student life

February 28, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Outdoor Practice for Golf

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Lauren Denhard

The Belmont Abbey Men’s and Women’s golf program has added a new outdoor short-game practice facility at their off-campus office. Last year, the golf teams were able to move their office from Sacred Heart to a building off of Woodlawn Street. This move allowed the golf teams more space, including an outdoor area that could house a practice facility.

At the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, construction began at the Woodlawn office of two new practice greens, a bunker, turf, and fencing. There are two greens at the location that run at two different speeds: one faster and one slower. The greens are twenty feet by thirty feet and thirty feet by forty feet, which allows for there to be variety with practice. Also, there is a bunker where players can work on their sand and play with targets at various distances. Finally, the exterior of the greens is lined with artificial turf that varies in thickness.

The area around the building is lined by fencing and mulch, which enhances the beauty of the area. There will be customized banners added with the Belmont Abbey Golf team logo.

The golf teams are continuing to utilize local golf courses as well as use the outdoor practice facility. This transition has allowed the players to be able to practice at convenient times as well as have a shorter commute to practice. The facility is open six days a week, which allows for more consistent practice.

Finally, the team can practice at this location in all weather conditions. In addition to the outdoor facility, the teams have an indoor hitting area with a Flight Scope launch monitor. The men’s and women’s teams have several events this semester from September through October, and the new practice facility will help with the success of the team.

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

February 26, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

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.

February 16, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

College is Like a Painting

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Helen Behe

College is like creating a painting. It’s not quite how you pictured it, a bit harder than you expected, and you’re halfway finished with it before you’ve got an idea of what you’re doing. But navigating the colorful college life is a skill acquired through experience, and each semester presents new adventures to learn from. As a Freshman, I knew that my Fall semester would be the first coat, and what I chose to depict would affect that painting for years to come. Hesitant at the outset, I picked a smaller brush and muted colors. But as the initial few weeks passed and classes began, I became more entranced with the world around me and wanted to put it on the canvas. I probably went a bit overboard, but I grabbed the biggest brushes and boldest colors and, best as I was able, depicted how I felt and why I felt. I remember looking back at my first semester’s creation during Christmas break of Freshman year. The result was not exactly fine-tuned, but beautiful all the same—an aggregate of assignments, midnights, wide eyes, and first times. Yes, I thought to myself. This is a good start. But I’d like to try some different colors too.

Sophomore year, I got a different color palette and new brushes. Best of all, I had good friends who were working on their own paintings, and we borrowed from one another’s paintings now and then. College is a picture from scratch, not paint-by-the-numbers, so even the mistakes I made gave the painting a distinctive flare. I’m not saying it was a good idea to nap instead of study, but it did splash a lovely indigo in an otherwise gray corner. One of the best parts about college is its mutability. Each new semester, and its subsequent additions to the painting, modified previous colors or added intricacies. I think the Basilica had a sturdy red shade to it when I first put it on my canvas, but many nighttime conversations in its shadow deepened it to a striking cobalt. The dusky pink of the cafe, though simply sketched, was nonetheless evocative. But it was a late September evening in my Junior year that added the pleasant alteration of starry black.

Senior year is a conglomeration of 6 semesters worth of painting, and I’m working on my 7th. I know my brush strokes are now the steadiest they’ve ever been, and I’m more attentive to the details. There are scenes repeated, layered like leaves, that hold the painting together and give it consonance: the same roommate, same professors, same campus, same traditions that come with the seasons. They are a gold webbing throughout. Even the flecks of blue I spilled Freshman year are not the nugatory contributions I assumed them to be. I can’t say I’m done with the painting yet, or what my last brush strokes will depict. But when I graduate this May and hold my work out at arms’ length, I will finally observe the big picture. Yes, I’ll think to myself. This is a good start.

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

February 15, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Lemon’s Club

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Brian Hoverath

While one may be forgiven for thinking that the Lemons club of Belmont Abbey has something to do with the sour citrus fruit, the reality is a lot larger and louder.

Founded only one year ago, the club is an offshoot of the Motorsport Management club and is based around a motorsport event known as the 24 hours of lemons, a play on both the term for a junk car and the 24 hours of Le Mans. The event sees competitors enter the race with a car under five hundred dollars and attempt to both beat other drivers and have the car finish without breaking down.

The teams, however, can spend more than 500 dollars on anything that could qualify as safety equipment, as it would be dangerous and potentially fatal to enter without some equipment. All drivers are required to wear a fire suit, head and neck support device or HANS, and a helmet rated at SA 2015 or above. Each car is also required to have a form of fire suppression, a roll cage, working tail lights, a racing seat, a harness, and a kill switch.

Unlike most clubs, the Lemons Club is not sponsored by the school, but rather the members of it and any sponsors that may take an interest. The current car for the event is a Nissan 300zx, a two-door sports car that is the least loved of the Nissan Z line. The team will be made up of a number of drivers, up to 6, and a small crew of engineers.

The race was scheduled for the 11th of December at the Road Atlanta Racetrack. The lemons club feels that the race helped members of the club learn more about the management and the finances that go into racing. The race hopefully helped many with valuable skills, such as how to procure sponsors and how to get ready for the various elements that go into car racing

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

February 14, 2023 By bacw Leave a Comment

Music Club: Do, Re, Mi, Fa,

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Alijah Wilson

Do you wish you could make more friends? Do you want to join some school activities outside of class? Well, I know just one place for you: The Music Club.

The Music Club is a school activity where all students can come together and connect with new people through music outside of class. You don’t have to be musically talented to come to sing with us, and that’s the good part about it is that a lot of people are afraid to come because they think they will get judged, and that is not true. Just come by the Grace Auditorium on Wednesday night at 7 pm.

We play and sing lots of different kinds of music. Most of us don’t have our own instruments, but we are saving money to buy some. If you have any instruments that you would like to bring, then we would love for you to bring them.

My fellow friend Josh says,” The music club is a place where you can connect with people through music.” He also says, “if you like music, then join because we are always looking.” He is not wrong, the one thing that connects us emotionally is music. We are very welcoming, so don’t be afraid to sing some songs. I hope to see you at the next club meeting.

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