Author: Houghton STAR

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

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Campus News

Student Performer Series

Pianist from Junior SPS - Courtesy of Savannah Stitt
By Isabella Bratton ('26)

The Sophomores’ Student Performer Series begins at 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 in the CFA Recital Hall.

The Student Performer Series (SPS) intends to prepare students for performing in juries at the end of the year, and their future capstone recitals. It gives music majors (typically music performance and music education) the chance to become more comfortable with performing. 

Dr. David Clem who is the Dean of the Greatbatch School of Music, explained that the performance, “exists to provide students with the opportunity to work through the challenges of performing, such as performance nerves and anxiety, and to grow accustomed to performing, well before they have to give a capstone recital. From experience, I (and the rest of the music faculty) can attest that the only way to get to a place where you are comfortable performing is to do it repeatedly, and the SPS is a pedagogically sound way of doing that.”

Sophomore Katrina Kaufman (‘26) is looking forward to both performing  for and watching her own classmates perform. 

Kaufman says, “A classmate mentioned to me recently that he is working on a complicated saxophone piece, and a vocalist is preparing a popular Broadway piece for next week as well! You can expect to get a mix of both vocal pieces and instrumental pieces from next week’s performances.”

Kaufman explained that each SPS, this year, is separated by class year. The seniors and juniors have already done their performances, and the week after the sophomores is the freshmen performance. This new division prevents an extremely long SPS that lasts hours. 

Kaufman says that while it makes sense logistically, it could take away from the quality of the performance that they would have with more time.

“Having a limited amount of time to prepare for a performance is part of being a musician,” Kaufman adds.

Dr. Clem explained that the most experienced students should be the most prepared for an early recital, and that’s why the seniors go first and freshmen go last. There is also a fifth performance for people who had to miss their classes, or who wanted to do extra performances.

Kaufman really enjoys seeing others perform, since they are typically on their own in practice rooms, saying, “Seeing others play in SPS has been inspiring to me personally and has given me ideas for techniques that I want to implement into my own playing.” 

Kaufman herself will be playing a Bach Fugue next week, along with a Chopin piece the following week. 

She also enjoys the fact that SPS gives her a chance to perform without the added pressure of being graded on her performance, saying that, “At juries, I am usually thinking about the fact that making mistakes has an impact on my grade. But at SPS, I can focus more on the joy of getting to share with a supportive audience and not worry about being graded.” ★

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Opinions

Fresh in the Fall

By Grace Hall

Hey guys, my name is Grace Hall! I am excited to be the new freshman class representative! Thank you for voting for me and for giving me this opportunity. I am super excited to serve you guys in this way and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our class. As your representative, I am happy to hear any suggestions you may have to help improve our class and campus. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. 

A few things about me are that I love nature and creation. I believe we are very fortunate to live where we do. The beautiful sunsets and sunrises and the bright stars at night have always captivated my attention. I am looking forward to the leaves changing. Western New York is known for its beautiful colors in the Fall. I have lived in Portville, NY, my whole life, which is a little town 15 minutes from Olean. I love where I live and I am so thankful for the beauty of this campus. We truly are blessed to have such a gorgeous school. I am passionate about studying God’s Word and worshiping Him in every area of my life. I love music, singing, and playing the piano. I have four amazing brothers who I adore. We live on a farm and have lots of cute cows. I love tacos and iced coffee. I love chasing sunsets and stargazing. I am passionate about making sure others feel valued and seen. I care deeply about people and truly want to help you guys in any way I can. 

Coming to Houghton has been such a God thing. I am confident that the Lord has brought me to Houghton for such a time as this! I am majoring in Inclusive Childhood Education because I love working with kids and want to help them succeed in this life. My plan is to graduate in 2027 with my bachelors degree and hopefully jump right into teaching at a school. 

I hope to serve and represent our class with excellence. I am excited to plan events and get everyone involved. Above all, I will strive to bring glory to God in all that I do as the representative for the freshman class because that’s what we are called to do!

