Author: Houghton STAR

The student newspaper of Houghton College for more than 100 years.

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Campus News

Christmas Prism Concert

Prism Concert 2023
Prism - Courtesy - Houghton University Instagram
by Aivery Schuck ('26)

It is that time of year again when Houghton University (HU) hosts the annual Christmas Prism Concert. So mark your calendars for this Friday and Saturday! 

Prism is a Houghton Christmas tradition that celebrates the festive season with music, joy and reflection. 

“The annual event started as a way to bring the community together to kick-off the Advent and Christmas season, with the intention to make the message of  Christ’s birth accessible to the larger community,” Senior Director of Community Engagement Phyllis Gaerte explained. She added that “Christmas is a time when many people are more open to the Gospel story than any other time of the year.”

It is a great opportunity for community members, Houghton students and people traveling from out of town to see the wonderful production conducted by HU’s music department. This year’s 2024 show is called “What Child Is This?” 

Emma Podobinski ‘27, a choir student participating in the concert, said that “Prism is a collective concert from many of the music ensembles on campus. You can expect many festive pieces from the choirs, orchestras, and smaller student groups! There will be some known and loved carols, but also some unique Christmas pieces! There will be scripture readings following the story of Christmas as well.” 

Audiences are invited to sing along to some pieces. 

All of the students and faculty participating in the show have been rehearsing in their individual ensembles long before the Christmas season even began. All of the performers have been working hard to prepare. 

Susannah Denham ‘26, a member of the Houghton choir, encourages audiences to “listen carefully to the words in the pieces being performed, and even in the carols you may be singing in the audience.”

“These lyrics are often rich and deep,” she added. 

Denham mentioned a verse in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” that speaks about “erasing Adam’s image from us and being reinstated in Christ’s love.”  She added that even pieces with no lyrics “glorify God in their beauty and excellence.”

When asked how much the Prism concert impacts the Hougton community, Director of Student Engagement Jana Newberry said that “it is a beautiful moment in the typically hectic season, it calls us to slow down, despite all the work and effort that goes into the performance, and celebrate music and joy. Even if it’s just one night where we can sit and listen and participate in the true spirit of the Christmas season, it’s worth it!”

After Friday’s performance, the Campus Activities Board will be hosting the After Prism Gala in the Center for the Arts atrium from 9:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. ★

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Campus News

Christmas Arts and Craft Fair

Christmas Craft Fair
Christmas Craft Fair - Courtesy Houghton University Instagram
by Kelsey Curtis ('27)

Each year, Houghton University holds a Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair in the final weeks of the fall semester. Vendors from surrounding areas will share their crafts in the Reinhold Campus Center (CC) next Friday. 

Although the University Community Engagement Center sponsors the event, student interns help organize it. This year’s interns include Rileigh Studley ‘25, Marjorie Gassler ‘25 and Lilly Turner ‘25.

Studley and Gassler highlighted a few changes to the fair from past years. First, Studley shared that student artists will be playing live music from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Although it is a small change, Studley believes it “will provide some extra holiday cheer for the craft fair.” 

Gassler emphasized a large change to the craft sale’s layout. She shared that in past years, to accommodate more vendors, some tables were placed in the CC basement. But unfortunately, they got a lot less traffic because not everyone realized there were more booths downstairs. This year, all vendors will be on the first floor of the CC so that everyone has an equal chance to see more customers. 

Gassler and Studley expressed excitement for the event, not only as planners but also as participants. Both agreed that the fair is a great way of bringing the community together, especially “to get local artists connected with students,” said Gassler. 

Studley added that it provides a way for “our student body to support local businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Gassler reflected that helping plan the fair was useful because it “is a great way for me to apply what I have learned in my interpersonal and organizational communication and social media marketing coursework.”

As students attending the fair, they are excited about different aspects of it. 

Studley said she looks forward to “listening to the Christmas music playing, sipping on a hot chocolate, and walking around looking at all of the cool products people have made!” 

