Rampage Magazine April 2022

ISSUE No. 11 | April 2022

Bluefield University Student Newspaper

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Featured Stories

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A New Adventure for Katharina Zausek

Films

Dr. Cindy Bascom:

About

A Spiritual Inspiration to All

Faith

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for Easter

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Table of Contents

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Opinions

Stories

Local Trails Spotlight

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18

Local Trails Spotlight

Student Spotlights

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24

Employee Features

Sports

The Rampage Student Newspaper © Bluefield University. Magazine printed by Wordsprint. Magazine design by Ben Ayers, Axel Johansson, Nathan LePere and Daniel Mullins. Front cover, back cover and section illustrations by Ben Ayers. Special thanks to Professor Chris Shoemaker and Dr. Cynthia Bascom for making our student newspaper possible and giving students a voice.

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? What did you do during Spring Break Kassidy Brown asks... Bluefield University students recently returned from Spring Break, and The Rampage wanted to know how they spent their time away from school. Here is what some students had to say. Abigail Gasperson , Graphic Communication, 2025 Over Spring Break, I celebrated my birthday and wrote an eight-page research paper. Andrew LaPan , Sports Communication, 2025 I went home and played disc golf with a few friends. I also went and watched some basketball with a few friends. I made graphic designs for football, read, painted, and went to Blacksburg to shop. I also had a tennis match on the weekend (and) went to the gym and applied for jobs. Taylor Southerland , Exercise and Sport Science, 2022 I went home to see my family, and I got to go trout fishing with my fiancé. Adrianah Grejeda , Mathematics, 2022 I stayed in Bluefield and made the most out of it. The alone time was needed. I hung out with my friends that also stayed and had fun with them. Opinions

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Katharina Zausek , Business, 2022

? The Challenge of

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Ri $ ing College Debt

by Javien Fleming Sports Communication • 2024

H igher education has been promoted as the natural next step after high school and as a necessity for professional success. Proponents say if you get your degree, then you are more likely to have the job of your dreams or make more money than the person who doesn’t attend college. While that might be the case for some people, it’s definitely not true for all. High school graduates are finding other options that lead to professional success, and college is starting to seem less favorable for the upcoming generation in large part due to the rising cost of higher education College is quickly becoming something that some people might consider a scam, and if you are paying for most or all of your college expenses out of pocket, then you might reconsider your investment. Educators want young adults to stay in school but don’t understand what state financially the youth will be in afterward. Unless you’re an athlete going to a large university or you have a lot of scholarships, you will be paying back student loans from college for many years after you graduate. “ Student debt can really set back graduating college students trying to start their life after school,” said one Bluefield University student. “In my shoes, I won’t deal with a lot of debt coming out of school just from football money and family in themilitary, but I still have to pay some of themoney after school.“ Not only that, but with some student loans you have to start paying back your debt 6-9 months after graduation, which in many cases doesn’t give students enough time to get a job and on their feet financially. In addition, the increase in college debt just gets worse over time because federal loans are so easy to acquire. Without knowing any better, people just apply and apply and apply, putting themselves deeper and deeper into debt. In an article written by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (pgpf.org), a non-partisan organization dedicated to addressing America’s long-term fiscal challenges, the writers said that “one of the reasons that student debt has been growing is because the number of people taking out such loans has been rising.” For example, the foundation claims that in 2017, 8.6 million Americans took out a federal student loan — more than double the 4.1 million borrowers in 1995. While athletic scholarships do help decrease the need for student loans, they aren’t enough to eliminate the debt. Take Bluefield for example. Athletes come from all over to attend Bluefield University, and some already have $20,000 in debt after just two years of study. “ Debt is one of themajor factors that (prevents) students from graduating college,” another BU student said. “Themore I stay here themore debt I’mbuilding up. It’s hard to not wonder if I stayed home howmuch cheaper school would be.” In many cases, students aren’t about to keep attending college just to be financially unstable in the future. They may earn a college degree, but is the return on the investment enough? College graduates may not have enough money to enjoy their accomplishments because they are paying off so much debt. That’s why high school graduates are less likely to attend college. Some may have wanted to go, but understand that they may not have a way to keep paying a debt for years to come. Overall, that’s the biggest challenge faced because of the constant increase in student debt. So if people want students to “stay in school” as they say, then maybe lowering the costs of college should be a consideration.