I am passionate about helping people and leading with confidence and integrity. In high school, I was involved in student council and really enjoyed leading in that way. I am aiming for organization and structure. I have had my fair share of dealing with conflict and resolution and I am devoted to helping out my classmates and making sure their voice is heard and that they feel seen. I have had some of my classmates already express event ideas that could bring our class together and encourage us to get to know one another, such asKaraoke nights, bible studies, and game nights! A goal of mine is to implement an in depth bible study that encourages others in their faith and where we can dig into the Word together. Transitioning into college is a huge change, and having some type of support group and encouragement can be very beneficial. Some leadership skills that are necessary to attain are honesty, kindness, and consistency. It is also very important to be good at communicating, which I am confident that I can do well. 

Being a member of the Student Council comes with a whole group of upperclassmen that I can come to with issues that I or my fellow classmates may have. It is so encouraging to know that I have the support from other class representatives and other members of the Student Council. 

What I want to do with my position is to make the freshman class the best it can be. I want to encourage others to ask for help when they need it and to be fearless in the face of adversity. Life is full of trials and tribulation but as Christians, we have a hope and His name is Jesus. We are called to share His name with others and I believe that being the class rep will allow me to encourage others to be bold in their faith and to keep on fighting the good fight. There are going to be struggles we encounter, but I know that with perseverance and prayer, God will lead us through every late night spent studying for that test and every bit of drama with that classmate you really don’t like. I never want to be outside of His will for me. I am praying that He will guide and lead me and I am praying the same for all of you. I am excited to see what God has planned for the freshman class. I am confident that He has good things in store. Plans to prosper us and to help us, plans to give us a hope and a future! He has always been faithful in the past and I am confident that He will be faithful now. What a loving and merciful God that we have. ★

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Campus News

2023 Homecoming Events

Photo of previous homecoming dance - Courtesy of Rylee Archambault
By Juliana Schmidt

Homecoming takes place from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8 and is four days of community bonding, dancing, concerts and alumni returning to their alma mater. 

Every year, the Houghton community gathers together and celebrates with one another. Alumni look forward to homecoming because it is a chance for reunions and a weekend of different activities. For Houghton students, homecoming week allows the students to participate in Purple and Gold events, which are organized by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Purple and Gold Week is a friendly competition between the students that involves gathering points by attending various events throughout the week and tallying the points up at the end to see which team wins. The students are divided into their respective teams by last names, effectively pitting friends against friends for the week.   

“I’m excited for P&G week this year, CAB has done a great job planning events throughout the week. It’s a fun tradition that adds some excitement to an otherwise busy time of year and reminds us to celebrate being at Houghton in little ways like being ‘purple’ or ‘gold.’ We hope to see lots of students come out!” writes Jana Newberry, the Director of Student Engagement. 

CAB planned, among many different events, the 80’s Funksplosion homecoming dance on Oct. 6, and SPOT: The 80s on Oct. 7. SPOT takes place in the chapel at 10 p.m. and is a time for the student body to let loose and have a few laughs while enjoying a variety of different comedy acts put on by their fellow peers.   

Junior Emma Ryan mentions that she has always liked homecoming, and it is one of her favorite parts of the semester.

“I look forward to homecoming every year,” Ryan comments. “Because it is a good chance to reconnect with my Gold group members every year and to take a break from homework.” 

 In addition, there are other events taking place on homecoming weekend, including the Collage Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel on Oct. 6, and the Equestrian Open House on Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the equestrian center.

Homecoming at Houghton is open for all ages, with a bouncy house, a parade that kids can ride their bikes in, and even a professional juggling and variety show at the Homecoming Parade & Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7. 

Senior Hannah Seow states that homecoming has always been very special to her and is excited for this year’s activities.

“Homecoming,” Seow says, “will always have a special place in my heart because that is where I met most of my friends. It is such an important community-building event that showcases the spirit of Houghton.” ★

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Stories In Focus

Freshmen Diversity on Campus

By Rebecca Dailey

The 2023-2024 school year brings in 272 Freshmen, the largest freshman class since 2016. 

Thereasa Villnave (‘27) says, “It’s been really good because teachers seem to really care, are willing to make appointments and understand you as a person.” 

