The University of the Cumberlands Student Newspaper
Fall Issue 2 September 30, 2026
A2 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Letter From the Managing Editor
Staff Editor- in- Chief Sydney Dingus Managing Editor Taylor Moren Design Editor Ugne Takuseviciute
PHOTO BY ETHAN WELLS
Hey Pats! As Managing Editor, I am so excited to welcome everyone to a new school year. Our publication is more than just a college newspaper. It is a place where students can share their experiences, celebrate accomplishments and stay informed about the events and issues affecting our campus community. College is filled with stories worth telling. Every student, professor, organization, athletic team and campus event adds something meaningful to our university. Our staff works hard to represent those different perspectives while producing stories that are accurate, thoughtful and interesting to our readers. I hope our newspaper continues to help students feel more connected to campus. Whether we are covering an important update, recognizing a student’s achievements or highlighting an event that brings people together, our goal is to create a publication that reflects the people who make our college special. Thank you to our writers, photographers, editors and everyone who allows us to share their stories. Most importantly, thank you to our readers for continuing to support student journalism. I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together throughout the year. See you around campus! Taylor Moren, Managing Editor
Staff Writers Alexis Bowling Jillian Cross Brenna Gibbs Kayla Russell Audrey Yandell Staff Photographers Kurstyn Ison Ryleigh McCoy Abigail McKamey Ethan Wells Staff Graphic Designer Suginna Laohapatanawong Faculty Advisor Jeremiah Massengale
Check out The Patriot Website Cover photo by Ryleigh McCoy You can find all our articles, stay on top of the latest news, and meet our staff on our website. Visit us at www.ucpatriotnews.com and check out what The Patriot has to offer!
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A3 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
News
Campus Around the World
Counseling Services Available
UC Around the World is an upcoming campus-wide event to be held on October 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wellness Center Lawn. Campus Ministries Associate Director, Rachel Li said the event is “positioned to be a bigger and better international food night.” Students will share food from their home countries as well as performances, crafts and games. Li said, “We want international students to feel seen, honored and respected while also letting domestic students experience a little bit of the world while still in Williamsburg.”
As bi-term and full-term classes start to pick up, remember that you don’t have to wait until you’re completely overwhelmed to ask for help. The University of the Cumberlands Counseling Center offers free, confidential support to students, whether they are dealing with something specific, feeling stressed or just need someone to talk to. Reaching out sooner rather than later can make a positive difference. Students can connect with the Counseling Center at 606-5393566 or counselingcenter@ucumberlands.edu. For support outside of regular hours or whenever you need it, TimelyCare is also available to UC students at no cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Worry Free Wednesdays also give students a chance to step away from studying to recharge and enjoy different activities throughout the semester. Keep an eye out around campus and on UC’s social media pages for upcoming dates and activities.
Musical Opportunities
UC Fosters Creativity
The Cumberlands Music Department is giving students the opportunity to experience live performances by professional artists through its semester field trips. Open to students of any major, the trips make experiencing the arts more accessible by covering most costs, including meals, transportation and performance tickets. Students pay only $10 per ticket. The first field trip of the semester took students to Knoxville, Tennessee, to see the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra perform George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.” The performance gave students an opportunity to experience professional musicians in a live setting outside the classroom. With more trips planned throughout the semester, students will have additional opportunities to experience live performances. More information about upcoming trips can be found through the Music Department.
The UC Library Makerspace is giving students access to a variety of creative and technological resources at no cost. Students can use the space to print in color, create 3D prints and craft with a variety of supplies. The Makerspace is now also part of the Department of Academic Innovation, connecting it with the Classroom of Innovation located upstairs in the library. This expansion gives students additional opportunities to explore creativity, technology and hands-on learning outside of the classroom. Whether working on a class project, exploring a new skill or simply creating something for fun, students of all majors are encouraged to take advantage of the Makerspace and its resources.
Local
Burning Up in the ‘Burg Kentuckians have scientific backing to complain about the recent heatwave. According to local National Weather Service data for the Corbin-London area, the highs for August were only slightly warmer than their average for the last 20 years, and the maximum high was 93° (all temperatures in Fahrenheit). The data showed even some nights of belowaverage temperatures in the first week of the Fall 2026 semester. September however, the maximum high for the month so far was 97°. Three days, in fact, were the hottest temperatures recorded at this location for their respective days; Sep. 3 at 96°, Sep. 4 at 97°, and Sep. 18 at 94°. The Weather Channel predicts that we are free from 90° heat for the rest of the year. Before too long, there will be good reason to complain about the cold weather.
