TrevEchoes | September | 2018 |

September 2018 | Trevecca Nazarene University’s Official Student Newspaper Since 1944 | TrevEchoesOnline.com

NEWS

Sexual assault training

Overall enrollent increases, thanks
outlines how to report to record number of new transfers
Page 4

FEATURE

Podcast launches
to keep students
informed
Page 3

EDITORIAL

Things new stu-

dents need to know
Page 6

SPORTS

Athletes balance
travel with class
attendance
Page 7
LINK group posing at Field Day. Photo provided by Trevecca Marketing.

BY MARIA MONTEROS record high. creased number of freshman is because col-

ONLINE EDITOR
CONNECT
Overall undergraduate enrollment at
Trevecca is the largest in university history, de-
/TrevEchoesOnline
spite fewer freshman than past years, thanks
to a record number of transfer students.
@TrevEchoes
For the first time in four years, Trevec-
ca’s freshman class didn’t break enrollment
@TrevEchoes
records, dropping 50 students from last year’s
TrevEchoesOnline.com
Student Development: new name, new faces, new location
TrevEchoes@gmail.com BY brooklyn dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Last year, when a student needed to
TNU Events App speak to Rhonda Lilienthal about hous-
ing and later speak with Becky Headrick
INSIDE about CLEP tests, it required visiting two
offices in two different buildings.
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Over the summer, officials restruc-
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 tured student development, housing it
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 with all other student services in the
FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 newly named Center for Student Devel-
Despite the smaller freshman class,
Trevecca now has total of 1,463 traditional
undergraduate students— 36 more than last
year. A total of 365 freshmen are enrolled this
fall.
Holly Whitby, associate provost and
dean of enrollment management, says the de-
opment in the Bud Robinson Building.
Tom Middendorf, associate provost
and dean of student affairs, said combin-
ing the departments always made sense,
and univeristy officials’ goal was to offer
better service to students and become
more efficient.
“In the midst of those conversations,
we recognized that there was value in
both a philosophical and physical com-
bination of these initiatives,” Midden-
lege enrollments often fluctuate.
“We’ve had four years of record-break-
ing freshman classes, and it’s unrealistic to
think that you might not have a year where
[enrollment] kind of goes [flatter],” she said.
“You can’t think that you’re going to break the
CONTINUED PAGE 4
dorf said. “We don’t want our student
services just to work together, we want
them to live together as a cohesive team,
thinking about students from a holistic
standpoint.”
With serving students being the top
priority, Middendorf said conversations
with current personnel led to developing
a proposal, which was voted on by the
president’s cabinet.
CONTINUED PAGE 5

Service dogs make home on campus Trevecca Athletics celebrate 50 years

miriam kirk
BY
STAFF WRITER BY KALLIE SOHM
STAFF WRITER
There are two new service dogs on campus It was 50 years ago that the ’68-’69
this fall--Jolette and Nala. Trevecca’s men’s basketball team played their
Though they look friendly and fluffy, it first ever game.
is important to note that they are working and
Though the Trojans lost 36-89 to Olivet
people must be sure not to distract them as they
Nazarene University, the game made history as
serve two visually imparied students enrollend
the start of Trevecca intercollegiate athletics.
this fall.
Today, Trevecca facilitates 13 NCAA
“Here at Trevecca we do the very best that
we can to assist those who need it. We handle Division II teams.
each case one by one, meaning that each This year the Trevecca Athletic
student that comes in and inquiries about our Department will celebrate its 50th birthday
services or wants to receive accommodation by honoring former mens’ basketball players
we offer a solution that fits them specifically,” during the homecoming game on Nov. 3 and
said Michelle Gaertner, coordinator of student hosting a reception after the game for alumni
disability services. athletes.

