Letter From the Managing Editor
Hello Patriots!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable spring break. As we continue the last bi-term of the year, I want to recognize the success of everyone’s academics. The last weeks of the school year can be extra challenging as the summer countdown starts. Therefore, stay motivated throughout the upcoming school weeks and finish up the year strong.
As the managing editor, I am proud to announce our second issue of the spring semester. As spring starts to blossom and midterms approach, we’re excited to bring you stories that capture the heart of our campus. Whether you’re here for the latest news, thought-provoking opinions, or a fresh perspective on student life, we hope this issue informs and engages you.
Readers can expect exciting features in this issue. First of all, we have an exciting article about the highly accomplished WNBA athlete Caitlin Clark. Clark was this year’s guest at the leadership event hosted by UC Engage and received a grand round of applause as she entered the stage. Read more about Caitlin Clark’s success and the leadership event on page three!
Throughout this issue, readers will find more interesting articles—one including the modern technology of college learning. As online classes have become more popular, some professors still prefer in-person teaching over remote ones. Professor of Communication, Dr. Mike Dickman shares his thoughts on what his preferred method of teaching is on page seven.
Being a student at UC is more than being a part of the academics; we are a part of a family. I wanted to take a second to mention our incredible seniors who have been working extremely hard over the past four years. For returning students, take the last coming weeks to spend time with the graduating seniors and celebrate friendship. Personally, I always get emotional this time of year when seniors graduate. UC has given me friendships for life, and I’m sure many of you feel the same. While you are focusing on the last weeks of studying, do not forget to take time to hang out with friends, talk about memories, and laugh before this school year comes to an end.
Staff
Editor- in- Chief Morgan Roberts
Managing Editor Filippa Malmstrom
Social Media Coordinator
Shayra Calderon
Staff Writers
Nicholas Jackson
Alexander Legg
Nic Lewis
Hannah Phillips
Sydney Schwenke
Staff Photographers
Lilly Mckeehan
Brittany Smith
Faculty Advisor
Jeremiah Massengale
Cover Design by Nic Lewis
Cover Photo Courtesy of UC Communications & Marketing
Caitlin Clark Comes to Cumberlands
The Caitlin Clark Effect On
Campus
BY: NIC LEWIS STAFF WRITER
On March 25, at the annual Excellence in Leadership Series event in the O. Wayne Rollins Center, the University of the Cumberlands hosted WNBA player of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark. More than 2,000 students and community members attended the event, which was presented in a Q-and-A format.
When asked what brings her success in academics and sports, Clark said she manages her time through discipline. “It’s how I was raised. If I didn’t get my homework done, I couldn’t go to practice. But it’s also who I am…Find things you love outside of school that make you happy, sit down, plan your week, and be organized through discipline.” While battling school and athleticism, Clark found success with both. At the University of Iowa, while setting records for the Hawkeyes, Clark received her undergraduate degree in May of 2024. She brought the Iowa team, the Hawkeyes, back-toback NCAA Championship games, becoming the first player to surpass 3,000 points, 750 rebounds, and 750 assists.
Clark’s presence at the event resonated deeply with some attendees. Jared Leach, senior and music performance major, found her talk particularly inspiring. “It was really interesting, to say the least! I enjoyed that she shared her fundraising and that she intends to bring scholarships to aspiring college students,” he said.
Others, however, had mixed reactions. Johnessa Napier, a freshman and psychology major, admitted that the event didn’t stand out to her. “I didn’t find anything that memorable. I am not interested in basketball, so I guess that’s why,” Napier said.
For student-athletes, Clark’s visit carried a
different weight. “This was a massive deal for our team. She knows what it’s like to be in our shoes. I remember my freshman year, two years ago, when she was still playing in Iowa. No joke, we [the UC women’s basketball team] would have her highlights on our locker room TV, and we would just watch them for fun. It’s an honor for us to even see her and shake her hand,” said Lakin Burke, a senior who is part of the UC women’s basketball team.
With the pressure of her continuous success, Clark shared how she stays grounded.
“For myself obviously, there is always pressure and spotlight,” Clark states,” I try to remind myself, ‘I love this game,’ and so many people are supporting me… In the end, the only ones that matter are the ones inside your lock room. Those are the ones that have your back. They can get you through hard times, but also great ones, too.” Clark continues discussing the importance of challenges and overcoming them. “Embrace it! Everyone goes through it [challenges], and how are you going to let it change you in that moment? The best way to overcome any challenge is to embrace it and let it make you better.”
