TrevEchoes | OCT | 2017 | 1

October 2017 | Trevecca Nazarene University’s Official Student Newspaper Since 1944 |TrevEchoesOnline.com
OPINION
Meet your ASB Vice First generation college students
President
Page 6
make up 40 percent of freshman class
BY Andrew preston
NEWS SPORTS EDITOR
When Abby-Lynn Jordan got
Campus pranks her acceptance letter to Trevecca
her parents pinned it to the family
have long history refrigerator with a poster that said
Read about some of the best ones “She finally did it!”
over the years. Jordan, an early childhood
education major, is one of around
160 freshmen at Trevecca this fall
Page 4
who are the first people in their
Commissary in families to potentially graduate
from college.
Towers welcomes Though her parents didn’t go to
students college, there was never a question
Page 3 about whether she would.
“It wasn’t my choice,” Jordan
SPORTS
said. “My parents said, ‘Since we
Trojan cross coun- didn’t go, we want you to go. We
want you to have the opportunity
try to host G-MAC that we didn’t have.’”
championship She considered not attending
college to accept a full-time position
For the first time ever, the cross
at a pre-school as a teacher’s
country teams will host the G-MAC assistant, but her parents bargained
championship. with her.
Page 7 “Give us at least two years,”
Jordan said. “If you have two years
CONNECT down, you have your basics and
/TrevEchoesOnline you’re good to go.”
Jordan is what college
@TrevEchoes CONTINUED PAGE 4 Jordan in class. Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.

@TrevEchoes
Parody accounts tweet about life on campus
BY Brooklyn dance accounts related to Trevecca , Other parody accounts currently
TrevEchoesOnline.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
particularly on Twitter, seem to active include @NOTTnuThings
@PickupLinesTNU provides pop up regularly. which tweets satirically about life
TrevEchoes@gmail.com pick up lines just for Trevecca “I feel like there’s a new one at Trevecca and @TypicalTnuGirl
students. @TNU chapel claims very day, it’s hard to keep up with tweets from the perspective of
TNU Events App to be the “unofficial official them,” said Matt Toy, associate “a dazed Christian student in the
resistance chapel tweets of TNU.” vice president of marketing and heart of Nashville.” @STrevecca
@TNUNEWS2 called themselves communication.
TrevEchoes 2.0 and provided CONTINUED PAGE 4
INSIDE
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 satirical news before recently
shutting down.
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
While no one on campus
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 actually tracks the numbers,
FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 this fall new fake social media

From Sierra Leone Transfer students find home in LINK group

to Trevecca
BY Andrew preston
SPORTS EDITOR
Barefoot in the streets. Dust flying
in his face.
That’s how Michael Jones, a
freshman on Trevecca’s men’s soccer
team, was used to playing the sport
he loves.
Jones, originally from the Republic
of Sierra Leone, grew up playing the
world’s most famous sport without
any formal rules.
But that didn’t stop him from
playing with just his bare feet,
literally, and a ball. That is, when he
had time.
“You’re playing for fun over
CONTINUED PAGE 7
Micahel Jones. Photo provided by Trevecca Athletics.
BY Princess Jones
ONLINE EDITOR
Geena Antley remembered feeling ex-
cited to go home to see her family for fall
break last year. Her excitement was short
lived when she discovered she would not
be able to make it home to South Carolina
because of a hurricane.
Enter her new friends from the required
transfer student group she had to join.
Instead of being lonely on campus,
Antley spent fall break with friends visit-
ing a farm, going on a hayride and getting
dinner.
“I feel like that was a special time for
me because I was really upset about not
being able to go home but being able to
spend that time with my friends made it
better,” said Antley, a junior who trans-
ferred to Trevecca last fall.
Antley is one of the transfer students to
be in Trevecca’s first Transfer LINK group.
Last year was the first year transfer stu-
dents were included in the groups that
freshmen are required to join each fall.
The resulting friendships in that group
still amaze Megan McGhee.
“It was kind of we’ll take what we can
get (because) it’s our first year and our
expectation are pretty low,’ said McGhee,
coordinator of first year programs. “What
came out of that was this huge group of
transfer students. I mean the first year you
had 25 to 30 people consistently partici-
pating in what they were doing and I would
have been happy with five.”
Transfer students have increased at
Trevecca. Last year 77 students transferred
to Trevecca from another university. This
CONTINUED PAGE 3
2 | 2017 | OCT | TrevEchoes

NEWS| Final SGA positions filled after fall elections

Ten students join the 26 current members ofTrevecca’s Student Government Association for the 2017-2018 school year.
The sophomore class vice president position is in the process of being filled.

Ivan Palomares Narada Somboon David Schaffer Luis Ortiz Carlie Ray

Junior class vice president
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee
Major: Exercise Science
Fun Fact: I am actually part
Junior class representative Junior class representative Sophomore class president Freshman class representative
Hometown: San Pedro Sula,
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska Hometown: Old Hickory, Tennessee
Honduras
Major: Religion Major: Social Justice Major: Elementary Education
Major:International Business
Fun Fact: I didn’t speak Fun Fact: I lived in a Fun Fact: At any given point of Fun Fact: I played flute for

of DACA and not a US citizen English at all a few years plumber’s van all last summer the day I will most likely be down eight years.
ago. to play soccer.
in Alaska.

Anthony McClymont Marian Campos Josh connerty Autumn Boots Jacinda Johnson

Freshman class president
Hometown: Clayton, Deleware
Major: Music Business
Fun Fact: I beatbox, and will
probably show anyone
comes up to me and asks me to.
Freshman class vice president
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Major: Intercultural Studies
Fun Fact: If you told me today to
who
pack up my bags and go somewhere
I wouldn’t think twice about it.
Freshman class chaplain Freshman class representative Freshman class representative
Hometown:Plymouth, Hometown: Muncie, Indiana
Hometown: Muncie, Indiana
Massachusetts Major: Interpersonal Communication
Major: Cultural Studies
Major:Organizational Community Development
Fun Fact: I used to have a
Communication Fun Fact: I have dimples and two
business for nine-year-olds that
Fun Fact: I have a blue beta fish freckles that look like they make an
ended up becoming a nonprofit.
named Azul. exclamation point.

