TrevEchoes | December | 2017 |
September 2017 | Trevecca Nazarene University’s Official Student Newspaper Since 1944 | TrevEchoesOnline.com
NEWS Driving or walking? Reporter tests
Trojan Idol back for which is faster on campus
season 13
Meet the top 10 contestants
before they hit the stage Tuesday.
Page 2
Wells family re-
unites in Georgia
Hall
Page 4
SPORTS
Men’s basketball Stewart driving to class.
manager a two-time BY Blake Stewart
MICAH MANDATE EDITOR
cancer survivor Maybe it’s raining. Maybe
chapel is starting now. Maybe
EDITORIAL it’s the hill from the library to
Don’t believe every- caf.
Whatever the reason, you
thing you read jump in your car and head
to your next destination on
Page 6 campus.
Driving, instead of walking,
on campus is a popular option
Finals schedule for students and sometimes
faculty and staff. But on a
Page 8 small campus, it turns out
driving doesn’t save you any
time. In fact, the time it takes
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
to find a parking spot adds
several minutes to your trip.
/TrevEchoesOnline
TrevEchoes reporter Blake
Stewart spent two days going
@TrevEchoes through his normal Monday,
Wednesday, Friday routine.
@TrevEchoes One day he drove everywhere.
The next day he walked
everywhere.
TrevEchoesOnline.com
The result?
It took him nearly 20
TrevEchoes@gmail.com additional minutes to drive
from class to class. And, by
walking, he got in 3,500 steps
TNU Events App of exercise for the day.
On Monday, his driving day,
it took Stewart 36 minutes to
INSIDE drive and walk from parking
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 spots. On Wednesday it took
him 16.5 minutes to walk
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 everywhere. He started at the
TSAC lot both mornings and
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
made seven location changes
throughout the day. On
average, it took him about two
to three minutes to walk from
Campus welcomes first on-campus therapy animal in dorm
BY Susie Taylor approved as a support animal
CONTRIBUTOR
to help her with her anxiety
Tiffany Russel sits on her bed and depression. “My pet has
and pets her cat, Princess, who always been a safe thought for
is snuggled up next to her on a me. Sometimes it’s easier for
pillow. me to relate to her than other
Princess, the 7-year-old humans. I don’t have to talk
feline, has made her home in to her, but I also can if I want
Tennesee Hall as the first ever to. There’s just something
support animal allowed to live comforting about having her
in a dorm on campus. here to comfort when things
“It’s meant a lot to be able to are bad.”
have her with me. Her presence This is the first year that
helps me feel less alone,” a support animal has been
said Russel, who got her cat allowed to live in a Trevecca
Stewart walking to class.
location to location.
moving his truck, he would
After
often still have to walk to get
from an available parking place
to his destination.
TrevEchoes: Explain your
method. How did you do this?
Stewart: For driving, I got a
timer and I clocked how long it
took me to drive and walk and
to put my bag in and out of my
truck. I used the stop watch
everywhere I went. On the day
I walked, I used the timer to
time how long it took me to
walk from place to place.
TrevEchoes: Were you
surprised by the results?
Stewart: No, not at all. On
a campus this small, it’s so
much easier to find a parking
spot when you get here in
the morning and just be done
with it. It was much more
inconvenient for me to drive. It
was dreadful.
TrevEchoes: What took the
longest time?
Stewart: Finding parking.
And then, you have to go
further away than you might
think to find parking, so the
walk time ended up being
longer.
As enrollment continues to
increase on campus, parking
can be a concern for some
students.
But, it turns out there is
plenty of parking on campus,
it’s just not always available
right in front the building
CONTINUED PAGE 4
residential hall, but nationally
more universities are
discussing whether students
can bring therapy animals
to school with them. At
Trevecca, a seeing eye-dog
was approved last year. When
that student made the request,
university officials updated
the university’s official policy
about service and support
animals for students with
disabilities.
“Animals really help people
deal with their issues and are
Student drug
testing poli-
cies outlined in
handbooks
BY Brooklyn Dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Trevecca o�cials said the university’s
residential sta� followed campus policies for
student drug tests after the university was
accused last week of racial discrimination for
drug testing two students.
Though student development o�cials
cannot comment on specific incidents, Steve
Harris, associate provost and dean of student
development, said the university’s policies
on drugs and when testing can be done are
clear.
Trevecca’s student drug testing policies
were the subject of much debate, on campus
and on Twitter, after two students were
tested after a residential sta� member said
they smelled marijuana coming from a dorm
room. When the tests came back clear, a
former student took to Twitter to post
his concerns that the testing was racially
motivated.
The university released the following
statement after the tweets were shared more
than 700 times:
“After a briefing of the facts, we are
confident the search was not racially
motivated and proper protocol was followed.
We take any reports of this type seriously
with an expectation that all people on
our campus will be treated with love and
respect. We are fundamentally committed
to ensuring that Trevecca is a safe place for
all students and desire that no student feels
targeted for any reason. Trevecca will not
publicly discuss details to protect student
confidentiality. Administration o�cials are
doing a full investigation of this matter and
will take steps to ensure that all students are
treated with respect and sensitivity.”
Harris said the university’s policies for
when and how students are tested are clearly
written in both the residential assistant and
residential director handbooks as well as
communicated and practiced during sta�
training.
The protocol for requesting a drug
test from a resident is found in both the
residential assistant and residential director
handbooks and states:
“In any situation where the residence life
sta� becomes aware of the possibility that
a student has or is using alcohol or other
substances not in line with our behavioral
expectations, they are expected to address
them immediately. If an RA is the first person
to become aware of this type of situation,
they should stay with the student and contact
CONTINUED PAGE 3
Princess sitting on the dorm bed. Provided by Russell.
CONTINUED PAGE 5
2017 | December | TrevEchoes

Trojan Idol back for season 13

BY Audrey Yawn roll.”
STAFF WRITER
Auditions for this show are open to anyone
Ten students on Tuesday and Thursday will on campus. This year around 35 students tried
compete at the annual student-organized out for one of the 10 spots.
singing competition and show. The show is Tuesday and Thursday night at
The show, formatted after the popular 8 p.m. in Boone. There is no cost.
television show American Idol, will showcase
a variety of genres and talent, said Kelly Hall,
SGA social life director.
“[It is] really a widespread of talent,” said
Hall. “A lot of pop, indie, soul music, rock and

Trojan Idol Top 10

Gracie Pierce Madison Clements Ian Miller Cameron McClure Tyler Smith
Hometown: Cleveland, Hometown: Louisville, Hometown: Auburn, Hometown: Mason City, Hometown: Orange, Texas
Tennessee Kentucky Nebraska Nebraska

Dana Hood Que’Dell Chithambo Hanna Fahl Brianna Corbett Ysabel Mark
Hometown: Rocky Hometown: Nashville, Hometown: Milwaukee, Hometown: Ventura, Hometown: Twin Falls,
Mountain, North Carolina Tennessee Wisconsin California Idaho

Photos provided by Uy Nguyen.