Villnave hopes to play a sport and is looking forward to the unique options for classes. 

Freshman class representative Grace Hall (‘27) says, “I hope to get involved and engage with people. Everyone is so nice and the campus is beautiful.”

Grace Hall partakes in Monday morning bible studies and student council.
Hall is “Super excited and grateful for the opportunity to be voted class rep for the freshman class. I am excited to serve my class and hope to make an impact for Christ on our campus. I am thankful that there are many opportunities to engage in worship on campus. Koin has been great. I love worshiping with other believers. I am so grateful for the beauty of Houghton. This campus is gorgeous and we are so blessed to live here. God has been good and faithful. I am expectant that He will do great things with my class!” 

Her brother, Carter Hall (‘27), is “Excited to see what the future holds and create stronger relationships.” 

Carter Hall has been given the opportunity to help with Koinonia, and has been invited to join other studies which look at the scriptures as well as encouraging singing and worshiping.

“College/University is the time where we must, if we have not already,” Carter Hall states, “make our faith our own. If you look, those opportunities are all around. This can include Bible studies, student led ministries and fellowship on and off campus.” 

Jackson Collins (‘27) stated, “The way we perceive things and the different [C]hristian perspectives is important. I didn’t expect to be so busy, there is definitely a balancing act between friends, family and spiritual life.”

Collins participates in Koinonia, Mercy Seat and is on the cross-country team. 

Collins says, “God has given me the gifts of music and I am certainly called to the musical ministry of Koin and Mercy Seat. From my observation, there has been a large spiritual awakening and desire to follow God and honor him through music, Bible studies, and a strong community. Koin and Mercy Seat mean a lot to me, since it is a way I can honor God and grow in community.” 

Samantha Renken (‘27) didn’t expect “how supportive everyone is and they’re so nice even if you don’t really know them.” 

Renken hopes to continue to grow with the people.

Collins “didn’t expect how busy he would be or how strong and diverse the Christian community is.” 

Dean of the Chapel, Michael Jordan sent the 2027 freshman class off with, “Stay curious, freshmen have a wonderful way to look at the world. I hope they keep loving Houghton and growing their faith.” ★

Categories
Columns

Review- “A Voice in the Wind”

Julia Collins '26

Hello again, dear readers!

This semester, my idea was to read some of the books from the Houghton Library and review them! 

My first book that I’ll be reviewing is “A Voice in the Wind” by Francine Rivers. This book is an older one, but it has a good message and a bit of a historical background on the early Christians. 

“A Voice in the Wind” is the first of three books set in the decades following Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. The story starts in Jerusalem, with a girl named Hadassah. Hadassah’s entire family have been killed by the persecution from the Romans, and Hadassah is expected to die as well. Yet, she survives, and is then sent to Rome to be a slave. 

In Rome, a slave named Enoch convinces his master, Decimus Valerian, to buy seven jewish slaves, including Hadassah. Decimus doesn’t want to do this, but his wife, Phoebe, has pity for Hadassah, knowing she will suffer more if they do not take her. So, Decimus and Phoebe decide that Hadassah will be the servant of their teenage daughter, Julia. 

Julia quickly realizes that she can trust Hadassah, who is kind and gentle to her. But Julia makes many bad decisions, and Hadassah has to suffer for Julia’s mistakes. While all of this is going on, Julia’s brother, Marcus, finds himself attracted to Hadassah. He sees that Hadassah is a good servant, and that she has something that everyone around him didn’t have- a faith in a loving God. Throughout the story, Marcus is torn between loving Hadassah, and loving the sinful culture of Rome. Hadassah, meanwhile, tries to teach the Valerian family about Jesus, and his love for them. At the end of the book, the reader will find out if she succeeds, or if the Valerian’s will reject her and her faith. ★

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Campus News

Award Winners of Legacy Chapel

From the left: Tim Deckert, Tim Fuller, The Bruno Family; from bottom left: Dr. Carl Lynch, Jeffery Thompson, The Peck Family - Courtesy of Amy Teta
By Abigail Bates

Six alumni awards and one Faculty Emeritus title were presented at the 2023 Legacy Chapel on Friday, Oct. 6.