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Movie Reviews

10 Unconventional Films about Faith by Warren Lester Communication • 2023

for Easter

T here have been many films made about Christianity, faith, and spirituality over the years, and it is likely that you have seen many of them. From award winning films like The Passion of the Christ , to classics like The Ten Commandments , all the way to films of debatable quality such as God’s Not Dead , these films have tackled the mainstream with their obvious and usually uncontroversial portrayal of religion, faith, and Christianity. This article is not about those kinds of films. Not every film here will be obscure, but each film chosen for this list would not be one most people would think of when presented with the term “Christian film.” Some of these offer faith in the background, not obvious to every viewer, but there for all if you look a little closer. Some of these are controversial, and some may even be too much for the general viewer. However, what they all share in common is themes of Christianity, faith, and ultimately love. Bad Lieutenant I decided to start this list with the film that is the hardest to recommend, Bad Lieutenant . It’s not an easy film to watch at all. It’s grim, gritty, sometimes cruel, often violent, and it’s even got an NC-17 rating to boot. If you can’t deal with heavy topics, I can’t in good faith recommend this movie to you. That being said, don’t let the name, reputation or rating of this film fool you in any way. Bad Lieutenant is a deeply spiritual film. Although it’s dealings are mostly Catholic (a branch of Christianity I don’t personally align with) the message here is universal. This is a film that follows a bad man, the titular Lieutenant, who is never given a name and who is a broken and corrupt person. The plot takes this corrupt person and pits him at odds against not a criminal, but his faith. Harvey Keitel delivers a show stopping performance of a man so utterly torn up inside from his own wrongdoings that he begins to seek redemption for his sins, although he, himself, believes he can’t be forgiven. It’s haunting, it’s often depressing, but it is incredibly profound. The Book of Eli Moving away to something less controversial, we have 2010’s The Book of Eli . Denzel Washington stars in this film as the leading character in the post-apocalypse who fights his way across the wasteland that America has become in order to deliver a Bible to a destination he believes God has told him to go. Although this movie at times focuses more on the action in it than the spirituality, there is never a point in the film where it strays so much from the main plot of delivering a Bible somewhere to save humanity. Although it has its bleak moments, there are also wonderfully pulled back moments such as Eli teaching a young girl how to pray and his constant devotion to studying the word and letting it influence his life.

First Reformed First Reformed is a struggle with faith, but not a traditional struggle with belief at all. Instead, what we are offered is Ethan Hawke playing the role of Pastor Ernest Toller, a priest whose struggles in life have led to lots of hardships, but no loss in love for God. Instead, his struggle comes in that of the church and his belief that it is not carrying out God’s word in the way he believes is right. This spirals after an encounter with a mentally unstable environmental activist, a new relationship with said activists’ pregnant wife, and his own declining health. Every moment of this is powerful, beautiful, and uniquely faithful. In Bruges In Bruges is a dark comedy, a thriller, and an emotional drama that may not appear to be reflective of any religion on first viewing. It’s impossible to elaborate on this without giving away massive story beats to this fantastic film, so I recommend watching it and looking for those themes yourself. I find these themes occurring regularly throughout, but especially in the ending scene. It’s a Wonderful Life Despite being by far the most well-known film on this list, the most easily accessible, and generally one of the most talked about films of all time, I rarely hear anyone discussing the incredibly overt spiritual themes in It’s a Wonderful Life . It is with good reason that this film is regarded as one of the all- time greats, as you watch and see the life of George Bailey and his incredible loving spirit. The story, of course, culminates in a narrative we all know — a man wishes he were never born, is shown what life would be like if that were the case, and realizes that his life is worth living after all. It’s simple, but effective; however, the underlying theme of love and compassion, coupled with the overuse of a guardian angel in the story, makes this one effective on a spiritual level as much as it is on an emotional level.

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The Oh, God! Trilogy Despite being a massively successful franchise in the ’70s and ’80s, Oh, God! and its two sequels remain a mostly forgotten comedy relic, which is quite a shame considering how incredibly sincere and entertaining these three films truly are. George Burns stars in this trilogy as God himself, taking the form of a human on Earth in order to spread a message of love around the world in hopes that human beings begin to take better care of the planet. In the first film, he asks a man to tell the world that he still cares, in the second he enlists the help of a young girl to spread the message “Think God,” and in the final installment Burns plays both the role of God and the devil in a battle over the spirit of a struggling musician who accidentally sells his soul to the devil in order to become a success. All three of these films are incredibly-fun little comedy romps that offer a significant amount of sincerity and love in their messages. Although the third doesn’t offer as much of a message, and the first two aren’t entirely theologically sound, these films are incredibly touching and loving films that deserve to be remembered. Silence Silence is perhaps the most emotionally-powerful filmmade in the field of religion, faith, spirituality and Christianity. It is in no way an easy film to watch, as the audience is subjected to witness a near three-hour tale of Jesuit priests in Japan in the 17th century, a time in which Christianity was banned and punishable by death, and even worse, torture. Despite it focusing on a bleak subject matter, there isn’t a moment in this film without some level of hope. It is a movie filled with the love of God and devotion to faith. It’s brutal and raw and made me weep upon viewing it, but I would gladly watch it again for how immensely beautiful and powerful it is. There are few films better than this. Its harrowing and grounding just as much as it is beautiful and compelling. If you watch any film on this list, make sure you see Silence ; there’s not much else like it.

