Abbey News

May 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey Sports Network

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Jake Snelgrove

Here at Belmont Abbey College, we pride ourselves on academics and athletics. There are over a dozen different sports under our athletics department. Countless games are played, home and away, throughout all teams’ fall and spring seasons. Most people love to attend our sporting events on campus, but for those who cannot make it, there is the BASN.

The Belmont Abbey Sports Network (BASN) broadcasts as many games as possible for fans to enjoy, no matter where you are. Geoffry Chiles is the network’s head play-by-play announcer, working as many games as possible. His job is to provide the viewers with color commentary throughout every match, whether soccer, baseball, basketball, etc. I got the chance to sit down and watch him work for a few baseball games and also had the opportunity to help run the live broadcasts.

It was amazing to see the production’s behind-the-scenes and what goes into it, as there is much more to it than you think. First, Chiles has to know everything that goes on throughout the games he covers, so he always carries a giant stat sheet with him to help him with his commentary. Regarding the production, there is a producer and at least one camera person at each game. The BASN prides itself on having a student-run production team, thus generating valuable experience for students looking to go into the field of broadcasting. They communicate with each other to get the best camera angles, as the producer also seems to clip highlights, ensure the correct graphics are showing at the right time, and ensure the broadcast runs as smoothly as possible.

The BASN is still young, only in its 11th season, and looks to grow every game. The viewers can expect great games with great production and commentary on top of them. It is only a matter of time that the production value of the BASN reaches the levels of division 1 programs, as I’ve seen firsthand how good the network is already. If you are looking to have the opportunity to help work for the BASN you can take the class (Practicum Digital and Sports Media) if you are a sports management major. You can watch any game for the rest of the semester on the BASN at abbeyathletics.com.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

May 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Writing Major

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Hannah Schudlik

Belmont Abbey provides its students with several academic opportunities with around thirty majors and forty-eight minors. Declaring a minor at Belmont Abbey College allows students to study things that interest them on a personal level. So, whether or not a minor correlates to your future career, it may pique your interest and enhance your qualifications in a vast number of professions. Amongst the lengthy list of minor programs, the Abbey offers a minor in Writing.

The Writing minor is versatile for anyone who wishes to declare it. Students must complete fifteen credits in various English classes to earn the minor. Some of these courses include Creative Writing, Social Media Writing, Editing and Writing for Publication, History of the English Language, Newspaper Production, etc. Although the classes are subject to change and may vary per semester, students can see that a minor in writing entails loads of creativity.

As a writing minor myself, I can speak on the benefits of taking English courses. Classes like Professional and Technical Writing and Editing and Writing for Publication, have strengthened my communication skills and taught me how to write in a professional setting. Upon completing these courses, I have been able to improve and add to my resume. Newspaper Production and Writing for Social Media allowed me to implement creativity into my writing and understand how to write for different areas. The environment in these types of classes is professional and activity-based. After a period of lecturing, students often complete in-class assignments and peer-edit their classmates’ work – fostering their ability to edit papers and communicate with others.

Dr. Erin Jensen is the faculty advisor of the college newspaper and coordinates the Writing minor program. Recently, the college has opened a Writing Center to assist students in becoming better writers. Students that are pursuing English majors or Writing minors typically work as tutors in the Center, where they edit papers and help fellow students succeed.

If you’re interested in improving your communication skills, developing your ability to effectively make an argument, and gaining qualifications for future employment, consider minoring in Writing!

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

May 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Police Ride Along Experience

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Ayanna Pompey

Have you ever thought about sitting in a police vehicle? There may be a free opportunity at your local department?

I am honored to be a part of the criminal justice major. Part of the major requires a ride along with a police department. The ride along happens during a police shift which gives a hands-on experience on the job to gain insight into the force. The program allows students/citizens to engage in protocol training and ask questions about the system.

The ride along also allows citizens to remove any stigmas placed on officers by participating in certain activities that they endure daily. Police officers have an enormous responsibility of protecting and enforcing laws throughout the community. Police men and women lay their lives on the line for citizens continuously. Officers have a difficult time in today’s society with the help of social media playing a role in police brutality.

