TrevEchoes - Thanksgiving 2014
Content
TrevEchoesOnline.com
Thanksgiving 2014
Since 1944
The finals countdown by Nadia Smith Editor-in-Chief
Finals are right around the corner and with that students’ stress levels are beginning to elevate. Stress occurs in the body when it is dealing with unfamiliar physical and emotional pressure from surrounding environments, according to WebMD. For college students, a variety of situations could cause stress. “I think stress levels tend to peak during the latter part of the fall semester. Demands mount, deadlines loom, sleep decreases, and campus illnesses abound. All of these tend to come together toward the end of fall semester,” said Randy Carden, professor of psychology. “Add to this travel associated with holidays and associated family pressures and conditions are good for heavy stress.” About 80 percent of college students frequently or sometimes experience stress
daily and 34 percent have felt depressed at some point in the last three months, according to a survey done by the Associated Press and mtvU. “The rst t hing to remember is that not all stress is bad. Moderate levels of stress are actually motivating. Heavy stress is problematic, however,” said Carden. Symptoms of severe stress can include high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, neck pain, general irritability and depression. When stress and anxiety becomes too much to handle, it is a good idea to see a counselor, said Carden. Anxiety disorders on college campuses across America have increased by 89 percent during the last ve years, according to a 2014 survey done by the American College Counseling Association. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or
Tutoring Services With nals right around the corner, the Academic Services ofce is offering extra group tutoring sessions on the second oor of the CLCS building. The sessions will offer students the opportunity to receive study help on some of the general education courses, such as biology and math, which have a comprehensive nal.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 4
should have because they just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sarah Hopkins, director of counseling services at Trevecca. While a large workload plays a role in student stress, another key factor is neglecting personal needs. “I think the biggest factor for student stress is the lack of awareness that they need self care, rest, to eat right, time to play and share their thoughts and feelings with a friend,” said Donna Durham, a counseling center intern. To eliminate some of the stress of nals week, Carden recommends focusing on the task at hand. “Try to remain task-focused and not emotion-focused,” he said. “The rst is a better orientation under stress – staying task-focused will tend to be associated with accomplishing work. An emotion-focused orientation is more characterized by worry, discouragement, feeling overwhelmed, feeling out of control, and helplessness.”
Stressed out? Some tips from the pros: 1. Take time every day day to rest. Don’t just sleep, but lie on your bed and do some deep breathing. 2. Try to keep a regular sleep schedule. 3. Drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits and veggies and limit junk food. 4. Practice self-compass self-compassion. ion. Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. 5. Find a safe friend and share your struggles with them. 6. Exercise.
Counseling Center Counselors on campus want students to know that their services are free and condential. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or should have because they just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sarah Hopkins.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 4
Feminism myth #2: Men can’t c an’t be feminists by Bailey Basham Staff Writer
In last month’s editorial, I talked about the common misconception that feminists hate men. Just a quick reminder before we get start ed with myth number two: they don’t. To recap, feminism can be dened as “the belief that all people should have equal rights and opportunities.” You’ll get no argument from me when it comes to this denition: it’s straightforward, noncontroversial, all inclusive, and it encompasses everything that the movement is really about. While it doesn’t seem like there’s anything to argue about when the proper deni tion is in place, many still wonder if it’s really as straightforward as it sounds. Can ever yone who supports the idea of equal rights really call themselves a feminist? Men included? That brings us to our next myth: Men can’t be feminists. When I started doing research and compiling my debunking facts about this issue’s myth, I went straight to Yahoo Answers thinking I would have some fun in reading about why men can’t be feminists. I was not disappointed. Most of my favorite defenses couldn’t be printed in the newspaper of a Christian university, but they were still ver y telling in regards to the fact that many are still confused about who can support feminism, what the patriarchy is, and how that sor t of system is intrinsically harmful to all those living under it. When people assume that feminism is just about women, they overlook the fact that men are also harmed by the very system that feminists are trying to combat; that the same patriarchal-based prejudices and underlying issues that hurt women can and do hurt men. This is one of the crises that those under the patriarchal system are currently facing. The oppression in traditional gender roles and the search for a male identity bear testimony to centuries of patriarchal hegemony have no doubt been harmful to people of all genders. Webster’s denes patriarchy as “social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line.” While that’s the technical gist of what the patriarchy is, it’s also a little outdated what with the mention of the “clan,” “legal dependence,” and “inheritance.” It just feels very “Little House on the Prairie” to me, and while, in some areas, the norms of a patriarchal society would better t in that time period, I think a more 2014 denition would be helpful. Essentially, the patriarchy is the social system under which we operate in which men hold primary power; that be in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, etc. This primary power manifests itself in almost every aspect of our society. The truth is in the numbers, right? Three percent of women hold positions of clout in the mainstream media. Out of 197 heads of state around the world, only 22 (11 percent) are women.
Women make about 77 cents to every dollar a man makes, and that’s not eve n considering the wider wage gap for women of color (62 cents for African American women and 54 cents for Hispanic women). While strides are being made in moving past those standards, we are still far from overcoming the hurdles like societal, gender-based imbalance. Before I get too ‘raging feminist’ here and garner too much negative feedback (a little bit is a-okay), I just want to be clear in saying that yes, women do have more rights and oppor tunities now than in previous years, and that ’s really awesome and exciting. The keyword in that sentence however is ‘more’ when it should be ‘equal.’ Women are still oppressed in many ways due to traditional gender roles that are in place in our society, but women are not alone in that oppression. Feminism is for everyone because sexism hurts everyone. It’s true that many have it much worse than others, but it shouldn’t have to be happening to you personally for you to see that it’s wrong and unfair for another human being to have to live in such strife. Even if that’s the case, no one lives completely unaffected nor do they truly benet from a system that favors a particular group of people. For instance, male victims of domestic violence are oftentimes not taken as seriously because, to many, the idea of a woman abusing her male partner seems absurd. It’s preached and preached that the man is to be the one in control. Men are supposed to be the strong ones; they are not to be susceptible to such weakness as being harassed by their partner, right? The same goes with male victims of sexual assault. They are less likely to be taken seriously when coming forward and more likely to be made fun of f or being “unmanly,” thus resulting in those instances not being reported and the continuation of the abuse. Because the patriarchy promotes a gender binary that cat egorizes displays of emotions as feminine, men suffer from a lack of or a limited emotional literacy. Men who see nothing wrong with feeling and displaying their emotions are often categorized as unmanly, which, in a society that is so male-centric, can be harmful in itself. Online magazine “Everyday Feminism” contributor Ayman Kuzbari speaks on male f eminists from the perspective of a social justice and human rights activist. “What men are ‘supposed to be’ is ingrained in our heads since even before we become old enough to play with toys. Strong, independent, competitive, logical, rational; or rather they pass on arrogant, domineering, possessive, narrow-minded, insensitive as the above-mentioned qualities,” said Kuzbari. “… Feminists think you should have the freedom to explore life beyond the rigid boundaries of traditional masculinity and choose for yourself what aligns with your own values…” In Emma Watson’s recent speech at the United Nations, she addressed the idea of males in support of gender equality. “Men, I would like to take this opportu-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia Smith COPY EDITOR
DESIGN EDITOR
Andrew Raney
Stephens Hiland
STAFF WRITERS
Bailey Basham Joshua Flatt TJ Haynes Logan Newkirk Rebekah Warren Manon Lane Brittni Carmack TrevEchoes is published by and for the students of Trevecca Nazarene University. The views expressed in TrevEchoes are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reect the views of the editors or those of Trevecca Nazarene University. Contributions may be edited for grammar, spelling, content or space consideration. The TrevEchoes ofce is located on the third oor of Jernigan.
Comments The TrevEchoes’ mission is to serve the Trevecca community by bringing you relevant, timely information about our campus. Let us know what you think about an issue on campus or a recent story in the paper. Also, some of our best story ideas come from you, our readers. So, nd us on Facebook or send your story ideas to [email protected]
nity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too…We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are, and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals…” Contributing writer for The Atlantic, Noah Berlatsky has written extensively about sexism in popular culture and provided the insight that sexism isn’t just a woman’s issue, but an issue for society to combat collectively. “Misogyny is a cage for everyone. When I call myself a male feminist, I’m not doing it because I think I’m going to save women. I’m doing it because I think it’s important for men to acknowledge that as long as women aren’t free, men won’t be either.”