CONTINUED PAGE 3 Carlisle’s dog, Jolette. Photo provided by Kirk. CONTINUED PAGE 7 Provided by Trevecca Athletic Communications.
2018 | September | TrevEchoes
Diversity Council members to mentor students at risk of dropping out
BY Maria Monteros
ONLINE EDITOR
The Diversity Council will be de-
buting its new members with a focus on
students at risk of leaving Trevecca.
The Diversity Council is a group
of 11 students chosen to assist Brodrick
Thomas, coordinator of student engage-
ment and diversity, in understanding
the needs of Trevecca’s diverse commu-
nity. This will be the councils’ third year
at Trevecca.
“The common perception of the Di-
versity Council is that we are there for
the Latinos, we are there for colored
people, we are there for the Egyptians,
we are there for the people that are not
white. And I hate that perception be-
cause diversity is everyone included—
no one left out,” said Marina Yousef,
junior history major and Diversity
Council member.
This year, council leaders want to
be a learning support system for stu-
dents experiencing difficulties staying
enrolled in college.
Some of the students that are at
risk of dropping out are first-generation
college students and students with fi-
nancial, social or academic difficulties,
said Jeff Swink, coordinator of assess-
ment and retention.
“When every freshman comes in
they’re given the CSI, College Student
Group for women to address
body image
BY Ashley Williams
SOCIAL LIFE EDITOR
A new organization at Trevecca will
be starting a body acceptance and eating
disorder prevention program on campus.
Students Wellness Education and
Engagement at Trevecca otherwise
known as SWEET is a group of 11 girls
with Jennifer Neely, faculty sponsor and
coordinator of vocational and counseling
engagement, trained to promote body
positivity among female students.
The girls of SWEET will be the peer
leaders of a body acceptance interven-
tion called The Peer Body Project— a
program developed in Stanford Universi-
ty, The University of Texas at Austin and
Oregon Research Institute.
Katherine Pastor, senior at Trevecca,
is one of the girls that received training
this summer for a leadership role.
“I became more aware of my tenden-
cies to look at the superficial and how
that affected my relationship with oth-
ers,” said Pastor.
The program is open to all female
students. The hourlong meetings will
be hosted every week in the counseling
center.
Most sessions include role-playing
and conversations with a mediator. Each
person will have the support and re-
sources they need to achieve their goal.
The intervention aims to minimize
negative moods, dieting, body dissatis-
faction and eating disorders.
The activities prepared for the pro-
gram include exercises “in which partici-
pants voluntarily critique the thin beauty
ideal promoted for females during four
weekly sessions.” The idea behind these
activities is to reduce the “subscription”
Inventory… there are indicators on the
college survey that we look at that helps
us determine whether or not a student is
at-risk,” said Swink.
Though there are currently no statis-
tics to track the retention rate for these
students, a 2012 article from the Amer-
ican Psychological Association claims
that at-risk students often drop out be-
fore they graduate.
Thomas calls the initiative select 100
which aims to find 100 at-risk students
each a prospective student leader that
may have also had a hard time adjusting
to a college environment.
Each council member is in-charge
of 10 students. Council leaders will be
responsible for how they handle their
students.
“Diversity Council students will at-
tempt to be a resource hub for their 10
students. The (Diversity Council) leaders
will attempt to guide students to criti-
cal resources, while also encouraging
those students to get involved with the
Trevecca community through Diversity
Council, SGA or (Residence Hall Associ-
ation),” said Thomas.
Thomas plans to utilize counseling
services, tutoring, testing for credit to
make school cheaper, opportunities to
mentor, career advising and work oppor-
tunities.
“The members of Diversity Council
Logo of Sweet. Photo provided by Neeley.
to body ideals, according to handouts
from The Peer Body Project.
Jacinda Johnson, junior at Trevecca,
is eager to help other girls on campus.
“I am hoping that a lot of girls come,
it’s a really good environment just to talk
about the struggles that we all face and
just know that you are not alone,” said
Johnson.
The group wants to be proactive in
eating disorders and mental health.
“I am all about acceptance and
learning to love who you are already,”
said Neely.
If anyone is interested in being a
peer body project leader or interested in
being in a group, please contact Jennifer
Neely at jneely@trevecca.edu or 615-248-
1237.
want to do more. They want to help be-
cause they believe with each student lost,
they are losing a significant portion of
their own education. And to be honest, I
could use the help,” said Thomas.
Over the years, the Diversity Council
has been exploring multiple ways for stu-
dents to integrate into Trevecca through
events and community building, Thomas
said.
In the last two years, the council has
produced and sponsored two clubs on
campus— the Orthodox Christian Cam-
pus Ministries (OCCM) and Walden.
“This group is still very young. We
just wrapped up the second year and I
am still wrestling with its identity. The
thing that I do know is that this group is
needed,” said Thomas.
Together with the CLCS leadership
selection team, Thomas chooses new
members every year. Council members
are selected based on their resumes, rec-
ommendations and answers to their sup-
plemental questions before being invited
back for an interview. With attendance
issues from some members of last year’s
council, narrowing the applicants down
to 11 members is a week-long affair.
Council members are required to at-
tend 70 percent of the meetings during
which they discuss budgets and vote on
decisions as a group.
But when some members failed to
Fall Play: ‘Seussical’ opens
Oct. 25 truth and illusion. It also explores and
BY: MATTHEW PARRIS
STAFF WRITER
Theater students at Trevecca are
hoping to connect with the inner child of
their audience with this year’s fall play,
“Seussical.”
The Trevecca Communication Stud-
ies Department will present the musical
Oct. 25-Nov. 3.
The musical is a compilation of
the many characters and stories of Dr.
Seuss. Specifically, it follows Horton
and Jojo, from “Horton Hears a Who,”
on their journey to better understand
themselves, to better understand what
love and sacrifice means and to see the
world differently from how they are used
to seeing it, said Jeff Frame, professor of
communication studies and director of
the show.
“I think students who come to see
the show are going to enjoy it because it
kind of brings out the kid in you,” said
Frame. “It gets you back in touch with
that childhood, a little bit. It’s playful. It’s
imaginative. It’s magical.”
The theater program has a tradition
of alternating between light and fun sto-
ries and darker, more mature plays every
other year. Following last fall’s produc-
tion of “The Secret Garden,” Frame and
they decided to follow up with “Seussi-
cal,” a high-energy, feel-good show.
Trevecca performed “Seussical” in
2009, and Frame was intentional about
the repeat.
“I thought it might be kind of fun to
reimagine that show again with this new
group,” he said.
In addition to an infectious
soundtrack, the show explores themes
of friendship, self discovery, and the
distinction between reality and fiction,
show up to meetings, the productivity
suffered, said Yousef. As a result, some
of the former members weren’t allowed
to reapply.
“We have always had an attendance
policy, we firmly believe that each mem-
ber has a gift to give and how can you
give that gift if you are not present? So
we do ask that members attend every
meeting they can so that we may all gain
from what they know and have to give,”
said Thomas.
Yousef is also the president of OCCM.
And as she starts her second year in the
council, she plans to work with other
club leaders to identify at-risk students.
“They came to Trevecca with a
dream and we will help them finish
dream,” said Yousef. “When they finish
their dream, not only is their dream es-
tablished and great but their children are
changed… they have someone to look up
to and help them.”
rebukes the many forms that bullying
takes.
Sophomore Cooper Ebel is cast as
Horton the elephant.
“Our cast is incredibly talented, and
our director has a really cool vision for
the direction that he wants to take the
show. I think our audience will really
enjoy seeing their favorite Seuss stories
come to life,” Ebel said.
The cast of 27 spends up to 20 hours
a week in rehearsals now and will ramp
up to 40 hours a week rehearsing during
tech week.
Frame estimates that by opening
night, the cast and crew will have dedi-
cated more than 200 hours to design and
production.
“Seussical” opens Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.,
running Oct. 26-27 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 1-3
at 7 p.m., with a Sunday matinée at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for
children 10 and under, $10 for senior
adults and $5 for Trevecca students with
IDs.