Trevecca board votes to continue studying merge with ENC

BY Brooklyn Dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Trevecca Board of Trustees
voted unanimously during home-
coming to continue the potential
merger with Eastern Nazarene
College.
The vote was specifically on
whether or not to establish a
joint task force, as requested by
ENC. This is the next step in the
merging process.
This is a substantial step in the
merge’s 18-month timeline.
University President Dr. Boone
said this task force has several
responsibilities.
“One is to create a three-year
budget plan to bring ENC to sus-
tainability. The second one is to
establish enrollment goals that
will demonstrate success,” Boone
said. “[The] third one is to
present the funding resources for
supporting ENC until the merger
could occur. Fourth would be to
gain denominational approval for
the merger.”
The Nazarene denomination
establishes regions. ENC and
Trevecca are in different regions,
therefore the denomination
needs to agree that though ENC
is in a separate region, it is op-
erating as a legal entity of Trev-
ecca, which is in the Midsouth
region.
Boone said the earliest pos-
sible date for the merge is June
of 2019, because of the need to
secure state accreditations.
Boone today released the fol-
lowing statement:
“The mission of Christian
higher education is a significant
part of the work of the kingdom
of God. The work of ENC is im-
portant to us, and we have creat-
ed a Joint Task Force in an effort
to find a way to enhance and
continue the mission of ENC. We
recognize that the realities before
us require the provision of God,
the favor of donors and granting
authorities, and the success of
enrollment efforts.
So we put our shoulder to the
task of strengthening this mission
while being sensitive to the fidu-
ciary responsibilities of Trevecca
and ENC. As stewards, should
closure be necessary, we will act
in the best interest of the mission
of Christian higher education and
as stewards of kingdom assets
toward this end.”

Drug testing
policies
their RD for assistance. If their RD is not
available, then they may ask for help from
another RA in the building until another RD
can be contacted to come and assist.
The sta� member(s) should speak with
the student(s) involved to determine the
nature of the situation. It is advisable to
speak to the students in a private place, and
for most situations it is best to speak to them
individually.
The purpose of these conversations is to
fully understand what has happened, what
has led to these circumstances, where they
have been, what have they used, who else
was involved, etc. If the situation escalates,
then the goal is to de-escalate it as best
as possible. In some extreme situations,
security may be called for assistance.”
Ronda Lilienthal, associate dean of
students for residential life, said there has to
be a reasonable cause for requesting a drug
test.
“The first thing is there has to be
reasonable cause. We don’t decide all at
once. Our policy would state that reasonable
cause, which could be the smell of marijuana,
someone presenting as though they are on
something, a reliable report or someone we
know they are aware this is happening, or if
there is drug paraphernalia that is noticed,”
Lilienthal said.
TrevEchoes | December | 2017 |
The next step is typically a room search.
Lilienthal said that the search requires two
Substance Use/Abuse Policy in RA Handbook
people, including an RD present if possible.
If there is still question whether a student
· If the smell of marijuana is present, and/or a student displays be-
is using the drug, part of the process is
requesting a drug test. havior indicating drug use, if eyes are dilated, if drug paraphernalia
“The incident report comes from the is found or if reliable reports are received, then two staff members
resident hall to my o�ce. At that point, I talk
should talk to the student(s) involved.
to the individual, [I] try to find out more than
what was in the report. I try to get to know
· One staff member should stay with the student at all times until the
them,” Lilienthal said. situation is concluded.
A drug test is then scheduled. · A room search should be done by at least two staff members, one
The policy states that if the test comes being an RD. The search should proceed as outlined in the RD Hand-
back negative, the school pays. If it comes book.
back positive, the student pays.
· Answer any questions the student may have and let them know that
The investigation is dropped if the test
is negative. If positive, the student is sent you will be sending an incident report to the Office of Student Devel-
opment and that they should expect a call in the next couple of days.
through the judicial process.
Lilienthal says students can decline a drug · Make sure that they are ok before dismissing them and assure them
test, but student development proceeds as that you are there to assist them any way you can.
though he or she is guilty.
· If the student is acting strangely, is unconscious or fading in and out
Harris said there are typically two or
three drug tests per year of non-athletes. of consciousness, then consult with the associate dean of students
The athletic department is required to for residence life and a decision may need to be made to call Security
test student athletes regularly per NCAA (615.642.3523) or 911 for help.
guidelines.
· Once the event in concluded, every staff member involved should
Annual required RA training teaches
RAs how to properly handle situations
complete an incident report and email to the associate dean of stu-
dents for residence life immediately. Deliver any contraband to the
with residents and illegal drugs through
simulations and evaluations. Office of Student Development the next work day.
The training is focused more on how · Follow up with the student the next day to see how they are doing
to handle the situation and not on the
and to answer any further questions.
discipline, because the job has so much to do
with relationships, Lilienthal said. SOURCE: Trevecca Residential Assistant Handbook