Technicalities and labels aside, I think anyone who nds themselves a supporter of equal rights has some sort of home within the movement. Whether that be as a feminist or an ally, any movement for social justice would be doing itself no favors by excluding any supporters, and the collectivity should mean something, so the more the merrier. Cath Elliot of The Guardian wrote, “At the end of the day, any men prepared to stand up against sexism, sexual and domestic violence, socially constructed gender roles and women’s oppression are all right by me… It doesn’t matter what’s on the label, it’s how feminism is translated into everyday life that matters. You can’t call yourself a feminist and then go home and beat your partner; you can’t call yourself a feminist and in the next breath deny your daughter the right to decide her own future; you can’t call yourself a feminist while at the same time you’re patting women on the head and telling them how to think. But treat us as equals and we’ll reciprocate. There’s still a long way to go, but we’ll get there much faster together.”
Tuition to increase by 2.75 percent next year, smallest in 10 years by Nadia Smith Editor-in-Chief
Tuition costs are increasing next year. Trevecca’s Board of Trustees recently approved an increase of 2.75 percent for the 2015-2016 school year which will raise tuition from $22,626 to $23,248, an increase of $622. This is the smallest increase that the university has made in the past 10 years.
Last year’s increase was 3.5 percent and increased tuition by $764.05. The rise in tuition is because of costs that go up every year, said David Caldwell, executive vice president for nance and administration. “There are expenses for everything. The utilities or maintenance, I mean there’s always maintenance on campus. Employees like to get raises, healthcare and insurance goes up,” he said. “It would be great to not increase, I get that, but unless we could increase
revenue signicantly by increasing enrollment signicantly without increasing expenses the same.” The extra money does not go to one specific fund. It gets distributed to different needs that the school has; however, employee employee costs are a focus this year. “Obviously in a school over 50 percent of your costs are related to employees, faculty, and everything it takes to run a campus and those people like to get raises,” said Caldwell. “We didn’t
give raises the last year and insurance things like benets and health insurance are going up at a much greater rate, but employee costs are the biggest single factor. Utilities are probably the next biggest thing. “ The average tuition increase for next year across America is likely to be 3 percent. Trevecca wanted to keep their percentage below the average, said Caldwell.
New course on gender and communcation launches in spring by Bailey Basham Staff Writer
About 15 years ago, Lena Welch and 12 of her communication students gathered in a classroom in the AV building on Trevecca's campus to discuss how males and females communicate. Welch, professor of communication studies and dean of the school of arts and scienc sciences, es, and her students met several times a week for what she called spirited discussion in relation to gender, common stereotypes, and communication styles as a part of the special topics course on gender and communications. Fast forward 15 years to the present, the AV building where the class was rst held no longer exists, but interest in the special topics course is still high. Current Trevecca students can now nd a revamped version of that very same gender and communications course being offered on campus next semester. "I signed up for the gender and communications course because I am a feminist, and I am nat urally interested in related topics. I am also looking forward to having a class wit h Dr. Welch because
she is my f avorite professor at Trevec Trevecca," ca," said Hannah Pollok, sophomore communication studies major. The course is designed to explore the ways that gender attitudes, past and current, inuence our personal notions of what it means not only to be female and male, but masculine and feminine. “We will really be looking at the differences between masculine and feminine communication styles and how some of the most common stereotypes are perceived by society from different cultural viewpoints,” said Welch. “Both male and female students can benet from learning to communicate with both masculine and feminine communication styles. There is a place for both styles, and the best communicators are those who are able to recognize that and speak from each accordingly.” In a classroom environment similar to that of a graduate level seminar, Welch will be instructing the course with a few student outcomes in mind: that students would become aware of research’s ndings on masculine/feminine communication styles and that the media oftentimes problematically
portrays, and thus perpetuates, harmful gender stereotypes. “Each person has a lens through which they look at things, and that lens, whether the person realizes it or not, is hugely reective on that person’s perception of the world,” said Welch. “It will be illuminating for some people to see what the different sorts of stereotypic stereotypical al experiences are like, and it will likely be helpful for them in building empathy towards those living in situations where those types of experiences are typical.” According to Welch, gender is a massive component within the communications discipline. discipline. Conversations on on gender issues and gender in regards to communications are welcomed and encouraged. “Stereotypical patterns of male and female communication styles are unpacked and responded to. A greater understanding of those patterns positively impacts personal relationships, organizational communication, and career paths,” said Doug Lepter, chair of the department of communication studies. While in the course, students will
Lena Welch, professor of communication studies and dean of the school of arts and sciences learn to articulate and evaluate the impact of gender conceptions, and in the process, will broaden their understanding of self, others, and society. “Language shapes reality, and reality shapes language. By becoming more sensitive to the predominately sexist language we use, room can be made in the middle for charitable discourse about those misperceptions of the issues,” said Welch.
Finish well: Free tutoring available The Ofce of Academic Services has also been able to
by Manon Lane Staff Writer
Group study sessions, paper editing and online tutoring are just a few of the services available to students who need an academic boost. Finishing the semester strongly can be made easier with the help of tutors located on the 2nd oor of the CLCS.
Tutoring is available to both graduate and undergraduate students, and the ofce is open year round, Monday
through Friday, to set up appointments, said Donna Gray, associate director of academic services,. “Writing tutors have set hours, and while we are a drop-in, it is best if [students] have an appointment [so we
offer tutoring assistance t hrough FaceTime FaceTime and Sky pe in rare instances. Workshops and study sessions are also offered at various times throughout the year. There are also plans to add Smarthinking, an online tutoring tool, in the near future. While some students may feel awkward seeking help for their classes, tutoring is a welcomed service for others, regardless of age or academic level. “People should never feel ashamed for needing help. I don’t think anyone at any age should feel self-conscious about it. It’s easier said than done, but if someone’s not g ood at grammar, that’s ne, we can work on i t,” said Fallon Bechtel,
a junior psychology major and tutor since last fall. Thomas Berg, a junior history major, agrees.
can accommodate everyone],” said Gray. The tutors are students who have excelled in the classes on the topics in which they are assisting. They have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, as well as a letter of reference from at least one of their professors. Erin Wiese, a senior English education major, has been a writing tutor for the past three years. She enjoys helping students of all academic levels with their papers, and enjoys the learning process that occurs on her end as well, she said. “As an education major I’ve gotten the chance to use the things I’m learning in my classes to help other people,” said Wiese. “I’ve also gotten to grow and learn academically in a lot of ways. I get to read graduate papers, [and] I get to read papers on topics I would never learn about myself.” In order for the tutors to be able to help properly, students should bring the instructions for their assignment to the session, so the tutors will know what the professor is looking for, said Gray. There are also options available for students who are unable to get to campus. Papers can be submitted along with the assignment instructions and due date to dgray@trevecca. edu or [email protected], for a paper review. “We don’t proofread [papers], we try to help students learn how to proofread, but we will review [them] and give
Brea Giles, freshman, and her tutor Erin Wiese, senior, work on homework in the CLCS.
feedback as long as students give us three business day’s turn-
“Students pay money to come to Trevecca. They use the facilities like the cafeteria and the gym, and I think t hat it would be silly not to use a facility like the writing center because everyone can use improvement,” said Berg. For Brea Giles, a freshman religion major, the tutoring services have helped her to improve her grades. “I learned how to write essays and other subjects. The tutors taught me how to study, and it helped me a lot,” she said. The tutoring center is not just for undergraduates. Kelley Eguakun, a graduate student in management and human relations, heard about the writing tutors at convocation and came for help with a paper for her professional development class. She is planning on returning. “I know I’ll be back because I have another big paper due next week,” said Eguakun. If students would like a tutor, an appointment can be made by lling out a “Tutor Request Form,” and turni ng it into Gray, or sliding it under her door i f she is out of the ofce. T he
contact information for the tutor will be sent to the student so they can both gure out a time to meet.
For more information, contact Donna Gray at 615-2481376 or [email protected] .
around time,” said Gray.