Gassler finds the fair is a great place to do Christmas shopping and loves supporting local artists and other students.

This year, over 50 vendors are participating in the fair.  A vast variety of crafts will be sold “from baked goods to jewelry, to art, to alpaca socks” and “from pottery to baklava to goat’s milk skincare products.” 

Studley said it is their “hope that there will be something for everyone!” 

There will also be some student vendors located in the Encore Suite. Hannah Fish ‘27 will be a student vendor and expressed her excitement for the event. Fish began making ceramics in her senior year of high school and is excited to share what she’s made. She will sell mugs, garden planters, jewelry platters, “juice-box cups” and more. 

Fish also participated in the Harvestival Craft Sale this Fall, which was her first time having a table alone. She said that she was initially nervous, but “everyone [was] so supportive, excited, and curious” that it was hard to be anxious during the sale. 

“I’m making things I enjoy making,” Fish shared, “and I love Christmas and gift-giving so the fair helps me share unique handmade gifts, and I get to buy some too!” 

She hopes to continue participating in craft sales like those at HU.

The Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ★

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Stories In Focus

Grace Vuolo

by Rebecca Dailey ('25)

Grace Vuolo, a recent graduate from the Houghton University class of 2024, is gearing up to release her debut single between Christmas and New Year’s. “Congratulations”,  an Indie pop track, featuring a hint of punk influence and showcases Vuolo’s growth both as a songwriter and performer.

“I write all my songs from experience,” said Vuolo, reflecting on the inspiration behind her new single. “I wrote this song after realizing that I needed to start taking care of myself instead of just being the peacekeeper I had always been. I had let others control my life and knew it was time for a change.”

The song’s themes of self-empowerment and personal growth are a central part of Vuolo’s music, which she hopes will resonate deeply with her listeners. 

“I’ve been singing since I was a toddler, and I’ve been songwriting since I was five years old, although I started seriously at twelve and singing at fourteen.” She added that “Music has always been my expressive outlet, and I hope that my songs help others feel seen and hopeful.”

Vuolo’s journey in music has been a long one, but she advises anyone interested in pursuing music to keep going, no matter the challenges. “If you love it, don’t give up! The road to success isn’t always clear, but passion and persistence matters more than anything,” she shared. Her goal is to provide others with a means of self-expression, and she encourages young artists to think about the impact their music can have on others.

“Congratulations” will be available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube. Vuolo performs under the stage name “Ian.”

Adding to the excitement surrounding the release, Vuolo has also directed the music video for the single, featuring fellow student Alaska Dunstan ‘25. Dunstan, who plays a role in the video, spoke about the unique experience. 

“This is my first time acting, and it’s been so exciting!” Dunstan said. “I’ve never worked with film before, so it’s been fascinating to see how everything works. Grace has been amazing in guiding the visuals, and we’ve had a lot of fun in the process.” She noted that the set was full of energy and laughter, a refreshing balance to the serious work of bringing the video to life.

Dr. Sharon Johnson praised Vuolo for her maturity and growth. “Grace has an incredible ability to light up a stage, whether she’s performing as a singer or actor,” she said. “It’s been a joy to watch her grow, not just as a musician, but as a person.”

With the upcoming release of “Congratulations”, Vuolo is not only marking a significant milestone in her career but also offering a piece of her heart and journey to all. Listeners can expect a song that’s both introspective and anthemic, a reflection of the artist’s evolution as she steps confidently into the spotlight. ★

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Opinions

Out of Season: The Death of Christmas Music?

By Jackson Collins '27

The day is November 28, 2024:Thanksgiving. Location: my house. I was minding my own business listening to Christmas music out of a speaker as my father walked by. “Not in my house,” he responded, and astonished at his remark, I reasoned with him. “Santa’s already here! The parade!” I insisted. “No,” he said, and he demanded that I turn the music off. 