New coffee shop opens on Worship bands get creative

Nolensville Pike
BY JOSHUA MOORE
CONTRIBUTOR
Jonathan Avery Harper considers him-
self a co�ee conniosseur of Nashville co�ee
shops.
He has already been to check out the latest
co�ee shop to open near campus.
The Red Bicycle, which is located 1.9 miles
from campus, opened last month on No-
lensville Pike. It now ties with Crema, also
1.9 miles away, as the closest o�-campus
co�ee shop to campus.
Harper ordered the Red Bicycle’s famous
Cuban espresso drink. He was not disap-
pointed.
The Red Bicycle has been in Nashville
for five years and moved their location to
Nolensville Pike in October. The renova-
tion of an old car garage right o� the main
road attracts many students and non-stu-
dents alike. The shop is well known for its
self-proclaimed relaxing atmosphere and
unique batch of food choices.
The owners of the Red Bicycle, David Trett
and Amanda Machala, agreed to move their
location from Chapel Hill, NC to Nashville
when they noticed the growing popularity
of the city. They opened two shops: one next
to downtown and one in Madison. Trett and
Machala decided to move the Madison store
to Nolensville Pike this past summer.
“Once we saw that the rent got lowered
on this building, we wanted to move in right
away,” said Charles Stevens, the general
manager of the Red Bicycle on Nolensville
Pike. “We’ve been looking at this building
for a while, so when the opportunity came
we took it.”
The store opened with a promotion of free
co�ee for any customers who came to the
shop.
“We’ll probably do some more events like
BY AUDREY YAWN
STAFF WRITER
Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.
these for college students,” said Stevens.
“We’re still figuring it out, but we’d like to
have a day to appreciate students like we
appreciated everyone on opening day.”
Lots of students already appreciate the
newly established co�ee shop.
“It’s a very relaxing atmosphere,” said
Harper. “It’s nice and respectful for those
who decide to go there and study.”
Another student, Maeve Tamez, enjoyed
visiting the Red Bicycle as well, saying that
the whole shop had an overall feeling of
comfort with its decor and cozy furniture
placement.
“And the co�ee isn’t bad either,” said
Tamez. “I ordered the iced Cuban and it was
pretty good quality.”
Stevens assures that the quality of the
Red Bicycle’s co�ee should be at least in
the top five of Nashville’s co�ee shops. He
does not want the shop to move too far away
from co�ee with its di�erent drink and food
o�erings.
But some of the unique products this
specific chain of co�ee shops o�er are their
crepes. There is a range of di�erent flavors
and toppings for these French pancakes.
Some include Nutella with strawberries
while others have bananas, peanut butter
and walnuts.
“Our crepes are signature for Red Bicy-
cle,” said Stevens. “Though we still want to
focus on co�ee, our crepes won best crepe in
Nashville in 2015.”
He encourages Trevecca students to come
give it a try.
“We know everyone has di�erent vibes
and tastes,” said Stevens. “We would really
like for people to just come over and give
us a try. We’re a very chilled and relaxed
environment and would love to have you
stop by.”
Josiah Adams rubs his flip-flop
drumsticks together in anticipation of
playing his water cooler drum. His band
has been asked to play a worship song
without traditional instruments.
Adams, a member of a band of NPWI
students, is trying to get top marks on his
band challenge assignment.
Every week students in the program
are given a project that involves them
recreating an arrangement of a song
with certain twists, like nontraditional
instruments or no instruments at all.
Once they present their song on Friday,
a new band leader is chosen and they get
a new assignment. The quick turnaround
with sometimes strange guidelines
can be stressful for some bands when
preparing to perform.
National Praise and Worship Institute,
NPWI for short, is a program that is
overseen by Mark Hosny, who is the
director of praise and worship program.
NPWI o�ers two years of training with
a certificate at the end or the option to
transfer into another degree.
Each week the students in the program
participate in a band challenge. The
challenge part is more about pushing
each person to think outside of the box
when creating arrangements in their
bands. Despite the name, Hosny stresses
that these weekly assignments are not
meant to pit bands against each other,
but rather give him an opportunity
to give immediate feedback on their
performances.
Hosny has specific goals in mind for his
students as he creates the assignments.
“My goal is [to work on] the big
three: musical, spiritual, and personal
strengths and weaknesses,” said Hosny.
Adams in an NPWI band challenge.
The band challenges have grown in
popularity online.
“The NPWI band challenges are
gaining more viewers on the live streams
than any other event on campus,” said
Vince.
The weekly band challenges aren’t
just for perfecting their craft, but helping
members grow closer together.
“It’s like living together,” said a first
year band member Sarah Adams.
Second year band members put more
focus on learning as much as they can
before leaving for their internship
“Hailey is playing guitar this week and
she doesn’t play guitar,” said second year
band member Michael Vince about band
mate Hailey Long. “It helps you learn
things you might not do otherwise.”
The day of the performances brings out
mixed emotions for all of the performers.
“My favorite part is that when it’s over
I’m relieved of the stress,” said second
year band member Jordan Smith.
Some see the stress as a learning
experience that they can reflect on.
“Stress is good because it helps you
grow,” said second year band member
Hailey Long. “It makes you realize how
much you’ve really learned.”
It’s about breaking chains and building
confidence in the students, said Hosny.
Even though band challenge is for a
grade, the students look at it as much
more.
“Friday isn’t just another class to
us. It’s a whole worship experience by
itself,” said Vince.
The band challenges happen every
Friday at 1p.m. in Zelma Waggoner
Performance Hall which is located in the
Jackson Center for Music and Worship
Arts and are open to students, faculty
and sta�.
2017 | December | TrevEchoes
NEWS
Wells family reunites in Georgia Hall
BY MARIA LOURDES MONTEROS
STAFF WRITER
For Laurie, Je� and Mary-Grace
wells, Friday night means movie night.
The family of three was reunited
in the same building in August
when Laurie took the job of Georgia
Hall resident director. Je� is in his
second year as associate professor of
communication studies and Mary-
Grace is a sophomore media arts major.
But as the three of them have each
found their place on campus, they have
to make sure to schedule family time.
“You’d think that they’d be hovering
over me all the time, but they haven’t
sought me out as much as I’ve sought
them out,” said Mary-Grace. “It’s a
smooth transition from living with
them to living sort of without them.”
While many RD’s at Trevecca live
with their family on campus, no other
RD has a student at Trevecca.
Mary-Grace and Laurie.
Driving vs. Walking
you’re headed to.
Walking, instead of driving,
would improve parking options
for commuters and guests and
improve student health.
“Fewer cars driving through
the campus would be a great
thing,” said David Caldwell,
executive vice president for
finance and administration.
For Jared Mannen, junior
exercise science major, driving
to class allows him to sleep in
a bit longer.
“I drive to class because one,
it is cold in the mornings and
two, I can get up later for my
8 a.m. I save a lot of time by
driving because it is usually
easy to find a parking spot that
early in the morning,” Mannen
said.
In addition to less traffic
on campus, walking reduces
pollution and provides built-in
exercise.
“As humans, we do a lot
of things that don’t make
sense and one of the more
curious things is that we drive
everywhere and spend a lot of
time in the gym making up for
activity,” said Jason Adkins,
environmental projects
coordinator. “It is a small act of
insanity to use a 2,000-pound
vehicle run off of fossil fuels to
move a 175-pound person a few
hundred feet. Let’s embrace
our body’s efficiency to move
ourselves across campus.”
For commuters and students
living on campus, finding a
parking space on campus and
staying there for the entire day
could save time and improve
parking.
“The biggest advantage
Laurie wanted the opportunity to
become an RD at Trevecca, but being
her daughter’s RD wasn’t part of the
original plan.
“I just kept my ears open— hoping
there was a chance to be a resident
director again,” said Laurie. “I really
loved that position when I did it years
back.”
After working as a nurse, Laurie
thought she would be the new resident
director for Tennessee Hall. This was
until she was asked about how she
would feel to be in the same dorm as
her daughter.
“[Mary-Grace] was hesitant at first,”
said Laurie. “But I think she knew it
was a great job for me and she was very
supportive.”
Je� was hesitant at first, too.
Mary-Grace, Laurie and Je�.
“In my opinion, college is about Mary-Grace’s parents have been the midst of all of the fun stu� [as well
gaining independence. It’s the first intentional about providing her the as] the crisis.”
step of separation where you still have space she needs to have her own To keep up with each other, the Wells
some oversight from authority figures experience on campus. family books Friday nights for movies
but you’re gaining independence,” he
“We’re trying to keep our hands o� and dinner together. Though Je� and
said.. “If we were right here on campus,
as much as we can,” said Laurie. “I Laurie live just up the stairs from their
we thought maybe that part of her
have to make myself not call her when daughter, they don’t see her everyday.
socialization would be lacking.”
I worry.” “She will just pop up. Sometimes I
That hasn’t been the case as everyone
With Mary-Grace being the only don’t see her for a couple days and then
is busy with their own roles on campus.
child, Laurie is adjusting to being the sometimes she’ll come in the morning
“One night in particular, (mom) “mom” of around 100 Georgia Hall to make her co�ee in my apartment
wasn’t answering my texts so I thought residents. if she’s out of creamer,” Laurie Wells
I could go up to their apartment and see said.
“I do have empty nest syndrome
what she’s doing,” said Mary-Grace
because Mary-Grace isn’t at home with Je� and Laurie plan to live on campus
Wells. “I opened the door and all the
us anymore,” Laurie said. “I feel like I long after Mary-Grace graduates.
RAs were in there crowded around my
have more time to put my life into the “I want to do this until I can’t keep
mom having a serious discussion.”
lives of residents. I like being here in up with the girls,” said Laurie Wells.
“It is a small act
of insanity to use
a 2,000-pound
vehicle run off of
fossil fuels to move
a 175-pound person
a few hundred feet.”
-Jason Adkins
to the university and what I
believe would make the biggest
difference for students and
faculty is to park behind the
Jackson building and walk a
bit,” said Caldwell.
Parking in Jackson may be
an inconvenience, but Caldwell
says every time he passes the
Jackson building there have
been plenty of spaces.
“There is no reason for able
bodied people to need to move
their car around the campus- Campus map. Provided by Trevecca.edu.
we should only be accessing
our cars when we have need to
leave campus,” said Caldwell. Monday’s path Wednesday’s path
Walking also builds
community.
Senior Dominique Obunaka
tries to use his walking time to TSAC -> Library -> Arts TSAC -> Arts Annex ->
connect with people.
“When driving you lose a
lot of time on a small campus Annex -> Cafeteria Cafeteria -> Library ->
like Trevecca,” said Obunaka.
“This is a good time to interact
with students and get to know -> TSAC -> Library -> Martin building -> Li-
people, and you can’t do that
behind the wheel of your car.”
Mackey brary -> Mackey -> TSAC
NEWS TrevEchoes | December | 2017 |