Trevecca’s Counseling Center is located on the second oor of the Center
Counseling center offers free services
for Leadership, Calling and Service. All services are free. Here’s what to expect: On the rst appointment students
by Abigail Larimore
just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sara
According to the National Institute of Men-
Contributor
Hopkins, director of counseling services at Trev-
tal Health, in 20ll, 30 percent of college students
ecca.
reported feeling, “so depressed it was difcult to
Jordan Blanton, a junior commercial music
major at Trevecca, knows that making time in her busy schedule to meet with a counselor and reect on her thoughts and feelings gives her more
clarity. “It’s healthy and it helps me make sure that I’m taking care of myself,” Blanton said. Blanton is one of more than 60 Trevecca students who received some from o f counseling last month through Trevecca's Counseling Services. But the counselors who see students wish more students would take advantage the help they offer. Though students may feel they are just going through a rough time, it may be an indicator of something else. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or should have because they
There are many reasons Trevecca students
function,” at some point in time in the past year.
might not feel comfortable utilizing counseling
Trevecca students are no exception to this
services, including the idea that if they're feeling
number. In the month of September, counselors at
mentally unwell it must be a faith problem.
the Counseling Center met with 61 students, for a
“It could be argued that Christians haven’t
total of 167 counseling hours.
done a particularly excellent job in understand-
Culturally, there is still sometimes a neg-
ing the reality of depression as a sickness. This
ative stigma surrounding mental illness. Having
may attribute to why many believers live in denial
depression does not mean a person is crazy. It
of their disease, wishing they had stronger faith
means their brain is sick and needs help, just as
to just be happy,” said Hopkins. “If you look at
a heart or liver may require a little extra medical
the stories in the Bible you’ll nd a lot of people
attention, said Hopkins
complete paperwork and questionnaires. Medical history is very important and could help counselors give the best, tailor made treatment. The clinicia clinicians ns will then discuss condentiality, talk about why an
individual’s reasons for being present, and discuss current relationships. Students then set personal goals for themselves that they hope to accomplish through their time in counseling. They make every decision: when to have appointments, how many they attend, what they want to talk about, etc.
that had really wonderful relationships with their
“I think culturally, we are more okay with
Counseling services are free to students
creator, and had times of doubt and depression,
someone having a heart disorder, or diabetes, or
and encouraged, especially since prices for these
and God stood with them. It had nothing to do
MS or some other physical disorder, but when we
services in the Nashville area can range from $70
with their faith or whether or not he was present
start to look at disorders of the mind, and the
to $150 an hour.
with them. God is clearly present with us in those
heart, and the soul, than it becomes more uncom-
times. Depression is not a faith problem.”
fortable for us,” she said.
“Depression is a disease. It is a physiological disorder,” said Hopkins.
Blind student hits all the right notes, has perfect pitch by Olivia Kelley Contributor
When Trevecca vocal instructor Abby Burke meets news students she asks them for one word that describes them. Megan Shaw didn’t hesitate. Determined. Shaw, a freshman, was born with a condition called optic nerve hypoplasia. This means her optic nerves never fully developed, leaving her unable to see. But, she also has another rare condition: conditi on: perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch. She can sing and recognize pitches with 100 percent accuracy without any reference note. Only one in 10,000 people possess this talent, according to Wisconsin Medical Society. “The piano we use has a tendency to be just a little at and it drives her crazy,” said Burke with a laugh. Burke is currently trying to locate some brail material to help make sightsinging a little easier for Shaw, but until then, she has a system that works for her. Because she can’t see to read her music, Shaw has to learn everything by ear. Someone has to play the music for her or she can listen to recordings to memorize it. “She is very quick to seek someone out to help her learn orally what we see visually,” says Burke. Shaw, who has been blind since birth, has spent her life working to do the things she’s wanted to do. “This is the only life I’ve known,” says Shaw. She always knew she could do anything that anyone else could do. She gets around using a cane and has her
Megan Shaw practices in Wakeeld Fine Ar ts Building with accompanist David Finney.
own way of getting tasks done. Shaw said that when she was growing up her parents didn’t let her make excuses for herself. “When my siblings had chores to do around the house, I knew that I had to do all those things too. I had to clean my room and help out around the house just like everyone else.” She decided to go to college to follow her passion for music. She said Trevecca provided a safe, Christian environment where she could do just that, and it ’s only about 20 minutes from her home in Nashville. Shaw has chosen to pursue a major in music education. Her goal is to teach music in an elementary school. Most people may see this as a huge challenge, but Shaw isn’t worried. “I do think there will be some challenges, but honestly there are challenges for anybody. I think I am
just as capable of facing challenges as a normally sighted person,” said Shaw. Even Shaw’s friends recognize her ability to overcome things. Chaili Juneman, a sophomore and friend of Shaw’s, said Shaw can do whatever she decides to do. “While I think there will definitely be some things she needs help with, she can always nd a way to get through a hard situation. She’s just that type of person,” says Juneman.
Trev revecca ecca Gospel Choir sings with Carrie Underwood at CMA Awards by Maci Shingleton TrevEchoes Online Editor
As Carrie Underwood performed at the CMA Aw ards on Nov. 5, the Trevecca Nazarene University Gospel Choir lent her their voices. Dressed in black and lined up behind the country music star, the students performed live on national television during the CMA Awards. The 48th annual awards show was aired live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. “My highlight was not only getting to sing behind Carrie Underwood, but being able to sing that particular song. There was not a better song for us to sing,” said Laurabeth Winchester, a sophomore. Earlier this fall, a representative
contacted David Diehl, chair of the department of music, and asked him if Trevecca had a music group that could perform backup for Underwood, he said. Carrie Underwood hosted the show with Brad Paisley and had one of the most anticipated performances of the evening. Underwood performed her new gospel-themed single “Something in the Water” with the help of the Trevecca gospel choir. Winchester tweeted a countdown leading up to the performance with Underwood. She tweeted about her excitement and urged friends and family to tune in to the awards show. “It’s surreal. It doesn’t feel like real life. Just famous people walking around everywhere. We took seles with celebrities and it’s like a nonstop whirl-wind
and one thing after another. Like, did that just happen?” said Winchester immediately after the performance. The opportunity for students to participate in something like the CMA Awards show is related to the university being located in Nashville, said Matt Toy, director of marketing and communications at Trevecca. “I think something like this shows students how cool it is to go to school in Nashville. There [are] so many other great universities but a huge asset Trevecca has is Nashville,” he said. “The ability for students to go sing with someone with the caliber of someone like Carrie Underwood is pretty incredible.” Students loved the experience. “When we walked out and started singing, everything that was nerve wracking turned into joy and excite-
ment and that was so heart-warming. We were singing Amazing Grace behind a Christian country music star and it was so cool,” said Devon Halliburton, a freshman. “In the few years I’ve been here, this is one of the bigger opportunities for exposure for our students. So it’s exciting for sure,” Toy said. The performance broke social media records for Trevecca with over 170,000 likes and 616 shares on a story Trevecca posted on Facebook. “The amount of viral trafc that Trevecca received from the Gospel Choir’s appearance on the CMA’s was incredible. We could never pay for that kind of exposure. It truly was a perfect storm of events that allowed for the Trevecca name to be shared on so many levels,” said Toy Toy..
Students camp out for CMA Awards by Brittni Carmack Staff Writer
A group of Trevecca students sit outside of t he Bridgestone Arena h oping to score wristbands to the CMA Awards.
Every year top country music artists are honored in Nashville and this year a group of Trevecca students were determined not to miss it. On Nov. 4, about 17 Trevecca students set up camp for 12 hours outside Bridgestone Arena for wrist bands that would get them into the County Music Association awards show. It worked. They got to stand in the mosh pit at the 48th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 5. “I have always wanted to go and this seemed like the perfect opportunity,” said Kristin Migendt, sophomore music business major. The students arrived downtown at Bridgestone Arena at 9 p.m. and waited for the wristbands to be distributed 12 hours later. Only the rst 100 people
were given bracelets. The students found ways to make camping out as comfy and fun as possible. Snacks, blankets, and pads were just some of the things that Zach Farnum, junior, and his group brought to prepare them for the wait. “We tried to sleep but ended up just laughing and joking around,” said Farnum. “Time passed faster than I thought it would.” However, nobody was quite prepared for the seven hours of rain that hit at about 2 a.m. “It got miserable towards the end, weather wise, but it was fun,” said Farnum. Alana Grimaud, freshman communication major, agrees. “It was worth it because the CMAs were fun, but I won’t camp out in the rain again,” she said.
