By Reilly Gaunt

Whenever the news mentioned Northern Ireland for about a thirty year period, the country was in a state of political and religious violence.

Currently, Northern Ireland is a land trying to recover from that history of violence and become a place of peace.

A Northern Irish Identity

During a period known as the Troubles, two factions fought over control of Northern Ireland, the Irish Republicans, who were mostly Catholic, and those loyal to the United Kingdom and Britain, who were mostly Protestant.

According to the 2021 Northern Ireland Census, currently 42.3% of people identify as Catholic while 37.3% identify as Protestant. In both cases. Christianity is still the biggest religion in Northern Ireland.

Many people outside the county attribute the fighting to a religious dispute, but the issue ran a lot deeper than just a difference in religion.

Rory Nellis said he remembers the violence in his country when he was a child, but now considers himself a member of a newer, more peaceful generation.

“I’m part of the generation, the first generation. I became 18, I became an adult in a peaceful place,” Nellis said. “I think we’re moving forward now. I think as a city and as a place, I think people are genuinely ready to move on from it.”

Not everybody in Northern Ireland feels as united as Nellis does.

Barbara McDade, a professor at Stranmillis University College in Belfast, said that when she was growing up, often people struggled to define themselves as Northern Irish and instead felt forced to choose a British or Irish identity.

She, like many other students in her generation, chose to leave the country to go to university abroad and away from the violence of the Troubles.

“Majority of people, probably 90, I want to say 95 to 98 percent of the population go into tertiary education, and many of them go into elite universities, either Queens here in the city, or they go across the water to Oxbridge, or to Durham, Edinburgh, St Andrews, that’s my home place, they get to go to some of the most amazing schools in the U.K.,” McDade said.

McDade returned to Northern Ireland after her time abroad, and she said she feels comfortable calling herself both British and Irish.

Other people, like Eevee Steele’s family, still fail to see themselves that way.

“I would say that I am Irish, but not everybody in Bangor would agree with that. It’s quite a Protestant area, so not everybody would feel Irish. Even within my family, there’s people who wouldn’t say that they’re Irish,” Steele said.

Steele, like Nellis, said that this political and religious hesitance is more of a generational divide.

“I can honestly say I’ve never been asked like, which I am. It’s definitely more like the older generation that would care about it. If anyone brings it up, it’s like a joke,” Steele said.

Nellis also said he does not care about the national divide.

“I’m part of a generation, and I think a lot of people of my age and younger, I don’t consider myself either thing,” Nellis said. “I am an Irish man, but I grew up in the United Kingdom. I support an English football team. I watch English TV stations and listen to English radio shows. I also watch Irish ones.”

In Northern Ireland, the younger generations are working hard to leave the turmoil and political divide behind them.

America’s Youthful Perspective

The youth in America say they see something differently happening.

While Northern Ireland seems to be healing from its political wounds from the past, young Americans see the problems as still emerging.

In Northern Ireland, religion and politics came together as two parts of one issue. In America, freedom of religion remains an important part of the country’s national identity. In a 2025 Pew Research Study, 62% of American adults describe themselves as Christian.

But some college students in America say that their country does not keep religion and politics as separate as it seems.

Ruby Kramer, a senior at Indiana Wesleyan University, said that she sees most Americans equate the Republican party as the political group most associated with Christianity. She disagrees with that idea.

“I don’t believe that the ‘Christian Party’ is a thing,” Kramer said. “My family ties religion and politics together, but we let our Christian faith and what God and the Bible teaches us inform our political choices.”

Kramer attends college with fellow senior Matthew Lacy, who shares her ideas on the bond between religion and politics.

Unlike the students in Northern Ireland, Kramer and Lacy attend a private Christian university where they have the option to pursue learning about politics and religion freely. Religion and education are strictly separate in the United Kingdom, and any religious activity cannot be school sanctioned.

“At least with the private Christian institution that we have, there is still space there for diversity of theological belief, diversity of religious practice, which is something I greatly value about my experience at Indiana Wesleyan,” Lacy said. “I’ve met many people who were outside of my specific Christian background, and that has actually allowed me to have a deeper and broader understanding of what it means to be a Christian.”

Other American students, like Shelby Yount, a student at the public University of North Texas, see their schooling directly influenced by the government.

“We’re seeing firsthand with funding cuts and pressure from higher-ups in the college on organizations that are student-led and have nothing to do with the college and pressure from professors to not be politically active or inclined or versed or anything of the sort,” Yount said.

She said that while the younger generations in Northern Ireland are trying to move away from political/religious disputes, in Texas, she sees it growing.

“It feels like Texas Christians are very intolerant of anyone who is non-Christian and they really aren’t interested in evangelizing other people,” Yount said.

In 2025, Indiana University also had massive budget cuts and programs slashed by Indiana Governor Mike Braun.

People like Eevee Steele and Rory Nellis want to take Northern Ireland to a place of peace and prosperity. Students like Kramer, Lacy and Yount say they wish America would follow Northern Ireland’s example.