Now, this response from my father was sensical and good intentioned, but I was taken aback. I love Christmas music. Those nostalgic songs sung during Christmas time seem to have that “special sauce”. While I love Christmas music, there are some songs (you know them) that are deeply irritating. I can speak for the people on this one, we all want Mariah Carey to stay in the freezer as long as possible, but we shouldn’t toss out all Christmas songs. 

Friends, brothers, comrades in Christ, I plead with you. Although some seasonal songs might be pleasing to the ear for a time , we cannot forget the timeless classic, the meaning of Christmas; that is, Lil’ baby Jesus. Those defending prematurely sung Christmas songs frequently rebut that“Christmas music always hits,” but this is simply not the case. Not all Christmas music “hits,” as the kids say. But songs of worship to the timeless God of glory, Jesus Christ, are always worth listening to. Not to mention, this is the season celebrating the Virgin Birth and the Word made flesh. We are told to “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen” (2 Timothy 2:14 NIV). This verse is speaking about reminding each other of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and faithfulness towards us. God sending His Son as a baby is the culmination of many generations’ hope for redemption from the Lord. Is it possible to detach the Christmas song stereotypes from music about the nativity of our Christ? Has the awe and the wonder of Emmanuel been sapped out of us by superficial music? Do we regard Christmas music about Jesus the same way as other songs? Regardless of the reason, the real purpose for Christmas—embracing God’s gift of Jesus—is not something  I cherish enough. I encourage you all to think upon these things and “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16). ★

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Columns

Jesus Freak Album Review

Written By: Nate Newcomer (’28)

Are you a Christian? Do you like music? Do you possess a pulse? If you answered yes, you should check out the 1995 album Jesus Freak by DC Talk. Back in the ’90s, when rock ruled the world of contemporary Christian music, one of the biggest names in the game was DC Talk, consisting of TobyMac, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max. In 1995, they released Jesus Freak, which many (including myself) consider the greatest Christian rock–nay, the greatest Christian music album of all time. Just ask your parents–if they were Christian teenagers in the ‘90s, they probably knew about this album.

Jesus Freak starts strong with “So Help Me God,” a straight-up rock song asking God to help us put our faith in Him instead of the world. Next is “Colored People,” which observes the “beauty in the tones of our skin,” and calls for a turn from ignorance and toward God. Following this is the titular song “Jesus Freak,” a rock song that takes pride in rebelling against the world and following Jesus no matter what people say. The album slows down musically with “What if I Stumble?”, a ballad that will resonate with anyone questioning their faith. It picks up again with “Day by Day,” a plea to grow closer to God, before taking a break for “Mrs. Morgan,” a brief anecdote from a woman who lived next to DC Talk’s recording studio. After this interlude is “Between You and Me,” a melodic, acoustic guitar-driven song about repentance and forgiveness. The album returns to rock with “Like It, Love It, Need It,” a song declaring that we can only find peace of mind in God, not the things of this world. The goofier side of the trio shines through in “Jesus Freak – Reprise,” a cover of “Jesus Freak” that will catch you off-guard on your first listen. Next is my personal favorite song not just on the album, but possibly of all time, “In the Light.” This acoustic song is a passionate cry to be like Jesus but and be with Him someday too. The album winds down with “What Have We Become?”, a darker, moody song examining the hate, greed, and hypocrisy that has befallen the world. “Mind’s Eye,” the final song on the album, explores faith in an unseen God and imagining being with Him. The album closes with “Alas, My Love,” a poem written and spoken by Kevin Max with neat, almost orchestral background music accompanying it.