Therapy animal on
campus
very therapeutic,” said Ronda
Lilienthal, associate dean of
students for residential life. (Is
this title right?)
The new policy states
that students must meet all
requirements and be approved
by a doctor or psychiatrist
before they are allowed to
bring their support animal
to the residence halls. The
student must qualify for a
disability, prove that having
their animal is necessary for
them to enjoy living in the
residence halls as much as any
other student and prove that
the relationship between the
person and the animal is in
fact a bond that is therapeutic.
The documentation must be
submitted 90 days before
prospective housing will
be needed for the animal.
The coordinator of student
disability services then must
review the documentation and
begin coordination with the
Office Student Development.
Once approved, the student
must also follow several
guidelines is responsible for
any damage their animal
causes on campus and must
make arrangements for the
animal to be cared for if they
leave campus.
Additionally, roommates
must be consulted. If a
roommate of a student with a
support or service animal has then I believe a support animal
allergies or fear of the animal, can help remove some of those
feelings,” she said.
the university can make other
housing arrangements for Lilienthal said she may
them on a case-by-case basis. consider designated support
Princess is the first case animal rooms in every
under the new policy on residence hall, or moving the
campus, but Lilienthal said animals downstairs so that
that if it goes well she expects they have easier access to the
more students to make similar outdoors.
requests.
Michelle Garertner, director
of the Center for Leadership,
Calling and Service and
coordinator of student
disability services, sees how
animals can benefit students.
“I advocate for removing
barriers for students with
disabilities. If anxiety or
depression is at such a high level
that it’s difficult to function,