Family sticks together: Six members at TNU
By MARY EATON
STAFF WRITER
At 15-years-old, Paola Sanchez had
not thought about her citizenship status
until she asked her mother for the required
documentation needed to get a learner’s
driving permit.
With no social security number and no
United State’s birth certificate, Sanchez
wondered what the plan would be for her
future.
That was four years ago.
Today, the sophomore at Trevecca is
studying to be a nurse. She came to Trevecca
after hearing from a friend that the university
might work with her. She brought her brother
and four cousins with her.
Recently, the six of them; Paola Sanchez,
Edson Sanchez, Jairo Robles, Maria Robles,
Maria Ruiz, and Fernando Montez-Bobadilla
sat around a table in the library.
As Maria Robles studies for mid-semester
exams, Paola Sanchez talks with her cousins
about the various stresses of work and school.
“We know how to keep each other focused,
Maria and Jairo are so focused and do so well
in school,” said Sanchez.
The six family members all have DACA
status. They are among the around 130 DACA
students enrolled at Trevecca this year.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) was created in 2012 under Barack
Obama to allow children who were brought
to the United States illegally to attend college,
get a driver’s license and work.
“I graduated high school and I did not
know what I was doing,” said Sanchez. “I tried
to apply at Nashville State but they needed my
birth certificate, and I didn’t have one.”
At this time Jairo Robles, Sanchez’s older
cousin and fellow DACA recipient, had been
going from school to school, trying to find the
right fit.
Robles had found out how financially
di�cult it was to attend a state school.
“Even though you have a social security
number, they don’t give you any sort of
funding,” said Robles. “Everything comes out
of pocket or from private scholarships.”
Robles applied to five other state schools in
Tennessee, and after hearing about Trevecca
from his cousin, decided it was the best fit for
him as well.
For Robles, undergraduate education has Edson Sanchez, Maria Ruiz, Maria Rboles, Paola Sanchez and Jairo Robles. Photo provide by Jairo Robles.
been a long road. Not pictured: Fernando Montez-Bobadilla.
“I’m going to graduate in May of next Sanchez has now been followed by three has been active in social justice movements
year, 10 years after I started,” said Robles. other of her family members; her brother and marches in Nashville, including the most
Robles will graduate with a degree in Edson Sanchez and her cousins Maria Ruiz recent march in support of DACA on the day of
and Fernando Montez-Bobadilla. President Trump’s decision to end it.
psychology and minor in art therapy.
“We all came to Trevecca and are now Maria also volunteers with Tennessee
Following closely behind Robles, his
here together,” said Robles.” “But sometimes Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (TIRC) and
younger sister Maria Robles found herself
it’s hard not feel like we isolate ourselves Worker’s Dignity, while advocating for tuition
also applying to Trevecca and receiving
scholarships to attend. together.” equality.
President Donald Trump, in September, Paola, Jairo, and Maria have all chosen
Maria says it’s more than just the
said he would end DACA in six months and majors in school specific to the ways in which
scholarships that led her to Trevecca, it’s
her family, and the DACA community that is asked Congress to replace it. they wish to help other people.
present. Since then, Sanchez has tried to put her “We all want to help other undocumented
fear at bay and stay focused on her studies. people who haven’t been as fortunate as us,”
“Once I saw Trevecca’s social justice
program and met with some professors, I got “It’s hard not to think about it all the said Jairo. “For me, I want to help those who
really into the idea of studying it,” said Maria. time,” said Sanchez. “But I don’t want it to have experienced trauma throughout their
distract me from school.” immigration process.”
After meeting fellow social justice majors,
For Sanchez, the idea of protesting fells Maria hopes to pursue a masters after
and DACA recipients, Maria has found her
like an added stress, though it has helped college.
place within the social justice program.
some of her cousins who have been active in “I want to get my masters, and work with a
“Family is really important,” said Maria.
protests. nonprofit,” said Maria. “I don’t think I can save
“I would never leave them and go o� to
Maria, a sophomore social justice major the world, but I think I can make it better.”
another school.”

