Category: 2023-24

Nevaeh Schiffhauer

Being a commuter student is much different than being a student who lives on campus. Both commuter and on-campus students have their advantages and disadvantages, and both have different experiences every day when attending school. For example, students who commute are responsible for waking up at a certain hour in order to allow themselves time to get to school, as
well as ensuring that they find a parking spot and do not get stopped by a train. Sometimes this can be a challenging routine.

While commuters tend to have a routine, on-campus students do as well; really, both types of students have unique challenges concerning the idea of home. The biggest difference between being a commuter student and living on campus is that some students get to go home every day, while others only have the option of calling a dorm their home. Some students enjoy making the drive to and from school and going home every afternoon, while others enjoy the time away; some might get homesick and wish they could leave, but in the end, they decide to stay and finish school. Some play sports and have no other option.

As mentioned before, each student differs in their situations and experiences in which they obtain while in college. As a known fact, no one has the same routines, or lives for that matter. Being someone who commutes is much different than being someone who lives at school semester-to-semester. Sometimes, commuters may feel that they miss out on campus culture and activities. However, all students are fortunate to have any college experience. It comes down to who you are, where you come from, and what you decide to make of your time at Defiance College.

Nevaeh Schiffhauer

By Hannah Feldman

Black Friday, an annual shopping extravaganza that takes place on the day following Thanksgiving in the United States, marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The term “Black Friday” itself has a somewhat murky origin. While some believe it originated in the 1960s Philadelphia police department to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the day after Thanksgiving, others attribute it to the notion that retailers operate “in the black” or at a profit on this day due to increased sales.

Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon characterized by massive sales, deep discounts, and frenzied crowds. The day typically begins in the early morning, with many retailers opening their doors as early as midnight or on Thanksgiving evening. In recent years, online shopping has also become a significant part of Black Friday, with many retailers offering exclusive online deals to cater to the growing trend of digital shopping. Which has now started its own day, “Cyber Monday.” 

Several factors contribute to the popularity of Black Friday. One key element is the tradition of gift-giving during the holiday season. Consumers are eager to capitalize on the substantial discounts offered by retailers to purchase gifts for loved ones. The limited-time nature of these deals creates a sense of urgency, driving people to participate in the shopping frenzy to secure the best bargains.

Retailers, in turn, view Black Friday as a strategic opportunity to boost sales, clear excess inventory, and attract customers to their stores. The day is a marketing spectacle, with advertisements and promotions enticing consumers to join the rush for unbeatable deals.

Despite its popularity, Black Friday has not been without controversy. Reports of chaotic scenes, long lines, and occasional incidents of violence have sparked debates about the ethical implications of the shopping frenzy. Some critics argue that the emphasis on consumerism detracts from the true spirit of the holiday season, encouraging excessive spending and materialism.

Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon driven by tradition, consumerism, and strategic marketing. While it allows consumers to snag significant discounts, it also prompts reflections on the balance between holiday cheer and the pitfalls of excessive commercialism.

By Hanna Young

One of Us is Dead, by New York Times Best Selling author Jeneva Rose, was a twisting road of different perspectives that added up to one story that was bigger than everyone else. This book is set in Buckhead, where all the women carry designer bags and have mansions and rich husbands. 

Shannon began as the leader of the women in Buckhead at least until her husband divorced her and got together with another woman. That other woman is sweet southern bell, Crystal, who gets thrown into the world of Buckhead. Olivia is the new queen bee that has been trying to dethrone Shannon for years. Karen is the part of the group that tries to keep the peace, but when Olivia finds out her secret tensions rise. And Jenny is the owner of the most exclusive salon in Buckhead and as a hair stylist she knows almost everything about her clients, including some of their darkest secrets. Which of these friends is tough enough to survive this group and which one ends up dead.

This book started off very slow and I ended up having to put it down and come back and finish it later. It was definitely worth finishing though. I had not even an inkling that the book would end like that. I was so surprised and kinda confused by how fast the book changed at the end. Things just escalated really quickly in the last 100 pages.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5. This is because of how unpredictable the ending was, but I also had to take a little off because I did get kind of bored in the middle of the book.