Student places in state pageant with a little help from friends

BY ALLISON REYNOLDS
CONTRIBUTOR
After pulling together volunteers
for hair and make-up and with a
tiny budget for dresses, freshman
Nicole Hare in November was
named first runner-up in the Miss
Tennessee Collegiate Pageant.
It was Hare’s first pageant and
with no experience going in, she
said she was blown away by how
far she made it.
“I’m happy for the placement,
because there are girls who have
been doing it for years and had
$7,000 dresses. I came in with no
experience and dresses I bought
from Dillard’s,” Hare said.
The Miss Tennessee Collegiate
Pageant takes place every year in
Union City, Tennessee. According
to the organization’s Facebook
page, the goal is “to provide
outstanding high school & college
girls the opportunity to compete
in a pageant system that has the
highest of moral values.”
Hare was excited to try it, but she
lacked both experience and money.
“It’s di�cult because I’m a
college student, and I’m broke,”
she said.
Her mother paid for the hotel
room, but she still had to come up
with the $400 to enter the pageant.
She brought her friend along to
avoid the cost of hiring a makeup
artist.
“It was my first time doing
makeup in a professional
environment,” said Destiny Lastra,
a freshman, who acted as Hare’s
makeup artist for the pageant.
“It was a little intimidating,
because one of the makeup artists
had worked for Miss Universe
and had been doing makeup their
whole life.
Hare also brought along a friend
to do her hair.
“We all worked really well
together,” Lastra said. “Knowing
that we had the disadvantage made
us work harder to win.”
For Hare, it proved that it could
be done on a small budget and with
the help of good friends.
“Getting first runner-up in my
first pageant really showed that it
didn’t matter if you didn’t have the
nicest dress, as long as you really
tried,” Hare said.
All of this searching for dresses
and planning only added to Hare’s
chaotic college schedule.
Hare is a double major in Biology
and Chemistry. She hopes to
someday become a forensic doctor.
Hare’s proud mother, Kathy Hare,
said her daughter is knowledgeable
about many subjects and she
suspects that’s also something that
contributed to her high placement
in her first pageant.
For now, Hare is back to her
books on campus.
“I don’t know if I’m going to
do it next year, but it was a great
experience.”
Hare posing in the paegent.

Commuter students find their voice on council

BY MARIA LOURDES MONTEROS
STAFF WRITER
With all the challenges that
come with managing course
loads, a job and a 30-minute
commute, Nancy Habib found
it difficult to decide whether
she should spend more time on
campus or head straight home.
Through the commuter
council— a group of about
18 commuting students—
commuters like Habib, freshman
English major, are given the
opportunity to join more
campus activities and voice their
concerns.
“Being a commuter is like
getting a tiny bite out of a bigger
slice,” said Habib. “People
say we don’t really get the full
college experience.”
Commuters say that because
of fewer hours spent on campus
and Nashville’s increasing
traffic, it is sometimes difficult
to participate in student life on
campus.
“They do have a lot of events,
but in the end, it really boils
down to whether it’s worth
sitting through rush hour
traffic,” said Habib.
Habib is one of 523 commuter
students at Trevecca this fall. A
few years ago, Trevecca formed
the commuter council as part
of the university’s effort to
get more commuter students
involved on campus.
According to Sofia Guerrero,
commuter council member,
commuting students typically
don’t see the need to get involved
because it’s easier for them to
find activities outside of campus.
“The job of the commuter
council is to create an awareness
that commuting students can be
part of something on campus,”
said Guerrero.
Zach Church, Benson Hall
resident director and staff
liaison with the commuter
council, agrees.
“The biggest mistake
commuter students make is to
lean into the support system
that they’re used to,” he said.
“It has to be an active choice to
get out of their comfort zone.”
At least two Wednesdays a
month in the commuter lounge,
Church meets with the commuter
council to discuss events and
possible solutions to issues
related to commuter students.
“My job is to listen to those
concerns and take them to the
people that can do something
about that,” said Church. “A
lot of those aren’t just easy
overnight fixes.”
To entice campus involvement,
the commuter council holds
themed events for commuting
students every month.
“I have to say, whoever
thought of the free Baja lunch is
a genius,” said Habib. “College
students and free tacos are
perfect together.”
On average, the commuter
council spends at least $300
on every event. The free Baja
lunch— one of the highest
attended commuter events—
costs around $400.
However, despite the efforts
of the commuter council along
with the university, Church said
this year’s commuting program
hasn’t been well attended.
Trevecca’s commuter student
retention rate tends to be lower
than residential students,
Church said.
According to a study conducted
by researchers at San Diego State
University, two-thirds of college
freshmen commuters dropped
out before sophomore year.
Freshmen commuters also tend
to have lower graduation rates
than on-campus freshmen.
“If you just look at college
the same way you look at high
school as a place where you go to
your classes and then go home,
what you’re getting out of it
is an education,” Church said.
“When you develop an emotional
connection and you get to know
your professors on of a personal
level, that causes someone to
fall in love with the place and
feel like they belong there.”
In response, Church, along
with the commuter council, is
doubling his efforts, not only
through events, but also by
giving commuters a place they
can call their own.
“There are places on campus
where commuter students can
study, there are places where
they can hang out and talk with
other people, but there’s not
really a place where they can veg
out,” Church said.
As a way for commuters to
acclimate, the university is
working on redesigning the
commuter lounge to look like
a living room. The university
intends to replace plastic tables
and chairs with couches and
cabled television.
“If all you do is just go to class
and then sit in your car, the only
person getting the raw deal is
yourself,” Habib said.
The council has an open format,
which means the members don’t
have any official positions and
all commuting students are able
to join.
Commuter students interested
in joining the commuter council
should contact Zack Church