From the first song to the closing poem, Jesus Freak is flawless. Lyrically, this album is clever, honest, amusing, raw, and insightful. (The titular song in particular has some of the most clever lyrics I’ve heard on this side of Steve Taylor. Go listen to him, too.) Its themes of racism, sin, and shamelessly living out the gospel still apply as much today as they did nearly thirty years ago. Stylistically, this album was (and in my opinion still is) unprecedented. Songs such as “So Help Me God,” “Jesus Freak,” and “Like It, Love It, Need It,” expertly fuse elements of hip hop/rap with rock and roll– an unheard-of combination at the time, and one that I have still yet to hear anywhere else. In addition to its rock/rap hybrid songs, there are a few acoustic songs sprinkled in with “What If I Stumble?”, “Between You and Me,” and “In the Light.” There truly is something here for everyone. Musically, this album is sensational. Grungy electric guitar, soulful acoustic guitar, funky bass, peppy drums, and even a solid mandolin solo can all be found here. Vocally, Jesus Freak is similarly unmatched. TobyMac, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max all have fantastic voices (the latter two especially) and they let none of their talent go to waste. The three singers harmonize excellently and two-to-three-part harmonies are frequent on the album. Psalm 33:3 instructs us to “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” And boy, did DC Talk live out that verse with this album. Jesus Freak offers 13 new, groundbreaking, and extremely skillfully crafted songs. So the next time you’ve got an hour of spare time, I highly encourage you to listen to DC Talk’s Jesus Freak. From its timeless lyrics to its excellent sound and everything in between (and I do mean everything), this album is simply amazing and unlike anything else in the world of Christian music. ★

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Opinions

Critique: A Form of Love and Growth

By: Sydney Arnold ('27)

Have you ever thought that your family was perfect? That they were doing everything right and everyone else was wrong? We can look at that sentence and know it is an unhealthy standard to hold our families to. We are humans! It is never going to be perfect. I would even suggest that you cannot love them to the best of your ability unless you acknowledge their flaws. 

It is an easy mental jump to say that your family might not be perfect, but you can love them and acknowledge that. However, we are hesitant to apply this to something bigger, like our country. Americans, specifically, are resistant to critique of their country. We frequently refer to ourselves as God’s country, as if God has a special love for Americans, or that we are specifically blessed by God, led by God, or chosen to be the “modern Israel.” However, God does not favor our country over others; he does not place us above the people living in Spain, Canada, Kenya, India, or Afghanistan. In the same way that you cannot love your family without critiquing and acknowledging their shortcomings, you cannot love your country without recognizing that it is a flawed system built and run by flawed people. The first step in fixing those injustices and learning from those mistakes is to acknowledge that they exist.

Now, one person cannot just shout all the bad things about our country into the void. Instead, we must look to our institutions. Social psychologist at NYU Stern School of Business, Jonathan Haidt, writes in his article, “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid,” that to silence critique is to “shoot a dart gun” right back at the institution’s brain. It discredits, destabilizes, and diminishes the intelligence of an institution to reject other perspectives or conversations of growth. Iron must sharpen iron rather than hushing up indiscretions or pretending that we do not have flaws because Houghton is a Christian University. Houghton has no shortage of good and Godly things happening, and this is not a call to stir up hate, just a plea to invite everyone into conversation. Religious institutions must be even more aware of this, because not only does Houghton’s reputation represent the whole student body, but it is also one of the only two Wesleyan Universities in the state and one of only a handful in the country. What messages do we, as an institution, project about Jesus’s love? What messages do we share in the media that define who we are? Houghton’s voice is bigger than one person’s and does have the power to take a stand against injustice. Students at Houghton have a wide range of political and religious perspectives, and many students have expressed their frustration with the close-mindedness they have faced in classrooms and discussions. Many students feel unseen, unheard, and underrepresented after Houghton’s recent news publicity or outward political stances. We must look for opportunities to share our ideas and have open conversations. The panel discussions are a good start, but what if we invited speakers with different views? We have a beautifully crafted school newspaper, but what if we preserved an atmosphere where people felt safe sharing their opinions and concerns in it? Where can we invite others into the conversation?

The vision for Houghton should be one where students from all different backgrounds and perspectives can come together to learn and worship Christ. It should be a place to broaden your perspective and be challenged to tackle new ideas with the help of professors and peers. How much more growth could we collectively have if we had open discussions between all different kinds of students and faculty? To create that environment, we must be able to acknowledge the places where we are falling short. The most beautiful part of that image is modeling a way of Christian life where we can learn from each other, include each other, and protect each other. ★

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Campus News

Hymn Sing Returns

Mercy Seat
Mercy Seat - courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
by Susannah Denham ('26)

In Fall of ’23, Mercy Seat hosted a hymn sing. 