From Ireland to Trevecca: Soccer player becomes coach by Pedro Moran Contributor
Trevecca’s women’s soccer coach may understand better than most the challenges of playing soccer far from home. Mark Foster, who is nishing his second season as head coach, came all the way from Ireland to play soccer at Trevecca in 2005. He’s been here ever since. After playing soccer in Ireland, studying had always been one of Foster’s desires. His wish to study was soon becoming a reality when he saw the potential in the United States to get scholarships that would pay for school. He also wanted to come to an English speaking country. Trevecca recruited Foster for TNU Men’s soccer program and before he came the team had only won one game
by Logan Nekirk Staff Writer
The semester is winding down and so are Trevecca’s fall sports teams. For the women’s soccer team, it was a year of change. “The year started with many question marks,” said Mark Elliot, director of athletics. The team began the year with 14 new freshmen on the team. It was also Coach Mark Foster’s second year leading the team. “They really began to play well
out of 18 as a NAIA program. “It is remarkable when I look what Trevecca was when I came athletically to what it is now, “ said Foster. “We’ve come a long way.” Rebecca Merrick, director of International admissions, is very familiar with Foster’s story. “Mark was a good pick, he really enjoyed his time at Trevecca. He really likes what Trevecca is about,” she said. “Foster has been an encouragement to recruit more internationals because he made a success out of coming to Trevecca. At that time it was hard to get internationals from that area to come and play for Trevecca.” Foster was not very familiar with the Nazarene denomination, however, however, he felt loved here. “I had found the Nazarene community very different from what I knew
in Ireland as far as Irish Christianit y, but the Nazarene community is very loving and they have helped me grow spiritually,” he said. “I think when you are around people that think different[ly] than you it challenges you to think outside the box and nd your own faith.” Foster said he does his job because he loves it. “You have to love it, you don’t always earn great nancial awards,” he said. “If you are going to see it just as another job I would advise people to stay away from it because you have to have a passion for it. But I would also advise any young coach to work as an assistant coach for someone who they respect and look up to, someone who is going to actually let them coach, rather than just carrying water and pump up balls.” Foster said he did that and
learned a lot from former head coach Brett Armstrong. The result of every accomplishment in the United States comes from a very disciplined life. “Things are not always going to fall your way and things are not always going to be easy, so hard work is the key,” he said. “I also think I have a relationship with Christ and I think I’ve been trying to pursue what God has for me and I think it was clear that God brought me to Trevecca.” His remarkable time as a soccer player at Trevecca has led the program to retire his number. “I would hope that everybody who was involved with Trevecca’s soccer at that time would see that as their award rather than just an individual thing that happened for Mark Foster,” said Foster.
down the stret ch. Towards the end of the season they were winning lots of games, and they still had things to overcome,” said Elliot. The Lady Trojans made it to the G-MAC Championships Finals, where they lost 2-1 to Ursuline College. They ended the season with a 125-2 record and few injuries. They also ended with a couple of new records and honors. Brooke Gann, a senior, broke the all-time scoring record this season making Trevecca history. Jordan Ponto, a senior and team captain, was named the GMAC Defensive Player of the Year. The men’s soccer team, however, did not have as much success. The team lost 3-2 to Salem International University in the G-MAC Championships Quarternal. They nished the year with a 5-10-1 record. The team came into this season
with high expectations; however those expectations were not met, said Elliot. The team had several injured players this year. “I haven’t played on a team that experienced so many injuries throughout a season,” said Matt Dyer, a junior. “The sequence of events can hurt things and that’s what happened this year,” said Elliot. The men’s and women’s cross country teams both ended their regular seasons on high notes this fall. Both teams nished second at the conference meet. Despite second place finishes, both the men’s and women’s teams featured rst place nishers in the conference meet. Caroline Hampton, a freshman, was Trevecca’s women’s medalist, nishing rst overall. Logan Rodgers, a sophomore, was the men’s medalist
nishing rst overall. Coach Austin Selby was also voted the GMAC men’s cross country Coach of the Year Year.. The season was a successful one with multiple consecutive PR’s from almost every runner, said Elliott. The women’s volleyball team lost to Kentucky Wesleyan College in the G-MAC Championship Quarterfinals and nished the year with a 15-15 record. “The team was a .500 team and that’s about where they’ve been in the past,” said Elliott. This year, the team lost three of their best players from last year. With new freshmen and upperclassmen stepping up, some of the roles were lled, but not all of them, said Elliot.
Haley Green: Freshman does life with 30 siblings by Manon Lane Staff Writer
Haley Green moved onto campus the day before her 19th birthday. Usually she would celebrate that day with most of her siblings, but this year a video had to do instead. She pulls out her phone and smiles as she watches 25 people representing eight different countries sing to her. They are her family, but only a part of it. Green, a freshman and a music business major, is one of 31 children. And though there are challenges to having more siblings than the alphabet has letters, Green loves the diversity and the connectedness they all share.
“Even though we do have a larger family, we’re all extremely close. Even from a young age I remember my parents wanting to sit down and have a dinner together. We do family devotions in the evenings just as a big family, and I really value that,” said Haley. Kevin and Polly Green had two biological sons and hopes of a little girl before learning of medical issues that would prevent another pregnancy. It was after the adoption of their oldest daughter that they realized they were being called to be a family to more than just the three children they were raising. “My dad [says] some people are called to be pastors, some are called to be teachers and doctors, but [he] feels they are called to be parents,” said Haley. Years later, a last minute phone call leading to the adoption of Haley, or “Hay,” as her mom affectionately refers to her, began the faith-lled story of her young life. “She was ready to leave [having been in Korea], and she called me [saying] she found this little girl…” said Polly Green as she remembers the news from the adoption agency employee. While waiting for Haley’s infor-
Haley Green and Charis Sims, Trevecca students, watch a video of 25 of Hayley’s siblings sing happy birthday to her.
mation and picture via mail, the Greens started praying about adopting her. Along with the usual concerns that surround adoption, they were aware that Haley had a severe cleft lip and would need special care. They had never known a child in her condition before, and were unsure on how, and whether, to proceed. Polly said that she and Kevin were both a little scared and prayed about what they sh ould do. She said she asked God to reveal the answer to her in a dream. “That very night I dreamed I went to see Jesus, and I had taken a baby with me. I couldn’t see the baby, it was all wrapped in a white blanket, and I laid this baby down at Jesus’ feet and said ‘What do you want us to do?’ He picked her up and he handed her back to me, and uncovered her. She had the cutest bob haircut, and was perfect looking, so we knew we were to proceed with Haley,” said Polly. When the information packet arrived in the mail, the Greens were more certain than ever about their choice when the picture of Haley revealed the same bob haircut that had been in Polly’s dream. Haley was adopted a few days before her rst birthday, and had surgery to close the cleft lip while still an infant. The scar is barely noticeable today, and Polly said that it was their experience with Haley that opened the door to them adopting other children with special needs. Haley said that her family is very open about adoption and looks at it in a positive way. She also said people are always asking her if she wants to nd her birth parents, but she has no desire to seek them out. “The parents I have now, in Ohio, I
do consider them my parents,” said Haley. “I believe this is the family that God planned for my parents, and I just love being a part of it.” Haley’s second oldest brother Gastin Green, bursts with big brother pride when he speaks of the special bond they have had since she joined the family when he was 12-years-old. He admires her independent spirit, and describes her as “the smart one.” “Whenever anyone had a question academically, academicall y, they’d go str aight to Haley,” he said. He said that her move to Nashville hit the family hard, and they miss her. Just like a big brother, he continues to keep an eye out for her even from a distance, calling and checking in on her regularly to get updated. And to ask her about boys, Haley adds with a lit tle-sister-roll-of tle-sister-roll-of-the-eyes. -the-eyes. One of Haley’s younger sisters Kayla, was adopted from Cambodia, and joined the Green family when she was 12. In just the few years before Haley left for Nashville, the two have created their own special bond. Kayla said that she talks to her big sister about everything about her life in Africa, and how she is very thankful for all of Haley’s help in teaching her music and helping with her homework . Like all sisters, they like to tease. “Are you still mad at me about that time I made fun of you for carrying your laundry on your head?” asks Haley, referring to her sister’s native custom. “No,” laughs Kayla. “You know, there are always little ghts and conicts, but at the end of the day, we’re just one big happy family,” said Hayley. “I love it.”