at ZPChurch@trevecca.edu.
Commuters can also keep track
of events by joining the TNU
Commuters Facebook group.
2017 | December | TrevEchoes
EDITORIAL & OPINION
Column: Meet your chaplains
Freshman class
Joshua Connerty
My name is Joshua Connerty, and
I’m from Plymouth, Massachusetts.
I’ve got a blue fish named Azul, and I
love him deeply. I’m an organizational
communications major with a passion to
plant churches. I love Jesus and people
with all my heart. I want to spend
the rest of my life investing in people,
encouraging leaders, living with the
lowly, and pouring out the love that God
has poured into my heart, because it’s
overflowing. I don’t have life figured
out in the least. In fact, I’ll probably
be changing my major to religion pretty
soon. I want to double minor in pastoral
studies and small business management.
As most of you know, life can be a little
overwhelming, but I’m excited because
my heart is full and my soul is anchored
in hope. God has been faithful thus far,
and if He was going to leave me, He
would’ve left a long time ago. Trust me,
I’ve given Him plenty of opportunities to
give up on me, but He just keeps chasing
after my heart. I want to pursue people
with this unconditional and unrelenting
reckless love for the rest of my life. It’s
what I was made to do.
Editorial:
It’s o.k. to
be skeptical
BY Brooklyn Dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With social media always being
one click away, we can so often
find ourselves getting sucked
into cute puppy videos or random
articles. Twitter is no exception
for interesting content that
keeps readers entertained. It can
become easy to fall into a trap
of believing anything we read.
However, we must keep in mind
that anyone with a Twitter account
can post whatever they want, with
essentially no restriction. Social
media threads can often provoke
emotion, typically anger. Before
getting upset about something you
read online, be mindful that it may
not be completely true. Yes, we
do live in an era of “fake news,”
but fake news can show up in a
variety of formats. It’s o.k. to be
skeptical of information you read
or hear. More often than not there
is more to the story. Sometimes it
is left out intentionally, sometimes
unintentionally. Being skeptical
does not make you a bad person,
but rather a citizen who is confident
enough to ask questions and smart
enough to recognize dissonance
within any sort of information.
As young adults preparing
holistically for the real world,
being skeptical is a skill we cannot
overlook. Social media’s presence
has forever changed how we
absorb information. This is mostly
Sophomore class
Ben Griggs
I was born and raised in Spring
Hill, TN. I didn’t necessarily have
the plan to go to Trevecca. (or the
grades). In High school, I served
as the captain of the football team
(Go Spartans) and also participated
in a few stage productions. I didn’t
really know what I wanted to do
with my life past high school. I
thought, after my first musical,
that I wanted to do shows for
the rest of my life. I went to visit
Trevecca on Spring Break of my
senior year, and it immediately felt
like home. Thankfully, because of a
miracle performed by financial aid,
I became a Trojan.
I didn’t even plan on being a
chaplain. To be quite honest, I didn’t
feel qualified. When I stepped onto
Trevecca’s campus, I knew there
was a desperate need for students
to hear the gospel, and I wanted to
share the good news. The gospel
was meant for EVERYONE. I simply
wanted to be a chaplain because I
wanted to spread the word.
beneficial, but there is a downside
in that we may not always be able to
trust everything we read. For larger
scale news, there are sights that
help debunk fake or skewed stories.
For smaller stories, it is often left
up to the reader to decide.
Former CBS anchor Dan Rather
sums up why skepticism is vital in
an interview with Forbes Magazine.
“The press has a difficult line to
walk between serving the people
(we the people) and sustaining
the pocketbook. I would gently
suggest that readers and viewers
not be lackadaisical in their media
consumption. They must not be
cynical either, but have a healthy
amount of skepticism. Examine the
sources of information, consider the
author’s conduct, or a company’s
motivation, and decide for yourself
which master -- the people or the
pocketbook -- is being served. This
is the challenge posed to all of us in
our so-called “post-truth” and/or
“post-fact” era.”
Junior class Senior class
Lauren Cagle Lexi Sunberg
My goal as a chaplain is to My name is Lexi and I’m from
partner with what the Lord is Budapest, Hungary. As the senior
doing here at Trevecca, that I may class chaplain, my goal for this
represent Jesus and the Kingdom year is to be a listening ear and
in everything that I do, and that a servant to the student body. I
I may be an example of what think it’s a necessary thing for the
it looks like to live a life of the chaplains to do, and I love being
Spirit. a part of people’s lives that way.
My hope for Trevecca this It is a really big honor to walk
year is that bridges are built in with people on their journeys.
the gaps left by brokenness and My hope for the senior class and
shame, and that we would be bold the student body as a whole is for
enough to cross them - that we Trevecca to be a loving and life-
would leave this year equipped giving presence in the lives of
to go share the Gospel of Jesus students, the community, and the
Christ through the love He has city of Nashville. We have amazing
given us, and be activated Christ- opportunities to show love to our
followers bringing the Kingdom neighbors outside of our campus,
wherever we go. and I’d love for that to become
a daily part of the rhythms of
Trevecca. Additionally, my hope
is that we grow into our role as
Kingdom workers and children of
hope.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-In-Chief
Brooklyn Dance
BEDance@trevecca.edu
Sports Editor
Andrew Preston
AMPreston@trevecca.edu
Online Manager
Princess Jones
PMJones@trevecca.edu
Photographers Copy Editor
Uy Nguyen Amanda Johnson
UTNguyen@trevecca.edu AGJohnson@trevecca.edu
Narada Somboon
NHSomboon@trevecca.edu
STAFF WRITERS
Blake Stewart Abby Duren
SBStewart@trevecca.edu AKDuren@trevecca.edu
Ashley Walling Audrey Yawn
AMWalling@trevecca.edu AAYawn@trevecca.edu
Alexis Garcia Mary Eaton
AGarcia@trevecca.edu MCEaton@trevecca.edu
TrevEchoes is published by and for the students of Trevecca Nazarene University. The views expressed in
TrevEchoes are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Trevecca.
Contributors may be edited for grammar, spelling, content, or space consideration. Our office is located in
Jernigan.

