Letter from the Managing Editor
Dear Patriots,
What are the qualities that create a good leader? Charisma? Strength? Kindness? Certainly all of these things are important, but they are personality traits that any individual can gain. Therefore, there has to be something innate in the countenance and temperament of a leader that inspires people to believe in them. For me, what makes a leader a leader is both their ability to believe see the infinite worth and myriad talents of an individual, that they themselves might not even see, and their courage to encourage those individuals to strive to obtain excellence in those facets. People like professors, family members and friends can perform these feats in remarkably subtle ways without our even realizing it.
For the longest time I believed my father wasn’t proud of me. No matter how hard I worked, he would always tell me that I could do better. It got to the point that I stopped sharing my life with him because I was afraid of the disappointment that would come from giving him something I had worked for hours, or even months or days on, like my grades for instance, only for him to tell me something blasé like “Work for getting all A’s next time.” One day, as I was working on his laptop, what for I don’t quite recall, I decided to write him a letter explaining all of my frustrations, concerns, and fears. That letter helped us have an honest conversation, during which I came to understand that my father had never been trying to impose on me with his words the shortcomings of my efforts, rather, he had been trying to give me a threshold to overcome because he knew I would never be motivated to improve myself if I didn’t have a goal to work for.
So while there might be someone in your life who may seem like they are trying too hard to push you beyond your limits, or think your accomplishments aren’t worth the time you took to achieve them, it might be because they believe in what you are capable of so much that they are willing to pose as the villain in order to give you the strength to believe in yourself the same way that they do.
Sincerely,
Leanne Gregory, Managing Editor
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Krzyston
Managing Editor
Leanne Gregory
Faculty Adviser
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Emilee Agee
Haley Bullock
Taylor Duke
Abigail Fletcher
Jessica McFerron
Alex Nunn
River Phillippe
Dan Williams
Maranda Young
Front cover by Mike Krzyston
Back cover by Bill Turner
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.
Moving Mountains
A recap of the inaugural “Give Day”
BY ALEX NUNN Staff Writer
On April 4, 2019 University of the Cumberlands held its first annual Give-Day. Alumni, faculty, friends and family were asked to give whatever, and however, they could to support the school, and to help strengthen a part of the campus that they wanted to see grow. Cumberlands encouraged anyone who wanted to spread the word to go onto social media with the motto, and hashtag; #400onthe4th.
Andrew Wolfe, director of advancement services for UC, spoke on how the event went saying, “Our goal was originally 400 donors, and by Tuesday, April 9th we had 483.”
According to UC’s official Facebook page, nearly $60,000 was raised as a part of the Give Day event.
The main goal of Give Day is to make sure that all sections of UC are contributed to. Wolfe explained, “Donations from all over went to 60 departments, clubs, and teams, and 45 volunteers helped fundraise. And 37 additional social ambassadors contributed as well.”
Wolfe added, “Overall, I’d consider the day a rousing success, alumni and friends from all over reach out to give. This event just proves how powerful social media is, and what it can do to bring UC alumni together. I’d encourage all students and faculty to use this to stay connected.”
Keithen Harris, a UC sophomore, said, “Personally, me being so passionate about the psychology department, I really enjoy the idea of having a day where we can give back, and help our departments help us.” Give Day has been seen by many as an opportunity to make sure that their passions are represented, with many encouraging the help of others in such ways. Give Day 2019 may be over, but this was just the first annual event, there are many opportunities for young alumni to make a change for years to come.
Illustration courtesy of UC Communications and Marketing
A hard-hitting performance
Laila Ali speaks at the 14th annual Excellence
in Leadership series
BY TAYLOR DUKE Staff Writer
Laila Ali, undefeated professional boxer, television personality and the youngest daughter of world-class boxer Muhammad Ali, came to the University of the Cumberlands campus on Tuesday, April 9 as the featured speaker for the 14th annual Excellence in Leadership Series, held in the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
Ali’s appearance marked the first time a woman has been the featured speaker for the series since its beginning in 2005.
When talking about her overall takeaway from Ali’s speech, UC freshman Briona Pollard said, “I thought it was really nice that they brought a woman on to campus and it was also really cool that she was African-American as well. We don’t have inspirational women come around a lot.”
When being told about her new achievement of being the first woman speaker in this series, Ali said, “That is absolutely amazing and it’s about time.”
As well being a four-time undefeated world-champion, Ali was also the first woman to provide adept commentary for NBC Sports. She also released her own cookbook, “Food for Life: Delicious & Healthy Comfort Food from My Table to Yours!” in 2018.
