Regent Students and the pressure they face to find their soulmate while pursuing a degree.

Marriage is the end all be all of most Christian communities and serves as the foundation upon which many college students base their future endeavors off of. However the culture surrounding this important rite of passage can be harmful to students and even in some cases toxic. The philosophies of feminism and moral conservatism are not mutually exclusive and where the traditional societal roles of the genders are balancing in the outside world the Regent bubble is less permissive. Students at Regent and most Christian universities are pressured into believing the idea that one is expected to find their spouse while away at school which turns the focus away from not only academics but their relationship with the lord during this vital period of personal growth.

           The very mythology of Regent is based off of the strange phenomenon of students here getting married young and after only knowing their fiancé for a short period of time. A campus favorite are the warnings of not drinking the Regent water as doing so will make you enter into a hasty marriage. This may seem lighthearted and jovial to an outsider but many students here actually hate this particular meme because it sees marriage as an inevitable consequence of going to Regent and suggests that this perhaps is one of the reasons for attending a Christian school. This saying alludes to the idea that academics are a side project and the sole purpose of Regent is actually finding a suitable husband or wife. The other common catchphrase on campus only reinforces this idea with the notion that one should acquire “a ring by spring.” This establishes a deadline that Regent couples are expected to be engaged by the time they either walk across the stage or drop out of school to pursue an early domestic life. Marriage is a commitment and should not be taken lightly and when one is pressured to acclimate to this time line they are in danger of making a mistake that will have repercussions for years to come with the feeble excuse that “everyone else was doing it”.

            College was intended to make scholars out of its students, not housewives, and although motherhood and being a wife are not lesser pursuits they should not be the end goal of attending higher education. A culture that promotes domestication over education is not one that promotes independence or personal betterment especially not for young girls. Girls here especially joke about attending school for their M.R.S degree a play on the title for married women as if school were for the sole purpose of finding a spouse to whom they can be equally yoked to. This archaic notion haunts new relationships, hanging over them like a sword while simultaneously making those without a significant other feel as if they are behind where they should be at this point in life. Young adults come to school tasting independence for the first time and can occasionally rush into things without wisdom and without much thought as to the consequences if the boy they met six months ago is not the love of their life. Marriage should be sacred and when one commits to it without patience and deliberation they run the risk of unhappiness and a lack of personal fulfillment.

            Hardly a soul on campus will argue that there is a quiet cultural revolution going on either graffitied on university property, argued about in class, or through the subtle change of ideals. The campus is putting foot after foot towards a culture of equality and away from the pressures of archaic social clocks and gender roles. This is not a move away from monogamy or the natural order of things instead a plea for patience and empathy that comes with the understanding that not every student is on the same path and it can only debilitate young impressionable minds when they believe as such. A healthy prayer life and consistent introspection are tools of the wise and students would benefit knowing the notion that everything happens in its own time and place. Regent should encourage its students in their academics and obtaining a degree before worrying about finding the perfect match when students are still figuring out their lives without the guidance and control of their parents for the first time. Marriage and family life are beautiful and respectable but should by no means be the only priority and endeavor of a generation of students too young to even rent a car.

Beekeepers are the Saving Grace of the Bee Population

What do flower fields and Broadway shows have in common? They both have bright colors, invoke a sense of wonder and most importantly can only function because of the hard work of the behind the scenes workers. The bees are an underrated yet irreplaceable component of the environment and they work tirelessly to maintain their hive, serve their queen, pollinate flowers, make honey, and are disappearing at a rapid rate. However the key to their continued survival is simple and thankfully already in place. Beekeepers are the guardians of these tiny yet hugely important pollinators as they fight off and can prevent some of the factors that have been killing the bees. Beekeepers hold this vital industry in the palm of their hand or in the hive on their land, depending on perspective. Beekeepers can prevent and fight the diseases brought about by insecticides, parasites, and other diseases.

Sue Southerton is a hobbyist beekeeper from Michigan who keeps a couple hives on her ten acre farm and is self-described as an amateur. She got into beekeeping after a seminar she attended with her children and after studying with another experienced beekeeper for a season she decided to get a few hives of her own. While she does not sell the honey her hives produce  but rather gives it out to friends and family she says the benefits go beyond in that, “It is unbelievable to learn more about the bee community.  There is an order to their social system.  God’s order in the universe is so amazing!  I keep learning and stay active and share in what I am blessed with.” The fruit of her labors is both literal and metaphorical and despite the time and energy that goes into her hives she affirms that it is absolutely worth it.