SPORTS
Men’s basketball manager a two-time cancer survivor
Photo provided by Trojan Athletics
BY ANDREW PRESOTN
SPORTS EDITOR
Trevecca is a place Todd Welch has called his
home for the past 34 years. During that time,
the longest tenured men’s basketball team
manager has survived cancer--twice.
Both times Welch maintained full duties as
the men’s basketball team manager.
Not only does Welch recall being at
most every game, but the 50-year-old was
disappointed when he was unable attend.
As he reflects on having to fight cancer twice,
he said he relied heavily on his Trevecca family
during those times.
“The Trevecca family gave me hope during
my time with cancer,” Welch said. “I knew I
always had someone there who was praying for
me.”
His cancer journey started 17 years ago on
Dec. 2, 2000.
“I woke up and struggled to get out bed,”
Welch said. “I had no clue what was going on
with my body.”
Welch spent the next week traveling to get
several di�erent opinions, before being told he
NCAA requires colleges to
self-report violations
BY ANDREW PRESOTN
SPORTS EDITOR
Over the past four seasons, the Trojans
have self-reported 18 violations to the NCAA,
second most in the Great Midwest Athletic
Conference (G-MAC) during that span.
Trevecca reported 10 violations in the
2013-2014 season, and like other G-MAC
schools, has seen a decline since then.
“The NCAA’s ultimate goal is to
decentralize the rules and power to the
conferences and individual schools,” Elliott
said. “That’s why new Division II institutions
have a responsibility and requirement to
have a full-time compliance o�cer with no
other responsibilities.”
Larry Knight, a 1967 graduate of Trevecca,
joined the Trojans athletic department in
2010 as compliance coordinator.
“Larry’s job is to educate, inform and find
things that are going on within a program,”
Elliott said. “The problem is the NCAA wants
a school to find violations. If you don’t have
any violations, that can be a great thing, but
NCAA violations reported by each of the schools in the GMAC conference.
needed to have testicular surgery.
After successful surgery on Dec. 8 Welch
returned to the doctor’s o�ce where he
received even more di�cult news.
“I had surgery and went back a week later to
have my lymph nodes removed,” Welch said.
“That surgery determined I needed to have
chemotherapy.”
Welch recalls chemotherapy as one of the
most painful things he’s experienced, but none
more heartbreaking than the inability to have
children.
“The hardest part (of my cancer) was my
wife and I both wanting kids,” Welch said.
“In the end, it was something that just wasn’t
meant to be. We still love each other.”
Instead, the Welch’s take pride in their dog,
Noel.
“She doesn’t take away the fact we can’t have
kids, but sometimes God wants di�erent things
than we do,” Welch said.
Welch has served as the men’s basketball
team manager since 1983, a role he began even
before he attended school at Trevecca.
“I grew up in Nashville, pretty much on this
Hill,” Welch explained. “I started coming to
basketball games when I was young and helped
assist the basketball team in high school.”
Welch spent a year away from Trevecca in the
early 90s working for a minor league basketball
team, before ultimately deciding to stay on the
Hill.
“God told me I needed to stay at Trevecca,”
Welch said. “It was as simple as that.”
Welch was hired as a full-time employee at
Trevecca in 1993.
“Trevecca is like a second home to me,”
Welch said. “I started working and haven’t left.”
In 1999, he met his wife at Trevecca. Rebecca
and Todd started dating in 2000, before the
couple tied the knot on June 2, 2001.
Head men’s basketball coach, Sam Harris,
has had Welch as his team manager since he
it can also mean you aren’t looking.”
Knight serves as assistant athletic director
to Elliott, but functions separately to enforce
rules for the Trojans athletic teams.
“He had the maturity and knowledge to
take us through the process of becoming an
NCAA school,” Elliott said. “The education he
gives to ours coaches is outstanding. Larry is
a phenomenal compliance coordinator.”
Beginning in the 2016-17 season, all
athletic departments within the G-MAC were
required to submit quarterly documents to
the conference o�ce in Indianapolis.
Previously, schools would submit their
all self-reported violations annually, in the
spring, according to Elliott.
“You’re going to break rules,” Elliott
said. “Not always intentionally, but it’s just
going to happen. The NCAA wants us to be
on top of our game by self-reporting our
violations.”
began coaching at Trevecca in 1992 and has
helped Welch through his experience with
cancer.
“More than anything we were just there for
him,” Harris explained. “We’ve been supportive
of him throughout both instances of cancer.”
Harris is entering his 25th season as Trojans
head basketball coach and says having Welch on
his bench is important - now more than ever.
“It helped us put everything into
perspective,” Harris said. “Winning and losing
is important to us, but there are much more
important things in life than basketball, which
was shown to us through Todd.”
According to Harris, having a team manager
as tenured as Welch is uncommon, but he
stresses the importance of Welch’s commitment
to the team.
“Todd’s role has changed over the course of
time,” Harris said. “Technology and life have
changed exactly what he does for us, but he’s
still a big part of our program.”
A decade after being cancer-free, Welch
visited his doctor in November 2011 where he
received more tough news.
“My doctor told me my thyroid was swollen,”
Welch said. “I didn’t know what that meant at
the time. I was having trouble swallowing, so he
sent me to an endocrinologist.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, Welch was sent
in for testing on his thyroid and later that day
would find out three spots in his thyroid came
back positive for cancer.
“I’ve had days where I’ve questioned God,”
Welch said. “Why me, why now, why this? I
always trusted God was going to take care of
me.”
Over a month later Welch had surgery to
remove his thyroid.
“I remember feeling sore and not being able
to turn my neck a lot,” Welch said. “I was told
to take it slow and I’d fully recover.”
For a week after his surgery, Welch was
forced into isolation. He was unable to be within
Soccer player finds purpose
in red-shirted season
BY MADDUX REID
CONTRIBUTOR
Gabby Poston did not spend her junior year
playing soccer.
When a newly discovered heart condition
sidelined the forward, Poston found other ways to
contribute to the team.
“My goal was to push my teammates deeper into
themselves, while pushing them closer to God,”
she said.
Video recording the games, helping on the
sideline, leading a new Bible study and launching
a new blog are a few of the ways Poston spent her
red-shirted season.
Poston grew up playing soccer. After so many
hours focused on the sport, she said it became the
way she identified herself.
During the 2016 season she was nearly
constantly sick. After being hospitalized multiple
times, she was diagnosed with a heart condition
that prevented her from playing soccer this year.
Poston is hopeful her doctors can figure out a
way for her to play again, but in the meantime, she
is trying to be present to what God is calling her to
do, she said.
“It’s been hard, and it really makes you question
who you are. You aren’t here to just play soccer for
four years, you are here to impact people and do
that the rest of your life,” Poston said.
Starting the Bible study is the most significant
way she’s spending her time.
“My heart reaches for broken girls,” Poston said.
Kelsey Fenix, head women’s soccer coach, said
although Poston hadn’t been able to be on the field
with her teammates, she remained part of the team
in other ways.
“You can’t talk to Gabby and not know she loves
Jesus,” Fenix said.
Her role became much di�erent when she began
filming games; Fenix described her as selfless.
TrevEchoes | December | 2017 |
eight to 10 feet of anybody.
“It was one of the worst weeks of my life,”
Welch said. “Not being able to do the basic
things for myself.”
Welch later had a full body scan to find out
the results of his surgery. Welch recalls how the
11p.m. phone call with his doctor went.
“The doctor said I’m all clear and I was like,
‘Wow, great!’” Welch explained. “I tried to go
outside and yell, but nothing would come out.”
Although surviving cancer has been the most
di�cult thing Welch has ever been faced with,
he was encouraged by the support he received.
“It was hard, but I knew I had God on my
side,” Welch said. “I knew he would take care of
me. I knew I had people around me that loved
me.”
Welch says the support from his Trevecca
family made his entire battle with cancer easier.
“I am just so grateful for all those people
at Trevecca who prayed for me,” Welch said.
“There have been so many people that have
been there for me. It’s been so amazing to
see how God works, and I believe he’s still
working.”
Now that the 50-year-old has survived
cancer, he is taking active steps in helping
others defeat their battles.
Welch has raised $2,300 to donate to Making
Strides Against Cancer foundation, which he
plans to donate at the end of 2017.
“You never think about people who have been
a�ected by cancer, but my fundraising is for
such a good cause,” Welch said. “It’s amazing
to see how the e�ects of cancer have touched
people. For people to want to donate so others
can live is amazing.”
Poston has become passionate about her
teammates, deepening their faith in a way that
impacts their daily life.
This semester, Poston’s team Bible study was
focused on the theme, “women warriors of God.”
They discussed powerful stories related to
women in the Bible, making it their goal to build a
community of women warriors.
Poston said her goal for the group was not to
be a teacher, but rather learn how to be vulnerable
alongside her teammates.
Senior teammate, Lauren Winters attends the
Bible study and says that it has given her a place to
process her thoughts and ask questions.
“It has really given me someone to look up to
spiritually, that I can easily relate to,” Winters
said. “It has been a safe place and provided lots of
healing.”
Poston also launched a new blog to tell her story.
“People need to hear not what happened to me,
but what happened through me,” Poston said.
Her blog was meant to her story, and help people
relate to her. Poston wants her blog to be a place of
healing for herself and others.
Although Poston’s injury halted her soccer career
for now, it gave her the opportunity to reach her
potential in ways other than on the field.
“It gave me purpose.” Poston said.
Photo provided by Trojan Athletics
 2017 | December | TrevEchoes