In Caitlin Clark’s upbringing, being a middle child, she claims her contribution to her ambition was her support from her parents in allowing her to succeed but also fail,’ and selfmotivation. “My drive is to be better, honestly,” Clark says in response to her motivation, “I don’t want anyone to be better than me at what I do… It doesn’t matter what you do, not just sports, but as a teacher, musician, or doctor, as long as you want to be the best at it.”
Caitlin Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever as the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the most watched in recorded history. Through her first year with Fever, Clark earned a WNBA All-Star selection, shattered single-season and single-game
assist records, broke the rookie scoring record, and made history as the first to record a triple-double. Therefore, resulting in becoming the first rookie since 2008 to make the First Team All-WNBA, an honor only five players had achieved.
Outside of sports, Caitlin Clark committed to philanthropy. In 2022, she founded The Caitlin Clark Foundation, which supports youth empowerment through education, nutrition, and sports in their communities. Through the Caitlin Clark Foundation, there have been 350+ backpacks donated with school supplies, 22,000 brand-new children’s books donated to various programs, and four $22,000 grants to local Iowa charities like The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Coralville Community Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor, and Special Olympics Iowa- East Central. Clark states, “It doesn’t have to be big to make an impact, a small gesture can make a big difference.”
As President Larry Cockrum wrapped the Q-and-A session and thanked Caitlin Clark for attending, Clark was welcomed instantaneously by the stadium filled with standing ovations. The crowd had erupted in cheers and applause, reflecting both admiration and excitement. In response, Clark waved and smiled with gratitude; the standing ovation continued as she departed, clearly reflecting the admiration and excitement she had sparked among those in attendance.
Cumberlands’ Excellence in Leadership Series annually invites keynote speakers like Clark to bring impactful messages to its students and the general community, instilling integral leadership values. Former keynote speakers include Jon Dorenbos, Mel Robbins, Drew Brees, Laila Ali, Terry Bradshaw, Shaquille O’Neal, and others.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF UC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
. Friday, March 28, 2025 The Patriot
Nature in Motion: a photo collection
PHOTOS BY: LILLY MCKEEHAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A few weeks ago, student photographer Lilly McKeehan set out with a camera to capture the beauty of nature near campus. What she found was a collection of waterfalls, wildflowers, and furry friends, each telling its own story.
Nature in Motion: a photo collection
Study Abroad Opens Doors
The Opportunity for College Students to Travel, Learn, and Grow
BY: HANNAH PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
At the University of the Cumberlands, the study abroad program offers students a unique opportunity to expand their academic horizons and spend time studying in another country. Whether spending a trip abroad in Italy, Greece, or Puerto Rico, the program allows participants to earn academic knowledge while experiencing life in a new country. Each trip is partnered with a program based in the country of travel, meaning each journey is personalized and designed to take advantage of the season of the year. The program not only strengthens the student’s academic range but also gives them the opportunity to thrive in a new culture.
Anna Meegan, a student at the University of the Cumberlands, had the opportunity to travel to Greece in the spring of 2024. “When I started college, I was aware of and very interested in the study abroad opportunities. I knew that I wanted to study abroad at least once during my college career. I had a friend who was going to Greece who had been there before; she had so many stories that made me want to go, so we went together,” Meegan said. The university requires each student traveling abroad to take an eight-week course over the country and topic of travel beforehand. “Life and Letters of Paul was not required for my major, so I took it as an elective before my trip. It made me realize that my major is not all that matters in college. I was very grateful I got to take the class and have that knowledge beforehand- it was very beneficial for me.”
Studying abroad can have multiple benefits in all aspects of a student. Jay Bourne, a professor at the university, has taken trips abroad both as a student and as a professor. He has seen firsthand the benefit that studying abroad can have on a person’s life. “When I take students abroad, I hope that they understand and appreciate that all humans are different and similar at the same time. I hope they see commonality and appreciate differences. A love of travel and new and different experiences is also something they’ll gain. Since I studied abroad, I’m more willing to try new foods and experiences
than I was before. All of that will go together to make a long-term impact,” Professor Bourne said.
The trips offered by the university vary each year. Typically, each trip is offered once every one to three years, giving students the opportunity to travel to their desired destination once during their four-year college experience. Piper McGuire, a senior at the college traveled to Costa Rica in the summer of 2024. For McGuire, the trip aided more than her desire to visit a new country. “Studying abroad significantly improved my Spanish. When you’re fully immersed in another country and can’t rely on your native language, you have no choice but to practice speaking and listening in your target language,” McGuire said. “I had learned about Latino cultures in school, but coursework often presents a broad overview. Experiencing Costa Rica firsthand helped me see the unique traditions and regional differences within the country.”
