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BSU Brown Sugar Ball goes out with a bang

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By Roni Bailey and Ash Johnson; contributions by AJ Hunter The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted the Brown Sugar Ball on April 11 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Colloms Campus Center in the Johnson Event Center. The Brown Sugar Ball was organized to create a space for students to connect and celebrate culture and community on campus. “The purpose is to have an end of the year celebration with old and new friends,” explained BSU President Roni Bailey. “Our main goal as an organization was to just make sure that everyone had a good time.” Students came together for a night of music, dancing, and celebrating the end of the semester. Attendees followed the theme by wearing shades of brown or white dressy outfits paired with sneakers. Admission to the event was $5. All profits, in turn, are put into the organization account for BSU’s future events. Students were greeted at the entrance by BSU Secretary Jay Ellis and Treasurer Ajaye Hunter who welcomed guests in with a smile and took pictures as they arrived. As people began entering the dance floor, they walked on the gold carpet to see everyone having a good time. Guests were also able to enjoy a selection of finger foods provided during the event. The menu included chicken fingers, sandwiches, fruit, and a charcuterie board, giving attendees a chance to grab a snack while spending time with friends. One of the most popular spots of the evening was a balloon display set up as a photo backdrop made by Vice President Samantha DeGrace. Throughout the night, students gathered around the display to take photos and capture memories from the event. The BSU council took two days to set up the Johnson Event Center for this event, to make sure the room matched not only the aesthetic, but the feeling of a magical night with others. Around 9 p.m., the atmosphere inside the event center became more energetic as the music picked up and students began filling the dance floor. The party quickly became lively, with many attendees dancing and enjoying the music together. As the night continued, the dancing intensified, with Dontae Campbell drawing attention from the crowd with his energetic moves. Later in the evening, BSU hosted an awards segment recognizing students for their participation and style during the event. Kamaurian Frierson and Sariyah Cox were among the students recognized as Mr. & Ms. Brown Sugar Ball. Organizers Samantha DeGrace, Lauren Nickerson, Roni Bailey, and Dr. Lynnete Smith coordinated the event and hope it will continue to grow in the future as BSU plans more events for students, such as “a cookout to start the year off in the fall semester.” With financial and community support, BSU can continue to host events and support POC students.

Student Life

Upcoming Events through the end of the Spring Semester

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By Lexie Lee Tennessee Wesleyan has some fun events/convocations and important things for you to know about and attend in the last few weeks, starting April 13 – May 9. The events include: Research Day (no classes) on April 16 Last Day of Classes on April 28 Reading Day & Bulldog Bash (no classes) on April 29 Finals on April 30, May 1, May 4, and May 5 Residence Halls Close at Noon on May 6 Throughout the year, TWU has many different events and opportunities for students to connect with one another, one of which is Free Bowling Night at Classic Lanes in Athens, TN.             “… It’s nice to see some student[s] having fun,” says TWU Student, Nicko Bellot. Estefania Garro states, “It’s nice to have a different way to socialize.” “I had more fun socializing rather than actually bowling!” exclaimed Samantha DeGrace. While looking forward to even more fun events and convocations next year, we hope you have a great Summer Break! Photos by David Tayau

Student Life

Blackjack or Bust: Calculating Chances at Casino Night

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By Ash JohnsonEdited by DJ HumphreysPhotos Edited by David Tayau On March 20, 2026, Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) hosted Casino Night in the Johnson Event Center in Colloms Campus Center. Casino Night is an annual event that occurs near the end of Spring Semester. Although there were several games available, blackjack was the most popular among students. The goal of Blackjack is simple. The players’ cards must add up to a number higher than the dealer’s hand. The catch? If the total number adds to be more than 21, the hand “busts”, and the player loses. Number cards are face-value, face cards are 10, and Aces can be one or 11.   Approximately 100 students attended Casino Night, which was supported by Simplify Entertainment.  Although there is math involved in Blackjack, there is a debate as to whether the game is more math-based or luck-based. Blake Splitter, a math professor at TWU, served as one of the Blackjack dealers, when asked if Blackjack is more math or luck-based.   “I think it’s a little bit of both, but if you play well, it can be more math-based.” Splitter said.  As the night progressed, the debate between chance and calculation continued. At the Blackjack tables, some students used probability to determine whether to “stay” or “hit”. Other students hoped that the dealer would bust or have a lower score than them. One student relied on superstition through the power of shaking food in a bowl.   The food at Casino Night was provided by Aramark.  People continued to play until it was time to cash in any remaining chips earned in exchange for tickets.   One student, Ethan Kline, stood out after trading in at least 40 black chips, earning them from playing Blackjack.  After we found him, we asked Ethan what his advice was to people who wanted to win at Blackjack.   “My advice to anyone playing Blackjack is to not lose, and always, always win.” Kline said.  Not all players shared the same experience.   Bri Johnson said, “The game is rigged.”   The event concluded with a prize drawing, where Ange Astolfi won the final prize, an iPad.  Tyler Forrest, president of TWU, said the event was a success.  “It was a fantastic evening because there were so many excited students here,” Forrest said.  Benjamin Forrest also shared his experience.  “I think I had a fun time with my dad, my mom and the students,” Benjamin Forrest said. 

