The Rampage October 2019

ISSUE No. 2 | October 2019

Bluefield College Student Newspaper

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Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Review

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Top 5 Eating Spots in Bluefield

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Meet Athletic Director ToniaWalker

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The Rampage

Table of Contents

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Opinions

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Video Game Review

Student Spotlights

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Stories

Artwork

Employee Feature

Meet the Team

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Sports

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The Rampage Student Newspaper © Bluefield College. Magazine design by Ben Ayers and Clara Blevins. “Media Management” promotion design by Ben Ayers; idea by Clara Blevins. Sponsor ads by Clara Blevins. Front cover, back cover, sectional, and supplemental illustrations © Ben Ayers. Magazine printed by Wordsprint. Special thanks to Dr. Cynthia Bascom and Professor Chris Shoemaker for making our student newspaper possible and giving us students the freedom to grow it.

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The Rampage

Opinions

To Those Not in Band (…and Those Who Are) by Hayley Moore General Music and English Writing • 2020

F irst, I want to start by saying that being “first” is something deemed important today. First in flight. First place winner. First lady. First is history; it is success. Even this story started with the word first. Being first, however, takes work, steps, and practice. This year, the first ever Bluefield College marching Ram Band has been feeling that pressure, and joys, of being the first. As a member of this historic band, I would like to take everyone into a week in the life of a marching band member. Maybe it will give you a new perspective of band and what it actually means to be in a marching band. To begin with, half of the band members are playing instruments that we don’t even play. I, for example, am a flute player of about 12 years, and I gave my senior recital in spring 2019 (Yay!) on flute. However, I am playing trumpet for the marching band. Totally different world, almost the opposite, and way more disgusting (Listen, make sure that you wear no slip shoes in the band room. Those water puddles are not water puddles. You’ve been warned). Many people don’t realize this, but playing an instrument is extremely physical in and of itself. You have to literally work out your face muscles, fingers, upper arm strength, and lungs every day — all so that you can play one new note at the end of the week. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s progress. Every time I hit a high note on accident, it’s like a mini adrenaline rush. Playing an instrument just makes you feel good if you just do it and do it right.

and get spit all over her shoe, which makes the entire band stop because they’re laughing too hard to play (Gee, I wonder who that was?). It’s also a day when, “Where even are we? What are we doing?” is said more than music is being played. Once the hilarity of the wild goings-on in the band room subsides and rehearsal finally begins, we all just enjoy playing the music and putting it all together. Some of us dance constantly, while some of us just tap our feet to ourselves. All of us sing the songs throughout the week because they’re just so darn catchy. Playing the music is just fun when we finally get it, but when we finally get outside, it’s always a different world. Remember, we are all students first. Learning content for our multiple classes is priority, and over half of us are Dean’s List and President’s List students (Also many of us have multiple jobs, too. But it’s fine). This being said, it is difficult enough to memorize every single note (muscle memory, hands, embouchure) on a new instrument and the sheet music for multiple pieces (notes, rhythms, articulations, dynamics, to name a few things). I personally can hardly focus on the text that I am replying to, and it’s astonishing that my mind doesn’t implode while multitasking in 15 ways while performing. But it makes me better for that, and it truly does help me in my other studies. Now, once we head out of those chapel doors (from our rehearsal locations) and down to that scarred little practice field, everything goes out the window. Not only do we have to remember everything we have to play, how to play it, and when to play it (or twirl it and dance to it, if you’re in color guard), we have to march to it now. In addition to the immense mental capacity that band requires, it is also physically demanding. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can hardly walk frommy dorm to the caf without getting out of breath. I’m already struggling to breathe enough to play the trumpet sitting down. Now I’m being told that I have to physically move around an uneven field, too? Now it may sound like band is super tough and takes up a lot of time that doesn’t exist, and that’s true. However, band is also a ton of fun, and the thrill of performing really can’t be matched by much else. When we step onto the turf at Mitchell Stadium, for those five-or-so minutes, all we are focused on is putting on an amazing performance and having fun while doing so. High school band was all about the competition, the long nights, the travel… but college band is about fun and comfort and an entertaining time. College band is about learning and enjoying what is being learned, too. We’ve already completed a couple of performances under our feet, and at one of those we invited Bland (VA) County High School’s band to play with us. We’re still working hard on our show, and we’re getting ready for the next

few games of the season. Playing music and getting people pepped up is a unique kind of entertainment that really can’t be experienced without doing it firsthand. Overall, the Ram Band is really a family, in a way — extremely dysfunctional, antsy, and just weird— but it’s a family. We take care of each other; if someone is sick or upset, we stop and make sure they are alright. If we are outside, we make sure everyone has water to stay hydrated. If someone plays a passage really well, we say, “Good job!” and if someone plays a passage terribly, we say, “Try again; that kind of sucked.” Really, band is worth the effort because we are growing together as a band and as people.

