Author: Hanna Young

By Hannah Feldman

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a collegiate athletic organization that governs and oversees intercollegiate sports in the United States and Canada. Established in 1940, the NAIA provides a competitive platform for student-athletes from diverse colleges and universities, offering a unique alternative to the larger and more widely recognized NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). 

The NAIA was founded in response to the growing interest in collegiate athletics and the need for organized competition among smaller colleges and universities. Its mission is to promote character-driven student-athletes, emphasizing the development of the whole person and providing a balanced and holistic approach to education and athletics. Today, the NAIA encompasses over 250 member institutions and offers opportunities for nearly 83,000 student-athletes to compete in various sports across multiple divisions.

One of the critical distinctions of the NAIA is its focus on the character development of student-athletes. This is embodied in the association’s flagship initiative, the Champions of Character program, which promotes values such as integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. NAIA institutions are committed to fostering an environment that not only values athletic success but also strongly emphasizes ethical conduct and personal growth.

The NCAA is organized into several divisions. The most notable are NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III, which offer different athletic scholarships and competition levels. These divisions allow colleges and universities of various sizes and resource levels to participate and compete on a level playing field. Though the NAIA is not broken down similarly, an NAIA school is comparable to a NCAA Division II school. Some NAIA institutions may have robust athletic programs, while others focus more on the academic and personal development aspects of student-athletes.

In addition to the Champions of Character program, the NAIA conducts national championships in various sports, including basketball, soccer, cross country, and more. These championships provide opportunities for student-athletes to showcase their talent and dedication on a national stage. The NAIA strongly emphasizes the value of competing in front of enthusiastic fans, and championship events often create a sense of community and pride among the participating institutions.

The NAIA’s influence extends beyond the playing field. It significantly impacts communities and provides opportunities for student-athletes to develop leadership skills and promote community service. Many NAIA athletes engage in outreach and volunteer work as part of their collegiate experience.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a vital and unique component of the United States and Canada collegiate sports landscape. It strongly emphasizes character development, ethical conduct, and the holistic growth of student-athletes. The NAIA’s diverse membership, focus on smaller colleges and universities, and commitment to values-based athletics make it a significant force in intercollegiate sports. While it may not have the same level of visibility as the NCAA, the NAIA’s impact on student-athletes lives and the communities it serves is undeniably substantial.

Works Cited

Barb. “What Are the Differences between the NAIA and NCAA?” Honest Game, 8 Aug. 2023, honestgame.com/2022/01/20/naia-vs-ncaa/.

College Athlete Advantage (CAA), collegeathleteadvantage.com/blog-details/collegiate-divisions. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

NAIA, www.naia.org/landing/index. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023. 

By Caia Bevins

The men’s teams played several games last week during Homecoming, so let’s review.

Men’s soccer played at Earlham on Wednesday. The first half was scoreless for both the Yellow Jackets and the Quakers, though #11 Riley Hensley was able to get close to the goal twice. In the second half, the Yellow Jackets were finally able to score after #3 Quinn Holtzapple landed his second goal of the season. After that, DC was able to maintain their lead until three minutes before the end of the game when the Quakers scored. They were unable to regain their lead and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. #3 Quinn Holtzapple led the team with goals and #11 Riley Hensley led the team with shots. The Jackets ended with 11 shots, 5 shots on goal, and 3 saves made by #1 Orry Killam.

Men’s soccer played again at Rose-Hulman on Saturday and the Engineers led the first half of the game, scoring five times, making the score 5-0. For the first time this season, #0 Austin Boles appeared in goal and stayed for the entire second half. The Jackets played much better in the second half and didn’t allow any more goals, but were unable to score, though they did make several attempts. The game ended with a score of 5-0 with #11 Riley Hensley leading with shots and #0 Austin Boles leading with saves. DC made 10 shots, 5 on goal, and 6 saves, made by both Boles (2) and #1 Offy Killam (4). Men’s soccer will play again at Franklin on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The Football team battled against Mount Saint Joseph for the homecoming game. The Lions started off strong and dominated the first three quarters, though the Yellow Jackets did put up a good fight. At the very end of the third quarter, the Jackets scored their first touchdown of the game. Over the fourth quarter, they were able to score twice more, making the score 62-21. #9 Jordan Ambrose led the team with 16 passing yards, and #14 Jehlani Warren led with 70 rushing yards. The Jackets finished the game with  25 passing yards, 240 rushing yards, and a time of possession at 24:17. They will play again next Saturday against Franklin at 1:30 p.m.