Student Life

Upcoming Events for the end of March through the Beginning of April 

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By Lexie Lee   Tennessee Wesleyan has some fun events and convocations for you to attend in the coming weeks, starting March 15 – April 4.   The events include:  Easter Break (April 3 – April 6)  “I like the environment,” one student said, “it’s chill, and we have a good time.” “I enjoy coming here, because I get to meet people around a drink,” another student said.  “I got to try drink that I never had before,” the last student claimed. TWU’s events and convocations are a fantastic way to get involved with the campus community and it allows you to learn and try new things!  Other Important Dates:  Stay tuned for the next “Upcoming Events” story after Easter Break! 

Student Life

TWU Multimedia Journalism students explore the history of online gaming and its impact on communication

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By Emma Stratton Multimedia Journalism students at Tennessee Wesleyan University are studying the impact ofonline video games to better understand how they affect their community. In the fast-paced world we live in today, people are constantly looking for ways to unwind,escape, and relax from the daily grind. Some turn to yoga or sports, while some find peace indrawing or music. Others find relaxation in digital forms, such as online video games. Online video games, such as Arc Raiders and Fortnite, are a popular choice for many groups.The connection available globally through these games has caused a drastic change in the waypeople communicate daily. However, video games did not always exist online. Video games could be defined as digital, interactive activities that are structured with rules andfeedback, involving a specific goal. They are played for enjoyment, education, or competitionwith the use of skill, strategy, and luck. The first video game, Tennis for Two, was created in 1958 by William Higinbotham. Eventually,video games evolved into an opportunity to play online with strangers from around the world,starting in the 1970s. The game Empire (1973) is said to be the first online game developed fromthe University of Illinois’s PLATO computer-based teaching system. This game allowed “severalplayers (up to eight) to compete against one another on separate screens.” (Harmon, 2022). By the 1980s, players on consoles such as Atari were able to link their consoles to each other.However, online gaming really took off in the 1990s with the rise of internet and local areanetworks. This allowed users to play together without being in the same area, examples being“Doom (1993) and Quake (1996)” (Harmon, 2022). In the early 2000s, online gaming became a more interactive and accessible hobby with “gameslike RuneScape and World of Warcraft [bringing] millions of players together in immersiveonline environments.” (Harmon, 2022). There are multiple genres of online video games with examples including PVP (Player versusPlayer), MMO’s (Massive Multiplayer Online games), PVE (Player versus Everyone), FPS(First-Person Shooters), and Survival. Each genre is focused on using strategy and skills to adaptand survive in a digital world that is filled with players from around the globe, or nation,depending on your servers. Communication methods include tools such as in-game text and voice chat. There are also freecommunication apps, such as Discord, that allow users to join gaming communities and meetother gamers. These communication platforms allow players of all ages, genders, and ethnicities tocommunicate with one another. While this connectivity can be positive, it can also harbornegativity due to the anonymous role-playing aspect many of these games allow. Source Harmon, A. (2022). Online gaming: Sports and leisure: Research starters: EBSCO research.EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/sports-and-leisure/online-gaming

Student Life

Are You Smarter than a bulldog?

