Author name: The Bulldog Beat

Story by Ash Johnson and Bri Johnson From Friday March 27 to Sunday March 29, Tennessee Wesleyan put on the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Jamey Owen, the director of the musical, gave a speech before the performance began. Owen gave a shout-out to all the students, faculty, and community members who helped make the musical possible and mentioned the divisiveness in the country. Fiddler on the Roof is a historical play based on the experiences of the Jewish community, including their joys and their struggles. One prominent theme is tradition, which is especially important for Orthodox Jews (Brittney Bowman). Although the musicial portrays the daily lives of ordinary Jewish people in a way that is relatable to the audience, there are aspects of the story that require prior knowledge of Orthodox branch of Judaism to understand better. The cast members gained that insight from Sam Jaffee to better understand Jewish culture. In Judaism, the Bible is vital to not only the people’s faith, but also helps them navigate daily life. (Riley’s character) main catchphrase is “As the Good Book says”. Throughout the play, characters either cite the Bible directly or make allusions to its passages, often in comedic ways. The play incorporates comedy while keeping reverence to Judaism, making the story educational while being hilariously relatable. Warning: Spoilers for Fiddler on the Roof Although the characters in the beginning emphasize the importance of tradition, Tevye’s notions of tradition are challenged when three of his five daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava, seek to marry. Tzeitel is initially arranged to marry Lazar, a wealthy butcher, but wishes to marry Motel, the tailor, instead. Even though Motel is poor, Tzeitel loves him because he is her childhood friend. This presents the first challenge: Wealth vs Love. While Tzeitel and Motel are getting married, Hodel and Perchik’s relationship quickly blossoms. At first, Hodel was skeptical of Perchik, as was the rest of the village, because Perchik challenges tradition directly. However, it is when Perchik challenges Hodel by offering to dance with her that she falls in love. When Hodel and Perchik tell Tevye that they are getting married, Tevye initially does not approve, but is not offended until the couple says they are not asking for permission. This marriage presents two challenges: old traditions vs new ideas and parental authority vs children’s autonomy. Just when Tevye thinks his challenges are over, Chava wants to marry Fyedka, a Russian Christian. Now, Tevye must decide if faith is more important than love. The irony of Tevye deciding between tradition and the new ideas is that he and Golde defy tradition. Tevye may be the husband, but Golde is the one that Tevye reveres. After the performance ended, Riley Hammel, the star of the show, was asked his thoughts of the show. Hammel mentioned that his favorite part of rehearsals was “Just everybody coming together. We had a great crew”. TWU professors also contributed to the performance, with John Ferguson building the set and Dr. Sam Jaffee teaching the crew about the Jewish heritage in the play. But performances also have their challenges. Hammel claimed that it took “An hour and a half coming in working on stuff [for three months]” and “trying to balance schoolwork” Despite these challenges, Hammel expressed his wishes to perform again. “Oh absolutely, this is just my third [play]” Just as the cast and audience has learned about the traditions and challenges of Jewish history, they also were left with this question: What traditions should be held on to, and what should be challenged? Photos by Ash Johnson and Bri Johnson

Written by Emarie Bailey, Edited by Hunter Cookston, Photos by DJ Humphreys, and Interview by Dakota Caldwell On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is partnering with Cleveland State Community College and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology in hosting the Tri-College Job Fair and Career Expo at the McMinn Higher Education Center in Athens, Tennessee from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is an opportunity for students to connect with employers, explore possible job listings, and offer your resume to different businesses that interest you! “The reason behind setting up this job fair was to expand our reach for our employers that are local,” says Kim Ealy, Director of Career and Leadership Development, “so that they have the opportunity to meet with talent and diverse skill sets.” There will be around 30 companies attending the career fair, including: To prepare accordingly, “First, [you should] look at the list of companies that are coming and learn a little about the ones that are of interest to [you],” says Ealy, “Depends on how much time you have as well. Find five companies that really are your top priority.” If there is not a business that interests you, the career fair will provide a learning experience through on-site interviews, resume review, and the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of employees about their processes. “Bring current copies of your resume, whether they take it or [not],” said Ealy for preparation. “That way you have [visual] talking points with [you] to answer questions.” For further information, contact Kim Ealy, Tennessee Wesleyan’s Director of Career and Leadership Development. Ealy is over the event and will offer more information pertaining to it. kealy@tnwesleyan.edu

By DJ Humphreys Located inside the Food Hub in downtown Athens, Tenn. Biscuit Envy, also branded as “Biskit NV” at its downtown location, is more than just a place to grab breakfast. It is a family-driven restaurant built on tradition, community and a simple mission: bring people together. Biscuit Envy is located inside the Food Hub in downtown Athens, a shared space that can be easy to miss without knowing where to look. The Food Hub is a shared space in downtown Athens designed to support local businesses by providing kitchen and storefront access in one location. Owner Natasha Burson said the idea behind Biscuit Envy started long before the doors opened. “We are a family-operated business,” Burson said. “My inspiration is my family — my mom, my aunts and my grandma. Everyone was always cooking and showing hospitality.” As a second-generation restaurant, Biscuit Envy carries those traditions forward while creating a space where customers feel at home. “Our mission is to serve good food, but also to be a place where the community can come, gather around the table, talk and fellowship,” Burson said. Located inside the Food Hub near campus, the restaurant benefits from a shared kitchen space that helps keep costs manageable. However, Burson said the location also presents challenges. “Most of the action takes place on the other side of town,” she said. “We have to advertise and get the word out, so people know to come downtown.” Despite those challenges, the business continues to grow while staying rooted in family. Staffing has largely relied on relatives, especially during the transition from their previous Cleveland location. Burson said she hopes to eventually hire more college students but encourages young people to stay patient in their career paths. “Don’t get discouraged if you don’t start where your dream is,” she said. “I worked in corporate America for almost 20 years before I was able to do this.” That message is already shaping the next generation within the business. Jay Welcome, 14, has been working with his family since 2021 and said the experience has helped him grow both personally and professionally. “Probably getting to enjoy my family and learning recipes,” Welcome said. “It’s also helped me be more social and have a kind face to people.” Looking ahead, Welcome said he is interested in the business side of food, including bringing family recipes to a larger market. “Maybe not my own kitchen, but making it more commercialized, like putting recipes in grocery stores,” he said. He also shared ideas for growing the business’ reach, especially among younger audiences. “Maybe creating a food hub for younger generations,” Welcome said. “There should be more outlets for kids to express themselves.” As for the food itself, Welcome didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite. “Everything’s pretty good,” he said. “But my favorite is probably the Mr. V’s.” The menu reflects those family traditions, with hearty biscuit sandwiches and comfort-style meals drawing in customers. Biscuit Envy is typically open on Saturdays, though hours and availability may vary. Customers can check the restaurant’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on offerings and hours. From family recipes to future ambitions, Biscuit Envy continues to build more than a menu. Located inside the Food Hub, the restaurant continues to grow its presence in downtown Athens while staying rooted in family and community. Photos by Roni Bailey