The Last Temptation of Christ Whenever writing about The Last Temptation of Christ , one must toe the line rather carefully. When this film came out it was easily the most controversial film of the time. People boycotted theaters, even some resulted in committing acts of violence due to their objection to the contents of this film. Looking back on this, many — including myself — wonder why exactly this happened and with such venom and bitterness. After all, director Martin Scorsese is a devout Christian. The most cited reasoning for this is due to the constant accusations of this film being sacrilege and the perception that it portrays Jesus as only human and a sinner. This film never once claims to be an accurate retelling of the Gospel, and in fact it opens with a disclaimer telling the audience not to take the film literally at all. It is by all accounts an allegory using the story of Christ to tell its message of love, care, and betterment for the human race. It is deeply spiritual and profound as an allegory, and one that made me weep deeply upon my first viewing of it. The film isn’t sacrilege and doesn’t portray Jesus as only human. He is expressly displayed as the son of God, and although the accusation that this film displays Jesus as a sinner is debatable, the film once again asks you before it even begins to not take it as a direct interpretation of the Gospel, but rather an allegory of human faith through the story of Jesus. I implore you to give this a watch if you haven’t; it’s truly beautiful. You can even check it I feel obligated to mention the name Paul Schrader at this point, seeing as this is the third film I’ve mentioned with his involvement. He directed Light Sleeper and First Reformed and wrote The Last Temptation of Christ . His films don’t always tackle spirituality, but when they do they are incredibly effective. Light Sleeper is no exception, although its use is much more subtle. While the story follows a drug dealer and former addict on the path to reform, the film focuses more on his pain and loneliness, while applying a heavy use of Christian imagery and symbolism that makes its story just that much more effective. Menace II Society Early on in Menace II Society , Cain (the protagonist) is asked by his grandfather a simple question: “Are you right with God?” Although he quickly answers, the question seemingly takes a hold of him, and throughout the rest of this beautifully tragic tale of crime, mistakes and struggle that question almost haunts him. It is likely no coincidence that he is named Cain, as the events of the story lead him down a dark and violent path at points that also haunt him. He wears a cross on his neck for most of the film, and he feels pain and regret where some of his friends don’t. Menace II Society is as much a film about Cain’s struggle with adversity, crime and life in a broken and mistreated neighborhood as it is about his struggle with faith. out at Easley Library. Light Sleeper

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Stories

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BU Students Hope to Grow Closer to God through Mission Trips

by Kassidy Brown Communication • 2022

Sixteen Bluefield University students will be taking part in mission trips abroad in May where they hope to not only spread the Gospel, but also grow their own relationships with God. Under the supervision of Dr. Henry Clary, assistant professor of Christian studies and BU’s director of mission and calling, nine of the students will travel to Ecuador, May 9-16, while seven will travel to Spain that same week.

Hannah Shockley is a member of the team heading to Spain. “I decided to participate because I want to step out of my comfort zone and be a witness to others,” Shockley said. “I went to Philadelphia in 2018 with my church and worked with a church planter in the outskirts of the city. That experience showed me that even the tiniest of action could have a big impact on someone’s life.” The Ecuador trip was originally scheduled for Spring Break, but it got postponed for a variety of reasons. “Because of COVID, we were way behind in fundraising heading into January, so it made sense to postpone so we could catch up there,” Dr. Clary said about delaying the mission trips. “(And) the spring break dates specifically for Ecuador had already been taken by another group so those dates were blocked out.” Mission trips provide a fulfilling experience for not only those being helped, but also those who help. Isaiah Rife, a BU student going on the trip to Ecuador, said he hopes to establish a connection with the people of Ecuador while also developing a new world-view. “Most importantly, I hope to see the orphanage gain more fromme than what I gain from them,” Rife said. Vichiola added that he looks forward to the experience and to growing his relationship with God. “What does He (God) want me to understand when I’m in Ecuador,” Vichiola said, “or what does He plan on doing to me while I’m there?”

“In Madrid, Spain, the students will work with Baptist missionaries in university student outreach with the hope of planting a church,” Dr. Clary said. “In Quito, Ecuador, students will work at a Christian children’s home.” When trying to decide where to go on the mission trips, Dr. Clary said he prayed about it, hoping God would provide the answer as to where the students needed to be. “Spain has a good team of Baptist missionaries who are easy to work with and who are doing outreach to post-modern university students, so that is more on the cutting edge of current missions,” Dr. Clary said. “I chose Ecuador because the children’s home is a faithful, well- run organization that is ministering in the trenches to Ecuadorian society in helping the ‘least of these.’” Dr. Clary said prayer was a big part of choosing the best students to go and to serve on mission. “A BU student must submit an application and speak with me,” Dr. Clary said about the selection process. “We pray about it, and then they are welcomed to join the team.” BU student Michael Vichiola is a part of the Ecuador team. He said he felt this trip would allow God to teach him a few things, and he would get to experience a new place. “Originally, I wasn’t planning on going on a mission trip,” Vichiola said, “because I was worried about the paperwork, including the fact that I needed a passport, (but) I asked my social worker and the necessary people if it was okay for me to go, and honestly they were thrilled to support me to get what I needed to go.”