Linden Foster ’27 described it as, “a group of roughly two dozen students, faculty, and community members. We sang a mix of contemporary and traditional hymns, some accompanied by Pastor [David] Huizenga on keyboard, and some sung acapella.” 

In addition, Dr. Benjamin Lipscomb mentioned, “People called out songs they wanted to try, and most of the time there was a critical mass of people who knew the songs well enough to bring the rest along.” Rhythm instruments (cajon and shakers) and a guitar were also available if anyone wanted to use them. 

Attendees appreciated how the event brought together people from all ages and different walks of life. Dr. Lipscomb described it as a beautiful intergenerational mix of older people, who were anchors of the Houghton community, and students.

Many people also learned new hymns or arrangements. Josephine Lipscomb ‘25, familiar with the Mennonite hymnals, was introduced to new hymns she didn’t know from the Wesleyan hymnal, and Joshua Armstrong ’26 remembered singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in a different way. Foster also appreciated singing a variety of hymns.

Mercy Seat Ministries runs several events throughout the semester, most notably “The Cry” (24 hours of worship in the Van Dyk Lounge the weekend before finals), and organizes weeknight worship on campus at 8 p.m. in the chapel basement. Led by a different team each night, the worship has a relaxed environment and small numbers.

This Monday, Mercy Seat Ministries will host another hymn sing in the chapel basement at 7:30 p.m. Similar to the previous year, two types of hymnals will be supplied: the Wesleyan hymnals used in chapel and hymnals recently used by Sojourners Mennonite Fellowship in Belfast, NY. 

“This isn’t what people might think of when they hear hymn sing,” explained Lipscomb, “we’re not sitting in pews singing along with an organ. We’re sitting in a circle, in an informal setting, singing songs you might usually hear led on an organ.”

Dr. Lipscomb noticed the responsibility for worship created during last year’s hymn sing. It was, “something that the smaller numbers and more intimate space (and lack of amplification) facilitated: we were in no way carried along by an act of worship that didn’t need us. 

“For better or worse, a message of much large-scale worship is, ‘the leaders will be up here worshiping; join in if you like.’ But if the people gathered in the undercroft that night hadn’t sung out, then the act of worship wouldn’t have happened. 

“That night’s worship was whatever we collectively made it: unpolished but vigorous in a way that often doesn’t happen when you’re leaning on the band,” he said.

Worship music genre (usually hymns vs. contemporary Christian music) is not a new debate in the Church. Mercy Seat does not want to continue that debate but offers multiple types and formats of worship in the Houghton community. There are benefits and drawbacks to different styles, and their hope is that students can create and find what helps them worship. 

Foster noted that worship preferences often depend on how people were brought up. 

“I was raised in a traditional church where we sang hymns accompanied by either organ or piano,” Foster said. “Because of this, I find it really difficult to connect with contemporary Christian music. From my point of view, hymns generally better represent orthodox theology in their text and are more straightforward to sing along to. I understand that many people were raised on contemporary and feel the same way about that style of music.”

One of the great appeals of hymnody is the history and tradition behind it. Armstrong believes that “hymns are a part of our past and we miss out on something when we neglect them.”

Mercy Seat encourages people to attend the hymn sing even if they are not familiar with hymns, are not comfortable sight reading music, or are not used to the environment. It’s important to try or at least experience different styles of worship music, though it may be a step outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes it can be, as Dr. Lipscomb said, “good to have the responsibility pushed onto us.” ★

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Campus News

Growing Housing Competition

Houghton Townhouses
Townhouses - courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
by Taylor Pascoe ('26)

Due to the 10% growth in student attendance over the past two years, Houghton University’s upperclassmen housing will continue to become more competitive in the years to come. Housing demands have increased since the university experienced two larger incoming classes in 2023 and 2024. 