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“Marching band will forever be my happy place.”

Ashley Young , Junior

I’m not trying to recruit people to join us (though that would be pretty cool), but I do want everyone to consider at least watching us perform once. If you used to be in band and miss it, ask to sit with us in the stands. If you never learned to play an instrument but have always wanted to, do the same thing. Band is important, just as music in general is important, and though it can be a lot of work, it’s all worth it in the end. Maybe this commentary sheds a new light on band and how amazing it is, and maybe it doesn’t. Either way, please be ready to welcome the first ever BC marching Ram Band to the stadium for the rest of this football season. Regardless, we’re welcoming ourselves, and we’re going to have a grand ole time doing it. Go Rams!

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What is even going on? *Laughter* No, seriously. I feel like I’m four months behind.

On top of half of us learning a whole new instrument or playing one that we are not comfortable playing (and basically having one of each), we also have little-to-no practice time, and many of us can’t even make it to that little- to-no practice time because we have other classes. I am one of those students, and I just want to say that one rehearsal behind equals two months behind when it comes to band. This week, for example, I came back to the field only to learn that we had received two new pieces and were setting the drill to those new pieces. It’s hard enough to focus during those three rehearsals a week, anyway. When everyone gets back to rehearsal two of three, everyone is pretty much lost and dazed half of the time. When that’s not the case, some moron brass player decides to honk her trumpet mid-song

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ShaunKolb asks... With Halloween just around the corner, we asked Bluefield College students, “ What’s your favorite Halloween tradition? ” “

What I enjoy most about Halloween is seeing the kids dress up and what kind of costumes they can come up with. It is always fun to see the creativity kids have every year, and it constantly changes. Dressing up for me as a kid was always my favorite part.

Growing up I enjoyed going trick-or-treating with my nieces and nephews. Seeing how excited they would get for Halloween would make me excited as well, and I liked seeing them happy. Now that I am in college and do not see my nieces and nephews, I am able to take coach Kak’s (BC football coach Dino Kaklis) daughters and friends out trick-or-treating.

Tyrice Henry , Senior, Criminal Justice

I liked going out to different neighborhoods and seeing who had the best candy. Candy is the best part about Halloween because it is free. I went trick-or-treating for as long as I could until I got too old, just for the free candy. Of course I still dressed up, but it was always for the candy.

Logan Hinnant Senior, Criminal Justice

Carter Frye , Junior, Education

I like handing out the candy to the little kids on Halloween and seeing all their costumes. I try to give them a fair share of candy so they can get excited about coming to my door. It is always nice to give back to the young kids and see them have fun.

Cynthia Brown Junior, Exercise and Sport Science I just like the overall feel of Halloween. I like the changing of the weather and the seasons. I also like watching scary movies around this time to get into the spirit of Halloween.

DemarcusWimbush Junior, Exercise and Sport Science

Rampage reporter Carly Bailey asked students what they think about residence hall upkeep. Find out what students had to say at bc Rampage.com .

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The Rampage

Opinions

The Reality of Chapel by Aynae Simmons Communication • 2021

Students listen to the same three songs and have to stand for all of them. I’m sorry, but doesn’t that get a little boring? If you want your students to be engaged, shouldn’t you find out what they actually like or want to talk about? Use that in chapel. We have about one good speaker throughout the whole year. Notice what I said: year. I feel that everyone else just cannot connect with students. It’s like they’re lecturing the Word to us instead of trying to help us understand it with real-world problems.

An example would be the week of October 2, where the speaker droned on and on about his life and the Bible. It wasn’t interesting or engaging. Students just need speakers that can help them get through college and life with God. They want variations of songs that make them feel something and not just to pass the time. It needs to change or students will have the same negative feelings toward Wednesday chapels. If this is something that we have to go to in order to graduate, at least make it worth the credits.

E very Wednesday, students go to Bluefield College’s required chapel service. We sit for about an hour (sometimes more) to listen to songs and hear a speaker. I can see they’re trying hard to incorporate more “modern” things happening in churches, like having a basketball player rap a verse or having a speaker that relates to students. In my opinion, they aren’t doing a very good job. It seems that they try too hard and miss the mark completely.

by Clara Blevins Graphic Communication • 2021

Publisher: Developer: Rating: Teen ReviewedOn: PC (Steam) Other Consoles: Xbox One, PS4

In Shadowkeep, Guardians return to Earth’s moon in response to a seismic disturbance and are confronted with nightmares from the past. Eris Morn, an expert on the darkness, calls Guardians to discover the secrets behind the source of the nightmares. The Hive stands in the way, guarding the pyramid that Eris Morn believes holds answers. Meanwhile, mysterious red Guardian-like phantoms are floating all over the Moon, and nightmares are appearing in lost sectors all over the galaxy.