Thanksgiving 2014
Since 1944
The finals countdown by Nadia Smith Editor-in-Chief
Finals are right around the corner and with that students’ stress levels are beginning to elevate. Stress occurs in the body when it is dealing with unfamiliar physical and emotional pressure from surrounding environments, according to WebMD. For college students, a variety of situations could cause stress. “I think stress levels tend to peak during the latter part of the fall semester. Demands mount, deadlines loom, sleep decreases, and campus illnesses abound. All of these tend to come together toward the end of fall semester,” said Randy Carden, professor of psychology. “Add to this travel associated with holidays and associated family pressures and conditions are good for heavy stress.” About 80 percent of college students frequently or sometimes experience stress
daily and 34 percent have felt depressed at some point in the last three months, according to a survey done by the Associated Press and mtvU. “The rst t hing to remember is that not all stress is bad. Moderate levels of stress are actually motivating. Heavy stress is problematic, however,” said Carden. Symptoms of severe stress can include high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, neck pain, general irritability and depression. When stress and anxiety becomes too much to handle, it is a good idea to see a counselor, said Carden. Anxiety disorders on college campuses across America have increased by 89 percent during the last ve years, according to a 2014 survey done by the American College Counseling Association. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or
Tutoring Services With nals right around the corner, the Academic Services ofce is offering extra group tutoring sessions on the second oor of the CLCS building. The sessions will offer students the opportunity to receive study help on some of the general education courses, such as biology and math, which have a comprehensive nal.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 4
should have because they just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sarah Hopkins, director of counseling services at Trevecca. While a large workload plays a role in student stress, another key factor is neglecting personal needs. “I think the biggest factor for student stress is the lack of awareness that they need self care, rest, to eat right, time to play and share their thoughts and feelings with a friend,” said Donna Durham, a counseling center intern. To eliminate some of the stress of nals week, Carden recommends focusing on the task at hand. “Try to remain task-focused and not emotion-focused,” he said. “The rst is a better orientation under stress – staying task-focused will tend to be associated with accomplishing work. An emotion-focused orientation is more characterized by worry, discouragement, feeling overwhelmed, feeling out of control, and helplessness.”
Stressed out? Some tips from the pros: 1. Take time every day day to rest. Don’t just sleep, but lie on your bed and do some deep breathing. 2. Try to keep a regular sleep schedule. 3. Drink plenty of water, eat fresh fruits and veggies and limit junk food. 4. Practice self-compass self-compassion. ion. Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. 5. Find a safe friend and share your struggles with them. 6. Exercise.
Counseling Center Counselors on campus want students to know that their services are free and condential. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or should have because they just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sarah Hopkins.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 4
Feminism myth #2: Men can’t c an’t be feminists by Bailey Basham Staff Writer
In last month’s editorial, I talked about the common misconception that feminists hate men. Just a quick reminder before we get start ed with myth number two: they don’t. To recap, feminism can be dened as “the belief that all people should have equal rights and opportunities.” You’ll get no argument from me when it comes to this denition: it’s straightforward, noncontroversial, all inclusive, and it encompasses everything that the movement is really about. While it doesn’t seem like there’s anything to argue about when the proper deni tion is in place, many still wonder if it’s really as straightforward as it sounds. Can ever yone who supports the idea of equal rights really call themselves a feminist? Men included? That brings us to our next myth: Men can’t be feminists. When I started doing research and compiling my debunking facts about this issue’s myth, I went straight to Yahoo Answers thinking I would have some fun in reading about why men can’t be feminists. I was not disappointed. Most of my favorite defenses couldn’t be printed in the newspaper of a Christian university, but they were still ver y telling in regards to the fact that many are still confused about who can support feminism, what the patriarchy is, and how that sor t of system is intrinsically harmful to all those living under it. When people assume that feminism is just about women, they overlook the fact that men are also harmed by the very system that feminists are trying to combat; that the same patriarchal-based prejudices and underlying issues that hurt women can and do hurt men. This is one of the crises that those under the patriarchal system are currently facing. The oppression in traditional gender roles and the search for a male identity bear testimony to centuries of patriarchal hegemony have no doubt been harmful to people of all genders. Webster’s denes patriarchy as “social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line.” While that’s the technical gist of what the patriarchy is, it’s also a little outdated what with the mention of the “clan,” “legal dependence,” and “inheritance.” It just feels very “Little House on the Prairie” to me, and while, in some areas, the norms of a patriarchal society would better t in that time period, I think a more 2014 denition would be helpful. Essentially, the patriarchy is the social system under which we operate in which men hold primary power; that be in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, etc. This primary power manifests itself in almost every aspect of our society. The truth is in the numbers, right? Three percent of women hold positions of clout in the mainstream media. Out of 197 heads of state around the world, only 22 (11 percent) are women.
Women make about 77 cents to every dollar a man makes, and that’s not eve n considering the wider wage gap for women of color (62 cents for African American women and 54 cents for Hispanic women). While strides are being made in moving past those standards, we are still far from overcoming the hurdles like societal, gender-based imbalance. Before I get too ‘raging feminist’ here and garner too much negative feedback (a little bit is a-okay), I just want to be clear in saying that yes, women do have more rights and oppor tunities now than in previous years, and that ’s really awesome and exciting. The keyword in that sentence however is ‘more’ when it should be ‘equal.’ Women are still oppressed in many ways due to traditional gender roles that are in place in our society, but women are not alone in that oppression. Feminism is for everyone because sexism hurts everyone. It’s true that many have it much worse than others, but it shouldn’t have to be happening to you personally for you to see that it’s wrong and unfair for another human being to have to live in such strife. Even if that’s the case, no one lives completely unaffected nor do they truly benet from a system that favors a particular group of people. For instance, male victims of domestic violence are oftentimes not taken as seriously because, to many, the idea of a woman abusing her male partner seems absurd. It’s preached and preached that the man is to be the one in control. Men are supposed to be the strong ones; they are not to be susceptible to such weakness as being harassed by their partner, right? The same goes with male victims of sexual assault. They are less likely to be taken seriously when coming forward and more likely to be made fun of f or being “unmanly,” thus resulting in those instances not being reported and the continuation of the abuse. Because the patriarchy promotes a gender binary that cat egorizes displays of emotions as feminine, men suffer from a lack of or a limited emotional literacy. Men who see nothing wrong with feeling and displaying their emotions are often categorized as unmanly, which, in a society that is so male-centric, can be harmful in itself. Online magazine “Everyday Feminism” contributor Ayman Kuzbari speaks on male f eminists from the perspective of a social justice and human rights activist. “What men are ‘supposed to be’ is ingrained in our heads since even before we become old enough to play with toys. Strong, independent, competitive, logical, rational; or rather they pass on arrogant, domineering, possessive, narrow-minded, insensitive as the above-mentioned qualities,” said Kuzbari. “… Feminists think you should have the freedom to explore life beyond the rigid boundaries of traditional masculinity and choose for yourself what aligns with your own values…” In Emma Watson’s recent speech at the United Nations, she addressed the idea of males in support of gender equality. “Men, I would like to take this opportu-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia Smith COPY EDITOR
DESIGN EDITOR
Andrew Raney
Stephens Hiland
STAFF WRITERS
Bailey Basham Joshua Flatt TJ Haynes Logan Newkirk Rebekah Warren Manon Lane Brittni Carmack TrevEchoes is published by and for the students of Trevecca Nazarene University. The views expressed in TrevEchoes are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reect the views of the editors or those of Trevecca Nazarene University. Contributions may be edited for grammar, spelling, content or space consideration. The TrevEchoes ofce is located on the third oor of Jernigan.
Comments The TrevEchoes’ mission is to serve the Trevecca community by bringing you relevant, timely information about our campus. Let us know what you think about an issue on campus or a recent story in the paper. Also, some of our best story ideas come from you, our readers. So, nd us on Facebook or send your story ideas to [email protected]
nity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too…We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are, and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals…” Contributing writer for The Atlantic, Noah Berlatsky has written extensively about sexism in popular culture and provided the insight that sexism isn’t just a woman’s issue, but an issue for society to combat collectively. “Misogyny is a cage for everyone. When I call myself a male feminist, I’m not doing it because I think I’m going to save women. I’m doing it because I think it’s important for men to acknowledge that as long as women aren’t free, men won’t be either.”