One of the most significant factors that set students back from traveling abroad is fear. It’s perfectly normal to have worries when it comes to traveling to a different country, but overcoming the fear is part of the experience. “Going across the world is a long trip. It can be scary, being away from home. But, I would say that finding out information does not commit you to it. All the trips the school offers have informational sessions, and I recommend anyone with even a slight interest to attend a session,” Professor Bourne said. Bourne advises students to stretch their wings and not be hesitant to learn more about the study abroad trips. “Part of college, to me, is being more than just in the classroom. It includes learning opportunities like making friends and leaving the classroom. These experiences expand outside of college. The connection, wherever it happens, is forever. The trip is a temporary thing, but the impacts of that can last your life.”
The study abroad program at the University of the Cumberlands offers a once-in-a-lifetime experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Whether through enhancing language skills, gaining cultural appreciation, or simply visiting a
new area, studying abroad becomes an unforgettable part of your college journey. Study abroad trips for 2026 have begun hosting information sessions. If you’re interested in studying abroad, contact Julie Deyrup via email at Julie.Deyrup@ucumberlands. edu to learn about interest meetings for your trip.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN MITCHELL
Online vs In-Person A
Professor’s Perspective on College Learning
BY: HANNAH PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
Since beginning his career as a orofessor of communication arts in 1993, Dr. Mike Dickman has witnessed firsthand the rapid evolution of technology, both on campus and in the world. Through all the changes, one thing has remained constant: his commitment to traditional, in-person learning. As a communications professor, Dr. Dickman values the benefit of face-toface learning and therefore continues to teach his classes in a way he describes as “fun for me, and I hope for the students as well.” In a recent interview, Dr. Dickman shared his perspective on the changes he has personally observed in the University of the Cumberlands socially and technologically.
“Campus was very different when I began here. There was no internet, let alone computers. It was right about that time that the college started getting computers,” Dickman says. In August 1993, when Dr. Dickman began teaching, The University had only lifted the ban on dancing a few years prior. “The student body was much more religious than they are today. Most students were either Baptist or Methodist, but now, there’s a much larger variety.”
Students today are all too familiar with online classes and electronic books. While each person has their own opinions on virtual learning, almost all students take a form of online class at some point in their college career. However, to students in 1993, the term ‘online’ was almost entirely foreign. “I remember when we first got the internet. There were 10 dial-ups, so only ten people at the University could use the internet at a time. Then, the University increased it to 100, and they said, ‘Yeah, that should last us for a while.’ Needless to say- access to the internet
was a major game changer,” Dickman says.
With the growth of online education over the years, many students now face the decision of choosing between in-person and online learning. In-person classes are helpful for the face-to-face interaction they provide. Students benefit from in-person discussions, questions with direct answers, and immediate feedback. Having in-person classes and discussions also provides the opportunity for students to create friendships with each other- which is necessary to enjoy the college experience.
On the other hand, online learning is more flexible, allowing students to complete coursework when it’s most convenient for them. This is especially beneficial for those with work or family commitments. However, this mode of learning can come with its challenges. Many students report feeling isolated or disconnected from their peers, with less opportunity for personal interaction. “I prefer in-person classes because I feel that the interactions and examples given in class by my professors make the content more interesting and personable,” senior Skyla Walters says.
Students who have taken classes with Dr. Dickman are familiar with his traditional teaching style. Each class meets four days a week for the time allotted each day, and each class gets taught in a lecture style, complete with in-person quizzes and exams where student responses are still written on paper. However, his students-past and present--can tell you that the professor’s teaching style is anything but uninteresting. Allison Taylor, a junior at the University of the Cumberlands, has taken several classes under Dr. Dickman. “He’s my favorite professor! Dickman is passionate about what he does, and
that makes class way more fun and unique. You can tell he cares not only about the content but the students in the class, too,” Taylor says.
When asked why he continues to teach traditional lecture classes when online platforms are available, “because it’s more fun,” Dr. Dickman laughed. “It’s more fun for me. I think there’s a body of students who know this is what they’re getting when they take my classes, so they take them on purpose. Some people want that in-person experience.”
While the range of education has evolved rapidly since quarantine forced students into an online learning environment five years ago, Dr. Dickman’s dedication to traditional, in-person learning has remained constant. As both learning methods continue to grow, it’s clear that a balance between technology and personal interaction remains essential to the educational experience. For Dr. Dickman, the choice to continue to teach in person isn’t just about preference; it’s about maintaining the authenticity and excitement that comes with connecting with students face-to-face- something that technology, no matter how advanced, can replicate. Do you prefer in-person or online classes?
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH PHILLIPS
