Your Newspaper Bethel Beacon Bethel University, McKenzie, TN April 26, 2010 Vol. 62 No. 7

BETHEL NEEDS AN ART MAJOR What is Mario without Luigi? Tupac without his bandana? Raceway without pizza sticks? Atrocities, that’s what! The same can be said about a liberal arts school with no art major. The main reason we don’t have an art major is that we need someone with a terminal degree to teach. We have Mrs. Sacks, who has been carrying the full weight of the art department on her shoulders for many years. We need to lift this burden from her. The sad part about all of this is that we are not using the resources that we have. The Memphis College of Art is not far away at all, and there are enough graduates coming out of that school that I’m sure at least a couple would want to come teach here. After all, the art department used to be much bigger here. In fact, the entire wing of DFAB that says “Art” over it used to be dedicated only to what it states, until they put a wall through the art room. As Mrs. Sacks put it, “When they built that wall through my art room, I threatened to break it down!” She then added with a laugh, “Only because I knew that it was not very sturdy.” We now have a brand new science building . . . and a hockey team. Yet we cannot have one small wing of a building dedicated to what this university says it is? The students here are very in favor of getting an art major, even those that wouldn’t major in it. In one day alone, almost three hundred students signed a petition to get an art major. Many students were very confused as to why we do not have one, and a few were enraged. One student, Amanda Lynn McDowell, said, “I think it’s ridiculous that Bethel claims to be a liberal ARTS school. . .yet doesn’t have an ART major. It’s like going to an ice cream parlor and hearing, ‘Oh we don’t have any ice cream, but here, have this cheeseburger instead.’” Granted, the “arts” in the phrase “liberal arts” doesn’t necessarily refer to the visual arts (, sculpture, etc.), but that field is certainly one of the liberal arts, equal in significance to music, literature, and theatre. Hannah Watson reasoned, “When people hear about Bethel they think of liberal arts, and artists think that is somewhere they can go and have their art skills flourish. But when they hear there is no art major they say, MTSU here I come.” Who knows how many prospective students we are losing by not having what people already assume we do? We would be even more competitive with surrounding schools, especially those which are not liberal arts colleges. Besides, everyone needs a little art in their lives. What would the world be without it? Dull and dreary. Let the right- brained people have a major too! Emily LaForce

SOON TO COME New Dorm, Science Building, Etc. Ray and Linda Morris Science Complex What’s gonna be in the new science building? In total, there will be seven classrooms and seven labs (three biology labs, two chemistry labs, a dry lab, and a physics lab). One of the classrooms will be a large lecture hall. Well, large for Bethel—it will hold 92 students. Some non-science classes will probably be held in the building, but it will mostly be science. On the second floor there will be an outdoor rooftop plaza, where students can hang out, eat lunch, that sort of thing. The entrance was purposely built with lots of steps, and planters for people to sit on, so that the entrance will be a good gathering area for students. The building will open on May 8, the day of graduation. There will be a barbecue outside the cafeteria after the first graduation; a dedication will be held from 1:30 to 2:15, after which there will be an open house, and everyone can tour the new building. Faculty will start moving into the Morris building the following week. Bethel was intent from the beginning on making the Morris science complex a “green” facility. Almost countless measures were taken to ensure the building was energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. It has low-energy glass. 50% of the construction materials came from within 300 miles of the building, reducing Morris’ environmental impact. The surface paint is reflective. The building has solar panels and two windmills. The glues, adhesives, and solvents in the building are biodegradable. The lights in the building have occupancy sensors which make the lights turn off if the see NEW on p.4 1 CAFETERIA MENU SCHEDULE (subject to change) Monday Lunch—Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans, cream corn, tomatoes and zucchini, rolls, deli, nacho bar, alfredo, grilled cheese Dinner—Italian chicken, scalloped potatoes, corn on the cob, vegetable blend, lima beans, rolls, sub bar Tuesday Breakfast—omelettes, biscuits and gravy, sausage patties, pancakes Lunch—lasagna, squash casserole, English peas, baked apples, corn nuggets, rolls, fry bar, cold pasta, quesadillas Dinner—lemon pepper chicken, mac and cheese, blackeyed peas, vegetable blend, brown beans, rolls, taco bar Wednesday Breakfast—scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, chicken, fries, turnovers Lunch—chicken parmesan, whole potatoes, baby carrots, green beans, fried okra, rolls, wrap bar, cold pasta, hamburgers, chips and dip Dinner—country fried steak with white gravy, loaded potatoes, baked beans, California blend, rolls, burrito bar Thursday Breakfast—scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage links, tater tots, French toast Lunch—chicken broccoli and rice, whole kernel corn, brown beans, cabbage, apple sticks, corn bread, Chinese bar, garlic noodles, chicken quesadillas, fruit salad Dinner—pork roast, squash, green beans, peas, fried okra, breadsticks, potato bar Friday Breakfast—scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage patties, hashbrown casserole, oats, donuts Lunch—shrimp, onion rings, turnip greens, white beans, Mexican corn bread, pizza, grilled chicken Dinner—ravioli pie, meatball sub, brown beans, rolls, turkey deli Saturday Brunch—eggs, biscuits and gravy, chicken strips, tater tots, vegetable blend, French toast, diced ham, tuna, boiled eggs, sliced turkey Dinner—spaghetti, corn dogs, green beans, corn on the cob, potato logs, bread sticks, ham deli Sunday Brunch—omelettes, biscuits and gravy, ham, grilled chicken, fries, broccoli, turnovers, ham deli Dinner—chicken and dumplings, hamburger steak, peas, corn, fried okra, rolls, turkey deli

