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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

Students eating in the Dining Hall
Student Life

Upcoming Events for the end of February through Mid-March

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By Lexie Lee Tennessee Wesleyan has some fun events and convocations for you to attend in the coming weeks, starting Feb. 22 – Mar. 14.   Events for Feb. 23-26:  NOTE: Spring Break (Feb. 28 – Mar. 8)  Events for Mar. 10-12 Stay tuned for the next â€œUpcoming Events” story after Spring Break!  Photo by Payton ManisEdited by Landyn Sanders

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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

Student Life

Late Night Breakfast Returns to Tennessee Wesleyan University

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By Dan Thornton Tennessee Wesleyan University is excited to announce the return of the annual Late-Night Breakfast event on April 26th, 2023. This beloved tradition provides students with a chance to take a break from their studies and enjoy a delicious breakfast at a time when they would normally be hitting the books. The Late-Night Breakfast will be held in the dining hall from 10:00 pm to midnight. Students can expect a variety of breakfast foods, including pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, and more. There will also be vegetarian and gluten-free options available for those with dietary restrictions. Admission to the Late-Night Breakfast is free for all TWU students. This event is a great opportunity for students to socialize and de-stress before the end of the semester. It’s also a chance for them to connect with faculty and staff, who will be serving breakfast and mingling with students throughout the evening. Don’t miss out and mark your calendars for April 26th and join us for a night of great food and company! Edited by Parker StinnettPhotos by Matti Bray

Student Life

The Best Places to Study in Athens

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By Parker Stinnett It’s a week before finals and you are about to graduate with your bachelors in Communication. Everything comes down to these final four exams that you must pass before receiving your degree. You know the stakes at hand, and you want to do every possible thing you can to succeed on these tests but for some odd reason, you cannot grasp enough focus just sitting on your bed or at your desk. Luckily, you’re a student at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens Tennessee where there are handfuls of great places to go and study and just get away to get that relaxed and focused feeling you’ve always wanted to have. For starters, students at TWU have many options on campus for great study spots such as the study rooms in the top level of the student center, the chairs placed throughout campus in front of the many fire pits, and even the Trinity Church on campus allows the students to come and do what they need to do, to be successful students. Ranging off campus, Blue Front Coffee Shop is a great pace to go get your school work done and hang with friends. Sitting about five hundred feet away from campus, I can guarantee you won’t be the only one stopping by to work on your math homework. Moving down the street about two hundred feet closer to the school are the benches right across the street from trinity Church. There are three to four benches in a nice grassed area that are nice and peaceful depending on the weather of course. Another great place to give a try to would be the Athens Regional Park, located 3.0 miles from campus and is only an eight-minute drive. It offers great scenery and different locations to sit and study about. If you’re studying with an appetite, Athens gives you multiple places with food menus to conquer the hunger with. Maddie Mae’s on S White St and is located about .3 miles from campus or a quick seven-minute walk. They are known for their friendly approach to their customers and for their well made sandwiches and frozen custard. Along with this, Jenkins Restaurant and Deli is also a great option for a study spot. It happens to be one of the most well known places in town and offers a great deal of food choices from chicken salad all the way to fish and chips. It gives a homey feeling when you walk in and is located just 1.0 mile from campus. One final place worth mentioning would be the city of Cleveland Tennessee. It is about thirty minutes from campus down I-75 towards Chattanooga. Cleveland offers everything Athens has to offer but just doubled in size and choices to choose from. A great spot to go study or even just getting away from the school work and enjoying your day. As finals week approaches, look to these places to get you out of your comfort zone or maybe back into your comfort zone while studying. A small change in scenery just might give you the edge you need to break through your mental block. Edited by Marco MartinezPhotos by Dan Thornton

Student Life

Upcoming Convocations at TWU

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By T’evon Shuler Here at Tennessee Wesleyan University, 5 convocations are required every semester in order to graduate. These convocations consist of many different things that can give information about world events/history or provide entertainment for students. The spring semester convocations will range from “Childhood Trauma” to “Honors Day” for TWU students. There are nine convocations from February 7th to April 18th and are every Tuesday, so plan the best five to attend. More information on Convocations is listed in the TWU App, under Events, or on the Tennessee Wesleyan website. Human Trafficking AwarenessMarch 14, 11amColloms Campus Center 203 9th Annual International DayMarch 28, 10am-2pmJohnson Event CenterCheck out our coverage of last year’s International Day Heritage Day – The Bible and American WayMarch 29, 7-8pmColloms Campus Center 203March 30, 11am-12pmTownsend Auditorium Food AccessibilityApril 4, 11amColloms Campus Center 203 Arbor Day Celebration April 11, 11 amTownsend Auditorium Honors DayApril 18, 11 amTownsend Auditorium ChapelEvery Sunday and Thursday, 11am Trinity UMC Edited by Parker StinnettGraphic courtesy of TWU Student LifeEditorial Assistance by Bulldog Beat Staff

Student Life

No Bull

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by Cameron Williams Welcome to No Bull. The show where we debate our favorite restaurant in all of Athens. The restaurants in this debate are Waffle House, Cook Out, Pepo’s Burrito Bar, Yamato, Angela’s Miami Grill, and Home-cooked meals. Take a listen to the show and below is a poll for everyone to decide who has the best restaurant in Athens. Tell us your favorite restaurant and why! Editing by Alex WizeProduction by Bulldog Beat TeamGraphics by Bella FricksPoll by Bulldog Beat TeamBaby oil by Marco Martinez

Student Life

Remaining Convocations

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By Alex Wize At Tennessee Wesleyan University, all full-time students are required to attend five convocations a semester. Convocations at TWU are educational programs created by Student Life to help students develop a new worldview; you can read more about the purpose of convocations on the Tennessee Wesleyan website. There are several types of convocations to provide students a variety. There are a few convocations left in the fall semester. Chapel at Trinity United Methodist happens every Sunday and Thursday at 11 a.m., and Student Life operated convocations are held Tuesdays at 11 a.m. If you have not attended 5 convocations for the semester, you may be interested in what has yet to come. Veterans Day November 8: There is a Veteran’s Day convocation that recognizes veterans for their service. All students are invited to pay respect for the work and the sacrifices of the veterans in our community. This event will be held in the Colloms Campus Center from 11 am to 12 pm. Hunger and Homelessness Week November 15: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week is a great way of giving back to the community and help those less fortunate than ourselves. This is the final convocation of the semester, and it will also be held in the Colloms Campus Center. A Servant of Two Masters November 19-20: A Servant of Two Masters play put on by the TWU acting classes. The staged reading is the culmination of the acting class’ semester project. November 19 at 7:30pm & November 20 at 2pm, both performances in Townsend Auditorium. Chapel There are also six chapels remaining for the semester on the following dates: November 3, November 6, November 10, November 13, November 17, and November 27. These will all be at 11 a.m. in Trinity United Methodist Church. Edited by Bella FricksPhoto by Alex WizeGraphics by Bella Fricks