Engineering program preparing for launch next fall
BY Isaac Owens
STAFF WRITER
As Trevecca prepares to debut the new-
est engineering program in fall of 2019, the
first step into the program’s completion was
finding the right person to lead it.
Trevecca welcomed this fall David Wu,
professor of engineering, and with him, the
beginnings of a brand-new engineering pro-
gram.
Wu is a National Taiwan Normal Univer-
sity graduate and received his master’s and
doctorate degrees in electrical engineering at
New York University Polytechnic College of
Engineering.
Before coming to Trevecca, Wu worked
as the senior principal engineer and the se-
nior manager at Intel where he received the
Intel Achievement Award, one of the highest
honors at the company. It was a rewarding
job, but Wu felt that a Christian university
was where he needed to be.
“I really believe God was leading the
Podcast offers new way to keep students informed
BY Maria Monteros
ONLINE MANAGER
When Ethan Campbell hits upload,
Trevecca students will have a new way
to keep up to date with campus news no
matter where they are.
Bell Tower Talks is Trevecca’s new-
est podcast that covers announcements,
sports updates and events on campus.
Each 30-minute episode will feature a
special guest with Juniors Ethan Camp-
bell, communication studies major, and
Joshua Moore, media arts and studies
major, as the hosts.
The bi-weekly podcast will be avail-
able on trevechoesonline in partnership
with the multimedia journalism pro-
gram.
“It’s meant to be more conversation-
al, and that’s what our main goal is, to
kind of break down [what] you call the
formal barrier of Trevecca,” said Moore.
“We just want people to talk. We want to
get people’s stories kind of like . . . Trev-
Echoes. You’re interviewing people all
around campus, you’re getting people’s
Ask before petting service animals
CONTINUED FROM COVER
Trevecca’s hilly terrain, though it is iconic
to the school, proves challenging for students
with disabilities, she said.
“There are always going to be places on
campus that are harder to navigate, it’s just the
natural terrain,” said Gaertner. “But we have
plenty of sidewalks and those kinds of things,
and really it’s going to be challenging for any
student to face probably on any campus. I think
students do a great job of figuring out the routes
they need to take.”
Carrie Carlisle, junior music business
major, is visually impaired and got her service
dog, Jolette, a golden retriever, this year.
“I have a vision of 21,000, which basically
means if you were to see something within 100
feet I have to be within 20 feet or less to be able
to see [it].” Carlisle said.
Carlisle said the process to approve her
service animal was painless.
“Trevecca has been great, I didn’t have to
do anything to have Jolette on campus. I just let
the administration know I was going to have
her,” said Carlisle.
For Carlisle, it’s important students know
she and Joelette are a team.
“What I want people to know is that Jolette
way. Otherwise I would never have come to
Nashville, and I had never been to Nashville
either,” he said.
Wu currently holds 12 U.S. patents and
was part of a few Stanford University, Texas
A&M and the University of North Carolina
Charlotte joint research programs. In ad-
dition, Wu has field experience working in
Compaq Computer to IBM.
Trevecca previously offered what was
called the “3-2 Program”, which allowed
students who have completed three years
of physics classes at Trevecca to take engi-
neering courses at Vanderbilt, and upon
completion, receive a master’s degree in said
program.
Trevecca’s goal is to dismantle this part-
nership and develop an engineering program
that is independent of Vanderbilt, said Wu.
The “3-2 Program” has been an effective
alternative to a full engineering major, Wu
said, but many students who attend Trevecca
value the intimate classroom settings that the
Bell Tower Talks logo. Photo provided by TrevEchoes
Online.
stories as well, I just think that podcast
is a different medium to tell that.”
The duo began planning episodes
this summer initially for SGA announce-
ments but developed into a campus
life podcast after collaborating with
Trevecca faculty members, SGA and the
multimedia journalism program.
“When Ethan contacted me about
making the podcast part of the online
student newspaper I was so excited to
work with he and Josh,” said Jo Ellen
Werking Weedman, assistant professor
and I are a team, so for me I ask that people
don’t pet her or talk directly to her while she is
in her harness, because that can cause her to get
distracted,” said Carlisle.
Nala, a 4-year-old black lab has been with
her owner Jesse Keep for a little more than two
years.
Keep is fully blind.
“I am completely blind, I went blind from
cancer at age four,” Keep said.
Though the pair has been together for two
years, the transition to Trevecca was challenging
for Nala, who had to go back home for more
training.
“Nala graduated top of her class so
she’s super smart, but I think moving here
all together at once and me having to learn
the campus and her being under the stress
of knowing that I don’t know the campus, is
what caused her to have what would be the
equivalent of a break down for humans, so I had
to send her home, that’s why she hasn’t been
with me lately,” said Keep.
Keep felt prepared, but said it was
impossible to fully prepare.
“When I first moved here I had a local
specialist come and walk me through the
campus and explain the layout. But, then trying
Wu posing for his new employee photo. Photo provided by
Trevecca Marketing.
school provides.
Wu’s primary objectives this year are to
advertise the program to incoming Trevecca
students, develop course material for future
of communication students and faculty
advisor of The TrevEchoes, Trevec-
ca’s student newspaper. “We want our
students to be storytellers who can use
all mediums and their goal of keeping
students informed fits exactly with the
student newspaper’s role on campus.”
Campbell and Moore hope the
podcast will make it easier to circulate
information and bring more awareness
to non-residential students, especially
those who aren’t involved in clubs and
afterschool programs.
“We both came to it from the po-
sition of being commuters and being
communication majors where, until this
year, we had all of our classes on the
dark side of campwwus: in the annex,”
said Campbell. “The idea of a campus
life podcast would be that it’s something
easily consumed . . . You could be doing
something else when you’re listening to
a podcast.”
The team each have their designat-
ed roles. Campbell is in charge of the
Keep and Nala pose for a photo. Photo provided by Keep.
to do that on my own, when I was still very
unsure, because it is a very weird layout here, is
what caused her to get so stressed. Trevecca is
different from a lot of places that we’ve been. I’d
tell her ‘Nala you need to go forward here,’ but
she’d be like ‘there are four different sidewalks,’”
said Keep.
Keep is unsure when Nala will return from
training. He hopes to hear something within the
week.
Every student is a little different in their
comfort sharing about their disability.
“My recommendation is to just ask the
student. I think sometimes people feel like they
TrevEchoes | September | 2018 |
classes, and eventually have the engineer-
ing major become an accredited program at
Trevecca.
Trevecca’s engineering curriculum is
still being written to meet Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET) standards. The program is in its ear-
liest stages of development, and it will take
at least two years to fully establish all of the
courses.
In order for the program to be accred-
ited, there must be one graduating student
from the major.
“Everything we do will be for the stu-
dent, prepare the student for their career and
when they graduate, get a good job,” Wu said.
Wu is currently teaching a course on the
basics of engineering to physics majors. Stu-
dents of this course are eligible to switch to
the engineering program.
“The reason I’m here is really answer-
ing a call from God,” said Wu.
technical side while Moore does the
research and leads the segments, both
haven’t received formal training and are
primarily self-taught.
With the help of Trevecca PR, the
two are working on rebranding the show
and making it an official organization to
be passed on after they graduate.
“A lot of the stuff I’ve learned about
podcasting is that it’s its own form
of social media. You’re expected as a
podcaster to have interaction with your
audience,” said Campbell. “Hopefully,
we’d be able to grow a little community
around it.”
Bell Tower Talks will air eight epi-
sodes this semester, some of which are
seasonal, every other Sunday at 2 p.m.
on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and
Google Podcasts. Changes in the Trev-
Echoes website will also allow students
to listen to Bell Tower Talks at trev-
echoesonline.com. Students that want
to ask questions to upcoming guests can
send them on Twitter at @BellTower-
Talks.
can’t approach if they don’t see them but that is
not the case,” said Gaertner. “I would love for
our students to ask, ‘Hey is there anything you
can help educate me on? I love your dog! When
can I pet your dog?’ Or, ‘Can I pet your dog?’ But