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Stories

Therapy Dog Hazel Helps BU Students

by Payton Smith Communication • 2025

At the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year, Bluefield University Counseling Services introduced its new therapy dog, Hazel, to the campus community, and since her arrival Hazel has been making a big difference with students, faculty and staff. Hazel is a white Labrador retriever, and she has grown significantly since her debut on campus. Many people are excited to have her as a new member of the Rams family; however, no one knew just how much Hazel would impact daily life on campus. Therapy dogs are becoming more and more common at college campuses as students have increasingly turned to counseling canines for comfort and as a coping mechanism to help with the complex challenges of college life, according to Christine Kivlen, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Wayne State University. Hazel is no exception. One student on campus said that Hazel always makes the day better whenever she cuddles with them during therapy sessions led by Emily Cook, director of counseling services. The student said the interaction with Hazel gives her a sense of comfort. Another BU student Reagan Hardy is a nursing major, so most of her classes are on the third floor of the Science Center, which is where Hazel hangs out most of the day. “I get to see Hazel almost every day,” Hardy said. “She really does brighten my day when she runs down the office hallway to throw her body on me. She used to pee on the ground when she saw me, but she outgrew that, so that is good.” Hardy added that she believes that therapy dogs are helpful in stressful environments, such as college. “She (Hazel) makes me forget about everything bad that might have happened that day,” Hardy said. “I am really glad that Hazel is a part of this community.” Cook said that Hardy is not the only student benefiting from Hazel’s presence. She said Hazel has impacted campus in many ways, and that she didn’t realize how much the university needed her until she was here. She said she has witnessed a change in a number of students who spend time with Hazel. “The majority of students love Hazel. A few people are not dog people, (but) most people are quite happy to see her,” Cook said, “especially if students are missing their furry friends back home. Anyone is welcome to come see Hazel.”

Photo by Nathan LePere .

Cook added that Hazel has helped her get to know BU students better and to recognize when they might need some encouragement. “I have noticed students having a bad day, and Hazel senses it and will snuggle up to them and improve their mood,” Cook said. “It is very powerful to see that connection.” Hazel’s owner, BU’s own Dr. Jessica Sharp, professor and dean of the School of Nursing, shared a story about how Hazel participated in the School of Nursing’s December 2021 graduation ceremony. Dr. Sharp said the graduates wanted Hazel to be a part of their hooding ceremony, even wanted her to be in the pictures from their graduation. “Hazel loves every student she meets,” Dr. Sharp said. “She gets down on the floor to play with them, run with them, and she enjoys them so much. When she sees them (the students), she comes wagging her tail so hard her whole back moves. She makes every student feel like they are the only one that is important.” Dr. Sharp also spoke about her personal experience with Hazel, noting how she reminds her every day of what is important. “People are important,” Dr. Sharp said, “the way you make people feel is important.” So in less than a year’s time, Hazel has left a footprint at Bluefield University, and it is only the beginning.

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Students Respond to Russian Invasion of Ukraine

by Warren Lester Communication • 2023

On February 24, 2022, military forces from Russia, under the command of President Vladimir Putin, invaded neighboring Ukraine, escalating a conflict between the two that has been recurring since 2014. The invasion was marked by a large scale reaction from the world, many in fear of what Russia is doing and others offering support for the people of Ukraine. Bluefield University students had similar reactions.

“They are in the wrong and should definitely be held accountable for their actions,” said Robert Littlejohn about the actions of the Russians. “It is very unfair, and I wish things could be different, because nobody deserves their country to be invaded and taken over.” Fellow students Brandon Shields and Kerly Thelusme agreed. “I really feel for the innocent people of Ukraine,” Shields said, “because they didn’t do anything to incite such violent acts against them.” “My heart goes out to the Ukranian people,” Thelusme said. “It’s a very sad thing that is happening.” Other BU students, like Daniel Mullins, said they feel like they should educate themselves more on the situation before commenting on the invasion. “I will say, however, it is not acceptable that innocent people are being harmed,” Mullins said. “I pray that the Ukrainian and Russian people would be protected, that government leaders would seek God’s guidance and repent where needed, and that peace and justice would be promoted around the world.” To date, the United States has not joined forces with the Ukraine to fight the Russian military. The U.S. has provided $1 billion in financial assistance and sent hundreds of military missiles to the Ukraine. They have also issued a number of sanctions against Russia. “I don’t think the United States should respond because that is not our problem,” Littlejohn said. “I feel bad for Ukraine, but I don’t understand why we would get involved in someone else’s battle. I think the United States should send care packages, if anything, but I don’t want troops to be sent over there.” On the other hand, some BU students think the United States should be doing more to help the people of Ukraine.