Pass the Word Beginning April 14, a group of poets began an online passing of the word revolving around one subject. Over the course of a week, each poet took his or her turn adding to a prose poem, and here is the final product. A special thanks to Samuel Hawkins, Sarah Mahoney, Nic Tatum, and Brittany Presson for their words. —Christopher Williams

Sometimes I hear knocking at my cerebral door, sometimes I see twinkling, twinkling little stars, and sometimes I just see night. I’m supposed to be an adult now but my childhood keeps wanting to come out and play; it’s as if we’re in this constant game of freeze tag, childhood is calling, but I punch ignore. Knocking on my door, wagging behind nostalgia sitting in the little red wagon I never had. Childhood is calling . . . begging me to make wishes on dandelions, dishing out games left and right, captivity calling from a Peter Pan fight. Childhood is calling, reminding me to sleep tight because everything will be alright. Childhood is calling, asking me to fly my big bird kite, but I’m trapped in a world of night and childhood can only bring temporary artificial light. Childhood is calling but it doesn’t know that I’ve grown too old, to fly cont. on next page 2 cont. from previous page off to Neverland, dream of going to Disneyland, or make my world playing in sand. Childhood is calling, extending its tiny hand, restoring memories of where I have been. Childhood is calling whispering its lonesome plea, “Please come, please play with me.” But I’m sitting stacked behind papers and plans and half made dams to hold back those waters that would flood this carefully made pond of social expectations. Don’t you see? I can’t come, these chains hold me, bound to the social will, bound to that living wheel of growing up and facing Life, but it seems that it’s Death I am facing. Is there no way of erasing the past until innocence shines again? Is there no way of breaking these chains so that I can fly again? Is there no way to flee; recreate make-believe till we take leave of these nooses around our necks? An onset of a future where living means check to check, and we ought to be placed in jail, for our childhood neglect. Our dreams are left screaming, because they’ve been left in a mall of exceptions there too little to see over, and I’ve tried to put them on my shoulder, but the older I get, the smaller they seem to be until they’re as tiny as bees swooping in and out without enough pollen to spout flowers in realities garden. I’m afraid with every blow of lost hope my heart’s hardening . . . Childhood is calling; forget the cell phone and facebook run out the door. Childhood is calling, put down the papers and text-books there’s lava on the floor. Childhood is calling, break down your walls and take a look, there’s so much more. Childhood is calling the pillows are safe zones. Childhood is calling, as I turn ice-cream cones into Christmas ornaments. see WORD on p. 6

