The UMHB News Cru Ringing in the Truth since 1866
By Holly Carr, Staff Writer
UMHB’s student-led newspaper, The Bells, has been publishing since 1866. Emily Jenkins, a senior communications major, leads the 10-member News Cru for the Fall 2026 semester. All News Cru members conduct interviews, take photographs and write stories for the newspaper and newscru.org website.
The Bells team does not have a required major to become a staff or volunteer writer. Steve Sherwood, senior computer science major and newest staff writer for The Bell’s writer said, “You would assume that everybody in The Bells is a journalism major in some way, writing related, but it isn’t, it doesn’t really matter what you do. You could do it as a nursing major if you wanted to.”
The Bells aim to reflect UMHB’s value, and work to inform readers on things on and off campus, ranging from things as big as the I-35 road expansion to student org events and on-campus sports. “I have done many cool stories, I got to interview Susie Marek who won an award for what she has done for people with disabilities in the community. I was talking to a very important person in the community, which I loved” Ashlyn Belote, staff member and senior, journalism major said. On Mar 17 Gatesvilles experienced a fire which destroyed Gatesville Messenger newspaper building, and Bell’s members went on site to interview and document the aftermath of the incident. “We didn’t feel like students, we felt like actual reporters,” Jack Freedman, a senior staff writer said.
Emily Jenkins, editor-in-chief of The Bells, said,“I think the news almost has a bad rap, because people just see news as super biased and you can’t really trust it. But I think what’s more important is that you find a source that is trustworthy and I think our newspaper is.”
The newspaper is located in many academic buildings such as Parker, Davidson, and York. The Bells newspaper publishes once a month, the newspaper isn’t just for facility members, but for students on campus. The Bells goal is to keep students aware of events happening or that have happened on campus. “[The Bells] wants to be the voice of the students, we want to cover topics that are relevant to campus.” Assistant Editor in Chief Marley Anthony, A mass communications said.