Transfer students bond, make lasting friendships in group
CONTINUED FROM COVER
year there are 82 new transfer students on campus.
The goal of creating LINK groups for transfers was
to make sure students who start at Trevecca, but aren’t
freshman, have ways of quickly connecting on campus.
“I wanted my position to be about all new students at
Trevecca--not just freshman,” said McGhee. “So, we be-
gan to look at the LINK program as something that serves
students holistically not just students that were in one
kind of band. I want to incorporate all students in the first
year as an undergrad whether they’re freshman, sopho-
more, junior or seniors.”
Colleges across the state have looked for e�ective ways
to engage transfer students in the communities of their
institutions.
For Trevecca, that started with McGhee. Once McGhee
had planned for the beginning of a transfer LINK group,
she recruited former transfers Emily Kriner and Audrey-
anna Guthrie to be mentors for the group. McGhee noticed
that group was special when Trevecca’s field day came
around.
“I expected maybe a handful of people to get involved
when they came back to campus in August. They had like
The Transfer LINK group at field day last year. Photo provided by Trevecca Marketing.
Students don’t have to leave
campus to get groceries
BY Ashley Walling
STAFF WRITER
The commissary, a grocery store in Trevecca Towers
1, has opened its doors to students and residents since
the late 1960’s. But, several students said they weren’t
aware of the store and employees only see a few students
a day shopping there.
Manager Bud Johnson and his wife, who live on
the first floor of Tower 1 in the Trevecca Towers, have
been on campus for more than 20 years and have been
managing the store since 2007.
“My wife decided she wanted to run a grocery
store. We knew the owners and that’s when we started
managing it for them.” said Johnson.
Alyssa Barth, a senior psychology major who works
at the store, said she only sees three or four students
shopping at the store each shift. She said if students
knew the good deals they could get, they would probably
be more likely to come by.
The store o�ers a variety of products including; deli
meats, ice cream, milk, eggs and soft drinks. It also has
a pharmacy and o�ce supplies.
“I was surprised by the variety of stu� that they
have there, plus everything is so cheap and discounted
compared to other places. I got a bag of various items
Iside the commissary. Photos provided by Uy Nguyen.
20 people come to field day and participate in service day.
So, I could tell even in that first meeting at June orienta-
tion that there was something special about the transfers
because it was a large group of people that showed up for
something they didn’t have to be at and all saying that
they wanted to participate,” said McGhee.
For many transfers students, just being in similar posi-
tions connected them.
“I know I would have made friends but I feel like it’s
just something that made my friendship with the transfers
really special. The fact that we were both transfers and in
the same boat, so it was easy to relate and natural to be-
come friends with those people,” said Antley.
When hardship and trials came the transfers found out
just how strong their bonds had grown.
“What was really curious is that everybody started go-
ing through random things in the beginning and because
we were set up as a group together. We somehow ended up
getting really close really fast and we started sharing a lot
of things about our personal lives,” said Ruth Vazquez, a
junior who transferred last fall. “Some of us went through
heartaches or some went through good times, and we
shared them with each other and we got through it to-
for $7 at the commissary when it would have been at
least $15 at Walmart or somewhere else,” said Peyton
Williams, sophomore tv and film major.
The discount prices are available because Johnson
shops around Nashville for his products.
“We have a lot of di�erent stores around town that
we get our products from. Every week we buy things at
special pricing. We’ve been doing it so long now we know
a lot of the di�erent managers here in Nashville,” said
Johnson.
Students can also check out the riddles Johnson posts
each day and should watch for “Bud’s Bargains,” weekly
sales on items with an orange tag.
Some students said they had no idea the store existed.
“I had never been. Even when I used to live on campus
my roommate and I never knew about it. I would have
bought milk there instead of having to go to a grocery
store o� campus,” said Matt Durham, junior business
major.
The commissary is located on the first floor of
Trevecca Towers 1. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. They are
closed on Sunday.
“Students have always been welcome here. It is open
to anybody,” Johnson said.
TrevEchoes | OCT | 2017 | 3
gether.”
McGhee said she’s most impressed with how the first
transfer group is still engaged on campus and with each
other.
“It’s really common with new student groups to be in-
terested in the first six weeks of school. That doesn’t shock
me, that’s pretty normal but the fact that (they) packed an
apartment for a Friendsgiving in November with 40 people
is amazing,” said McGhee. “The semester is almost over
and they were still participating and still wanting to be
with one another. Even in the spring Emily and Audrey-
anne were telling me (they) still had a mob of people eat-
ing together in the caf. I think that’s what’s most surpris-
ing--it didn’t feel like there was a big drop o�.”
The group is known on campus as ‘The Mob.’
“I didn’t think we were di�erent. It wasn’t until later
that we had heard, apparently people had started calling us
a mob because we were so close,” said Vazquez. “I remem-
ber thinking ‘Wasn’t this the purpose of a LINK group?’ I
didn’t think that other people who were in LINK groups
didn’t actually stay linked up with their people.”
The most pivotal moment for Vazquez was when the
transfer group gathered in Jernigan lobby after Christmas
Break.
“The most memorable time to me was when we came
back from Christmas break. I think that’s when we really
truly realized how close we were. I can say for me person-
ally I missed everybody, so when we were all together it
was like ‘Wow I really miss these people. I genuinely care
about these people.’ These people have made an impact on
my life, even just to see their faces,” said Vazquez.
“Trailblazers” is the word McGhee has described the
former transfers, their drive to come into an unknown
community and make a mark has paid o�.
“Such a solid foundation that (they) created for trans-
fer students, to be able to have their own culture and com-
munity on campus. So, that when new transfer students
come in there able to see that there are groups of transfer
students who want to participate and that are already in-
volved. I think they have been trailblazers and have kind of
paved a path for future transfers,” said McGhee.
SOMA focuses on
small groups
By ANTHONY SENECAL & BROOKLYN DANCE
STAFF WRITER
SOMA kicked o� its second year with a focus on new small
groups ministries.
Sixteen small groups of 15 students each are meeting
weekly to study scripture, pray and build relationships.
“This year we decided to go with the small group
format so that we could allow students to meet each other
and encourage each other’s growth in Christ,” said Duncan
McCury, SOMA chaplain.
SOMA started last fall with as a completely student-led
worship service. This year, the focus is on the small groups
and a few worship services.
“It has evolved from being an every other week worship
service to being focused on small groups, with a three times
per semester gathering of the groups for worship,” said Josh
Ray, student body chaplain.
SOMA is still student-led.
“Shawna Gaines [University Chaplain] is there to support
SOMA, but Duncan and the SOMA group leaders, including
the class chaplains, are very much the ones leading SOMA,”
Ray said.
Each group studies a specific topic. Some are designed
for classes, some designed for only girls or only boys. 10 of the
16 groups are open to anyone.
“Hopefully we will get to the point that there will be a
group that meets everyone’s needs no matter what they are,”
McCury said.
Meghan Mapes, junior nursing major, is excited to be in
a SOMA group.
“I have a busy schedule, so I’m thankful there is still a
group that I can make it to. I’m excited for the consistency
and to grow closer in community with students I may not
know very well,” Mapes said.
McCury is excited to see how the groups grow.
“These groups were designed to be more intentional,”
said McCury. “It’s all about creating relationships, praying,
and teaching with one another.”
Interested students can still join a group.
For more information, contact Alyssa Urban, chapel
intern and SOMA group organizer at ADUrban@trevecca.edu.
SOMA continues to o�er occasional worship services for
chapel credit. There are two remaining SOMA nights this
semester.
The next SOMA night is Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in TSAC.
NPWI will be leading worship and student Jacob Bell will be
speaking.
4 | 2017 | OCT | TrevEchoes
NEWS|
CONTINUED FROM COVER
First Generation
students
administrators call first generation
college students. How universities
define first generation can differ.
At Trevecca, students are identified
as first generation if neither parent
graduated from college.
According to
firstgenerationfoundation.org, an
estimated 30 percent of all freshman
entering college are first generation
students.
This fall, around 40 percent of
Trevecca’s largest freshmen class is
considered first generation.
“We’re providing opportunities
for students who never thought they
would be going to college,” said
Brodrick Thomas, coordinator of
student engagement and diversity.
“We’re giving them the opportunity
to change their whole family
dynamic by finishing school.”
Being a first generation college
Parody accounts
on campus
CONTINUED FROM COVER
states “Trevecca we love you
but you have some flaws.” @
CommunityofTNU allows students
to anonymously share their
thoughts about other students.
Parody Twitter accounts
have been around since Twitter
was started, said Matt Spraker,
associate dean of students for
community life.
Most of the current fake
accounts are intended to be light
hearted and satirical, but some
students said some of the accounts
can be offensive.
@TNUNEWS2, calling
themselves TrevEchoes 2.0,
quickly gained momentum as it
called out certain students and
made jokes about campus life.
For example, they tweeted about
a fake Uber service to transport
students from dorms to chapel.
Javon Ruffin, sophomore sports
therapy major, tweeted something
replying to a friend in which
TrevEchoes 2.0 quoted and made a
joke of what they were discussing.
“I learned about it when I got a
notification when I was quoted on
Photo from @PickupLinesTNU Twitter account
student is one of the most often
cited predictors of not finishing a
college degree, according to the First
Generation Foundation, a foundation
that helps connect first generation
students to services they need.
“Past research has indicated
that students whose parents
have no education beyond high
school are significantly less likely
to graduate than peers whose
parents have at least a bachelor’s
degree,” states an article on www.
firstgenerationfoundation.com.
“Nationally, 89 percent of low-
income first-generation students
leave college within six years
without a degree.”
At Trevecca, a team of
administrators are working to
overcome those statistics.
Jeff Swink, coordinator of
assessment and retention, gathers
data from all freshmen.
“At the beginning of the semester
we give all freshmen a CSI (College
Student Inventory) survey,” Swink
said. “One of the questions on
there asks the student what is the
a tweet,” Ruffin said. “I thought
it was hilarious, but at the same
time I didn’t know what [the other
student] felt so I tried to defend
her just in case.”
Spraker received several
complaints from students who
said the tweets had gone too far.
He made the decision to contact
the alleged owner, in which he
learned the account was already
in the process of being deleted. By
the end of their conversation, the
account was gone, he said.
Deciding when to intervene and
when not to is not always clear,
Spraker said.
“A lot of times fun can
unintentionally be hurtful. You
don’t know how people will
receive things or what people are
going through,” he said. “I don’t
know where the line is, it’s so
subjective.”
From a marketing perspective,
Toy said he isn’t worried.
“Imitation is the greatest form
educational background of their
parents. From their responses we
derive how many first generational
students are at Trevecca.”
From that information, Swink
and his team create programming
and support systems based on what
students need to be successful in
college.
During orientation freshmen
and their families are given the
opportunity to go through a first
generational student workshop.
Two student workers, Sofia
Guerrero and Nicolas Reinhard, have
been hired by Thomas to build a
relationships with minority students
and first generation students.
“Their job is to connect with the
diverse students, including our first
generational students, to help them
with any questions they have about
college,” Thomas said. “We walk
them to every office in the CLCS and
introduce them to the faculty.”
Jordan applied to Trevecca
just two weeks before the August
deadline.
“I’m excited to be at Trevecca, but
of flattery. We’re honored that
students care enough about the
Trevecca brand to try and imitate
and have fun with it,” Toy said.
“One of [Trevecca’s] big selling
points is community. We have
fun with our brand. It’s great
students want to have fun. People
want to share life together and
laugh together. It’s what we’re
about. We’re right next to them
laughing.”
Toy said it’s fine to have parody
accounts as long as they note in
the bio that it’s not the “official”
account.
Twitter has an official policy on
parody handles.
“The bio should indicate that
the user is not affiliated with the
account subject by stating a word
such as ‘parody,’ ‘fake,’ ‘fan,’ or
‘commentary,’ and be done so in a
way that would be understood by
the intended audience,” according
to guidelines on www.support.
twitter.com. “The account name
should not be the exact name
of the account subject without
some other distinguishing word,
such as ‘not,’ ‘fake,’ or ‘fan,’ and
be done so in a way that would
be understood by the intended
audience.”
Trevecca ITS cannot tell who
tweets from parody accounts, said
John Eberle, chief information
officer of information technology
services.
“We can tell who accesses
it’s been eye opening,” Jordan said.
“My high school did not prepare me
for college at all.”
For Jordan, knowing she will be
the first to graduate from college in
her family leaves her with a sense of
relief and pride.
“I really think it’s an honor,”
Jordan said. “I want my kids to look at
my degree and know I accomplished
something.”
Jordan in class. Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.
Twitter on campus, but there is no
way to know what Twitter account
is being accessed,” Eberle said.
Jo Ellen Werking Weedman,
assistant professor of
communication studies, teaches
journalism. She said she is happy
to see students engaged in campus
news and commentary.
“We have such bright and witty
students,” Werking Weedman said.
“I love to follow these accounts
and see how they are perceiving
things on campus. Doing satire
well requires good critical thinking
skills and deep understanding of
the community. I would welcome
any of them to some journalism
and social media classes.”
Parody accounts don’t seem to
be going anywhere anytime soon.
“College is stressful and
difficult, being a 20-year-old is
difficult,” Spraker said. “Laughing
at ourselves helps relieve that
tension, and I don’t want that to
stop. But as Christians, we have to
look out for the marginalized.”
For Ruffin, the community
aspect outweighs the negativity.
“I personally think this brings
students closer, because most
students use social media,” he said.
“There are many parody accounts
and it’s usually something funny
and people have something to talk
about on campus.”