LACK OF A TRACK Why does Bethel’s track team not have a track? This has been a question that has been asked by several people, including myself. In a conversation with Bob Prosser, he stated, “We needed to focus our attention on one goal, and we decided that science building was first to help modernize our university. With that complete, it has opened the door for many other projects, including a track.” It is indeed important to prioritize one’s goals, because setting too many goals at once can become messy. It also has allowed other growth to take place on campus such as the new dorms, future gym, and student center/food court. But now Bethel wants to put a track around the soccer field, which will have lights placed around it. Also, there is an area across the street from the logging company, where work was being done for a track a few years back; this area may become a lacrosse field with a track around it. Fundraising will begin very soon for a track. As for our track team’s performance without the correct facilities, they are doing an excellent job. The track meet held on April 17th was at the , and they held their own against bigger schools. In the men’s 100-meter dash, Brandon Cleaves took first place. The women took second in the 4x100 meter relay, while the men placed third in the 4x100 meter. The track team has also been to the Indoor Track Nationals, and as I write this they are at a conference in Ohio. They are scheduled to go to the Outdoor Track Nationals at the end of May. But for not having the right surface to practice on, I would say our track team is doing a very fine job. Jeremy Hurley

Kenny Hawkins Arielle Montague 3

NEW continued from p. 1 room has been unoccupied for ten minutes; the lights also dim if it’s sunny outside, when they are less necessary. The drywall left over from construction was put into the soil of a local farm. The building is over-pressurized, ensuring premier indoor air quality. That is only a small fraction of what was done to make Morris a quality facility. Odom Science Building But what about the old science building? During the fall, upstairs will be closed for renovation, while in the spring, downstairs will be closed for renovation. Every lab will be gutted and renovated, some for new labs, others for new classrooms. There will definitely be a computer lab and a biology lab in Odom. Also, Odom will get a brand-new HVAC system—no more window units. Odom will become a more multi-purpose building, less specifically science- oriented. New Dorm The new dorm will be opening this summer and be housing students by the fall semester. It will have 32 suites for normal residents, 16 on each floor. Each suite will have four bedrooms housing two people each—so that’s eight people in a suite. As for the arrangement of the suites: there are two hallways on each floor, and there are eight suites along each hallway. When you walk in through either of the dorm’s entrances, you can turn left or right, then go around a corner and go down one of the floor’s two hallways. Yes, the dorm has two entrances. The entrance furthest from College Drive is bigger; when you walk in, the RD’s suite will be to your right, and the laundry room will be to your left. The laundry room will have 13 washers and 13 dryers. There won’t be a large community room, like there is in Prosser. It was decided that such a room would be relatively unutilized, and a larger laundry room is more of a priority. The other entrance will have a little plaza in front of it, which will be conveniently close to the baseball and softball fields. When you go through this entrance, RA suites will be to your left and right. Two other RA suites are on the second floor, above the other RA suites. But back to the suite. The bedrooms will be 10 x 15, the same size as the larger bedrooms in Prosser. The common room will be 16 x 20, more than 20% bigger than the common room in Prosser. When you walk into the suite, to your left is a room with a toilet and shower (with an extra-tall showerhead for our athletic students) on the left and a bathtub on the right. Then you’ll walk into the common room, and doors on either side of the room will lead to one of the bedrooms. There won’t be any sinks in the bedrooms, they’ll only be in the common room. (This decision was made in response to input from Prosser residents, many of whom think the bedroom sinks only take up space.) The suites along the exterior of the building will have large windows overlooking the football or softball fields. There will also be a complete HVAC system in each suite. The dorm will have wireless internet. It is not yet known who will reside in the new dorm. Miscellaneous The new dorm will use the same brick pattern as Prosser and the Ray and Linda Morris Science Complex. That brick pattern was picked as a composite of the bricks of other buildings on campus, and it will be used on all future Bethel buildings, so that the campus will have a consistent look. A lot of stuff is going to be done this summer. Power lines are going to run underground, and all the poles (like the one behind Campbell, in front of Odom) will be removed. This will yield the campus a cleaner look. Also, several of the spots on campus where water pools up (in front of McDonald, for example, and alongside the gym) are going to be cleared up. Lights will be added to the soccer, baseball, and softball fields, so people can play and practice on those fields when the sun is down. Billy Black