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By Roni Bailey ​​On Thursday, October 2, Tennessee Wesleyan University hosted its annual Open House, welcoming prospective students to campus and offering tours and information sessions. To their surprise, our communication studies department and students organized a podcast segment that included a Jeopardy-style game called “Are You Smarter Than a Bulldog?” This event brought together current Bulldogs and prospective students for a fun, interactive experience.​  The event was held in Reece Hall, where the Communication Department is located. Prospective students were invited to test their general knowledge against current students in a lighthearted trivia game. Questions ranged from word and math problems to Disney lore and everything in between. The room was filled with laughter and cheers as participants competed to see who really knew more—the future Bulldogs or the current ones.  The event embodied the welcoming and vibrant spirit of Tennessee Wesleyan University by combining humor, teamwork, and determination. The “Are You Smarter Than a Bulldog?” game show transformed the open house into an unforgettable experience for both visitors and current students. It allowed everyone to engage in a fun atmosphere, fostering connections and excitement about the university.  ​​Tank Montgomery, the campus event coordinator, shared his hopes and expectations for the upcoming event. He said that he wants prospective students to experience what it’s like to be at Tennessee Wesleyan and to be part of the Communication Department. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the admissions and academic departments, noting that everyone shares the common goal of attracting students and that the community operates like a family.  ​JJ Hulet, a communications professor, explained how the event helps prospective students grasp what studying communications entails at the institution. He stated that studying communications at Tennessee Wesleyan is a combination of theory and practice. He highlighted that for those interested in learning how to use the tools that create the media they consume and understanding the “why” behind that media, Tennessee Wesleyan is the right choice. The event served as a creative platform to showcase all that the communication department has to offer. Through hands-on learning, current and prospective students took on roles involving recording, sound, and hosting duties, allowing them to adapt to challenges much like they would in a real broadcast environment.​ 

Student Life

Delta Zeta Phi Annual Seesaw Marathon

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By Lexie Lee Why was there a seesaw in the quad? The Tennessee Wesleyan University Fraternity, Delta Zeta Phi, finished their fundraising Seesaw Marathon where they rode the seesaw, taking turns, for 100 hours straight from September 22-26! The event was organized to raise money from local businesses and donations from people within the community to benefit the on-campus food pantry, Love Thy Neighbor Project. As Love Thy Neighbor is Delta Zeta Phi’s charity partner, the fraternity worked this project to raise money so that Love Thy Neighbor can continue helping those in the Athens community who are in need. The group decided that for every $500 raised, they would add another 24 hours to the time spent on the seesaw. “Balancing sleep and classes was difficult, but because this was the second year [of the annual Seesaw Marathon], we had a much better process for who was riding the seesaw and when,” said Roni Bailey, a member of the Delta Zeta Phi fraternity. Mostly fraternity members, along with the occasional professors and other students, rode the seesaw, enabling the club to raise $3,000. “Those young men have been such a blessing for our food pantry! We appreciate them so much. The money they raise, most likely, will go to our back sack program. This program provides weekend meals to low-income students at now 6 schools in McMinn County. We make approximately 220-250 bags and deliver them to all of these schools. Our program now runs every other week and is our largest expense at the pantry. It is a wonderful program and we are currently accepting donations to help fund it,” explains Vicki Weber from Love Thy Neighbor Project.

Student Life

Sigma Kappa and Social Work Hold Walk to End Alzheimer’s

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By Emma StrattonSigma Kappa Sorority, the Social Work Club, and the Pilot Club of Athens hosted an on-campus Walk To End Alzheimer’s, Tuesday, October 22, on the Tennessee Wesleyan University campus and surrounding areas. The walk at Tennessee Wesleyan University took place on Tuesday evening, October 22nd. Many students and local citizens gathered at the campus to listen to a guest speaker, Astrid Maples, and member of Sigma Kappa, Christian Jackson, tell their personal stories and reasonings for supporting the walk. The walk started and ended on the TWU campus, making it’s way through downtown Athens. Founded in 1989, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an organization that is raising awareness and funds to find a cure to end Alzheimer’s. Over 600 communities nationwide participate in walks that are sponsored by local organizations and clubs. The association has raised over $405 million so far for in-field projects working to find a cure. Sigma Kappa, a sorority at Tennessee Wesleyan University, does their philanthropy work surrounding Alzheimer’s. The sorority annually participates in the local walks to raise awareness and help fundraise. Since 1989, The Sigma Kappa sorority has raised over $10 million nationwide for the association. “Alzheimer’s foundation is something that is very personal for a lot of our girls… girls with personal connections to people,” said Jackson. Maples, the key note speaker, emphasized the need to care for families and caregiver workers that have patients with Alzheimer’s. “It is not survival of the fittest. It is the survival of those who are most adaptable to their situation,” said Maples. For more information on the Walk To End Alzheimer’s or to make a donation, visit alz.org. Photos by Emma Stratton