See You When? 8:08 is officially a month underway. The college ministry hosted by Main Street Baptist Church has had four sessions with large turnouts every week. This ministry group takes place right off campus on Wednesday nights at 8:08 pm. It is a gathering of young adults and college students hanging out, worshipping and listening to a sermon. Every event has a different theme, and students can keep up to date on these and other announcements on 8:08’s Instagram page. The name, 8:08 references the biblical passage, Luke 8:8 which says, “And some seed fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.’ As [Jesus] said these things, he called out, ‘he who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” Main Street Baptist Church also uses this time to help students get connected in their church. Leaders are there to answer any questions students have about God or specific groups like Bible studies, children’s ministry and the worship team. The next 8:08 will be on October 7 and the church is excited to welcome all students.
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A4 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Student Life
UC and Accessibility
Two Students’ Experiences with Campus Accommodations
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAEDYN HAGGARD
BY: JILLIAN CROSS
Haggard has also worked with UC’s accommodations team, which helped arrange accommodations for her transition to college, including accessible housing. “The Getting to class looks a little different accommodations team was helpful in making sure for everyone. For UC freshman media arts I got the accommodations that I did.” Haggard major Jaedyn Haggard, learning her way said. around campus also meant figuring out which According to the University of the routes worked best for her. Haggard has spina Cumberlands’ Office of Accommodations and bifida myelomeningocele and primarily uses a Accessibility, the university is committed to wheelchair. creating “a campus environment of inclusion As she settled into her first semester, she and accessibility.” The office says it works with began finding which ways around campus worked students and other members of the campus best for her and noticing places where getting community “to determine accessibility needs and from one building to another was not simple or provide appropriate accommodations to ensure straightforward. “I wish the sidewalks and ramps equal access and experience for all individuals at were more level and there were more walkways,” UC.” Haggard said. “I’ve had to find alternate routes The university also notes that because I can’t get [places] any other way due to accommodations can take different forms uneven ground.” depending on a student’s needs. According to Haggard did not have to figure out its accommodations information, the Director of those routes alone. During her first few days on Student Accommodations works with students campus, other students helped her learn the best and university offices to address needs through ways to get to her classes. “My RA and the girls measures such as parking and classroom location that lived in Hutton helped me navigate alternate accommodations, accessible online content and routes to my classes the first few days,” Haggard other accommodations when needed. said. But accessibility does not always involve Some parts of navigating campus have something as noticeable as a wheelchair, ramp or gotten easier since the beginning of the semester. automatic door. The university’s accommodations Automatic doors have recently been added to process recognizes both physical and mental buildings across campus, something Haggard impairments that substantially limit major life noticed almost immediately. “The first few weeks activities, including “walking, seeing, hearing, I was here, the automatic doors didn’t work, so speaking, breathing, learning, working, or taking I just opened them manually,” Haggard said. care of oneself.” “Now they work, which is helpful.” For UC senior Samantha Mager, the Other situations have called for more college’s smaller size has been a benefit. Mager individualized solutions. During freshman is studying elementary and middle education orientation, Haggard’s group was originally with an emphasis in English and math. She lost scheduled to meet on the second floor of a hearing in her right ear following an ear infection building without an elevator. “...the entire in high school, and said the UC’s smaller class original building that it was in got switched so sizes have worked well for her. “Because the that I could be in it,” Haggard said. “It definitely classes are small, I have not experienced any made me feel more welcome here at school.” issues hearing,” Mager said. STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY KUSTYN ISON
Through friends with other disabilities, Mager has also seen how the physical layout of a classroom or building can make a difference. Crowded classrooms can leave little room to move between desks, while stair-only areas can mean taking a different route or finding another way into a space. “Because so much of the campus is stair-access only, it is hard for them,” Mager said. Mager would like to see more ramps and elevators added across campus. She also pointed to dining services as another area where accessibility can be improved, particularly through clearer food labeling and more awareness of cross-contamination for students with food allergies. Making the campus more accessible can include everyday actions such as leaving enough room between desks, making sure an automatic door is working or helping someone find a better way to class. Accessibility is something the entire campus community can help with. While ramps, elevators and accessible walkways matter, so do the everyday choices students, faculty and staff make to keep spaces open and welcoming to the people around them. Both Jaedyn Haggard and Samantha Mager’s experiences offer a reminder that making campus easier to navigate does not always begin with noticing what someone cannot do. Sometimes, it begins with noticing what can be done differently.