In two different countries filled with political and religious tension, one appears to be moving forward while the other is just getting started.

Beyond Borders: Landscape, Art and Food

By Mya McNew

Whether the scene is green grassy fields with sheep or rows of corn with fields of cows, St. George’s Market or the James Dean Festival, trying soda bread and chips or the local BBQ joint, they all speak volumes about what defines culture.

Landscape, art and food can significantly highlight aspects of a culture. Northern Ireland and Marion, Indiana, separated by an ocean, hold similarities and differences in how they express their identity with landscape, art and food.

A View Between Villages

Northern Ireland is home to the rocky landscape known as the Giant’s Causeway that stretches four miles along the coast. According to the National Trust, Giant’s Causeway represents love, a legend and world heritage.

Giant’s Causeway still stands at almost 60 million years old, being a historical landscape that shaped the formation of Northern Ireland. Whether to hear the myth of the battle or the myth of the true love story, Giant’s Causeway receives over one million visitors a year.

Corrymeela sits in a small town known as Ballycastle, where the volunteers of Corrymeela provide a community with a safe space. Corrymeela welcomed people from different sides during the Troubles and provided them a way to meet safely, have difficult conversations and support one another.

Elizabeth McKevitt, a Corrymeela Tour Guide, spends time educating visitors on the community of Corrymeela.

“We want to create and shape a culture of generous welcome and acceptance of others. A lot of the feedback we get is the overwhelming feeling of hospitality,” McKevitt. 

Corrymeela is known for the peaceful feeling one gets when stepping foot into their community. It provides Northern Ireland communities with hope for what is to come and the sense of peace that all will be ok.

Marion, Indiana, lies in the small Grant County. Marion is home to a vast variety of farmland, along with the school, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). IWU provides a greenhouse to support their science courses and the Alliance Garden, which acts as the campus farm.

Jennifer Noseworthy, Indiana Wesleyan Associate Professor of Biology and Division Chair of Natural Sciences, is in charge of the greenhouse and garden, hoping to provide education on the local farmland.

“We use the greenhouse for projects, growing our crops, and starting seeds for the Alliance Garden. Students can get hands-on gardening experiences in both of those places, learning about how plants grow, agriculture, sustainability, and stewardship for the environment,” said Noseworthy.

Gardens of Matter Park, a well-known and often visited park in Grant County, covers 6.3 acres of land. The Gardens of Matter Park provides the Garden House and The Meadow to hold several events like weddings and small concerts, fostering a strong community bond and even shining a light on local artists.

A Communities Canvas

The Belfast Peace Wall continues to stand tall, as many locals believe it will never come down. The Peace Wall’s value remains, as its presence has played a major role in historical events.

The Peace Wall stretches over 21 miles and gets covered in new murals each year. The Peace Wall signifies a sense of hope and artistic freedom/opinion. The wall provides an educational experience on The Troubles for many tourists and has become embedded in the daily life of the Irish.

Dr. Barbara McDade, professor at Stranmillis University, lived through The Troubles and now teaches on the historical facts of Belfast. McDade highlighted the overarching goal for Northern Ireland as time goes on, and the issues that still occur.

“Those are signatures from thousands and thousands of international visitors each year,” McDade said.

Over time, the walls have become taller, stronger and covered in graffiti from locals to present their struggles or beliefs about issues in the city. International visitors sign their names to send signs of hope and prayers, leaving hopeful messages and even verses from the Bible.

Marion also fosters a community in which murals tell historical stories that helped shape and celebrate Marion for the city it is today. Furthermore, downtown Marion holds a place for multiple prominent art groups.

According to The City of Marion, there are nine different artistic organizations based in downtown: Community School of the Arts (CSA), CSA Civic Theater, Creative Hearts Art Studio, Fusion Arts Alliance, Hoosier Shakes, Marion Arts Commission, Marion Design Co., Orchestra Indiana and Quilter’s Hall of Fame.

Festivals and markets allow locals to express their identity through their artwork. Located in Belfast, the St. George’s Market takes place on Fridays through Sundays and occurs throughout the year.

Belfast City officials said that Saturday and Sunday are for the craft market where locals sell handmade crafts, flowers, plants, local photography, pottery, glass and metal work while listening to live music. Artists and local musicians like soloist Rory Nellis spend many weekends performing at St. George’s Market.

“I started a solo career, sort of writing and performing songs, both cover versions in bars and clubs and markets and gigs around,” said Nellis.

The James Dean Festival takes place in Fairmount, located in Grant County, and occurs the last full weekend of September. The James Dean Museum, also located in Fairmount, shows that the festival consists of a street fair, vendor booths, rides, entertainment and a car show.

The beauty of art in culture could be that it is never the same and the different art represents a special meaning to each community. Whether it’s a mural, market or festival, cultures thrive on the success of a community.