Defiance College Athletics. (n.d.-a). Defiance College. https://www.defianceathletics.com/landing/index

By Hanna Young

Several Yellow Jackets contributed to the Defiance College volleyball team’s win over Kenyon last week. The team won in four sets after capturing the opening set. Defiance jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first 3 points of the match. However, Defiance seemed to maintain a lead of a couple of points, things seemed to get a little closer around point number 16 for Defiance. However, after letting Kenyon within one they quickly added to their lead again. The set ended with a final score of 25-20 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. Defiance recorded 12 kills in the contest.

The second set went to Kenyon. Kenyon seemed to go on a scoring run after recording the first point of the contest. The Yellow Jackets answered with a couple of points, however, the team could not make a comeback in this set. The second set ended with a score of 16-25 in favor of the Owls. 

Things got back on track in the third set after Defiance recorded the first two points of the game. This set is a battle to the end, mostly remaining one to two points apart. The Yellow Jackets make a big push in the last five points to add this set to the ones in their favor. The final score of this set was 25-21.

The fourth and final set of the night saw the Yellow Jackets scoring six of the first eight points of the set. Kenyon did bring themselves within a few points early on, but Defiance kept their foot on the gas pedal earning themselves the victory in the fourth set. This set ended with a score of 25-16 making the Yellow Jackets victorious. 

Several Yellow Jackets contributed to the win. Shelby Clements led the team with 18 kills, followed by Kaylynn Wellman and Ellie Belvo each chipping in 8; the team totaled 46 kills. The team had 2 blocks in the game, one coming from both Ellie Belvo and Shleby Clements. Several players added digs including: Shelby Clements, Courtney Maxwell, and Kayla Boettger each with six, Ellie Belvo and Madison Schoenauer both with 4, and Amina Chaumoun, Veronica Vasquez, and Hope Yost each with 2, while Aliza Clarka added 1. 

By Hanna Young

The Couple Next Door, by New York Times Best Selling Author, Shari Lapena leaves readers confused and wanting to know more. This book is set in a quaint little village where the neighbors are friendly and close by. 

Anne and Marco Conti live with their only daughter, six month old Cora. They seem like a perfectly happy family. When their friends and neighbors invite Anne and Marco over to their home to celebrate a birthday they ask the pair not to bring Cora to the party because a crying baby would surely kill the mood. Since they were just going right next door and it was going to be after Cora went to bed, Marco convinced Anne that if they checked on her every half hour and brought a baby monitor over everything would be fine. Everything was fine, until it wasn’t. When Anne goes to check on her after midnight, Cora is gone. After making the call to the police, the detectives start asking questions and there are secrets that are revealed, some going back years. 

This book left a lot for me to desire, the plot was there and there was a lot of potential. However, the book was really slow in several spots and it took me forever to get through it because of how wordy it was. I will say that I was really surprised with the ending and where Cora actually was, that definitely helped the rating a lot. 

Overall, I give this book a 3/5. This is mostly because there seemed to be a lot of potential wasted when it comes to where the book could have went.

By Caia Bevins

Women’s sports played both on the court and on the field last week during Homecoming, so let’s talk about it.

Women’s soccer only played once this week on Wednesday. The Jackets battled against the Earlham Quakers, and the Quakers took an early lead after scoring six minutes into the game. They scored three more times before halftime, putting the score at 4-0. When the Jackets came back in the second half, they were able to hold Earlham back, and they weren’t able to score again. #9 Hallie Webb was able to get the ball once in the second half but couldn’t score. The final score was 4-0 with one shot and 18 saves made by #99 Sarah O’Shea. Women’s soccer had a game on Wednesday at 4 p.m., and they have another game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Franklin.

The volleyball team played last Wednesday against the Kenyon Owls and played four sets, with the scores being 25-20, 16-25, 25-21, and 21-16, respectively. The Yellow Jackets started off the first set with a 3-0 lead and were able to maintain that lead throughout the first set. In the second set, the Owls were able to best the Jackets, but they came back and won the last two sets to win the game 3-1. #12 Shelby Clements led the team with 18 kills, Clements and #18 Ellie Belvo tied with one block each, and #4 Kayla Boettger, #21 Courtney Maxwell, and Clements led with 6 digs each. The game ended with 2 blocks, 33 digs, and 11 aces.

