Letter from the Managing Editor
Dear Patriots,
Spring break has come and gone, the fountain is back on, the new library is constantly filled with students and we are officially nearing the final half of the second spring bi-term. I hope you all were able to enjoy your break and came back with the energy to finish strong. I know I was lagging the first Monday after break, but then I saw the fountain running and remembered how much I love our campus. That, and the spring weather, helped me to have a little more pep in my step. As we enter into the last half of the bi-term, I encourage you to make use of the new library. It is a great space for study groups and to focus on reviewing material. I know I’ll likely be there for the caffeine in the library location of Cumberland River Coffee if nothing else. Registration time is here as well. Don’t forget to check in with your advisor and/or Student Success for a sense of security in your schedule for the 2021 fall semester. They are there to help.
I have been reflecting on priorities lately. It is a strange concept, in a way, that we have to decide what in our lives should be ranked higher than something else on our to-do list. At this point in the academic year, I believe it can be easy to get our priorities mixed up. Our stressors can easily become something that won’t be important five years from now rather than something that is a valid use of our energy. I catch myself focusing on issues that aren’t pressing and avoiding ones that are. I want to share some encouragement that most stress is temporary and each season is a season of growth. I often remind myself that, “This too shall pass.” Whatever seems impossible right now will be something that we overcome and that brings growth. We’ve got this, Patriots!
Only by grace,
Jenna Rose, Managing Editor
Editor-In-Chief
Haley Bullock
Managing Editor
Jenna Rose
Social Media Coordinator
Abigail Fletcher
Faculty Adviser
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Makayla Durham
Nathan Evans
Cassidy Howard
Kristin Mitchell
Alyssa Morningstar
Alex Nunn
Maranda Young
Guest Contributor
Amber Rutherford
Front cover by Jenna Rose
Back cover by Abigail Fletcher
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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.
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Grover M. Hermann Library
Photos of UC’s new renovation
Photos by Abigail Fletcher
Opened offically on Feb. 22, check out the a new great study area on campus.
An Interview with Lydia Barbour
The inside voice of a UC resident assistant
BY MAKAYLA DURHAM Staff Writer
Lydia Barbour is a junior at University of the Cumberlands. She has been a resident assistant for over two years now. As an RA she is a leader over her selected dorm and makes sure rules are followed for the safety of the residents.
Q: How have you handled the transition within the past year concerning new Covid-19 rules and regulations?
Lydia Barbour: It wasn’t too difficult for me to adjust, though the new policies seemed overwhelming at first. I remember I had missed being here so much that I was determined to do whatever it took for us to stay on campus. All the on-campus students I spoke to also wanted to stay, so that made adapting to the new rules easier.
Q: How much of an adjustment has it been for you personally as an RA during this pandemic?
LB: Being an RA used to feel like a side hustle to me. I worked my office and on-call hours, reminded residents about important stuff, and conducted HSIs. Aside from a few isolated incidents, that was all I had to do. I can barely keep up with my RA work and my classes now, and it has been difficult to explain to my teachers. Music is a lot more hands-on than many of the other departments, which means I often have homework I can’t do when in the office. Somedays I’m so exhausted I don’t even eat; I just take naps whenever I have a spare moment.
Q: Since new guidelines have been put in place, what type of tasks must you cover now that you didn’t have to in the past?
LB: I sometimes deliver meals for quarantine, help residents get into quarantine housing, sanitize and clean constantly, and deliver books at the beginning of the semester. I also tend to be doing more hands-on work, since the deluge of tasks has made it more difficult for maintenance and housekeeping to be here in a timely manner to help residents.
Q: What type of plans have been put in place to keep resident assistants and students as safe as possible?
on-campustheAllcampus.onstaytousstudents
I spoke to also wanted to that made
transitionthehandledyouhaveHowQ:within the past year concerning new regulations?andrulesCovid-19Lydia: It wasn’t too difficult for me to adjust, though the new policies seemed overwhelming at first. I remember I had missed being here so much that I was determined to do whatever it took for
LB: In Templeton, we have a lot of space set aside for quarantine, we conduct HSIs more often to promote cleanliness, we sanitize regularly, and we help quarantined residents receive gifts and food in a safe way.
