Author name: The Bulldog Beat

By DJ Humphreys What started as a routine drive through Athens turned into something harder to ignore. Murals. At first, it was just one. Then another. Then a pattern. Across Athens and into nearby towns, walls are filled with color, history and identity, often in places people pass every day without noticing. From downtown Athens to Sweetwater and Madisonville, these murals tell stories that go beyond decoration. They reflect the communities they are part of, capturing both history and personality in ways that are easy to overlook. Athens murals highlight history and identity In Athens, Tenn several murals focus on moments and symbols tied directly to the city’s past. One of the most striking is “Great America XIV: The Battle of Athens” by artist Sam Welty, located on North Jackson Street. The mural references the 1946 Battle of Athens, a defining moment in local history when veterans challenged election corruption. Nearby, Welty’s “Great America XX” continues that theme, while another piece, “Ronald Reagan’s Visit to McMinn County,” located on East Washington Avenue, captures a different moment in the area’s political history, reflecting the county’s connection to national figures. Other murals shift toward broader identity. The Tri Star mural, created by Megan Lingerfelt at the corner of South White Street and East Bank Street, brings in Tennessee symbolism with bright colors and natural imagery. The piece stands in contrast to the more historical murals, offering a different perspective on what defines the area. Additional works, including “Gathering Release” by Johnathan Bidwell and “Main Street Athens” by Jessica and Kevin Lane, both murals contribute to a growing collection that blends history with modern artistic expression. Murals extend beyond Athens into surrounding communities The presence of murals is not limited to Athens. In Sweetwater, murals take on a more community focused and vibrant tone. Pieces such as “This Girl Can (Sweetwater)” by Kim Radford and “The Sweetwater Mural” by Cymone Wilder highlight themes of empowerment and local pride. Other works, including “Quack Walk” at Duck Park and “Everbloom” by Tiffany Hargis, bring movement and color into public spaces, making art part of everyday life for residents and visitors. In Madisonville, murals continue to reflect a mix of identity and creativity. The “Wings Mural” by Talitha Shell offers an interactive element, encouraging people to step into the artwork, while pieces like “Dream Cloud” by Nathan Brown and the “Brown Trout” mural by Sarah Painter and Cosby Hayes draw inspiration from nature and the surrounding region. Additional murals, including “Visit Monroe County” and “Everywhere you look, UT.” by Curtis Glover, reinforce local identity and pride. Even smaller towns such as Etowah and Englewood feature murals, though on a more limited scale, showing that public art has spread throughout the region in different forms. Public art offers a different way to see small towns Murals across the communities of Monroe and McMinn counties serve as more than visual additions. They offer insight into what each town values, remembers and wants to share. While larger cities often draw attention for public art, these smaller towns present a quieter version of the same idea, one that requires a closer look. What may seem like ordinary streets at first glance can reveal something more with time and attention. In places like Athens and the surrounding communities, those stories are not always in museums or on signs. Sometimes, they are painted directly onto the walls. Explore the murals yourself!

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