Campus pranks have long and storied history
BY Brooklyn dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After the SGA president snuck up on some RAs
and blew an airhorn, the RAs armed themselves with
donuts and toilet paper to throw at SGA members.
That was the beginning of friendly prank war this
fall between SGA officers and Tennessee and Johnson
Hall RAs.
From fitting a car inside Mackey to hauling a
‘Shoney’s Big Boy’ to the roof of Jernigan, pranking
has long been a part of campus life at Trevecca.
Lauren Covington, junior graphic design major
and SGA member, has participated in most of the
recent pranks.
“I joined in on the air horn prank about halfway
through when I saw someone running towards a car
filled with SGA members screaming ‘get in the car!’
Since then, I’ve been involved with most of the pranks
in some way, even if it was just as a bystander there to
make sure things didn’t get out of hand,” Covington
said.
The war has been on pause for a few weeks now.
“We went really hard for a while and wore
ourselves out with the late nights and high energy,”
Covington said. “All of that to say, if someone comes
up with a good idea for a prank it wouldn’t take much
to set it off again.”
For Polston sophomore music business major
and Johnson Hall RA, busy schedules got in the way.
“We joke that we are going to prank again but we
will see if that happens. RAs and SGA both have really
busy schedules,” Polston said.
To Steve Harris, associate provost and dean of
student development, pranks are nothing new.
“College students have always enjoyed pulling
TrevEchoes | OCT | 2017 | 5
pranks,” Harris said.
Harris has seen a decrease in the number of
pranks over the years. He speculated it might be
because of increased technology and social media.
“There has been a change from the time when
cell phones and technology came into existence. Prior
to that, students were looking for ways to have fun,
and a lot of that was pulling pranks on each other,”
Harris said. “We actually met in the conference room
concerned about the decline of school spirit.”
One of his favorite pranks was when students
from Trevecca met up with students from Mount
Vernon Nazarene University to swap all of the
cafeteria trays with each other. The students found
a gas station that was halfway between the two
schools, and loaded up a borrowed mini van with Photo provided by Hannah Polston.
“The last time I even remember a prank on
caf trays. Though plant ops found the MVNU trays school’s property, they are ultimately the ones who campus was my freshman year when someone rolled
unloaded outside the Jernigan stairs and took them will pay for it. the quad,” Covington said.
all before the caf opened the next day, the prank
“If you pull pranks that damage property, where To Harris, students could have done better.
was successful at Mount Vernon. The trays were
does the money come from? It comes from you. [We “TP in the quad is a junior high prank, you could
ultimately swapped back.
have to] build [the cost] into our budget, and students be so much better at college level pranks,” Harris said.
Dan Boone, university president, said that prank will be the ones paying for it next school year,” Harris
was ingenious. said. The pranks Covington have been part of are
Boone participated in a prank or two as a Trevecca light-hearted and thought out.
One of the most repeated pranks is putting soap
student. Harris said he was too busy studying or in the fountain. “It’s really important to keep in mind that we
playing sports. don’t want to damage any property or hurt anyone’s
Harris said for many years, students would put feelings,” Covington said. “It’s easy to get carried
“I helped put the Volkswagen on the porch one purple water and soap in the fountain for graduation.
time, just some small stuff,” Boone said. away and not think about consequences, so we’ve
The soap would gum up the pump, forcing Plant all made sure to talk through the pranks and set
Pranks are fine as long as they don’t hurt people Operations to replace the pump, Harris said.
boundaries before going through with them.”
or property, Harris said.
“I’m glad they quit doing that,” Harris said. Polston said the prank war sparked lasting
“If you’re going to [prank] do stuff that doesn’t
Boone said soap in the fountain is the only prank friendships.
damage anyone’s property or the university’s
that has bothered him, because paying to fix it comes “I got to know so many of the SGA members- I
property. Both parties should laugh at the end, not
out of student’s tuition. didn’t know a lot of them before this year,” Polston
retaliate,” Harris said. “If someone is hurt, it’s not
a good prank.” For many juniors and seniors, the last memorable said. “But we have grown closer and have become
prank was when the quad was rolled with toilet paper. great friends.
Harris reminds students that if they damage the