Food As Culture

Northern Ireland is known for their Guinness beer, soda bread and chips. Many restaurants in Northern Ireland also offer menus for special dietary needs.

According to the National Library of Medicine, menu labeling promotes healthy living and food choices by allowing customers to see clear facts. Covering every dietary restriction may not be easy, plus many travelers wouldn’t think twice about someone who travels with food allergies/sensitivities.

Certain restaurants do offer gluten-free buns, vegetarian options and fry chips in a separate fryer to prevent cross-contamination. In the U.S., this isn’t as common, and when narrowed in on small towns like Marion, it is not common at all to see restaurants working with visitors who have dietary issues.

“I can never fully relax when I’m constantly rehearsing what to say and how not to come off rude or inconsiderate in a culture I don’t completely understand,” said Delanie Mark, a college junior who traveled to Northern Ireland while dealing with food sensitivity.

A culture is molded by the food served within. Northern Ireland not only molds their culture with unique foods but also offers more diet-friendly options.

Marion is known for their BBQ, local pizza joints and Midwest foods. Many locals wouldn’t think twice about someone with food allergies/sensitivities, leaving restaurants in the position to not prevent cross-contamination.

The Fine Line

Landscape, art, and food all sit at the top of the pedestal in culture. People travel the world for the food, the beautiful landscapes, and the art.

The fine line intertwined within each is what truly shapes culture. The world still tilts on one axis while the sky captures the beauty of it all.

Communication Between Cultures, a Personal Travel Essay

By Emily Bontrager

This trip was sold to me as the “perfect first international experience” for a number of reasons. One reason in particular was the fact that Northern Ireland is a primarily English-speaking country where the language barrier is basically a non-issue. But one important aspect of communication that I learned from this experience is that understanding one another is more than just speaking the same language. Northern Ireland is an entirely new culture, where language, subtext, and even slang has developed in an entirely different way. The differences go further than just a different accent, and they hold more significance than an alternative spelling of words. People may talk in similar ways, but it is those same people who shape and change a language, allowing it to evolve and grow as the times change. In the same way older books are written in a different way than modern books that are being published today, language changes in response to culture. Seeing as this is, by definition, a cross-cultural experience, the differences between Americans and people from Northern Ireland go much deeper than the slight differences we can easily pick up on. Two people may say the same thing with different accents, but they could mean two entirely different things. Slight differences should not be written off as insignificant. There is a reason that they are there. 

Some of the differences in language in Northern Ireland are simple ones. For example, trash cans are called “rubbish bins” and according to our travel agent, to-go or take out is commonly called “takeaway.” But some of those differences are much larger, and indicative of deeply rooted divisions among people groups. This division was particularly obvious in the town of Londonderry, alternatively called Derry by Catholic Unionists. The name Londonderry is typically used by Protestant Loyalists, and in most of the interactions we had with locals, both sides seemed very passionate about the name of the town. To give greater historical context, Derry is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland, after the capital city of Belfast. Londonderry also saw a lot of the conflict during The Troubles. To this day there are still several memorials in the area in memory of the conflict, including a memorial for murdered children. Many of the houses and apartment buildings from that time period are still intact, some with their original tenants who lived there during the conflict. For the people of Derry, the name of their home represents more than just where they are from. Londonderry is a name that aligns a person with British values and nationalism, highlighting the Ulster-Scots and British family history that is shared by many Protestants. The name Derry on the other hand, is used primarily by a person who not only has a Catholic background, but likely shares in the romantic idea of one day reuniting the Isle of Ireland under one government, despite the fact that Northern Ireland receives a large amount of monetary support from the British Government. Despite the wishful thinking, uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland would likely cause a dramatic decrease in the standard of living for citizens of Northern Ireland according to Sky News correspondent David Blevins. 

While this explanation may seem a bit strange from an outsider’s perspective, we had the opportunity to talk with people on both sides of the Derry/Londonderry divide. First, before we even traveled to Derry, we spoke to Deirdre Speer-Whyte who works in the Ulster-Scots museum in Belfast. She briefly served in the military and was at one point an archeologist who uncovered several artifacts from World War II. While we knew next to nothing about Derry at that point, and could not ask proper questions about the issue, she did correct one of the other students who pointed to a map in the museum and said “look, that’s Derry!” Like many residents of Northern Ireland with an Ulster-Scots background, Speer-Whyte frequently travels to Scotland and is very proud of her Scottish heritage. She does not support a unified Ireland claiming “we’re too different,” and said she does not agree with putting former members of the IRA in government. Where others praise the Sinn Fein as a diplomatic, non-violent approach to conflict resolution in Northern Ireland, this Speer-Whyte said that those involved in this political party are murderers who are now leading in government positions. Neither perspective is necessarily inaccurate. Many members of the Sinn Fein political party were involved in the IRA to some extent, but depending on one’s perspective, religion, and political leanings, that fact could be taken in two totally different ways. 