Ali said, “I believe in doing what you’re passionate about. You can’t be happy if you’re not doing what you love.”
The event started off with songs played by UC’s Symphonic Winds that followed alongside the Kentucky State Police Honor Guard. The national anthem was sung by UC senior Jaymine Carey followed by freshman Nathan
Partin leading the Pledge of Allegiance. UC senior Dominick Joseph set the tone with the invocation before UC President Dr. Larry Cockrum welcomed and introduced Laila Ali.
Two leadership awards were presented by Dr. Cockrum to “Survivor” season 37 winner and UC adjunct professor Nick Wilson and “American Ninja Warrior” contestant and UC alumnae Michelle Warnky.
When asked about receiving a leadership award, Wilson said, “This was so cool. I’m actually blown away especially since Laila Ali gave it to me. Her dad was one of my heroes growing up. I really hope that our stories can inspire children in Appalachia.”
Laila spoke of trials and tribulations in her life that helped form the woman she became. Ali opened up about how she decided to start boxing through her own volition and not because of her father.
For Ali, she grew up wanting to grow outside of her father’s shadow. Not only was that hard to do because of her father’s boxing and humanitarian careers but also because of her gender.
In an interview discussing what is was like to grow into a female leadership role, Ali said, “I was too busy doing my thing and showing them I was a boss to pay attention.”
After her speech, students were able to ask questions directly to Ali to get a better understanding of leadership. The event concluded with senior, Skyler Downs, closing the event with prayer.
Photos by Taylor Duke
Knocking out stereotypes
Top right: Senior Hayden Lee asks a question to Laila Ali during the Q&A section of the speech. A wrestler, Lee asks a question pertaining to heatlh and diet. Top left: Laila speaks to the crowd of students, staff, alumni and special guests. Ali’s speech focused on her impact as a leader and finding her own life through her passions. Bottom left: A crowd focusses on the students asking questions during the Q&A section of the speech. Bottom right: Laila sits and listens as President of the university, Dr. Larry Cockrum, introduces her to the audience.
Photos by Mike Krzyston
Behind the scenes
An opinion on the recent rise of Disney’s live action films
BY ALEX NUNN AND LEANNE GREGORY Staff Writer and Managing Editor
With the release of the new “Lion King” trailer, a new debate surrounding the validity of live action remakes has emerged. Where exactly did this resurgence of remakes come from however? In the 1950s, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum, to help alleviate the company’s financial issues in Europe, Disney began producing its earliest set of live action films. These films were so well received in European theaters that it incentivized Walt Disney to continue making films in the live action genre, a profitable venture that eventually led to the company repackaging their classic films as live action remakes; a trend that has divided movie goers for years. Are these movies really as terrible or groundbreaking as the critics and fans claim? Personally, I don’t think so.
Remakes in of themselves aren’t an issue, because it allows older generations to recapture the magic of their childhood and the younger to get a glimpse of what their films are evolved from. The true problem, for me, lies in the movie industries acceptance that in order to make an interesting film, the director must either sacrifice the story or the cinematography. Modern technology, such as CGI, while useful in improving audience experiences, should not be relied upon solely to carry the entire movie; and neither should the story. Film is a medium best suited for simultaneous visual, and auditory storytelling. If a story from a previous film is going to be re-relayed to audiences, utilize the available technology to grant the audience members an entirely new experience
through a new musical score or wildly varied visual art styles. Likewise, if a movie is being created to showcase the latest technology, craft a story from the supplementary material of the original story that best elucidates the limits of what the technology is capable of.
One example of this philosophy that I am particularly fond of, and that really brought me over to the idea of remakes being an avenue for inventive storytelling and cinematography, are the Tim Burton “Alice in Wonderland” remakes. While not the best movies in the world, they at the least try to take as much from the original source material as possible and give it a new take visually and narratively.
Another issue, to me at least, with these remakes are the lost creative opportunities arising from the drastic change in medium. In hand-drawn animation the artist is allowed an inordinate amount of liberty regarding the composition of each character and scene, including what details the audience sees, when they see them, and what purpose those details serve in the overarching narrative. By transitioning into real life locales, and using true to life models for previously animated characters, there is a risk of the scene losing focus because the audience is too distracted by the bustle of the surrounding area, or by the hyperrealism of the characters on the screen. And while there are things animators, and directors, can do to keep focus firmly on the story, a lot of the original charm from the animated film can be lost in these processes.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
Meme of the week Pumped up jams