Participating in the ride along helps citizens recreate the stigma and hopefully recruit new members. The ride requires any volunteers over the age of eighteen to undergo a background check before boarding the department. The program is free of charge and helps provide citizens with a visual look of their community and the people in it. Become a part of the community by assisting your time in volunteering and internships to help build a resume and add value to the community.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

May 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Fellowship, Faith, & Food All in One

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Iris Bertin

Sacraments and Supper is a new event held on campus once every other week in order for students to grow in community and faith by sharing a meal together, praying a divine mercy chaplet, and attending Mass as a community.

This idea of Sacraments and Supper is to share a home-cooked meal in order to grow in fellowship. This was formed by a group of sophomores here at the Abbey spearheaded by Regina Vehige.

These Monday night dinners have been a hit among the students on campus that are craving a home-cooked meal while being able to grow in community through prayer and fruitful conversations with their fellow classmates. Leading a divine mercy chaplet before dinner and encouraging all the attendees to participate in Mass has allowed for an overflow of student leadership on campus and a greater desire to lead others more deeply into the faith.

I was able to ask one of our sophomores at the Abbey, Gemmy Hanley, why she felt the desire to help with this idea and she says: “I decided to help with Sacraments and Supper in order to build community on campus through a meal and the Holy Mass. It has become an opportunity to meet others and grow deeper in relationship with God and others.” Gemmy is just one example of a student leader on our campus so willing to freely give her time to lead others closer to Christ by offering her help in cooking and preparing these meals. We hope to see you at future Sacraments and Suppers and to spread the word of this amazing opportunity to grow in community.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

May 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

The Breakdown of the Mathematics Major

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Tim Shar

Want to understand the beauty of the world around you and challenge yourself through mathematical formulas to understand this beauty? Belmont Abbey College Mathematics Major will provide you with critical analysis tools to help you understand the beauty of the physical world, such as the U.S. Capitol’s dome and the Gateway Arc.

Not only will it help you understand the physical world, but it will also help you develop analytical skills, such as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. In math classes, you will learn to break down a complicated problem into a series of manageable steps and solve the problem step by step. For example, math classes such as Discrete Math and Real Analysis will help you with your reasoning skills and teach you to analyze problems. The math courses offered here at the Abbey also provide great opportunities for you to minor in Computer Science and a concentration in Physics since many of the classes overlap

Note that not every class is offered every semester:

B.A. in Mathematics

Major Requirements:

MA 201: Calculus I
MA 202: Calculus II
MA 203: Calculus III
MA 208: Statistics
MA 222: Discrete Mathematics
MA 311: Elementary Linear Algebra
MA 321: Differential Equations
MA 419: Modern Algebra
MA 430: Real Analysis
MA 490: Senior Seminar I

Any one of the following:

MA 235: History of Mathematics
MA 305: Advanced Statistics
MA 335: Advanced Calculus
MA 340: Numerical Analysis
MA 350: Probability
MA 405: Topology
MA 410: Elementary Number Theory
MA 415: Partial Differential Equations
MA 491: Senior Seminar II
CS 234: Introduction to C++
CS 325: Logic and Algorithms

Other Courses: General Elective hours (33-36 hours)

B.S. In Mathematics

Major Requirements:

MA 201: Calculus I
MA 202: Calculus II
MA 203: Calculus III
MA 208: Statistics
MA 222: Discrete Mathematics
MA 311: Elementary Linear Algebra
MA 321: Differential Equations
MA 419: Modern Algebra
MA 430: Real Analysis
MA 490: Senior Seminar I
MA 491: Senior seminar II
CS 234: Introduction to C++

Any two from among the following:

MA 235: History of Mathematics
MA 305: Advanced Statistics
MA 335: Advance Calculus
MA 340: Numerical Analysis
MA 350:Probability
MA 405: Topology
MA 410: Elementary Number Theory
MA 415: Partial Differential Equations
MA 420: Geometry
MA 435 Complex Analysis
CS 235: Logic and Algorithms

Other Courses: Students need to complete one of the following course combinations to meet the remainder of the 120 hours required for the degree:

PY 201 with PY 202 and 22-25 hours of General Electives
CH 105 and CH 106 with 22-25 hours of General Electives
Two lab-based Biology courses at the 200 level or higher with 22-25 hours of General Electives
CS 201 and CS 234 with 23-26 hours of General Elective

With a mathematics major, I am able to pursue a minor in Computer Science and a concentration in Physics. With a math degree, I plan to go into teaching and then into Architecture. Besides pursuing a career in education and architecture, you can also pursue a career in Accounting, Data Analyst, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, and many other careers.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.