Students selected to meet with lawmakers in D.C.

By BLAKE STEWART
Micah Mandate Editor
Three Trevecca students were chosen by an
immigration-reform lobbying group to tell their
stories to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
Arturo Prieto, Berenice Olivia and Yenin
Echeveria on Oct. 5 joined more than 125
other college students from 20 states to urge
lawmakers to pass legislation that will allow
them to continue studying in the United States.
The three are DACA students, or students
who came to the United States as children and are
currently protected under an executive order that
President Donald Trump plans to end. Trump
has asked Congress to act on the issue.
The deadline to file for renewal status of the
DACA program was on Oct. 5. Recipients whose
renewal status falls between October and March
are eligible for renewal. Those outside of those
months are not allowed to renew.
“What I hoped from the trip is for politicians
to know the urgency of passing a legislation
that will allow Dreamers the opportunity to
continue their education,” said Prieto, a junior
international business major.
Prieto came to the U.S. with his parents when
he was 4-years-old where he began school in
Nashville shortly after. He says Tennessee is his
Cooper, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker “Listening to my story and the DACA
home.
and Rep. David Casto�. They also spoke with Rep. neighbors we have here on campus is important
“It’s all that I know,” he said. because we have so much uncertainty in our
Kamala Harris from California.
Prieto, Oliva and Echeveria were invited future, all while trying to be a good student and
on the trip by FWD.us, a lobbying group that The 125 dreamers participated in a press
citizen,” said Oliva.
advocates comprehensive immigration reform. conference with close to 30 di�erent media
outlets that included Senators Dick Durbin and Prieto agrees.
FWD.us paid the way for the trip including flight,
Lindsay Graham who are co-sponsors for the “I want students to know that we are not
hotel and food.
Dream Act. much di�erent, we are your neighbors, we are
“For the past three years, I’ve been really
All three Trevecca students shared their involved, we contribute and we just want an
involved in my community with getting more
stories personally with politicians that represent equal opportunity because we believe that we
informed with immigration and refugees,”
the state that they call home. deserve it,” he said.
said Oliva. “This was an experience that I really
wanted to be a part of.”
Oliva’s renewal exprires in May 2018, so she
is not eligible to apply for renewal status.
“Knowing this brought up so many fears
and made me want to get out there and share my
story with our politicians,” she said.
Arriving into the nation’s capital, Prieto,
Oliva and Echeveria along with the rest of the
group got together to discuss their lives and what
their hopes and dreams were after college.
“Knowing that others across the nation
share the same dreams as we do and hearing the
impact we are making in our communities made
us stronger as a group,” said Prieto.
During the trip students spoke with members
of the senate and congress. All three students
visited with Tennessee lawmakers; Rep. Jim Photos provided by Arturo Prieto.