“The United States should help those people, simply because Russia has no right to force a country to return to them,” Andrea Stinson said. “We all have fought many battles for each other, so now that this small country wants to be independent, then they should have the right to be.” Other BU students think that if the United States gets more involved that it will just make things worse. “I don’t believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is right; however, I’m not sure how much the United States can do without creating a much larger conflict,” Shields said. “I believe the best way to support Ukraine is to continue to send resources and support. It is a really tough situation and is a lose/lose situation for Ukraine and Russia as lives will be lost on both sides.” Mullins agreed and said the United States needs to be very careful when calculating its response. “I am all for helping people, but if we become too involved, could the conflict become worse?” Mullins said. “Could this turn into another World War? Could it cause the United States’ struggling economy to collapse?” But regardless of the United States’ response, all BU students agree that innocent Ukrainian people should not have to suffer. “My heart goes out to the families and citizens of Ukraine,” Sydney Horton said. “War is an awful method to resort to, as we have directly encountered with the Russian attacks against Ukraine. The average Ukrainian no longer feels safe in his own nation. Houses, churches, and schools have been destroyed with no remorse. Although the Ukrainian people — like any people — do not deserve the dreadful effects of war, they have stood against the powers of Russia with integrity and strength. I will continue to pray for the Ukrainians as they bravely move forward in the course of their conflict with Russia.”

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Stories

by Payton Smith Communication • 2025 Tips and Tricks for the iPad

As part of Bluefield University’s efforts to give all students equal access to classroom technology and instruction, BU students received a new iPad, Apple Pencil, and Apple Keyboard at the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year. And while there have been lots of advantages, there have been challenges as students adjust to learning the new technology and ways to receive and submit assignments. To help students with the process, we thought we’d offer a few iPad tips and tricks to tackle this new way of learning at BU. Speak Selection The endless pages of material that must be read for assignments is about to come much faster and easier. This tip is a time-saver, thanks to the iPhonegeeks staff. Start the Settings app. Go to Accessibility. Tap Spoken Content. Turn on Speak Selection and Speak Screen. Speak Selection will read any given text, while Speak Screen will read all text that the app is showing. Swipe two fingers down from the top of the screen to do this. Quick Access to Notes Another quick tip from iPhonegeeks involves your Apple Pencil, and it also saves quite a bit of time. If your iPad is locked, but you need to take a quick note, tap the screen with the tip of the Apple Pencil, and a new note from the Notes app will come up without taking the time to unlock your iPad and find your Notes app. Customizing Your iPad This tip helps with completely customizing your iPad. With the customization app Widgetsmith, you can customize your iPad to your very own aesthetic.

have grown up with a mobile phone need to know. Most young adults are used to typing on their phones with their thumbs, which will be very helpful. Not everyone wants to set up their iPad with their keyboard case, which will be a useful trick. Go to Settings. Select General. Select Keyboard. Switch the toggle to the right to enable Split Keyboard. Split Keyboard is more comfortable for typing for most students as they only have to use their thumbs on either side of the screen. Split Screen AGiRepair shares helpful tips and tricks for students, but one of the most useful ones would be Split Screen. If you have a textbook open but want to look at it while taking notes, this is a remarkable feature. Open the first app you want to display. When the first app is open, access the dock by pulling up from the bottom of the screen. Long press the second app you want to display. The second app will appear as a floating window. Flick the second app down to split the screen. Keyboard Shortcuts AGiRepair also has more simple tips, such as shortcuts. Keyboard Shortcuts are some of the most helpful tips you will know. Below are some of the most used keyboard shortcuts. Cmd + H – return to the home screen. Cmd + Space – spotlight search. Cmd + Shift + 3 – screenshot of entire screen. Cmd + Shift + 4 – partial screeshot.

Open the App Store app. Search for Widgetsmith. Download the app. Open Widgetsmith and get started creating!

There are many sizes, colors, texts, clocks, calendars, and more to choose from to add to your home screen. You can also add pictures from your camera roll, as well. Split Keyboard The Split Keyboard is a trick that most college students who

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BU Students Hope to Start Disc Golf Club

by Andrew LaPan

Communication • 2025

A new sport is on the rise with Bluefield University students – disc golf. It is a game that follows the rule of golf, but instead of hitting a ball, you throw discs to reach a basket. The most basic throw is a backhand throw, which is a cross-body throw. Another basic throw is a forehand, which is a throw from the side of your body. Disc golf is a game that doesn’t require strength, but does demand a lot of concentration. Keeping score for the game is easy. There are apps like Udisc that will tell you the location of the tee (the place you start off) and how far away the basket is. All you to do is tell the app how many throws it took you to get the disc in the basket. ”Disc golf is such an

Photo by Nathan LePere .