When we did visit Derry, we stayed mostly on the Catholic and Unionist side, where the “London” in Londonderry was scratched out on most signs, and Irish flags were everywhere. In the same way using the name Derry or Londonderry says a lot about a person’s beliefs, displaying an Irish flag or Union Jack also clearly illustrates what “side” a person is on. It is here that we met our tour guide for our walking tour of Derry, a man who believes that he will live to see a united Ireland. Although he said he was nonreligious, his background was Catholic, like most in that area. To use reporter James Gould’s wording, when someone claims to be atheist, the next question they are usually asked is “are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist?” One distinct feature of Northern Ireland as a whole and Derry specifically is that people are very segregated by their beliefs. This happened primarily because of The Troubles, and the violence between neighbors that came with it. People began to move away from each other and closer to “their kind” to avoid attacks from the opposing side. Today, while those with different views are moving closer together again, there are still very distinct Catholic or Protestant areas. 

While people in Northern Ireland are very welcoming, there are still a few word choices and phrases that hold historical significance tourists may not be aware of. Even for reporters, the differences in names can pose a unique challenge. David Blevins said that he will switch between saying Derry and Londonderry in his reporting in an attempt to remain objective as a journalist whenever he is reporting in the area. In every culture we assign meanings to words, and a lot of the time what we say has a bigger impact than we may realize. Just because we speak the same language does not necessarily mean we can understand each other. The first step to truly understanding a new culture is to acknowledge that just because you did the pre-departure reading does not mean you know everything. The first step to understanding is to listen, and to listen to all sides. 

Political Parallels

By Andrew Scalf

Division

Healing from their past, some people in Northern Ireland, still feel political division and seek justice. Marching forward, the U.S. faces its own growing political division with people on both sides fearing the actions of the other. 

Drawing similarities, some in Northern Ireland said lessons can be learned.

“We’ve learned many things over the years and we’ve learned to be friendly, to be dignified and to engage. This is what we do,” John Kelly said.

Kelly, a former guide of the Museum of Free Derry, lived through The Troubles of Northern Ireland and saw the violence firsthand.

The Years Post-Troubles

Londonderry, a Northern Irish city with a deep history of oppression, lives in constant reminder of what those in power have done. 

Murals line the Bogside, the marshland outside the inner city, picturing the violence and prominent figures that arose from the years of its growing division. One event shown is Bloody Sunday.

A mural in the Bogside of Londonderry depicts a scene from Bloody Sunday. Catholic Priest, Father Edward Daly, is seen waving a white handkerchief to try to stop the firing as a group of men try to bring the wounded John Duddy, aged 17, to safety. Duddy died shortly after.

“My younger brother, Michael Kelly, who was just 17 years old, was murdered that day. And I was there on Bloody Sunday. And I’ve been involved in the Bloody Sunday issue from that day, more or less, due to the fact all our people were innocent,” Kelly said.

Bloody Sunday was the result of British soldiers firing upon and chasing marchers protesting internment. Fourteen men and boys died and 12 were injured. None of the soldiers responsible faced penalties for their actions. 

“A lot of these peaceful marches were attacked,” Kelly said.

Some still resorted to violence, joining the terror group of the Irish Republican Army, to fight against British rule and members of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a loyalist terror group. 

The division can be traced back hundreds of years to the invasion of the British and influx of Scottish settlers. London-Derry itself was subject to suppression and gerrymandering since the 19th century. 

“There was mass discrimination here, and people lived through that discrimination led to day by day, especially in this city here.This is a majority national city, Catholic city, and was totally discriminated against in every respect,” Kelly said.

Londonderry was just one city where people felt division 

“My dad grew up in a really rough estate up in Colerain, and they were kind of the only family that didn’t agree with what was going on there. And my dad and his siblings, like, grew up seeing some really horrible stuff,” Evie Steele said.

Steele, born Generation Z, grew up in the time after the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought the era of The Troubles to an end. 

Hillsboro Castle is where numerous negotiations and deals were made, leading to and including the Good Friday Agreement.

Growing up, Steele said she saw how division is still prevalent through older generations and holidays like the 12th of July. 

“You’ll see, kind of in more extreme cases, people burning the Irish flag,” Steele said.

During the near 30 year span of The Troubles, over 3,500 people were killed. 

In the 27 years since, the main terror groups have maintained the agreement with minimal violence. 

While many are still divided by political opinion, many hold hope for the future of Northern Ireland 

The Growing Troubles

Following the 2nd inauguration of Donald Trump, people have spoken out against both the actions of his administration as well as the president himself. 

In June, marches took place across the Los Angeles area to protest deportations and raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Trump, responding to the marches, called in the National Guard to maintain the marchers where soldiers fired upon them with rubber bullets. Soldiers also fired upon and detained members of the press reporting on the marches.  

Facing moral and legal criticism, the use of force at these marches is one manifestation of growing division in the U.S.

Texas gerrymandering is a recent development, pushed by republican governor Greg Abbot last month, following Trump’s claim that Republicans deserve five more seats.