The volleyball team played again last week at Manchester on Saturday and played three sets, ending with scores of 23-25, 17-25, and 15-25, respectively. The Spartans led the first set by 6, and DC led the second by 2, but it was short-lived when the Spartans scored four points and won the set. They also won the third set, making the score 3-0. # 12 Shelby Clements led the team with 11 kills, #11 Madison Shoenauer led with 1 block, and #5 Emma Chafin led with 13 digs. The Yellow Jackets finished with 4 blocks, 55 digs, and 8 aces overall. Their next game will be at Rose-Hulman on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Defiance College Athletics. (n.d.-a). Defiance College. https://www.defianceathletics.com/landing/index

By Jessica Reynolds

I would like to introduce you to Dr. Bare. He is the Assistant Professor of History and has been at Defiance College for four years. His favorite part about working at DC is the students. He stated “I  love working with the students we have at DC. It is the reason I come to work everyday.” Prior to working at Defiance College, Dr. Bare worked at the University of Toledo. After obtaining his PhD at the University of Toledo, he worked there as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the History Department. 

Dr. Bare struggled with deciding what his favorite class to teach was. He decided on two courses as his favorite. The two classes that he enjoys teaching are HIST 250: The Emergence of Total War and HIST 295: Memory, Monuments & US History. He mentioned that he really likes these two courses because they “both deal with [his] research interests and teaching expertise.” Dr. Bare has four degrees. He has a Bachelor of Art in History from the University of South Florida, an Master of Science in Education from Nova Southeastern University, Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University and a PhD from the University of Toledo. Dr. Bare actually taught elementary school for four years. 

One pet peeve of Dr. Bare’s is disorganization. He noted he is a neat freak. In the interview Dr. Bare stated “I have a highly organized and clean house. His favorite genre of music is 90s alt/grunge. If he could only eat one meal for the rest of his life, he would eat prime rib. Some of Dr. Bare’s hobbies include the gym, walking his dog, exploring historic cemeteries, and battlefield tourism. Dr. Bare has lived all over the country and really enjoys living in northwest Ohio. He also really likes Brussels in Belgium. Dr. Bare says that an interesting fact about himself that his students should know is that he is a huge college football gane. He loves the University of Miami. Go Canes!

Dr. Bare’s office is located in Dana 5.

By David Heidelburg

Would you have ever thought that something as small as making your bed, especially in the morning, could have benefits for you? I never would have thought that was a real thing. But when I found out that it is true, it actually does make sense. Now, I try to always make my bed in the morning before I get my day started because I like to sleep and be in a clean environment. There has also been research backing up the idea that making your bed has effects on your well being.

There are studies that show there are more people that make their bed than people that don’t make their bed. According to the National Sleep Foundation Bedroom poll, there are 70% of Americans who make their bed each morning. Even though there is very little scientific research about making your bed, there is evidence that does point out some of the mental health benefits which include a feeling of accomplishment, enhanced organization, etc. I wanted to point out those main two benefits for them because that’s how I feel when I make my bed in the morning.

Also, even though there isn’t much research when it comes to studying the effects of making your bed, there is a good amount of evidence that is said to support the comparison of living and working in an organized environment and having more focus. Being a psychology major, I find it quite interesting when I hear about topics involving psychology. I chose psychology because there are many topics that I can relate to for myself. Saying that, I find it very interesting that something that seems so little, like making up your bed. can actually lead to better mental functions!

Works Cited

Vanbuskirk, Sarah. “The Mental Health Benefits of Making Your Bed.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 3 Apr. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-benefits-of-making-your-bed-5093540. 

By Hannah Feldman

Midterms can be a daunting prospect for students, but with proper planning and preparation, they need not be a source of anxiety. Here is a 200-word guide to help you prepare effectively for your midterms.