season is over, I really do not have anything to do. This would give me something to do and new people to play with.” Students are not the only people playing disc golf on campus. Dr. Joe Saunders, a professor of chemistry, plays a lot. In fact, he once played 16 rounds (games) in 30 days. “Adding a disc golf club here would present pleasant, low-grade competition, a lot of outdoor exercise, and encouragement as improvement is obvious each time one plays,” Dr. Saunders said. Others agree and hope additional students, faculty and staff will get involved and enjoy the benefits. “If we added a disc golf club here at BU, it would give us an opportunity to make a new friends and a chance to try out a new activity,” Shaw said. Members of the BU campus community interested in more information or joining the disc golf club should contact student Andrew LaPan by email at aplapan@bluefield.edu.

active thing to get involved with,” said Drake Cullens, a BU soccer player and avid disc golfer. “There are courses all over the place, so you do not have to keep playing in one location.” Bluefield University has its own course on campus called The Ram. It is a nine-hole course, starting in the quad and ending right behind Cruise Hall. The course takes you all around campus. It is a decently challenging course with a few holes setting you up for a good chance at a birdie (one shot under par) or making you shoot over par because of the hills. Daniel Slaughter, a local resident but not a BU student, said in a Google review that he enjoys The Ram. “I only go (to the BU campus) for the disc golf course,” he said. “It’s an awesome little nine-holer.” Several students play regularly on campus, including TimWeldon, Antowyne Shaw, and a few members of the soccer team. In fact, they are hoping to get other students involved so they can create an official disc golf club at BU. ”I think adding a disc golf club would be great,” said Weldon, who also plays football at BU. “After football

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Student Spotlights

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Jermiah Jenkins: A Winner

Photo from bcrams.com .

by Warren Lester Communication • 2023

Bluefield University student Jermiah Jenkins is a winner. He’s a winner in the classroom, and he’s a winner in the athletic arena. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jenkins came to Bluefield from Norfolk Virginia, to study exercise and sports science. The road to BU, he admits, was not an easy one, and he and his family are thankful for the opportunity he has had to further his education. “You could look at Jenkins and see that this might be one of the happiest moments of his life,” said news writer Romeo Styles about the day Jenkins committed to Bluefield University. “You could see in his family’s eyes how proud they were. At one point, Jenkins’ father had to try to hold back the tears as he expressed how proud he was of his son.” Jenkins has since earned his bachelor’s degree from Bluefield and is now pursuing a master’s degree in an online BU program. He also came to Bluefield to play men’s basketball where he has also proven to be a winner. In fact, he is the player with the most wins in school history at BU. November 2021 and fell in love with the way he handles himself on the court. He has the fight of a grizzly bear in a rabbit’s body.” Stinson said Jenkins encourages his teammates and backs them up when needed. “Number two is what I call him,” said assistant men’s basketball coach Andrea Stinson. “I came to Bluefield in

many times he has taken big shots and made them to lift his team to victory.” Jenkins played three sports growing up — basketball, baseball and football — but said he realized basketball was his greatest passion at an early age. “I played basketball the majority of the time by playing travel ball so that was really me playing year-round,” he said. “Eventually, basketball became my true love, so I told myself to get as good as I could to reach new heights.” And new heights he did reach. In addition to being the winningest basketball player in BU history, Jenkins was named First Team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference three consecutive years and was named to the Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Second Team in 2022. In addition, he scored nearly 2,500 points during his career and was named Most Outstanding Player for the Rams. A five-year starter, Jenkins averaged 22 points and three assists his senior season. “His passion for the game shows within his game,” Stinson added.

“He handles his responsibilities as a leader on the team and shows it night in and night out,” she said. “There have been too

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Student Spotlights

A New Adventure for K

Communication • 2022

by Kassidy Brown

Katharina Zausek is an international student at Bluefield University who came to the United States from Pinsdorf, Austria, to experience a new place and to get more opportunities for work. “I graduated from HBLA Lentia for product management and presentation,” Zausek said about her education before BU. She came to Bluefield in 2019 on a tennis scholarship, which is her main sport, but she is also a member of the BU cross-country team.