I think that the actual students experiencing
that should be the educators,” said Gaertner.
For Keep, he is always open to making new
friends.
“I feel like sometimes people will assume
that because I have a dog that means don’t
speak to them and that’s not the case. As long
as they’re not talking directly to Nala and
completely distracting her, please feel free to
come talk to us, we love making new friends,”
said Keep.
Carlisle was hesitant how Jolette and
Trevecca would mesh, but is thankful for
Gaertner’s assistance.
“I had my doubts when I first came to
Trevecca, but I wanted a small school, and
Michelle Gaertner has gone above and beyond
what I could have asked,” Carlisle said.
If you want to keep up with Nala and
Jolette, you can follow them on Instagram @
nalatheseeingeyedog and @Care_Bare_17.
2018 | September | TrevEchoes
NEWS Training on campus teaches students how to report sexual assault
BY Matthew parris and david hancock
STAFF WRITERS
Usually, when people are victim to a crime, they
know exactly what to do: call the police. But for victims
of sexual assault or violence, the next steps may not be
as clear.
Officials at Trevecca are trying to change that on
campus.
Jamie Cathcart, Title IX compliance and investiga-
tor, is working to implement awareness and prevention
through training, focusing on teaching students the
steps to filing a report and the difference between con-
fidential and non-confidential reporting.
Nationally on college campuses, women ages 18-24
are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than
women in general and 11.2 percent of all graduate and
undergraduate students will experience some kind of
sexual assault, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest
National Network (RAINN).
Trevecca does not have any reported incidents, but
that doesn’t mean they don’t happen, officials said. By
offering training and education, Cathcart is hopeful
that the campus community will have a clearer idea of
how to handle any potential incidents.
If a student experiences sexual violence, he or she
is then faced with the decision whether or not to report
the incident. There are confidential and non-confiden-
tial sources on campus.
This can be confusing for students and it is import-
ant for students to make an informed decision about
whether or not they want to report to the college, which
would initiate an investigation, Cathcart said.
“Speaking with a confidential source first allows
students access to a caring person who can retain in-
formation confidentially until the student wishes to
report,” Cathcart said. “Confidential resources can also
provide students information about the reporting and
investigation process so they have all of the information
prior to making an official report.”
The three confidential sources on campus are the
counseling center staff, health clinic provider and the
campus chaplain, Shawna Songer Gaines.
Called “the three C’s,” these resources provide a
safe place to help students cope with the trauma and
decide the best way to proceed in terms of reporting.
“Oftentimes when a student has experienced sexual
assault or sexual violence, they are wrestling with how
to make a decision, how to proceed forward,” Songer
Gaines said. “If they’re not ready to choose between re-
port or not report, they don’t have to, they can just have
somebody to process that with.”
Resident assistants, resident directors, professors
and other campus staff are required by law to report
sexual assault or violence to university officials who
would then launch a formal investigation. They cannot
keep information shared with them confidential.
According to Trevecca’s sexual violence policy, “All
[other] employees of the Trevecca community have au-
thority to redress sexual violence and a duty to report
incidents of sexual violence or other student miscon-
duct … If a student reports an incident of sexual mis-
conduct to any “responsible employee,” the “responsi-
ble employee” is obligated to immediately report the
incident to the Title IX Coordinator or the appropriate
person.”
Cathcart says all employees are trained on how to
respond to a Title IX complaint.
“All employees receive online training through Get
Inclusive related to Title IX issues and how to respond
to students who report to them. This year, we also of-
fered in-person training to faculty related to sexual
harassment prevention and their role in providing re-
sources to students who have experienced sexual vio-
lence,” Cathcart said.
Jessica Dykes, associate vice president and dean
of student development, works alongside Cathcart and
Steve Sexton, director of human resources, during cas-
es of sexual harassment. If an undergraduate student
wishes to file a complaint against another undergradu-
ate student, they should contact Dykes.
“I encourage any student who has experienced
trauma to contact a professional to assist them in pro-
cessing their personal experience. We have an amazing
counseling center here at Trevecca that is free for stu-
dents. I would encourage students to reach out to our
staff and seek assistance, if they are not already doing
so,” Dykes said.
Dykes says she encourages anyone who is sexually
assaulted in the future to report it immediately, follow-
ing these steps per the University:
1. If you are on campus, call security or a mem-
ber of the Residence Life staff immediately. Additional-
ly, if you are in danger or need immediate medical care,
call 911 right away.
2. If you have been raped, get to a safe place, do
not wash or clean your body and get medical care by ei-
This year’s freshman and trasnfers,
at a glance
ther calling 911 or going to Nashville General Hospital.
Nashville General is the primary resource for exams
in Nashville. Sexual Assault survivors can present to
Nashville General within 96 hours of the assault. Addi-
tionally, the SAFE Clinic recently opened in Nashville.
It was created to be a caring and supportive place in
Nashville that provides free medical legal exam (also
known as a rape kit) for anyone over the age of 16. The
SAFE Clinic is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is avail-
able on call after hours. The number is 615-258-5888.
3. A victim does not have to decide whether to
press charges while at the hospital. You do not need to
press charges in order to have evidence collected with a
rape kit.
4. If you think you were drugged, talk to the cam-
pus resources or the hospital staff.
5. Report the sexual assault to the police. If you
want to talk to someone first about reporting the as-
sault, contact one of the confidential reports on campus
or call 1-800-656-HOPE which is the National Sexual
Assault Hotline.
6. If the person who assaulted you was a stranger,
write down as many details as you can remember. This
will help you make a clear statement to police and med-
ical providers about the assault.
For more information, contact Jamie Cathcart at
JLCathcart@trevecca.edu.
To set up a counseling appointment go to Tnu ->
services -> counseling -> request an appointment.
Enrollment update,
continued.
record every single year.”
Trevecca’s increase in overall enrollment comes from
the number of transfers--94 students moved to Trevecca this
fall, the biggest batch Trevecca has admitted.
“I think we’ve just been able to show really strong cus-
tomer service skills to transfers whether they’re coming from
a community college or another school. . . we’ve done the
work to build the relationship and help that person feel good
about finishing up their degree at Trevecca,” Whitby said.
A possible factor for the decline is the increased average
ACT scores for incoming freshman, said Whitby. The aver-
age ACT score for this year’s freshman class is 23, she said.
Almost all admitted students received some form of fi-
nancial aid.
Even with fewer numbers, Whitby said there is an in-
crease in diversity within the freshman class because of
Trevecca’s partnership with the Black Achievers and Latino
Achievers program as well as high schools abroad.
Megan McGhee, coordinator of freshmen experience,
says the smaller link group sizes allow first-time freshman
to interact with their group members and peer mentors to
invest on more one-on-one contact.
“I think it’s kind of the old question of quality over
quantity,” she said. “I think that by not necessarily having
as large of a freshman class but being able to grow in some
of these other areas allows us to increase the quality of our
student population.”
Just last year, the Nashville Business Journal named
Trevecca the “fastest growing university in Middle Tennes-
see” based on data from fall 2015 to fall 2016. Whitby says the
admissions team want increase enrollment next year with
the help of the new entrepreneurship and engineering pro-
grams.
“Even though we didn’t have the largest freshman class,
we still went up in traditional undergrad enrollment, and
most schools can’t say that. We’re bucking the trend right
now . . . The trend right now is not record-breaking enroll-
ment on the traditional side every year. Some schools are
declining in enrollment, and we’re not. We’re seeing the op-
posite,” she said.
 New Center for Student A Q and A with Jessica Dykes,
NEWS
Devlopment, cont’d. new dean of students
CONTINUED FROM COVER
The previous student development of-