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

9.25 Score:

Armor 2.0

NewQuests UI

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Review Gameplay: 9.5 – Destiny gameplay has been updated quite a bit with this expansion. Most of these updates are not tied to Shadowkeep specifically, but are still worthy of mention. Bungie has redesigned the pursuits tab, renaming it quests and separating bounties from quests. This has made it easier to keep track of your bounties and quests. For PC players, Bungie has also added the ability to have a key binding for quests. This addition means you can go directly to quests without having to go to the map first. Another new addition to gameplay was the addition of finishers. Finishers are an attack you can use when an enemy’s health is low. It is a bit hard to adjust to using a finisher instead of your fist. However, it looks pretty cool and with the right armor mods can reload your weapons or regenerate your health. With the release of Shadowkeep, Bungie updated how armor works in Destiny 2 with what they are calling Armor 2.0. Mods are no longer single use, which means once you can unlock them you can use them on any piece of armor. Each armor piece has a limited amount of energy available and each mod costs a certain amount of energy. The energy is elemental, so void mods will only be available on void armor pieces. Not all mods are tied to elements. Additionally, armor appearance has been updated. The new system is similar to how ornaments work on exotics but uses unlocked Eververse items, which can be earned through gameplay or purchased frommicrotransactions. I do wish that there were more options available beyond Eververse items for appearance ornaments. A cool thing about this change to appearance is that shaders and ornaments are separate. This means you can keep the shader and change the appearance (or do the reverse) which is nice if you like to change your appearance often.

Story: 8.75 – Shadowkeep’s storyline is terrifyingly brilliant. It taps into our Guardians worst fears and explores some of the greatest mysteries in the Destiny universe. Guardians are confronted by nightmares from the past, in both enemies and the boss rooms. After the main quest line is over, there is still story to play, especially since the Vex are being drawn to the Moon by the source of the nightmares. The actual campaign is a bit short and abrupt. However, the lore and the impact to the overall story of Destiny is well done as always. It is very interconnected and the questions we have been asking since Destiny 1 are beginning to be answered. A lot of pieces are falling into place.

Graphics: 9 – Bungie has done an amazing job on the graphics for Shadowkeep. However, some older computers may struggle with the textures and details. The use of the red throughout the design of Shadowkeep gives a spooky feel to the Moon and to the new enemies. They’ve even incorporated the red into the updated destinations map. The new design of the Hive and the Scarlet Keep stays true to the Hive designs of the past, but adds a layer of change that is evidence of the new influence of the nightmares. Playability: 9 – With this update, all items were brought up to power level 750. The highest power level required for the main storyline for Shadowkeep is 850. However, it is recommended that your Guardian be light level 760 for the first story mission of Shadowkeep. Leveling up your Guardian’s power level isn’t very time consuming as long as you are willing to use some blue items temporarily. The difficulty of the new story missions are equal to those of the last expansion. Some of the missions are not easy, but are still doable for single players. While it is made for single players, having a fireteam of at least two players does help. ReplayValue: 9.25 – Destiny has a very high replay value as there are always more things to do and places to explore. The bounties, adventures, dungeons, and seasons, all add variety to the game. Bungie has added a seasonal artifact that gives mods specific to the season. There are many new and old places to explore on the Moon. Some of the details in the story missions are easy to miss the first time around since you can get focused on seeing what happens next and not so much your surroundings. There are bounties with rewards for replaying story missions as well. Bungie has made it worth something to replay the missions, and there is so much to do on the Moon after the main story is over.

The “Garden of Salvation” Raid

WorldDesign: 10 – Shadowkeep’s main story line takes place in a familiar location: the Moon. For Destiny 1 players, being on the moon will bring with it nostalgia and oh so many memories. Bungie did a good job balancing the changes they made to the area with the nostalgic aspect of the world design. They have added more of a variety of things to do in the patrol zones, including lost sectors and the Vex Offensive. Additionally, there are some pretty cool Easter eggs hidden in some of the most unexpected places.