“I found Bluefield through a website that is used for athletic recruiting, and they offered me the best scholarship,” Zausek said. “I really wanted to get out of Austria for a while and come see a new place.” Zausek is majoring in business with a minor in cybersecurity. Because she is hoping to graduate early, Zausek has been overloading her course schedule every semester she has been at BU. “I am currently taking 32 credit hours this semester,” she said, “and I have taken around 25 hours every semester that I have been here.” This is not surprising to her friends, as they describe her as hard- working and dedicated. “Kat is always busy with something new around campus trying to experience and learn as much as she can,” said Zausek’s friend and fellow BU student Jessica Street. “Her work, especially her photographs, show how hard she works on a daily basis.” Other BU students say Zausek is adventurous. “Kat is definitely determined to get things done her way,” said another friend Adrianah Grajeda. “She’s a little bit risky and a bit of a perfectionist, but it’s worth it for the outcome.” Grajeda also said Zausek is “self-driven” and “dependable.” “She is a social butterfly and always makes sure the people around her are happy and taken care of,” Grajeda said. “If I could describe her in one word, I would say dependable.” While Zausek is no longer on the tennis team at BU, she said she still loves the sport. “I just had to put my academics first,” Zausek said about taking a break from tennis. “Taking as many hours as I do and trying to juggle matches and practice was really hard and was taking a toll on my grades, so I decided to quit to focus on my future.” And Zausek has big plans for the future that include a lot of moving around and eventually living in America. “I did an internship at the biggest consulting company of the world in Vienna (Austria) — Accenture,” Zausek said. “They are also based in Florida and New York. I will be the first student who graduates (from BU) after two and a half years, which will boost my resume. So, I am done in May 2022. I’ll fly back with my family and stay the summer in Austria. After that, I am flying to Miami or

Photo by Nathan LePere .

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Katharina Zausek

New York depending on where Accenture accepts me and move into my apartment.” Zausek said she plans to stay and work at Accenture in America for one year, using the added year international students get in America after graduating from college. “After that, I will see,” she said. “What I will definitely do is take a break from playing tennis and dance for one year in America.” Zausek said she is ready to graduate and excited to see what her future holds. “I’m not sure exactly what I will be doing for my career later in life, but I am excited to see where my life is going to go because I love adventure,” Zausek said. “I am also looking forward to a technology break once school is over.”

Photo by Nathan LePere .

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Local Trails Spotlight

Local Trails Spotlight

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Local Trails Spotlight: Pinnacle Rock

by Nathan LePere Graphic Communication • 2024

Pinnacle Rock State Park is just 15 minutes north of campus in Bramwell, West Virginia, right off Route 52. The park has several short trails and attractions to choose from. Among the more natural attractions is a playground, picnic shelter, and public restrooms. The main attraction that gives the park its name is a 3,100-foot sandstone stack called Pinnacle Rock. The rock formation has a trail that leads to a viewing deck at the summit providing

an outstanding view of the surrounding mountains. If you dare to step off the viewing deck, however, there is a small cave you can easily climb to. There is also a smaller rock formation, Turkey Rock, near the picnic shelter that has a short trail circling it. Beyond the rock formations,

the park has many other trails to explore. The park also features a small lake, named Jimmy Lewis Lake, at the lower end of the park. Most of the trails on the park grounds connect to the lake, but many are very steep in some places. If you are not up for a hike, the lake is just off Nemours Road by way of Route 52. But if want to hike around the lake there is a trail that follows the ridge circling the water. The lake also has a boat ramp and allows fishing. This park is definitely a place to visit if you are in the area as it has something for anyone looking to spend a day outdoors. The park has a few short trails if you just want a good view along with more intense trails if you want a workout. The park also has a picnic area and playground to host any outdoor event and a lake with easy access to fishing if you just want to kick back and relax. Photographs by Nathan LePere.

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Sports

Illustration by Ben Ayers

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Red Hot Start for Rams Baseball

by Andrew LaPan Sports Communication • 2025

game of the season. Lewis and freshman designated hitter Reece Genter were tied for leading the team in home runs with three each after the first 15 games. “We have a great approach as a team,” said Genter, who also plays catcher for the Rams. “We know what we need to do, and if the guy in front of us does not do what is needed, we step up and do it.”

The Bluefield University baseball team got off to a hot start to the 2022 campaign, winning the first 15 games of the season, which is the best start for baseball in school history. Now 23-14 (as of April 15, 2022), the team attributed much of its early season success to hitting. During the 15-game winning streak, the Rams averaged 12 runs per game and scored double digits in 12 of their first 18 contests, including 21 in a lopsided win against Toccoa Falls College in Georgia on February 11. The team hit at an average of .353 during that stretch, which was fifth-best in the nation. At that time, senior Eligha Lewis led the Rams in hitting. He had a team-high 28 RBI and 26 hits, including a grand slam in the first

The Rams’ defense was good during the 15-game winning streak. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Voss led the team in earned run average at 3.12 at that time. Sophomore Andrew Arguello was not far behind with an ERA of 3.18. Both players led the team in strikeouts with 21 each through 15 games. “All the pitchers have been good,”

pitching coach Garrett Schilling said. “Ben Coffman had some issues in the start of the season, but it has worked itself out. A great addition to the pitching rotation has been the Tayman twins (Roy and Ryan). They have been producing very well.” Editor’s Note: For the team’s schedule and latest statistics, visit bcrams.com.

Photo by Nathan LePere .

Photos by Nathan LePere .