Q: What are some lessons that you have learned throughout this pandemic?
LB: I think the most important thing I learned is to treasure each moment I have with my friends, and not to take anything for granted. I missed making music with other people tremendously when we had to leave last spring, I was so angry at myself for not appreciating what I had.
Q: Do you believe the University of the Cumberlands has done a good job at implementing guidelines towards the virus? And if they could improve, how?
LB: UC has worked hard to put guidelines in place that help stop Covid, I was happy to see the social distancing stickers and efforts in food service, I think those are really making a difference. Mask usage is still a problem. Some people in positions of authority can provide a bad example regarding masks, making enforcement very difficult. So few people even wear them consistently, I ended up giving up after a few months. If I ask someone to wear a mask, they wear them only until my back is turned. On some occasions, I was mocked for constantly wearing mine.
Q: When a student within your dorm does test positive what procedure must be followed in order to protect yourself and others?
LB: I don’t know every step of the process, as I have never been quarantined, but I know that it starts by contacting student services and then contact tracing. When people are sent to our dorm to quarantine, we try to get them to their rooms without any direct contact. As of this semester, there is a Reslife staff specifically designated to take care of quarantine housing. We work with the quarantine housing staff to deliver meals and whatever else a quarantined resident may need, being careful to keep our distance and sanitize often.
Photo courtesy of Makayla Durham
Photo by Abigail Fletcher
Serving Safely
Hallie Brackett: The Importance of Service in a Pandemic
BY JENNA ROSE Managing Editor
Hallie Brackett is a junior at University of the Cumberlands, where she is a leader for Appalachian Ministries. AM is a ministry that reaches children in the community by going to apartment complexes each week and putting on an event with games, a Bible story lesson, dancing and snacks. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AM team has not been able to spend time with the children in our area in person. In this interview, Hallie discusses how AM has adapted to COVID-19 safety restrictions.
Q: How did you get involved in AM?
Hallie Brackett: When I came in (to college) my freshman year, I actually was assigned to Fellowship of Christian Athletes and, nothing wrong with FCA; I loved it, but I just, I got so much joy doing vacation bible school at home, and a couple of my friends were on the AM site, and they were like it’s the same thing; you know, you’re pretty much doing the same thing that you do at vacation bible school. I prayed about it forever and then finally was like, “You know I think I’m going to make the switch; I think I’ll be better used there.”
Q: How did the ministry change due to COVID-19?
HB: We now do weekly videos, and then we make bags every Wednesday morning, and we take them to the sites. So, the video consists of lessons, so, it has one of our leaders talking, you know, straight at the camera giving the lesson, the Bible verse, and then we go into dance, so we have girls who choreograph dance routines and video it so (the kids) can dance along at home. Then we have crafts, so we have a team that does our own craft stuff, and then we have games, so they can play along to different games. So, like, the last video I edited was making a fort. Our group up at Templeton made their own little fort, videoed it, and put it in.
Then we have a recap which touches base on how the lesson ties into real world, so, Preston Miller actually goes out and interviews people on campus and asks them questions about the lesson. But all of our videos have a theme; this biterm is the armor of God, so we’ve had the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of truth, you know, stuff like that. And then the bags correlate with the videos because the bags have snacks in them, the craft that was in the video and then papers to go to the YouTube site to watch the videos.
Q: Did that make you kind of ache for the kids knowing that you weren’t going to be able to be there?
HB: Oh yeah, yeah, I mean because those kids love it. We’ll pull in, and once they see those vans, they are outside pretty much running at us; we don’t have to go get them, or that’s how it was at Brush for the longest time was they were just so eager to be there. And they’d tell their parents, “Mom, church is here, I’m going to go,” so it’s just like we, we are not trying to replace the church we’re trying to say, “See, go to church, you’ll have more of this.” But, I mean, it’s hard for parents to get them to go places, so we were their only source of Jesus, so it was, yeah, it was heartbreaking a little bit to know they might not be getting it.
Q: Why did you personally feel like making an effort to reach the children and their families was still important among a pandemic?