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A5 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Student Life
New Coach, New Era UC Swimming Team Begins a New Season
PHOTOS COURTESY OF UC ATHLETICS
BY: UGNE TAKUSEVICIUTE DESIGN EDITOR
Being a student-athlete in college is not easy. Balancing classes, practices and social life requires dedication and support from the people around you. One of the most important people in an athlete’s journey is a coach who believes in the team, creates a clear vision and helps athletes grow both in and out of the sport. This season, the University of the Cumberlands swimming and diving program begins a new chapter under Head Coach Eric Bugby. Bringing years of coaching experience and a fresh perspective, Bugby hopes to build a strong team culture. “I want a new legacy that the team can create for themselves. I want this to be collaborative, where it’s not my program or your program. It’s our program. But I also want this to eventually be a team that others fear and secretly want to be part of. And I think that’s a fine line that we can walk, and we eventually will,” Bugby said. The new head coach has dedicated most of his life to the sport, from the age of 6 through masters swimming after college. Although he initially hated the sport as a child, he discovered his love for competition after winning his first 25-yard freestyle race. For Bugby, coaching started as a way to experience another side of the sport. As he continued coaching, he found that one of the most rewarding parts was watching his athletes succeed, enjoy swimming, and support one another. “Seeing your athletes actually have success, have that payoff, see them love the sport and then also cheer and be happy with their teammates.” Bugby said that the fun part of coaching is seeing athletes “celebrate each other.” Bugby chose the University of the
Cumberlands after following the NAIA meet and researching the top teams in the country. He was already looking into potential coaching opportunities when the Cumberlands’ position opened just a few days after nationals. Bugby said that finding a coaching job was “...almost impossible in the back of my mind, then all of a sudden, this job popped open, literally three or four days after Nationals.” Having already researched the program, he knew he wanted to apply. Eric Bugby spoke very kindly about his first impressions of the UC’s swimming program and the team. He mentioned that everyone was immediately welcoming, including the administration and employees, who pointed him in the right direction and offered advice. People were trying to get to know him, athletes were sharing their experiences and everybody was willing to try something new. He said he felt that this place was a good fit because the beginning was very smooth. “Swimming does not dictate who you are in life,” said Bugby when asked what he wants his swimmers to learn from him, both in and out of the pool. The coach emphasized that while swimming is important, it is not everything. He said that if an athlete can realize this and flow with the sport’s highs and lows, they can then excel at it. Regarding this season’s goals, Bugby identified that swimmers and divers maintaining a 3.75 GPA is one of them. He also believes the team has the potential to compete for a national academic title. In the pool, Bugby wants at least 66% of the team to achieve their best times in the majority of their events. His goal is not only for the athletes competing in the A final heat at nationals to succeed, but also for swimmers ranked higher than the previous year to see improvement. “If that means we win a national title, great, but I would rather have people enjoy the season, want to continue with it and stay
motivated in the spring and the summer. Then I know the results will come,” Bugby said. When asked about his favorite part of being at UC so far, Bugby jokingly mentioned the Chick-fil-A across from his office. However, he said the team has been the best part of his experience. Getting to know the swimmers, trying new things in the water, and being open to feedback have helped him better understand the team and develop his plans for the season. After only a month at UC, Bugby is already looking forward to what the future can bring. Another of his goals is to build a strong alumni community of former swimmers who continue to follow the team, come back and stay involved. More than anything, he wants to create a program where athletes feel supported, enjoy the sport, celebrate each other and want to keep coming back. As a new season begins, Bugby is not just focused on the times on the scoreboard. His vision is to build a team that works together, supports one another and creates a legacy of its own. A new era of the Cumberlands’ swimming has already begun.