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Student Spotlights

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Get to Know ACE Tutor

SamKimzey by Clara Blevins Graphic Communication • 2021 Tutors are an essential part of every college community. Their goal is to help their fellow students excel. There are many names on the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) tutor roster, and Bluefield College senior Sam Kimzey is one of them. A History and Christian Studies major from Blacksburg, Virginia, Kimzey came to Bluefield College because it was close to home and family. As the oldest of eight kids, Kimzey did not want to go too far from home. His other reasons for choosing Bluefield College include that his dual enrollment credits transferred and he was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Kimzey became a tutor because tutoring is a requirement as a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. He views tutoring as a form of teaching, which he enjoys. His favorite part of tutoring is being a resource to both students and professors. “I enjoy seeing [fellow students] succeed, and knowing that I contributed or helped in that,” Kimzey said. Kimzey’s tips for getting the most out of tutoring sessions are to be punctual, be respectful of the tutor’s time, communicate professionally, and take responsibility for your work. He added that you should be proactive so that when you come to a tutoring session you have a foundation to build on. Kimzey said essays are the most common assignment he helps students with. Specifically, he said many of the students who come to him need help finding and using good sources, and help figuring out how to cite them correctly. The other common problem Kimzey helps with as a tutor is figuring out what to take notes on for studying. Kimzey said this is especially true for history classes which often have short answer and essay tests rather than multiple choice. Kimzey said his favorite place to study is in the library, but he also enjoys reading and studying outside. “If I’m here on the weekends, I go into classrooms when there are no classes and I’ll study there or write papers there,” he said. To those considering becoming a tutor, Kimzey said to focus on your strengths. Tutor for classes and subjects that you enjoy. Talk to your professors and advisor, because they can help you figure out which classes you would be a good tutor for. Kimzey also suggested that students thinking about becoming a tutor talk to Wayne Pelts, assistant director of the ACE, to see what openings there are. This semester Kimzey is tutoring for World Civilizations I and the Biblical Perspectives sections taught by Dr. Tracey Stout and Dr. Shawn White. In his spare time, Kimzey also enjoys reading, playing the piano, singing in choir, watching movies, and playing frisbee. For more information about tutoring and available tutors, email Pelts at wpelts@bluefield.edu .

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I like to hang out and spend time with my family when I can.

- Sam Kimzey

Tutoring is a form of teaching, and I enjoy teaching.

- Sam Kimzey

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Student Spotlights

Meet BC’s New SGA President by Chris DeBerry Graphic Communication • 2020

J unior Aynae Simmons has taken over the role of Student Government Association (SGA) president for the 2019-2020 academic year at Bluefield College. She said she became interested in being SGA president to correct problems she perceived existed at the school. One of the major problems Simmons said she believes exists at the school is the defining of priorities. The administration she believes does not put students first, and she was convinced that it would take a strong voice from the students to correct this.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Simmons is majoring in communications. Her goal after she graduates is to become a broadcast journalist because she loves reporting on stories and “looking around for the next scoop.” Her communication skills and personality are the traits that helped her become SGA president. Now, she has the platform, she said, that will help her change the school for the better. As SGA president, Simmons is responsible for being the voice of students. In fact, with the help of SGA she has already organized and held the college’s first open forum, giving students a chance to directly voice their opinions and issues to the administration. Her goal is to improve communication and the relationship between the

administration and students. She said she believes “students want to feel like they are actually in college and not in high school.” She said she also hopes to improve student morale and the general perception students have toward the school. “ I hope that before I graduate, I canmake adifference and make it so that students will enjoy being here for reasons other than athletics and to just get a degree.

SGA President Aynae Simmons

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Stories

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BC Stu dents Tour and Study China by Kaleigh Compton Communication • 2020

A s part of Bluefield College’s study abroad program, BC junior Noel Saunders, alumnus Breanna Buterakos, and Professor Cynthia Bascom spent part of their summer in China, touring the country and teaching and studying at Jiangsu Second Normal University. The trio made their way to the other side of the world just after Spring Commencement this past May spending exactly one month in China where they toured Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall of China (the group’s favorite), and many other places in Beijing. Dr. Bascom also traveled to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors. Dr. Bascom, professor and chair of the BC Department of Communication, is no stranger when it comes to Asia. Several years ago she visited both Taiwan and Hong Kong, but this is her first time visiting mainland China. She spoke about how the mainland was “less westernized” than the other Asian regions she had visited. Most of their trip for the group was spent in Nanjing at Jiangsu Second Normal University who partners with Bluefield College to send professors and students from China to BC in the fall of each year in addition to accepting BC visitors in Nanjing each summer. While at Jiangsu, Dr. Bascom taught four classes. “I tried to teach things that would be interesting to them (the Chinese students),” Dr. Bascom said. “One of the things that I shared with them was idioms that we (Americans) use. Some of the idioms they knew very well, like ‘a piece of cake.’ They did not know what ‘he kicked the bucket’ meant.” Dr. Bascom said she was curious about what her students thought of the United States compared to their home country. She said overall they admired America’s pop culture and were interested in everything from Hollywood movies to American pop music. Regarding their own country, they shared how they had a great sense of history and community. In addition to their studies and tours, Dr. Bascom and the students said they enjoyed how gracious and kind the Chinese were. “I’ve been to four continents, and the Chinese are simply the most hospitable

loved walking to the Yangtze every day. It was about three miles each way from where we were staying, but I walked there almost every evening to watch the sun set. I would definitely recommend students go! It’s the experience of a lifetime.” Saunders, who is very interested in linguistics, was able to sit in on a linguistics class at Jiangsu. She said one of her favorite parts of the trip was learning Mandarin through conversations with everyone from the shopkeepers and passengers on the bus to the professors and Chinese students. “The people who are at Nanjing Second Normal University are very supportive,” Saunders said, “and are eager to help students pursue whatever their interests are at the academic level.” Dr. Bascom spoke highly of the gardens in China. She admits she has a green thumb and enjoys spending time in her own garden at home. “I love gardening, and the Chinese gardens are beautiful,” she said. “Some of them are hundreds of years old. Their gardens have four elements: a water feature, plants, rocks, and some kind of structure.” Dr. Bascommentioned how highly-prized some of these rocks can be and how most are excavated out of the ocean and placed in these oriental gardens. As a whole, the BC travelers encourage others in the Bluefield College community to take advantage of the annual trip to China. In fact, Dr. Bascom said that traveling to other countries is one of the “most enriching things you can do in your lifetime.” “Students need to go,” Dr. Bascom

said. “I hope this program continues for many years, because it truly was a phenomenal experience. I am so pleased I went.”