fice, which included Rhonda Lilienthal, as-
sociate dean of students for residential life,
Matt Spraker, associate dean of students
for community life and now Jessica Dykes,
associate vice president and dean of stu-
dent life, joined Campus Chaplain Shaw-
na Songer Gaines in the former Center for
Leadership, Calling and Service.
“We now have a bigger picture of the
overall student experience when we com-
bine our efforts between what was student
development and CLCS,” Middendorf said.
The Center for Student Development
now houses first year programs, communi-
ty life, residence life, community engage-
ment and reconciliation, career services,
retention, student employment, commu-
nity accountability, academic support,
disability services, testing services and the
chaplain’s office.
“Combining our resources allows us to
take a more global perspective on student
needs,” Middendorf said. “Our Christian
perspective directs the way we serve in
each of these areas.”
Room # Position
111 - Becky Headrick, administration
manager
112 - Megan Mcghee, coordinator of the
freshman year experience
113 - Matt Spraker, associate dean of stu-
dents for community life
114 - Brodrick Thomas, director of com-
munity engagement and reconciliation
115 - Michelle Gaertner, coordinator of
student dissability services
Chapter of national women’s ministry started on campus
BY Hannah Butler & Naomi Overby
STAFF WRITERS
Delight, a women’s student ministry,
is starting its inaugural year on campus.
The nation-wide ministry focuses on
“Christ-centered community that fosters
vulnerability and transforms stories.”
Delight’s website says.
Senior Aubrey Daugherty was a
member of the chapter at the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and when
she transferred to Trevecca felt led to
start a chapter here.
“Our mission statement is that we’re
seeking to establish a community that
learns together, serves together, and
grows together, all while chasing the
heart of God,” said Aubrey Daugherty,
team director of Delight.
Junior Cassie Lopez, social media
coordinator, also transferred in and
reflected on how it can be hard to get
connected in a network of established
friend groups. She says Delight is the
perfect way to plug into something
special and meaningful.
“It’s all about community, and
establishing relationships with other
women on campus,” said Daugherty.
The leaders want the content of the
gathering to be flexible and change week
to week depending on the people that
attend.
Jessica Dykes, associate vice president
and dean of student development, was ex-
cited to be a part of the new system.
“Dr. Middendorf did a wonderful job
communicating with me in the midst of the
restructure,” Dykes said. “I believe in this
structure and truly feel that this holistic
model will be beneficial for students.”
Middendorf is confident in the future
of the restructure.
“The vision is to establish a center
that focuses on the holistic development of
college students. At Trevecca, we see learn-
ers as more than a mind or an academic
major,” Middendorf said. “The outcome
is about developing young people and of-
fering the world something unique in the
character development of our students.”
Dykes is looking forward to practicing
the center’s vision through her role.
“I’m excited about working with the
wonderful team of professionals housed
within the new Center for Student Devel-
opment,” Dykes said. “It is my goal to work
alongside our staff to understand the ways
in which we can enhance the student ex-
perience.”
Room # Position
209 - Rhonda Lilienthal, associate dean of
students for residential life
210 - Jessica Dykes, associate vice presi-
dent and dean of student life
211 - Jeff Swink, coordinator of assessment
and retention
212 - Donna Gray, associate director of aca-
demic services / associate professor, ac-
ademic support
“One of the big things that Delight
stands for is vulnerability. It’s so easy to
fake a smile. We want the girls on campus
to feel welcome, and to feel like they are
able to talk about their struggles, which
to then have someone point them back to
Jesus,” said Lopez.
Delight formed in 2012 at Belmont
University when three girls started a
bible study that grew to almost 100
members. After naming the group, it has
spread to more than 100 colleges.
Katherine Bell, Johnson Hall RD
and Trevecca alum, attempted to start the
group during her time as a student. It was
unsuccessful, but she now gets to serve as
the group’s faculty advisor.
Emma Schmahl, leader of community
events for Delight, attended a two-day
leadership conference in Nashville along
with Lopez and Daugherty.
The event brought together around
200 girls from across the country to listen
to speakers and co-founders, and had
them work together to brainstorm ideas
for what each chapter of Delight should
look like at their individual schools.
Schmahl said that it was great to
learn from women who had already lead
Delight chapters on their campuses and
hear their success stories.
Daugherty mentioned how difficult
TrevEchoes | September | 2018 |
BY brooklyn dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
How did you end up at Trevecca for your
undergraduate degree?
“ I grew up in the Nazarene church and was
very active on the Alabama South District as a
teenager. I attended TNT for years and Trevecca
was always at the top of my list for colleges.”
How has Trevecca been a part of your life
since then?
“Trevecca has played an integral part of my
life since my undergraduate degree. I returned to
the hill two years after I graduated, served in Res-
idence Life for many years, obtained my master’s Photo provided by Trevecca.
degree and much more. I had ongoing relation- ence and provide excellent care, support and ho-
ships with mentors on campus, visited for events listic development to our student body.”
and taught workshops after leaving the university How does your faith play out in your ca-
in 2014.” reer?
What draws you to students? “I feel honored to work at an institution of
“Since 2009, I have felt called to work with higher education that allows me to integrate my
college students through my career in student af- faith into my work. I believe that my work is a
fairs. I believe that college is a time of transfor- calling from the Lord and I seek to honor Him
mation for students. During this season, students through my vocation. This can be seen by the way
are discovering more about themselves, God, the we approach the student experience and overall
world around them and their own personal call- philosophy of Student Development at Trevecca.”
ings and vocation. I feel honored to walk with
students as they wrestle with identity, beliefs, re- Favorite food? I love a wide variety
lationships, learning and the life that happens in of foods. You will often find me at the
the midst of it all. It is my honor to serve and various restaurants in Berry Hill or 12th
mentor students as they persist to graduation.”
South! I love Baja Burrito!
What do you feel most prepared for in this Favorite TV show? I love cooking shows
position? and can’t wait to see the new season of
“I feel that the Lord has prepared me to
Stranger Things!
serve. I believe that to lead is to serve and I look Favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird by
forward to doing both at Trevecca.” Harper Lee
What do you feel least prepared for?
Favorite hobby? I love to hike at Percy
“Ask me again in 6 months...”
Warner, Radnor and the waterfalls near
What are some of your goals as Dean?
Nashville! Additionally, I volunteer with
“I am excited about working with the won-
the Junior League of Nashville and occa-
derful team of professionals housed within the
sionally the Country Music Hall of Fame!
new Center for Student Development. It is my
Fun fact? I am a twin. My brother, Jeff,
goal to work alongside our staff to understand the
also went to TNU.
ways in which we can enhance the student experi-
Delight’s group leaders posing for their official picture. Photo provided by Lopez.
it was to get Delight to become an official was what we were supposed to do,” Lopez
club at UTC. Finalizing it at Trevecca was added.
much easier, as SGA just voted to confirm Delight meets on Mondays at 7:30
them as an official club on campus.
p.m. in The Porch in 1901.
The vote was unanimous in favor of For more information or
the proposal. questions email Aubrey Daugherty at
“It felt like every door was being AEDaugherty@trevecca.edu
opened for us and we just knew that this
2018 | September | TrevEchoes your bubble. Better yet, enter someone
EDITORIAL & OPINION else’s bubble. Sit next to someone you
don’t know or someone from a different
Advice for background, not just in class, but also in
chapel, in the caf or in the library. Widen
your horizon.
have a set schedule. Wanting to be a part of
everything is great but remember that you
still have three years left, and do not want
to get burned out within the first month.
Plan out how you want to get involved and
stick to it!
As a commuter, sometimes I have felt left
out of events on campus. I also felt pressure
to be available to help my parents at home.
Go to all the welcome week events. Those
events are super awkward for me, but it al-
lowed me to meet key people on campus,