Finals schedule and Library hours

Library hours Tues., Dec. 12 Wed., Dec. 13 Thurs., Dec. 14
Sat. 10 Class Exam Class Exam Class Exam
Dec. 9 a.m. - 10 time time time time time time
p.m. 9-9:50 8-9:50 8-8:50 MWF 8-9:50 9-9:15 a.m. 8-9:50
Sun. 3 p.m. MWF a.m. a.m. TR a.m.
Dec. 10 - 2 a.m. 12:10-1:25
10:45 10-11:50 10-11:50 11-11:50 10-11:50
p.m. TR a.m.
Mon. 8 a.m. a.m.-12p.m. a.m. a.m. MWF a.m.
- Wed., - 2 a.m. TR 1-1:50 p.m.
12-12:50 12-1:50
12-1:50
Dec. 11 12-12:50 12-1:50 MWF p.m. p.m. MWF p.m.
- 13 p.m. MWF p.m. 10-10:50 a.m. 2-2:50 2-3:50
2-3:50
Thurs. 8 a.m. 2-2:50 2-3:50 MWF p.m. p.m. MWF p.m.
Dec. 14 - 6 p.m. p.m. MWF p.m. 4-5:50 All class- 4-5:50
All classes
All class- 6-7:50 starting at 3 p.m. es starting p.m.
p.m. MWF at 4 or 4:25
es starting p.m.
All classes 4-5:50 p.m.
at 6 p.m. or starting at 5 p.m.
later TR p.m. or later M

Student wins a chance to meet Ed Sheeran at concert

BY Princess jones
ONLINE EDITOR
It took her 10 hours, but Britney Kent is happy
she spent all that time decorating a pumpkin after
getting to meet Ed Sheeran.
“I was excited about the idea of winning, but also
super nervous because I didn’t think I would win.
And I was kind of embarrassed that I spent 10 hours
painting a pumpkin that would end up rotting. But it
made it worth it once I won,” said Kent.
Kent, a junior at Trevecca last month won a 107.5
radio contest that required contestants to decorate
a pumpkin to look like Ed Sheeran, a singer/
songwriter. As the winner, she got free tickets and a
meet and greet pass.
She got the call while in class at Trevecca.
“They happened to call me at 1:45 when I was in
class, so I ran out of class and answered the phone
and was screaming in the hall as everyone was
confused at what was happening. I yelled to my class
that I won the tickets while on the phone with the
radio station. And then after I got out of class I went
back to my apartment and one of my roommates
rode with me to pick up my tickets. And while on our
way there we heard the recording of me on the radio.
Then I got my tickets, and everyone congratulated
me there,” said Kent.
The inspiration for Kent’s pumpkin was Ed
Sheeran’s newest album cover Divided.
“The album cover is primarily blue with a lot of
strokes and raw brush strokes. I also made his face
so you could see the brush strokes,” said Kent.
Kent has always admired Ed Sheeran as an artist.
“He is one of the most talented musicians I’ve
seen live. His whole performance was just him, a
guitar, and a loop petal. He recorded all the beats and
vocals in front of us and was able to captivate a full
arena without a band to back him up. He also brings
and sense of humility to an industry that is too often
about fame and fortune. He is a very down to earth
guy and doesn’t believe in letting people pay to meet
him so all of his meet and greets come from contests
or having connections in the industry,” said Kent.
She had trouble containing her excitement on the
day of the concert.
“I must have screamed it 10 times at least to my
bosses that I was meeting Ed that night,” said Kent.
She recalls every detail of that night.
“We went downtown and there was a pumpkin
patch outside of Bridgestone with a lot of the
pumpkins displayed, so I got a picture. Then we
met Ed’s tour manager to get the meet and greet
sticker. Then with about 20 other people we went
through security and were led to the basement of
Bridgestone,” she said.
While waiting there Kent talked with a woman
from Big Machine Records who encouraged her to
apply for an internship with the company.
“And then when it came to meet Ed they led us one
by one around a corner and he was standing there,
and he smiled and asked if he could hug me,” she
said. “We got a picture and then he signed my vinyl.”
Kent ranks the concert as one of the best five she’s
ever seen.
“And I’ve been to well over 100.”
One thing Kent wants to emphasize from this
experience is that famous people are just people.
“Famous people are just that, people. Yeah, it’s
cool to say I met Ed Sheeran, but through this, I’ve
realized he’s just a person, a really cool person, but
still a person. I think it’s easy to idolize artists, but
it’s important to also recognize their humanity and
not to freak out over meeting them,” said Kent.

Kent and Sheeran. Photo provided by Kent. The front and back of Kent’s pumpkin. Photo provided by Kent