By Caia Bevins

This week, we saw the end of one season and the beginning of another so let’s talk about it.

Men’s Basketball started off their season against Division 1 Cleveland State last Wednesday. They started off the game strong and stayed within ten points of the Vikings for the first several minutes but were soon overtaken by Cleveland, and they finished the first half with a score of 48-21. In the second half, the Jackets started off strong with two 3-pointers by #22 Landen Swanner, and #23 Evan Park scored two layups and a triple. The game ended with a score of 102-41. #23 Evan Park led with points scored, and #11 Clay McCorkle and #22 Landen Swanner led with two assists each. DC had a field goal percentage of 34%, had 22 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Jackets kicked off the 48th annual Purple and Gold Tournament on Friday against Beloit and had a rough start, but were able to recover and went into the second half with a score of 44-32 in favor of Beloit. In the second half, the scores stayed fairly close until the end when the Buccaneers were able to pull away and create a 17-point lead, ending the game with a score of 81-64. #22 Landen Swanner led with points scored, #21 Cole Wojciechowski and #22 Landen Swanner tied with five rebounds each, and #0 Jacob Trevino and #23 Evan Park led with assists. Overall, the team ended with a field goal percentage of 48.1%, 35 rebounds, and 12 assists.

On the second day of the Purple and Gold Tournament, the Jackets played against Miami-Hamilton on Saturday. DC took an early lead in the game and were able to retain that lead throughout the first half, which ended with a score of 30-22. Going into the second half, the Jackets kept up their momentum and were able to best the Harriers in what ended up being a close game with a final score of 71-68. #33 Sherod Brooks led the team with points, #21 Cole Wojciechowski led in rebounds, and #22 Landen Swanner led with assists. Overall, DC ended with a field goal percentage of 44.2%, 30 rebounds, and 7 assists. At the end of the game, two players from each team were awarded all-tournament selections, and the two DC players honored were #22 Landen Swanner and #0 Jacob Trevino.

The Football team played their final game this season and their final game as a Division 3 NCAA team against Bluffton. The Beavers were the first to put points on the board with a touchdown in the first quarter, and they racked up three more touchdowns in the second. The Jackets scored their first touchdown in the second half after #23 Cooper Sloan caught a touchdown pass of 14 yards, and we went into the second half with a score of 21-7. If this team has proven anything over the last season, it is that they are a second-half team, and they proved it. We scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and another two in the fourth, while Bluffton scored only twice the entire second half. Despite a valiant effort, the Jackets were unable to pull off a win and lost 42-35. #9 Jordan Ambrose led in passing yards, and #0 Tyshaun Freeman led in rushing yards. Overall, the team ended with 243 passing yards, 203 rushing yards, and had a time of possession of 26:25.

By Hanna Young

Landen Swanner for the Yellow Jackets struck first, sinking a three pointer to give Defiance the first lead of the game. The scoring went back and forth for a while, Defiance still maintaining the lead majority of the first half. The Harriers earned a one-point lead early in the game after a foul shot. The Yellow Jackets answered with a three pointer by Landen Swanner and then a jump shot by Sherrod Brooks to add a few points to Defiance’s lead. With less than a minute left in the game, Will Gehlhausen made two three pointers to extend Defiance’s lead to 8 heading into halftime.

It was the Harriers who struck first in the second half, making a pair of free throws. Jakob Trevino swished a three pointer to score the first points of the half for Defiance. Miami-Hamilton gained the lead just once in the second half after a jump shot gave them a one point advantage. The lead was quickly regained by Defiance when Clay McCorkle swished his own jump shot. This was followed by a free throw by Cam Martin and then a three pointer by Clay McCorkle to extend the regained lead. The Yellow Jacket’s remained in the lead nearing the end of the second half going on a brief scoring run to keep Miami-Hamilton at bay. Landen Swanner made a three pointer, followed by a pair of free throws by Clay McCorkle. The Harriers then made a three pointer which was followed by a pair of free throws from Defiance’s Cole Wojciechowski. The Harriers score one final basket to end the game with a final score in favor of the Yellow Jackets 71-68.