The Legacy Chapel, formerly known as Founder’s Day, has the earliest record of an alumnus of the year named in 1965. However, old STAR articles suggest that Houghton has been making awards prior to that time.

The Director of Donor Communications and Editor of the Houghton Magazine, Amanda Zambrano writes, “While the name and some of the periphery traditions have changed [over] the years, the heart to celebrate the work of faithful scholar-servants has been constant for a very long time.”

Nominations for an alumni award can be made by anyone through the Office of Alumni Engagement, the Office of Advancement or the President’s Office. Zambrano writes that these nominees are reviewed before the Alumni Board makes the final decision.

The Alumni of the Year is one of the highest awards Houghton presents, and the recipient of this award is Dr. Carl Lynch, III (‘72). He is a highly respected anesthesiologist and professor emeritus of anesthesiology at University of Virginia Health System. For approximately 20 years, Dr. Lynch has been a volunteer with a medical missions organization called Mision de Esperanza, and he is the creator and primary funder of the endowment for the Shannon Summer Research Institute at Houghton University.

2013 Graduates Rachel (Meier) and Justin Peck received the Young Alumni of the Year award. The couple are the founders of 431 Ministries, which reaches out to marginalized women in Central Tennessee. They have impacted the lives of hundreds of at-risk women and their children, Zambrano emphasizes, by providing safety, educational opportunities and the Gospel.

An Alumni Christian Service nominee is someone who has made a significant impact for the Christian faith through self-sacrifice and service. Dr. Jeffrey Thompson (‘01) is an emergency room doctor in Buffalo, New York, who has also served traveling around the world, primarily to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to instruct local emergency room doctors. He’s also a member of the President’s Advisory Board at Houghton University.

The recipient of the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award is Timothy Fuller (‘79) who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in his profession. He was a long-time Houghton employee who worked in the Office of Admission for over twenty-five years, before he went on to serve as a consultant in Christian higher education until his passing this last summer.

“His contributions both to Houghton and to the field of Christian higher education are truly remarkable; thousands of students found their way to Houghton because of Mr. Fuller,” Zambrano writes.

Timothy Deckert (‘95) is the recipient of the Alumni Appreciation Award. For a decade, he has served on Houghton’s Alumni Advisory Board, where he performed roles ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the board. Deckert also served on the search committee for a new president at the time of President Emerita Shirley Mullen’s retirement in 2021.

The Fearless Award, introduced in 2022 by President Lewis, is awarded to 2015 graduates, Stephanie (Ford) and David Bruno, who, Zambrano writes, have spent the past two years living out their firm believe in the sanctity of life by refusing the pressure to abort their third child when he was found to have trisomy-13 (Downs Syndrome).

President Lewis also bestowed the title of Faculty Emeritus on Professor Terry Paige, who retired last spring. This title can go to any long-serving faculty member who has retired.

“It’s a privilege to be able to share these stories with Houghton students and fellow alumni,” Zambrano—who created the citations read aloud during the Legacy Chapel—writes, “and to be able to cast a vision for what God can do in and through each and every one of us.” ★

Categories
Columns

It is all in God’s Hands

By Rebecca Dailey

College is perhaps the most formative four years of any person’s life. For some, it is a chance at freedom; for others, it is a continuation of their schooling. However, I believe all of us can agree that this is the final gateway before adulthood. High school is the stepping stone before that, one last hurrah as teenagers, even as we pursue colleges, enter applications and scholarships, and perhaps hold part-time jobs. Many of us became caught up in the unknown variable of COVID-19, forever changing the way we look at our schooling. I graduated high school in the class of 2021, and the next stop on the train route was community college. 


Community College was not my first choice, but at the time, I didn’t see any other option. I was not able to look at college campuses, nor did I really want to, simply because I wanted my high school experience to have ended normally. God, however, had a much more interesting plan. After some last-minute scrambling, my school-issued email decided to shut down, so I missed a lot of important messages, including knowing the bill was ready to be paid. That first fall semester was spent online in mostly asynchronous classes and a few Zoom meetings where I feigned attention while working on other assignments. The spring semester of the same school year was much the same, with the exception of one class. Even then, the teacher, more often than not, would cancel classes, and I taught myself anyway. 