Following attempts to redraw districts in Texas, Governor Mike Braun of Indiana announced Vice President JD Vance would visit Indiana to promote further gerrymandering. 

In response, democrats are attempting to halt the redrawing of districts and threaten to redraw their own maps.

“I just think people can’t get along. I think people can sometimes get too stuck in their ways or be too focused on one thing that they can’t see the bigger picture,” Keyton Tipple, an IWU sophomore said. 

When asked in an independent study if violence or uprising was likely in response to growing tensions, 69.5% of Gen Z said violence is certain. Of those, 62.5% said that violence is coming sooner rather than later.

Data taken from a survey completed August 8. Ninety-five percent of participants were from Generation-Z.

“I would not be surprised if we were to see the same level of violence we saw in the early 2020s in the next three to five years,” Tipple said.

A survey done by YouGov in June of this year found that a majority of U.S. adults said a civil war in the next decade is at least somewhat likely. 

“Unfortunately, I do fear that (civil war) is probably going to happen,” Alexa Myers said.

Myers, a recent Oak Hill graduate, said she feels there’s too much emphasis on emotion over logic, leading to violence.

“America has been divided multiple times in the past, history has proven that. And I feel like we haven’t really had a great example of our country at times,” Myers said, “There’s been times history has remade itself and violence tends to be the number one seam that gets repeated.”

Tipple said he could see military involvement and riots in larger urban areas, just not in Grant County.

“From my time of living in Grant County, I haven’t seen much. I don’t think we’re going to see it in small towns or cities like Muncie, Marion, or Gas City,” Tipple said. 

Myers disagrees.

“I look at Grant County and I see a very private, close-knit community, but then I also see us as a community where there are a lot of opinionated people. Say we were to have a civil war in our country, I think we would also have a smaller, mini war, in our own county,” Myers said.

Holding various political beliefs and predictions, the commonality of Generation Z is the uncertainty in the future of the U.S.

Outside Perspective

Many from Northern Ireland follow American politics and news, pointing out similarities and offering criticism. 

Paul Clark, a news reporter for UTV Live, said media literacy is a major issue in the U.S.

“There’s a blurred line between the journalists and the commentator in America, you know, and we have that here, too,” Clark said.

Clark criticizes leaders of both nations, and said they do not help differentiate between journalism and commentary.

“So you get the basic details, but you also get somebody with an authoritative voice saying their opinion, as if it’s fact,” Clark said.

Others point to lessons from history to better handle the future.

“Well, it’s important, because people must learn from our story, and hopefully it will never happen again. The brutality of the day (Bloody Sunday), the brutality of the following years, right through the conflict, and the fact of what people were actually striving to achieve during those years,” Kelly said.

Military equipment used during the Troubles is displayed at the Museum of Free Derry. Rubber bullets and tear gas were commonly used alongside other weaponry.

The Free Derry Museum builds on Kelly’s words, pointing to where they deem lessons need applied. Currently above the main exhibit, a second exhibit for Palestinian is in place.

“We are prepared to face any sort of injustice that comes our way, and that’s why we will support different campaigns and what’s happening around the world where injustice seems to be instructed on people,” Kelly said. 

Deidre Speer-Whyte, of the Ulster-Scots museum, said she believes it’s possible for division to exist with peace. 

“I’m not saying that the people who would regard themselves as the other side to me are evil, but we have different ways of looking at the story,” Speer-Whyte said.

Younger generations of Northern Ireland said avoiding identity in opposing sides is better to help move forward.

“We were kind of just in the middle of just, kind of like, you just exist. And we didn’t really get like, either side. But now that I’m older and I’m not living at home as much of the time, like, I find that I’m kind of getting more into that and, like, appreciating it a lot more,” Steele said.

Young and old, the Northern Irish continue offering their outside perspective to the world to try and prevent pain and history from repeating.

“I honestly love it because I think that it gets the word out there a little bit more, especially when people are going to Lola’s,” Seussical cast member Meredith Hays said. “They can see the drink list, and it just helps us get more people to come to the show.”  

The production’s lead electrician and IWU Theatre Guild Manager Abby Shewan said the collaboration between ‘Seussical’ and Lola’s offers customers a unique and personalized experience. Shewan played a key role in designing the themed drinks.  

“Some of the flavors of the drinks I came up with were based on the person they were made for,” Shewan said. “For example, ‘The Amazing Maisie’ was inspired by the actress who plays Maisie. She loves chai, caramel, and she’s an oat milk drinker, so I wanted to create a drink that embodied both her character and her as a person.”  

Emma Eberhard, a frequent visitor to the coffee shop, praised the initiative.  

“I think it’s a great idea because it helps get the word out about the upcoming musical,” Eberhard said. “The drinks all have interesting names that make you want to know more about the show.”  

The team recently won their second consecutive NAIA national championship, defending their title in a five-set comeback win over Bellevue of Nebraska.