new students So, the next time you enter a public space
on campus, pause and think. Do you really
I will say that having a role on this cam-
pus made me excited to be a part of a great
so that classes didn’t feel like rooms full of
strangers.
community that Trevecca has. Each group Set a specific time for everything—class,
from editoral want to spend the next five months alone?
-Maria Monteros
Find a routine. Know what works best
on campus gives you a new perspective
on Trevecca. There are tons of choices to
work, homework, dinner with your family
and hanging out with friends.

board for you and stick with it. Write everything

BY TrevEchoes Editorial staff
The editorial staff each contributed as-
pects of advice for new students. We’ve
been in your shoes, and feel these are
things you should know.
In a room full of students, the first in-
stinct of a shy freshman is to find a spot
one or two seats apart from the next per-
son. Soon thereafter, placing her backpack
on the chair next to her— effectively de-
fending her private space off any potential
threats.
At one point, this freshman was me.
When I started my first year in college, I
had two goals in mind: get a degree and get
out. I know now that this is a formula for a
miserable college experience, and I would
advise any freshman to avoid this mindset
at all cost.
Instead, get your backpack off the chair
and let someone sit; let someone enter
down for the week ahead of time, so noth-
ing surprises you. The first few weeks of
college can feel never ending, with one
thing after the next. But I promise once you
get organized it slowly becomes a routine
that you are (usually) prepared for.
-Brooklyn Dance
Check your email. Even though Black-
board notifications can be annoying,
checking your email regularly is so import-
ant. Avoid being the only one who shows
up to class because you didn’t check your
email that morning.
Campus security: They do more than
just give parking tickets. They can help you
with your car troubles or escort you to your
dorm at night, and they are the ones who
send out emergency alerts regarding stu-
dent safety.
-Maddux Reid
Get involved - this will help you out in
the long run. As a freshman, you might feel
overwhelmed and want to do everything.
My advice is to get involved in order to
tion “are you thinking about suicide”
choose from: student government associ-
ation, resident assistant, commuter coun-
cil, become a peer mentor or even join the
TrevEchoes!
-Ashley Williams
The counseling center has excellent staff
that are willing to help you. Don’t ever hes-
itate to go over and just talk! College is new
and exciting, but it also can be hard and
intimidating at times, so reach out if you
need them. (Plus the first 6 sessions are free
for you!)
If you can, go to chapel at the beginning
of the semester as much as you can in case
times get busy and you have to miss a few
later on. I know it’s early and you have stuff
to do, but there’s so much importance with
slowing down and getting to sit with God
surrounded by a community that is here to
support you. (You may find out it’s not as
awful as you think!)
-Morgan Woolum
Advice for commuters:
Be okay with missing out. It’s okay to
have other obligations, don’t over extend
yourself.
Join a club. I met my closest friends at
Trevecca through the All Aboard Game
Club. It allows me to have a set time when I
knew I would see my friends and have fun
-Ethan Campbell
Advice for transfers:
Talk to your neighbor in class. If you
work full-time, it can be hard to partici-
pate in activities. Conflicting schedules can
be frustrating, but it’s part of college life.
Some of your classmates may share com-
mon interests with you, or just need some-
one to study with.
Get to know your roommate. If you’re a
transfer, your roommate could be a return-
ing student. They can likely introduce you
to friends and give you helpful tips on nav-
igating campus.
-Kayla Williamson

Preventing ask more questions to determine their risk.

