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Belmont Abbey College

The Catholic College of the South

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A Mothers Home Away From Home

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Grace Mitchell

Belmont Abbey is one of only two colleges in the United States that offers expectant mothers enrolled in any long-term college home and 24-hour support. All right here on our campus. This pro-life ministry is called MiraVia, and it is truly one-of-a-kind. Women from any walk of Life who find themselves pregnant and want to begin or continue their college career are welcomed with open arms. They have full access to the many resources until their child turns two. 

MiraVia offers their residents so many incredible services. Free room-and-board with a private suite, three meals a day, and any extra necessities of mother and baby. Necessities such as personal care products, diapers, formula, and clothes are provided. Counseling and support are available 24 hours a day; the staff is always ready to assist with any needs. The women can be enrolled in any form of higher education in any school of their choice and still receive the program’s many benefits. Although Abbot Placid graciously offers any student of Belmont Abbey a full scholarship for the duration of their stay at MiraVia.

Not only are women given a safe place to live, free of charge, but they are also encouraged to utilize the free, daily childcare to work and/or take classes. A former resident and Abbey graduate says, “when I found out I was pregnant, my biggest fear was how I was going to finish college. I am the first in my family to go to college and graduate, so it was a big deal. MiraVia was the reason I was able to stay in school. Thank you for all of the love
and support you’ve given to me.”  

There is no shortage of women who would benefit greatly from a program like this. Students for Life recently stated that 1 in 5 college students are pregnant or have children. Our very own college is making a profound impact on these women and children who often have nowhere else to turn. If you know of anyone who is expecting and in need of support, have them reach out to 704-602-4806 or info@miraiva.org. MiraVia also offers material support to mothers in need, even if they do not live in the facility, so please share this information with anyone you think could use it. 

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

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What I Wish I Knew as a Freshman

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Madison Teachman

As a senior, I’ve learned a lot in these four short years. I wanted to share some things I wish I had known as a freshman, from relationships to academics and everything.

First and foremost, that high-school sweetheart relationship probably won’t work out; if it does, it may not work out as you had hoped. Any friend that came into college while in a relationship would agree; that sometimes things are better off left on a good note instead of forcing the boundaries of the relationship to stretch. Your romantic relationships aren’t the only ones I’m referring to – you’ll also make different friends than you had in high school because many of them have spread out across the country, and the dynamics have changed- and that is okay!

When you make those new friends at freshman orientation, it may feel like those have to be your friends for the rest of your college years – which is untrue.No one I know is still friends with their original group (even if they are all in the same team) and that’s perfectly normal! If you feel overwhelmed or stressed that you aren’t fitting in with your original orientation friends, get involved with something on campus to find people with similar interests.

I was a covid freshman, meaning my first year was mainly spent on Zoom, and I struggled to find my niche here on campus. Since I wasn’t on an athletic team, I felt my options for getting involved were limited. However, I have since realized that I just needed to get more involved in all the other clubs and groups that are available on campus.

As you get into the college, you realize that many of the people in your classes will continue to be for the remainder of your time here, and those are great people to surround yourself with. As much anxiety as the Crusader Involvement Fair is, it is a great way to get your name on the mailing lists for different clubs (most of which are excited to have new members attend and are excited to see more engagement). If you missed the Involvement Fair- don’t be afraid to contact student activities or your professors to learn more. Even if you don’t want to be in the club, every organization on campus puts together activities you can attend and make friends through (especially your RA’s- who do programs once a month catered towards building community and relationships). 

Lastly, I wish I had known not to stress so much initially. Your classes will still be there tomorrow (every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.) The library isn’t scary- it’s a calming place to complete all those hours of reading (that you really should do). Teachers are rooting for you. Ask about classes and majors, find clubs to join, try different food at the Caf, and don’t be afraid to ask a stranger if you can sit with them. Chances are, they’ll accept you, and it is that easy. One of the best things about the Abbey is how much of a community it is- but you can’t engage with the community if you don’t put yourself out there.

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

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The History of Belmont Abbey’s Grotto

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Katelyn Saxe

Belmont Abbey College is defined by our Catholic roots and by the Benedictine monks who reside here. These followers of Christ and students like you built this college. The basis of the Benedictine tradition is what built the guidelines for the college, and we are lucky to have a lot of rich history and old architecture on our campus—every brick of building like ‘St. Leo’s Hall and statues like ‘The Lady of Lourdes Grotto’’ were put together by the Benedictine Monastery. Funds for new buildings and additions to the school are completed with the help of alumni. One of the best places to admire the history and love behind Belmont Abbey College is at ‘The Lady of Lourdes Grotto.’ Maybe you walked past it and remembered stopping by it on a tour of the college your freshman year, but do you know its history?