Technicalities and labels aside, I think anyone who nds themselves a supporter of equal rights has some sort of home within the movement. Whether that be as a feminist or an ally, any movement for social justice would be doing itself no favors by excluding any supporters, and the collectivity should mean something, so the more the merrier. Cath Elliot of The Guardian wrote, “At the end of the day, any men prepared to stand up against sexism, sexual and domestic violence, socially constructed gender roles and women’s oppression are all right by me… It doesn’t matter what’s on the label, it’s how feminism is translated into everyday life that matters. You can’t call yourself a feminist and then go home and beat your partner; you can’t call yourself a feminist and in the next breath deny your daughter the right to decide her own future; you can’t call yourself a feminist while at the same time you’re patting women on the head and telling them how to think. But treat us as equals and we’ll reciprocate. There’s still a long way to go, but we’ll get there much faster together.”
Tuition to increase by 2.75 percent next year, smallest in 10 years by Nadia Smith Editor-in-Chief
Tuition costs are increasing next year. Trevecca’s Board of Trustees recently approved an increase of 2.75 percent for the 2015-2016 school year which will raise tuition from $22,626 to $23,248, an increase of $622. This is the smallest increase that the university has made in the past 10 years.
Last year’s increase was 3.5 percent and increased tuition by $764.05. The rise in tuition is because of costs that go up every year, said David Caldwell, executive vice president for nance and administration. “There are expenses for everything. The utilities or maintenance, I mean there’s always maintenance on campus. Employees like to get raises, healthcare and insurance goes up,” he said. “It would be great to not increase, I get that, but unless we could increase
revenue signicantly by increasing enrollment signicantly without increasing expenses the same.” The extra money does not go to one specific fund. It gets distributed to different needs that the school has; however, employee employee costs are a focus this year. “Obviously in a school over 50 percent of your costs are related to employees, faculty, and everything it takes to run a campus and those people like to get raises,” said Caldwell. “We didn’t
give raises the last year and insurance things like benets and health insurance are going up at a much greater rate, but employee costs are the biggest single factor. Utilities are probably the next biggest thing. “ The average tuition increase for next year across America is likely to be 3 percent. Trevecca wanted to keep their percentage below the average, said Caldwell.
New course on gender and communcation launches in spring by Bailey Basham Staff Writer
About 15 years ago, Lena Welch and 12 of her communication students gathered in a classroom in the AV building on Trevecca's campus to discuss how males and females communicate. Welch, professor of communication studies and dean of the school of arts and scienc sciences, es, and her students met several times a week for what she called spirited discussion in relation to gender, common stereotypes, and communication styles as a part of the special topics course on gender and communications. Fast forward 15 years to the present, the AV building where the class was rst held no longer exists, but interest in the special topics course is still high. Current Trevecca students can now nd a revamped version of that very same gender and communications course being offered on campus next semester. "I signed up for the gender and communications course because I am a feminist, and I am nat urally interested in related topics. I am also looking forward to having a class wit h Dr. Welch because
she is my f avorite professor at Trevec Trevecca," ca," said Hannah Pollok, sophomore communication studies major. The course is designed to explore the ways that gender attitudes, past and current, inuence our personal notions of what it means not only to be female and male, but masculine and feminine. “We will really be looking at the differences between masculine and feminine communication styles and how some of the most common stereotypes are perceived by society from different cultural viewpoints,” said Welch. “Both male and female students can benet from learning to communicate with both masculine and feminine communication styles. There is a place for both styles, and the best communicators are those who are able to recognize that and speak from each accordingly.” In a classroom environment similar to that of a graduate level seminar, Welch will be instructing the course with a few student outcomes in mind: that students would become aware of research’s ndings on masculine/feminine communication styles and that the media oftentimes problematically
portrays, and thus perpetuates, harmful gender stereotypes. “Each person has a lens through which they look at things, and that lens, whether the person realizes it or not, is hugely reective on that person’s perception of the world,” said Welch. “It will be illuminating for some people to see what the different sorts of stereotypic stereotypical al experiences are like, and it will likely be helpful for them in building empathy towards those living in situations where those types of experiences are typical.” According to Welch, gender is a massive component within the communications discipline. discipline. Conversations on on gender issues and gender in regards to communications are welcomed and encouraged. “Stereotypical patterns of male and female communication styles are unpacked and responded to. A greater understanding of those patterns positively impacts personal relationships, organizational communication, and career paths,” said Doug Lepter, chair of the department of communication studies. While in the course, students will
Lena Welch, professor of communication studies and dean of the school of arts and sciences learn to articulate and evaluate the impact of gender conceptions, and in the process, will broaden their understanding of self, others, and society. “Language shapes reality, and reality shapes language. By becoming more sensitive to the predominately sexist language we use, room can be made in the middle for charitable discourse about those misperceptions of the issues,” said Welch.
Finish well: Free tutoring available The Ofce of Academic Services has also been able to
by Manon Lane Staff Writer
Group study sessions, paper editing and online tutoring are just a few of the services available to students who need an academic boost. Finishing the semester strongly can be made easier with the help of tutors located on the 2nd oor of the CLCS.
Tutoring is available to both graduate and undergraduate students, and the ofce is open year round, Monday
through Friday, to set up appointments, said Donna Gray, associate director of academic services,. “Writing tutors have set hours, and while we are a drop-in, it is best if [students] have an appointment [so we
offer tutoring assistance t hrough FaceTime FaceTime and Sky pe in rare instances. Workshops and study sessions are also offered at various times throughout the year. There are also plans to add Smarthinking, an online tutoring tool, in the near future. While some students may feel awkward seeking help for their classes, tutoring is a welcomed service for others, regardless of age or academic level. “People should never feel ashamed for needing help. I don’t think anyone at any age should feel self-conscious about it. It’s easier said than done, but if someone’s not g ood at grammar, that’s ne, we can work on i t,” said Fallon Bechtel,
a junior psychology major and tutor since last fall. Thomas Berg, a junior history major, agrees.
can accommodate everyone],” said Gray. The tutors are students who have excelled in the classes on the topics in which they are assisting. They have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, as well as a letter of reference from at least one of their professors. Erin Wiese, a senior English education major, has been a writing tutor for the past three years. She enjoys helping students of all academic levels with their papers, and enjoys the learning process that occurs on her end as well, she said. “As an education major I’ve gotten the chance to use the things I’m learning in my classes to help other people,” said Wiese. “I’ve also gotten to grow and learn academically in a lot of ways. I get to read graduate papers, [and] I get to read papers on topics I would never learn about myself.” In order for the tutors to be able to help properly, students should bring the instructions for their assignment to the session, so the tutors will know what the professor is looking for, said Gray. There are also options available for students who are unable to get to campus. Papers can be submitted along with the assignment instructions and due date to dgray@trevecca. edu or [email protected], for a paper review. “We don’t proofread [papers], we try to help students learn how to proofread, but we will review [them] and give
Brea Giles, freshman, and her tutor Erin Wiese, senior, work on homework in the CLCS.
feedback as long as students give us three business day’s turn-
“Students pay money to come to Trevecca. They use the facilities like the cafeteria and the gym, and I think t hat it would be silly not to use a facility like the writing center because everyone can use improvement,” said Berg. For Brea Giles, a freshman religion major, the tutoring services have helped her to improve her grades. “I learned how to write essays and other subjects. The tutors taught me how to study, and it helped me a lot,” she said. The tutoring center is not just for undergraduates. Kelley Eguakun, a graduate student in management and human relations, heard about the writing tutors at convocation and came for help with a paper for her professional development class. She is planning on returning. “I know I’ll be back because I have another big paper due next week,” said Eguakun. If students would like a tutor, an appointment can be made by lling out a “Tutor Request Form,” and turni ng it into Gray, or sliding it under her door i f she is out of the ofce. T he
contact information for the tutor will be sent to the student so they can both gure out a time to meet.
For more information, contact Donna Gray at 615-2481376 or [email protected] .
around time,” said Gray.