“I think this is such a big deal as an Indiana Wesleyan alum, and Marion, this is a big deal for us,” Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr. said to the team during the meeting. “I’m super proud of each and every one of you.”

Marion City Council President Nick McKinley said he was very excited to have the team present at the meeting. 

“We’re just so proud of them,” McKinley said. “Indiana Wesleyan is integrated into the fabric of our community, and we should recognize these major accomplishments for any of the teams, whether it’s athletic or academic.”

In addition to the NAIA and Crossroads League championships, many players and both coaches received individual awards.

Head coach Candace Moats and assistant coach Dan Bergren received the Crossroads League Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year awards, respectively. 

Junior outside hitter Eva Joldersma was named Player of the Year by the NAIA, AVCA and the Crossroads League. Junior setter Abbigail Porter was named Setter of the Year by the NAIA, AVCA and the Crossroads League. Graduate outside hitter Martina Demarchi and junior middle blocker Marissa Mullins earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.

Defensive specialist Elly Grenda said that associate athletic director Jeffrey Reyes arranged the city council appearance. 

“(Reyes) was following us for our full season, and came with us to nationals, and then wanted us to come here,” Grenda said.

Grenda is currently a senior at IWU. She said this past season was a great end to her college volleyball career. 

“Now, having two national championships, it’s bittersweet because I ended it on, like, the best way I could have, but then I’m leaving such a good group of girls,” Grenda said. 

The Wildcats are 75-2 in the last two seasons and return four starters next year as they look to be the first NAIA school to three-peat since Fresno Pacific University won four in a row from 2007-2010.

Golden Eagles’ Kevin Renbarger said the Panthers have been on the rise after their last win in upset fashion over the undefeated Taylor Titans 48-41.

“When Jace [Tonagel] is in, things fall into place,” Renbarger said. “We need to find other ways to spread out the floor.”

This is the second time these two teams have faced off on the hardwood. The Panthers defeated Oak Hill in a Saturday tournament in December, 43-38.

Panthers Head Coach, Jeff Liddick is in his first year leading the team.

“We have to play the most complete and consistent game we have this season and be patient with the ball,” Liddick said. “If we do face adversity, we can not get down about it. We have to keep on fighting. It will be one of those games where we have to play all four quarters.”

Jace Tonagel led the Golden Eagles in every category with 20 points, 3 assists and 8 rebounds, despite dealing with a stomach virus.

Tonagel learns from one of the best coaches in Indiana, his father, Greg Tonagel. Coach Tonagel is the head coach at Indiana Wesleyan and has racked up over 500 wins and three NAIA National Championships.

“You’re not going to feel great, but just being out there is going to say something to your teammates, and I said, once you get out there, you may forget about it,” Coach Greg Tonagel said. “God has given you these gifts. Not for yourself, not for your glory, but for His platform.”

The Golden Eagles will face Southwood on Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m. EST. The Panthers will face Daleville on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m EST.

Steve Wood is the director of this play, and said he looks forward to bringing fun and laughter to the audience.

“We were looking for something that would be lighthearted, that would be romantic,” Wood said, “It’s a romantic comedy, and it’s something that’s had a long life and has been popular for 130 plus years.”

Abby Shewan is a junior who has been in four other IWU Theatre Guild Productions. She will be playing Lady Bracknell.

“Just feel free to laugh, because that’s what the actors want,” Shewan said. “They want the audience engaged and interacting and laughing until they fall out of their chairs.”

Theatre is no longer offered as a major at IWU, but Wood said he was able to witness his students continue to work hard within the program.

“It’s been really inspiring to work with a group of students who didn’t quit on the program, and are still trying to get everything out of it that they can get out of it,” Wood said.

Shewan is one of the few remaining theatre majors. 

“It’s been really interesting because (The Theatre Guild)was a little bit small last year, but we’ve had a lot of theatre minors join, and so our guild is actually pretty big this semester,” Shewan said. “Which is super encouraging to see that even though it’s not offered as a major, there are still plenty of people interested in the theatre, which definitely gives us as a Guild hope for the future of the theatre division here at IWU.”

Anna Blower is a sophomore in the program, and will be playing Gwendolen Fairfax, an upper class English girl. Last year, Blower performed as Katrina, a 12-year-old girl, in IWU Theatre Guild’s original production “Finding Home.”

“For this preparation for the character, I’ve had to learn how to sit up straight all the time. You’re not allowed to touch your hair, we have to learn the British accent,” Blower said. “And there’s also a lot more words in this play to memorize, so it’s been very different.”

Blower is not only playing a lead role in this production, but is also aiding in designing the set.

“This is my first time playing a lead, this is my first time playing a lover, and this is my first time having so many lines. But it’s also my first time designing the set and painting a set,” Blower said. “So a lot of firsts, which is exciting, but it has been a lot to balance.”

So much preparation has gone into the production that the Guild hopes can become a relaxing break for students, couples and families.