people I’ve ever met,” Buterakos said. “The school in Nanjing was wonderful, and I absolutely

(Pictured left to right) Noel Saunders, Breanna Buterakos, and Dr. Cynthia Bascom

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Stories

The Top Go-To by Faith Pike Graphic Communication • 2020

NewWellness Center for Students College Opens

by Shaun Kolb Exercise and Sport Science • 2020

B luefield College students are fortunate to have various restaurants sprinkled throughout town. When hunger hits or when we need a good go-to spot to eat, students have tons of options to choose from. Yet, sometimes the choosing can be difficult. If you ever find yourself in need of a suggestion, here are several places to try. 1. Shogun convenient for students as it is within walking distance of campus. The menu includes a wide variety of options, such as sushi, hibachi, and tasty Thai dishes. Not only does Shogun cater to your taste buds, but it is also easy on your wallet. The restaurant’s affordable pricing is nearly unmatched, as you get very large portions for what you pay. “I like eating at Shogun because it is a great price for a large quantity of food,” said BC student Destiny Furrow. “The service is also really good, and it is close to the college. It is one of the best restaurants in Bluefield!” 2. El Patio Mexican Grille If you’re in the mood for Mexican, look no further. Also conveniently located in the College Plaza Shopping Center, El Patio is a locally owned restaurant that offers a wide variety of Mexican dishes. Here, you can expect to find good food at great prices. They run specials Monday through Thursday and occasionally offer discounted meals. One of El Patio’s most popular deals is “Taco Tuesday” when they serve tacos for just one dollar. El Patio even purchases their meats fresh several times a week to ensure their food is the best quality for their customers. This Japanese restaurant is one of the most popular food options around. The location is extremely

B luefield College took a big step in addressing the recreational and fitness needs of students when it acquired the Herb Sims Wellness Center earlier this semester. For years, Bluefield College students were provided with memberships to the Community Center located on College Drive in Bluefield, West Virginia, which seemed to meet all the fitness needs for students. Rising costs for use of those services forced the college to move its exercise equipment on campus but to the limited space available inside the Student Activities Center Annex, which administrators knew was only a short-term fix until the school could find a better option. “The move will bring together the equipment that was previously available in the Annex (for all students) and the Douglas building (where BC athletic teams worked out) to a single space conveniently located near campus,” said Josh Arnold, associate vice president for student development. Located on Stadium Drive less than a mile from campus and near Mitchell Stadium where the college plays its football

games, the Sims Wellness Center features a variety of exercise equipment, including stationary bikes and treadmills, as well as weightlifting equipment, including squat and bench racks and dumbbells. “The facility is closer to campus so it is easier to get to,” said senior football player Logan Hinnant, “and players don’t have an excuse anymore for missing lifts.” Also available at the Sims Center will be a basketball court for sports teams to use for practice and other needs, as well as space once used for snack bars that are now empty spaces the school can use for anything. “The facility is bigger and has more equipment,” said BC junior football player Demarcus Wimbush. “I like that we can use the basketball court in there for stretching; it gives us more space.” According to Arnold, the college did not purchase the Sims Center, but instead is leasing the facility and plans to do so for the foreseeable future. Available to athletic teams since the acquisition, the center is now open to all BC students, faculty and staff.

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ating Spots

in Bluefield

5. Applebee’s This well-known chain restaurant is one of the most popular places to eat among Bluefield residents and BC students. Applebee’s offers a wide variety of options from steak and chicken, to seafood and pastas. There is something perfect for everyone here. Applebee’s is also famous for offering its appetizers half-priced daily from 3-6 p.m. as well as after 9 p.m. They are not only very affordable, but also have great service. Applebee’s even offers curbside service when you order a meal online or by phone. “I like Applebee’s because after 9 p.m. they have half-priced apps,” said BC student Mason West. “Frommy high school years, it’s been the hangout place for students after 9.”

