faith in Him and allow Him to restore me.
In Lamentations it says, ”The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for him, to those who seek him [inquire of and for him and require him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word]. Romans 8:24-25 says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” And Romans 12:12 reminds us to, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
These Scriptures are what stuck out to me and have caused me to start to have a more positive outlook on my life. Since He has revealed this to me I have realized that I have, and continue to change these things that I used toward my life And because of these changes, I have seen a transformation in all aspects of my life That’s what’s motivating and encouraging me to continue to have hope and to go through that door. I hope the same thing happens for you.
Be blessed
Co me As You Are
Learning to go wherever God calls you
BY SH Y A N N NOR R IS
StaffWriter
Nearly a year ago, just months from this time, my fellow UC classmate and best friend, Ashton Rector and I were preparing for a huge journey and practically a leap of faith beyond our understanding. Nervous and completely in awe at how God had chosen us, Ashton and I had committed to serving God in a foreign country for two weeks I was shaken up and unsure how I was going to take on this task God had set in front of me but it was happening whether I liked it or not. God pretty much showed me I had two choices, I could choose to take up my cross and follow Him to where He had called me or I could pretty much tell Him no and lose my chance of Him using me to show His love and mercy to a soul in need. I chose to follow him completely After months of prayer and a heavy heart, to Costa Rica I went Preparing for this journey wasn’t easy In fact, it took all I had to pre-
pare myself and realize the huge task that God was relying on me for. He had chosen Ashton and I to be warriors of God and I was beside myself, yet I felt so unworthy. I began to get what I called, “getting lost in Christ.”
This was my “Jesus high” before I left to go do God’s work. Some days I would tell myself, “I am ready to go right now,” and other days I tried to just ask God to let me postpone this trip and try it another year but that never worked It was meant for me to be in Costa Rica in July of 2014.
As I got to Costa Rica I was in shock I quickly ran several thoughts through my head as I had a few minutes to spare to put my belongings away I wondered, “How in the world did I even make it here
God was truly on my side so much that everything worked out so smoothly and perfectly But then the bad thoughts started to creep in. The tears began to fall I knew God had
sent me here for a reason but was I able, mentally and emotionally, to witness to lost and dying souls? Yes, I knew God would give me the strength but my faith began to get shaky being away from home and out of my comfort zone totally Prayer was the only thing getting me through these two weeks.
I know that along this journey, Ashton and I weren’t the only ones feeling this way. Many true followers and believers on Christ have the pressure that we had when it comes to trying to completely submit ourselves to glorifying Him It wasn’t about us anymore; it was solely about Jesus Christ. As many people around the world and even many here on campus begin to prepare for mission trips this summer, I just want to share that God is with you the entire way You are never alone and God can use you I know with all of the fundraising hectic-ness and stress of school on top of
it, sometimes you may never see the reason for you going. However, if God has called you to it, He will get you through it
UC’s soccer team are preparing for their next of many mission trips this summer I know that God can use them in mighty ways as they prepare to go to Haiti. Let us all be in prayer for them as they go to witness and pray for open hearts of the people. I highly encourage each of you to find your place of mission this year and dedicate your entire heart to showing God’s love to His people.
takes the Sta ge a gain
Dalton Hut ton takes over as Spotlight host
BY N ATA SH A JON E S Editor-in-chief
Former Cumberland Idol winner Dalton Hutton is the new host for this year ’s Spotlight competition Campus Activity Board’s director Lisa Bartram and her staff were left with the task of finding a new host for the on campus singing competition, after the regular host of previous years, Brad Pearce, graduated last spring.
“We had tossed a couple names around, we needed somebody who can go out there and be confident and work the crowd, and in the end we thought Dalton was the best for that. I think he’s going to be a good fit; he’s excited but nervous,” said Bartram. Like the former host before him, Hutton has been a part of Spotlight, which was formerly known as Cumberland Idol, since he competed and won as a freshman. Hutton has performed on stage and worked with a number of contestants in former years in addition to be a part of CAB his sophomore year and this year
Hutton also has a lot of experience in performing aside from his work with Spotlight; he sings at his church as a worship leader and believes that the skills he’s acquired give him an advantage. Hutton also believes being a musician brings an interesting new angle to his host persona but this aspect of his personality can also challenge his ability to host.
Hutton said, “It'll be a good advantage, being a musician but sometimes it's the worst thing ever, because sometimes you want to be a judge too and as a host you really can't. You're there to just engage the crowd and move things along. Sometimes the musician in me wants to talk music but I can't talk like that. I have to work on being more broad, other than focusing on music.”
Hutton was present to see some of the new contestants for night one of the auditions for Spotlight. “There was some really good talent and they all seemed to be very sturdy in their voices and a very good crowd. I think it’ll be pretty good and we’ll see how it goes,” said Hutton.
To help himself prepare for the new role in the competition, Hutton has been watching YouTube videos of other hosts to get a feel of what he’s in for Hutton says he’s watched Ryan Seacrest from “American Idol” to see his techniques and how he handles things; he’s noticed elimination is one of the most vital parts to hosting a competition and making it interesting and the large amount of planning it takes. Though it’ll be a tough thing for Hutton to help carry out since he has experience being at the mercy of a crowd and the judges panel, he knows it’s part of the experience.
When asked about how he’ll handle those awkward moments during the competition, Hutton giggled and said, “With my personality, I kinda enjoy awkward moments. Brad was really good at getting people engaged and that's something that I'm worried about, being more chill and conversational It's going to be interesting to see the change in host, but I think it’ll work out.”
He added, “Of course the cast brings a different tone and sets the tone throughout the season. For some seasons you have a lot more performers that are performing engaging and others are vocally engaging; I'm not sure how this season will go but we'll see.”
Hutton has really enjoyed being a part of this competition over the years and says it is very special to him to be finishing his college career as host of the competition that he won as a freshman
Phot
by Jay S
Spotlight Duets Night
January 27 February 3 February 24 March 10 March 31