“Swimming does not dictate who you are in life.” - Eric Bugby
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A6 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Student Life
My Culture, My Story
Pitu Yean and the International Experience
BY: ETHAN WELLS
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
back home, family was the first and biggest thing that came to mind. Secondly, was the food. Yean encourages everyone to seize the moment if they come across Cambodian cuisine. When asked about Cambodia’s landscape, Yean noted that, unless you are in the northern mountains, Cambodia is much flatter and at a lower elevation than Williamsburg. He described the tropical environment, saying, “[in America] we have four seasons. In Cambodia, we have a dry season and a wet season, and normally temperatures never fall below 80° Fahrenheit,” says Yean, “AC is a must.” Wildlife also varies. Yean recalled his shock finding how common squirrels are in America. When asked what might shock a tourist in Cambodia, he mentioned the unusual presence of monkeys in their cities, climbing everywhere Yean said anyone interested in Cambodia is free to reach out. He would love to give insight “Southern hospitality,” but he made it clear that into his neck of the woods. Yean encourages this attitude is also prominent in his culture, anyone who has aspirations to see the world, “If remarking that he has experienced very similar you want to travel, don’t wait, go for it.” hospitality in both countries. Yean expressed nothing but love for Cambodia. When asked about what he missed PHOTO BY ETHAN WELLS
Subjectively, the greatest aspect of college is building relationships with people of varying backgrounds and wildly differing futures. The University of the Cumberlands boasts students and alumni from over 49 countries and six continents. Pitu Yean, a UC sophomore and international student, expressed his enjoyment of this diversity not only in college but also as one of his favorite things about America. Yean grew up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia but the residents of Mahan Hall know him as one of their RAs. He moved to America as an exchange student for his junior year of high school. Yean is pursuing a degree in computer science. He is exploring several career paths in the technology field and, as of now, is seeking internships to gain experience. When Yean came to America, and especially Kentucky, he noticed something that reminded him of home. In America, it is called
Ya like Jazz?
Fine Arts Association Brings Live Jazz and Performing Arts to Cumberlands BY: BRENNA GIBBS STAFF WRITER
The sound of live jazz filled UC’s Gatliff Chapel on Sunday afternoon as the DiMartino/ Osland Jazz Orchestra opened the 62nd season of the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky. For University of the Cumberlands students, faculty and staff, the performance offered an opportunity to experience professional live music without leaving campus. The concert, held Sept. 27 at 3 p.m., featured the Lexington-based DiMartino/ Osland Jazz Orchestra, led by trumpeter Vince DiMartino as well as saxophonist, composer and educator Miles Osland. The professional big band brings together many of Kentucky’s jazz musicians and combines traditional big band music with original works. For students who attended, the afternoon was more than simply another event on the university calendar. The return of live jazz to campus provided an opportunity to experience a style of music that is often best appreciated in person, where the sound of a full ensemble can be heard and felt in the same room. “I thought it was just a great time,” said Isaac Bush, a Cumberlands senior. The event was also an opportunity to recognize UC professor David Threlkeld of the
Department of Music and Fine Arts, who serves as program director for the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky. The association has worked since its founding in 1961 to promote and support the fine arts throughout the region through performances, educational partnerships and community programs. The Fine Arts Association serves four communities across Southeastern Kentucky: Williamsburg, Corbin, London and Barbourville. Its annual performing arts series brings a variety of professional artists and ensembles to each community throughout the school year. UC students, faculty and staff can attend Fine Arts Association performances for free with a valid UC ID. The next performance will feature the Tamburitzans on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Betty Hamilton Center for the Arts at Corbin High School. This group has performed for more than 85 years and is known for combining international folk music, dance and culture with colorful costumes and choreography. On Jan. 17 at 3 p.m., Peach State Opera will perform at South Laurel High School in London. Founded in 2009, the Georgia-based touring company brings opera productions in English to communities throughout the Southeast. The season will conclude March 12 at 7:30 p.m. with Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux at Conway Boatman Chapel in Barbourville. Vieaux
has performed internationally as a soloist and with orchestras and is recognized for his work as one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation. The Fine Arts Association’s season gives students more than an opportunity to attend concerts. It creates a connection between the university and the broader artistic community of Southeastern Kentucky, bringing professional musicians and performers into communities where students can experience them firsthand. For students looking to experience the arts beyond the classroom, the upcoming season offers plenty of opportunities to listen, learn and enjoy live performances close to home.
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A7 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Art Gallery
Campus Life
A Spotlight on Cumberlands Creatives
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATRINA CAMPBELL
Senior Katrina Campbell holds an assortment of handmade pottery vessels and figurines.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MALLIE JOHNSON
Freshman Mallie Johnson models her custom, hand-tooled leather bag.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISEN OWEN
Junior Madisen Owen displays oil paintings from her class, Painting 1.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDISON DIDDLE
Senior Madison Diddle poses with her senior gallery featuring oil paintings and a sculpture.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA MEEGAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF ESTELLE HOTTEL
Junior Estelle Hottel draws a ship on a library whiteboard.
Senior Anna Meegan’s acrylic study of a frog playing an instrument.
Interested in showcasing your work? Get in touch with us at thepatriot@ucumberlands.edu or @UCTHEPATRIOT on social media
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A8 . Wednesday, September 30, 2026 . The Patriot
Entertainment
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