Currently, the university offers two men’s and two women’s dorm halls and townhouses adjacent to campus. Additionally, upperclassmen students have the option of off-campus living, which is based on availability and spots filled through renters in the nearby community. 

Townhouse residents live more independently. The townhouses offer 216 beds, with nearly 200 students filling them as of Fall 2024. Although townhouses are more commonly viewed as upperclassmen housing, some sophomores reside in the townhouses as well. Townhouses are based on availability and credit hours earned, making it more competitive to secure a house. 

Elena Esh ‘27 resides with sophomores in one of the Hazlett townhouses. Esh confirmed the competitive process and how her group secured a house. After missing the deadline, she heard of an opening with the requirement that they would need a full house of eight people to be considered. Esh and her friends sought out the remaining people they would need and applied. Shortly after, they were approved. 

Esh said that there were “multiple reasons” for her wanting to live in a townhouse. Due to having more people nearby, her own space and after having experienced a friend’s townhouse the previous year, it was overall “just a better experience.” 

Similar to townhouses where you live with other people and share common spaces, off-campus housing differs because you don’t choose who you live with. These spaces also don’t have the community-like feel that the townhouses bring with other student neighbors and specific townhouse events. 

Off-campus housing is approved by the school but is under an apartment renter’s ownership, meaning the student needs to contact the owner to see if spots are available. Per school policy, they offer 15-25 spots per year to students and who must have a minimum of 90 credits. This policy is set to encourage the majority of students to live on campus. 

Senior Tabitha Clark ‘24 is a resident of an off-campus housing apartment. Clark switched from townhouses to off-campus housing for different reasons, but mainly due to money and convenience. She said “It’s a lot cheaper” and “It’s closer to campus and I don’t have a car,” which made  the switch that much more appealing. 

The university used to offer the flats to upperclassmen as another option, but this stopped when enrollment decreased in the 2000s. Katie Breitigan, Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Housing, said the vision for having more exclusive upperclassmen housing is to offer students more “independent living” in their “different stages” of life as underclassmen and upperclassmen. She further said that upperclassmen housing is seen as more of a “launching for life” because it allows students to live more independently, which prepares them for life after college. 

When asked if she saw the upperclassmen housing options becoming more competitive in the future, Katie confirmed saying, “It’s already been competitive.” 

Students with 90 credits applying for off-campus will be at a disadvantage to any student who has more credits than them because those students will get first rights. Off-campus housing is highly competitive because students are competing with each other, faculty, community members and graduate students as well to get a spot. 

Although housing needs have changed, Katie confirmed that the townhouses and off-campus housing will continue to be available options for living and that the university is working to provide “consistent” living conditions for students. ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Rallying the Den

by Bethany Tubman (’25)

The sports marketing club failed to recharter, and the leaderless Den (the affectionate name for the student sections) grew silent at games. 

“It was the summer before my junior year,” Tymber Wynn, a senior on the women’s basketball team, remembered. “Selah and I were just texting, saying we are tired of people never coming to games, and we just want to make it fun.” 

Wynn and Selah Kurtz (a 2024 Houghton University graduate) made an Instagram account in the summer of 2023 that cultivated a community of spirited Houghton students who would support the Houghton athletic community on and off the field. When asked how the name “Lander Nation” was chosen, Wynn enthusiastically said, “We literally did a poll on Instagram asking what people wanted it to be called! The name Lander Nation came from Carlee Miller, and people voted on that!” 

In the Fall semester of 2023, Lander Nation made its presence felt by the Houghton athletic community as they planned, hosted and promoted events like tailgates before games and themed spirit nights during games. The Instagram account caught the eye of the Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Jeremy Bialek. 

“We as coaches can try to get students excited about what we are doing or our teams, but when students are excited, it’s contagious, and that is what I saw from Lander Nation. It was very contagious,” he attested. 