You may need to ask “Do you have a plan?”

suicide is
“Do you have access to what you would use
to kill yourself?” “Do you know when you are
going to do this?” These questions are im-

everyone’s portant and help you determine their risk. If

you feel they are in immediate risk, call 911.
If you’re not sure, it’s o.k. to ask for help! You

job can always call the National Suicide Hotline

By Sarah Hopkins
Columnist
“I don’t want to live anymore”
I’ve been a counselor for over a decade
and those words still send a shock through
my system every time I hear them. When
those we care for are considering suicide it’s
a frightening experience. Despite this, we
know that suicide rates are on the rise. It’ the
2nd leading cause of death between ages 15-35
and there has been a 30p percent increase in
deaths by suicide since 1999.
These numbers suggest that most of us
know someone that has or is contemplating
suicide and it’s important that we know the
common behavioral signs. The CDC men-
tions 12 common warning signs to be aware
of:
1) feeling like a burden
2) being isolated
3) increased anxiety
4) feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
5) increased substance use
6) looking for a way to access lethal
means to hurt oneself or others 7) increased
anger or rage
8) extreme mood swings
9) expressing hopelessness 10) sleeping
too little or two much
11) talking or posting on social media the
desire to die
12) making plans for suicidal behavior
So what do we do if someone we know
is considering suicide? The National Suicide
Prevention Hotline campaign, #BeThe1To
recommends 5 action steps:
1. Ask. Ask the person if they are think-
ing about suicide. This is a HARD question
and one many of us struggle to ask, but ask-
ing someone if they are suicidal doesn’t in-
crease their risk of considering suicide and
could save their life.
2. Keep them safe. After the initial ques
and they can walk you through the process or
even speak to the person, 1-800-273-8255. This
lifeline is open 24/7 and has trained staff there
to help.
3. Be There. This means physically be-
ing present with someone or committing to
talking to them by phone when appropri-
ate. We know that connectedness is a buf-
fer against emotional pain, your presence is
important. Be a safe person for them during
this time BUT don’t commit to anything you
don’t have the emotional or physical capacity
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-In-Chief
to provide! You will need to know your limit!
4. Help Them Connect. You can’t be the Brooklyn Dance
only support they have. Help them find other BEDance@trevecca.edu
people to lend a hand during this time. The
Sports Editor social life Editor
National Suicide hotline is a great support,
Maddux Reid AShley williams
also encouraging them to use online support
mkreid@trevecca.edu alsuarez@trevecca.edu
such as texting 741-741. This is a national crisis
text service that can be useful to some. En-
Assistant Editor & online manager design & photo editor
courage them to seek mental health support
or counseling as well. Maria monteros morgan woolum
5. Follow Up. Continue to reach out to mgmonteros@trevecca.edu mdwoolum@trevecca.edu
this person and provide support. Call them,
text to check in, let them know you care and
will continue to care for them during this
Photographer Online media Manager
hard time. This is so important and lets them
know they aren’t alone and that you are there Uy Nguyen Ethan campbell
in the hard with them. UTNguyen@trevecca.edu etcampbell@trevecca.edu
Lastly, care for yourself as well! It’s hard
when those we care about are in pain and we STAFF WRITERS
often forget to ask ourselves “What do I need
Hannah butler Naomi Overby
to care for ME when I’m caring for the oth- HMButler@trevecca.edu KNOverby@trevecca.edu
er?” It’s o.k. that it makes you feel worn down,
Alexis Garcia Matthew Parris
that you might need extra rest, nurture, com-
AGarcia@trevecca.edu MWParris@trevecca.edu
passion. Give it to yourself! It is possible to
david Hancock Kallie Sohm
care for ourselves deeply while we care for
dohancock@trevecca.edu KESohm@trevecca.edu
others deeply. September is Suicide aware-
ness month, take advantage of some of the miriam kirk Audrey Yawn
trainings and online resources in your area so mskirk@trevecca.edu AAYawn@trevecca.edu
you will be better prepared to help someone
you care about during crisis.
TrevEchoes is published by and for the students of Trevecca Nazarene University. The views expressed in Trev-
Echoes are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Trevecca. Contrib-
utors may be edited for grammar, spelling, content, or space consideration. Our office is located in Jernigan.