The Yellow Jackets not only recorded the most points in the contest, but they also had the most rebounds, offensively and defensively. There were 37 rebounds, 26 of which were defensive. Cole Wojciechowski led the team in defensive rebounds with 6, followed by Will Gehlhausen and Cam Martin who each added 4. Sherrod Brooks, Jordyn Jury, and Cam Martin each captured 2 offensive rebounds for the Yellow Jackets. Sherrod Brooks led the team in points scored earning 13 points, Landen Swanner, and Clay McCorkle followed closely behind scoring 11 and 10 respectively. Sherrod Brooks also led the team in steals recording 3 of the team’s 5 steals. Defiance also recorded 19 assists, Landen Swanner led with 6, he was followed closely by Jakob Trevino who added in 4. 

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, November 18th 2023, against Kalamazoo at 2pm. 

By Hannah Feldman

The Christmas season is a time of joy, generosity, and celebration. However, the festivities often have a financial strain that can linger long after the last ornament is packed away. Crafting a thoughtful budget for the holiday season is crucial to ensure the merriment doesn’t become a financial burden.

To start, it’s essential to outline a comprehensive list of all anticipated expenses. This includes gifts, decorations, travel, food, and any other festive activities. By clearly understanding what is needed, one can allocate funds accordingly and avoid last-minute splurges.

Setting a realistic spending limit for each category is the next crucial step. Consider your overall financial situation and determine how much you can comfortably allocate to holiday expenses without compromising your financial stability. Be honest with yourself about what you can afford, and resist the urge to overspend in the spirit of the season.

Embracing a cash-based approach can be a powerful tool during the holiday season. Using cash for purchases instead of credit cards makes it easier to track spending and resist the temptation to go over budget. This also helps prevent the accumulation of post-holiday debt, allowing you to enter the new year on solid financial ground.

Another valuable strategy is to start early. Begin your holiday shopping well in advance to take advantage of sales and discounts. This stretches your budget further and reduces the stress associated with last-minute shopping.

Consider alternative gift-giving approaches, such as homemade gifts or organizing a Secret Santa among family and friends. This adds a personal touch to the season and eases the financial burden for everyone involved.

Lastly, embrace the spirit of frugality. Look for cost-effective ways to celebrate, whether it’s through DIY decorations or potluck-style gatherings. The focus should be on creating meaningful moments rather than extravagant expenditures. A well-thought-out budget is the key to enjoying a festive Christmas season without the looming shadow of financial stress. By planning, setting realistic limits, and embracing frugality, you can ensure that the season of giving doesn’t become a season of financial strain.

By Caia Bevins

It was a slow week for women’s sports as only volleyball played, so let’s discuss.

They played against Bluffton on Wednesday and went for four sets, with the scores being 18-25, 25-22, 18-25, and 8-25, respectively. In the first set, the Jackets started off strong and took the lead, but the Beavers responded quickly and took back the lead. They went back and forth, scoring points for the rest of the set, with Bluffton coming out on top with a 25-18 victory. The second set was very similar, with the Jackets taking an early lead. Again, the two rivals went back and forth with scoring points, but Defiance won this set with 25-22. The third set saw the Jackets start strong again, but they were unable to maintain their lead for long and lost that set, as well as the fourth. #2 Jamia Murray led with twelve kills, #21 Courtney Maxwell led with thirty-three assists, and #5 Emma Chafins led with fourteen digs. Overall, the team ended with fourty-six kills, fourty assists, and fifty digs.

Last Saturday was Senior Day for the Volleyball team, so let’s take a second to recognize these outstanding students. #4 Kayla Boettger is majoring in integrated social studies education and history from Archbold, Ohio. #11 Madison Schoenauer is majoring in business management. #13 Kairston Moorer is a social work major. #22 Katlin Barrett is majoring in forensic science and is also a member of the basketball team. Finally, #25 Hope Yost is a double major in psychology and business administration and was an orientation leader for Defiance College.

The Volleyball team played their final game this season against Mt. St. Joseph and played three sets with scores of 25-13, 25-17, and 23-17, respectively. The Lions took an early lead, but the Jackets responded quickly. The Lions retaliated and won the set 25-13. The second set went back and forth for the first several points, and the Lions slowly built their lead to win the set 25-17. In the final set, the Jackets and the Lions both played hard, and the score was close the entire set, and both teams struggled for the upper hand. In the end, the Lions scored the final point and won the match.