The second year came, and for the first time in almost three years, I was able to step foot in a physical classroom. I became frustrated by the lack of application my classmates had when it came to assignments. Due dates would often get extended while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, having stayed up the night before. Perhaps the biggest nightmare was my children’s literature professor. He made it very clear how he felt about religion, especially Christianity. He enraged me, and I passive-aggressively protested and made my position clear. It was around the same time that I began looking for four-year schools to continue my degree. Fast forward through four in-person classes in the spring and waiting for them to mail my physical degree in the mail, I was more than happy to be finished. I didn’t even bother going to graduation, nor did I get involved around campus. I didn’t even stay in the dorms, but even nightmares come to an end. 

Houghton University was one of a handful of colleges I had considered. Some very quickly lost their place on the list for various reasons. I looked at one other campus, but none of it sat right. Stepping onto Houghton’s campus was the most surreal moment I’ve ever had. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, greeted me and dozens of others who were touring the campus. I was barely home that very same weekend and put my application in; Houghton was the only school I put an application in for. 
We can fast forward to right now as I write this as the semester begins. It has been a whirlwind of classes and new friends, and I couldn’t wish any other way. I have so far joined multiple clubs, took part in the Open Mic Night at Java, auditioned for HeartSong, bonded with the girls on my floor and throughout Gillette, still have time for homework, and I’m thriving. Every day is a new adventure with new friends and excitement. I once wrote in my application essay, “Every story has a purpose, but that purpose can only be acted upon when it is read and shared, creating the world of possibilities that I believed God wanted for us.” The possibilities are extraordinary because they are endless, but God knows, After all, he brought me here, and I can’t wait to see what he has for all of us. ★

Categories
Opinions

Stress, Rest, and Sabbath

By Christian Welker

A new semester has begun with all the stresses and anxieties we have come to expect, from the first-year students who are still learning about college life to the seniors who are starting their long sprint to the finish line, looking so near and yet so far at the same time.

Rest assured, this will not be a “Just give it to God” article. The Sparrows and Lillies don’t have a German test in an hour or a concert a week from today.

I firmly believe that the Lord is and always will be the ultimate source of peace for his children. However, I’m also willing to admit that in places like this, it often feels as though the very act of giving up your stress to God is a requirement that brings its own anxieties. It’s hard to lean on the peace of God while counting how many Around the Tables you still need to go to, or dragging yourself out of bed to get to church on the one day you would have been able to sleep in more, or even sitting in Chapel, worrying about the test you have during your 12 o’clock class that you really need to study more for.

At a place like Houghton, sometimes it can feel like trying to get the peace of God only helps drive it away. Professors talk about how students need to take Sabbath more and then give you 60 pages of reading and a paper to do before Monday morning. However, something I learned in my time at Houghton is that God doesn’t limit rest to going to church on Sunday and then sitting around doing nothing in the afternoon. Rest and Sabbath can be wherever you can fit it into your schedule. A Sabbath for me is Tuesday evening Nerf Nights in Roth. On the surface, it doesn’t seem relaxing to charge up three flights of stairs, blast random guys with toy guns, and then run back down to start over. However, it’s a time when I can put due dates and projects to the side for an hour or two and enjoy fellowship with my hallmates. We don’t tend to think of times like that as Sabbath because it doesn’t feel like God is there. Yet it provides the mental rest that we need as we continue on in the week.

These small moments are Sabbaths that students can take wherever and whenever they can. It doesn’t have to be weekly. If something needs to be done by Wednesday morning, you would be much more likely to find me in a study room than the trenches of Roth’s first floor, but having those times that you can set aside for your physical and mental health is important. Without times like these, you run the risk of burning yourself out or making yourself sick right before the big paper is due.

Is it good to rest on a Sunday after church? Of course! But it’s also good to take some time on Wednesday to watch your favorite TV show, spend Friday evening playing games with friends, or even just lay down on a bed or couch and relax between one class and the next. It may not add up to a whole day of rest, but taking a Sabbath where you can will help as we continue throughout the semester.