Trevecca’s Counseling Center is located on the second oor of the Center
Counseling center offers free services
for Leadership, Calling and Service. All services are free. Here’s what to expect: On the rst appointment students
by Abigail Larimore
just didn’t realize what was happening,” said Sara
According to the National Institute of Men-
Contributor
Hopkins, director of counseling services at Trev-
tal Health, in 20ll, 30 percent of college students
ecca.
reported feeling, “so depressed it was difcult to
Jordan Blanton, a junior commercial music
major at Trevecca, knows that making time in her busy schedule to meet with a counselor and reect on her thoughts and feelings gives her more
clarity. “It’s healthy and it helps me make sure that I’m taking care of myself,” Blanton said. Blanton is one of more than 60 Trevecca students who received some from o f counseling last month through Trevecca's Counseling Services. But the counselors who see students wish more students would take advantage the help they offer. Though students may feel they are just going through a rough time, it may be an indicator of something else. “Lots of times we will see individuals who suffered with depression or anxiety a lot longer than they could have or should have because they
There are many reasons Trevecca students
function,” at some point in time in the past year.
might not feel comfortable utilizing counseling
Trevecca students are no exception to this
services, including the idea that if they're feeling
number. In the month of September, counselors at
mentally unwell it must be a faith problem.
the Counseling Center met with 61 students, for a
“It could be argued that Christians haven’t
total of 167 counseling hours.
done a particularly excellent job in understand-
Culturally, there is still sometimes a neg-
ing the reality of depression as a sickness. This
ative stigma surrounding mental illness. Having
may attribute to why many believers live in denial
depression does not mean a person is crazy. It
of their disease, wishing they had stronger faith
means their brain is sick and needs help, just as
to just be happy,” said Hopkins. “If you look at
a heart or liver may require a little extra medical
the stories in the Bible you’ll nd a lot of people
attention, said Hopkins
complete paperwork and questionnaires. Medical history is very important and could help counselors give the best, tailor made treatment. The clinicia clinicians ns will then discuss condentiality, talk about why an
individual’s reasons for being present, and discuss current relationships. Students then set personal goals for themselves that they hope to accomplish through their time in counseling. They make every decision: when to have appointments, how many they attend, what they want to talk about, etc.
that had really wonderful relationships with their
“I think culturally, we are more okay with
Counseling services are free to students
creator, and had times of doubt and depression,
someone having a heart disorder, or diabetes, or
and encouraged, especially since prices for these
and God stood with them. It had nothing to do
MS or some other physical disorder, but when we
services in the Nashville area can range from $70
with their faith or whether or not he was present
start to look at disorders of the mind, and the
to $150 an hour.
with them. God is clearly present with us in those
heart, and the soul, than it becomes more uncom-
times. Depression is not a faith problem.”
fortable for us,” she said.
“Depression is a disease. It is a physiological disorder,” said Hopkins.
Blind student hits all the right notes, has perfect pitch by Olivia Kelley Contributor
When Trevecca vocal instructor Abby Burke meets news students she asks them for one word that describes them. Megan Shaw didn’t hesitate. Determined. Shaw, a freshman, was born with a condition called optic nerve hypoplasia. This means her optic nerves never fully developed, leaving her unable to see. But, she also has another rare condition: conditi on: perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch. She can sing and recognize pitches with 100 percent accuracy without any reference note. Only one in 10,000 people possess this talent, according to Wisconsin Medical Society. “The piano we use has a tendency to be just a little at and it drives her crazy,” said Burke with a laugh. Burke is currently trying to locate some brail material to help make sightsinging a little easier for Shaw, but until then, she has a system that works for her. Because she can’t see to read her music, Shaw has to learn everything by ear. Someone has to play the music for her or she can listen to recordings to memorize it. “She is very quick to seek someone out to help her learn orally what we see visually,” says Burke. Shaw, who has been blind since birth, has spent her life working to do the things she’s wanted to do. “This is the only life I’ve known,” says Shaw. She always knew she could do anything that anyone else could do. She gets around using a cane and has her
Megan Shaw practices in Wakeeld Fine Ar ts Building with accompanist David Finney.
own way of getting tasks done. Shaw said that when she was growing up her parents didn’t let her make excuses for herself. “When my siblings had chores to do around the house, I knew that I had to do all those things too. I had to clean my room and help out around the house just like everyone else.” She decided to go to college to follow her passion for music. She said Trevecca provided a safe, Christian environment where she could do just that, and it ’s only about 20 minutes from her home in Nashville. Shaw has chosen to pursue a major in music education. Her goal is to teach music in an elementary school. Most people may see this as a huge challenge, but Shaw isn’t worried. “I do think there will be some challenges, but honestly there are challenges for anybody. I think I am
just as capable of facing challenges as a normally sighted person,” said Shaw. Even Shaw’s friends recognize her ability to overcome things. Chaili Juneman, a sophomore and friend of Shaw’s, said Shaw can do whatever she decides to do. “While I think there will definitely be some things she needs help with, she can always nd a way to get through a hard situation. She’s just that type of person,” says Juneman.
Trev revecca ecca Gospel Choir sings with Carrie Underwood at CMA Awards by Maci Shingleton TrevEchoes Online Editor
As Carrie Underwood performed at the CMA Aw ards on Nov. 5, the Trevecca Nazarene University Gospel Choir lent her their voices. Dressed in black and lined up behind the country music star, the students performed live on national television during the CMA Awards. The 48th annual awards show was aired live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. “My highlight was not only getting to sing behind Carrie Underwood, but being able to sing that particular song. There was not a better song for us to sing,” said Laurabeth Winchester, a sophomore. Earlier this fall, a representative
contacted David Diehl, chair of the department of music, and asked him if Trevecca had a music group that could perform backup for Underwood, he said. Carrie Underwood hosted the show with Brad Paisley and had one of the most anticipated performances of the evening. Underwood performed her new gospel-themed single “Something in the Water” with the help of the Trevecca gospel choir. Winchester tweeted a countdown leading up to the performance with Underwood. She tweeted about her excitement and urged friends and family to tune in to the awards show. “It’s surreal. It doesn’t feel like real life. Just famous people walking around everywhere. We took seles with celebrities and it’s like a nonstop whirl-wind
and one thing after another. Like, did that just happen?” said Winchester immediately after the performance. The opportunity for students to participate in something like the CMA Awards show is related to the university being located in Nashville, said Matt Toy, director of marketing and communications at Trevecca. “I think something like this shows students how cool it is to go to school in Nashville. There [are] so many other great universities but a huge asset Trevecca has is Nashville,” he said. “The ability for students to go sing with someone with the caliber of someone like Carrie Underwood is pretty incredible.” Students loved the experience. “When we walked out and started singing, everything that was nerve wracking turned into joy and excite-
ment and that was so heart-warming. We were singing Amazing Grace behind a Christian country music star and it was so cool,” said Devon Halliburton, a freshman. “In the few years I’ve been here, this is one of the bigger opportunities for exposure for our students. So it’s exciting for sure,” Toy said. The performance broke social media records for Trevecca with over 170,000 likes and 616 shares on a story Trevecca posted on Facebook. “The amount of viral trafc that Trevecca received from the Gospel Choir’s appearance on the CMA’s was incredible. We could never pay for that kind of exposure. It truly was a perfect storm of events that allowed for the Trevecca name to be shared on so many levels,” said Toy Toy..
Students camp out for CMA Awards by Brittni Carmack Staff Writer
A group of Trevecca students sit outside of t he Bridgestone Arena h oping to score wristbands to the CMA Awards.
Every year top country music artists are honored in Nashville and this year a group of Trevecca students were determined not to miss it. On Nov. 4, about 17 Trevecca students set up camp for 12 hours outside Bridgestone Arena for wrist bands that would get them into the County Music Association awards show. It worked. They got to stand in the mosh pit at the 48th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 5. “I have always wanted to go and this seemed like the perfect opportunity,” said Kristin Migendt, sophomore music business major. The students arrived downtown at Bridgestone Arena at 9 p.m. and waited for the wristbands to be distributed 12 hours later. Only the rst 100 people
were given bracelets. The students found ways to make camping out as comfy and fun as possible. Snacks, blankets, and pads were just some of the things that Zach Farnum, junior, and his group brought to prepare them for the wait. “We tried to sleep but ended up just laughing and joking around,” said Farnum. “Time passed faster than I thought it would.” However, nobody was quite prepared for the seven hours of rain that hit at about 2 a.m. “It got miserable towards the end, weather wise, but it was fun,” said Farnum. Alana Grimaud, freshman communication major, agrees. “It was worth it because the CMAs were fun, but I won’t camp out in the rain again,” she said.