Student scholarship recipient chosen to serve on board of TSAC

By ABBY DUREN
STAFF WRITER
Charles Layne has received $15,000 in
scholarship money from a state organization
that administers financial aid to students.
Because of this, he felt the need to give back,
and now serves as a member on the TSAC board
of directors.
Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.
“Personally, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t
for this program. I wouldn’t have been able to
graduate high school with a year of college done
due to the duel enrollment grant,” says Layne.
“I definitely wouldn’t be at Trevecca were it not
for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award and
various other programs. Through the education
administration behind these programs, there’s a
lot of hope for future generations to come.”
For a large portion of students, attending a
university would not be possible without access
to scholarships made available through the
Tennessee Student Association Corporation,
or TSAC. According to the Tennessee Higher
Education Commission & Student Assistance
Corporation website, the corporation
administers over 20 di�erent state student
financial aid programs, including the HOPE
scholarship, the Tennessee Promise scholarship,
the Tennessee Student Assistance award, as well
as the duel enrollment grant for those who duel
enrolled during their high school careers.
Layne was nominated by the Tennessee
Intercollegiate State Legislature to represent
private universities for TSAC, and over the
summer he was appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam
to serve on the board. them to a�ord a private school like Trevecca.
“I believe my contribution to the board “In 2016 and 2017, Trevecca received
is coming from a unique perspective as a $1,141,200 for the HOPE scholarship, and
beneficiary of several of these scholarships,” $970,000 for the Tennessee Student Assistance
Layne said. “As a private student operation award, which is a need based award that’s
closely with Trevecca’s administration through explicitly through TSAC,” says Layne. “So
student government, I bring another level of around $2 million went towards scholarships for
insight to the table.” people on a needs-basis in the last year alone.”
Through this program, Tennessee has “I feel a real sense of responsibility to
become first in the country for the past three give back to the programs that gave me the
years for filing the FAFSA. opportunity to be here,” says Layne. “I think it’s
something that we should all be proud of.”
TNAchieves, created by the Tennessee
Promise, is a program that all Tennessee high
school students have to go to in order to remain
eligible for the scholarship.
“Part of [TNAchieves] requires that students
fill out the FAFSA in an e�ort to leverage
state funds against federal student assistance
programs, while also assessing at risk students.
The past three years we have ranked as number
one for our FAFSA filing rate because of this,”
Layne said.
TSAC works with first generation college
students to send them to community college,
or to help provide the extra money needed for
Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.
6 | 2017 | OCT | TrevEchoes
Editorial: Experience Nashville
this fall
BY Brooklyn dance
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mid October and fall is finally
arriving in Nashville. Many people
claim fall is their favorite part of
the year, myself included. As the
weather becomes bearable and the
leaves begin to change, Nashville
is a special place to experience fall.
Here’s a list of things to do if you
have a free weekend.
Go outside: parks, hiking,
camping
There is so much to experience
outdoors within a 30-minute
radius around Nashville. The Percy
Warner and Edwin Warner Parks
offer hiking trails, horse trails,
campfire pavilions and more in a
quiet and shady ambiance. Percy
Priest lake is a popular outing; you
can take a picnic or hammocks and
relax by the water.
There are lots of campgrounds
surrounding Nashville, and the
weather is cooling down enough
to enjoy it. Campgrounds are
pretty cheap, and make for a great
weekend away.
If you broaden the radius, there
are several day trips to waterfalls
that allow for fun hikes and cool
pictures. Cummins falls is popular,
as well as Burgess Falls.
Watch the sunrise or sunset.
There are several highly elevated
public places around the city that
make for a good viewing spot.
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes
and haunted houses are arguably
stereotypical, but for good reason.
Embrace the season and the
attractions while they last.
The Walden Pumpkin Farm is
State Parks nearby:
Bicentenial Capitol
Radnor Lake
Long Hunter
Rock Island
Cedars of Lebanon
Bledsoe Creek
Harpet River
Montgomery Bell
Henry Horton
close and locally owned. There
is a hay ride, petting zoo and
an assortment of pumpkins for
purchase. Haunted houses and
ghost tours are fun, but only if
you’re into paying to be scared.
Saturday, Oct. 28 is the
Pumpkinfest in downtown
Franklin. There’s live music,
costume contests and lost of food.
The next Saturday, Nov. 4, is
Crafty Nashville. Another free
event, this is a fall craft fair.
The Music City Yoga Festival
is Nov. 18 at Rocketown. Or, Goat
Yoga is every Saturday on campus
in the barn.
With Nashville being an ‘it’
city, there always seems to be
something new to do. The fall
season is no exception, even if it’s
just going to a coffee shop and
ordering a fall themed drink with
your friends. Enjoy the weather,
find a place of solitude, read a
good book.
Waterfalls nearby:
Cummins Falls
Burgess Falls
Fall Creek Falls
Twin Falls
Foster Falls
Ozone Falls
Greeter Falls
Column: Welcome from your ASB Vice
President
BY SARAH GOODMAN
CONTRIBUTOR
Hey, my name is Sarah Goodman
and I am your student body vice
president this year. I am currently a
junior commercial music major, and I
am from Creve Coeur, Illinois.
I grew up in the Nazarene church
and heard of Trevecca when I was very
young, however growing up in Illinois,
I always thought that I would go to
Olivet. It wasn’t until my junior year
of high school that I even considered
going to Trevecca. I visited campus a
few times and loved it, and I felt like
Photo provided by Sarah Goodman.
this was the place God wanted me to
be. After coming to Trevecca I knew year has been di�erent than my past
few years here. I want to use this
that I had made the right decision. I
have loved my time here and I believe year as a season for growing into the
best person I can be. I am wanting
that these past few years have played
a huge role in shaping who I am to be more intentional with people
today. This campus and the students and build deeper more meaningful
here have been such a blessing for relationships. I think that the campus
is encountering this same season with
me which is why I wanted to dedicate
myself this year to giving back to this me. I have already experienced this
campus that has been so much for me. first hand and I think that our student
body can continue to grow together
As the ASB Vice President, my
emotionally and spiritually. I want to
primary responsibilities are to keep
use my position this year to help this
financial records for SGA and keep
growth. I think that if we can continue
communication between clubs and
to be more intentional with each other,
SGA, but I also have the privilege of
that peoples Trevecca experience will
serving the student body alongside
be changed. Trevecca will be more
the rest of SGA. I feel that just as much
than a school for its students, we will
as I serve in my position, I am being
create a place where people can feel at
served. I have only been in this position
home.
for a few months, and it has already
to meet many new people who have I am excited to see what this year
holds for the student body and for
turned out to be some of the kindest
and most genuine people I know. I am me. I look forward to serving this year
as well as getting to know my fellow
so grateful for the opportunity to serve
alongside such wonderful individuals. students more. This school has been
so much for me and I am very grateful
My hope for this year is growth,
that I get to use this year to give back
for me and our campus. In my own
to Trevecca.
life, I have already noticed that this
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
Daniela Hernandez Duque
DAHernandezDuque@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.
 TrevEchoes | OCT | 2017 | 7