4. Savory Flavors LLC Stop by locally family-owned Savory Flavors for a delicious “home-cooked” meal. Specializing in southern style food, Savory Flavors serves a variety of platters, including pulled pork, chicken, barbecue nachos, barbecue tacos, loaded potatoes, and much more. They serve their 12-hour hickory smoked barbecue straight from their custom smoker daily. Some even say “it’s the best smokin’ hot, smokin’ good barbecue you’ll find in this neck of the woods.” This location is also very convenient for students since it is just an eight-minute drive from campus. “I like to eat at Savory Flavors because it’s so small and the owner is so friendly,” said BC student Aynae Simmons. “The chicken platter is amazing, along with the buffalo chips, and the barbecue sauces tie it all together. I suggest if you want somewhere new to eat, it should be there.”

3. The Villa Step onto an Italian street corner at one of Bluefield’s best Italian restaurants, The Villa. They have a variety of entrees, including both Italian and American dishes. From their four-cheese lasagna, creamy crab and shrimp ravioli, fettucine alfredo, and delicious steaks and sandwiches, you are sure to find something that will please your appetite. They also have a very inviting atmosphere set with dim lights and candle-lit tables. It is perfect for date nights or a nice dinner with friends. “I love attending The Villa for the fantastic spaghetti,” said BC student Leah Plott. “The taste is irreplaceable. The wait staff has always gone above and beyond. The environment sets a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere after a long day.”

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Stories

Update on

by Axel Johansson Graphic Communication • 2022 Recreational Fields

B luefield College made significant progress on a recreational fields project last year, but BC students are learning now they will have to wait to take advantage of the new recreational space. Originally scheduled to be partially open for use this fall, the recreational fields have been delayed, according to BC leaders, because other projects have had to take precedence. Projects of this scope, they said, take considerable capital, equipment, engineering work, and other resources to complete. “We are currently working with a contractor to assess a construction timeline to complete the full project,” said BC athletics director Tonia Walker. “However, we hope in the next few years to come this will be a completed project that will not only benefit athletics, but the whole student body.” The idea for the recreational fields developed more than a decade ago when Dr. David Olive took over the role as president of the school. Dr. Olive and the BC Board of Trustees completed a facilities masterplan with a vision for how the campus would look in 2028, which included the recreational fields.

Located across College Avenue from the main campus and adjacent to the Advancement and Alumni House, the fields will provide outdoor recreational space for all students, but also a training ground for some of the school’s athletic teams, including women’s softball, men’s baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, and a future lacrosse team. The first phase of development began in December 2018 and included the completion of excavation work on an upper field, which is going to be a rectangular multi-purpose field. This winter excavation work will begin on the lower field. In the future, plans are to lay two rectangular multi-purpose fields and one turfed competition softball field. Walker said that both the multi-purpose fields and the softball field are going to be turf, which is preferred because of the high usage by the students and the area the fields will be on. “I think that would be an extraordinary benefit for the school’s athletic teams,” said soccer player Gustavo De Oliveira. “I think that it will help the school’s goal of becoming a top school in our conference, and it will also become easier for our

coaches to recruit when we can present a good field close to the school.” Josh Cline, vice president of advancement, said that funds for the recreational fields project have come exclusively from donors and institutional resources and not from student fees. Both Cline and Walker said they also want students to be clear that the new facilities will be available for use by the whole student body and not just athletes. When not in use by BC students, they added, the fields will be used by the community. The fields are being developed on 11 acres of land donated to the college by the late Katharine B. Tierney, a former Bluefield College trustee. The property had laid dormant since the college took possession nearly 30 years ago. Students who have questions about the project may contact Cline or Walker by email at jcline@bluefield.edu or twalker@bluefield.edu .

(Top) A facilities masterplan with a vision for how the campus might look in 2028.

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Artwork

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BC Senior

Austin Eatmon Discusses His Artistic Inspiration

by Clara Blevins Graphic Communication • 2021

An art business major from Alabama, senior Austin Eatmon came to Bluefield College because of his high school football coach. He came to play football, but is now part of Bluefield College’s cross country team. However, creating art seems to be his greatest pastime. Eatmon started drawing when he was three. He was born with heart problems, so he didn’t get to spend a lot of time outside. Drawing was one of the only things he could do. While he was growing up, his family wondered where his skills came from. In December 2018 when he reconnected with his dad’s side of the family, he discovered that his biological father was an artist. Eatmon’s favorite part of being an artist is the creativity. “There is so much creativity that is unexplored,” he said. Among his favorite creations is “A Really Tall Boi.” “I did it over the summer (of 2019), and it was watercolor,” Eatmon said. “I wanted to give it to my friend when I got back, and so I did. She really liked it.”

Eatmon prefers to look at a drawing or painting and draw it in his own style. He said that he doesn’t really like to do realism because most of the time he wants to escape reality. For the past year or two, Eatmon said he has been getting into tribal art. He is fascinated by how a group of curves can make a shape. Most of the paintings he does take a whole day to create. Eatmon sells his work when he can. He sent some of his work to a store owned by an acquaintance of his mother, and the store sold all but one of his pieces. When it comes to mediums, Eatmon said his favorite would be acrylic. “At the same time, I have really, really gotten into watercolor,” he added. In his spare time, in addition to his art and cross country, Eatmon likes to play video games and listen to music.

