The Clarion

There’s more to Bethel’s resident lake than what is seen at first glance. Caleb Meeker felt spontaneous. It was finals week of the Spring 2023 semester, and with the extra time from Wednesday’s study day, Meeker was on the lookout for something exciting to do. His idea of a good …

Being an Asian-American student at a predominantly white, Christian university has changed the way I think about culture. My hands shook, my voice wavered and I could barely think above the music. A crowd of faces stared back at me. My memory blanked. My brain panicked. I was going to …

Malachi Henderson huddled with 52 choir members backstage. Crying. Praying. Pacing up and down the hallway. Pinching themselves that they’d actually made it. This wasn’t their typical community choir concert in their hometown of Detroit, Michigan; it was a chance to make history on the biggest stage in the world–America’s …

Choreographer Sandy Agustin studied the dancers like a hawk. As they twirled across the stage, she watched for missed steps. In the most intricate dance routine of Bethel University’s “West Side Story,” the dance at the high school gym, the stage is split into two halves: the “Sharks” on one …

Whether it’s fake dating, stolen glances or enemies to lovers, everyone has their favorite romance book tropes, even if they deny it. So what are the best tropes, you ask? Let me tell you.

It was our time. The room was getting heated, the lights in HC123 were dim, and my heartbeat was racing 15 beats over the speed limit. Freshman year of college: I knew my education was taking me places. I just hadn’t expected that place to be standing on top of …

Before I had my first conversation with Barbara Josephs, she told me she didn’t understand why I wanted to write a story about her. Before I asked my first question, she said I should interview Malia Beilby, an All-MIAC soccer player. It’s not that Josephs has anything to hide; she …

Griff Bangston was a 5 ‘9 curly-headed hockey player with blue eyes and a bad attitude. Always the leading scorer on the ice but never in the classroom. Although he made up for his lack of effort in school in the dating scene. It was almost impressive. Griff turned the …

“Gretchen, come look at this.” Senior history and psychology major Gretchen Mugglin rushed into her dining room. Her roommate, Bethel alumna Mild Du, sat frozen at the table; her eyes fixed on her cellphone. Mugglin stood behind her and squinted. A Sept. 20 Facebook post from the Minnesota-based independent news …

State Representative Kristin Robbins’ campaign aims for fiscal responsibility and improved education.

This is my testimony to the true costs of Bethel’s tuition repositioning. “Sometimes you just have to be grateful for the gifts that God has given you,” was a statement I wasn’t expecting to hear from the Financial Aid Office, especially not at Bethel University. Sitting in the small office …

Student members say they hope to revive respectful political discourse amidst a growing national divide.

Hundreds of Bethel alumni and community members took to social media to express their disapproval, and some their support, of a new scholarship for Black students in memory of George Floyd. By Emma Harville Bethel University received support, but mostly criticism, from alumni and community members on social media following …

Inspired by theSkimm, longer than the E-announcements, created with your short attention span in mind. By Jaimee Hood Re: Missing intentional community :/ It has officially been two months since the last “normal day” of on-campus activity. Although Bethel culture has drawn criticism in the past for its sometimes-cheesy buzzwords …

Grant Nelson positions himself in lane 6 on an indoor track in Rochester, N. Y., waiting for the pass in the final leg of the 4×400 meter relay. As teammate Victor Lelinga bolts down the final stretch of the 200 meter indoor track, Nelson knows he’ll have to make up …

In the wake of the government dismantling the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [DEI] program, Bethel University and those involved in the DEI program on campus, known as Inclusive Excellence, are reevaluating its policies on who is included as well as making sure no laws are violated. An executive order was …

Freshman Hill has no accessible dorm rooms. Not every bathroom on campus has Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant push buttons that automatically open the door. There is only one lift across the entirety of Bethel University’s campus. These things all pose a challenge for sophomore Ashton Lafleur. Lafleur uses …

The first thing Coco Nolen noticed at the border wall during her deployment was the smell. “There’s people who try to cross and they just don’t make it,” her guide told her. “A lot of dead bodies get brushed up along the shore.” Nolen’s heart dropped to her stomach. What …

In the wake of the government dismantling the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [DEI] program, Bethel University and those involved in the DEI program on campus, known as Inclusive Excellence, are reevaluating its policies on who is included as well as making sure no laws are violated. An executive order was …

Through the many courses taken in my Bethel career, one thing seems to remain the same: No one ever wants to do the class reading. I’d argue it’s easier than ever to not do the readings, with AI and SparkNotes and endless digital distractions. I once had a peer who, …

Ashlyn Erickson looked out her window as her neighbor came home from work. His arms were full, carrying his work equipment. Her best friend, Lucy Helgestad, came running out to greet her dad. Erickson watched as the father dropped everything and knelt to hold his little girl. Helgestad’s dad wasn’t …

Ashlyn Erickson looked out her window as her neighbor came home from work. His arms were full, carrying his work equipment. Her best friend, Lucy Helgestad, came running out to greet her dad. Erickson watched as the father dropped everything and knelt to hold his little girl. Helgestad’s dad wasn’t …

Lulu Shwe sobbed in Grace Johnson’s arms. The rumors were true: the 2026 Study Abroad Thailand program had been canceled. “Thank you for letting us share our culture with you,” Shwe said. WCCO-TV published a news story “Karen refugees attending Bethel University reconnect with culture on transformative trip to Thailand” …

I have sobbed every night this past week. The driver’s seat of my car, mile six of my 10-mile run, the rocking chair in my living room. Tears. Everywhere. I don’t even know how I still have tears in my body. Laugh out loud. My two roommates are graduating in …

I totaled my first car 30 days ago. I got Dewy, my 2008 white Subaru Legacy, when I turned 16. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled with the selection that my parents had made for me. I had always made fun of people who drive Subarus. But it took about 2.3 seconds …

Student government leaders look forward to higher pay as Bethel adjusts its finances to support student activities.

Bethel Student Government (BSG) and Clarion leaders opened their computers Thursday Jan. 16 to find an email from Vice President of Student Experience, Miranda Powers, detailing several office space moves...

21-year-old Josie Harms achieves her dream job, but gives all the credit to God.

The 2023-24 season was a historic one for the Bethel University men’s hockey team, who finished the regular season with a 17-5-3 record good for a .733 winning percentage—the best in program history. The Royals appeared primed to win the MIAC for the first time since 2007, even defeating the …

On a wet and soggy field at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex in early November, the Bethel University men’s soccer team’s historic 2024 season came to a close. It was one that saw the Royals earn their most wins and conference wins since 2004 and host the first ever MIAC …