“This is a play that is for everybody. It’s not the most meaningful and philosophically deep show you’re ever going to see, it’s just silly,” Wood said. “It’ll be great for a date night, or if you want to take your kid to something, and you’re wondering if they’re gonna enjoy it, it’ll be the show for them too.”

The show on Saturday, November 9 has already been sold out. Members of the IWU Theatre Guild encourage audiences to come in ready to laugh and enjoy the performance.

Upward Bound is a national organization that focuses on offering support to first generation college students.

“The benefit for high school students to be in our program is that we kind of help them bridge some gaps, whether it’s academic, financial or just trying to figure out the academic and admissions process in college,” said Assistant Director Erica Farmer. 

Farmer was also a first generation college student and an Indiana Wesleyan alum. 

“When I came to Indiana Wesleyan, I had a lot of support behind me,” Farmer said. “But unfortunately, some of our students don’t have that kind of support.”

Upward Bound has also partnered with Wildcat Summer Academy, a six week summer program where students can learn about different careers and majors. 

“The sixth week we go, like, a week-long trip,” said Shalimar Scott, an Upward Bound student.“But like, for five weeks we’re actually on campus, and we do classes throughout the week, and then we’ll go home during the weekend.”

Farmer said that many of the students figured out what they wanted to major in because of this event. 

“I had multiple students that walked away, that decided right then that they knew they wanted to do music therapy,” Farmer said. “So, that’s a really big piece, you know, of the puzzle sometimes is just our high school students don’t necessarily know, because there’s so many avenues.”

Some Upward Bound alumni were also at the tailgate. Timber Ross is an IWU alum who was part of Eastern Kentucky University’s Upward Bound program. 

“They really encouraged me just to figure out in college what I wanted to do, and if I changed my major it was fine, and just to get life experiences and things,” Ross said. “And so because of that, I’ve been a nurse for 12 years.”

Like Ross, some students who are part of a specific college’s Upward Bound program choose to attend a different university after graduating. 

“I’m a little biased, obviously, as an alum, so I want them to come here (IWU), but the beauty of Upward Bound in general is we find things that fit the student and then we help them get to where they need to go, but they know that being a part of Upward Bound, this is always home,” Farmer said. “It’s kind of like one of the banners in the student center: ‘Once a wildcat, always a wildcat.’”

The IWU chapter of Upward Bound focuses mostly on Marion and Mississinewa school districts, but any student who qualifies is encouraged to apply. 

IWU students and Grant County residents attended the event alongside several businesses, churches and other community partners from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event also included campus tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a concert from IWU’s marching band at 3:30 p.m.

One of the community partners at the event was Director Mike Johnson of Life Center Counseling.

“Life Center Counseling has been in Marion since about 1986 and we have hundreds and hundreds of appointments each month,” Johnson said. “We work with anxiety, depression, marriage, kids and all kinds of stuff.”

Johnson said he was at Taste of Marion because he wanted more people to know Life Center Counseling is in the community.

“I just want people to know that we exist and we are here to offer our services to the community,” Johnson said.

Carey Services workers Tattyana Farrow and Darryel Hardy were also hosting a booth at the event.

“Carey Services is a nonprofit that serves individuals with disabilities,” Farrow said. “Our mission is to turn disabilities into opportunities.”

Both Farrow and Hardy said Carey Services was at Taste of Marion to find people who wanted jobs and were looking to volunteer.

“We’re the youngest in our job, so we are just trying to appeal to students and the younger audience here,” Farrow said.

IWU Transfer student Ryan Hornbeck attended the event.

“I did not really know anything about Marion before coming to IWU, so I liked the event because I learned a lot about the businesses, churches and different things to do in Marion,” Hornbeck said.

Hornbeck also attended the concert at the end of the event.

“Watching the marching band was a good experience because I had never seen them perform before and I thought it was a good way to end the event,” Hornbeck said.

Indiana Wesleyan University plans on hosting other campus community events such as Homecoming, Fusion and Spotted Cow later this year and early next year

Wiikend hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University’s Student Activity Council (SAC) wrapped up
all of their events on Sept. 13-14.
SAC Weekend has been rebranded to Wiikend, filled with nostalgic Wii-themed events across campus.
“This year we wanted to rebrand a little bit differently and do something exciting and new. We made it a
Wii-themed Wiikend,” SAC Member Lauren Siegers said.
One of the major events hosted each year is the Glow Dance. This year, the dance was Just Dance style on
the IWU football field.