Rest can be found in the Chapel, but it can also be found in study rooms or dorm rooms, in the woods or on the quad, or anywhere where a student closes their textbook for a few minutes and thinks:

“You know what? I earned a break, and I’m going to lay down.” ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Inside the Lantern

By Isabella Bratton

Houghton’s student-run literary magazine, The Lantern, is distributing their first issue of the 2023 Fall semester this week – Sept. 25 to Sept. 29.

The Lantern gives Houghton students the chance to submit their artwork, short stories, and poetry to be printed. Themes from last year included: Creation, Journey, Greif, Hope and Sonnets, and Community. This issue’s theme is “Challenges.”

The process to create each issue takes a lot of time and effort. 

One of The Lantern’s editors, Sophomore Lee James (‘26) states, “A lot of it isn’t very difficult; it’s more in terms of time it takes.”

James explained the process, saying that first the team decides on a theme for the issue. They send out an  email asking for submissions, and wait a few weeks. After sorting through the submissions, the editors  format it all into one document. The issue goes through a couple rounds of editing, and is then sent to be printed.

The role of the editors can vary as well. Some of them help run their instagram account [@h.u.lantern] such as James, who also helps with the formatting, submitting works when there are low student submissions, and coming up with ideas for the themes of the issues.

The team is also working on updating the Lantern website and Facebook page. 

James explained that they take into consideration what the student body would be interested in when choosing the theme, and it can also depend on the season. Sophomore Warren Torraca (‘26), the newest member of The Lantern editing team, explained that they try not to repeat themes. 

Sophomore Emma Dainty (‘26), has different roles as Head Editor. Some of these include filling out charters to be recognized as a club, submitting a print order, and dealing with budgeting and finance. She explained that her transition into the position took a lot of organizing. Dainty is doing her best to make it as easy as possible for the future Head Editors to transition into their job. 

Someone doesn’t need to be an English or writing major to submit work to The Lantern. Torraca, a math major, previously submitted works as a student and recommends it to others who enjoy expressing themselves through literary art.

“It’s for anyone who enjoys literature, and it’s interesting to see people express themselves,” Torraca says. 

Dainty also encourages anyone who has interest to submit something, even if it’s just work from past classes.

The Lantern’s first Fall 2023 issue has been distributed and can be found in various places around  campus.★

Categories
News

Lyric Theater Performs Opera

La Serva Padrona Actors during a dress rehearsal - Courtesy of Savannah Stitt
By Olivia Kleinau

This Friday, Sept. 29, Lyric Theater will host its second performance of “La Serva Padrona” at 7:30 p.m. in the CFA Recital Hall. 

On Sept 30th there will be a showing at the David A. Howe Memorial Library in Wellsville, N.Y. at 7 p.m. With another performance at 2 p.m. on Oct. 1, in the Palmer Opera House in Cuba, N.Y. 

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s “La serva padrona” is written in Italian and will be performed in Italian by the Lyric Theater.

“We’re going to have supertitles so you will be able to see the translation above them the whole time so you’ll have an idea of what’s going on,” explained Professor Amanda Cox, director of the opera. 

“La serva padrona” has a limited cast of only three actors, with one of them being a silent role.

“We actually cast it in the spring, we had them audition in late April,” Professor Cox adds. “They got their music at the beginning of the summer. It’s really hard to memorize a foreign language especially when there’s two of you and all of this music.”

Jonathan Hutmire (‘24) is cast as the bachelor Uberto, with Peter Meyer-Pflug (‘24) as the servant Vespone, and Evelyn Simanowski (‘25) as the maidservant Serpina.

Despite not knowing Italian beforehand, Simanowski was required to learn proper pronunciation as a vocal major. She practiced all summer in order to prepare for her role and make it sound as fluent as possible.

“Attendees can definitely look forward to the comedy aspect,” Simanowski says. “I think all too often Opera is so serious and taken far too seriously. It’s good even if this is your first opera to interact with it and know you can laugh and it can be funny, I think that’s most what I’m looking forward to.”★