‘Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto’ sits behind the monastery and just below the Holy Grounds Cafe. This structure was first built in 1891 after a significant leader of the school, Fr. Francis Meyer, contracted typhoid fever. He was not expected to live, but this did not stop the members of the school from calling out to God for his recovery. They declared that if he lived, they would build a Grotto for the Lady of Lourdes. This structure was built after Br. Meyer survived his illness and was designed by using materials easily found in the area. Wood and many large pieces of granite make up the base that surrounds the statue of Mother Mary and the crucifix of Jesus.

An article was written about the consecration of the Grotto (Theclio.com), and this is where I found most of my information. The Grotto was consecrated on May 7, 1891, on the Solemnity of the Ascension, amid a festive atmosphere. “A seventeen-piece brass band played as a procession of monks, clergy, and laity participated in the event. Abbot Leo Haid introduced Father Francis Meyer and recounted his illness and recovery. A fireworks show concluded the celebrations that evening,” They believed that this addition to the school would serve as a basis for their belief and dedication to God and His willingness to help His children.

Today the Grotto serves as a place for prayer and meditation among students and faculty. Tucked in the woods with a path or two that connects it to the rest of campus, it is a place of peace and tranquility. It is gated and has pews and kneelers for prayer and for admiration. The monastery uses this spot quite a bit for modified styles of worship and prayer. You may even see the sports teams meet here and conduct a group prayer or have a meeting tucked in the peaceful tree line of the Abbey.

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

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Research Corner

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Staff Writers

Lauren Denhard, Desislava Yordanova, Kira Zazzi, Jose Mejia, Timothy Shar, Julia Iseman, Tucker Hoeniges, Madison Mitchell, and Dr. Erin Jensen recently published an article titled “Engaging Undergraduate Student-Athletes in Research and Publication Opportunities.” The Sport Journal. https://thesportjournal.org/article/engaging-undergraduate-student-athletes-in-research-and-publication-opportunities/

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

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Belmont Tennis: More than a sport, More than a team

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Joseph Rowzie

Last year, Belmont Abbey tennis won the Conference Carolinas Tennis Tournament for the first time in the program’s history. It came down to a tight score of 4-2 against Mount Olive, a formidable opponent. In addition to winning the conference championship, Belmont Abbey tennis made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional since 2001! Their opponent was set to be Columbus State, the number 1 seed of the region. Though the match ended in a loss, that year’s success set a path to a brighter future for the Belmont Abbey College tennis program. I asked returner Andy Golindano: “what was it like to win a conference championship?” And he responded by saying, “I have never felt so many different emotions just to be met with the greatest sense of relief.”

Behind every great team, there is a greater coach, and that coach’s name is Michael Solomon. I went around and talked to the returners of the Belmont Abbey tennis team and asked them a few questions about how Coach Solomon has impacted the program and this year’s team. One of the questions was: “if you could describe Coach Solomon in one word, what would it be?” The most popular words were hardworking and professional, and many would say that he took Belmont’s tennis to a higher standard of work ethic and play.

What makes this team more than your ordinary program is the steam standards. Out of the eleven, I have seen enforced the most: compete, respect, and have positive enthusiasm. To this team, respect is more than a thank you or please, in a competitive sense, respect is shown through honesty and competitiveness but on and off the court, treating everyone as images of God is key to our success. In all the matches, I always hear the coach telling the team and myself to “compete.” To compete is to play with your tools and bring the best tennis you can. I remember him telling me a story about one of his college matches where he was a set and, like, 4 or 5 games down; he found a way to win. And that’s when he started to believe there is always a chance to win. 

We, as freshmen, have to recite these team standards if we want to receive tennis gear. And these standards apply to life, practice, and matches. Belmont tennis is brought to a higher standard through our coach and is carried on through each first-year class that has come to Belmont tennis. As a freshman entering a brand-new college environment, making friends and settling in can be a struggle. Believe me when I say I have never been more welcomed into a group in my whole life than this team in the Abbey. I believe that this team has had this much success because of the way they treat newcomers and each other. This team wins together, and they lose together with excellence.

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

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