By Tayler Turner The guests who attended the Rochester Christian University Theatre Company production of “The Winter’s Tale” alongside me told me they were certain they wouldn’t understand it– “I just don’t get Shakespeare,” they told me time and again. My only response was: “wait and see.” The RCU troupe, presenting the annual Shakespeare Upon Avon series, hosted evening performances at the outdoor theatre, with a Sunday matinee taking place at the Richardson Auditorium. We

By Ruvarashe Mutambara Upon reflection on my time as a freshman, I realized my little to no knowledge of what to expect from college life, despite stories from friends who had already pursued their higher education. Though it’s not a secret that college is not a one-size-fits-all experience. At Rochester Christian University, a student’s experiences can differ due to the different types: campus residents, international and local students, athletes and other students involved

By Isabela Placencia On Sept. 21, 2026, Rochester Christian University teamed up with Planet Harvest, Thrive Global, Eli Lilly and other local organizations for its Warrior Serve; an initiative to deliver 1,350 fresh food boxes alongside resources for understanding Alzheimer’s. Photo taken by Eli Hullinger The boxes contained about 12 pounds of vegetables such as cucumbers and collard greens, salmon pouches and sources for understanding healthy brain aging. RCU students worke

By Adam Shimmell The Warriors had four athletes competing in the men’s 8K (4.97 miles). Freshman Adam Shimmell was the Warriors' top finisher at 40th place in 28:52.5, at a 5:48 pace per mile. This was Adam’s first 8K, he said, “I like the extra two miles, it gives you more time to make moves and focus on the race.” Wrestlers Daniel Gravette, Marcus Abdal, and Ty Biggart also competed in their first 8K’s of the year. Gravette finished at 95th place in 34:21, Abdal at 105th pl

By Isabela Placencia (Valerie Macon, 2014) On Aug. 25 2026, the country icon, Dolly Parton, died from an undisclosed cancer, thus leaving many people from all segments of life devastated due to her living a life of giving. To say Parton underwent a lot during her 80 years of life is an understatement: from growing up in poverty to winning 11 Grammys and establishing the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation. Parton’s journey began when she was born on Jan. 19 1946, in Locust Ridg

By Eli Hullinger The first week of school was a success for students at Rochester Christian University as they gathered together for Warrior Week; it’s an annual weeklong back-to-school celebration that gives students the opportunity to connect after summer break. RCU’s annual Warrior Week took place from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 for the 2026 Fall Semester. On Saturday morning, the week kicked off with a move-in day with Warrior Kickback taking place that evening. The Warrior Kic

he Photography Club is a growing organization on campus dedicated to creativity, connection, and visual storytelling.

by Hannah Traczynski If you’ve watched any football, basketball, baseball or hockey game recently, you’ve probably noticed something different. The commercials aren’t just about cars or food anymore; they’re about odds boosts, bonus bets and same-game parlays. Dave Hutson Even during time-outs or halftime, analysts reference betting lines like it’s just another stat. Sports betting isn’t separate from sports anymore; it’s built into the experience. As Dr. Dave Hutson, chair o

By Isabela Placencia Unlike other universities, Rochester Christian University lacks visible student activism on campus, which surprises me, as Jesus compelled his followers to advocate for the marginalized. It seems we are only advocating for ourselves. Initially, I noticed the lack of student activism in April 2024 when students at Columbia University, an Ivy League university in New York City, formed the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. The point of the encampment was to pr

Shares her RCU story in her own words Coming to Rochester Christian University was never in my original plans, but God had me here for a reason, and it was where I was supposed to be. I am originally from Rochester Hills, so RCU was an option for me because it was close to home. However, it wasn’t my first choice. I committed to play lacrosse somewhere else. The day I was walking across the stage for high school graduation, I got the news that their program was cut. All of th

By Cyrus Watkins Navigating life as a college student can be difficult sometimes. Between academics, sports, social life, and work, it can be tricky finding a balance. On top of that, there comes this pressure to have your life figured out—when in reality, most of us don't. As I'm finishing up my last semester here at RCU, I've started to feel a bit of that "quarter-life crisis," and I realized I can't be the only one experiencing it. There's so much ahead of us, and that ca

By Seraphina Dumitrescu Dr. Jerrica Pitzen, assistant professor of clinical psychology and director of the clinical psychology master's program, discusses RCU's National Alliance on Mental Illness Club, in which she advises. What is the purpose of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Club? RCU students at a meeting of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Club. "As stated in our constitution, NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassro

by Isabela Placencia RCU’s Community Programming Board is an organization of student leaders whose goals are to make students feel welcomed through emotional support and fun activities. Cyrus Watkins, student body president and a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said, “We’re a team of creative individuals who want to engage students and create more community on campus.” The Community Programming Board engages the community through fun activities such as Trivia Tuesd

A senior management major, Aiden Alspaugh competes for RCU men’s baseball. Here is his story in his own words.

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape college classrooms, leaving faculty and students grappling with how far the technology should be used in academics. As universities explore the benefits of AI, some professors see it as a necessary tool for future careers, while others worry it undermines the very purpose of higher education.

By Eli Hullinger Cyrus Watkins When Cyrus Watkins came to the United States, he was following a dream. A senior international studies major and student body president, Watkins left Rome at age 17 to pursue college basketball and higher education. Watkins, a member of the men’s basketball team, is one of 42 international students representing 20 countries at RCU. Half Australian and half Thai, Watkins spent his early childhood in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to Rome, It

By Ruvarashe Mutambara Ruvarashe Mutambara Life at Rochester Christian University has been a mix of culture shocks, new routines and small surprises for African students navigating their new home. From unfamiliar cafeteria food to winter weather that bites, these students are discovering how to bring their heritage into a new environment — sometimes gracefully, and sometimes with a bit of laughter along the way. As an African student from Zimbabwe who’s only been at RCU sinc

By Isabela Placencia Rochester Christian University’s art program offers multiple studio art classes, primarily taught by Professor Kris Schaedig, designed to help students advance their art skills or pursue an art minor or concentration. Professor Kris Schaedig Photo by Isabela Placencia “I come to this thinking that anyone can learn these skills, and it’s my job to bring that out to people,” Schaedig said, when discussing her teaching philosophy regarding art. She brings th

Chapel at RCU looks and feels different this year with new leadership, worship songs, daily themes and faith-driven speakers. Cam...

By Isabela Placencia, Hannah Tracznski, Uros Pavlovic and Ayden Novak