Tricia Carmer, a sophomore on the women’s basketball team, said playing in the basketball games as a freshman and seeing the support of students taking part in their themed game nights inspired her. For Carmer, Lander Nation ignites campus spirit in and out of games. Carmer joined Wynn as Lander Nation continues pursuing the unique aim of reigniting Houghton school spirit and communal student support of athletic ventures. 

Lander Nation faced challenges as they worked in the Spring 2024 semester to become a university-recognized club in the upcoming Fall 2024 semester. Kurtz graduated in 2024, and Wynn and Carmer lacked knowledge about club development. According to Wynn, they turned to Coach Bialek and Director of Student Engagement Jana Newberry for guidance. Their support was instrumental in Lander Nation’s journey, she said. 

Coach Bialek suggested that he and Newberry helped Wynn and Carmer find a way to adopt the structure of the Sports Marketing Club into Lander Nation. This provided a new flair to sports marketing on campus. 

Carmer said this year, the club will focus on Basketball season because she and Wynn (both basketball players) are the only ones in the club. However, she hopes that if students enjoy the basketball season events, they will be interested in expanding the club’s reach.

When asked what they were most looking forward to for the 2024-2025 school year, Coach Bialek, Wynn and Carmer shared excitement for the Lander Nation shirts they are designing. 

Coach Bialek attested he was excited about the growth that the Den will see as Lander Nation provides more student Leadership through Den Days (these will be days students will be encouraged to go to games of the sport Lander Nation is trying to highlight at that time) and themed basketball game nights.

“I just encourage students to try it out. Go to a game. See what being part of the student section is like and maybe get some free shirts out of it,” said Coach Bialek. ★

Categories
Columns

Anime Critique

Written By: Julian Veley (’25)

In my experience, people are quick to hate anime, and honestly, it makes sense. The majority of the fanbase is cringe-worthy children or weirdly obsessive adults. The plotlines can be corny, the characters are over-the-top in expressing everything, and the English voiceovers are laughably hard to take seriously. However, when you give anime a chance, you have to put those qualms aside and approach it similarly to how you would approach a newly released movie. If you’re watching an action movie you can typically expect cool special effects with plenty of deus ex machina– a cheap writing trick used to ensure the main character survives. In a romantic film, you can usually expect to watch the protagonist’s relationship grow during the first half, just for things to temporarily break apart, before the finale when everything gets fixed. When you approach anime, you have to embrace the breathy, exaggerated lines, and characters that come with it and appreciate the unique art and storytelling styles it has to offer.

In this review, I will be discussing a show I am currently in the process of watching called Black Clover. The show is the animated adaptation of the manga, released on TV Tokyo in October 2017.  This series follows two young boys named Asta and Yuno as they compete against one another to become the wizard king of the Clover Kingdom. The world in which they live runs on magic. Mana is “the force” in this world, and some people are given more of it while some have weaker connections, and your level of mana determines your strength as a magic user. Yuno is born with an abnormally strong connection to the mana of the world and demonstrates incredible potential in his youth. Asta is born unlike any other, with no connection to magic whatsoever. Without any magic, he trains from his childhood up to the day we meet him, making himself physically stronger than any magic user since there is no need for physical strength. In every village in the kingdom, there is an annual ceremony for those who have turned 15 to receive their Grimoire (Grim-Wahr). This Grimoire is the spellbook that they will have for the rest of their lives. During this ceremony, Yuno receives the “Four-Leaf Grimoire,” the very same that was used by the first and most powerful wizard king. Asta is the only one who never receives his book, leaving him crestfallen as he is sure his magic will develop once he receives it. After the ceremony, Yuno is jumped by someone seeking the four-leaf grimoire for themselves. Asta comes in, fighting to save Yuno with nothing but his raw strength, and is defeated. When all seemed lost, a Grimoire like no other appeared before Asta, one containing anti-magic: “The Five-leaf Grimoire.” 

The show has a balance of comedy while also taking itself seriously when necessary. The majority of the humor in this show is simple but amusing and goes back and forth between being childish and mature. It has, so far, been entertaining and one I recommend to anyone interested in starting an anime.