2010 CollegeFanz Senior Classic The 2010 CollegeFanz Senior Classic kicked off at 1 PM this past Saturday in Salina, Kansas. Former rivals became teammates or opponents once again as the Nationals played against the Americans in the 4th year of this game. The Classic pitted over 120 seniors from the NAIA against each other. 14 of these seniors represented the Mid-South Conference, of which Bethel University is a member. Three of those fourteen seniors were from Bethel University: Sean Fraser, Sean McCormick, and Luke Roth. Luke Roth was the Wildcats’ Punter who started four years and was an All- cont. on next page 4 cont. from previous page Conference Honorable mention and nationally ranked as the #2 punter during the 2009 season. Sean McCormick was a first team All-Conference selection and VSN All-American Honorable Mention at Defensive End. Sean Fraser was an All- Conference selection at Kicker, was the #2 kicker in the nation, and won the special team’s National Player of the Week award during the regular season. The three players were on the Americans team, coached by Mike Grossner, head coach of Baker University. The Americans lost to the Nationals 34-21; however, Sean Fraser made three field goals of 53 yards, 48, yards, and 38 yards. He was awarded Offensive Player of the Game for the Americans, adding yet another award to his trophy case. Roth had a spectacular game as he landed 2 punts inside the 5 yard line. If not for poor coverage and a penalty, it would have been a career day for him. When asked about his thoughts for the game, Sean McCormick added, “It was nice to be able to put on pads one last time and play again. I wish we would’ve won, but the three of us had a great time anyway. It was definitely an awesome experience.”

Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly Preview In my first article I mentioned the 200th anniversary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the celebration being held in honor of it at the 180th Meeting of the General Assembly in Dickson, this summer. It will start June 13th and end the 18th. This year’s theme is “What Do These Stones Mean?”, based on Joshua 4:1-9. On Sunday, June 13th, the festivities will begin with a joint worship service with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (a historically African-American denomination related to the CP Church) at Dickson Middle School. Opening worship will follow the next day at the same location. Tuesday will be a day of fellowship at the nearby Montgomery Bell State Park. There will be crafts and children’s games from the time period of the church’s birth, along with people in period dress. More specifically, four people will be dressed as the founding fathers of the church, including my uncle Matthew Gore who will be dressed as Finis Ewing himself. They will be available to answer questions and tell stories about the church and its history. Four groups of singers representing both denominations and embodying various musical styles will be performing throughout the day. One of these groups will be from Bethel’s Renaissance program. There will also be devotions given at fifteen minute intervals, representing many of the diverse groups represented in the denomination internationally. The day will end with a dedication service for a new monument for the church, which has the name of every CP church engraved on it. On Wednesday, Renaissance theater will perform Light Along the Cumberland, a musical about the history of the church, at Dickson Middle School. Thursday will mainly be a day of church business, and GA will come to an end the next day. So feel free to come to Dickson, especially on Tuesday the 15th, and enjoy the celebration of Bethel’s denominational affiliate. Marisa Knight

NFL Draft Recap The 2010 NFL Draft was considered to be quite deep when it came to talent, and needless to say, there were a few surprises early on. Thursday night during primetime hours, Sam Bradford, QB from Oklahoma, went as the first overall pick to the St. Louis Rams. This was to be expected. Ndamukong Suh, DT of Nebraska, was taken by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd overall pick, and Gerald McCoy, DT of Oklahoma, was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 3rd overall. The biggest surprise of the first round had to be the Denver Broncos’ selection of Tim Tebow as the 25th overall pick. Much to the chagrin of Mel Kiper, Jr., Tebow was the second quarterback taken in the draft, behind Sam Bradford. Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame fell to the 2nd round, but was picked up by the Carolina Panthers, which is a great fit for him. Colt McCoy was drafted in the 3rd round by the Cleveland Browns, also another good fit. The Detroit Lions picked well during this draft by selecting Suh as the 2nd overall pick and Jahvid Best as the 30th overall pick. Best will be an all-purpose weapon – something the Lions desperately need on offense. The Tennessee Titans had an average draft, selecting DE Derrick Morgan from Georgia Tech in the first round at 16th overall. However, in my opinion, the Titans got a steal in the 6th round when they selected former Rhodes Scholar and Florida State safety Myron Rolle. With the 2010 NFL Draft all wrapped up, we’ll be looking forward to a few more moves in the off-season and hopefully some great football this fall. Sean McCormick