“Previous years it was paint and water getting thrown at you. Now they’re changing it up,” IWU student
DJ Heard-Perry said. “They also have Just Dance, which is new.”
Ryan Mattix, an employee for Sound, Light and Media for IWU, was a part of setting everything up on the
technical side for the Just Dance Glow Party.
“[The SAC] crew were really great people and working with them was very nice,” Mattix said. “The
theme of the Wiikend is hilarious to me and I really love the idea.”
The planning behind SAC Wiikend and the Just Dance Glow Party has been in full motion for about five
months.
“Our team this year is really committed to creativity and balancing tradition with novelty. So we had
some brainstorming sessions in May and then this was the outcome,” Siegers said.
SAC is the student-led organization that strives to enrich the college experience by creating and running
events throughout the school years. Each year these events become more involved and see more participation.
“People are more engaged with the actual [Just Dance] screen and actually being able to participate in it,
and it’s been really cool and I’m really excited to see what else they have in store,” Maddix said.
Each event SAC hosts allows more opportunities for students to participate in fun on campus on the
weekends.
“In previous years, kids just leave campus because of lack of events or just lack of entertainment from the
event, so this is definitely a new change,” Heard-Perry said.
SAC Wiikend was filled with many other events in addition to the Just Dance Glow Party.
“This weekend we have Just Dance first,” Siegers said. “Then we have Dogs and Donuts [Saturday]
morning, which is connected to the Animal Crossing Wii game, and then we have a Mario Kart Balloon
Battle on Saturday evening.”
SAC hosts the annual country themed Homecoming dance, Fallapalooza on Oct. 18 on Shatford Lawn.

Indiana Wesleyan University’s Theatre Guild hosted its tenth annual 24-Hour Theatre Festival this weekend. The event pulled together high school and college students, challenging them to write, direct and perform an original play over the course of 24 hours. 

The event began on September 13 at 7 p.m. with actors participating in improv games. “During the improvisation games, the writers are observing all of the actors do all kinds of these crazy, wacky things, and in doing so, they can be inspired,” Jaykob Parsons, a director in this year’s event, said. “It’s entirely up to the writer, and then it’s up to the director to interpret.” 

After the improv games, the actors and directors were dismissed while the writers stayed up through the night creating a completely original play.

“It’s a very quick turnaround and lots of chaos is happening. Lots of coffee, lots of caffeine,” Lindsay Rice, technical director of theatre, said. 

Everybody gets involved while working on the shows — from improv to writing to prop management.

“One aspect that a lot of the kids like is the actors are asked to bring some kind of object or trinket for a prop. So whatever they bring, no one knows until the day of, and the writers have to somehow pick one of those props and incorporate it into their script,” Rice said. 

Outside of incorporating a prop, there is no required genre or theme for the plays written in 24-Hour Theatre.

 “They’re going to laugh. They’re probably going to tear up a couple times. There’s going to be moments where you’re like; that is the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life, and there are going to be moments where you’re like; oh, that tugs on the heartstrings,” Katie Schloener, a director for this year’s event, said. 

In celebration of this being the tenth year of this event, there were a few extra surprises for the festival. A highschool theatre teacher has been attending this event with her class every year, and to honor her dedication, she received a special theatre themed blanket as a gift. 

The Theatre Festival still occurred in spite of the budget cuts to IWU’s Division of Music and Theatre, which shrank the theatre department significantly. 

“We sadly had to say goodbye to my second boss, Dr. Katie Wampler, so we only have one official theatre professor,” said Rice. “I work with my boss, Dr. Steve Wood, and we try to create a really creative and welcoming environment for the students.” 

The grounds crew does more than just take care of the grass and flower beds. These individuals also do greenhouse management, irrigation, sidewalks, snow and ice removal, bee hive maintenance, design and waste and recycling.

Christi Wolgemuth, a flower and landscape bed specialist with the IWU grounds crew, emphasizes the attention to detail that the grounds department has across campus.

“A lot of people don’t realize how much goes into the process of the flowers. We are already getting ready to get a flower order ready for next year. We look at what we liked, what we didn’t like and new flowers that are coming out on the market,” Wolgemuth said.

Kenna Smith, a student desk worker for facilities, has been able to see the behind-the-scenes work for the past three years, being in charge of work orders, labor hours and computer work.

“You walk around campus and see all the flowers and landscaping, and it’s obviously well taken care of. The workers with the grounds crew do a great job at what they do and put a lot of hours into maintaining all the flowers and the landscaping,” Smith said.

Maintaining the beauty across the campus is something that many students don’t notice until the flowers are blooming and the grass is green. The grounds crew covers many jobs, fulfilling many responsibilities.

“(The biggest thing people don’t know is) the scope of what we do and all the hats we wear,” Wolgemuth said. “There are a lot of jobs that sometimes go unseen. That’s mainly to us working behind the scenes.”

Addy Coates, a student worker for the project crew, works with planting, maintaining and watering flowers across campus. Coates has continued to come back to work with facilities for three years because of the group of people.

“The community that we have together as a department makes us different. We care about each other a lot, and it’s more than a job,” Coates said. “That’s why some of these students keep coming back here; because they love the environment, they love the workers and it’s just fun to be here.”

The facilities’ grounds crew prides themselves in providing impressive work for the campus.

Much of this work goes unseen by students and faculty but is intentional and thorough to give the campus the best look possible.