From Ireland to Trevecca: Soccer player becomes coach by Pedro Moran Contributor
Trevecca’s women’s soccer coach may understand better than most the challenges of playing soccer far from home. Mark Foster, who is nishing his second season as head coach, came all the way from Ireland to play soccer at Trevecca in 2005. He’s been here ever since. After playing soccer in Ireland, studying had always been one of Foster’s desires. His wish to study was soon becoming a reality when he saw the potential in the United States to get scholarships that would pay for school. He also wanted to come to an English speaking country. Trevecca recruited Foster for TNU Men’s soccer program and before he came the team had only won one game
by Logan Nekirk Staff Writer
The semester is winding down and so are Trevecca’s fall sports teams. For the women’s soccer team, it was a year of change. “The year started with many question marks,” said Mark Elliot, director of athletics. The team began the year with 14 new freshmen on the team. It was also Coach Mark Foster’s second year leading the team. “They really began to play well
out of 18 as a NAIA program. “It is remarkable when I look what Trevecca was when I came athletically to what it is now, “ said Foster. “We’ve come a long way.” Rebecca Merrick, director of International admissions, is very familiar with Foster’s story. “Mark was a good pick, he really enjoyed his time at Trevecca. He really likes what Trevecca is about,” she said. “Foster has been an encouragement to recruit more internationals because he made a success out of coming to Trevecca. At that time it was hard to get internationals from that area to come and play for Trevecca.” Foster was not very familiar with the Nazarene denomination, however, however, he felt loved here. “I had found the Nazarene community very different from what I knew
in Ireland as far as Irish Christianit y, but the Nazarene community is very loving and they have helped me grow spiritually,” he said. “I think when you are around people that think different[ly] than you it challenges you to think outside the box and nd your own faith.” Foster said he does his job because he loves it. “You have to love it, you don’t always earn great nancial awards,” he said. “If you are going to see it just as another job I would advise people to stay away from it because you have to have a passion for it. But I would also advise any young coach to work as an assistant coach for someone who they respect and look up to, someone who is going to actually let them coach, rather than just carrying water and pump up balls.” Foster said he did that and
learned a lot from former head coach Brett Armstrong. The result of every accomplishment in the United States comes from a very disciplined life. “Things are not always going to fall your way and things are not always going to be easy, so hard work is the key,” he said. “I also think I have a relationship with Christ and I think I’ve been trying to pursue what God has for me and I think it was clear that God brought me to Trevecca.” His remarkable time as a soccer player at Trevecca has led the program to retire his number. “I would hope that everybody who was involved with Trevecca’s soccer at that time would see that as their award rather than just an individual thing that happened for Mark Foster,” said Foster.
down the stret ch. Towards the end of the season they were winning lots of games, and they still had things to overcome,” said Elliot. The Lady Trojans made it to the G-MAC Championships Finals, where they lost 2-1 to Ursuline College. They ended the season with a 125-2 record and few injuries. They also ended with a couple of new records and honors. Brooke Gann, a senior, broke the all-time scoring record this season making Trevecca history. Jordan Ponto, a senior and team captain, was named the GMAC Defensive Player of the Year. The men’s soccer team, however, did not have as much success. The team lost 3-2 to Salem International University in the G-MAC Championships Quarternal. They nished the year with a 5-10-1 record. The team came into this season
with high expectations; however those expectations were not met, said Elliot. The team had several injured players this year. “I haven’t played on a team that experienced so many injuries throughout a season,” said Matt Dyer, a junior. “The sequence of events can hurt things and that’s what happened this year,” said Elliot. The men’s and women’s cross country teams both ended their regular seasons on high notes this fall. Both teams nished second at the conference meet. Despite second place finishes, both the men’s and women’s teams featured rst place nishers in the conference meet. Caroline Hampton, a freshman, was Trevecca’s women’s medalist, nishing rst overall. Logan Rodgers, a sophomore, was the men’s medalist
nishing rst overall. Coach Austin Selby was also voted the GMAC men’s cross country Coach of the Year Year.. The season was a successful one with multiple consecutive PR’s from almost every runner, said Elliott. The women’s volleyball team lost to Kentucky Wesleyan College in the G-MAC Championship Quarterfinals and nished the year with a 15-15 record. “The team was a .500 team and that’s about where they’ve been in the past,” said Elliott. This year, the team lost three of their best players from last year. With new freshmen and upperclassmen stepping up, some of the roles were lled, but not all of them, said Elliot.
Haley Green: Freshman does life with 30 siblings by Manon Lane Staff Writer
Haley Green moved onto campus the day before her 19th birthday. Usually she would celebrate that day with most of her siblings, but this year a video had to do instead. She pulls out her phone and smiles as she watches 25 people representing eight different countries sing to her. They are her family, but only a part of it. Green, a freshman and a music business major, is one of 31 children. And though there are challenges to having more siblings than the alphabet has letters, Green loves the diversity and the connectedness they all share.
“Even though we do have a larger family, we’re all extremely close. Even from a young age I remember my parents wanting to sit down and have a dinner together. We do family devotions in the evenings just as a big family, and I really value that,” said Haley. Kevin and Polly Green had two biological sons and hopes of a little girl before learning of medical issues that would prevent another pregnancy. It was after the adoption of their oldest daughter that they realized they were being called to be a family to more than just the three children they were raising. “My dad [says] some people are called to be pastors, some are called to be teachers and doctors, but [he] feels they are called to be parents,” said Haley. Years later, a last minute phone call leading to the adoption of Haley, or “Hay,” as her mom affectionately refers to her, began the faith-lled story of her young life. “She was ready to leave [having been in Korea], and she called me [saying] she found this little girl…” said Polly Green as she remembers the news from the adoption agency employee. While waiting for Haley’s infor-
Haley Green and Charis Sims, Trevecca students, watch a video of 25 of Hayley’s siblings sing happy birthday to her.
mation and picture via mail, the Greens started praying about adopting her. Along with the usual concerns that surround adoption, they were aware that Haley had a severe cleft lip and would need special care. They had never known a child in her condition before, and were unsure on how, and whether, to proceed. Polly said that she and Kevin were both a little scared and prayed about what they sh ould do. She said she asked God to reveal the answer to her in a dream. “That very night I dreamed I went to see Jesus, and I had taken a baby with me. I couldn’t see the baby, it was all wrapped in a white blanket, and I laid this baby down at Jesus’ feet and said ‘What do you want us to do?’ He picked her up and he handed her back to me, and uncovered her. She had the cutest bob haircut, and was perfect looking, so we knew we were to proceed with Haley,” said Polly. When the information packet arrived in the mail, the Greens were more certain than ever about their choice when the picture of Haley revealed the same bob haircut that had been in Polly’s dream. Haley was adopted a few days before her rst birthday, and had surgery to close the cleft lip while still an infant. The scar is barely noticeable today, and Polly said that it was their experience with Haley that opened the door to them adopting other children with special needs. Haley said that her family is very open about adoption and looks at it in a positive way. She also said people are always asking her if she wants to nd her birth parents, but she has no desire to seek them out. “The parents I have now, in Ohio, I
do consider them my parents,” said Haley. “I believe this is the family that God planned for my parents, and I just love being a part of it.” Haley’s second oldest brother Gastin Green, bursts with big brother pride when he speaks of the special bond they have had since she joined the family when he was 12-years-old. He admires her independent spirit, and describes her as “the smart one.” “Whenever anyone had a question academically, academicall y, they’d go str aight to Haley,” he said. He said that her move to Nashville hit the family hard, and they miss her. Just like a big brother, he continues to keep an eye out for her even from a distance, calling and checking in on her regularly to get updated. And to ask her about boys, Haley adds with a lit tle-sister-roll-of tle-sister-roll-of-the-eyes. -the-eyes. One of Haley’s younger sisters Kayla, was adopted from Cambodia, and joined the Green family when she was 12. In just the few years before Haley left for Nashville, the two have created their own special bond. Kayla said that she talks to her big sister about everything about her life in Africa, and how she is very thankful for all of Haley’s help in teaching her music and helping with her homework . Like all sisters, they like to tease. “Are you still mad at me about that time I made fun of you for carrying your laundry on your head?” asks Haley, referring to her sister’s native custom. “No,” laughs Kayla. “You know, there are always little ghts and conicts, but at the end of the day, we’re just one big happy family,” said Hayley. “I love it.”