HB: Because I mean the gospel doesn’t stop for a pandemic. People still need to hear it. It’s plain as that. I think that something much bigger needs to be able to stop it and that much bigger thing would, honestly, probably be Jesus coming back. That’s really the only thing that I could think that would stop it from happening. We take precautions; we wear our masks, we drop them at the doors, we
Photo by Jenna Rose
keep 6 feet apart. But, yeah, my personal opinion is that, yeah, Covid is here, but we still need to keep sharing the gospel.
Q: How has working with AM been rewarding in your life?
HB: It reminded me of the childlike joy that comes with the gospel because, once you get older, it, kind of, I don’t want to say becomes bogged down because it never really does, but it has more of a weight to it, which it should, but, doing it with AM, you kind of find your kid-like joy with it all. You get excited, too, about the videos and the bags and all that stuff.
Q: What has working with AM taught you?
HB: That I need to not take things so seriously. I need to be more flexible, lenient and just remember the basics of the gospel. I don’t need to get bogged down in all the big 16 syllable words in the Bible or anything like that. It’s just simple, you know, simple truth of it all. I don’t need to get so in-myhead about everything.
Q: Do you believe that this method has been effective for reaching the children and their families?
HB: I think so, I really do, because normally parents like to know what their kids are watching. Or, with some of the families, they only might have the one computer, so in this way we are kind of roping in the parents as well, watching the videos or even if they’re just hearing it while they’re making dinner and their kid is at the dining room table. They’re still hearing something, whereas, before, we would just take the kids, and some parents kind of watch, but I think the videos are getting it inside the home rather than us taking it outside, which isn’t a problem, but, still, I think I like the different aspect of it, the different look of it all.
Return of the Regency Period
How Netflix’s Bridgerton is setting a fashion trend
BY AMBER RUTHERFORD
Guest Contributor
Sparkling jewels, floor length gowns, lavish updos, and brewing romances fill the ballrooms of Netflix’s newest hit series “Bridgerton”. This Regency-era romantic drama has not only become Netflix’s most successful series yet, according to Netflix, but is now setting trends for the world of fashion in 2021.
Adapted from the beloved romance novels of Julia Quinn, season one of “Bridgerton” is centered around the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Hastings. While Daphne’s beauty and grace have her recognized as the diamond of the first water, Simon is better known for his title as the scandalous Duke of Hastings. With all the eyes of London on them, Daphne finds herself navigating the waters of desire and duty against Simon’s pride and dark past. However, it is not just their dreamy romance that has fans obsessed with this eight-episode series. Since its release on Christmas day, “Bridgerton” has sparked creativity in adoring fans and fashion enthusiasts around the world with its custom-made gowns and flawless makeup looks.
Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor, has not only the jealousy of London’s most esteemed debutantes in Grosvenor Square, but millions of “Bridgerton” viewers. Rightfully named the season’s Incomparable by the queen herself in episode one, she perfects the beauty of natural looking makeup and stands out in even the palest of pastel-colored gowns. With so many fans asking the question of how to get Daphne’s glowing freshfaced look across social media, it is no surprise there are so many tutorials and tips being shared. Leslie Stephens, journalist for Cupcakes and Cashmere, had the opportunity of speaking with the show’s makeup artist, Lynda J. Pearce, on how she achieved Daphne’s look.
According to Stephens, inspiration for Daphne’s fresh and flawless look was the iconic Audrey Hepburn. “Channeling Audrey, apply the brow pencil in short, quick strokes for a bold, yet natural-appearing, look,” Stephens wrote in her step-by-step guide for achieving Daphne’s Hepburn inspired brows.
Even more than her beauty, Daphne’s array of pastel and floral printed gowns has fans captivated by her romantic spring wardrobe. From the elegant sleeves, high waistline, and extra length, inspiration is being drawn to appear as graceful and lovely as the Duchess herself.
Possibly the simplest way to achieve this look amid a global pandemic is by enjoying the comfort and elegance of a silk robe, particularly that of
pastel or floral design. You may be stuck at home and unable to attend the season’s most glamorous events, but you can certainly channel your inner duchess through the finest of loungewear.
Many brands and influencers have already began preparing their own lists of “Bridgerton” style attire and accessories. Not only are influencers sharing their Regency era looks, but fans across the globe are experiencing what if feels like to dress like a Bridgerton. Rebecca O’Leary, an adoring “Bridgerton” fan in Ireland, fell in love with the hit series simply because of the outfits which made it, she said.