            When I asked about what exactly the duties of a beekeeper entailed she sent me a hefty seasonal schedule. Sue spends most of the fall in preparation for the winter by, “monitoring food levels and if needed providing insulation to keep the hive at a constant temperature.” When the weather gets a little warmer that is when the honey starts flowing, “The hives have to be monitored for mites and such and if they’re being really productive with the honey they may have to be emptied out a couple times.” This is a simplified run down of what a beekeeper’s year entails but offers some insight on the duty they have to keep a hive running smoothly and operating at a productive level. It involves being intuitive and observant and trying to assess the health of the bees and intuit what they need at any given time.

Beekeepers do everything from keeping their colonies well fed and warm to safeguarding them against mites and other parasites. It can be a challenging yet rewarding practice and its benefits include the obvious honey as well as ample pollination and flourishing gardens. Stories of the bees disappearance are abundant it seems that its all anyone can talk about, most of these stories are about lesser known native bee species but the honey bees could be next. Through the hard work of beekeepers we will hopefully never face worrying extinction prone numbers but we know that there are those willing to push back against any detrimental threat to the honeybee population. Next time you’re going for a walk in a flowering field or having a cup of tea with honey thank your local beekeeper and those hardworking bees.

Inter-mural Volleyball League Prepares for Upcoming Season

            Some students may know it as a simple plot of sand or the picnic area where others like to hang their hammocks but to the winners of last year’s championship that is their home turf. The reigning champions of Regent University’s intermural league have begun planning and training to defend their title in the impeding season. As the weather climbs up the thermostat it is not uncommon to see the Orange Team players whipping a volleyball back and forth across the net. This drive may be what sets them apart from the other losing teams especially in their passion and persistence.

Members for this upcoming season are excitedly preparing as the spring season gets closer and closer waiting for those lazy spring afternoon where they can really put their skills to the test. When asked about training they assured me repeatedly that they all do it separately and on their own time especially in the midst of a busy academic period in the semester. All of the members of the Orange Team are relatively in shape but agreed that they are not going to force one another to be held accountable for going to the gym as volleyball is mostly something they are doing for fun. Micah, a member of the team also told me that they sometimes get together for intersquad scrimmages which I learned is when one plays against one’s own team.

            When the time arrives to actually compete the teams wear coordinating shirts and meet each other at the pit 10 minutes before the game begins. They need to have at least four players to play and if any other players are available they wait on the sidelines to be cycled in. The game begins and the ball volleys between the opposing teams waiting to strike the sand of each other’s side. Members of other teams keep score on a public scoreboard as well as in a binder used to compile wins and losses for playoff qualifications. A referee is also hired to serve as an unbiased authority in what scores count and helps enforce the peace while keeping everyone honest. Intermural sports for the most part are ran entirely by students, for students, and serves as an excellent way to promote physical activity and healthy competition. After each set the teams take a water break and audience members are welcome to come volley the ball on the court with the teams as their friends encourage them. After the sets are finished and the team who won the best of three claims their victory they all run around the court and give each other high fives in the spirit of true sportsmanship.

Micah VanFossen, a player recently drafted into the team for this season was actually one of their opponents last season but jumped ships to join the winning team. He says, “I don’t  know, I’m excited and hopeful that I can actually win this time.” This is in response to his crushing defeat in last seasons playoffs he decided to play against his girlfriend (who crushed him) and in the spirit of a true snake left his former teammates in the dust. He was debating the team’s mascot at the time between a caribou and a raptor. He was trying to petition the team towards the caribou but other members were uncertain, hopefully this will not divide them as a team. They must decide on the particulars before spring break when the season officially begins at the opening ceremonies.

The players are not the only ones who look forward to these games as these events are known to draw a sizable crowd of students, parents, and friends alike. These events are more accessible to students as they are not as intense as our collegiate sports and take place on campus so require less effort and are more convenient. Students enjoy supporting one team or another or even simply basking in the spring heat for the first time in months. Occasionally there is even a small barbeque as someone cooks hamburgers and fills the air with the smell of charcoal and the anticipation of summer. The atmosphere is that of a family cookout complete with laughter, spirited heckling, and a welcome break in the pressure of the closing semester. It gives everyone on campus the opportunity to simply enjoy themselves and support their peers as they vanquish the competition at the volleyball net.

The intermural volleyball league is a positive outlet for energy and encourages students to be outside and among their friends. It has created a weekly time where students are welcome to hang out and enjoy the weather while supporting their peers and Regent’s budding athletic program. As the intermural club grows they are hopeful to include other sports and include a larger percentage of the student body. For now students are happy to have a fun spring and autumn activity appreciated by athletes and academics alike.