Opinion

On Saturday, September 12, I had the privilege of attending Culturefest, the Mercer County Grassroot District’s annual festival celebrating music, arts, and community. Presented by the Princeton-based nonprofit RiffRaff Arts Collective, this free festival brought storytelling and cultural experiences into the community. Culturefest featured over 30 music and dance performers, unique artisan and retail vendors, workshops, children’s activities, healing arts, and opportunities to explore the vibrant venues and businesses throughout the downtown district of Princeton, West Virginia.

The festival featured artists and performers ranging from internationally to locally known groups with music styles including Appalachian folk, African drumming, world fusion, soul, and so much more.

While attending the event, I spoke with Lori McKinney, the event’s organizer, who said that Culturefest has “a lot of intention behind it.” She said that the event is about “creating a space for human connection through music and art.”

While online classes do not stop for holidays, Spring Break provides provide a welcome opportunity to rest from in-person classes. But for students with second-term Career Pathways, Spring Break also included homework. We asked four student how they feel about having homework on Spring Break. Here’s what they say.

The Deeper Young Adult Conference was nothing short of amazing. Young Adults gathered to lift up Jesus’ name and become students of his presence. I can proudly say we achieved that over this weekend. I hope these photos show how impactful this conference truly was on our Campus. Students and speakers from all over came for the same reason: to experience Jesus in a new way, worship in fellowship, and walk away with a new love of the father. 

The Career Pathways courses in the general education curriculum have been a hot topic in both student and faculty circles. Are the courses effective? Do students find them helpful? What are the pros and cons? We thought we’d ask BU students to share their thoughts on Career Pathways classes.

Graduating seniors are all too familiar with one question: What are your plans after graduation? As Commencement Day, May 2, approaches, we thought we’d ask Bluefield University’s graduating seniors what comes next. For some, the future includes continuing their education, while others plan to step directly into the workforce.

Bluefield University administrators have decided to change the academic calendar beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year. The most significant change will be that the fall semester will end prior to Thanksgiving. We asked BU students what they thought about the changes. This is what they had to say.

For this week’s Question of the Week, we asked students and professors about the ultimate holiday debate: How early is too early to decorate for Christmas? From strict December-only decorators to those who break out the garland on November 1, the campus had plenty to say. Tune in to see where everyone stands on the holiday timeline!

Photo provided courtesy of Barbara Anderson. Recently, I sat down with BU theater major Elie Haynes, who played the leading role of Lucy van Pelt in Bluefield Youth and Community Theatre’s (BCYT) production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Haynes said this play was a different experience than her other productions with BCYT, namely […]

Photograph provided by Rampage student photographer Elei Haynes. How clean is your diet? I’m not asking what you ate for breakfast; I’m asking what you’re feeding your eyes. Many people worry about what they eat every day — reading labels and price tags, asking if it is gluten-free. But when was the last time you […]

Graphic provided by Rampage student photographer Elle Gunter Internships often are marked as being the link between college and a career, allowing students to gain experience and skills in their chosen field of study before fully entering the workforce. While internships are meant to prepare students, many of them are still failing to meet one […]

Photo provided by Dr. Kimberly Farmer Recently, Dr. Kimberly Farmer, Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and a criminal justice professor, took a group of her criminal justice majors to Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA. I always joke that I have taken more “field trips” in college than in high school, but […]

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Rachel Hendrick. Worship culture on campus is a hot topic that many students have opinions about. With students being the largest group of participants, it is important to find out what they think about the worship culture found on the BU campus and how it could potentially improve. This […]

Editor’s Note: The following is an opinion/commentary piece submitted by Bluefield University student Blake Carter, winner of the spring 2025 Rampage student contributions contest. In addition to being published in the Rampage, Carter received a $30 restaurant gift card. The Battle to Mature in an Age of Indulgence and Distractions Preface I have been guilty […]

Superstitions are beliefs or practices that have evolved due to fear of the unknown or noticing that certain events or activities relate to how things happen without reason. Superstitions are most commonly practiced by people because of their search for a feeling of control or comfort that results when things are unpredictable or events are […]