Although O’Leary rarely wears dresses, Daphne’s style has greatly influenced the fabrics and color patterns of her own everyday attire. “I had never before found puff sleeves or satin materials all that appealing,” O’Leary said. “Now I wear my puff sleeve top tucked in the highest waisted jeans I can find…”
From corsets, to gowns, hair accessories, shoes, jewelry, and men’s suits, the making of “Bridgerton” included 7,500 individual pieces. The time and energy put into these costumes has in no way gone unnoticed. According to a recent study by Stylight, searches for empire-waisted dresses have increased by more than 150% since the debut of this historically set series.
Although Daphne’s go to pastels and natural makeup looks are flattering, we must not overlook the vibrant color palettes and bold hairdos of the Featherington women. With Penelope Featherington’s recurring yellow gowns and flaming red hair, fans recognize and admire a woman that stands out.
In an interview with Vogue magazine, the series costume designer Ellen Mirojnick gave some insight on the boldness of the Featherington fashion. According to Mirojnick, the mother Featherington is responsible for their iconic style. “Their color palette is overly citrus because she wants those girls to be seen. They’re bolder, brighter and more brazen than everyone else, and everything is overly embellished,” Mirojnick explained to the Vogue journalist.
If there is one thing today’s fashion world is always looking for, its ways to be bolder and more brazen than everyone else, especially through selfexpression. With the inspiration of Featherington women, we have a whole new way of doing so by bringing to life the boldness of “Bridgerton” fashion and Regency era style.
Photos courtesy of Shondaland
Worth the Money
Four things that are necessary for college students to splurge on
BY HALEY BULLOCK Editor-in-Chief
As broke college students, it’s important to know what we are spending our money on is worth it. If it’s pricey, we need to know that it is something that is good quality and will last us a long time because it is hard to continuously buy expensive products. So here are four things that are worth it for college students to splurge on:
1. AirPods
Online education through Blackboard Collaborate is here to stay at UC for the time being. It’s a good idea to have some wireless headphones, like AirPods, since we are spending so much time online. I know this is a common concern, but in my experience, they do not fall out of my ears when I am working out or doing any form of physical activity. Since they are a little pricey, I am not worried about losing them because I do not want to fork over the change to buy myself a new pair, so I do my best to keep up with them. They also can be connected to Windows PCs, so don’t worry if your laptop is not a MacBook, they are usable across platforms that are not Apple. The sound quality and microphone is great and sufficient for online classes, music listening and FaceTime calls with friends. The prices for AirPods start at $159 without tax on Apple’s website.
2. A comfortable mattress pad
Sleeping on a dorm-issued mattress is definitely not something that many college students look forward to. However, you’ll more than likely be in college for at least four years, so it’s a good idea to make it bearable and as comfortable as possibly. Myself, and many other college students, highly recommend investing in a memory foam mattress pad for your bed. They make a huge difference in how your bed feels and allows you to sleep
better. Any mattress topper within the $40-$60 price range should be plenty to spend on this. This may seem a lot at first, especially since there’s already so many things you need as a college student. But, if you purchase it when you’re a freshman and use it until your senior year, that’s only around $10 a year to have a comfortable bed in your dorm.
3. A reliable laptop
Since schools and universities are adapting to become more onlinebased, it is important now more than ever to have a reliable laptop or computer. Though it may seem a bit expensive, at first, I promise that it is worth it. You can spend around $400 and get something that will be more reliable than that laptop you’ve had since middle school that’s seen better days. If you’re consistently having issues with your current laptop being slow, not having enough storage or crashing, it’s time to bite the bullet and make the investment in a newer piece of technology.
4. Business casual clothes
This is something that many of you may already have taken care and many of you that haven’t thought about this before. If you’re involved in a group on campus that typically goes to conventions or travels for meetings, business casual is more than likely what you will be expected to wear during the trip. Business casual clothes, especially if you are purchasing them new, can be expensive so this is something is better to have developed over time. It can be hard on a college student budget to drop $200 on clothes at once, so if you pick up an outfit or pieces here and there, it makes the task of building your business casual budget more manageable. This also works great for job interviews or if you are working a white-collar job after graduation.
Photo courtesy of JP Valery