1. Create a Study Schedule: Start by organizing your study time. Allocate specific time slots for each class, ensuring you cover all necessary material.
2. Gather Study Materials: Collect your textbooks, notes, and other relevant study materials. Make sure you have access to all the resources you need.
3. Understand the Format: Familiarize yourself with the midterm format. Will it be multiple-choice, essay questions, or a combination? Knowing this will help you tailor your study approach.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice: Practice is crucial for subjects with problem-solving components. Solve past papers, take practice quizzes, and review sample questions.
5. Active Learning: Don’t just passively read your notes. Engage in active learning techniques such as summarizing, teaching the material to someone else, or creating flashcards.
6. Seek Help: If you’re struggling with specific topics, don’t hesitate to seek help from your professors, classmates, or tutors.
7. Stay Healthy: Ensure you get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. A healthy body supports a healthy mind.
8. Take Breaks: Schedule short breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
9. Review and Revise: In the days leading up to the midterm, review your notes and summaries. Avoid cramming the night before.
10. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude. Visualize success and stay confident in your abilities.

By following these steps and maintaining a disciplined approach, you can prepare effectively for your midterms and increase your chances of success. Preparation is the key to success, so start early and stay consistent in your efforts. Good luck!

By Caia Bevins

A lot of things happened in women’s sports this week, both on the field and the court, so let’s recap.

Women’s Soccer played Manchester on Wednesday, in the rain, I might add and put up a good fight against the Spartans. Both teams remained scoreless in the first half of the game, but early in the second half, #14 Lexi Coward scored a goal and put the Jackets in the lead. However, the lead didn’t last long because Manchester scored a few minutes later on a penalty kick to tie the score. Manchester scored again, which put the Spartans in the lead. Manchester maintained the lead for the rest of the game, resulting in a  2-1 loss for the Jackets. DC ended the game with six shots on goal and an impressive 23 saves.

On Saturday, the Jackets battled hard against a very quick Hanover team. The Panthers scored seven times in the first half of the game, putting them in a 7-0 lead. In the second half, the Jackets found their footing, and Hanover was only able to score once more for a final score of 8-0. DC finished the game with 1 shot on goal and 15 saves made by #99 Sarah O’Shea. Their next game will be at Rose-Hulman at 1:00 p.m.

Volleyball played against Hanover as well on Saturday and lost 3-0, with the sets being 13-25, 15-25, and 22-25, respectively. In all three matches, the Jackets took an early lead over Hanover but couldn’t keep their momentum going. #1 Kaylynn Wellman led the team with 11 kills, #11 Madison Schoenauer led with 2 blocks total, and #4 Kayla Boettger led with 16 digs. The team as a whole ended with 40 digs, 26 assists, and 28 kills. Their next game will be on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Kenyon Owls.

Defiance College Athletics. (n.d.-a). Defiance College. https://www.defianceathletics.com/landing/index

By: Hanna Young

The Housemaid, by USA Today’s Best Selling Author, Frieda McFaddon left me picking my jaw up off the floor when I was done. This book was set in the Winchester family mansion in England. A mansion is the perfect place for a family that needs a housemaid and that is exactly what this book is about. 

Millie Calloway is desperate, she needs a job badly and when she finds a posting by the Winchester’s looking for a maid. She thought she had no chance of getting it. Nina and Andrew live in the mansion with their daughter Cecelia. Nina needs help around the house as well as picking her daughter up from school. After interviewing with Nina, Millie is shown around the house and is offered the job a few days later. Mille starts as soon as possible moving into her room in the attic and making herself comfortable as a live-in housekeeper. This job couldn’t be anymore perfect, that is, until Nina does everything in her power to make it miserable, making horrid messes for her to clean up and even going as far as lying about her daughter’s health. The only thing that makes it bearable is being able to see Andrew, the only seemingly sane one in the house. The more time Millie spends with him though the more that she thinks he would be happier with her. Millie thinks that Nina is trying to make her miserable on purpose, and Andrew is a breath of fresh air compared to her. How could Millie not fall in love? Millie finds out that the door to her room in the attic locks from the outside the hard way after a late night adventure with Andrew. The only thing that the Winchesters don’t know, though, is that Millie has a past of her own.

This book was absolutely crazy, I could not stop thinking about it. There was nothing predictable about it, and I was left in absolute shock. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. There are so many things that I liked about it, I don’t even know where I would start.

Overall, I gave this book a 5/5. If I could, it would most definitely be a 6/5 because there are no words to describe how amazing this book really is.