Austin Eatmon

“A Really Tall Boi” Watercolor

“The LoneWolf” Acrylic

“RobinWilliams, Genie” Acrylic

“Tribal Seahorse” Acrylic

“Spider” Oil, Pastel

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Axel Johansson

Pursues Soccer and Graphic Design at BC

by Kaleigh Compton

Communication • 2020

Johansson says he really enjoys designing logos when it comes to design. He once made one of his friends into a cartoon on Illustrator. He also designed a sunset just using the letter “A,” which he says he really liked. He would not say he necessarily has a particular style to his work. He depends more on what is appealing to the eye. Johansson’s favorite thing to do back home is to mostly hang out with his friends. During the summer, he likes to swim in the ocean since he lives right by the coast. Johansson mentioned how in the winter months, the ocean freezes where people can go ice skating literally on the frozen water. What a completely different world. Johansson says he mostly misses his friends and family back home and speaking Swedish. He also mentioned how much he misses Swedish candy. “It (candy) is much better in Sweden,” he said. “We have a system where it’s like a lot of different pockets with candy and you can pick your bag.” Not only does Johansson excel in design and on the field, he also is an academic scholar. During his freshman year, he received a Certificate of Academic Excellence for a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 and higher. He has been rewarded countless times by being on the college’s President’s List. Johansson was also rewarded the Valena May Parsons Communication Award this past spring by his advisor Allen Roberts, assistant professor and chair of Graphic Communication. “Axel is a talented artist and a pleasure to have in the classroom. He’s a quick learner who consistently produces eye-catching work that often exceeds expectations,” said Roberts. “In his first year here at BC, his exemplary performance across all his classes helped him earn the communication scholarship that is awarded each spring.” Johansson will graduate from BC in 2022. He is still deciding on what he wants to do for a career. He said his dream job would be a graphic designer. He hopes to someday settle back down in his home of Sweden, but says he would not mind getting to know more places here in the states.

Axel Johansson Photo © Andre Cardamone

A xel Johansson’s love for soccer and graphic design has brought him from his beloved home of Sweden all the way to the small town of Bluefield, Virginia. Johansson is a sophomore graphic communication major who plays center back for the BC Rams men’s soccer team. Johansson chose to come to BC after admiring the college’s website. He said the site looked very “professional,” and he liked how Bluefield had his chosen major. Seems fitting that the graphic design of the college drew Johansson to the town of Bluefield. When asked what he likes best of Bluefield, he says he likes the people, the “beautiful” mountains, his coach and all of his teammates. Johansson says he picked graphic communication as his major due to the direction he chose to take back in high school. “In my high school, we get to choose a direction in which you take your courses,” he said. “I chose technology direction. There was a lot of math, physics, and stuff like that… Then you can choose another direction during your second or third year. I chose design where we did a lot of Illustrator, Photoshop, and stuff like that.”

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Sports

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Walker Br ings New Vision to BC Athletics by Jordan Gonzalez Sport Management • 2019

Bluefield College has a new full-time Athletics Director (AD). Her name is Tonia Walker, and she’s ready to make a difference. Walker takes over leadership of the Athletics program after BC’s Mike White served in the role on a part-time basis while also serving as head coach of the Rams baseball team. The change in leadership comes in response to the need to have a full-time AD manage BC’s growing Athletics program, and Walker says she’s eager to fill the role and grow the Bluefield College brand. Walker is a native of Newberry, South Carolina. Her small-town roots are what make her ideals unique and what will make change possible with the Athletics program. Along with her work experience at previous schools, she brings a desire to take on the challenges of a small college athletics program. Walker attended Hampton University where she was a two-sport athlete in basketball and softball. She understands what it is like to be a student-athlete and the struggles of balancing athletics and academics. After college, she stayed in Hampton, Virginia, where she began a career in sports administration with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). While working with the CIAA she also earned a master’s degree in sports administration and recreation from Old Dominion University. After seven years with the CIAA, Walker went to work for Winston-Salem State University

in North Carolina. After 14 years in sports administration, she was promoted to Athletics Director at Winston-Salem State, a position she held for four years before accepting the call to serve at Bluefield College. She said after reviewing the job description and the needs at BC, she believed her experience would be ideal for the job. With her, Walker brings what she calls four pillars that will guide her and the Athletics program to success. The first pillar is academic excellence. This she said is the starting point of making a successful student-athlete. She shared with BC coaches that she wants to make sure that the college’s student-athletes graduate, and that her goal is to provide the academic support necessary to make that happen. “We are building support systems and tracking grades to increase GPAs and the retention rate,” Walker said. “We are making sure that we are doing all that we can to increase graduation rates.” The second pillar is athletic success. Walker admits that her sports background has made her competitive and has given her a winning mentality that she hopes to instill in coaches and athletes. “We want to win,” she said. “We want our students to compete in regional tournaments. We want them to be recognized. We want to compete in national championships.” •••