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WORD continued from p. 3 Finger tips dipped in paint and my imaginary friend finally wakes, comes down from the attic. Childhood is calling, through night sky dancing and butterfly chasing. My darkness is finally illuminated by a hundred lightening bugs, and I lie down on a multi-colored rug. Childhood is calling, and I answer before the last ring. With a bing and a zing I am back to infinity, where growing up seems so far away, where all I have to do is find new ways to play. The fairies have their milk and I’m making wings out of silk. Scarves tied to chairs as I leap and peep through my makeshift tent. There I stay until my energy is spent. Lint turns to dust bunnies, and I think it is funny how adults only smile while the weather is sunny when the rain can be just as fun. Childhood called. And I answered. Singing about Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. Then adulthood entered, demanded, and commanded my presence to return. I yearn for dinosaur cloud days, and I remember the way back to the secret garden, it’s hidden within my heart. See years ago I made a promise to myself, in those twilight years between childhood and freedom, “I will never lose my imagination. I will never stop believing. I will never grow ‘old.’” Adulthood is calling, but it can only have so much of me. Because you see there I am entertaining you with my sock-puppet hat because I’m too scared to admit that I forgot it was show and tell day. I mean, “Hey, it’s okay. Right?” to forget your brothers’ names, to want to open coke bottles with pliers, to not play in others’ games, and to build your own radio fliers? And it’s okay to find more fun in having your own hatchet than in owning the newest set of ninja turtles. I remember scuffles. Lots of fighting, cussing, and ruffles of hair being pulled so often that the haircuts came every summer. So I turn over another page and follow fingers following words following a path to imagination. We are 80-year-old land-locked pirates dreaming seas and cannon balls. When Fall fell fallen leaves convinced us to wrap up limbs like Christmas gifts and be cannon balls crushing piles compiled of deciduous tree poop, they must be boy trees, and evergreens can be girls trees since they rarely poop. Speaking of poop. . .I remember when pooping wasn’t an awkward occasion and a conversation consisting of poop progression wasn’t tabooboo, either. Our minds were fresh unstepped snow that knew but didn’t know. Enlightened and corrupted, to learn we live, then give a segment of self and spread the wealth. So I give you this, Sometimes. . .I go fishing with for stars on grass-twined hammocks in my backyard. The world was Huge and pride small, as tiny as my powerful fingers, capable of anything, yes anything. Even coloring books or just books. . .inside the lines and sometimes out. We were are still warriors hacking through “The Way It Is” One hand giving reaching to another can foster life. Because when we are merely existing in the excessive proprieties and expectations of a “grown-up”—merely grown old, merely dying, merely shrunk down and hardened world, we lose the life that inward burns like a glowing dying coal that only needs to rejoin the fire to burn brighter again. So burst into flame! burn bright, burn high! Sing your song no matter how silly, and maybe our few coals when pulled together can light the world with a dancing, laughing, loving light that plays hide and seek and word games and make believe. Because what you believe becomes what you are. . . So I smile softly at the flower, because like a child I know it desires the sun, and I whisper to the pine, because I know it misses the cold of winter.

LETTERS TO THE CAPTAIN Dear Cpt. Bobes, Every night I sleep in sheets, but when I wake up my sheets are off of my body. Why does this happen? What could I do to prevent it?—Scared Sheetless Why hello there Scared Sheetless, cute name. I am very glad you confronted me with this problem because I have been questioned several times about this. Only one word can explain what happens to your sheets at night: Ghosts. On this campus alone there have been over 20 ghost experiences in the last 2 days. In the old country, I was a ghost hunter at the Orb University ghost clinic. I saw several cases just like yours, and I can assure you, you should be terrified. My trainer, an old Asian man by the name of Nic Tatum, warned me of such Sheet Ghosts. Usually when a Sheet Ghost haunts an individual it is because of a bed wetting experience in the past. You see, these ghosts are the spirits of hotel maids who had to spend their whole lives cleaning soiled sheets. So, you obviously wet the bed as a child and possibly an adolescent. So what do you do? Well, using enhanced audio I have heard these sheet ghosts flushing toilets and draining mops. So naturally before you go to bed, I would recommend you Velcro your sheets to your bed; this way, if the Sheet Ghost attempts to remove your sheets, you can hear it, wake up, and confront the apparition. Once you are face to face with the spirit, you are on your own. Love you, Cpt. Bobes 6