By Caia Bevins

Women’s Basketball started up this week, so let’s get into it. 

Women’s basketball started off their season against Ohio Wesleyan at home and had a slow start. #25 Zadria King was the first to put points on the board for the Jackets, but the Bishops came back and scored 17 points to take a further lead. The Jackets were able to score a few more times, and they went into the second half with a score of 48-14. In the third quarter, Wesleyan continued to dominate, but they were able to rack up another 30 points over the last two quarters, and they finished the game with a score of 101-44. #3 Karrie Smith led with points, #34 Taylor Bates led in rebounds, and #11 Ali Mowen led in assists. Overall, the team ended with a field goal percentage of 26.7%, 25 rebounds, and nine assists.

Women’s basketball played again on Sunday at Heidelberg and started off the quarter strong with points made by #3 Karrie Smith, #30 Teagan Hunt, and #12 Addy Allen. In the second quarter, the Jackets lost a bit of their momentum, and they went into halftime with a score of 38-29. #4 Kaiya Albert was the first to score going onto the third quarter, and #25 Zadria King was the last, and they finished the quarter with a score of 56-45. DC scored another 20 points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a score of 79-65. #4 Kaiya Albert led with points scored, #25 Zadria King and #34 Taylor Bates led with eight rebounds each, and #25 Zadria King led with four assists. Overall, the team had a field goal percentage of 36.8%, 35 rebounds, and eight assists.

By: Jessica Reynolds

I would like to introduce you to Dr. Goodrum. He is the Associate Professor of Criminal Justice. He has been working at Defiance College for nine and a half years. When asked the question why he decided to work at DC, he stated “There were a number of factors that made me decide to work at the College. However, the warm, friendly, and welcoming environment I received when I took a tour is what sealed the deal for me.” His favorite part about working at Defiance College is “watching the students grow and move closer to reaching their goals.” Prior to working at DC, Dr. Goodrum worked as a State Trooper for the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 25 years. Dr. Goodrum earned his Bachelor of Art in Psychology from the University of Toledo, followed by his Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security from Tiffin University and then went on to get his PhD in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Public Safety from Capella University.

One movie that Dr. Goodrum could watch over and over again and not get tired of would be Crimson Tide with Gene Hackman. One thing on his bucket list is going back to Alaska and spending more time in the wilderness. Dr. Goodrum likes to listen to hip-hop, country, the blues, and rap music. The best piece of advice that Dr. Goodrum has received is “Trust in God!” Some tips or tricks that he has learned from his career path is “In life there are very few shortcuts. If you want to get ahead, you must do the work. Embrace the grind!” Another interesting fact about him is that his greatest joy in life is being a family man.

Dr. Goodrum’s office can be located in Schauffler 208.

By: David Heidelburg

Lets face it, while we are in school whether you are Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior the times are only shortening as the days go on. No matter how you think about it. That is the fact. Although college can have some ups and downs whether it is academics or etc.. These are the last few years before getting into the real world. My best advice to you is to make the best out of it.

Not everyone goes or has the opportunity to go to college which is ok of course, but for those that are in school it is also a great step of accomplishment. Some more advice I would give of how to embrace the college life while you can is maybe try events on campus. Since being here at Defiance College I realize that there are a ton of activities here on campus and a lot of them are fun and interesting. I have been to quite a few myself from painting pictures to campus carnivals before the school year begins. And so many more activities on campus just mentioning the few I have been to. 

Another thing I have noticed is that college goes by quickly  weather you believe it or not. It really seems like yesterday that I came here for a visit back in 2021. When I had classes my freshman year, I remember Ms. Lisa mentioning to the Freshman class that it goes by quick. I didn’t believe it at first but when you get through one week it just flies by from there.

I say all of that because I believe it is important that because we pay to go to school at Defiance College you might as well try to make the best of it. Trying new things maybe one step at a time, trying to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. When my time is done at Defiance College I don’t want to have regrets about what could have been or any what if’s.