The Rampage 22 The Trio Sports

by Andrea Stinson

Sports Communication • 2023

Bluefield University student-athletes Jaydn Hoover, Destiny Long and Monay Galloway are known as The Trio, a group of

Coach Mullins offered Long a basketball scholarship to attend BU first, but then soon followed with an offer to Hoover. Finally,

friends who share a special bond and who have been on an incredible adventure together since they were in middle school. Long and Galloway became close friends first through middle school track, and Hoover later joined the trio through basketball. As their basketball careers progressed to East Forsyth High School, the three became even closer to each other.

he invited Galloway to join the Lady Rams, allowing the trio to remain intact and to venture on their college journey together. “We are fortunate to have Monay, Destiny and Jayden as a part of our program,” Coach Mullins said. “Their individual games complement each other so well. Destiny has a natural athleticism that is hard to stop. Jayden has ball- handling skills and a scorer’s mentality, and Monay is the glue to the group.” Outside of basketball, as friends, the three say Long is known as “the goofy therapist,” Hoover is considered “the mother figure,” and Galloway is regarded as “the backbone,”

“To be honest, I started bringing Jadyn around

our friends, and then it just became the three of us,” said Galloway, who served as a go-between and who was ultimately responsible for the creation of the trio. They shared more than just sports, according to Hoover. “We spend a lot of time just hanging out and simply enjoying one another’s company,” Hoover said. The bond, they add, is like a sisterhood that expresses affection and honesty above all else. “I love you,” each of them say to one another with a sincere, affectionate voice. After high school, they each had to decide where to go to college — a decision they say could have become a problem because they did not want the bond of their friendship broken. Originally, they weren’t considering Bluefield University, but during a basketball recruiting trip to see someone else, Coach Corey Mullins noticed the trio. He said he was very impressed with the way they complemented one another, and he soon realized they would be a good fit for BU — and not just one, but all three, better together. Photo by Nathan LePere .

they said as they laughed in agreement. While on their college journey at Bluefield University, they are not only teammates and friends, but also suite mates and roommates. And, the intimacy they share has spread to their families as mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers from each family of the trio family have become close to one another. “We don’t know how our parents became so close,” the trio said. They have a family group chat that keeps everyone in the families up to date on anything that happens while on their college journey. Friendship is a situation of mutual trust and support between two or more people that allows you to include another person in your daily life. This trio appears to know exactly what they want from their friendship and will not allow anything or anybody to stand in their way. The rest of their college journey will be memorable and an unbreakable bond between the trio.

Illustration by Ben Ayers

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Employee Features

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Professor Walter Shroyer: “Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists”

by Daniel Mullins Communication • 2022

Over the past 31 years, Walter Shroyer has served Bluefield University as a full- time art professor and chair of the Art Department. That tenure will end after the 2021-2022 academic year when Shoryer retires from his work “inspiring the next generation of artists.” “The arts are important to who we are as humans, expressing our emotions and the pleasure of life itself,” Shroyer said. “No one wants to live in a home with just blank walls. That sounds like a prison. I believe the arts inspire us to be better people.” During his time at BU, Shroyer envisioned an art center and fundraised “over $500,000 to renovate the old boiler building on campus to the state-of- the art Don and Maria Cox Visual Arts Center.” He has also offered a ceramics course, co-taught an interdisciplinary course on the Holocaust, and co-taught an online class about the Appalachian Trail.

Shroyer was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys hiking and has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, which stretches about 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine. He also loves gardening and spending time with his wife, Linda, two sons, Michael and Forrest, and grandchild, Donnacha. Shroyer completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Georgia, where he originally enrolled as a forestry major and took ceramic classes as electives. “At the end of my sophomore year, after some praying and soul searching, I changed my major from forestry to art,” he said. “I love the creative nature of art, making something of value out of nothing.” Shroyer also completed a Master of Fine Arts at Pennsylvania State University. Since, he has taught at Penn State, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University Perimeter College, and Bluefield University. “He helped me learn that showing my artwork was important,” Agnew said. “He also showed me how to write artist statements, take slides of my artwork, write my teaching philosophy, and how to write an artist’s CV (curriculum vitae). He also had me attend an art conference (SECAC) with him to see how they work, since I was interested in teaching. As a senior, he had me apply to five graduate schools, so I could continue my education to teach art.” “Seeing some of these students have successful careers in art has been very rewarding,” Shroyer said. “In addition, having students taking art as an elective and seeing them learn, grow, and get excited about art has been very satisfying.”

Additionally, his art has been featured in exhibits across the country, and he attended a month-long seminar on Appalachian Culture hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts at Ferrum College. Shroyer taught and advised Charlie Agnew, a Bluefield University alumnus who is now a Middle Georgia State University art professor. “Mr. Shroyer always inspired me to do my best and to look at the world through God’s eyes,” Agnew said. “There is a marvelous creation out there to be inspired by, and he has always created art inspired by it. He has had a long career teaching and inspiring artists. I only hope I can do as well as he has inspiring the next generation of artists.”

Photos by Nathan LePere .