SPORTS
Athletes work to balance travel with class attendance
BY MADDUX REID
SPORTS EDITOR
For student athletes like Teagan Perry, a
junior on the golf team, attending her classes
sometimes seems like a luxury.
“We miss a lot during both semesters, so we
have to make up the extra work, get notes, and
read extra to make up for what we missed in
class. Making up labs and tests are especially
difficult,“ said Perry.
Perry is one of around 200 student athletes
this year that will work to find ways to balance
a heavy travel schedule with being in class.
The conflict between athletics and class at-
tendance is not a new one in college athletics,
but with the expansion of the Great Midwest
Athletic Conference, Trevecca athletes have
further to go to get to away games.  Wharton says he has come close to the
Athletic Director Mark Elliot said decreas-
ing the number of missed classes for athletes
is the top priority for this scheduling year.
But, in addition to the geographic distance of
some of the other conference schools, Trev-
ecca and a few other conference schools have
a policy that teams don’t schedule to play on
Sundays which limits how much weekend
play they get and pushes more trips to begin
during the week.
Trevecca Athletes that play in the fall aver-
age missing .13 to .53 days of class a week, not
including weekends. Spring athletes average
missing between .44 and .81 school days per
week. In a 16-week semester, this means ath-
letes can miss anywhere from two to 13 days of
school, according to numbers provided by the
Trevecca Athletic Department.
“We have always wanted to lessen missed
classes, but it’s good to have a priority list that
reinforces that goal.” Elliot said. “If we want
to lessen missed class time, the burden is
Numbers based on the 2017-2018 school year. Provided by
Trevecca Athletic Department.
Trevecca celebrating 50 years of athletics, cont’d.
In March of 1969, the Tennessean
newspaper ended a two-page spread about
the first Trevecca basketball team with, “Their
team had been left with an 0-10 record, to be
sure – but it had at least been left with a record,
something the school had never had before.”
Despite the victory draught, Treveccans
were hopeful for what this first intercollegiate
team meant for the school. About 1,000
Trevecca students and alumni piled into the
new Moore Gymnasium, only months old,
to watch the last game of the Trojan’s ‘68-
‘69 season against Olivet Nazarene College.
Despite the loss, students were excited for the
start of the school’s athletics.
With the start of the basketball team, the
Moore Gymnasium and physical education
TrevEchoes | September | 2018 |
back on whether or not we want to play on
Sundays, and how much weight that top pri-
ority has.”
Athletes said they feel like they are travel-
ing more than ever.
Caleb Wharton, senior soccer player, says
the travel strain of his freshman season com-
pared to his senior year has been harder, due
to additions of new teams in the conference
and longer trips.
“Usually, a lot of our travel trips are week-
ends, but this year we have a lot of midweek
trips. We used to only have a few weeks out
of the year that we’d be gone, but now it’s
changed to where we have mid-week games
and leave again that weekend,” said Wharton.
nine absence limit many times in his college
career.
Trevecca’s official excused absence policy
states that if a student misses more than nine-
Monday, Wednesday, Friday course classes
or more than six Tuesday, Thursday course
classes, the student will be disenrolled in the
course.
However, students such as Adi Hale, senior
basketball player, said the policy is not clear
enough in terms of what an excused absence
David Brookes studying on the bus. Photo provided by Caleb Wharton.
is and when she can or cannot be penalized in
the gradebook. athletes to make up work for days they were said. “We have the flexibility to work with ath-
According to Stephen Pusey, university pro- out competing. letes if the intent is good and the student is
vost, an excused absence means that the stu-  “We have some professors in my major doing what they can to be proactive with their
dent has been approved by the university to that assign papers for every day class we miss professors regarding the missed classes.”
be absent from class. The student must have in order to get participation points. Sitting Missing classes can be stressful, some ath-
the opportunity to make up the work that was in lectures would be way more convenient letes said.
missed and cannot be downgraded because and beneficial than having to write two  ex- Hale said finding time for homework on
of an excused absence. tra papers a week while on the road,” said away trips is possible, including time some
Hale spoke of one of her social work class- Hale. “We have all the demands of being an coaches set aside for school work, but it’s still
es where her professor gave an incentive for athlete, plus missing so many classes. We are not always ideal; this means studying in the
expected to exceed expectations on the court hotel after a long day of competing or
and in the classroom. It’s hard to be a scholar studying on the bus trip back to Nashville.
first and then an athlete because of the sched- “We have a women’s and men’s basketball
ules we have.”  team on one bus for nine hours. You aren’t
Athletes can typically not afford to miss always
any classes for illness or other reasons when thinking about trying to do homework,”
they’re not traveling.  Hale said. “We don’t get to be in a library. It’s
“We have to tell our athletes if you have not a
nine excused absences in a class during your good work environment for some people.”
season, you don’t have another absence. You Although the balance between athletics
can’t be sick. You can’t accidentally sleep and education can be difficult, Hale says be-
in. It’s on the athlete to be on top of things ing an
and know when they will be missing class upperclassman has given her the time to
ahead of time,” said Elliot. adjust and know how to handle missing class-
According to Pusey, the policy in the hand- es.
book is more lenient than students may think.  “It’s really easy to get behind when you ar-
“We had to put a ballpark number in the en’t in class. It comes down to how good of a
handbook for absences in order to get ap- student
proved by the Federal government,” Pusey you want to be. You determine that,” Whar-
ton said.
as a NCAA Division II in July of 2014 and now
compete as members of the G-MAC Athletic
center were built, both finished in 1969. The This year Trevecca is home to around 200
following year, men’s golf and baseball were athletes on 13 teams. The school was approved Confernce.
added to the lineup.
Greg Ruff, sports information director,
called Trevecca sports the school’s “front
porch.”
“Athletics is one of Trevecca’s greatest
recruiting tools, and a way to introduce people
to the Nazarene denomination,” Ruff said.
Athletics set high exceptions for the
community, Ruff said. When the community
expects more from the school’s athletes, they
have risen to the challenge.
For example, some were skeptical when
the program moved to NCAA Division II in
2012, but the Trojans proved to be competitive
Students in the gym supporting the basketball team.
in the G-MAC, he said. Photo by Trevecca Athletic Communications.
 2018 | September | TrevEchoes
Spiritual Deepening Week underway on campus
BY MARIA MONTEROS
ONLINE EDITOR
From Sept. 24-27, Spiritual Deepening
Week will explore spiritual freedom with
the general superintendent of the Church
of Nazarene David A. Busic as speaker.
Busic, who has held the highest office
of the Church of the Nazarene since
2013 and was previously the president of
Nazarene Theological Seminary, will be
preaching during the twice-a-year week
set aside on campus to focus on spiritual
growth.
Busic expressed his fondness for
the Trevecca community the last time
Shawna Songer Gaines, university chap-
lain and assistant professor of Christian
worship met him.
“I know that [Dr. Busic] is an excel-
lent preacher and executer of scripture.
And so, whatever he does, I know and
trust he’s going to bring something about
scripture to light in a way that we haven’t
encountered it before,” she said.
The idea behind the bi-yearly event
embodies the theme itself, said Songer
Gaines.
Throughout the week, faculty members
are encouraged not to schedule major
tests, the athletics department to put
games on hold and the student body to
set this week aside for worship.
Welcome Week 2018: Pictures from the week
“One of the things that I hope to Songer Gaines hopes students things like that. Well, worship offers . . .
challenge about the notion of freedom is will find time for silence amidst their a really true and broad sense of freedom.
that freedom is not merely an absence of busy schedules and find the connection When we find ourselves free to worship,
external restraints,” said Songer Gaines. between Spiritual Deepening Week and that’s a really important part of liber-
“Following after God in a really signifi- the education they receive at Trevecca. al arts opportunity that we do here at a
cant way sets us free from living for just, “[In a Christian liberal arts uni- Christian university,” she said.
you know, today and this moment . . . for versity] you’re free to explore all kinds of
a life that is bigger and fuller.” different disciplines and thoughts and
Jake Beard, senior religion major
and ASB chaplain, said Spiritual Deep-
ening Week this fall is a “monumental
time” for many students that left their
home for Trevecca with “a lot of guilt
and shame.” Beard hopes this event’s
strong emphasis on freedom in Christ
will allow students to be free from the
chains holding them back.
“[This week is for us] to remember
why we come to this place called Trev-
ecca. It’s really a time at the beginning
of the semester were the entire student
body can get on the same page, where
we can be vulnerable with each other,
where we can be set free together,” he
said.
Spiritual Deepening Week is held
every semester. And while it happens in
same time and place as average chapel
hours, the expectation around a week of
service allows students to better engage
in worship, said Songer Gaines.
Photo provided by Trevecca Marketing.
Welcome Week photos. Photos provided by Trevecca Marketing.