Soccer player adjusts to the game in America after adoption

CONTINUED FROM COVER
there,” Jones said. “The competition
is not as much, because we get the
chance to play only when we are not
working in the field. When I came to
the United States I had to learn all
the rules of how to play the game.”
For the first 14 years of his life,
soccer in the streets and barefoot
was all Michael knew. He was
content. That’s all he cared for.
The occasional pickup game with
friends, if he had his work done.
Until tragedy struck. Michael’s
biological father passed away in
2009, forcing his biological mother
left with nine children to care for.
Jones, along with his seven
younger siblings, was adopted by
Mike and Hayley Jones from “The
Raining Season” orphanage in 2010.
He and his siblings made the move
to Franklin, Tennessee and his new
adoptive dad helped him adapt to
the American style of soccer.
“He had to learn it all, he had
never worn cleats before,” Mike
Jones said. “He hardly played with
a soccer ball before he came home.”
Although the five-hour time
difference forces infrequent
communication, Jones uses Skype
and What’s App to keep in contact
with his family in Sierra Leone.
After the three-year adoption
process was completed, Jones and
his brothers and sisters made it the
United States on March 19, 2013.
For Jones, adjusting to the
American culture was the hardest
part.
“The language, the food,
and balancing my time were
all difficult,” Jones said of his
transition. “Back home you don’t
have a schedule really, you just do
things as you go.”
Mike Jones, says he always
thought he would adopt a child
from Africa. Mike and his wife
Hayley first considered adoption
after they had troubles with their
first biological child.
“What crazy person adopts eight
kids?” Mike Jones said. “We felt
God calling us to do more. We didn’t
know what more was, if it we would
adopt two or three or how many.”
March 19, 2013: Michael’s initial
reaction to the Music City?
“It was so cold,” Jones said. “I
had never seen snow before in my
life. So, being able to go skiing and
sledding (when I got here) was so
much fun.”
Upon Michael’s arrival to the
United States he was required to be
tested for educational placement.
“I tested at a third-grade level,”
Jones said. “I did home-schooling
to catch up, but everything was so
new to me.”
“He did school online at first,”
Mike Jones said. “In four years, he
did about the equivalent of six years
of schooling.”
After completing his middle school
coursework at a rather speedy pace,
Michael was ready to enroll in a
United States High School for the
first time.
“I tried Summit for a few days,
but I wasn’t really liking it,” Jones
said.
Grace Christian Academy was the
obvious fit for Jones, whose family
attends Grace Chapel.
Over his three-year career at
Grace Christian Academy, Jones
Michael’s Favorites:
Food: Cassava Leaf
Soccer Teams:
MLS: Seattle Sounders
EPL: Clesea, Manchester
City
La Liga: Barcelona
Photo provided by Trevecca Athletics.
tallied 147 goals and 49 assists,
quickly becoming the school’s most
decorated athlete.
“The last three years we built our
program around Michael Jones,”
Grace Christian Academy soccer
coach, David DeFatta said. “As we
move on without him next season
it will be interesting to see how our
program adapts.”
“We’re hoping that one of his
younger brothers will come and
play for us,” DeFatta said. “He’s
left some pretty big shoes to fill.”
Jones’ decision to become a Trojan
was simple.
“I found Lipscomb and Belmont,
and Trevecca during the summer
soccer camps,” Jones said. “I came
to Trevecca’s camp, and I really
liked it and Coach Leavy, so I toured
the school and loved it.”
After making the 5,000-mile trek
across the Atlantic Ocean, staying
local for a higher education was the
only option.
“I just came (to the United
States),” Jones said. “So, moving to
another state would be another new
challenge. I didn’t want to do that.”
So Jones chose to be a Trojan,
where he has been able to develop
his faith.
“Being in the Christian
environment really helps you stay
on task,” Jones said. “If you go to
a big school, you may lose focus.
You can still get lost at a Christian
school, but it’s much easier to stay
motivated on the reason you are in
school.”
Although Jones’ major is still
undecided, he says he wants to
pursue a career in the medical field.
“If God gives me the opportunity, I
would love to play for a professional
team one day,” Jones said.
This season Jones has played
in seven games, and although he
hasn’t scored yet for the Trojans,
he has taken 10 shots and recorded
two assists.
“Off the field, his perspective on
life and his faith, he brings us a
great perspective on God’s grace,”
Leavy said. “On the field, he has a
tremendous opportunity to have an
incredible impact on our team.”

