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Student
Shine A Light on Mental Health
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Ayanna Pompey
The word “Mental Health” scares most individuals due to the stigma that the public has created. The truth is they have the wrong impression and are misinformed. Mental Health involves our emotional, psychological, and social state. Mental Health signs can play out in our daily activities like schooling, work, or family events. A range of different emotions are among Mental Health such as Anger, Pride, Resentment, and Anxiety. Luckily for us, Belmont Abbey offers a free counseling service for students on and off campus by appointment base. The school counseling session is handled by a licensed therapist that are extremely confidential and helps open a new perspective of thinking. The service can be found on the school’s web page or around campus on flyers.
Social Media overuse can be harmful when used as a comparison battle. The power of social media can be changed with how we participate with any app. Instead of using it for long hours, set a timer to remind you to take a break. This certainly isn’t a bashing towards social media but merely a reality check for remembering you are worthy in all aspects.
College students and youth members are still evolving into the people we are meant to become. Time and hard work can help lead to our own definition of greatness without comparing ourselves to others. We have to reevaluate our priorities and live up to our standards. Be kind to yourself and allow room for mistakes and improvements. The term “Mental Health” is a vibrant topic that should be seen as progression towards a person wanting help instead of being dismissive of it. Let’s start today by embracing Mental Health and everyone who feels as they need someone to vent to. I want to share a quote that embraces empowerment and togetherness in a time of need.
“Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.” — Erik Erikson
This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
Belmont Abbey Minor: Art History
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Reagan Cullen
Belmont Abbey prides itself in providing their students with a great education that will open many doors for students in the future. One way in which their education exceeds expectations is the provided options of majors and minors, despite how small the program is. Along with a lengthy list of majors, the school offers around fifty minors. One minor provided by the college is Art History. Although I am not studying this field myself, I have heard great things about the Art History minor, and therefore would like to shed some light on it.
This program is coordinated by Linda Pastryk, along with student Brianna Sroka as President. Art History studies art, infrastructure, buildings, sculptures, etc. in history, taking into consideration its historical and cultural context to understand its connection and effect on society. The Art History minor requires 15 credit hours. Some of the courses that it entails are Prehistory through the Middle Ages (AR 101), Renaissance to Modern (AR 102), and The Art, Architecture, and Religion of India, China, and Japan (AR 300).
After sitting down with the Art History minor’s president, Brianna Sroka, I was able to learn more about the minor. She shared how the classes open your eyes to how art and architecture can reveal so much information about Earth’s history. Sroka also shared that her favorite experience was when she visited the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte with her professor, Linda Pastryk. Sroka commented on the beautiful art that she was able to observe, recalling how excited she was when she discovered there was a section dedicated to fashion throughout history.
While it is encouraged students choose a minor that is specific to their interests and possible career choice, the Art History minor is one I highly recommend if you find yourself short of a minor and are interested in the subject. Through this program, you will be allowed to understand art from the past that has impacted historical and modern society, and even be provided with the opportunity to attend festivals, museums, and art shows firsthand.
This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
History Minor: A Closer Look!
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Andrea Antezana
Belmont Abbey’s history minor is an excellent program for students seeking to explore the world’s mysteries through studying the past and present. By studying history, one can better understand the lives and views of those living in the world and the events that have impacted our present.
Not only do history students learn lessons about the past, but gain valuable experience and skills in research, writing, communication, problem-solving, analytical thinking, etc.
A minor in history complements any major and is an excellent addition to anyone’s intended career path. To pursue a history minor, one must complete 15 hours of history courses at the 200 level or above in addition to the core requirements and one’s major requirements.
Not all history courses are offered every year. Some courses one may choose from to complete the history minor requirements include:
- HI 201 – United States History 1492 to 1877
- HI 202 – United States History 1877 to Present
- HI 301 – Historiography
- HI 304 – Human Prehistory
- HI 311 – Introduction to Public History
- HI 312 – Local History
- HI 313 – History of the South
- HI 321 – Leaders and Leadership in the Modern World
- HI 334 – Religion and Revolution in Early America
- HI 346 – Global History of Modern Catholic Missions
- HI 371 – Imperialism
- HI 375 – Introduction to African History
- HI 385 – The Cold War
- HI 402 – Modern European History 1799 to Present
- HI 404 – Early Christian Ireland
- HI 412 – The Civil Rights Movement
- HI 413 – Nations of Nations: Immigrants in American History
- HI 416 – Vietnam Wars
The Belmont Abbey history program will prepare one to tackle any career or graduate program. History students commonly go into business, journalism, politics, law, etc. There are various internship opportunities for history students at museums, preservations, historical sites, etc.
Come and be a part of the history community at BAC!
This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
Why Criminal Justice Major?
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Anna Li
Have you ever wanted to be a police officer? an investigator? a lawyer? If so, you may want to major in criminal justice. The Criminal Justice program at Belmont Abbey College has been running since August of 2006. Their duty is to educate students about America’s criminal justice system and criminal behavior with the help of experienced professors. All professors have experience in criminal justice and help students see crime from different perspectives, including psychology, biology, and theology.
The Criminal Justice program began with the first Program director, Julia Beeman, PhD, who joined BAC in 2006. The program soon grew into a separate department in 2010. According to Dr. Beeman, this program stands out because “Every faculty member, in addition to being well credentialed academically, are all former practitioners. This helps students learn how theory and philosophy of the justice system are actually applied in law enforcement, courts, and corrections.”
When asked the question, “What do you think is special about the BAC Criminal Justice Department?” a professor that rejoined the school full-time in the fall of 2022, Ann Gleason J.D. answered, “Everyone in the department has actually worked in the criminal justice system. We have had prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and law enforcement practitioners.” It shows the experience and value that all professors in the department have. It might be appealing to students who are considering this major; it certainly was for me when I was choosing the place to obtain my criminal justice degree.
On the path to graduating, there are opportunities for hands-on experience in different areas of work, related to the criminal justice field. These could also be extra advantageous as some could count for academic credit. There is a double benefit to this: the ability to test received knowledge as well as to assess and experience the framework of possible career paths. A few internship opportunities include the ability to work in local police departments. Moreover, it is also possible to complete an internship in different places that are more related to a student’s career choice. They can work with career advisors on campus to find the most fitting placement.
The Criminal Justice degree offers many different paths for the future. Potential job positions include: police officer, criminal investigator, forensic science technician, forensic accountant, and many more. This degree also provides opportunities to go to law school, if desired, with a good background of the criminal justice system in America.
A student graduating in Criminal Justice this upcoming May, with the goal of becoming a fraud investigator, Ashton Lunsford, answered the same question about what she thinks makes the program special. She said, “I really like that all the professors practiced their knowledge in the field. All of them are able to share useful knowledge and personal experiences as well as guide students through different perspectives.”
If criminal justice is your passion, you should consider joining the program!
This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