ToniaWalker, director of athletics

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••• However, being successful does not come overnight, Walker admits. At Winston-Salem State, she acknowledges that success didn’t come right away, but in the latter part of her tenure there Winston- Salem State won about 30 conference championships. “It takes time to build and change a culture,” Walker said. “The culture comes with recruiting, funding, and a brand.” Walker’s third pillar is community engagement. “Athletics is the front porch of every college,” she said. “That is why I push so hard on our brand. It is who we are, how we show, how we present ourselves that makes us attractive.” That is why she wants BC athletes to look and present themselves in a certain way. She wants others to take notice of what BC athletes do, and she wants to make sure that student-athletes garner respect from the community. That’s why she has BC athletes engaged in community service opportunities, such as working in elementary schools and feeding the hungry. By presenting our brand in a positive way, she said, we will be able to secure essential funding, improve facilities, and make Bluefield College a better program all around. “What this does is translate into ticket sales (and) support for our athletic programs,” Walker said. “It translates into Ram (Booster) Club members and into our institution as a whole.” Related to building that BC brand are new guidelines for dress for student-athletes,

which Walker acknowledges have been a bit misunderstood. Adidas is the Athletic Department’s sponsor, and as such they have invested in the BC sports programs so that they might see the Adidas brand promoted. That means that during Bluefield College competitions or games, practices, and community events that BC athletes should where Adidas apparel. “When walking around campus or going out with friends, wear what you want to wear,” Walker said. “I think (the dress code) was misconstrued.” Infrastructure is the last pillar in Walker’s formula to create a successful program. She wants to make sure we have the right people in the right positions, the right coaches, and the right policies and procedures to protect the college. She has spent most of her time over the last three months working with the administration, making sure that we have all the right pieces in place to achieve success. She wants to ensure that the athletics program is headed in the right direction because that will benefit the entire school. Beyond instituting her four pillars, Walker’s immediate goals for the Athletic Department are to address the athletic infrastructure and begin branding the athletic program. She also wants to ensure Title IX compliance and send the message to all sports programs that there will be no tolerance for anything less than excellence. She also hopes to address issues with athletic expenditures. “I tend to feel that there was spending that has not been managed throughout the past,” Walker said. “I want to pull that in to

have a better understanding of what we are doing with that money.” Walker said she knows that the road to success will include road blocks along the way, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to overcome those obstacles. Among those, she admits, are limited financial resources and current frustrations students have expressed about facilities, housing, campus safety, and food services. She said she hopes the administration can prioritize the issues and address some of the problems right away. “Hopefully, we as the administration listened,” Walker said about the frustrations shared by students during a recent open forum. “There are some things that we can be flexible on. I know I can be a little more lenient on personal issues, like the hat situation. I am a southern girl so wearing hats inside was looked at as disrespectful.” She did say, however, that she will stand by her rule against doo-rags because of the stereotypes associated with that headwear, and she will stand by having a professional day of dress, because she feels it will prepare student-athletes for a future outside of sports. “I know I am doing this for the best interest of the student-athletes,” she said. “I just hope that they trust what I am doing because I just want the best for them.” All in all, Walker might be new to Bluefield College, but she is ready to make a difference and to make it a better place for student-athletes to enjoy.

by Jakobi Montgomery Graphic Communication • 2021 Walker Clarifies Expectations for Stud

Longtime athletics administrator Tonia Walker came to Bluefield College this summer to serve as BC’s new athletics director (AD), and with her Walker brought a set of high expectations for student-athletes that she hopes will enhance the brand of athletics at BC. “Athletics are the front porch of any college,” said Walker. “At a college you hear more about athletics than academics in many cases.” And since student-athletes are often in the limelight, Walker said it’s very important that they present themselves in the best way possible. In fact, she shared certain expectations with players related to dress and

athletic apparel. Those expectations, she admits, may have been a bit “misconstrued.” Regarding athletic apparel, Walker shared with athletes her desire for them to wear only Adidas brand gear. When she said this, athletes thought she meant they had to wear Adidas everywhere when in reality she meant that they should wear Adidas products while at games, practices, or in the spotlight for media interviews. The reason behind the commitment to Adidas products, Walker said, is the fact that the company invested in Bluefield College Athletics so it’s and important that their logo and their brand be

promoted by BC student-athletes. Wearing other competing brands, she added, would violate the agreement the college has with Adidas. Regarding dress, Walker has established a weekly Professional Dress Day for athletes — a decision some student- athletes have expressed frustration about. And while some students have shared that they think they are being asked to dress up for no reason and are being told what they can wear, Walker says that is not the case at all, and Professional Dress Day is far more than that. “Professional Dress Day exceeds Wednesday, and it kills the stereotype of