Trojans to host G-MAC championship for first time

BY Andrew Preston
SPORTS EDITOR
History will be made Saturday as the Trevecca
men and women’s cross country teams host the
school’s first ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference
(G-MAC) Championships at Percy Warner Park.
“The way the conference has it set up, hosting the
G-MAC is in A-B-C order,” head coach Austin Selby
explained. “We thought we were getting it last year,
but are happy to be hosting this year.”
The Trojans earn hosting rights this year due to
Ohio Dominican University and Ohio Valley University
not having their home courses ready for competition.
“It’s a huge deal,” Selby said. “We so often have
to go up to Cedarville to do anything. It changes the
scenery and that will be nice for us.”
In addition to practicing at Percy Warner Park, the
Trojans will be competing in a meet at their home
course for the third time this season.
“We feel very confident in how to execute a meet
there,” Selby said. “It’s going to be great for people
from Trevecca to see what our runners go up against
Brandon Laws. Photo provided by Trevecca Athletics.
on a yearly basis.”
The Trojans most recently hosted their second
annual Division II Showcase on Sept. 23, in which
senior Brandon Laws finished fourth overall and
junior Danielle March finished 20th. Three weeks
prior, the Trojans began their season at Percy
Warner competing in the Belmont Opener.
“It’s exciting to get to host the conference meet,”
senior Brandon Laws said. “It’s our first time hosting
so hopefully we leave great first impressions to all
the teams and fans.”
While Selby says the team is excited to host the
championships, he believes his team will be ready
for the competition.
Danielle March. Photo provided by Trevecca Athletics.
“The pressure of wanting to do well for the
conference meet is there,” Selby said. “For our
group their nerves will be settled. There are some
A list of some of the
technical spots on the course and our team knows
exactly how to handle them.”
things needed to host a
“I’m comfortable running there,” echoed Laws.
“The team practices there every week, so we are
championship:
familiar with the entire course which gives us a -Timers set up
great advantage.” -Reserve the park
At the G-MAC championships last season the -Police officers
women’s team finished third overall while the
men’s team finished fourth overall. -Port-a-potties
“Team wise it’s going to be very di�cult for us -Thousands and thousands of feet of
to win,” Selby said. “Brandon Laws has an excellent flags (to mark the course)
shot at competing very well. I’d put him up with any
other guy in our conference on any given day.” -40 to 50 cans of spray paint
Laws finished seventh overall in the G-MAC -20 to 3o hours of on the field prepa-
Championships a season ago with a time of 27:05. ration
Laws has cut his 8K time down a full minute running
a 26:01 at the Division II Showcase this season. -A vehicle to drive out in front
“I want to win the individual G-MAC -Getting athletic trainers in position
Championship,” Laws said. “If I don’t win, then I -Emergency personnel on site
hope to at least get first team all-conference which
is a top seven finish.” Source: Coach Selby
8‘FEATURE
| 2017 | OCT | TrevEchoes
Hurricane Harvey impacts
student’s family
Smith’s house. Photo provided by Smith.
BY BLAKE STEWART
MOICAH MANDATE EDITOR
Gabby Smith spent her first week of
classes frantically sifting through texts
and photos sent from her family, while her
grandparents waited for someone to come
rescue them from their flooded Texas home.
Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and many
members of Smith’s family, just as she was
getting her semester started.
“I didn’t sleep the first two weeks of
school because I was receiving texts about
my grandparents,” said Smith. “Their house
was on the verge of flooding.”
Smith, a sophomore worship arts major,
couldn’t wait any longer to go home and
check on her family. Just seven days after the
hurricane hit, she loaded her car and made
the 12-hour drive.
After making the drive from Nashville to
Texas on a Thursday afternoon after class,
she arrived home at 4 a.m. and went straight
to work with her family and hometown
church, First Church of the Nazarene
During her two days there, she helped gut
her grandparent’s home and helped clean up
all the debris. She worked with her church
cleaning up the rubble in the community and
bringing supplies to the church like diapers,
food and water.
Orange Texas, a small town along the
coast of the Gulf of Mexico that borders
Louisiana was flooded by Hurricane Harvey’s
waters in late August. Orange Country
o�cials declared an evacuation for residents
ahead of severe flooding predictions on
Thursday Aug. 31.
Smith and family. Photo provided by Smith.
“I had been through hurricanes before
when I was younger, but didn’t realize the
severity of the situation back then,” said
Smith. “I was there for Hurricane Ike, but
the di�erence between the two was the
need to evacuate.”
Smith’s sister lives two streets away
from their grand-parent’s home that
flooded and like many in the area were
without flood insurance. Smith’s sister was
left with over two feet of water in her home.
Orange Texas sits near a bayou; the area
is surrounded by waterways and many of the
locals have boats for fishing and crabbing.
Smith said her grandparents live far out
in a rural area of the town and were waiting
to be rescued from their flooding home that
had close to four feet of water.
“Social media was a big aspect for a lot
of the rescues that took place in the area,”
says Smith. “My grandparents were saved
by total strangers.”
Some of the people that came into
Orange Texas were a group of volunteers
known as the Cajun Navy. Formed in 2008
after Hurricane Katrina to assist in the
rescue e�orts in Louisiana and surrounding
areas.
Smith says she was overwhelmed by the
number of students that reached out to her
on campus during this di�cult time.
“Strangers have come up to me and
asked how I was,” says Smith. “The quick
response and lack of hesitation has a�rmed
where I need to be.”
The relief e�ort has expanded on
campus in response to the aftermath of
Harvey.
The chaplain’s o�ce and student
government scheduled a relief trip to Texas
during fall break and went to Smith’s
hometown of Orange Texas. The trip filled
up quickly, as 22 students went.
Joshua Ray, student body chaplain, grew
up in Woodlands Texas, a community just
28 miles north of the Houston area, where
Hurricane Harvey caused destruction.
“Being from Texas was a big part of
me wanting to go down there,” said Ray.
“I moved there right before Hurricane Ike
and saw first-hand the devastation that
is done from these disasters. As student
body chaplain, it is my duty to create a
community that helps others and to be
faithful to those in need.”
Meet Charissa Mrowka: 2017 Artist
Development Incubator winner
BY ALexis Garcia
staff writer
Nearly every year since she turned
7, Charissa Mrowka has performed at
about 60 concerts a year.
The Trevecca senior is capping of
her time on campus with the release
of her first EP, and was recently
chosen as the 2017 Spring Semester
Artist Development Incubator
candidate.
Every year, the School of Music
and Worship Arts hosts a competition
where faculty members chose one
student to do an intensive one-on-
one directed study that gives them
insight and guidance on a future
music career.
“She already had many years
of experience when she came to
Trevecca. She had a trajectory. I was
really confident that all the advice
she was going to get, she was going to
put it to work. Some people who apply
early in the process are not ready to
do those things, and it seemed like
she was ready,” said John Thompson,
associate dean of the School of Music
and Worship Arts. “Charissa doesn’t
strike me as someone who is waiting
for things to happen. She is going to
make things happen, and people want
to be involved on that and I want to
be involved in that.”
From the moment of her first
show as a child, she was a nervous
kid. Mrowka’s parents signed her up
for shows, and when it was time to
perform, she hid behind her father’s
leg.
“I just went up there and came
back down to go behind my dad’s legs
and didn’t talk to anyone,” Mrowka
said.
Mrowka’s singing improved over
the years and she landed her first
band gig, playing with mostly 40 and
50-year-old musicians. She was a
10-year-old lead singer in the band,
Charissa Mrowka and Auburn Sky.
Mrowka performing. Photo provided by Alexis Garcia.
When she turned 16-years-old her
band was later changed to Charissa
Mrowka and Country Cross.
“They lost their lead singer and
played rock and roll and metal shows
at bars, and I was a country singer.
They ended up choosing me, and they
changed their genre. We toured for
five years,” she said.
She figures that since she started
at age 7 she’s probably played around
840 shows.
She started her college career at
Trinity International University in
Illinois but transferred to Trevecca
last year.
“In the first semester of being at
Trevecca, I didn’t do a lot because
I didn’t really know anyone. But,
during Christmas break, I heard about
the incubator program. I prayed to the
Lord, please let me get this, because
this will give me a kickstart,” said
Mrowka as she put her hands together
and bowed her head to the ground. “If
I get this, then that means I am doing
something.”
Sam Green, director for center for
worship arts, said she’s a good fit for
Trevecca and the incubator program.
“What I see in Charissa is charisma.
You can even see it in her persona or in
her character. The moment you see her
she you can tell she has a confidence
and you want to know that person,”
said Green. “She is interesting, very
artistic, intelligent, and a thinker.”
Her first EP was just released.
“Pathos,” written by Mrowka,
released this year after her family and
friends did a fundraiser to pay for the
expense.
“Most of the songs that I wrote
for the EP were during high school
because I went through a lot for a
season,” said Mrowka, “I also drew
inspiration from the past and people
that were surrounded by me. I want
people to stop, heal, and connect to
the songs and relate to them.”

Socktober in full swing in Benson Hall
BY Daniela Hernandez Duque
STAFF WRITER
For many college students, finding time to do
laundry and make sure there are clean socks can be
a challenge. But for participants of Socktober, only
one pair of socks is needed for the whole month.
Started by student Kip Kennerly, the month of
October is dedicated to wearing the same pair of
socks every day. There is no real point to the event,
other than to have fun, he said.
“Whenever I tell people about Socktober, most
of them are disgusted by the fact that anyone would
wear the same pair of socks everyday for a whole
month,” Kennerly said.
The socks can be washed, Kennerly is quick to
point out.
Kennerly is participating with students Arnaldo
“It kind of feels like your foot has been set free
from the cage that it has been trapped in,” Kennerly
said. “Seeing all of our socks burn in a fire and
Maltez and Vitor Goncalves, as well as Assistant
realizing that we don’t have to war them anymore
Resident Director of Benson Hall, Logan Newkirk.
feels nice, too.”
Participants are committed to accomplishing their
goal- wear the same pair of socks for 31 consecutive
days. The socks selected for the challenge are goofy
and cheap, which can lead to wearing out quickly.
“A lot of people ask us what we do if our socks
end up getting holes in them or other issues like
that,” Kennerly said. “Whether we like it or not,
we have to keep wearing them with or without the
holes. Usually the socks are pretty cheap so they end
up getting worn out pretty quickly. It would be a
surprise if we didn’t have at least one decent sized
hole.”
The most rewarding part is arguably the last
day, when participants get to burn their socks at
midnight. The chosen socks for Socktober. Photo provided by Uy Nguyen.